The 'Other' March Madness: 50% Off Deals for Bargain Hunters

Fifty percent off ... it has such a nice ring to it, particularly when browsing steals on designer brands such as Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, and Beats. Let the sports fans jockey over their fantasy final four ballots; here some deals that speak to a different type of "madness" for March, including two that try to put even those half-off deals to shame.

Why we love this deal: With a 50% discount on all Vera Bradley items, bringing such deals as an expandable travel tote for $49, the only drawback is the difficulty of hitting the $75 minimum to qualify for free shipping -- though it shouldn't be too difficult to round things up by poking around the accessories section and finding a little something extra that will save the $8 on shipping.

Why we love this deal: Point and shoot isn't typically a feature associated with a thermometer, but this deal from Amazon cuts the price in half for a very handy tool that lets users detect the temperature of a sizzling surface without risk of getting burned. (Think that medium-rare steak on the grill, the backyard pool before taking the plunge, or the engine block on a car before reaching for the radiator cap). With a 1- to 2-degree margin of error, about the only surface this won't work on is a child with a fever -- for that, we recommend sticking with a medically approved device.

Why we love this deal: So, technically, at $88 this Michael Kors smartphone tote is only 47% off -- but we won't tell if you don't. Available in two sophisticated colors (coral or sky), it's the perfectly practical choice for those occasions when you need to carry a phone, a few cards, some cash, and not much else.

Why we love this deal: That's not a typo -- there isn't a digit missing from the front of that price. And no, Tanga is not selling refurbished goods or knockoff headphones -- these are the genuine article, at a price that is lower than we could find them used on Amazon! Oh, and shipping is free and there is a 15-day return policy, so even if shoppers manage to find a better price (unlikely), there will still be plenty of time to return these and get the money back.

Why we love this deal: Personalized wine glasses will help party guests hold their booze -- rather than someone else's. Use promo code KINGZART at the Amazon checkout and the price drops to $4 for the set of four markers. The metallic ink, which dries in three to four minutes and washes off easily with soap water, is also odor-free, which means no worrying about that particular guest who claims to be a "connoisseur" giving the glass of red wine a swirl and proclaiming, "I'm getting subtle notes of...nail polish remover?"