Caveat Emptor
Home Up

 


This page is dedicated to giving you helpful information on a variety of topics dealing with spending your money.
In this day, when wages seem to be stagnant and prices continue to go up, we must make wiser choices on spending and saving.

I MOTELS
Days Inn and Super 8 and their relative hotels often charge extra (above the room rate) for "security" - such as a safe in your room - even if there is not safe in your room. While it's not much - just a dollar or two - it is aggravating - and misleading when you are quoted a price for a room and find out that's not the real price. I have never had a problem taking the charge off the bill- and I still stay at a Days Inn / Super8.
My recent trip to Phoenix brought more surprises motel-wise.
It used to be that summer in Phoenix was a great time to visit because no one else went their - prices were cheap and availability was never a problem.
This summer was different. My first choice - Premier Inn did not have a cheap room for me. They also now charge an extra $0.25 for each local phone call. I wound up a couple of miles north at the Ramada Inn - which now charges $1.00 for calls. The Ramada had a great breakfast buffet - which paid for the $5.00 cost difference of the Premier Inn. They also had wireless internet. Unfortunately it didn't reach my room - some 400 feet from its source. I was very surprised that the desk clerks wouldn't move me to a room closer to the wireless access point.


 

 
Rebates
If you live in a rural area, and the USPS does not deliver to you, you may be in for real trouble when you try to get a rebate mailed to you. I have yet to find a rebate that can be mailed to a PO Box.
I have tried to disguise my address - giving my street address and PO Box # as an add-on. (e.g. 123 Main St # 100), but to no avail - I still will not get a rebate. I have sent them to my work address with a little success.
Generally I no longer purchase goods that use rebates. It's the seller's loss - I could be a good customer.

 

 Tech Shopping - coming soon (?)

 

 SHIPPING
I'm sure you've seen it - BUY NOW and get FREE SHIPPING!

Did you ever consider that there is no such thing? Shipping  may be included in the price of an item, but it certainly isn't free!
On the other end of the spectrum are businesses that advertise extremely low prices - below cost - and then have outrageous shipping charges.
The solution - comparison shopping. Check out pricegrabber.com  or a similar site. They will find the prices and shipping charges for you to compare - and will rate the business.