how many MILES will you drive for a great *DEAL*?

[mafibisha]

Its really cold today so debating if I really want to drive anywhere, even for a great deal.

If I had more errands to do at the same time, I would probably go, but just can't get motivated to go anywhere for just one item, good deal or not.

So I wondered -

1) how many *miles* will you drive to get a good deal? Especially if the only thing you want at the time?

or

2) how *good* of a deal does it have to be, or how much $$ do you need to save before you'll leave your comfy warm house?

 

[blackforest]

Probably 30-40 miles. And not just a great deal. I'll drive that when I'm "on the hunt"!

 

[MrsPete]

Depends upon the deal. I'd drive across town for a canned goods sale. I'd drive a couple hours -- maybe across the state -- to save a bundle on a new car or a new sofa (though I'd talk to the people on the phone and be very sure of what I was getting before I'd do it).

It'd also depend upon whether this is the kind of deal that pops up regularly. For example, cake mixes are going to go on sale buy-one-get-one-free again in a week or two. I wouldn't go out of my way JUST for that deal. But deeply discounted Christmas paper and ornaments are really "at their best" in the few days after Christmas. If I wanted/needed certain items, I'd try harder to hit that sale.

 

[mikechan]

I'd say about 20 miles is getting too far, unless it's substantial savings like more than $100.

 

[iconian]

Depends upon the deal. I'd drive across town for a canned goods sale. I'd drive a couple hours -- maybe across the state -- to save a bundle on a new car or a new sofa (though I'd talk to the people on the phone and be very sure of what I was getting before I'd do it).

It'd also depend upon whether this is the kind of deal that pops up regularly. For example, cake mixes are going to go on sale buy-one-get-one-free again in a week or two. I wouldn't go out of my way JUST for that deal. But deeply discounted Christmas paper and ornaments are really "at their best" in the few days after Christmas. If I wanted/needed certain items, I'd try harder to hit that sale.

I will drive like you did.

 

[indimom]

We drove 70 miles to our nearest outlet mall yesterday because DH wanted to go window shopping. I was not thrilled, but went along with it.
SO GLAD we did. We found the pots and pans we have been eyeing for the last two years seriously marked down!!! Woo Hoo!! We bought just a frying pan about a year ago to try it out and see if they were as good as advertised and have been very happy with it. We planned to keep our eye on sales or just build the set slowly piece by piece (although it is more expensive this way).
We've seen these marked up as high as $1,000 and as low as $600 online and in department stores. When we saw them in the store, they were marked $399, but we didn't see any boxes on the shelf, so we asked about them. After a bit of checking, the clerk told us they were the last set in stock, they weren't selling them anymore, and since they were the display set and no longer had the box, they would sell them for $199. At the checkout, they wrang up $192.50 with tax!!!
Could not believe our luck. Merry Christmas to us!!! Each of our parents gift us $50 every Christmas, for a total of $200 between us. So we didn't even have to pay a penny of it ourselves! Well worth the drive!!

 

[snowywhite89]

Its really cold today so debating if I really want to drive anywhere, even for a great deal.

If I had more errands to do at the same time, I would probably go, but just can't get motivated to go anywhere for just one item, good deal or not.

So I wondered -

1) how many *miles* will you drive to get a good deal? Especially if the only thing you want at the time?

or

2) how *good* of a deal does it have to be, or how much $$ do you need to save before you'll leave your comfy warm house?

I estimate the amount of gas I will use and if there are other things that I can do in the area that I would not otherwise drive to.

I would drive for a "must have" item even if it was full price.

 

[mrodgers]

30-40 miles is just a normal trip to the nearest shopping center or grocery store for us. Makes it kind of funny when someone says 20 miles is the furthest to go for a deal.