My New Carpet Cleaner- Bissell DeepClean Lift-Off Pet
Yesterday, I bought a new carpet cleaning machine to replace my Hoover Max Extract 60 that had stopped working. The hand tool still worked, but the large brushes and suction intake was no longer working. The suction had been low, and I tried taking it apart to clean it, but it was still not working very well. Normally, I would have spent more time trying to repair it myself, buy I have my house for sale and needed to get the carpets clean for a showing.I didn't feel too bad about moving on from the Hoover Max Extract 60- my wife picked it up for $30 on a clearance shelf at Target. I cleaned all of the carpets in our house using the hand tool last weekend- this took a long time and didn't work very well. When you're selling a house, having clean carpets can translate into money. If your house is clean, you are more likely to find a buyer and get a better offer.
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| Hoover Max Extract 60- My Old Carpet Cleaner Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher |
My new carpet cleaner is a Bissell DeepClean Lift-Off Deluxe Pet Full Sized Carpet Cleaner
. I found this while picking up some moving boxes at Lowe's. The regular price was $259.99 and Lowe's had it marked down to $229.99. I used my smart phone to check prices and ratings at amazon.com. The price on amazon.com was also $229.99 and the Bissell Lift-Off had a 4-star rating, so I went ahead and bought it. The one on amazon had a $30 shipping cost, so I figured I could save the shipping cost plus get the carpet cleaner immediately instead of waiting a few days. After I got home, I assembled the cleaner by installing the handle with 4 screws, but did not put water or soap into the machine. |
| Bissell DeepClean Lift-Off Pet- My New Carpet Cleaner Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher |
Overcharged- Avoid Paying Too Much
Later that day, I was reading the ads in the newspaper and came across the Kohl's ad. It had the Bissell Lift-Off on sale for $219.99. Of course, I wanted to save $10, but I would have to take the shampooer apart, take it back to the store, return it, and buy another machine. For me, this was about a break-even proposition considering that about 20 miles of driving would be required. Then I realized that I had a 20% off coupon at Kohl's. This changed the equation- I was now looking at saving $60 instead of only saving $10. Plus I could get $30 in Kohl's cash for purchasing the Bissell.This article explains how discounts at Kohl's work and how to get Kohl's Cash:
http://pennypincherjournal.blogspot.com/2013/07/kohls-credit-card-get-kohls-cash-and.html
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| I got the Bissell Lift-Off for $60 less at Kohl's, plus $30 of Kohl's Cash! Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher |
I got out my receipt from Lowe's to confirm how much I would save if I returned the Bissell to Lowe's and bought the one at Kohl's. I found the Lowe's did not discount the price to $229.99- they charged the original price of $259.99! I should have checked my receipt at Lowe's, but I just assumed the price that scanned would match the price on the shelf. Wow! I grabbed a screwdriver and loaded the carpet cleaner and all of the packaging in my car to make the exchange.
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| Good Thing I Checked My Ads- Kohl's had the best price on a Bissel Lift-Off Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher |
How I Got My Money Back
My first stop was Kohl's to see if they had any Bissell Lift-Offs in stock. I got the last one. It rang up to $186.55 with tax. Plus I did get $30 in Kohl's cash. Looks like I'll be getting some free clothes or detergent for my carpet cleaner! |
| I got $90 back by returning my Bissell carpet cleaner and buying it at a different store! Image Source: Dr. Penny Pincher |
Next stop- Lowe's. In the parking lot, I removed the 4 screws so I could take the handle off and get everything back in the box. I hauled it in to the returns area. They asked for the reason for the return. I have learned to avoid giving a specific reason, in case that is not considered a valid reason. I said, "my wife didn't like it," and that was that. The amount credited back to my Citi Visa card: $274.54 including tax. My total savings: $87.99!
The Bissell Lift-Off did a great job on my carpet- unlike my old Hoover Max Extract 60, the Bissell uses heated water and has a more effective brush. The carpet looks- and smells- great now. I considered renting a carpet cleaner for $25 per use, but this could add up over the course of selling a house, plus the house we are buying will need some carpet cleaning.
Here's what I learned from this experience.
- It is good to check on-line prices, but you should also check sales and coupons. I almost always have a 20% off coupon at Kohl's.
- Keep your item in the box and don't open it or assemble it until you have checked sales and coupons to make sure you have the deal you want.
- Check your receipt at the check-out to make sure your item rang up at the correct price! I was overcharged by $30.
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