How to get a Sony Reader for $149.99 shipped
My two cents on e-book readers like the Sony Reader: awesome technology, overpriced hardware. I just can't see paying $299 for one. But $149? Now we're in the ballpark.
If you don't mind applying for a Sony Visa card, that's exactly the deal you can get. Here's how:
First, apply online for the credit card, which promises instant approval (assuming you have decent credit, natch). Sony's offering a $150 credit when you purchase something priced at $299 or higher--like, oh, the Sony Reader. Add one to your shopping cart at SonyStyle (in your choice of spiffy colors), then pay for it with your new "card" (you're allowed to make one purchase before the actual card arrives in the mail).
Obviously, a $150 credit isn't the same thing as a discount (you're still $299 out-of-pocket). But you can easily use that credit for gas, groceries, or whatever. The bigger question is whether the Sony Reader is the right e-book gizmo for you. (Reading CNET's review may help you decide.)
Much as I'm a huge fan of e-books, I prefer to read them on my iPod touch--a pocket-size device I'm already carrying anyway. What do you think? Is $149 a low enough price to get you to pull the trigger on a Sony Reader? Personally, I'd like to see it hit $99.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog.
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by karen184902
March 4, 2009 5:20 AM PST
- Thanks for posting this! The deal is not quite as sweet now ($100 back instead of $150), but it was still enough to get me over the hump and order a 505. I've been trolling eBay for a few days, and this is a better deal than I've seen there. Thanks!
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