Why CDNS Should Get Amazon.com Prime, Part IV

In Part IV, I'll be explaining how great Prime Music is to have.

Prime Music, including Prime channels that are based on both artists and genres, not only through your laptop/desktop, but through other devices, is a great source of music.  While you do need to sign up for a service such as Unblock-US.com as described in Part III, it's well worth it.

You can enjoy Prime Music through different devices, including:

• The obvious--your lap/desk top
• Your smartphone for purchased music, and IF you can can connect your phone to an IP masking service such as Unblock-US.com, and then (hopefully) to your car stereo, you'll enjoy a wide variety of musical options
• The Amazon Echo.  This is a black cylindrical device that brings the future to the present.  Much better than Siri, it will play music, but it will also communicate with you, answer questions, tell you jokes, give you news updates, sports updates, weather updates, allow you to make purchases, connect with your smartphone and update your list of things to do, a shopping list, schedule appointments on your Google calendar, search Wikipedia, play games, control your household appliances and SOOOOO much more--and the cool thing is, it updates without needing to trade it in for a newer model one day.  The Amazon Tap is a portable version of it.  The Amazon Dot is like the Echo, but MUCH smaller, and is not meant for use in a central area; rather for use in bedrooms or wherever you did not place your Echo in your home.  These devices require a Prime subscription in the US to function properly, though the rumour is that Amazon.com has hired Canadians at its Toronto office to help introduce the Echo in Canada.  It DOES work in Canada if you mask your IP address, as Amazon Echo customer service will tell you (funny enough, huh?)  It WON'T offer local services, like an Uber from your CDN home but it will give you the weather if you ask for the weather in YOUR city, rather than just ask it about the weather.
• The Amazon Fire tablet.  An average in speed, VERY cheap tablet that is meant for those who have a Prime account (but not limited to it).  You can store downloaded, normally only streamed Amazon programs on it, of course surf the web, and many other useful features that you get with a tablet.

These devices are reasonably priced, especially when they go on sale, like Echo is expected to do tomorrow, on Prime Day--a great reason to sign up for a free 30 day trial for Prime TODAY!! Also, US-Unblock.com offers a 1 week trial here so that in the least, you can experience Prime Music (and Videos) for a week without any commitments.  BTW, you can cancel your 30 day trial with Amazon Prime on your account, without it ending immediately--just not charging your card when the trial is over--BTW, get an Amazon.ca credit card from Chase--they offer 1% cashback, no annual fee and most importantly, NO FOREIGN EXCHANGE fee!  So when you make purchases on Amazon.com, you won't be nailed with a typical 2.5% foreign exchange fee!

Why CDNs Should Sign Up for Amazon.com Prime NOW, Part III

In this part, I'll be explaining how and why to take advantage of a large selection of Prime Videos, including movies and cable shows, as well as very highly rated Amazon original programming that are top notch for all tastes, available to stream.

Honestly, Amazon.com does not match Netflix USA for variety of old TV shows and movies, but it nonetheless offers an impressive line up of Amazon Original TV shows.  They release an entire season in one day, consisting of several episodes.  These are top notch programs that are way better than a LOT of the trash on TV nowadays.  I imagine that Amazon has invested in high-end programs with big budgets, just to compete in the US market.  With programs such as Mozart In the Jungle, Catastrophe, Alpha House and SOOOO many others, for children to adults, there will be plenty of commercial-free programming that will keep you wanting more.  If you have an Amazon Fire Tablet ($50USD, and sometimes lower), you can download the shows to your tablet to watch when you're not in a wifi zone.

You will have to sign up for a reliable service that will allow you to access American websites like Amazon.com Prime to stream videos and music--I suggest unblock-us.com because it's reliable and commercial-free.  It works with SMART TVs, desk/lap tops, Fire tablets, some smartphones, and other devices.  They now have an app for Windows 10 that will save you from having to follow instructions to change your DNS settings--it will do it all for you automatically!

Please try Amazon.com Prime free for 30 days by clicking HERE and unblock-us.com for free for ONE week, by clicking HERE.

Why NOW?  Because right now, Prime Day, a day where thousands of items are on sale, including Lightning Deals that go fast, is TOMORROW!

Why Amazon.com Prime 2 Day Shipping is "Useful" for Canadians--Part II of Why CDNs Should Get Amazon Prime

In this part, I'll be explaining the advantage of their most basic service, 2 day Prime Shipping--when you're not even living in the States.
Amazon Prime offers 2 day free shipping in the USA, with the option of no-rush shipping plus a $.99 credit towards the purchase of Amazon music and videos OR free Prime Pantry shipping (savings of $5.99)--useful if you have a US address.

