The Cone of Silence

Ever eat in the mall's food court? Be careful of your conversations.

Teenaged science fair project alert! Go to the Boise Town Square Mall and map at which tables you can hear other people's conversations.

It used to be that my daughter and I would sit over by the windows when eating in the food court. From that vantage point we could hear - CLEARLY - several conversations people were having if they were seated at tables in the middle of the eating area. It thought the effect was caused by the configurations of the windows.

Wrong!

If you sit inside the main dining area, you can clearly hear conversations of people seated over by the windows. Looking up the patron will notice the oval dome over most of the dining area. Apparently that is where the nice directional 'echo' is occurring.

Has mall management noticed? Are they going to do anything about it? I hope not. Some of those very personal conversations can be quite entertaining.

Good-bye Directv

We've had Directv for over 8 years. We liked the service but the monthly bill kept rising. It got to the point where I couldn't ignore the 'new customer' offers from CableOne anymore. The high-end package that CableOne offered was less than the cheapest package Directv was willing to give me as an existing customer.

When we cancelled the service, a special Directv representative called to beg us to change our minds. He kept offering discounted packages but none of them got close to the deal we were getting with CableOne. I told him exactly what services we were getting and the price but he couldn't match it.

So today I get an e-mail from Directv. Their 'new customer' offer is everything we're now getting with CableOne but $4 cheaper! It makes no sense for them NOT to offer that to existing customers who are obviously cancelling their service. How much does it cost to KEEP a customer vs try to get that customer back? It is poor marketing on their part.

Too bad Directv. You lost us. Maybe in a year or so we'll be back, maybe not. It depends on what CableOne does to keep our business.

Bye-Bye Andrew / Hello Dave!

So Eagle Rib Shack closed then soon after the sister store in Meridian, Andrews Ribs, went to catering only. Don't know what is going there but I can't cry at the loss. Yes, the food was awesome but with Famous Dave's now open, I'm not feeling the loss. Yum!

Things we pay too much for ...

~ Cable / satellite TV - Even the lowest priced plans are far too expensive; especially considering that there is no competition in many markets. We pay $63 a month. Needless to say, that service is getting cancelled.

~ Basic telephone - It really burns me that basic lifeline service is $12.95 for SOME low-income people but I can't get that deal. Instead I have to get exactly the same service but pay $30 a month for it. I even hate the fact that my 'basic' service price is increased by approx $5 a month due to add-on fees and taxes.

~ Internet access - We pay $51 a month for high-speed internet access. That's ridiculously high but if we want access at all, that's what is available. Again, no competition so we get what we get and pay the price.

~ Income tax filing fees - That we have to pay AT ALL to electronically file is amazing to me. We're SAVING the government money and on top of it we have to PAY to electronically file? That just burns my hide!

~ Credit card interest rates - Ever hear the term 'usury'? Here is the definition ... 1archaic : interest 2: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use ; especially : the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates 3: an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest ; specifically : interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money. When credit card companies start charging borrowers 19.99%, 21.99%. 25.99% or even 35.99% interest rates JUST BECAUSE THE BORROWER WAS LATE ON ANOTHER CC, to me, that is usury.

~ Cellphone service - I have a basic nationwide plan with a three year old phone. It is the cheapest plan I can get unless I go to a pay-as-you-go yet my plan cost $44 a month! That is excessive. I'm looking to switch.

~ Toilet paper - This is a product that is manufactured BY THE TON, yet we pay what? More than a $1 a roll - more if we want luxury paper? Then we use the stuff for a moment and FLUSH it down the sewer? It galls me to pay so much for the stuff.

~ Beauty products - Every woman knows, we're paying for the advertising and the packaging; not the stuff inside. Yes, some specialty ingredients will cost more, but the mark-up on beauty products is astounding.

~ 'Virtual' items - Ever buy virtual furniture, charms or accessories on Webkinz? What a racket.

There is so much more but I'll stop now.

