# What's the best deal you've gotten lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210 "2008-02-11T22:41:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pithy\_Moniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8dc957/32.png) [@Pithy\_Moniker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithy_Moniker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/1 "2008-02-11T22:41:04Z")
I was recently issued a company laptop and no bag to carry it in. Not wanting to spend an outrageous amount of money protecting a crappy hand-me-down company machine, I headed to a local thrift store. There, I found a laptop bag with tons of compartments in good condition for $1.50. Today, I saw a similar bag new for $50. That made me smile. So, what’s your latest bargain? ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/2 "2008-02-11T23:04:36Z")
[QUOTE=Pithy Moniker] I was recently issued a company laptop and no bag to carry it in. Not wanting to spend an outrageous amount of money protecting a crappy hand-me-down company machine, I headed to a local thrift store. There, I found a laptop bag with tons of compartments in good condition for $1.50. Today, I saw a similar bag new for $50. That made me smile. So, what’s your latest bargain? [/QUOTE] I love Ralph Lauren dress shirts. I went to a thrift store while in Virginia last week and found an almost new white one. It was $3.99. I think it may have been mis-priced, even by thrift store standards. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/3 "2008-02-11T23:15:53Z")
I just picked up a 6 pack of Goose Island 312 Wheat for free. It’s in my mini fridge under my desk chilling for when the rest of the employees leave. Well, wholesale anyways. It’s my store dammit and I’ll take what I want ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/4 "2008-02-12T00:15:49Z")
We got [this mixer](http://www.target.com/KitchenAid-Artisan-5-qt-Stand-Mixer/dp/B000ASB6OQ) normally $299.99 clearanced for $188.99! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/5 "2008-02-12T00:37:26Z")
Actually I have a legit one. Last year around this time my wife got a fake Cristmas tree from Lowes. Originally $275, she paid $69 for it. We figured if we use it once, we break even, if we use it twice we’re ahead (based on buying real tree). ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/6 "2008-02-12T00:39:55Z")
well, I had 6, 9 in the small blind, limped and hit 6 6 5, 4th 6 on the turn. That was a pretty good deal 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/7 "2008-02-12T00:59:26Z")
Well I had forgotten what my FF# was with Continental. I went to their website and managed to retrieve it. There are enough miles for a round trip to Europe If that doesn’t count, then last year I went to my local grocery store. They had some ready made King Ranch Chicken Casserole. It looked pretty tasty. I was tempted and wondered exactly how much chickeny cheesiness there was. I picked up the plastic tub and thought “hmmm maybe around three pounds, I’ll take a peek at the label to check” So I peeked and saw something very strange - it was evident that someone had managed to weigh (and price) the plastic box without putting the casserole in first Net weight 0.02lbs Price $ 0.06 Bargain! ---
**Author:** ![Wrylie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wrylie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrylie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/8 "2008-02-12T01:12:13Z")
I get my daily newspaper every day for the price of two days. It was the Introductory rate, but after two months when it expired they called me and asked if I wanted to renew at full price. I said no, and they offered me the intro rate again. When that expired I called and asked if they could keep up the low rate, and they extended my subscription to a year at that rate. Guess they care a lot more for ad dollars and total circulation than subscription money. ---
**Author:** ![Wallflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Wallflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallflower)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/9 "2008-02-12T01:22:09Z")
I feel like I got a decent deal on the car I just bought to replace the one that was totaled last month. 1995 Grand Prix, no rust, minor ding in the trunk lid, only 89,000 miles, $4k. It runs great, starts easily, fun to drive. The only thing wrong with it is a very minor leak in the radiator, that I knew about when I bought it. I have yet to use up a bottle of antifreeze in the month that I’ve had it. ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/10 "2008-02-12T02:03:29Z")
I got a fantastic three octave xylophone for $175, its worth closer to a grand!!! Yay craigslist!! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/11 "2008-02-12T03:30:12Z")
