stationchief Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 Noticed this in the CompUSA BF ads next to the laptop and desktop computer deals. Says if ya sign up for 12 months of AOL service you get the gift card to use as a discount on the computers. Anyone know the details about how this works? Do you get the gift card only if you buy the computer when you sign up for AOL, or can U sign up without the computer purchase and use the gift card for other merchandise? Reason I ask is cuz I want to buy some parts for a new desktop, and since I don't have a credit card I wouldn't mind paying $21.95 a month for my hard drive, memory, graphics/sound card, etc. Consider it sorta like a method of financing. I did this many years ago when I signed up for 3 years of MSN dial-up at Best Buy and got $400 bucks in free stuff. Not that I'd ever use AOL (yuck!) . Remember, if you do this, ya don't have to actually use the account they give you. You just have to pay the monthly service charge for a period of time.
gisellerol Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 not really worth it than dont you think.......
snickstx Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 Reason I ask is cuz I want to buy some parts for a new desktop, and since I don't have a credit card I wouldn't mind paying $21.95 a month for my hard drive, memory, graphics/sound card, etc.Not real sure about this but....won't AOL require a CC# when you sign up? I know that sometimes they will utilize your local telephone company for billing service but that would be too easy to fudge at the time of the sale. Alternatively, you might try to get the cheap "Bring Your Own" AOL service for broadband users. IIRC, the rate is around $15 a month. Since you wouldn't be using the service, who does, it wouldn't matter. I might have missed it in the advert, but I didn't see any minimum service LEVEL commitment. Just an idea, good luck. I would be interested but I don't like these tactics; I thought these kinds of offers went out of fashion about six years ago.
Mara Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 Not real sure about this but....won't AOL require a CC# when you sign up? I know that sometimes they will utilize your local telephone company for billing service but that would be too easy to fudge at the time of the sale. Alternatively, you might try to get the cheap "Bring Your Own" AOL service for broadband users. IIRC, the rate is around $15 a month. Since you wouldn't be using the service, who does, it wouldn't matter. I might have missed it in the advert, but I didn't see any minimum service LEVEL commitment. Just an idea, good luck. I would be interested but I don't like these tactics; I thought these kinds of offers went out of fashion about six years ago.I have seen people pay $7.99 even $4.99 a month for aol the $4.99 one is for 3 hours a month lol $7.99 bring your own acess. At those rates it could be worth it
stationchief Posted November 11, 2005 Author Posted November 11, 2005 Just found some info off the hi-rez version of the ad scan. The fine print at the end of the ads reads as follows: "12-mont AOL commitment required. IF YOU CANCEL OR ARE TERMINATED FROM THE AOL SERVICE FOR ANY REASON BEFORE THE END OF THE COMMITMENT PERIOD, OR IF YO SWITCH TO ANOTHER PRICE PLAN BEFORE THE END OF YOUR COMMITMENT,YO WILL BE CHARGED A CANCELLATION FEE EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF MONTHS LEFT ON YOUR COMMITMENT MULTIPLIED BY YOUR MONTHLY FEE. AOL membership will be charged in monthly installments of $14.95 or $23.90, depending on selected price plan. This offer cannot be combined with the AOL Optimized PC or Laptop Offer. Offer available to new AOL members in the US, 18 or older with a major payment card. Savings of time of purchase are in the form of a gift card applied instantly as a method pf payment." ... "Offer expires 1/28/2006 Additoinal restrictions apply." Hmm. Answers some questions, but not all. First, let's do the math. $14.95 x 12 months = $179.40. Seems interesting, but I got a gut feeling that deal will only net you maybe half of that gift card's value. For the full $250 discount: $23.90 x 12 months = $286.80. You'll end up paying $36.80 over the amount of the card. Still probably better than any annual APR on your credit card. So, you have to sign up for either $15 or $24 monthly plans. But is this instant gift card good for anyhting in the store when you sign up for AOL, or do you only get it if ya buy the PC? Looks like I'll be making a little trip down to CompUSA just before the big day for some more details. And AOL just requires a "major payment card". Either credit or debit card would do. I have a visa check card through my bank, so that'll work.
Mike Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 If you can choose the $15/month price plan, a $250 is a good deal. Just sign up and never log on. But I suspect you are right stationchief, you probably have to get the $24/month to get the full $250.
albrandwood Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 AOL membership will be charged in monthly installments of $14.95 or $23.90, depending on selected price plan.$23.90 = AOL Dialup$14.95 = AOL via existing Broadband (ie, on top of Cable or DSL) And AOL just requires a "major payment card". Either credit or debit card would do. I have a visa check card through my bank, so that'll work.Personally, If you have a creditcard, I'd not use a checkcard for this kind of thing ... too great a risk of going overdrawn, then getting hit $30+ per transaction ... (#2 son just figured that the hard way after $400 in bank fees) @
DukeLard Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 Its will be for anything in the store. that day or future purchases at compusa only.
stationchief Posted November 12, 2005 Author Posted November 12, 2005 Its will be for anything in the store. that day or future purchases at compusa only.So, you don't have to buy the computer? You can just walk into CompUSA, sign up for AOL's $14.95/month plan and walk out with the gift card?
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