Get Visual Studio Professional, Web Matrix, Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 Web Edition for FREE

Microsoft WebsiteSpark members get up to $1400 in annual Windows Azure resources to design, develop and deploy their sites in the Cloud. To qualify, you must be a company with 10 or less employees, or an individual. You'll get up to three years of access to Visual Studio Professional and Web Matrix, as well as recent additions Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 Web Edition, Expression Studio 4 Premium, and Windows Azure Cloud benefits.

Ebates cashback service pays $25 for the first friend you refer

As I mentioned earlier, I started comparing cashback that different cashback services offer. Then I realised that some services do not offer payment through Paypal. I also decided not to use any newer cashback services to avoid any risks losing cashback.

Cashback services get a commission from the stores when you make a purchase. Instead of keeping that money - like almost all other sites do - they share it with customers! This allows you to make purchases at the same online stores, using the same web-sites, but save several percents from each qualified transaction. Unlike offline rebates, no paper work needed.

I've been using 3 trusted cashback services that many of my friends recommend, namely: eBates, Mr.Rebates, FatWallet. The first two allow you to make some money by referring friends.

Right now eBates has a special promotion. Refer your first friend to the service and earn a $25 bonus. All you need to do is to ask your friend to sign up via the special link. If you like this web-site, you may thank me by becoming my first referred member. Just register via this link.

Free $2 credit to Amazon MP3 Store

Go to "Free $2 Amazon MP3 credit via Facebook page", answer onto the question and post it onto your Facebook page.
Upon successful completion of the Share & Claim action, a $2 Amazon MP3 credit will be automatically applied to your Amazon account.

Promotional credits must be redeemed by 11:59 p.m. PST on October 23, 2012. Amazon MP3 Store is available to customers located and with billing addresses in the United States. You must have an Amazon USA account and accept the Amazon MP3 Service Terms of Use to redeem your credit. Limit one promotional credit per customer.

Some classical music albums you can buy in Amazon MP3 Store for $1.99:

• 99 Must-Have Chillout Classics


• 100 Rachmaninoff Piano Favorites


• 99 Must-Have Mozart Masterpieces


• 99 Must-Have Vivaldi Masterpieces


• Bach - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters


• Masters of Classical Music


• Schubert - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters


• Schumann - Rise of the Masters: 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces


• Debussy - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters


• Vivaldi: The Four Seasons


• Vivaldi - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters


• Beethoven - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters


• Grieg - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters


• Handel - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters

Get $1 for MP3s from Amazon MP3 store with select apps from Amazon Appstore for Android

Get $1 for MP3s from Amazon MP3 Store with select apps from Amazon Appstore for Android.

How to get $1 for MP3s from Amazon MP3 store:

• Get at least one qualifying app (free or paid) offered in the Amazon Appstore for Android in the webstore or on an Android device. The apps that qualify are apps for Android offered in the Amazon Appstore for Android that display the offer message on their webstore product information pages. Qualifying apps will not display promotional messaging on their Android on-device product information pages.


• After completing your purchase, you will receive an e-mail indicating that a $1 credit for Amazon MP3 music has been applied to your account automatically. The e-mail will also provide instructions on how to redeem your credit.


• Promotional offer limited to one promotional credit per customer.


• Promotional offer is valid from July 2, 2012, through December 31, 2012, and subject to change. You must redeem the credit by January 31, 2013.


• See Terms and Conditions

Free app of the day qualifying for free $1 MP3 credit: Wacky Sound Effects

Today flash sale site Ideeli features Red Sale with discounts up to 90%

Ideeli red sales featuring fall day dresses, designer apparel, classic apparel, jewelry & watches, and many more

Private shopping clubs (sample sale, private sale, flash sale sites)offering discounted sporting and outdoor goods

• Left Lane Sports is an american private sale site (private shopping club, sample sale site, flash sale site) for sporting goods (footwear, apparel, and gear). It offers top Outdoor, Cycling, Running, and Fitness brands at up to 70% OFF retail! Every day, LeftLane Sports offers unbeatable deals for sports enthusiasts and athletes from brands like Mountain Hardwear, Sierra Designs, Columbia, Salomon, Kelty, KEEN, and many more! Membership is free!
  
  
  
  Left Lane Sports ships to USA and internationally
  Left Lane Sports ships to all 50 United States, PO/FPO/APO addresses and U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam.
  
  Left Lane Sports also ships internationally to the following countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland (Eire), Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Macao, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela.
  Please note that orders shipping internationally may be subject to Duties and/or VAT.
  
  How Left Lane Sports private sale club works
  Every few days LeftLane Sports launches a new sale, giving its members access to the highest quality merchandise at the guaranteed lowest prices. Their sales last for a limited time (typically 72 hours to a week) and sell out quickly, so you have to act fast to cash in on the unbeatable savings. Membership is absolutely free, and all you need is your name and email to access our sales.
  
