Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- The Nintendo 3DS is drawing quite a buzz, and GameStop announced that it will host events at more than 3,000 of its U.S. stores around the launch of the highly anticipated gaming device.

The company is opening its stores early on March 27, the day the Nintendo 3DS becomes available. GameStop reported that 800 stores nationwide will open at 12:01 a.m. and more than 2,400 stores will open early at 9 a.m.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion announced that one lucky MVP customer will win free groceries for a year.

Customers can scan their MVP cards once a day at the in-store coupon kiosks, and they will be entered for a chance to win free groceries. Customers also can instantly win one of more than 200,000 free national and private brand items starting today through April 19. Free items will be awarded in the form of a coupon on the customer's MVP Savings Center coupon sheet which must be redeemed on the day it is issued.

FREEPORT, Maine — L.L.Bean announced that, effective March 25, it will offer free standard shipping to all United States and Canadian.

“We tested free shipping offers with no minimum purchase for several months and the customer response was overwhelming,” said Chris McCormick, president and CEO, L.L.Bean. “Our customers want and value free shipping. It’s our opportunity to offer free shipping for all U.S. and Canadian customers with no minimum purchase, no end date, no conditions -- guaranteed.”

New York City -- Save Mart Supermarkets saved more than $8,000 on a high-efficiency LED lighting retrofit of store in Ripon, Calif., through a partnership with the EnergySmart Jobs program.

Save Mart is distinguished as one of the first participants in the federally-funded program, which is an initiative of Energy Upgrade California and is administered by PECI, San Francisco. It focuses on creating new jobs through the implementation of energy-saving upgrades that help commercial retailers lower their operating costs.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Consumer electronics become outdated almost as soon as the public learns about them, so electronics trade-in services, such as the one offered by Target, help consumers stay on top of the latest trends without having to have a pile of old cell phones collecting dust in their homes. Target Wednesday announced that it has expanded its trade-in program to include Nintendo DS, in time for the upcoming release of the Nintendo 3DS. 

New York City -- Almost 80% of respondents in a national survey of moms’ shopping habits said that the recession has permanently altered their shopping habits, inducing overall cuts in spending by purchasing items on sale and using coupons. The survey was conducted by the online shopping site Totsy.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Though Dollar General's fourth-quarter sales growth came in at slightly below analysts' expectations, the company is still considered a good investment.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced that it has expanded its Gourmet range with a line of specially handcrafted frozen artisan pizzas from Italy, selling for $3.99. 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- An article in the New York Times reports that Sears' aggressive "Turf Wars" advertising campaign is part of a trend toward mentioning competitors by name.

Described as a marketing platform including social media and online video clips, The Sears Turf Wars campaign brings Lowe's and Home Depot into the picture.

NEW YORK — Next to gas, the rising cost of food almost always tops consumers' list of spending concerns, and those concerns will surely rise as food prices reached peak levels last month, according to the Labor Department's Producer Price Index. The particularly high increase in the cost of both fresh and dry vegetables not only hurts consumer wallets, but could also curtail efforts, such as this partnership between First Lady Obama and Walmart, to encourage Americans to eat healthier.