Notice to All Hip2Save Readers:
You have been temporarily redirected to this new page due to technical problems with the Hip2Save blog.
Hi, there:
This is Collin wanting to let you all know what's going on with my blog, Hip2Save - or lack thereof. The Hip2Save blog is on Blogger. Blogger, with no advance notification to me, locked my blog last night at midnight with an automatic message saying that my blog had been marked as a spam blog. Not true! Very frustrating for all! Blogger's spam-prevention robots detected that my blog had characteristics of a spam blog. However, Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and so there are lots of false positives--with this being one of them!
I am scrambling and doing my best to get the blog back online. Blogger has no phone support and its online forum about this issue indicates that a Blogger representative needs to review the situation and this may take some time. Today is a huge one for all of you looking for last-minute Christmas deals and especially for those of you who were the recipients of yesterday's First Annual Hip2Save Christmas Giveaway.
Please don't email me directly as I am trying to get the problem resolved. In the meantime, please be patient as I try to work out the kinks. Needless to say, one of my immediate goals is to get my blog off Blogger and onto a new blogging platform.
If you have any questions or need updates, please email susan@hip2save.com. If you are one of the winners of yesterday's First Annual Hip2Save Christmas Giveaway, please email any questions to hip2saveXmasgiveaway@yahoo.com. Your Amazon orders are being processed, and all orders will be submitted today. Just a reminder to all giveaway winners, please email your order by noon EST today.
Best wishes,
Collin
Stay tuned for new updates!
Thanks for the update Collin I hope all get resolved quickly as I love your blog and check it multiple times a day. I hope your readers find this post and don't flood your email with "where are you?" emails! Happy Holidays & thanks again for all you do!
ReplyDelete-Ana
I have missed it this morning, I hope things get fixed.....
ReplyDeleteHow awful! What horrible timing! Collin, you're amazing. Know that we're all behind you supporting you. Hope you still have a good day!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I am so sorry!! But glad that I typed in hip2save.com - smart of you to put this on there. =) We'll be waiting patiently. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for trying to get it back because I didn't know what I was going to do without it today!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm lost without hip2save! I hope this gets resolved soon!
ReplyDeleteYou know your addicted when....you almost have a eart attck when you can't find you FAVORITE deal blog! I hope you are able to work things out.
ReplyDeletesoooo happy you are not gone for good I was really worried last night!!! I cant wait for you to be back up and running!
ReplyDeleteCollin. What a terrible thing to happen to such a good person. I'm pullin for you, girl. I hope they resolve it soon and don't put you through too much stress. We're behind you and will always check back for hip2save, no matter where you are! Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteAlmost freaked out when I couldn't find hip2save this morning. I'm sort of an addict I think;-) Hope everything gets resolved quickly.
ReplyDeleteHang in there! We'll be waiting. We were totally confused when the usual Google search for Hip2Save did not send us to your page.I voted for you too!
ReplyDeleteI don't know who the winners were, how can we find out if we didn't see it before they cut you off?
ReplyDeleteI started freakin out! What am I going to do! lol I seriously check this blog all day long. I hope they fix it soo...Love ya Collin!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry this happened to you especially with all the time you take to put this out here!
ReplyDeleteI miss you already! You have such a large fan base that blogger is quite fortunate that we are not all flooding them with emails demanding they correct this immediately. Thank you so much keeping us posted and for all that you do!
ReplyDeleteOh, no! I am going through bargain and coupon withdral! lol...Collin, wishing you the best, our little Q group in the S.F. Bay Area will be waiting for you when you get the new blog set up! Hope you see it as an opportunity for a new improved Hip2 and perhaps a bit of R&R during the holidays?! Not that the old site needed improving! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Lynne in Ca
ReplyDeleteJust about died when I saw you were "gone" so glad you will be back and the problem will resolved. Sorry you have to go through this but we appreciate the updates.