  Join Left Lane today and receive an instant $10 credit
  Register using the following link to receive an instant $10 shopping credit towards your first purchase (When you spend $50 or more, your credit will be instantly added to your order):
  LeftLane Sports $10 shopping credit
  
   
• Sesh Day (USA) is an american private shopping club (flash sale site, private sale site, sample sale site) for outdoor and sporting goods. It offers premium surf, skate, snow, wake and riding brands for men, women and kids at savings of 30% to 80% off retail prices.
  
  
  
  Sesh Day ships to USA and internationally
  Seshday ships to all 50 United States, PO/FPO/APO addresses and U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam.
  
  Also Sesh Day ships internationally to the following countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland (Eire), Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Republic of, Macao, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela.
  You are presented with the shipping charges at the time you add each item to your shopping cart so you will know the full cost before purchasing.
  
  Join Sesh Day today and receive an instant $10 credit
  Seshday offers free membership, but you must be invited to join. Once in, members have access to apparel, footwear, accessories and hard goods.
  
  Sesh Day invitation link:
  Join Sesh Day for free today and receive an instant $10 credit toward your first purchase of $50!
  
   
• The Clymb is an american private sale site (private shopping club, sample sale site, flash sale site) for sporting goods (footwear, apparel, and gear). The company is based in Portland, Oregon, therefore no sales tax will apply, no matter where you live. TheClymb was founded in 2009 by a seasoned team of outdoor and sport industry veterans. It gives you access to insider pricing from an amazing group of outdoor brands. If you climb, hike, run, ride, paddle or ski, you're gonna love this. Their sales feature the gear up to 70% below retail.
  
  The Clymb does NOT sell damaged or defective merchandise, factory seconds, or knock-offs. It is an authorized dealer for each of their partner brands and everything we sell is 100% authentic. They negotiate pricing based on volume of available inventory. Conventional full price retailers purchase inventory months in advance, and then pay for warehousing, advertising, and staff. The Clymb's unique model allows to pick up last minute deals and get them to you quickly and efficiently.
  
  
  
  The Clymb shipping
  The Clymb is currently in our Beta Launch phase. They are currently focused on only shipping product to the USA. They are working to get product delivery to Canada and then internationally to other locations.
  
  How The Clymb private sale club works
  You accept an invite and The Clymb will hook you up with deep discounts, usually 50-70% off retail, on gear from a different leading brand each week. Each brand's product is available for 3 days only or until it's sold out. Membership is free and by invite only.
  
  The Clymb invitation link

Is it worth using a freight forwarder for purchasing few cheap items in the USA from Russia and other countries overseas?

I got the following question from my friend:

I was trying to learn about freight forwarders like Shipito, but still can't find out what to do. I don't need a huge TV from the USA, I just want to buy some clothing for this fall. It can be from Walmart, for example. But if I will only buy a couple of hoodies for $30, will it make sense to ship them to Russia via a freight forwarder? Or will it cost the same ($100 for a couple of hoodies) if purchased in an offline retail store in Moscow?

Let's find out. We want to purchase 2 hoodies in Walmart or some other store which cost $15 each. Let's assume that shipping is free.

Free Shipito account allows to mail out your package for $8.5. Let's assume that the store will ship both hoodies in one package. Otherwise you will need to consolidate 2 packages and it will cost $10 (monthly subscription) and $4.5 for each package, totaling at $10 + $4.5 * 2 = $19.

Shipito Airmail Priority and Economy are cheap for light, small and inexpensive packages. Some rates for my several packages that are now in the Shipito warehouse in Oregon:

