1. They're a Michigan-based company (I love to give business to my fellow Michiganders).
2. They have a fantastic understanding of what it means to provide stellar customer service - evident in their company culture and the way they reach out to clients via social media like twitter and facebook.
3. Our CMO Stu Davis is a devout Biggby drinker, thanks to their fantastic customer service (see #2 and this).
4. Because Biggby Bob, the CEO of Biggby, is a cool guy and an innovative, hands-on entrepreneur.  
5. They are the fastest growing coffee franchise in the Midwest, in an economic climate where many businesses are struggling - which proves they are doing something right!
6. Their website rocks.
7. They have super yum coffee drinks.

Are you convinced yet? No?

Then how about this? They are giving away a FREE specialty beverage -  today only - in honor of their 15th birthday!

Now who gives OTHERS a gift on their own birthday? (I told you they were special!)

Happy Birthday, Biggby! Raising my cup to you!

Do you like pancakes?

Yeah?

How much?

If you like them a lot - enough to potentially wait hours and brave crowds - The DIFF Deal Seekers encourage you to take advantage of America's favorite breakfast deal tomorrow: a free Grand Slam at Denny's.

Check out this tidbit from Denny's press release (PDF):

“We are leveraging the power of Super Bowl once again to connect with our customers to keep Denny’s in their hearts and minds by communicating our Original Grand Slam offer, said Nelson Marchioli, CEO and President of Denny’s. We know that times are still tough and a free hot breakfast helps a lot of folks and their families. We heard from thousands last year who thanked us. This year Denny’s will even go beyond just one day of free meals by offering a number of everyday affordable programs all year."

From online and in store sweepstakes to birthday offers and endless fries and pancakes, Denny’s continues to give back all year long.

You see those ugly mugs? Those intense, manly, hairy faces are the result of some serious hard work.

The fine folks down in Quizzle Town have been pulling late nights to re-launch their namesake with a brand new look. It went live today - a visual masterpiece, a sheer work of art, all designed by the DIFF Design Doctor himself - Mr. Chris Kaufman.

And yet, behind that pretty new face lies one of the most easy-to-use personal finance sites with an interface so light and clean it can practically read your mind. The site is incredibly intuitive and you walk away every time knowing you've learned something. And we all know Quizzle remains the only place on the internet to get your free credit score & free credit report. Seriously. No strings attached, no goofy trial period membership. Quizzle is yours for free for as long as you like to use it. Or stare at it because it's so pretty. Like I do. What? I like pie charts.

And the ugly mugs, you ask? Why do I subject you to such a photo? The typically clean-shaven, boyish good looks of the Quizzle men were traded in weeks ago in for the rally beards you see above. All the men agreed to quit shaving until the site went live. They banded together like brothers in a fit of unity, a show of anticipation, for the re-launch of Quizzle. And now that it's live, the hunting trip can end and Quizzle CEO Todd Albery can go back to looking 10 years younger than he is.

DIFF readers, go check out the new Quizzle. Let 'em know what you think. And congrats to the entire Quizzle team - you have a beautiful, smart site that is truly one of the most useful things to grace the interwebz.

Taking a hint (okay, she should actually get all the credit for this one) from one of my favorite blogs, The Nifty Thrifty Homemaker, for today's DIFF. Christina wrote a quick post which pretty well explains what you should be doing with yourself this coming Sunday:

Smithsonian is sponsoring free museum day 2009 this Saturday, September 26th. Just print out a museum pass online good for yourself and a guest at any participating museum. Enjoy!

For my fellow Michiganders, there are quite a few places around Metro Detroit that are participating. Even the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is on the list. So have at it!

And....thanks Christina!

More decorated cupcakes, iPhone style. I know, I know, I can't help it...

You’re busy. Juggling a million things everyday, and trying to not forget a single one as they’re all equally important. You’re also a tech savvy, world traveling, professional, blogger, parent, hotshot web designer and one cultured individual -- so naturally you have the iPhone to help you balance the crazy fast paced world you live in.

Well, just for you, here are the top 40 apps you cannot live without -- because we know not all apps were created equal, and the last thing you have time for is sorting through all the barely functioning ones. These are apps for people who love Ruby, for people who sleep with their Mac next to them, and for people who have memorized every inch of Photoshop. Enjoy.

Is it just me, or are Coach purses becoming ever more popular?  I remember six or seven years ago, I was flabbergasted the first time I walked into a Coach store and saw the prices.  To pay anywhere from $200-$700 for a single accessory seemed crazy at the time. 

Today, Coach has become the norm.  Women swarm into Coach outlets and buy handbags, coats, shoes, and matching wallets.  People can’t get enough of this stuff. 

The best part is, you can’t even stop at one – people own five or six of them with matching wallets.  I personally stopped after multiple handbags, a belt, a coat, and a few wallets and wristlets. 

If you live around a college campus you notice Coach has become the uniform for many college students – the required piece to add to existing a Northface fleece jacket, Ugg boots, and black leggings every winter.

Editor Chris Olds & Marketing Analyst Brian Fleischer from Beckett Media recently did an awesome video review for Quicken Loans sister company Fathead! Their review series is called Box Busters and on this installment, they reviewed Fathead Tradeables, which are 5"x7" peel-n-stick vinyl reusable vinyl graphics that come with a secret code to unlock fun on Tradeables.com. They really explain the Tradeables well in the review, so watch the video to learn more. Beckett.com is the #1 authority on sports collectibles, so we're so psyched they like Tradeables.

