Who’s minding the store?
I was at Best Buy the other day, to get the serial number for an Apple computer that was stolen from my daughter’s car. She made the mistake of leaving the computer in her car over night, and in the big city, that’s a no no.
I gave the clerk at Best Buy the information he needed to look up my computer purchase, and in no time at all, he found it. I mean he found my purchase, but not the serial number. Apparently, the serial number of the computer is not kept by the store. According to the clerk, the serial number was only on the box the computer came in, or on the recovery disk that came with the computer.
I explained to the clerk, that the Boston PD wanted it to see if the computer is in any pawn shops, but he still insisted that Best Buy didn’t have the number. I explained to the clerk that I was sent into the store by the corporate customer service department, who told me that the serial number is only kept on file in the local stores, and not in the Best Buy corporate offices. According to the clerk, I was given wrong information by the corporate office. The bottom line is no serial number, no chance of getting back the computer.
I would have thought that in today’s world of tracking and accountability that the store would be more diligent in their record keeping, but apparently I was wrong. I would have thought that Apple Computer Company would have required Best Buy to keep the serial numbers of the computers sold, if for no other reason then for accounting and inventory control, but I was wrong again. I would have thought that the serial number would have been printed on the receipt, or the extended service plan for easy tracking, but I would still be wrong.
It seams to me that stores like Best Buy should be required to keep records of the serial numbers of big ticket items like computers if for no other reason, then to be able to prove that the computers sold did not come off of the back of some truck high jacked three months ago. The store was glad to sell me the computer, and take my money, but apparently, that is where their responsibility to me and to Apple Computer ends. The next time my daughter buys a new computer; I will have to insist that she keep the box.
If this is the new way of doing business, we will all end up with a store room full of empty boxes just to prove that every thing we own is really ours.
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Discount Warehouse Shopping
Have you ever noticed, that you don’t always save money by shopping at one of those so called discount ware houses?
I have noticed a pattern when I go shopping at one of those places, and it’s not good. First of all, most people end up spending much more then they can afford. I think this is because so many things are only available in bulk packaging, and it doesn’t take many items to go over the planned budget expense. The way that things are stacked up and laid out is designed to make the shopper feel like we are getting a great deal, and well, it usually works.
The hardest part of the shopping experience for most people is the comparison shopping they need to do to determine if they are really saving money, it’s not easy to comparison shop when you are buying ten cans in a package instead of one, and the ounce size of the cans is different. Because most of the boxes, cans, jars, and fruit or vegetable bags are in larger sizes, it is almost impossible, not to mention time consuming for the average consumer to know if they are truly saving any money.
What do you think, tell us about your shopping experiences?
Online shopping
It’s not easy, giving up the smells, sounds, sights, and feelings I get when I go to the mall or department store, but I’m doing it.
On line shopping, that’s what I’m talking about. Who would have thought that just a few short years ago, I would have been excited about sitting at home, in my pajamas, listening to the television, screaming children in the next room, the smells and sounds of food cooking in the kitchen, and a wife with a honey do list, just so I could save a little money, time, research the product I want to buy, and click on it with out a sales person saying” can I help you.”
In a few short years, I bet I will be able to put on my magic helmet, and think that I can feel, and smell the things I want to buy. Do you think they will still have the food court?
New car shopping
Are you thinking of shopping for a new car? If you are, here are a few important tips you should keep in mind.
The salesperson will almost always ask you how much you want to spend on a new car. Your answer should be, “no more then I can afford” There is no rule that states you have to tell the dealership how much you are planning to spend on a new car. They will get an idea anyway, just by the kinds of cars you are thinking about buying.
The salesperson will most likely also ask you how much you want your monthly payments to be, and your answer will give them an idea of just how much they can get out of you. My suggestion, tell them a figure that is $50 below the amount you can make for monthly payments. At the same time, look directly at the representative and tell them that you will not finance the car for any more than five years. This is the best time to ask about any factory or dealer promotions that are being offered. These incentives should be taken off of the MSRP, and only then should negotiations begin.
When you are asked how much you will be putting down, your answer should be, “that depends on the final price of the car.” They will ask you this so they can use it to keep you in line with your monthly payments, but in truth, they are using the amount to keep your payments as high as they can with in your monthly payment.
When you are asked if you will be trading in another car, just say “I don’t think so,” even if you are.
Don’t tell the person about your trade, until after (everything) else has been decided. That way, there is less chance of the dealer playing with the final figures.
Remember, the dealer will always offer to pay off your balance on your trade, but they will be adding the full amount to the amount of your loan.
The dealership will make even more money by talking you into adding the latest and newest gadgets, and accessories to the car of your chois. Might I suggest, if you don’t need it, don’t get it. It might sound cool, to tell your friends about all of the extra features in your new car, but if your not going to use them, or there is just to much to learn, then you don’t really need them.
Lastly, no matter what the dealer promises you, don’t buy the car on your first visit. Instead, take the business card of the salesperson, and call him or her two days later. Tell them you are interested in the deal, but that they need to find a way to give you another $500 to make the deal. Be sure that if they agree, they lower the final price of the vehicle, and that they do not increase the trade allowance or your down payment.