Weight: Dimensions: Insured amount:	USPS Express Mail (5-6 business days)	USPS Priority Mail (6-10 business days)	Airmail Economy (15-22 business days)	Airmail Priority (8-15 business days)	Airmail Express (15 days)	USPS First Class International Parcel (varies by country)	FedEx Economy (2-5 business days)	FedEx Priority (1-3 business days)
4 lbs. 2 oz. 13.80 x 11.60 x 8.80 $0	Postage: $74.06 Insurance: $3.41 TOTAL: $77.47	Postage: $61.04 Insurance: $6.53 TOTAL: $67.57	Postage: $39.3 insurance not available Tracking is not available TOTAL: $39.3	Postage: $43.35 Insurance: $5.7 Tracking is not available TOTAL: $49.05	Postage: $66.66 Insurance: $5.7 TOTAL: $72.36	Shipping method not available	Postage: $156.5 Insurance: $0 TOTAL: $156.5 (list rate $309.83)	Postage: $183.94 Insurance: $0 TOTAL: $183.94 (list rate $369.12)
2 lbs. 9 oz. 16.60 x 12.00 x 3.40 $0	Postage: $61.79 Insurance: $2.05 TOTAL: $63.84	Postage: $50.6 Insurance: $4.36 TOTAL: $54.96	Postage: $24.25 insurance not available Tracking is not available TOTAL: $24.25	Postage: $26.76 Insurance: $2.67 Tracking is not available TOTAL: $29.43	Postage: $55.61 Insurance: $2.67 TOTAL: $58.28	Postage: $36.28 insurance not available Tracking is not available TOTAL: $36.28	Postage: $142.8 Insurance: $0 TOTAL: $142.8 (list rate $221.06)	Postage: $165.99 Insurance: $0 TOTAL: $165.99 (list rate $290.84)
Weight: 0 lbs. 10 oz. Dimensions: 14.60 x 8.80 x 2.40 Insured amount: $0	Postage: $49.51 Insurance: $1.01 TOTAL: $50.52	Postage: $40.16 Insurance: $3 TOTAL: $43.16	Postage: $6.4 insurance not available Tracking is not available TOTAL: $6.4	Postage: $7.07 Insurance: $0.36 Tracking is not available TOTAL: $7.43	Postage: $44.56 Insurance: $0.36 TOTAL: $44.92	Postage: $16.11 insurance not available Tracking is not available TOTAL: $16.11	Postage: $142.8 Insurance: $0 TOTAL: $142.8 (list rate $145.51)	Postage: $165.99 Insurance: $0 TOTAL: $165.99 (list rate $197.5)

[caption id="attachment_2533" align="aligncenter" width="482"] Comparing Shipito shippping rates: USPS, Airmail Priority/Economy/Express, Fedex[/caption]

If you need to calculate your shipping rate, you may use the Shipito shipping calculator.

A couple of hoodies in the box will probably weight 3-4 lbs. Delivery of such a package without tracking and insurance will cost $25-40. Delivery with tracking and insurance will cost $50-60.

Bottom line: It is cheaper to buy a couple of hoodies in an offline store in Moscow.

But please note that many people like particular brands that offer more expensive clothing. In many cases this clothing is 30-50% more expensive in Moscow. Not to mention that in many other regions of Russia prices are much higher than in Moscow.

Usually it makes sense to send much heavier packages and/or packages with more expensive content. Otherwise you won't save much.

If you want to order a couple of t-shirts only, or a pair of  jeans, or a couple of hoodies, it makes sense to ask your friends who buy a lot in the same country. Or you may ask your relatives and friends whether they want to buy something in the USA as well. Personally I help my friends and relatives to buy few items regularly.

Good luck and happy savings!

End of season and Labor's Day sales at private shopping clubs (flashsale site, fashion sale sites, sample sale site)

Many online stores in the USA offer great sales at the end of the season and on Labor's day. Private shopping clubs (flash sale site, fashion sale sites, sample sale site) offer great discounts too (up to 80-90%). Some sales you might be interested in today:

• Sales up to 70-90% at MyHabit


• Red Sale at Ideel


• The labor's day sale at RueLaLa


• Blow-out event at Zulily

Ideel (Ideeli) error: Invalid Transaction Type. Contact us if you think you have received this message in error.

I've been using Ideel private shopping club (flash sale site, fashion sale site, private sale site) for about 2 years. Never expected to have any problems paying with my debit and credit cards issued by Russian banks, especially after making 18 purchases with my Russian Mastercard debit card. But a couple of days ago I got the following error when using my new Mastercard: "Invalid Transaction Type. Contact us if you think you have received this message in error."



It appeared that Ideel doesn't allow to enter addresses outside the USA for both billing and shipping, so entering my complete real billing address in Russia was not an option. I tried to enter my real name, real street address and to use the rest from my Shipito virtual address, but it didn't work. Then I tried to use my US virtual address for both billing and shipping to no avail. Then instead of checking out I went to the account settings and tried to add my card from there. I was getting the same error no matter what address I was using.

It appeared that many customers from Russia and other countries have faced the same problem. This happens because Ideel verifies that the billing address provided matches the one on record with your bank. You need to contact Ideel support to disable this AVS system.  Then you should be able to check out using a foreign credit or debit card.

Subscribe by e-mail and get 20% off your next Amazon Shoes Store purchase

For a limited time, if you subscribe to the Amazon's Shoes Store emails and are a first-time subscriber, Amazon will email you a promotional code redeemable for 20% off your next purchase of eligible Amazon Shoes Store products (up to a maximum purchase price of $1000) sold by Amazon USA. Purchases from sellers other than Amazon do not qualify. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping.



Amazon Shoes' subscription e-mail program is a special opt-in e-mail program. When you opt-in to the program, you'll get the latest news from Amazon Shoes: editors' perspectives on the latest trends, early access to special sales, and exclusive subscriber-only discounts on shoes for the whole family. You can expect to receive emails about once a week, but the timing will vary.