Techcrunch and TheAlarmClock.com are reporting that Alice.com (aff) has raised an additional $4 million in funding from investors (following an initial $4.3 million investment last November). This is the direct-to-consumer website founded by former Jellyfish (later Microsoft Live Cashback, now Bing Cashback) founders Brian Wiegand and Mark McGuire.
I’m a fan of Alice, although my experience with it hasn’t been completely smooth: once I received a shipment of food-type items that were nearly to expiration (they subsequently implemented a “Clearance” notation to let shoppers know which products are close to their expiration dates), and on my most recent order, although the liquids in my order had their lids taped down and they were sealed in a ziploc bag, the detergent still managed to leak out of the bag and into the box with the other items in my order. Both times, Alice’s customer service was outstanding — I used the Live Chat feature and immediately chatted with a friendly and apologetic CS employee who offered to resend the items or issue a credit on a future order.
While their grocery prices aren’t Walmart-cheap, I find them competitive with my corner grocery and a lot more convenient, particularly considering their policy to ship orders of 6+ items for free. If I know my schedule is full for the week and I don’t want to try to fit in a run to the store, I’ll place an order of toilet paper, paper towels, and whatever else I absolutely have to have for the weekend on a Monday or Tuesday and it’ll be there by Friday.
If you’re not a hardcore couponer that “rolls over” Extra Care Bucks or Register Rewards to get free health and beauty items at the drug store chains, you may find these items pretty competitively priced on Alice.com after the ecoupons are deducted. For instance, a bottle of Suave shampoo is $.60 after the ecoupon is applied. That’s a nice price for those of us who are not organized or dedicated enough to maximize savings with the drugstore rewards programs.
If you’re short on time, or on couponing skills/initiative, Alice is a service you’ll use and appreciate. Congrats to the former Jellyfish guys on obtaining this second round of financing…as usual, it looks like they’ve found a winning concept!
