Author: Mike Flacy

    Editor-in-Chief for The CheckOut. During my free time, I love to write about pop culture, home theater, digital photography, social media, mobile technology and cool gadgets!

    If you are interested in having The CheckOut crew review one of your products, send me an email to reviews at bensbargains dot net. (Of course, replace at for @ and dot for .)


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    Check out my most recent posts:

  • amazon-key
    Amazon wants you to pay $250 to let strangers inside your home

    Pretty much identical to Walmart’s pilot program, Amazon has announced the launch of a new service for Prime members, called Amazon Key, that will allow delivery people to drop packages inside your home while you are away....

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • target-store
    Free Holiday Shipping starts at Target on November 1

    Announced earlier today, Target will roll out free holiday shipping on November 1 for the holiday shopping season. While Target previously extended the free shipping period until the start of the new year, the company is reducing...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • DLT70KwUIAAuffW
    Google announces $50 Home Mini, $400 Home Max, $160 Pixel Buds

    Matching Amazon with a barrage of new product announcements, Google has released information on new Home smart devices as well as a new Chromebook, a new lifecam and headphones that translate foreign languages in real time. In...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 1
  • amazon-echo-new
    Amazon announces $99 Echo, $69 4K Fire TV, $129 Echo Spot

    Announced in a press conference earlier today, Amazon is rolling out a new generation of Echo devices that are 45% less expensive than the 1st generation models. The new Amazon Echo starts at an MSRP of $99.99...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 1
  • order-online-inside
    Walmart wants to stock your fridge while you aren’t home

    Launching a pilot program in Silicon Valley this week, Walmart is testing out a service that would send employees into homes to restock the fridge, even if the customer isn’t home. This is specifically for homes with...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 1
  • kohls
    Kohl’s will start accepting Amazon returns at some locations

    Testing out a new service in 82 brick & mortar locations, Kohl’s will be accepting Amazon returns for free starting in October. This service is rolling out in Los Angeles and Chicago first, possible looking at the feasibility before...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • magnificent
    What’s new in September 2017 on Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO Now

    Interested in what movies and television shows will be added to your favorite streaming service this month? We’ve compiled an extensive list of everything coming and going on Netflix and HBO Now as well as what’s arriving on Amazon...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • best-buy
    Offline shopping? Best Buy wants to send a salesperson to your home

    Currently being tested in markets such as Atlanta, Austin, and San Antonio, Best Buy is trying out a free service in which a salesperson is sent to your home in order to provide recommendations about products to purchase. Basically,...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 2
  • amazon-echo-alexa-dot
    Goodbye Sonos? Echo devices just got multi-room audio for free

    Announced earlier today in a press release, Amazon has added multi-room audio playback to all Echo hardware. This means you can synchronize music across multiple Amazon Echo devices in your home. The song you are playing in your kitchen...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • google-home-walmart
    Google & Walmart team up on voice ordering to take on Amazon’s Alexa

    Starting in September, Walmart customers will be able to use Google Home devices to place orders using only their voice; quite similar to Amazon’s Alexa via Echo devices. In order to accomplish this, the nationwide retailer will make their products available...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • Amazon’s new Instant Pickup aims to deliver items within minutes

    Currently testing the concept on two California college campuses first with three more coming soon in Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio, Amazon is aggressively attacking the brick-and-mortar retail market by providing “daily essential” items at select locations. Instant Pickup items stocked at...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 0
  • What’s new in August 2017 on Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO Now

    Interested in what movies and television shows will be added to your favorite streaming service this month? We’ve compiled an extensive list of everything coming and going on Netflix and HBO Now as well as what’s arriving on Amazon...

    • Posted 9 years ago
    • 1