I contend that people kept their teeth clean for eons without battery operated gizmos(aka toothbrushes) and I don't see why #2 needs me to shell out big money for one of these now.
He just needs to make a better effort.
But Mr. Orthodontist man succeeded in pissing me off(or rather the people working for him since he never seems to be around when we have an appointment scheduled). He had his employee trying to sell me(at a great discounted price no less!HA)an uber expen$ive battery operated gizmo to rectify the dismal brushing results we were getting, all for the bargain price of $150.
Yah......*see me sitting there making skeptical grimaces and repeating "No way in Hell!" in my mind.*
Haven't I already paid this man a gazillion dollars to fill my kids mouth with metal & wires and cause the offspring pain every 4 weeks or so when they change and tighten said metal & wires?
I don't appreciate the heavy handed sales pitch pressuring me to throw even more money at the kid's teeth!
And it's worth noting that Ms. Toothbrush Saleswoman kept us captive far longer trying to get me to cave in and buy a gizmo than anyone at this office has EVER spent bending my ear updating me on what is going on with #2 son's treatment.
Hmmm.....
I left that place with a bad taste in my mouth concerning Mr. Orthodontist and his business practices.
Anyway, fast forward to this past Sunday. I spied in the SmartSource coupon insert a bunch of coupons and a Mail-In Rebate as well for Phillips Sonicare battery operated toothbrushes.
And after a quick look at my Rite-Aid November Single Check Rebate Directory I noticed SCRebate #54 for the Sonicare Toothbrush for $20.
Hmmm....
And the next things I know, I am in the car and heading to Rite-Aid to get this....
Toothbrush reg. $84.99, on sale=$44.99
Coupons Used....
$5 off $25 purchase=$5.00
$10/1 ManuQ(sunday inserts)=$10.00
$1 off $10 Oral Care purchase Wellness Q(in my wellness acct. on Rite-Aid website)=$1.00
Total....$16.00 off
$44.99-$16.00=$28.99 + $1.73 in tax=$30.72
Used $28 in +Up Rewards(which took off $1.68 in tax as well)=$29.68
$30.72-$29.68=$1.04
Since +Ups can't be applied to tax and another $1 +Up would have taken off $1.06, I paid $1.04 Out of Pocket, put on my Rite-Aid Gift Card.
I'll submit for SCR #54 and get $20.00 cash refund from Rite-Aid.
AND
I'll submit via snail mail to Phillips for the $10.00 Manufacturer's rebate.
So I'll receive $30 back and will have "spent" $29.04, making this a free toothbrush + .96¢ in overage.
Now #2 son has NO excuses for poor brushing.
I'll worry about the cost of the replacement heads for this gizmo later......
And I'm not happy that I acquiesced on this matter but at least I didn't sully my Mantle of Frugality in the process.lol
THIS TRIP
Total Spent....$1.04(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$84.99
SCR qualified for...$20.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$10.00
+Up Rewards earned...$0.00
+Up Rewards spent...$28.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$23.99
GRAND TOTALS--November Rebate Period
Number of Transactions......30
Total Spent....$16.91 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1,442.69
SCR qualified for....$40.00
Other Cash....$14.99
Additional Rebates....$31.99
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00
+UPS Totals for Nov. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 11/20.....$51.99
+Up Rewards spent....$156.50
+Up Rewards earned....$160.49
+Up Rewards left....$23.99
Sluggy
I love that!! good job
ReplyDeleteWe bought a power brush (the Oral B brand) a few years ago because of a similar "recommendation" from our then dentist. It still works just fine, but we switched back to manual toothbrushes because it seems like they do a better job for us. Oddly enough, it's even more boring and tedious to use the electric brush.
ReplyDeleteBack in the stone age when I had braces, the orthodontist's mantra was simply to brush as often as possible and to brush in any and every direction possible.
Our current dentist has never once recommended a power toothbrush. He gives out the old-fashioned kind and has even had helpful instructions printed on them: "Use the fuzzy end."
Good for you! I've heard about the toothbrush hard sell from many. They're a good profit center now that dentists aren't filling as many cavities.
ReplyDeleteWe user a Cybersonic and get the brushes delivered (that's how they make their money!). The old brush died and a new one was $79 through the company. I found the same brush at Tuesday Morning on clearance for $19.99!
It's kind of like going to the Jiffy Lube place, they always, always, always find something else they have to fix or replace that is not on that coupon you just handed them. Hmmmpph.
ReplyDeleteYou are a coupon-rebate-finagling genius!
One of our new dentists started this with us also--I said I already had one but it was packed up because of our latest move--no more sales pitch. Funny thing is, I haven't used it since then but I always get comments about how it must be working for me!! I'm fanatical about tooth brushing so I don't think there was a problem to begin with--they just thought they could make a sale. Hope y'all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI love the Philips Sonicare brushes, but I've never had much luck with their longevity. Both units I've had died exactly 2 years To The Day from when I first turned each of them on. And the funny part about that is, when I go to the Philips webpages about their sonicare brushes, they have this wonderful Two-Year extended warranty on each of them for an extra $40 or so. Like that would've helped. :P But I do like them, and they do seem to help both of us and our various dental issues, so I've been debating whether to go for the RA deal if I can find one. You certainly make it seem tempting!! :) Hope it helps #2 son w/his brushing!!!
ReplyDeleteI read this post and went to Rite Aid to get the toothbrush. It had a 20 dollar coupon taped to the box! This is going to be a sweet money maker for me! Thanks for posting this Sluggy!
ReplyDeleteSeymour6-Thanks! And thanks for coming to see me today.
ReplyDeleteAnnieJ.--"Use the fuzzy end"...lolol....that's my kind of dentist!
AlexM--Great score on the Tues. AM toothbrush. I really need to get myself into a Tues. AM store to check it out, since one opened here finally.
LisaPie--Yep....they lure you in for the braces and try to upsell you all kinds of crap.
Sheila--LOL...funny how what you say can influence what some people think. You have a good Thanksgiving as well. 8-)
Pretty--Those extended warranties always end right before something goes kerplunk, don't they? I am dreading looking at what these replacement heads will run for this gizmo...ick.
April--Glad I could help. Dang, I wish my RA taped coupons to boxes....it sure would make my life sweeter and cut down on my printer ink bill.lolol