ReplyDeletesorry to hear this happened to you. I guess it's true you don't know what you have till it's gone!! Sending good thoughts that you get it working again real soon
ReplyDeleteWow, I kinda feel like an addict who can't get a fix. Sorry about the site issues. Hope to see you back up soon.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
so glad to see an update. i was really worried when i tried to go to your blog today and it wasn't there. you have the best deals and the latest updates of any of the coupons blogs i have ever seen. wishing you a speedy recovery! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHappened to me two days ago too! I'm sooooo mad!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed to admit I was actually almost late for work this morning as I was in panic mode wondering where your blog had gone! I'm relieved to see it's just a temporary issue and hopefully will be resolved. Thank you again for all you do.
ReplyDeleteHere is the list of winners from yesterday. The post was in my Google Reader:
ReplyDeleteMogrill
Barb Stewart
Kristen from Sierra Vista, AZ
Bethany from Knoxville, TN
Erica from Lansing, MI
Jamie618 from Orem, UT
Trisha Lynn
Lisa Lee from CT
Tammy Huffaker
Rei from Long Island, NY
Holly from Moore, OK
Amy from Winona Lake, IN
Jessica from Vancouver, WA
Day Lily Designs from Amanda, Indiana
KLSreflections
Lyndsie from Chattanooga, TN
Suzanne Bigbie from Delaware, Ohio
Adele Brooks from Hinesville, GA
Gretchen Smith, Casper WY.
Jody, Forney TX
"Again, congratulations to all of the above winners! If you are one of the listed winners, please email hip2savexmasgiveaway@yahoo.com no later than today at 10PM EST!! You will then receive further instructions on how to order your gifts.
Merry Christmas!!!
(Thanks to random.org for helping me randomly select the winners above!)"
O M G !! This is terrible !! I am so sorry that this is happening to your blog, and hope everything will be back and running soon.
ReplyDeleteIs there a 12 step program I should sign up for because I'd been refreshing and freaking out like a MAD WOMAN! and startying to hyperventilate a little bit!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh what a nightare for you! I use blogger too & this is scary to watch. Take deep breaths. We'll all be on the other side waiting for you.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
As so may have said this morning, I am addicted and at 5:30 am this morning when I did not find your site I was very upset!! Thanks for all that you do! I went to Walgreens last night to score the Viva paper towels and the cashier just had to know where I went to get the info!!
ReplyDeleteAnyone know who the winners are? The site was already down when I went to check it last night?
ReplyDeleteOh, poor you... I've missed you this morning! I hope you can get it all resolved quickly.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who remember the movie Empire Records...."Damn the Man! Save the Empire!"
ReplyDeletecollin..i've thought for awhile you should leave blogger and just put h2s on your own server..you deserve it, maybe this is a blessing in disguise..(((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteI'm through Blogger and was thinking about moving to my own server too. Let us know how it goes and if it's easy :)
ReplyDeletesomething else i just remembered, i doubt google just crawled your site randomly and decided it was spam after all this time...i bet someone told google that your site is spam and to check it out...it's very easy to contact google and "alert" them, they take it very seriously...unfortunately there are a lot of haters and jealous people out there who might have taken advantage of google's policy and are trying to get your site taken down..transfer to your own server..it's your best bet
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing SAHMinCambridge... they are just JEALOUS!! Keep up the great work Collin!!
ReplyDeleteMy sister called me all worried this morning before I even opened up my computer - "Amanda - What happened to Collin?? How can I start my day without her??"
ReplyDeleteSo if it's any consolation, some of us apparently live for you!
Sorry for the frustration - hoping you can figure something out soon!! And what a horrible time of the year for them to do this!!
I don't feel so bad now that I'm not the only hopeless addict here freaking out because the blog wasn't up.
