Mary Harrsch: 2017

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Prime Pantry and other lesser-known Amazon incentives

Last night on ABC World News the reporter made a big deal out of Walmart offering free shipping if you order items totaling at least $35 or more.  Of course, Amazon has had that policy for some time.  The reporter showed a large container of detergent claiming Walmart's price was something like half of the price at Amazon.  I'm afraid I was immediately skeptical about that.  

Amazon has started a new policy of offering incentives if you are willing to wait longer than two days for shipping. I took advantage of this the other day on one of my orders and received a $5 Prime Pantry credit. I didn't know what Prime Pantry was so I checked it out. Prime Pantry, which I assume is for Prime members, is a program where you can fill a generously-sized box with pantry items like laundry soap and additives, non-perishables like peanut butter and mayonnaise, cleaning supplies like Swiffer refills, bathroom cleaning supplies, etc. and if you choose at least five items from the specially selected categories you can get free shipping. (These types of pantry items are usually not available for Prime free shipping). I wanted to be sure I was not overspending on the items I selected, though, so I opened the Walmart website and compared Amazon's prices on each item with the identical product and size on Walmart. All of the items I priced were either as cheap as Walmart or a few pennies less. So you can see why I was dubious about the ABC report. I managed to put together a box of items I would have purchased during my regular grocery shopping (including the brands I usually buy), got free shipping and used my $5 Prime Pantry credit then further reduced my order with reward points from my Amazon Rewards Card.

Would I order with Prime Pantry on a regular basis? In my case, probably not just because I live in the country and must drive to the grocery store each week anyway

(a Walmart superstore is less than 10 miles away) to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, bread, etc. But if I was housebound or a person living in the city and dependent upon public transportation, I would probably order as much as I could from Prime Pantry so I could minimize how much I would need to carry on the bus or subway while getting (most of the time) the lowest prices available. Besides, Walmarts are usually located in the suburbs not in the center of large cities so you would probably save a lot more than grocery shopping in your local urban neighborhood too!

History really does come alive for me!

I appreciate history from all historical periods but I have always been especially interested in ancient Mediterranean cultures. Although I am fascinated by ancient Egypt, I became totally entranced by ancient Rome after reading the "Masters of Rome" series of novels by Colleen McCullough and in particular the life of Julius Caesar. McCullough's novels, "The First Man In Rome", "The Grass Crown", "Fortune's Favorites", "Caesar's Women", and "Caesar", made this complex personality come to life. He was not the cold and calculating tyrannical conqueror often depicted by various historians apparently with their own political axes to grind. He was a tender lover, a skilled orator and advocate, a talented poet and historian, a consumate politician, and a man with integrity as well as cunning and military genius.

Collecting Historical Dolls

Although I have collected period dolls casually for several years, I did not become a serious historical doll collector until I visited a website put up by another historical doll enthusiast who specialized in Cleopatra dolls. I was amazed at all of the different versions of the Queen of Egypt that had been produced over the years by various doll companies and individual artists. I resolved that day to focus my doll collection and use this hobby to help disseminate historical information in an interesting and enjoyable format. More >>

Collecting pictures of dead people I don't even know

I began collecting Cameo Creations in 1994 when I found two portraits at a local flea market. At the time I did not realize there was such a variety of subjects, frame styles and even objects including mirrors, wall shelves and candlesticks that featured the distinctive ornate style highlighted by portraits of women primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. My son once told his friends that his mother was little strange because the house was full of pictures of dead people we didn't even know! I have purchased some for as little as $6 but they average $12 - $22 for the 7 1/2" size depending on where you find them and the type and condition of the frame, the glass, and the image. I eventually discovered that they are often auctioned up on Ebay and have obtained several in this way including the four portraits featured on this page. The majority, however, I have found at flea markets and in scattered antique shops. I have also found Ebay to be a valuable reference source. I have purchased some portraits that no longer bear the identifying sticker but by looking at others offered for sale on Ebay I have been able to identify mine.

Movieland Wax Museum brought back childhood memories

Being a very strict disciplinarian, my father only allowed us to have one formal outing a week and I usually chose the local theater that ran double features (now a thing of the past) on Friday and Saturday nights. At that time the film industry offered many historical pageants like Ben Hur, Spartacus, and El Cid which not only appealed to my love of history but ignited my passion for cinema, a passion that has not dimmed over the decades. Sadly, Movieland Wax Museum has closed. But, you can revisit it through my website along with different Madame Tussaud's and The San Francisco Wax Museum, too!

Mary Harrsch

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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Prime Pantry and other lesser-known Amazon incentives

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