Eating out at the mall

I'm a mystery shopper. The details of mystery shopping are left for another post, but I mention it because last year I was assigned a shop to a fast food venue at the mall. The franchise hired mystery shoppers like myself to do a food safety inspection for them. The checklist was long. The visit lasted over 2 hours and I took dozens of pictures. The report was also confidential so I won't mention the name of the business here.

Sadly, I found lots of violations.

When I was at the mall recently, I walked past that same 'store'. From what I could see in the public areas (during the shop I was allowed in the back), they hadn't done a thing to improve. When I got home I looked up the 'store' on the Central District Health website to see how their safety inspecitons had been going.

I didn't find one.

I called CDH and was told that the establishment was considered 'low risk' so it wasn't inspected. However, the person I talked to took a report and said the inspector responsible for all the food stores at the mall would be notified. The inspector called me back, asked a few questions and basically implied I was blowing this out of porportion.

We'll see.

In the meantime, I am posting here to remind everyone to be really careful. If you don't like how someone is handling your food, cancel your order and walk away. If they are committing violations in front of you, imagine the level of violations that might be occurring out of your view.

Fortunately, I never have eaten at that 'store' I inspected and, of course, I never will. I shudder to think what some places I have eaten at have been doing, though.

Cabela's

This forum isn't supposed to be a venue for complaining about the stores in the area however I'm making an exception in this case.

Our family was excited about the Cabela's opening. We were already catalog members so we got a bunch of promotional material for the store's opening. I attended the Grand Opening expecting some kind of appreciation for being loyal customers for years before a brick-and-mortor store was in our area. Sadly, there was none.

Because we were already credit card customers there was no promotional premium available to us. I asked for the baseball cap that they were giving away to new credit card applicants and was refused. I calmly (and with a bit of good natured sense of humor) worked my way up the chain of command and was repeatedly refused. I asked on more than one trip to the store and there has been no change in policy.

We're closing our Cabela's account and won't be visiting the store again. One little $5 baseball cap would have gone a long way to keeping a customer happy and they couldn't see that. Too bad for Cabela's.

Arm warmer update

Apparently Kohls has kids T-shirts that have arm warmers instead of sleeves.

Arm warmers for kids

Surfed the mall today - yes, "The Mall" as there really is only one - looking for arm warmers (wristies, fingerless gloves, whatever) for kids. Couldn't find any! The Children's Place had a pair of gloves that came with fingerless gloves for about $6.50. We got a pair of those. Finally we ended up at Hot Topics where they had a wide selection for adults. Some were only hand warmers but we found a couple of styles that would fit tighter than others. At $10 a pair, DD (dear daughter) had better like them.

The word on the street is to wait. Come winter the better sporting good stores, especially the ski shops, will carry them.

Back in the saddle again

The Treasure Valley Shopper is back.

Great news! Reggies's Veggies has opened a new location in Eagle!

All the great produce and products that we have been driving to Milwaukee to purchase are now available in downtown Eagle in the now-defunct ice cream shop next to Doug's Burger Den. Be sure to check out the back yard of the building, especially on weekends when there is too much to fit in the tiny front patio or inside the building.

Freecycle Heaven

There are many 'freecycle' and used-item exchange groups on the internet in the Treasure Valley. Here is the list of the ones I know...

Trading Boise: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TradingBoise/

Boise Freeshare: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boisefreeshare/

Ada County Freecycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdaCountyFreecycle/

AC-Cheap-Recycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AC-Cheap-ReCycle/

Generally you have to join to get messages about the items offered but each board has rules, so read those over.

Boise also used to have their own Craigslist site but that has now changed to the more generic "Idaho". That link is:

http://boise.craigslist.org/

The Craigslist is getting more and more popular. There is some really great stuff on there.

For All Green Thumbs

My friends and I laugh because if you live in Idaho it seems you must have in your yard: at least one blue spruce (if your yard is big enough), a peony - or two - or two dozen, a Rose of Sharon, a lilac and a Catalpa tree.

The blue spruce will probably get a yellow jacket nest in it. Oh well, that probably isn't the first place you'll find a yellow jacket nest.