And if you're interested in buying the Tradeables or Fatheads, check out our online store. Thanks to Chris, Brian and Beckett Media for the review!

Need I say more? Free ice cream cones all day (4/21/2009) at Ben & Jerry's! Check out the Ben & Jerry's site for participating locations near you.

Now if there was just a Ben & Jerry's close to the Quicken Loans office in Livonia...

Our beloved Quizzle is now one and let me tell you, we are proud of our little success story!

In fact, Quizzle is probably the coolest website I've ever been involved with (except this blog, of course).

What started as a crazy idea has turned into a crazy success.

A crazy idea indeed.

Offer a free credit report. A free mortgage analysis. A free home value report. A free budget review. And a free rainy day fund review.  And what's the catch? We just want you to like us and consider us when you are looking for a mortgage or other financial services. That's it.

Did I mention Quizzle is free?

Since the DIFF blog has lately turned into the place to find free stuff (we all do love free stuff after all), I figured I'd throw in a quick mention of IKEA's offer to give you a free breakfast - which ends tommorrow.

Never mind that the breakfast only costs 2 bucks. Cheapskates can't be choosers.

So if you are in the mood to go to a store better known for funky furniture and meatballs, stop by the cafeteria for some free grub. Tell them the DIFF sent you!

Oh, first, you'll have to go to the webpage below and print out the coupon.

http://info.ikea-usa.com/seizethedays/

The DIFF looooooooves free. Don't you? You love the DIFF too, right? Great...then we'll let you in on a little secret.

Only today, warm up by going to Panera and getting a free cup of coffee. They're also having samples of all their breakfast specials! If you're looking for more than a sample, I do recommend the Cinnamon Crunch bagel with Honey Walnut cream cheese. I heard they're also removing the calories from this delicacy  today too. (No, they're not. I just tell myself that.)

As if free goodies and coffee weren't enough, I also found this on their website:

Awesome! Feel good + Free stuff = DIFF.

I found this sweet piece of news from one of my favorite money-wise bloggers, The Nifty-Thrifty Homemaker. Sounds like Ebay has got quite the scavenger hunt going on! From Christina:

Ebay is hosting $1 holiday doorbusters for 15 days. (November 24 - December 8) Every day, several certain tems are listed on ebay as Buy It Now for $1 with free shipping. There are items such as TV's, Nintendo Wii's, DVD's, even a jet ski!

The catch? The listings are hidden. You have to search ebay in order to find these great deals. And it's not as easy as it sounds. During the day, at random times, the doorbuster items will be listed. You have to find it, and grab it before someone else does! I started playing yesterday, and so far have seen 6 of the doorbuster deals. Unfortunately, you can only win one doorbuster during the entire promo, so I have been trying not to waste it on something I only "kind of" want.

Now, each day, 3 types of doorbusters are available; two items (with a certain number of each available - today it's a Dooney & Burke wallet and a high-end fragrance) and a grand prize. The first day, this was a $1700 TV; the second, it was an $8,000 jet-ski; and today it is a $5,650 mansion playhouse. There are only one of these available per day. (By the way, if you win a prize valued over $600, you must fill out an IRS 1099.)

If you don't feel like searching, you can enter the sweepstakes to win the daily prizes. All of the info can be found here.

Axl Rose did it! Get your free Doctor Pepper soda pop all day today!

From the AP:

Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality. The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper's Web site. They'll be honored until Feb. 28.

Dr Pepper is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

On the Net:

• http://www.drpepper.com
• http://www.gunsnroses.com

So, no need worry about cooking tomorrow - if you vote, you can just fill up on all the lovely free goodies from some of the yummiest places in the land of the free.

Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and Ben & Jerry's are giving away their signature products tomorrow if you vote. Free tall (12oz) regular coffee from Starbucks, free star-shaped donut with patriotic sprinkles from Krispy Kreme and free scoop of ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Am I missing anything else?

While Quicken Loans definitely recommends you get out and vote, consuming all the freebies could very well give you quite the tummy ache. But if you can handle it, well, I might just say it's your patriotic duty to chow down tomorrow. As Ben & Jerry's says, "democracy never tasted so sweet."

I'm not sure how many years Taco Bell has been doing this, but it's once again time to get in line for your free taco at Taco Bell today! They will only be available today (10/28/08) from 2pm - 6pm.

Taco Bell makes a deal with America - if a base gets stolen in the 2008 MLB World Series, everybody in America is entitled to a free taco. Not a bad deal, eh?

We have to thank Tampa Bay Ray Jason Bartlett who stole second base in Game 1 of the series. Thanks for lunch/dinner, Jason!

Here's how it went down. My friend Charlie (I have 3 black belts in kendo and you don't) Kondek from MS&L asked me if I would try some samples of new Tic Tac Chill mints from Ferrero, makers of the Tic Tac.

"Sure, I'd like a Tic Tac, man." I said.

Tic Tac Chills are brand new sugar free versions of the ever so famous little minty candy thingys that we all love so much.

"Can I have a Tic Tac, baby?" is a expression heard across the English-speaking world every day.  You'll notice that I didn't call Charlie baby when he offered to send me some free samples. I just want to be clear on that.

Here's some info from Ferrero about Tic Tac Chills:

Go to Kashi's website today, fill out a quick form and they'll send you a free cookie - specifically, an Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookie. Yum! Thanks Kashi!

I know everyone here at Quicken Loans will take up this offer because any time sweets hit the floor here, they're snapped up with the quickness. So have at it!