So, what good is free shipping in 2 days to the USA?  Practically every hotel in the States will hold packages for you.  If you know in advance that you will be going down to the States, especially by car,  you'll have a lot more room to pack it all in.  It's the cheapest (free) option to send it to your hotel, with an address such as:
John Smith, Arrival Date July 21
X Hotel
5555 John Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14304

Another option is to have the package shipped to an address of either a friend  who will send it on to you, or a better option, especially if you live in the Greater Toronto area, is to ship it to your own address in Niagara Falls, New York, not far from the Rainbow/Whirlpool Bridges.  NYAddress.ca is a furniture store that will give you a "suite" number just for you, emails you to let you know when a package has arrived in your name, hold your package at no cost to you, and all this for no membership fee, just $2.99USD per package!  I've used it and it's awesome.  When you sign up for it, they will give you "your" US address. Make sure that's where you ship your packages to, and when it's convenient to pick it up, bring you ID (of course), present it to them, and they'll hand you your packages!  I'd use that address as your American address for your Amazon.com account.

If you know you'll be heading down there in advance, send packages with no-rush shipping.  This is an option when purchasing items being sold either by Amazon.com or "fulfilled" by Amazon.com.  It will take about a week to arrive, and you'll receive either a $5.99 Prime Pantry credit (to use towards the purchase of grocery items they sell) or usually, $0.99 credits for each package you send that can be used for Amazon videos or music downloads.  Buy EACH PRODUCT SEPARATELY to get $0.99 for each package and they will tend to ship all of the orders you placed in one day in one box if they are sold by or fulfilled by Amazon.com.  Those credit can add up pretty fast!  They do expire but they'll email before that happens, letting you know about when that would happen.  

Get Amazon.com Prime FREE for 30 days NOW--before Prime Day tomorrow--Part I

My family has been enjoying Amazon Prime USA in Canada for about a year now.  Question is, are you going to sell your soul to Amazon?  Read more to find out what I mean and why it's TOTALLY worth it, and starting at 3am EDT, tomorrow morning (July 12) is Prime Day, a day where you'll WANT to be a Prime member in the States.
Amazon Prime offers:

• 2 day free shipping in the USA, with the option of no-rush shipping plus a $.99 credit towards the purchase of Amazon music and videos OR free Prime Pantry shipping (savings of $5.99)--useful if you have a US address--if you don't, I'll get to that in Part II
• A large selection of Prime Videos, including movies and cable shows, as well as very highly rated Amazon original programming that are top notch for all tastes, available to stream-Part III
• Prime Music, including Prime channels that are based on both artists and genres, not only through your laptop/desktop, but through other devices, including your smartphone that you can connect (hopefully) to your car stereo, to enjoy a wide variety of musical options and to other devices such as the Amazon Echo, Tap, Dot, and Fire tablet. More on these in Part IV
• Special savings to Prime Members--for example, tomorrow is Prime Day, a day when thousands of items will be marked down, and the best ones on what they call "Lightning Deals," where you have to jump quickly when an item becomes available for sale--then you have 15 minutes to check out or lose the item from your cart.  Prime members get access to some deals 30 minutes before non-Prime members...Part V
• Superb customer service, with prices that easily beat what you'd pay in Canada, even after the exchange rate, Part VI

Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Amazon.com HERE.  Then, read parts II through VI as to how and why Amazon Prime is WELL worth it.  Sign up for a free 1 week trial of unblock-us.com HERE so that you can enjoy the music and video aspects of Prime.  Remember when signing up for Amazon.com, to use a US address (sign up for one HERE for a free US address) so that you'll have no problems streaming, in combination with Unblock-US.com. While there are other services out there that will mask you IP address so that US streaming services will work, and some are free, they're not necessarily reliable, work well, commercial free, and in combo with different devices outside a lap/desk top.

What about Amazon Prime in Canada?  They offer nothing more than 2 day free shipping, for a similar price--a total rip off unless you plan on purchasing a lot of items with Amazon.ca.  Forget about all those other bonuses--perhaps next year they're coming--Amazon was hiring Canadians recently for their Toronto office, apparently to introduce and sell the Amazon Echo--more on the Echo in Part IV.

7-Eleven Day--Get A Free Slurpee and More

Today, on 07/11, between 11am-7pm, walk into any 7-Eleven, while supplies last, and get a free small Slurpee.  Offer valid in Canada and the US.  To see which flavours are kosher, ask to see the syrup in their "syrup room" on which you can see the certifications.
Download the 7-Eleven app from the Google Playstore or iOS, and buy 7 between July 12-18 (and scan the barcode with the app), and get 11 free slurpees until August 31st!  Normally, with the app, you get 1 free after every 7.
Here's the 7-Eleven store locator link.  Watch your feet--they could get VERY sticky by the dispensers!

