Why You Can Trust CNET Get a portable jump-starter and charger for $35.99
From the Cheapskate: Practical? Check. Multi-purpose? Check. On sale? If you're a Cheapskate reader...check! Plus four bonus deals.
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You know that office party gift-exchange coming up this weekend? Or that loved one who's constantly leaving the keys in the ignition? Or that "be prepared" Boy Scout mantra hard-wired into your brain? Today's deal covers all that and more.
For a limited time, and while supplies last, Gooloo -- okay, seriously, I know it's hard to come up with company names and there are foreign languages that occasionally translate funny, but come on: Gooloo?! -- has the Car Jump Starter Power Bank (black) for $35.99 shipped when you apply coupon code FUOIZDSY at checkout. Bam: you just saved $14.
Update: Apologies, folks, looks like item is sold out.
You just can't make up a name like "Gooloo," Oh, wait, yes you can.
At first glance, you might mistake this for a typical mobile charger, as it's just a compact black slab. You'll definitely think it's a mobile charger when you plug your phone or tablet into its 2-amp USB port.
Ah, but there's more. This thing can jump-start a car, too, thanks to its 300-amp peak 12-volt output. I'm not a car guy, so I don't know what "300-amp peak" means in real-world terms, but according to (sigh) Gooloo, the 6,000mAh power pack can jump a battery up to 20 times.
Or it can charge a smartphone 3-4 times. Now, "6,000mAh" is a number I do understand. And in my humble opinion, you're more likely to get 2-3 charges. Just saying.
There are tons of inexpensive jump-starters out there, but two things surprise me about this one: the size (you could easily keep it in a glove box) and the reviews. It scored a whopping 4.8-star average from over 70 buyers, and I didn't see any evidence of "I got this free in exchange for my honest review."
Oh, it has a built-in LED flashlight, too. So, all that considered, this strikes me as a fantastic gift item -- or just a super-practical be-prepared tool to keep in your car.
Your thoughts?
Bonus deal: In case you missed it last time around, Google Play once again has Blake Shelton's "Cheers, It's Christmas", Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas" and Josh Groban's "Noel" for free. These are complete albums, available for streaming or MP3 download, no strings attached. (I think the Groban album went "non-free" soon after I shared it last time, so hopefully you can grab it this time!)
$14.99? Yes, please.
Bonus deal 2: What would you rather throw into your gym bag, a fancy set of sport headphones you'd constantly be worrying about losing or breaking -- or an inexpensive pair you can enjoy worry-free?
If you chose the latter, MDA Direct (via Rakuten) has the Liger XS700 Bluetooth sport earbuds for $14.99 shipped. Regular price: $29.99. Available in your choice of four colors, the XS700 racked up some pretty impressive reviews over at Amazon, where they sell for $19.99.
Bonus deal 3: I still love magazines, though I must admit these days my preference is to read them on a tablet. Well, guess what: Many a print-edition subscription also entitles you to the digital edition! (The key word there is "many." Not all of them do.)
Whatever your preference, head to Tanga's Business and Tech Magazine Sale, where you can score a year of Wired for $3.99, a year of Popular Science for $4.99, a year of HDVideo Pro for $6.99 and more.
For when your phone won't do, VuPoint Magic InstaScan.
Bonus deal 4: A smartphone can do a pretty decent impression of a scanner, but if you want razor-sharp copies of documents, photos and the like, you need the real deal. For a limited time, and while supplies last, TechRabbit has the VuPoint Magic InstaScan portable scanner for $49.99 shipped when you apply coupon code HULKSMASH15 at checkout. This little sheet-feeder saves scans directly to a microSD card and it has very positive reviews on Amazon, where it costs $65.