Market-Evaluation Customized

One thing I've done periodically in the past and again recently was to write a letter to a company to let them know if I like or dislike their product. Since becoming a paid mystery shopper I've come to realize that taking such pro-active action is really beneficial to the company. It is for that reason that they will usually send a coupon for free product.

The address for each company can be found on the package/container. I suppose a Google search could also give online access to this process... Has anyone tried this avenue?

The rules I follow are to:
1. BE POLITE!
2. Be honest.
3. Be factual.
4. Be helpful by providing product information like UPC code, size,
expiry ... whatever could help them. Even offer suggestions you would like to see added.
5. Be concise.
6. Use correct letter format, spelling, grammar as best you can. Present it professionally. Typed or hand written are both acceptable.
7. BE POLITE!

This last item was for a toilet bowl cleaner that I felt did NOT do the job as well as its other variety of the same brand. The company sent me a generic coupon that had printed on it a list of many/all the various items this company offers - I could choose which item I wished. So I choose one that I use a lot ... which ended up being one of the most expensive on the list, but one of the only ones that I wished to buy as I certainly DID NOT want to buy another of the "faulty" product. The cashier just filled in the purchase price of my new product.


So in essence, you could create your own mystery shopper position writing many companies to let them know your opinion of their product. It takes a little time, but it is beneficial to you & others. Plus you get the remunieration of the coupons.

Now, that said. I know I have sent praise of product in the past and not received a coupon, just a thank you response, but knowing you've blessed someone gives a good feeling too.

Also, I have not yet tried this method using the internet/email method. Instead, I 've chosen to date to do this using snail mail, believing this may leave a more sincere message with the manufacturer. Granted, then you also incur the expense of postage.

Has anyone else had experiences like this?

Gift to Help You be a Godly Wife

A free ebook by Lylah is yours by posting a comment on her blog: Money Making Mamas. The book is called Power Prayers for Your Mighty Man. Check it out. See if you don't stand convicted and find encouragment to be more the woman God desires you to be.

Frugal Deal: Free Quaker Granola Bars

Check you local grocery store shelves for specially marked boxes of Quaker granola bars. The Quaker Crunchy, Chewy Yogurt, and Chewy Trail Mix bars have a coupon printed inside (boxes indicate a coupon inside). The coupon is a 2 for 1 deal - you buy a box and get one box free. Buy two or three boxes, then take them home and cut out the coupons. These coupons are then "proof of purchase" for having bought those 2-3 boxes. Use those three coupons to go back to the store and pick up two or three more boxes - being careful to pick the variety again that has more free coupons for more free boxes.

Storage tip: We have extra freezer space, now that our pasture-raised poultry is all sold, so I am storing these treats in the freezer to keep them fresh longer.

Variety tip: Check all local stores for the possibility of more variety of flavors. I have found that some locations only carry one ... and variety is rather nice!

Canadian Shopper: Free turkey + $25 gift card

Anyone can get a free turkey + a $25 gift card with a grocery/household Christmas order at the Real Canadian Superstore - with a $300 order. For those of you doing your Christmas order this week, this would be a nice bonus.

"2 for 1" Deal: Spry Gum

Here is another "2 for 1" deal that I have come across: Spry gum and/or mints. Spry is sweetened with xylitol which is a 100% natural sweetner that is endorsed by the Dental Association to also be an anti-plaque agent inhibiting the formation of cavities.

The gum is in chicklet format and made without color. Therefore all the flavors are white. They use oil to add the flavors of cinnamon, spearamint, fruit flavor (much like "Juicy Fruit") and peppermint. Both the flavor and texture are lasting.

Our family has been without gum and candy for nine years - ever since one of our ds came down with Diabetes Mellitus, Type I. However, the xylitol sweetner, in small amounts at least, does not affect blood sugar levels.

So there you have it, Spry offers a treat that is good for your teeth and good for blood sugar levels - how cool is that?!

Oh, and speaking of cool ... xylitol itself has no after taste, but rather a pleasant "cool" taste/feeling in your mouth.

Spry can most often be purchased in local Health food stores.

Canadian Shopper

Deals this week for those who live in Canada:

- Superstore has their $30.00 off with a $250.00 purchase order.

- Sobey's is offering a $20.00 gift card with a $100.00 order.

Just in time for Christmas!


- And I noticed that "The Nosegay" just off Broadway (Broadway & 9th)in Saskatoon, SK. is advertising 1/2 off of cut flowers each Friday afternoon after 2:00 PM.
Go ahead, spread some cheer!

A Gift for You

The new book"Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" by Jennie Chancey & Stacy McDonald has been on my wishlist since it's debut. I've also been interested in a subscription to Homeschooling Today magazine. Now, we can get both for the price of a subscription only. What a gift!

Go to Homeschooling Today to claim your own gift of "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" with a new or renewal subscription to the magazine. Subscribe before December 24.

Farming in the Freezing Cold

Living, as we do, in Canada, we face farming in the freezing cold. This week we're experiencing below-normal temps and having kept our older laying hens longer than usual to supply our growing market demand, we are now experiencing the difficulties of winter. Our little coop is not insulated, therefore not winter-proof. We keep our larger young layer flock in an insulated barn where they easily keep each other warm.

The water, in the coop where the senior layers live right now, is easily kept thawed using an electric heat tape. The chickens keep each other warm enough to survive, but their laying production rates definitely go down if the temperature in their coop gets too low. In addition, the eggs need to be collected every hour or two if we hope to salvage any because they freeze and crack allowing contaminents into the egg and rendering them inedible for human comsumption.

Thankfully, most of our senior layers have found retirement homes on various local acreages. A few remain, headed for the stew pot or an unfortunate demise with the local friendly fox that's been lurking around...maybe they'll help us snare the fox?! Better to catch one now than six in spring!! Can't let those critters multiply around a chicken farm...been there, done that! Not pretty!

Labels on Product

This week we faced the challenge of finding out that we will need to get new labels for our eggs. We cannot use the word "natural" to label our eggs ... unless we also have the dislaimer somewhere on the carton stating "all eggs are natural". How silly is that? We had chosen the label "Sunview Acres All-Natural Eggs" to put on our label because, you see, we are also no allowed to use the word organic in any way unless we go through the expense of certification. That is not really an option for us as we intend to remain a small operation.

Where has free enterprise gone to in this country? Since when can anyone have a moratorium on the english language?

Which words would communicate to the consumer the top quality of our eggs? Any ideas?
If you have a suggestion, please post a comment. Much appreciated.

Tips to Save Money

Being a good steward of all that God has blessed us with is an integral part of a Christian's life. Crystal at Biblical Womanhood Online and through her blog, Money Saving Mom,
shares many ideas that can help us reach the goal of good stewardship.