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If she can't help with your to-do list who can? |
ping...the list goes on and on. Then there is a ring at the door. Great! Just what I need another distraction in my day you think. But much to your surprise in walks Alice. You know, THE Alice from the Brady Bunch circa 1972 all ready to take away half your to-do list with a smile. Then you wake up from your dream and realize that although you don't have Alice at least there are technologies that can make it a little easier. One in particular, Alice.com and Soap.com
I've recently used both of these services and was very impressed with both.
Here is what I thought of them:
What is Alice.com?
Alice.com is an online marketplace for household essentials. As a leading provider of online retail and interactive marketing services for the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, Alice.com offers manufacturers a direct to consumer platform that provides shoppers with competitive pricing, free delivery, instant coupons, and simple automation and management of household purchases. And, with its free iPhone app, all of this is available on-the-go. Alice.com is privately held and headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin.
What is Soap.com?
Soap.com has over 25,000 products under one virtual roof. From your beauty basics and household ne
cessities, to the nutritional products with great prices, with fantastic everyday values across our range of products and a Savings Center that makes it easy to find the stuff on sale this week. Soap.com delivers everything to your door in 1-2 days for free. Soap.com is also connected to 3 other sites that specialize in specific needs of the family. Diapers.com for all your baby needs which as you've guessed so far include diapers with popular brands like Pampers, Huggies, and Seventh Generation. Wag.com offers supplies and food for all your pet needs which doesn't just have things for Fluffy and FeFe but includes items for even your feathered and scaly family members too. Lastly, YoYo.com offers fun for just about the whole family with games and toys for Toddlers to Teens. The family of sites all share one cart and generally ship together. Also purchases from each site count toward their free shipping minimum.
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Wag.com keeps pets happy! |
Benefits
|
Alice.com |
Soap.com |
| Variety of name brand products | YES | YES |
| Not spending money on gas | YES | YES |
| Free Shipping | YES | IF YOU SPEND $X.XX |
| Delivery within 1-2 days | YES | YES |
| Budget tracking | YES | NO |
| Reminders/product planner | YES | UNCLEAR |
| Reviews | YES | YES |
| eCoupons | YES | YES |
| Customer support | LIMITED HOURS | 24-HOUR; 7 days |
| Return Policy | YES - 30 DAYS ON UNOPENED/UNUSED PRODUCTS | YES - 365 DAYS ON UNOPENED/UNUSED PRODUCTS |
| Pay with PayPal | NO | YES |
Negatives
|
Alice.com |
Soap.com |
| Minimum amount/Minimum items | MUST ORDER AT LEAST 6 ITEMS TO COMPLETE ORDER | NO- BUT MUST ORDER AT LEAST $39 TO GET FREE SHIPPING |
Alice.com offers a unique social experience by "friending" other Alice.com users. They also offer a referral program that nets you 3% commission on your friend's shopping for a year. When you've earned at least $50 they send you a check. Soap.com also offers a referral program that caters to the more generous consumer. You save your referred friend 20% off their first order and Soap.com will donate up to $25 to their listed charity partners. While both sites offer e-coupons, Alice.com tallies up what you've spent by category and how much you've saved to help those who keep a tight rein on their household budget. Soap.com caters to the saver's pocket by allowing them to pick 5 of their favorite products, which will always save you 10% on those products each and every time you shop.
Shopping online saves you time by not having to lug a cart in a store and move products around 6 times (from the shelf to the cart, from the cart to the cashier, from the cashier back in the cart, from the cart to the car, from the car to the house, from the house out of the bag) Yes! Six Times! Shopping online also saves you money. How many times have you entered in Target or Wal-Mart for a mere 6 items and left with 10 more? Click. Click. Type and Click and you just might avoid the spur-of-the-moment-I-suddenly-need-a-food-processor-when-I-don't-cook syndrome.
Let's face it, an Alice may not come to all of our rescue but with online shopping conveniences like Soap.com and Alice.com it's like a dream come true.
Like what you read and want to share on your blog or in print? No problem. Just make sure you make this statement at the end:
Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner of B Dexterous, LLC based in the Washington DC Metro Area. B Dexterous publishes "Use Your Hands", a monthly e-zine used to stay in touch with clients and prospective clients but also to enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (571) 232-8116 or via e-mail at andrea_hancock@bdexterous.com if you'd like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!