The Catalpa tree will drop HUGE leaves in the fall and have those annoying large seed pods but otherwise they are quite pretty - if pruned properly. They also grow quickly. Just don't grow it too close to your house as it can drop branches.

The Rose of Sharon will grow quickly and help screen whatever you want to keep hidden. You'll know it is time to plant when a certain bush bursts out with yellow flowers. It is an indicator plant. It tells you when the soil is warming up. I wish I could remember the name. Any nursery will have it.

Roses do well here. You can plant lots of varieties.

As for trees, any poplar does well although you'll want to spray for aphids in some years. They also tend to grow fast. You can get cottonwood volunteers from ANYONE because around here the stuff grows as prolific as bamboo. The problem with cottonwoods is they will drop branches (and sometimes whole trees) so don't have them TOO close to the house. Steer clear of silver maples. They are notoriously dangerous. If you have a wet area, you can consider a weeping willow. Some nurseries will tell you quaking aspen won't do well here but we've had great success with it. Late in the summer, when most nurseries have sales because they are about to close for winter, you can find aspen seedlings for $1 each (little 3 to 5 gallon containers). Even if half of them take off you'll be thrilled by next summer.

You may consider fruit trees - standard or semi-dwarf varieties. There are some spectacular cherry and crabapple trees in this valley. Standard apples and pears do okay here, too. Peaches and apricots are only marginal and a lot depends on the season. We get walnut volunteers. Chestnut does well, too.

Plant grapes and cane berries, too. You'll be thrilled with the table grapes you can get. Save room for a seasonal planting bed, too. You can get all sorts of wonderful tomatoes and beans grown in your own yard.

If you have a shady spot, hosta and ferns do really well here. They are a seasonal plant that come back again and again. Speaking of seasonals, we've naturalized our daffodils, tulips and irises. We even have grape hiacynth that pop up every year and the sunflowers volunteer themselves. Don't bother with geraniums. They're seasonal here and unless you're willing to start them from seed, really expensive. You may splurge with a seasonal fuscia, though.

Good nurseries: Greenwood (is that the name?) on Hill Road. Greenhurst in Nampa - it is like going to plant nursery heaven. Plus Cloverdale on Cloverdale and Natures on Ustick near Cole in Boise. There are also tons of littler nurseries around. As you drive, look for their signs when they have sales. There is a good fruit tree nursery in Sand Hollow (west of here and in the sticks). You can try the various FreeCycle groups for dig-your-own tree volunteers and lilac starts.

The Expected and Unexpected Places to Shop

We all have our favorite shopping haunts. Apart of this blog is the hope that we'll all have the opportunity to share and discover new places. In the meantime, there are the expected places to look for particular items and the unexpected alternatives. Here is an exercise in thinking 'outside the box', especially if that means shopping someplace other than a 'big box' store.

Towels
The usual: Any major department store (MDS)
The unusual: Costco. I don't know why but Costco consistently carries decent quality, basic bath towels. Yes, the color selection can be limited.

Kitchenware
The usual: Any MDS
The unusual: Cost Plus. Sometimes when I can't find an items, I'll try Cost Plus and be pleasantly surprised. Not only can I usually find the item, but it is frequently cheaper. Also check out Standard Restaurant Supply. No, I don't want to remake my kitchen into 'industrial restaurant' (although, I have considered it) but Standard Restaurant Supply on Fairview does carry some items that are hard to find anywhere else. If you can't find the item, they just might order it for you.

Toys
The usual: Toys R Us, Target, Fred Meyer, WalMart, Shopko
The unusual: There are a several options in this category. First of all, be sure to visit the Childrens Store on Orchard. It is an absolute treat. I try to go WITHOUT the children or else I'll end up spending a fortune. Another great option is Learning Express on State Street. The selection isn't as vast as Childrens Store but the quality is just as good. One store I'll gladly bring my children to is the KB Outlet at the Outlet Mall. We can usually find some little trinket of a toy that will keep the kids entertained. On the way out to the outlet mall, pull off the freeway and head toward the Edwards Theaters. Drop in and look at the little toy section in the gift shop of the Cracker Barrel Restaurant. You'll probably end up buying several toys just because what you see will bring back fond memories of your own childhood.