ReplyDeleteSooo sooo glad your not gone!!! I was freaking out since last night!!! Thanks for all you do Collin!!! :) Your my fav blog by far!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you are not gone totally i was freaking out this morn when i could not bring up your blog. i look at it many times a day. you have save my family so much money over that last few months. Hope you get it all worked out and have a very Merry Chistmas
ReplyDeleteI was on my Palm Phone this morning on my way into a store to get some last minute things and your blog didn't come up. I stopped in the middle of the road and well I got honked at...lol. It's nice to know that I am not the only coupon addict and that you are the supplier to us all don't know what to do without you... LOL!
ReplyDeleteWow! Funny that the loss of a website could throw me into such a personal panic :p Seriously, You do such a service to us Collin and I'm sorry that you have to go through this frustration. We love you and all you do to keep us financially savvy. I need your website like I need my right arm!!! Here's hoping you're up and running soon with minimal frustration (although, I'm sure it's already frustrating for you... sorry)
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to me and it took 12 days to get unlocked. I don't know what I will do with out your blog. I hope they work it out quick.
ReplyDeleteWow that's crazy!
ReplyDeleteI wondered what happened to you today. Got a little freaked out LOL. I hope everything is back soon. Thanks for all your hard work.
ReplyDeleteWow. Why don't the just burn down walgreens while their at it?!
ReplyDelete12 days Courtney!!???!! Oh know! I'm on day 3 of my deleted blog and almost cried when I get the email. I hope it doesn't take 12 days for me or for Collin.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ CJ Sime! That's had me rolling, but seriously...we CAN'T let that happen!
ReplyDeleteI was very sad last night thinking you'd quit your blog. Good luck getting it back up and going! We thank you for all your hard work and time!
ReplyDeleteAlso is there anyplace we can help or email or write to letting them know you are not a spam site and you they are wrong?
ReplyDeleteI am so hopelessly addicted to your blog - I felt a little lost and helpless this morning during my blog jogging. No other site compares to yours - we'll all be here when you get it sorted out. I'm sorry you have to go through this - especially at this time of year - no one needs more stress in their lives. Thanks you SO much for all your work. Despite having next to no money, we've been able to pull together quite the array of presents for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteCity Councilman Doug - I LOVE that movie!
SAHMinCambridge - I was thinking the same thing too!
Here is the info from whois on blogger.com phone number on bottom
ReplyDeleteRegistrant:
Dns Admin
Google Inc.
Please contact contact-admin@google.com 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
dns-admin@google.com +1.6502530000 Fax: +1.6506188571
Domain Name: blogger.com
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.markmonitor.com
Administrative Contact:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
dns-admin@google.com +1.6502530000 Fax: +1.6506188571
Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
dns-admin@google.com +1.6502530000 Fax: +1.6506188571
Created on..............: 1999-06-22.
Expires on..............: 2011-06-22.
Record last updated on..: 2009-06-07.
Domain servers in listed order:
ns2.google.com
ns4.google.com
ns1.google.com
ns3.google.com
MarkMonitor is the Global Leader in Enterprise Brand Protection.
Domain Management
MarkMonitor Brand Protection™
AntiFraud Solutions
Corporate Consulting Services
Visit MarkMonitor at www.markmonitor.com
Contact us at 1 800 745 9229
OH my blog was deleted by my host company once...was so Frustrating. This Spam thing also haunted Ginger at http://attentiontargetshoppers.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletePlease let us know if we can help. Don't stress. You're readers will be here when you get back.
:)
So, while we're waiting...I have a question for you coupon old-timers. When you are paying at Walgreens and you have rewards bucks, are there times you should not pay with them because it robs you from getting more? Can you pay using the manufacturer rewards and still earn $5 back when you spend $25? I lost out on $5 yesterday by doing this and was bummed because I put so much work into getting it just right. I'd love to hear your advice. Thanks!
ReplyDeletewhat an awful time for this to happen! like you need more to worry about with christmas madness in full swing!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
OMG! I almost had a heart attack this morning when no Collin/Hip2Save was gone! I am so glad you are still here & thank you for all you do !! You are wonderful and many prayers you get your site up and running again soon! We miss you! I am an addict too!! I couldn't even pay attention to work, I was madly looking on Google trying to find you! Glad to hear you are okay! Hang in there ! We are here for you!
