Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

So many of you stopped by my Moms Estate Sale I held last weekend, I was truly overwhelmed and very grateful.

But what we all missed as we were busy remembering my mom and sorting thru her remaining things, was my husband secretly off in the corner selling his prized electronics and camera collection. He took the opportunity of this sale to sell enough goods so he could afford buy a new LCD flat screen TV.

On the Sunday, after the sale, we headed off to one of our time favorite haunts, The Outlet by ELS in Monrovia. There, as I was talking to the owners, long time friends of my moms about her passing, while he checked out a dozen or so wide flat screen TV…. From Plasma to LCD to rear projection all at savings of 30%-50% below original retail.  Most are from Costco or Sears and are showroom models, customer returns or last season’s models.

I simple wasn’t in the mood to take any joy or interest in a TV purchase, but he was and since it was our 21st Wedding Anniversary, I let him off the hook for his rather bad timing.

He ended up picking out a Sharp 42″ LCD TV for $899. This would go for $1299 at Costco right now, $1600 - $1900 elsewhere.  When we got home, I let him do his electronic –wiring- sound- thing setting it up while I took a nap.

In the end we saved $300 for a brand new product, complete with both a manufacturers warranty and a 30 day warranty from ELS. Yep it looks good on my antique mahogany secretary hutch and… yep the picture is great and I am glad we saved a bundle. I guess it will be a few more weeks before I will feel like enjoying it. But if you’re in the market for a new flat screen, do check out ELS first. Mom always said this was the hardest working family she’d ever met.  I agree!  I am glad they work so hard to offer such great deals on so many cool things.

The Outlet By ELS
1532 S. California Ave.
Monrovia, CA
626.357.8449
http://www.bargainsla.com/bargains/source/elsoutlet.htm

Open Wed-Sunday only.

OM Gosh! Hubby gave me a new mobile phone for Christmas. I didn’t just get any phone, I got a Blackberry Curve. I am so emotionally technology challenged that I didn’t immediately bounce up and down with gleeful enthusiasm.

But since I am down with a cough or cold or some viral menace keeping me off the roads, I decided to get on track with my brand new Blackberry Curve.

The Blackberry is really a mini computer right in the palm of your hand…. I can text, I can surf the internet, I can get Google map directions, I can take pictures, I can look up any or all of my bargain sources (that’s hundreds of sources), I can leave voice messages, I can plan my day using their calendar, I can receive e-mail… I can! I can! I can!

That is, when I learn how.

I am technology challenged, but I don’t give up easily either. I need this Blackberry to keep me connected and organized. It’s better than lugging around a day runner, Thomas map guide, laptop computer and a phone.

I won’t tell you how many computers I have permanently killed or data bases I have lost when I first starting goofing around with computers and technology. Back in the mid 1990’s my mother… I repeat, my mother fired me ‘cause I messed her data base up so badly. You know you’ve screwed up when your mother fires you.

Since I learn better by doing, (don’t ask me to read a manual till after I have played with my new toy), I am going through the Blackberry 101 website taking tutorials. So concise and simple even a technology moron (like me) can figure it out. I’ll be a wiz at it very soon.

I have stated many times that I do not recommend Santee Alley in downtown Los Angeles as a bargain shopping destination.

First, last time I checked the real estate is higher priced per square foot that in Beverly Hills. So how can there be any real bargains when the stores are paying top dollar for the location.

Secondly, cheap stuff cheap, is exactly that…. Cheap, crap-ola, junk, garbage. A real bargain is never cheap. A real bargain has value and is always worth more than what you paid for it.

In last weeks Daily News, they announced one of the biggest busts of knock off, counterfeit product ever.

“More than 100 officers raided alleged counterfeiters, seizing $8 million worth of knockoff movies, purses and perfume, authorities announced today.

Billed as the largest anti-counterfeit bust in city history, Thursday’s “Operation Knockout” sent 26 people to jail and yielded 50,000 faked goods — half of them counterfeit CDs and DVDs. Cops targeted their sweep on Santee Alley, the famed shopping district downtown known for its bargain prices for look-a-like designer brands.”

I think what real bargain hunters want is good quality goods at a better price. Cheap knockoffs will always be around. Anyone can buy cheap stuff cheap…. Walmart, Target, 99 Cent only stores are all easily accessible. I’d rather hold out, pay a little more at a sample sale or outlet and get the real goods for less.