Posted 6/19/2025 (deals and orders placed 6/18/2025)
Search Strategy: Hunting for a Better Floor Lamp
My old desk lamp was poorly made—screws loosened, sections wobbled, and the lights flickered. Here’s how I researched a sturdy replacement:
- Consumer Reports
- Checked via my library’s online database (many libraries offer free CR access).
- No floor-lamp reviews found.
- Deal Sites
- Scanned ClarkDeals.com for a floor lamp—no luck there.
- ClarkDeals.com also mentioned that Woot was holding one of their Garage Sales, so off I went to take a look.
- On ClarkDeals.com, I spotted a 3-pack of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter (16 oz each) for $6.66 on Amazon.
- With Free Prime shipping and a $1 digital credit (from choosing Saturday over Friday delivery, a one-day delay), my net cost dropped to $5.66. I would be charged the $6.66 for the item, but could use the $1 for a future purchase.
Woot Garage Sale: Temptation vs. Priorities
Woot’s “Garage Sale” runs through June 24 with limited-quantity items added daily. A standout listing was a refurbished Apple MacBook Air 13″ (2019) at $379.97. Tempting, but I’m saving for a new 24-inch iMac (the 27-inch model is discontinued). I may pair a 24-inch iMac with a larger external monitor instead. I want the newer model as it has the M chip and can use the Apple version of AI. (The way their garage sales typically operate is they post items that have limited quantities to clear out, and they add items at different times during the day. This garage sale ends on the 24th.
My Lamp Quest: Ambimall Modern Floor Lamp
I fed my price range, feature list, and that I wanted well-reviewed items into my AI helper and got several suggestions, including this floor lamp. To vet user reviews, I ran it through Fakespot.com (unfortunately, they are shutting down July 1):
- Product: Ambimall Modern Floor Lamp
- Price: $19.99 (marked down from $35) + tax = $21.49 (I received free shipping)
- Features: White fabric shade, foot-switch, weighted base
- Why I picked it:
- Under $25 means no pro reviews—relied on vetted user feedback.
- Good user ratings that had been vetted.
- Free Prime shipping.
Handling Digital Credits & Customer Service
Remember that $1 credit from my peanut-butter order? It didn’t appear when I bought the lamp, so I:
- Started a live chat with Amazon customer service (always screenshot anomalies).
- Learned a $5 credit would post within 24 hours, boosting my peanut butter’s effective cost to $1.66. I only wanted the dollar, but, given the situation, it ended up being $5, which will be used.
- Lesson: Always document oddities, stay friendly, and be solution-oriented. In a prior order dispute (with a different company), I reversed a chargeback once the delayed item arrived—everyone was happy. (The company had gone silent on me, and a one-week lead time turned into multiple weeks.)
Pro tip: Being a “good customer” with patience and clear communication goes a long way.
Next Up: Smartwatch Review
I’m wrapping up my in-depth review of the FITVII HM57 Smart Watch, covering features, user-review vetting, and real-world performance—coming soon in Product Picks!