Books
The usual: Barnes and Noble, Borders, Hastings, Waldenbooks, B Dalton, etc
The unusual: The Book Warehouse at the Outlet Mall. The prices are worth the drive AND they have knowledgable staff. If you want to talk to a walking encyclopedia, however, you really must visit Trip Taylor Bookseller on 10th Street. The owner loves books and may have even read every title in his store.

Gift Wrap and Cards
The usual: One of the many Hallmark Stores or the gift wrap section of any major grocery store, drug store or variety store.
The unusual: There are so many wonderful places to go. Try the Record Exchange downtown for truly funny and unusual cards. Cost Plus offers beautiful gift wrap and unusual cards, too. If you keep checking Cost Plus after Christmas, you can frequently find their gift wrap deeply discounted and you can grab up a supply that will last you all year. For cheap, fast and consistent go to a dollar store. I cringe at paying $3.95 for a simple birthday card in the grocery store's card display when I know I can get THE SAME ITEM at the dollar store for 1/4 the price. For handmade cards with local interest, look near the check-out lanes at the Boise Co-op. For those funny Hanging Tree cards, you'll want to check out Sportsman's Warehouse or your closest D&B.

Jewelry
The usual: Any free-standing jewelry store that tends to advertise on the radio.
The unusual: Stewarts Gem Shop. Yes, you can get diamond rings at Stewarts and they will be beautiful qualify at a fraction of the price. If you haven't had a chance to go by Stewarts, they are highly recommended. They do jewelry repair, too. D&B also tends to have a nice selection - albeit small - of silver and Black Hills Gold jewelry. Frankly, the Shopko jewelry department is a pretty decent supplier of Black Hills Gold, too. If you must shop at a 'usual' jewelry store, then Helzberg Diamonds in the mall has our nod.

Groceries
The usual: Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Winco, WalMart and of course, Costco
The unusual: The Boise Co-op comes to mind first. Is that really unusual? Maybe not, but if you haven't been - go. While there, grab something from their prepared food deli, too. The Boise Co-op is known for their wine and beer selection (they really should open up a separate location JUST for that side of the business) but they also have great meats, cheeses, breads, and condiment selection. And yes, it is worthwhile to purchase a membership.

Other off-the-beaten track grocery stores are M&W on Warm Springs, Paul's Markets and Ridleys. Sometimes the higher prices can discourage shoppers from going the distance to get to one of these stores, BUT if you happen to live where one of these stores is convenient, you'll appreciate the hometown-friendly shopping experience.

About once a month it can be worth your while to go to the Grocery Outlet on Fairview just to see what they have in stock for cheaper than the standard grocery stores. Our last great buy there was frozen pizzas. While there you can also visit the Great Harvest Bread bakery. Yes, you can find real bread in Boise! Along the same lines (can you tell I love bread?), be sure to make Zeppole, downtown on 8th street, a usual stop. Zeppole is also a wonderful place to grab a quick bite for lunch.

Another good once-a-month stops is Cash-And-Carry on Shoreline. You don't have to have a wholesaler's license to shop there. It used to be, though, if you were one of the general public you had to pay with cash - a major inconvenience. Now you can use a debt card and buy all you want! The problem with Cash-And-Carry is the temptation to get carried away. My freezer isn't big enough sometimes.

For produce, it is hard to beat Reggies Veggies on the corner of Ustick and Milwaukee. Yes, they are in a tent. It is okay. Shop there anyway. The produce is worth it. If they have any pies left, seriously consider picking one up. If you don't the person behind you in line WILL. The worst part of shopping at Reggies Veggies is when they close down during the winter. I go through withdrawls.

There is so much MORE! But those other wonderful stores will have to be mentioned in another post.

Is it too early to think about Christmas?

