Where can I purchase a Creative VOIP Blaster in the
seattle/bellevue/redmond/kirkland area next week (jun 15-21)?  I'm
from outside the US and visiting for the week and I'd like to find a
retailer that carries the product and has it in stock.  I would rather
not buy it online as I am not confident in the shipping time/cost
being worthwhile for my circumstances.

Hi Spired-ga,


The Voip Blaster which is  manufactured by Creative, is used to make
free worldwide Internet calls (PC-to-PC) and calls from PC-to-Phone at
very low rates.

I performed a search for Authorized Creative retailers in the Seattle,
Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland areas which interest you.
http://www.americas.creative.com/shop/wtb/local/local.asp


I listed the results below. These are all authorized retail stores for
Creative products. Some of them are large nationwide retail chains and
they generally have a large stock of products on hand. I like Office
Depot and CompUSA because they usually have everything.
I cannot promise that they will have the Creative VOIP Blaster in
stock the exact day you visit the store, but if they don’t, they
usually will request the product from another location and it will
arrive the next day. In my own experience, I call the toll free number
and confirm if my product is in stock for the store nearby before
leaving the house or I just call one of the stores to be sure they
have the product that day. I live out of the country also and when I
go to the States, I don’t want to waste too much time shopping. Even
though a product is confirmed in stock a few days before I arrive, it
could be sold out when I arrive, for that reason it is always
recommendable to call first.
The toll free number for Creative Labs is: 1-800-998-1000
http://www.americas.creative.com/shop/wtb/online/



Seattle:


Babbage's 
10746 5th Ave NE  
Seattle, WA  98125 
363-8600 
  
        
CompuCare 
160th & Aurora Ave N  
Seattle, WA  98133 
206-366-1234 
  
       
Computer Stop 
13510 Aurora Ave. North  
Seattle, WA  98133 
888-530-1702 

        
Costco Wholesale 
4401 4th Ave. South  
Seattle, WA  98134 
206-622-3136 
  
         
Costco Wholesale 
1175 N 205th St  
Seattle, WA  98133 
546-0480 
  
        
Electronics Boutique 
401 NE Northgate Mall Spc 406  
Seattle, WA  98125 
206-440-9049 
  
        
Electronics Boutique 
400 Pine St Sp 016  
Seattle, WA  98101 
206-467-9447 
  
        
Electronics Boutique 
600 Pine St, Spc C-15  
Seattle, WA  98101 
206-405-4333 
  
         
Fred Meyer 
417 Broadway E, Box 2  
Seattle, WA  98102 
206-328-6920 
  
         
Fred Meyer 
100 NW 85th  
Seattle, WA  98117 
206-784-9600 
  
        
Fred Meyer 
14300 1st Ave S  
Seattle, WA  98168 
206-433-6411 
  
        
Fred Meyer 
13000 Lake City Way NE  
Seattle, WA  98125 
206-440-2400 
  
         
Fred Meyer 
9620 28th Ave SW  
Seattle, WA  98106 
206-933-5490 
  
         
Hibler & Assoc, Inc. 
4306 SW Oregon St  
Seattle, WA  98116 
206-932-8795 

        
Northlight Computer & Video 
11395 5th Ave NE  
Seattle, WA  98125 
206-364-4676 
 
        
Office Depot 
1751 Airport Way S  
Seattle, WA  98134 
206-587-2582 
  
         
Office Depot 
13501 Aurora Ave N  
Seattle, WA  98133 
206-364-2404 
  
         
Office Depot 
4900 25th Ave. NE  
Seattle, WA  98105 
206-527-3220 
  
         
Office Max 
2401 Utah Ave. South  
Seattle, WA  98134 
206-467-0071 
  
         
PC Warehouse 
305 NE 45th St  
Seattle, WA  98105 
206-632-1901 
 

------------------------------------------


Redmond



Electronics Boutique 
16475 NE 74th St Spc E 225  
Redmond, WA  98052 
425-895-8331 
  