ReplyDeleteOh by the way, the picture is of my husband, not me !! :) Kinda looked funny when I posted! LoL!
ReplyDelete@SAHMinCambridge - I agree. I would be willing to believe it was a hater(s) who had turned her in for spam even though she does nothing of the sort.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Collin, that a better server or blog host is in order. Not sure how much that costs or how it all works, though. If they can do it to you once, they can do it again!
I went into panic mode ~ what ?? no hip 2 save!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you'll be up soon. I miss you!!
I freaked this morning!!
ReplyDeleteThank God your not gone for good!!
I feel your pain. I just had my blog tagged as a spam blog at midnight on Black Friday. I am sending an email to the "Susan" address with what I know/experienced. I am still incredibly upset even after moving to my own self-hosted blog.
ReplyDeleteMy blog is still not unlocked. BACKUP YOUR BLOG IF YOU CAN GET TO IT AT ALL!
Ginger
AttentionTargetShoppers.com
I tried to go onto the site last night shortly after midnight and freaked out! I miss the blog already! I'd bet that the having the contest may have caused Blogger to mark it as spam. When I posted my comments, it was already at over 4,000 comments. My guess is that the automatic spam trigger happens if there's a sharp increase in visits to a blog or comments to a blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope this works out soon!
I think it's time to get off the free service & get your own domain. Try wordpress.
ReplyDeletemaybe this will kick us off our computers to get a bit more stuff done before Christmas:) i admit i look at your site a bit too often during the day:):)
ReplyDeleteOMG...!! Dear friend, I am so sorry, I hope that you can fix it quickly... everything is going to be all right, you will see, thanks for all you do for us, God bless You...!!
ReplyDeleteWell Thank God I was wondering what was going on and seriously thought there was something wrong with my computer! Hope all ends up well soon! Love the site! :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have made contact with you. I also check your site several times a day and was frankly, having withdrawal symptoms not being able to check in. Hope all goes well with you and your problem with Blog. We are all here for you!
ReplyDeleteOh noooo! Hope it gets worked out soon...
ReplyDeleteCollin, I admit. I just went into FULL OUT panic mode trying to find the site and so I emailed you. Sorry. I didn't see this till just now. :(
ReplyDeleteI am so ticked...but so thankful you are still alive and well. I had all sorts of thoughts. I thought maybe you got sick of running your site (I would die!) I even posted a thread on hot coupon world about an MIA blog and if anyone knew anything about it. I was desperate. Thank goodness for Kristen at Couponing to Disney ...she let her readers know about your problem. I am not happy with blogger and will let them know. Thanks for all you do - you truly have the best blog and someone may just be a little jealous of that!
ReplyDeleteCollin.....I hope your getting one message loud and clear today. You are so loved and the large number of lives you have touched...only God knows! You are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi, My sister informed me yesterday that you had been taken down due to spam....arg! not true. I just wanted to give you some support while you work this out. I make limited use of the coupons because the stuff I buy doesn't tend to have them but I have learned so much from you about "stacking" and such to make coupons worthwhile to me now. However I sign up for every freebie that you link your readers to. Just today I got free kotex, makeup, facewash, and greeting cards. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have known about any of it. Thank you for your work.
ReplyDeleteDawn
I just want you to feel some more love to get you through to the end because I know this has to be a very arduous process.
ReplyDeleteLiterally, Friday morning I checked your blog on my computer and it said blog not found then I went to my phone and the same thing appeared. I swear I thought the tears might come because I felt like a little girl that lost her parents in the mall. So what do I do in my desperation, I call my friend to have her check for me and now she knows about my addiction to hip2save.
Good luck Collin. Now I can't wait to see what the bigger and better website will be. : )
I was worried when I got the blog isn't here message. Glad things are being worked out. Love your coupon logo!
ReplyDelete