Where’s the Money? Top VC Firms in the US

Where’s the money? Here’s a look at where the most active VC firms in the US are and the biggest deals have been made. Venture funding increased during the third quarter over the first two quarters of 2009, but is still down 33 percent from one year ago.

(more…)

10 Simple Tips to Master the Art of Haggling and Savvy Shopping

If you’re a news junkie like me, you may have read about a recent finding produced by America’s Research Group, which found that in the past holiday season, approximately 72% of customers haggled with a retailer, compared with 56% the year before.  Upon hearing this news, the consumer advocate in me was delighted and I proceeded to do a little dance in the head — or so I thought until fellow passengers on the bus started starring at me funny.

Public dancing aside, it was even more enjoyable to read that about 80% of those attempting to haggle were successful at getting a better deal, compared with about half of those who were successful a year earlier.  Despite difficult economic times, it was refreshing for us at BillShrink to see that more Americans are getting over the idea that the act of haggling  can be bad-form — after all, when done properly and gracefully, haggling is just another way for a savvy consumer to get a better deal.

If haggling isn’t your forte, have no fear, we have a few tips for you.

(more…)

Hot Deal: Palm Pre at $99 for New Customers

On the fence about buying the Palm Pre?  Letstalk.com is giving undecided smartphone lovers a gentle push by offering the Palm Pre at a sweet low-price of $99.99.

Purchase the Palm Pre for $99.99

The special price is from an instant-discount of $100 along with a mail-in rebate of $100 (you can even trade in your old phone and get cash with the offer!) Expires on 8/03/09.

Here are some important details of the mail-in rebate:

– The mail-in rebate applies only to individual plans or line 1 of a family plan
– This mail-in rebate requires a new 2 year service agreement.
– Certain other rate plans may not apply.
– You must maintain a minimum qualifying service plan for 181 days.
– Custom rebate form will be made available after order completion and fulfillment.

Full details of the mail-in-rebate can be found here.

Deal found via [Fatwallet] & [Slickdeals].