PlanetFeedback's ShopperCast

It's Almost Time!

It's time for the much-anticipated release of Apple's third-generation iPhone, which goes on sale Friday.  While we haven't yet seen or heard of people in the U.S. standing in line to be the first to purchase one (although we are quite sure it will happen), get a load of the folks in New Zealand. 

Because of the time change, they get to the be the first people in the world to purchase one of these coveted phones.  And they are braving freezing winter temperatures in tents and sleeping bags to be the first. 

But exactly how good are the phones and are they worth risking hypothermia?

Being the marketing master he is, Steve Jobs released advanced copies to his favorite news people (read: those most favorable to Apple products) for review prior to the phone going on sale to the general public Friday. 

But it may have backfired ~ The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today have all reviewed the phone and the results are actually rather mixed. One one reviewer gives the phone and enthusiastic review ~ we guess USA Today will definitely be one of the ones getting a fourth generation phone to review early.  The other two were more mixed. 

According to one, the battery life is lower; the second said the apps are faster, but that consumers won't have to buy a new phone to take advantage of it - apparently the software upgrade is free and can be done on existing iPhones.   It's just simply not enough to make the 2g Apple iPhones obsolete.  Hmmm... we guess this is not quite what Steve Jobs was hoping to hear.

For the crazed consumers out there who simply MUST have the latest in technology, these lukewarm reviews are probably not going to put a damper on their enthusiasm for the 3g.  And we're sure that people are going to be snapping them up just as fast as they possibly can.

But it might just give some consumers pause ~ especially if they don't see the economics of a new phone that isn't apparently all that.  And even though this is Apple we're talking about, in this economy, giving pause might just dent sales.

--Contributed by Deb

Across The Walnuts And The Wine

Just when you thought Francis Ford Coppola had the market cornered on celebrity wines (which, by the way, are delicious), enter rapper/producer Lil Jon.  Better known for his music and a product called Crank Juice, Lil Jon, is launching his own wine label, Little Jonathan Winery.

Like many of us who like our vino, Lil Jon doesn't know much about wines ~ but he does know what he likes.  And his new label is going reflect hs preferences:  merlot, chardonnay, and something called a dessert wine (which in our minds must be similar to a riesling).

Apparently this is the newest trend to boost sales of wine and spirits ~ to have celebrity names attached to bottles of alcohol in order to increase market share.  Sales of celebrity wines are up almost 19% over last year and celebrity spirits are up 21%. 

We're not quite sure if it's name recognition that gives these products their boost, however we do have a friend who is a bartender who swears that Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila is the best stuff on the shelves.  We wouldn't know ~ the price can be upwards of $200 a bottle (and we're not that much into tequila).

Hmmmm......  perhaps a ShopperCast themed bottle of wine could be in the offing sometime in the future.  We're partial to dry white wines and medium-bodied reds if anyone wants to create us a line!

--Contributed by Deb

What Can You Buy For A Buck?

How about an 8 ounce cup of Starbucks Coffee?  In the face of stiff competition from the likes of Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds, Starbucks has introduced a new promotion hoping to get some of their edge back.  This promotion comes not long after two price increases in the previous year (Starbucks sites the rising cost of dairy as a reason for the increases).

Starbucks is being tight lipped about when the promotion started, how many stores are participating, or if they will run similar promotions for some of their other products in the future.  Once thing that is sure is that Starbucks suffered its first ever decline in company history. 

So will this work?  Is regular coffee enough of a draw for Starbucks (especially 8 ounces....who really drinks small coffee anymore)?  Don't most people go to Starbucks for some kind of designer drink like Grande Triple Latte, Vanilla and Peppermint Soy yada yada yada.....?  Is regular coffee going to be enough?  They are offering free refills, but  you probably need to still be in the store, so this will encourage lingering and perhaps sales of pastries, but could also serve to be a place where people loaf all day drinking free coffee and surfing the net.  We guess time will tell.

--Contributed by Renee

Your Avatar Looks Fab In That

In lieu of Christmas presents to real people, some are electing to send gift certificates to their friends' cyber alter-egos.  They are called virtual gift certificates and basically people spend money (usually around a buck or two, but sometimes more) for icons that they can send to their friends' Facebook page or gifts for their Second Life avatars. 