         
Office Depot 
15301 NE 24 St  
Redmond, WA  98052 
425-747-9019 

------------------------------------------


Bellevue  
  

Babbage's 
268 Bellevue Square  
Bellevue, WA  98004 
425-462-2811 
  
         
Babbage's 
15600 N E 8th  
Bellevue, WA  98008 
643-9282 
  
        
Circuit City,Circuit City 
15600 NE 8th St Ste M1  
Bellevue, WA  98008 
425-747-2949 
  
         
CompUSA 
100 108th Ave N.E.  
Bellevue, WA  98004 
425-452-9511 
  
         
Computer Stop 
14315 NE 20th Street  
Bellevue, WA  98007 
888-326-7132 
  
        
Computer Stop of Bellevue 
14315 NE 20th St  
Bellevue, WA  98007 
425-644-5400 
  
         
Fred Meyer 
2041 148th NE  
Bellevue, WA  98007 
425-865-8560 
  
         
Good Guys 
601 106th Ave. NE  
Bellevue, WA  98004 
425-688-0029 
  
        
Hylink Tech Inc 
11810 NE 8th st  
Bellevue, WA  98005 
425-688-1174 
  
        
Intl Micro Systems, Inc. 
14320 NE 20th Ste D  
Bellevue, WA  98007 
425-643-9880 
  
       
Office Depot 
100 108th Ave NE  
Bellevue, WA  98004 
425-453-2900 
  
        
Office Max 
14515 N.E. 20th  
Bellevue, WA  98807 
206-641-1418 
   
        
PC Outfitters, Inc. 
13256 NE 20th Ste 15  
Bellevue, WA  98005 
425-562-8286 

------------------------------------------


Kirkland



CompUSA 
12526-A Totem Lake Blvd.NE  
Kirkland, WA  98034 
425-825-5500 
  
        
Costco Wholesale 
8629 120th Ave. NE  
Kirkland, WA  98033 
425-827-1693 
  
         
Fred Meyer 
12221 120th Ave NE  
Kirkland, WA  98034 
425-820-3200 
  
        
Monulith Games & Computing 
10516 NE 37th Cir  
Kirkland, WA  98033 
 
        
Office Max 
12006 120th Place, NE  
Kirkland, WA  98034 
206-821-4056 

 
Search criteria:

://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&hl=es&querytime=wC&q=Creative+VOIP+Blaster+


Have a great time on your trip and enjoy your purchase when you get
home.


Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by spired-ga on 13 Jun 2002 23:09 PDT

The trouble is finding out which stores actually have it.  I've called
many of these stores (at ridiculous int'l long distance rates, mind
you) only to learn that they either never carried it or don't anymore.

The big chains like compusa or officemax at their web sites
(compusa.com and officemax.com) don't list the product as one that
they carry so I doubt they'll have it in the retail stores.

Any idea who actually has it?

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 14 Jun 2002 00:30 PDT

Hi Spired-ga,


In regard to your clarification request, I searched again and found
another toll free phone number that you can call when you arrive in
the Seattle area. This number gives specific product information on
non-technical issues so I’m sure they can indicate the exact location
of where the product can be bought at that moment.


Product Information   
Tel: 1-800-998-5227 (non-technical issues only) 
FAX: 1-405-624-6780    
Operating Hours (Central Time) 
9AM - 9PM, Monday - Thursday 
9AM - 5PM, Friday 
11AM - 5PM, Saturday - Sunday 


Have you considered ordering the product by phone? This is another
good alternative.