If you have seen a local Target ad recently you've noticed the 'off to college' merchandise in the stores. While you may not personally have a need for extra-long twin sized sheets, this is a good time to go through the stores with early Christmas shopping in mind. There are some great deals out there on small household appliances, electronics, home office and home decorator items.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? You may want to grab up some inexpensive coordinating plates, glasses and flatware. You can find some lovely tableclothes and serving pieces at Standard Restaurant Supply on Fairview by Orchard, too.

By the way, when those XL-twin sheets go on deep, deep clearance, consider buying them for fabric if you're into sewing your own Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts or even those adorable little-girl pillowcase dresses.

Speaking of little girl dress, don't pass up short sleeved T-shirts, sundresses, and tank tops when they go on summer clearance. Tank tops easily go UNDER a shirt during wintertime and those short sleeved T-shirts are fun to layer with a long sleeved plain shirt underneath. A carefully chosen sundress can be layered with a turtleneck and some cotton tights for an autumn-into-winter, back-to-school look. My little one likes to put those comfy cotton knit shorts under her dresses for a little extra warmth and modesty for when she's on the monkey bars. Boys will enjoy wearing their summer T-shirts under their flannel shirts, too.

While it is fun to snap up some summer toys and furniture that will easily store in the attic until next year, DO NOT buy any extra sunscreen or bug spray to stock away. It won't be good next year and plenty will go on sale next spring.

School is starting!

Can you believe we are thinking about school starting again?

Here is my personal hint on back to school shopping ...

DO NOT blow the budget on clothes before school starts!!!

Around here school starts in mid-August. The weather is still hot and will be that way until late September. That is at least 6 weeks where the kids will still want to wear summer clothes - summer dresses, shorts, short sleeve shirts, open shoes, etc.

On top of that, the important items to spend the budget on are beginning of school fees (for those kids in sports, etc) and school supplies - lunch boxes, backpacks, and the huge list of things the teacher says the kid needs.

And there are many a kid who has purchased what they thought was cool clothing for school only to actually attend school and find out that only the nerds wear it. If you must buy clothing for school, buy ONE new outfit for picture day or the first day and be patient!

There is a lot of stuff that goes on sale in October when the push for 'back to school' is over and the stores are preparing for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then in January you'll start seeing deep, deep discounts and 75% or more clearance items on really nice winter clothes. Those new outfits - the stuff your kid will really wear - will get him or her from January all the way through to Easter if you buy smart. Then in late April or May you'll only have a couple of outfits to buy to get them through the warmer weather just before school lets out.

Another hint ... buy an extra lunchbox per kid now, while they are in stock, then HIDE IT. Kids invariably break their lunch box by January but by then it is really hard to find them anywhere (other than the generic can coolers you can find in the camping department). If your child can't decide which lunchbox they want to get, buy both. You won't be sorry.

Affiliations?

Am I affiliated with any business in town? In short, no. I will not receive compensation of any kind from any of the companies I recommend. Think of this site as the ultimate mystery shop. We'll tell it exactly as it is and YOU get to see the results.

I do have a business as an AVON representative. Because of that, I'll not be recommending any AVON products - although there are plenty I could recommend (wink!)

Treasure Valley Shopper

Welcome to Treasure Valley Shopper!

On this site you'll find hints and tips to shopping in and around the Boise, Idaho area. Whether you're new to the Treasure Valley or a long time resident, I hope you'll appreciate the inside scoop on great places to get fabulous deals, wonderful products and stellar services.

The Treasure Valley is the largest metropolitan shopping area in Idaho. The closest high-density shopping destinations are hours by car away: Portland, OR; Reno, NV and Salt Lake City, UT. The savvy shopper can find everything they want right here in the Boise area without having to hop on an airplane.

A little about the author ... I'm known as Cookie. I'm a long time frugal fanatic so when I shop, I prefer to save money. There is no reason to spend more than we have to! However, I also appreciate convenience and fine living. I strive to strike a balance between a nice lifestyle, simplicity and frugal living. I work hard for my money so I like to make my money work hard for me.

There is lots to explore in the Treasure Valley. Come along for the ride.