By Mariann Kronyak
For more than 40 years, the NJEA Member Benefits program has been providing discounts, services, insurance, resources and trainings for members across the state, but one of the most successful partnerships has been with Buyer’s Edge.
Buyer’s Edge is led by Dan Walker, a familiar face to many NJEA members who have met him at the NJEA Convention or at a county or local association member benefits event. Buyer’s Edge provides members with a low-price guarantee on a variety of purchases, including:
- Home goods and appliances: Members can save on essential household items, from refrigerators and washers to air conditioners and other appliances.
- Electronics: Discounts on TVs, laptops and other tech gadgets make it easier for NJEA members to get the devices they need at a more affordable price.
- Automobile purchasing: Through Buyer’s Edge, educators can get special offers when purchasing new or used cars, making it easier to find a deal that fits their needs.
- Travel and leisure: Members can also save on vacations, hotels and travel packages.
- Home improvement: For educators looking to upgrade their kitchen or bathroom cabinets, Buyer’s Edge includes offers for contractors, materials and services.
- Buying/selling a home: Members get money back when buying or selling a home. Register for a referral to a local agent before contacting a broker.
- Diamonds and jewelry: Buy direct from a diamond, jewelry and watch wholesaler, an established, family-owned jeweler in New York’s famed Diamond District.
- Furniture and mattresses: Get free delivery to the tristate area, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
- Home security: Buyer’s Edge offers discounts with ADT-authorized provider Safe Streets.
Through Buyer’s Edge, members get access to discounts that might otherwise be hard to find, allowing them to make more strategic purchasing decisions.
Access the NJEA Buyer’s Edge Program
To begin taking advantage of the Buyer’s Edge program, follow these simple steps:
- Visit njea.org: Navigate to the official NJEA website and log in.
- Logging in: Only NJEA members can access the program, so you’ll need to log in with your NJEA pin and password. Your pin is a combination of two letters, two numbers, and two letters. Your password is the last four digits of your Social Security Number, unless you have changed it.
- NJEA Go: Click the NJEA Go logo at the top left of njea.org and select Member Benefits.
- Browse the available discounts: Once logged in, click the Discounts tab. Buyer’s Edge is the top right listing. Browse through the list of participating partners and the available discounts. Whether you’re in the market for a new appliance or a vacation, you’ll find plenty of options.
- Make your purchase: Follow the instructions to redeem your discounts and make your purchase. Be sure to read the specific terms and conditions of each offer, as some deals may have expiration dates or restrictions.
- Enjoy your savings: Once you’ve made your purchase, enjoy the savings and benefits from the program. It’s an easy way to get the most value out of your membership.
- Tell us about it: Share with us your story of savings! We’d love to hear how you’re using your NJEA Member Benefits discounts. Email Beth Buonsante at bbuonsante@njea.org.
You can share your Buyer’s Edge discount with family members by sending them to the Buyer’s Edge website, and giving them the NJEA username, which is 3386, and the password, which is NJEA.
Let’s talk solar
The choice to go solar reduces your electric bill while helping the planet, but deciding on which solar provider to go with can be overwhelming. Buyer’s Edge has a preferred solar provider, Rise Solar, streamlining the process. Working with a Buyer’s Edge vendor means that you have the staff and resources of Buyer’s Edge and NJEA Member Benefits to help you if an issue arises.
In addition, for every solar installation by an NJEA member through the Buyer’s Edge provider, a donation of $250 will be made to the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education.
A history of giving back
Buyer’s Edge has been a proud partner in helping NJEA members save more of their hard-earned money, but in addition, they have donated more than $20,000 through the solar installation program to the Hipp Foundation. Hipp grants are awarded to New Jersey public school educators to fund innovative educational projects. Since 1994, the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education has funded more than 487 grants and disbursed more than $2.6 million in funds. Learn more at njea.org/hipp.
Log in and save
Every penny counts, and the Buyer’s Edge program helps members save more of their hard-earned money. Taking the time to log in and learn how you can utilize discounts such as these are a valuable investment in time that more than pays off in money.
Mariann Kronyak is a math teacher at Carlstadt Public School, negotiations chair for the Carlstadt Education Association, a Bergen County Education Association representative on the NJEA Delegate Assembly and an NJEA Communications Consultant. She can be reached at mkronyak@njea.org.