The BEST Hotel Points Deal Around, How to Get the Points, And How To Get An Upgrade

Coming later this month, IHG, the Intercontinental Hotel Group, will be releasing, as they do every 3 months, their list of hotels worldwide that they will offer a "point break" on--meaning, whatever the regular number of points you would need to stay at any of the hotels on the list, from 10K and up, many times, over 20K per night, are only 5K per night.
You can stay as many nights as you wish in these hotels, and up to 2 reservations per hotel.  So for example, you could stay for 3 weeks and then a month later, within the 3 months that the deal is valid, stay for a weekend.
Unfortunately, the best way to get IHG points, other than staying at IHG properties and paying for the stays, is with the Capital One Canada IHG Mastercard, which is no longer accepting new applications since September 2015.  As a supervisor explained to me last week, it was due to IHG ending the relationship, and I should be happy that they didn't outright cancel the card as Delta did with Capital One Canada.
BUT, there is still another way of getting IHG points for Canadians.  First, you'll need to have an IHG account.  Sign up here for one.  Then, you'll need points to get points--if you have points, for example, around 20800 Aeroplan points, you can exchange those on Points.com for 15028 IHG Points.  Maybe not the best exchange rate, but at least you'll be in the game then.
Once you've made that exchange, log in to your IHG account, find a Toronto hotel, for example, for any night, and you'll see an IHG Rewards Club offer of using points combined with cash--the $70 option, meaning you'll spend $70 for 10K IHG points--that means you're paying $35USD/night for what could be a VERY nice hotel--I always choose either Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites or Candlewood Suites.  While a points night usually involves a regular room, Crowne, Staybridge, and Candlewood suites all have larger suites, including ones with full kitchens.  If they have availability in the larger suites (check first) and you'd like to have one because of the size of your family, send a nice email to the Front Desk Manager asking for an upgrade, that even without status, you may have some success getting.
Here's what the page may look like when you try to do this trick.  This screen shot is for the Holiday Inn Express Downtown Toronto. You'll see below that if you combine points and cash, you'll get refunded fully in points--so the 15K you initially put down, you get back, and the $70USD will be refunded as 10K IHG points extra in your account!

IHG^® Rewards Club Reward Nights

FREE Cancellation until 6:00 PM local hotel time on January 17, 2017
No deposit required
Breakfast included
Points + Cash bookings are charged immediately, and cancellations are refunded in points only.
View Rate Details

•  25,000 Points per night
•  20,000 Points + $40.00 USD *
•  15,000 Points + $70.00 USD *

* per night

This is how to do an upgrade, for ANY hotel, ANYWHERE:
A good idea is to go on Trip Advisor after seeing which hotel you'd like to stay at.  Find the hotel on there and see the name of the manager who's responding to the reviews.  Call the hotel and ask for that person's email address.  Write the person an email explaining how you're a Trip Advisor reviewer (hopefully you ARE), how you read favourable reviews on the website (you wouldn't be wanting to stay there otherwise), and how you would appreciate an upgrade to a suite that will fit your family.
Many Marriott properties won't give it until the day you check in, as they want to sell out the pricier rooms, not give them away.  Especially true if you would like an upgrade for many days, as opposed to a couple on non-peak dates, but I find IHG is more flexible on upgrades than Marriott is.
Much success to you!

Groupon 25% off Local Deals and Dealing With Corporate Discounts

Today,Groupon is offering 25% off up to 3 local deals.  Type in "25MORE" in the promo code line to get the deal.  ManatimesIt doesn't have to be in Toronto--if you have a city you'll be visiting, type in the city and see what local deal is available there--it doesn't cover national deals, such as Groupon goods (mattress sheets for example).  "PERFECT20" will get you 20% off on deals on Living Social.com
For example, the Entertainment Coupon Book, digital membership, $4 for 3 months (minus $1 with 25% off).  You may want to choose which deals to get 25% off on since you're limited to 3 per membership and save them for MUCH bigger discounts.  Your significant other may of course also have her/his own account too so you can get up to 6 local deals at 25% off.  Maximum value using the deal is $50 off, so for example, on one deal that costs $200, you'll save $50 and  use up your promocode allowance with "25MORE".
Always start your visit to Groupon through EBates.com, so that you can get cashback for whatever your final cost at any store is, including Groupon.  Currently, Groupon is offering 6% cashback, so a $200 Groupon purchase with the promocode, plus 6% cashback, would cost you $150-$9 cashback.
I find that Groupon.com, Living Social.com, WagJag.com, and Buytopia.ca are good for attractions.  I would recommend you ALWAYS read the fine print.  We've been "Grouponed" before when we realized that the 1.5 hour drive to a farm for our girls to enjoy a farm and a pony ride was for 1 child 4 times around, not up to 4 girls one time around.
NEVER recommend you use them for home services, such as vent cleaning.  They'll tell you that you need extra cleaning that is not covered by the Groupon even though you don't need it, and then they'll also have your phone number and call you every once in a while asking to come back, even when you tell them to stop calling.  Better off going  on to homestars.com and finding a legit business with good reviews.  While on the subject of going to websites to get advice, when finding a new doctor, I'd recommend you go to ratemds.com to find one that doesn't leave you hanging in the doctor's office for an hour (punctual) and one that will treat you with respect (not talk down to you).