Just a quick note that I happened to check the Radio Shack website for a Z-Wave item I needed today and noticed last week’s sale (ended the 18th) has been improved with a new one ending the 25th. The Trane thermostat - normally $149 most places - was $99 last week and $74.99 this week. Some of the GE switches, outlets and lamp controllers that were in the mid $30’s last week are $24.99 this week. There is also free ground shipping.
I had ordered my thermostat and some other doodads on the 15th and they are due to arrive today or tomorrow when I discovered the pricing. I called the RadioShack web services customer service number to see if they would do like most good retailers: refund the difference… logical especially since I’ve not even gotten the items in hand yet. The guy told me this was impossible and they don’t refund for sale prices. Brilliant. I know places like Best Buy usually will refund any price drop within 30 days, so I found this pretty irritating. He did say I could return them and repurchase again - a gigantic hassle and more costly for all parties to deal with.
I decided that, since I was saving upwards of $40 just from last week to now with these drops, I might return the stuff to the local store and re-order again from the website (none of this is in stock in my local stores). Fortunately, my local store said bring it in, they will process a return and then sell it back to me at the sale prices on the spot. Still idiotic in the grand scheme of things (driving to the store vs. web their services not being jerks policy-wise), but at least I won’t have quite as much hassle to deal with and yet more delays.
I picked up the Trane thermostat for $100 last week and thought that was a good deal. Now I need to decide if it is worth buying one for $75 and returning it using the $100 receipt.
EDIT: I called radioshack.com and they gave me a $25 refund =). Now I wonder if they are going to drop the price even more?!?
The GE 3-way switch combo is tempting me, just for the main switch. Take the auxiliary switch and toss it in the trash, I fought a battle with trying to use it in it’s intended role and lost.
It took me a while to get mine to work. I just had to completely disregard the wiring scheme that the builder used and rewire everything the way they wanted it to be. Luckily they ran enough stuff in the walls that I could get something figured out. I’m really glad that I only have one 3 way switch in my house though. Would not look forward to that battle again.
Bought Three Trane thermostats last week at the 99$ price, called radioshack.com and they said they would not refund my difference. So i went to the store to return and re-buy and the girl working tried to give me a hard time and say they werent in her system and that she couldnt do that. Eventually she just tried it and it came up so she did end up giving me the refund. If they give you a hard time just tell them all the message boards are doing the same thing and theyll come around.
That’s weak! I had no problem when I called radioshack.com to refund the difference. Also, if you have a receipt from last week, there should be no reason why they cannot refund your money.
Funny. Mine will be starter kits with the lock, but missing the light module I’ll sell these for $50 or so and get 4 free light modules out of the deal. Im not sure these gateways will sell at all, Im not going to even bother trying to part these out…
Just picked up a Trane thermostat today for $74.99 at local RS. When I went in it rang up as $149.99, but I pointed out their website and they eventually (after a lot of debate) gave me the $74.99 price.
OP, thanks for posting I have been looking for a third Trane and was waiting for this type of sale.
On sale again until 01/06/2011. I wonder how often they plan on running these 50% of sales. I certainly wouldn’t complain if they made a habit of it. I may eventually get some locks if they keep them at that price. Locks are unfortunately pretty far down in my deployment plan though. I am enjoying the dimmers though.
Too bad they went out of stock because, as it turns out, the locks are awesome in a Vera system! Now that I have them, I really don’t know how I could go back to the old-fashioned way.
Too bad they went out of stock because, as it turns out, the locks are awesome in a Vera system! Now that I have them, I really don’t know how I could go back to the old-fashioned way.[/quote]
Yep, once you go keyless it’s awesome, nothing to carry, never locked out by mistake, full access control, they are great, wish I could get rid of all my keys!
Just an FYI, Radio Shack in store prices (today only) are in some cases even better than those online. This was the case at my nearest store in Houston, TX (Sugar Land to be precise).
They had on the shelf:
Schlage lever lock (nickel) - $70 (online $80)
Schlage deadbolt (nickel) - $70 (online $80)
GE 3-way dimmer switches (Z-wave switch + companion switch) - $20 (online $35)
Trane Thermostat - $60 (online $75)
GE LCD Remote - $22 (online $32)
GE Wall receptacle - $15 (online $25)
Schlage Web cam (wired ethernet) - $25
Schlage Web cam (wireless) - $80
and more.
I’m just starting Z-wave in my house, my MCV is on it’s way in the mail, so I cleaned this store out quite a bit. I had gone in the day before hoping to get the Schlage lever lock at the online price, but their in store computer still had it at full retail ($200). The store manager told me to try the next day, he saved me the lock, and sure enough, prices were updated and, like I mentioned, even cheaper.
So your mileage may vary, but try your local Shack if you’re needing any of their stuff. I feel like I’m jumping into the Z-wave stuff at the right time!
I’ll sell these for $50 or so and get 4 free light modules out of the deal. Im not sure these gateways will sell at all, Im not going to even bother trying to part these out…