SavvySugar

Fake Receipt Generator: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:01:01 -0700

Nobody can have their steak and eat it, too, right? The creators of expenseasteak.com would disagree. The site's ethically questionable Maloney & Porcelli's Expense-a-Steak Headquarters tool allows you to enter any amount of money, and then generates several receipts that add up to your total. When I entered the amount $274.22, seven very real looking receipts popped up from a variety of merchants like "Office Supply Hut" and "The Panini Experience."

If you're asking yourself why anyone would want receipt knock-offs, then you're probably not familiar with expense reports. The reports are submitted to your company's accounting department after a business-related trip, and typically include copies of all receipts for which you want reimbursement.

The genuine appearance of the receipts is pretty incredible, but I can't imagine having the chutzpah to submit fake receipts in hopes of pulling one over my accounting department. What do you think of the Expense-a-Steak generator; is it brilliant or baffling?

Couple Sets Up PayPal For Wedding Gifts: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:15:16 -0700

Most of you were baffled when a broke bride-to-be asked strangers to contribute to her wedding fund via her Help Me Pay For My Wedding! website. But what if the woman was only targeting her family and friends?

Another bride-to-be, Vanessa Caldwell, has created a PayPal site where guests invited to her November wedding can give the couple money - even by charging their credit cards. Instead of creating a typical wedding website where guests can go to find details about accommodations and day-of details, they developed Dollarforawedding.com and announced its existence on Facebook.

The couple has received about $750 so far and Caldwell defends the idea saying, "We weren't trying to have a lavish wedding; this wasn't a get rich plan. This was just to help us with a small intimate wedding with no more than 75 people." Some guests may have given the couple cash anyway and wouldn't be bothered by the PayPal suggestion, while others might be offended by the presumptuous nature of the request. What do you think of the idea; is it brilliant or baffling?

Cockney Slang ATMs: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:15:12 -0700

Has your ATM ever asked for your Huckleberry Finn before spitting out your sausage and mash? If you were in London it might! For the next three months, a handful of ATMs in London's East End will give users the option of being addressed in Cockney rhyming slang. If they choose this adventurous option, users will have to know to request a "speckled hen" instead of £10, and decide whether to check their balance on the Charlie Sheen (screen).

The company that owns the ATMs claims that in addition to providing a little entertainment, it's trying to preserve a fading dialect. So far, some customers are getting a kick out of the unusual lingo, while others are finding it confusing and irritating. What do you think about this gimmick: brilliant or baffling?

Cargo Cruise Ship Vacations: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:30:31 -0700

Luxe buffets, planned activities, and live music are what come to mind when I think of cruises, but if you're looking for a vacay on the water that's atypical, you might consider paying a cargo ship to take you on board. Apparently, there are a number of cargo ship companies that make their freighters available for a limited number of guests to have their own rooms, and many come equipped with perks like TV and movies and exercise rooms.

Cruises can run from about nine days to five months, and while the ships tend to dock in industrial ports far from tourist attractions, most will let passengers go sightseeing as long as time permits. The cargo cruises generally cost around $100 per day; if you're interested, check out FreighterCruises.com and FreighterWorld.com for destinations and pricing.

What do you think of the concept - is it brilliant or baffling?

Pay-What-You-Want Taxi Service: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:30:16 -0700

The Great Recession has inspired businesses and entrepreneurs to build more creative marketing schemes and business plans. Pay-what-you-want restaurants are no longer a rarity and have generally shown that people will pay a fair price, even when they're not given a bill.

One innovative guy in Vermont took this idea and is driving with it in his Vermont-based part-time business, Recession Ride Taxi. Eric Hagen's taxi sign reads "Pay What You Want!" and he also offers pay-what-you-can bottles of water, Gatorade, and soda, and a free ride after six paid fares. Hagen told the Burlington Free Press that he's satisfied with the way business has been going; while he's received payment in the form of a CD from a musician and a $10 supermarket card, most patrons pay in cash.

What do you think of his idea: is it brilliant or baffling?

Casual Co-Working Jellys: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:30:37 -0700

Telecommuting is gaining popularity during the recession, and while many of you say you'd jump at the chance to work from home, some of you pointed out that you'd miss the camaraderie that comes with an office environment.

NYC friends and roommates Amit Gupta and Luke Crawford felt the same way when they began working from home, so they started Jelly as a solution. Read on to find out what it means to Jelly.

Emergency Kit Hostess Gift: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:30:06 -0700

Practicality is en mode these days, but I'm wondering if the makers of Ice-Qube preparedness kits (priced $20 and up) are taking the rational focus a little too far. The company says:

Finding the perfect gift is tricky, but emergency preparedness is always welcomed. Whether heading off to a dinner party, going to a small get together or escaping to the country, why not bring the host something they need because there are some of life's events even the best host can not prepare for.

There's a whole line of kits, including products designated for home, office, baby, and pet. The company thinks the Ice-Qube is the "must have hostess gift of the season." What do you think of the idea of gifting an emergency kit - is it brilliant or baffling?

Christmas Displays in July: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:30:54 -0700

It's no secret that retailers are going through tough times. Depressed consumer spending has caused Sears and Kmart to adopt a new method they hope will inspire the shopping spirit. The stores are promoting Christmas in July, building displays and online promotions with that unmistakable holiday flair. One retail consultant commented, "It looks more like desperation than inspiration," while another remarked, "Overall, it seems to be a pretty smart strategy." What's your take?

Requesting Resumes Via Text Message: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:30:46 -0700

If you've been tracking your whereabouts in 140 characters on Twitter, then you'd have no problem detailing why you're the best person for a job in 160, right? British mobile phone content provider Teimlo is hiring by text, requesting that potential candidates send a 160-character text message selling themselves as the first step in the application process.

If the company is impressed with the text, candidates will have to go through more traditional hiring steps like sending a full resume and interviewing in person. What do you think of the tactic, is it brilliant or baffling?

Standing-Room Seating on Planes: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:30:52 -0700

If you think coach seats are uncomfortable, think how stiff your legs would feel after standing for an entire flight. China's Spring Airlines is considering selling standing-room seats to fulfill growing demand and spokesman Zhang Wuan explained, "It's just like bar stools. The safety belt is the the most important thing. It will still be fastened around the waist."

These so-called standing-room seats might not lead to pins and needles in your legs, but probably a bit of discomfort in the tush. However, implementing the idea would allow the airline to accommodate 40 percent more passengers per flight, reduce costs by 20 percent, and customers would enjoy lower airfares. What do you think of the concept for standing-room seating - is it brilliant or baffling?