We swear we are not making this up.  People actually are spending money for people who technically don't exist. 

That's right -- you can send a virtual glass of champagne to celebrate the New Years on Facebook or buy a gift certificate so your BFF's Second Life avatar can have a shopping spree.  And it's a growing market ~ three million digital objects were sold on Second Life during the first two weeks of November.  Three MILLION.  Over two weeks.  Even at $1 an object, that's a pretty fair chunk of change.   It boggles the mind what people spend money on.

The Ms. Manners in us wonders exactly how do you reciprocate when your avatar receives a new outfit.  Must your avatars go shopping together? Does he/she send a "thank you" card?  Or just send a virtual beer in return? 

--Contributed by Deb

Leaving On A Jet Plane

If sitting down to a big Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow doesn't resonate with you or you're not a turkey traditionalist, there are great last minute traveling deals to be had!  Perhaps you'd rather hop a flight to Aruba or Bermuda and you may be able to get a steal if you're willing to travel on Thanksgiving.  Here's some helpful advice for last minute would-be travelers. 

If you're booking online instead of using a travel agent, your chances are best if you search by destination, and not by date. While many farefinders require you to enter dates, before you search for fares; sites like Cheapflights does not. When you find a good fare, you will need to be pretty fast with your mouse.  Book it immediately as there is usually a high demand for these affordable "Turkey fares". 

Keep checking back to find new fares. As space becomes available, the airlines are going to release them for sale.  It may take some extra time, effort and dedication on your part, but if the alternative is Uncle Frank swearing about the giblet gravy tomorrow, it might really be worth it. 

Finally, as with all air travel these days, be flexible ~ both when booking your flights as well as when you get to the airport.

--Contributed by Deb

Now The Shoes Can Be On Both Feet

Ever battle with your kids (or parents) about that $80 pair of tennis shoes?  Would it be so hard to be offer quality, cool clothing and shoes at something other than a designer price tag?  Actually it's not going to be hard at all, thanks to some celebrities who are putting principle over price tag.

And a store with an eye on something more than the bottom line.

Kevin Durant, who was the overall second pick in the draft for the Seattle SuperSonics is working with Nike to develop a reasonably priced sneaker that's not going to be break your bank account.  And he's not the only one.

ShopperCast Hot Buy Of The Day

HOT HOT HOT!!!

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(Warning...you do need to sign up and provide some personal info to get the coupon)

ShopperCast Hot Buy Of The Day

This isn't just a hot buy - it's BLAZING!! Best Buy is offering a selection of DVD's for just $3.99! Shipping is two bucks but if you take advantage of their "order online - pick up online" feature, shipping is free!

Lest the more cynical amongst you are thinking these are no name exercise DVDs, you are mistaken. There's a surprising assortment of pretty darn good films in there so it's worth your time to check them out.

Mad and Harry

Yours truly is finally awake.

After waiting for hours at Barnes and Noble yesterday for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and then reading through the night, it is finally complete.

Worry not about spoilers in this blog  Karma doesn't whisper - it charges like the Hogwarts Express.  The family was rather devastated at 12:01 a.m. this morning when some fool drove by shouting the so-and-so had died in the final book.  He was detained by police for breaching the peace - and it turns out this ass... um.... thug was wrong. 

There will be more time in the future (probably when more than two neurons are firing) about Harry Potter and the midnight magic J.K. Rowling has wrought.  In the end, however, there is one thing we learned about Harry Potter ~ the best thing really.  It was never about the plot.  Not really.  It was what she did for children of all ages.  Barnes and Noble had a party last night for a book.  A BOOK.  Not a video game system; not a hot new game.  A book. 

These were a few images from last night:

Children under tables.  Reading.  Joy.  Friendship.  Uniting in a common passion.  Smiles.  Laughter. We met as strangers, we left as friends.

Thanks, J.K. Rowling ~ from all of us Muggles.

--Contributed by Deb

ShopperCast Hot Buy Of The Day

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