“If you prefer to order by phone, you may purchase any product
directly from Creative by calling Customer Service Team toll-free at:”
1-800-998-1000
9AM - 7PM CT, Monday - Thursday
9AM - 5PM CT, Friday
Closed Public Holidays 
http://www.americas.creative.com/products/wtb/phone/

  
In addition, I sent a message to Creative requesting information. As
soon as they answer I’ll get back to you.
http://www.americas.creative.com/contactus/mailto/sitefeedback.asp


I also sent a message to Compucare asking if they had the product in
stock right now.
http://www.compucare.com/submitmail.asp


I sent a message to Best Computers also asking if the Voip Blaster was
available at their retail store in Seattle at this time.
Best Computers
3600 Stone Way N
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-545-4216
Fax: 206-545-7838
Web Site: www.bcicomputers.com


I will keep looking for the Voip Blaster tonight in other retail
stores that I have found and as soon as I get an answer from any of
the stores I will let you know.


Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 14 Jun 2002 01:14 PDT

Hello again,

I just sent a message to each of the following stores in the
Bellevue-Seattle area inquiring about the Creative Voip Blaster:


Bear Computer Systems
13407 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: 425-869-5900
Fax: 425-881-6367
Web Site: www.BearComputer.com


Compudata
14220 NE 20th St. Suite D
Bellevue, WA 98007
Web Site: www.shipmypc.com


Bell PC
2319 N 45th St
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 800-867-7187
Fax: 206-548-1486
Web Site: www.BellPC.com


PC Stop, Inc.
13510 Aurora Avenue North
Seattle, WA 
sales@gopcstop.com
service@gopcstop.com 
Phone: 206-364-5400
Fax: 206-364-1996 
Retail Business Hours:


Cutting Edge Computers
14100 NE 20th Street #101
Bellevue, WA  98007
(425) 641-1410 Phone
(425) 603-1425 Fax


When I hear from them I will let you know.


Keywords used:
Seattle computer stores
Bellevue computer stores
Kirkland computers
Redmond PC


Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 14 Jun 2002 08:52 PDT

Hi Spired-ga,

This morning I received the following answer from Creative labs to my
inquiry about the Voip Blaster that you are interested in.

“Unfortunately, the VoIP Blaster product is not in production at this
time.  Currently we do not know if the product will be produced again.
 Since Creative Labs does not have a way to monitor retailers
stock levels, we do not know which retailers carried it, nor do we
have a way to know which ones may have stock left on hand.
Sincerely,
Matt Wyckoff”

After searching for the product on over 20 online vendor sites, I
finally found one location where the Voip Blaster is still available
and in stock. Their price is $22.12
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/e-commerce/742579.html#

If I receive any more answers to the e-mail inquires I sent outlast
night for the Voip Blaster I will post them immediately.

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 16 Jun 2002 19:05 PDT

Hi Spired-ga, 

 
I received the following two answers about the Voip Blaster this week.


Cutting Edge Computers
14100 NE 20th Suite#101
Bellevue, WA  98007
“Unfortunately we do not sell the Creative Voice over IP Blaster Kit. 
We don't have a source for that product.  You may have better luck
with one of the major retailers like CompUSA or Circuit City.”
Thanks
Chet Wise
Cutting Edge Computers
cwise@cedirect.com
(425) 641-1410

This one is from Compucare.

“I don't know of anybody that would carry this anymore. The technology
is not widely used. You might consider sending Creative an e-mail.”
John Ogasawara 
Tacoma Store Manager 
Compucare Inc 


Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 17 Jun 2002 21:57 PDT

I received an answer tonight from Best Computers.

"I'm sorry but our distributer is out of stock so we would not be able
to recieve it for you time frame.
BART"
Bart@bcicomputers.com

The original answer was not particularly helpful.  The followup was a
great effort but ultimately, it was still not able to get me the VOIP
Blaster I was looking for.  The web address for the store that said it
had it in stock turned out to be fluke.  Once I placed the order, they
rejected it saying the item was not available.

If you will be in one location for 4 or 5 days, you can have it
shipped there from any one of a number of on-line retailers.  See the
above list for details on on-line retailers.  Most hotels and motels
will accept FedEx packages for you.