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I don't know about you, but I've never had much luck with those FM transmitters that are supposed to let you listen to your MP3 player via your car stereo.

I'd find the suggested frequency, but the sound would be so faint you could barely hear it. Or it would just be full of static.

Here's another idea: why not buy a new car stereo that's MP3 player-friendly? Sure, you'll spend more, but prices continue to fall. And for me, at least, it's worth the extra cost. Circuit City, for example, has a sale this week on a JVC car stereo that includes an iPod adapter cord for $129.99. (For do-it-yourselfers, you can get it even cheaper: Amazon.com has it for $99).

The Circuit City deal also included installation, so I went ahead and bought it this past weekend. (I also had to buy a car accessory for my Corolla.).

What's cool is they route the adapter cord through your glove box so you can just keep your player tucked away in there. You can then use the stereo controls for your iPod.

Having said that, you might want to check on whether your iPod is compatible, which apparently was an issue for at least one buyer.

As we talk about in the latest GameBuzz Webcast, it always pays to sort through those video game bargain bins because sometimes you can snag a great game at a great price.

I recently bought a used copy of Project Gotham Racing 3 for $7.99 for the Xbox 360 at a GameStop store in Greensboro. Released in 2005, it's still considered one of top racing games for the Xbox 360. Sure beats plunking down $59.99, the going rate for a new Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 game.

Dealnews mentions you can get the Flip Video 60-minute digital camcorder (white) for $90 until 1 p.m. today if you order at Amazon.com. Shipping is also free.

The pocket-size camcorder features 1 GB of internal memory. The fold-out USB plug goes right into your computer, so you don't need a flash card or a FireWire. Uploading video is a piece of cake.

Takes pretty good video for the price. We sometimes use it at the News & Record for breaking news stuff that we need to get posted pronto, such as this footage John Newsom took regarding an overturned dump truck.

In the last item in this week's Savvy Shopper column, I shared a few fabulous freebies I enjoy and invited you to share yours.

And you did. I got this email from Susan who pointed to Walmart as a way to get samples and other goodies for free. "I sign up for about two or three items per day!" she said. "I've received free toilet paper, laundry detergent, headache medicine and more."

Here's how: Go to the Walmart home page at www.walmart.com and click on the "In stores now" button on the left-hand rail. Then choose "free samples" toward the middle of the page to search the store's offerings.

Thanks Susan for passing along that fab freebie. Any others?

Check your mailbox for a $5 off coupon from McAlister's Deli, which has restaurants in Greensboro and High Point.

Retailers are slashing prices, hoping you'll spend more of your hard-earned dollars. So is it working, or, as as the latest sales figures mostly indicate, essentials are the only things you're buying right now?

Rite Aid will give you a $30 gift card and enroll you for a chance to win a year's worth of gas if you transfer your prescription. Details here. Link to coupon here.

Interesting and a bit unusual marketing tactic by PTI as seen in its latest TV commercial. In a nutshell, PTI is conceding that it's cheaper to fly elsewhere.

But the tradeoff, according to the ad, is you have to drive a lot farther to get to another airport. Although not named, the ad is most likely referring to Raleigh and Charlotte.

And once you arrive at those airports, finding a place to park is a royal pain, so the ad says. Then you get to stand in long lines at security checkpoints. The passenger in the commercial, who chose not to use PTI, looks like he's about ready to check into a mental hospital when all is said and done.

But is the ad right on the money?

From my own experience, it's definitely more convenient to fly out of PTI compared with Raleigh and Charlotte regarding those key points: travel time, parking and security.

On Friday afternoon, the beginning of a holiday weekend no less, I had to pick up a friend who was flying in from Dallas. I was easily able to find a prime parking spot about 50 feet from one of the main entrances and close to his arrival gate.

His plane was late, but not PTI's fault. As I waited in the lobby, I glanced over at the security checkpoint. The lines never got long and passengers seemed to get through it with their sanity intact. My friend even remarked how easy it is to use PTI.

So having said that, do you still prefer to drive to Raleigh or Charlotte to save some bucks or, if time is money and you can't put a price tag on mental health, do you find that PTI is still a bargain in the long run?

Wear your favorite football team's attire or logo on Monday and get a 3-count order of Chick-fil-A's new "Chick-n-Strips."

That means any clothing or accessory that has a collegiate logo, or the logo of your favorite recreational football team, middle or high school football team, or professional football team. Yes, that includes the drive-thru (until 10 p.m.).

Promotion starts at 10:30 a.m.

Hoping to entice you to help break another single-season attendance record, lawn tickets, hot dogs, soda and beer will be sold for a buck during the Grasshoppers' season finale Monday.

The Hoppers are hoping to break the record for the fourth consecutive season.

Monday's game at NewBridge Bank Park starts at 12:30 p.m.