I got a decent set of twelve golf clubs for just about $90. My co-worker was getting addicted to golf right about the time that I was just testing the waters, so when he upgraded to a high-end set he sold his starter set to me. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/12 "2008-02-12T03:44:49Z")
I went out to dinner at a local restaurant for the first time. They mentioned it was “Italian Night” and some menu items were featured. I decided on veal parmesian. The price on the menu was 15.00 – a reasonable price. It was delicious – a good-size portion of veal with fresh pasta and sauce that tasted like fresh tomatoes. When they presented the bill, they charged me $9. I couldn’t believe it, since plenty of places would have charged twice that. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/13 "2008-02-12T04:21:52Z")
I recently bought a digital camera that was new, but a few years old. Originally priced $129.99, on clearance for $29.99. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/14 "2008-02-12T04:41:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I feel like I got a decent deal on the car I just bought to replace the one that was totaled last month. 1995 Grand Prix, no rust, minor ding in the trunk lid, only 89,000 miles, $4k. It runs great, starts easily, fun to drive. The only thing wrong with it is a very minor leak in the radiator, that I knew about when I bought it. I have yet to use up a bottle of antifreeze in the month that I’ve had it. The reason why these cars have such poor resale value is because the 3.1l/3.4l engines suffered from a well known intake manifold gasket defect, which caused coolant to leak into the engine, eventually causing engine failure. There are class action lawsuits pending this issue. Quick wiki cite: > **[General Motors 60° V6 engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_60-Degree_V6_engine)** > > The General Motors 60° V6 engine family is a series of 60° V6 engines produced for both longitudinal and transverse applications. All of these engines are 12-valve cam-in-block or overhead valve engines, except for the LQ1 which uses 24 valves driven by dual overhead cams. These engines vary in displacement between 2.8 and 3.4 litres (2,837 and 3,350 cc) and have a cast-iron block and either cast-iron or aluminum heads. Production of these engines began in 1980 and ended in 2005 in the U.S., with... Assuming that you are certain that the coolant is actually leaking on to the ground and not into the engine, it may be worth your while to pre-emptively replace said gasket. It will probably cost a couple hundred bucks, which is less than the cost of a new engine. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/15 "2008-02-12T07:36:00Z")
A friend and I recently booked our travel package to go to the Penny Arcade Expo. The trip is Thursday night through Monday morning. Non-stop round trip flights between Detroit and Seattle + hotel room for three nights + private car travel to and from the airport = $612 per person. I feel like I got a good deal, considering the 4,000 mile round trip. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/16 "2008-02-12T11:10:31Z")
I got little US paperback editions in mint condition of Churchill’s “History of the English Speaking Peoples” (in four volumes) for the grand sum of 2 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/17 "2008-02-12T12:26:03Z")
An $1100 fridge for $750, free delivery. It had a tiny scratch on the side that is barely visible. We’ve covered it with black paint and you can hardly see it at all. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/18 "2008-02-12T13:57:17Z")
A portable CD player/radio/TV audio for $5, including two AA batteries. It’s in my box of things to be used when the electricity goes off. ---
**Author:** ![Pithy\_Moniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8dc957/32.png) [@Pithy\_Moniker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithy_Moniker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/19 "2008-02-12T14:23:20Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] A portable CD player/radio/TV audio for $5, including two AA batteries. It’s in my box of things to be used when the electricity goes off. [/QUOTE] Wow! Do they have another one? ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210/20 "2008-02-12T14:40:07Z")
I recently snagged a free engine lathe. The machine shop next door was surplusing it, and I half-jokingly said “if you’re getting rid of it, I’ll take it off your hands.” The next day one of the machinists drove a forklift into my office with the lathe on it, and asked “where should I put it?” I took it because it was free, but now I have a 3,000 pound lathe sitting in the middle of my office, and no clue what to do with it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-deal-youve-gotten-lately/437210.md?page=2)