Predictably, housing is the main expense, following by transportation, food, and insurance/pensions. How much does the average American spend on reading? Just $118 a year.
"And if an epitaph be my story, I'd have a short one ready for my own: I had a lover's quarrel with the world." -- Robert Frost
Showing posts with label consumer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consumer. Show all posts
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Dept of Labor Consumer Spending Chart
Predictably, housing is the main expense, following by transportation, food, and insurance/pensions. How much does the average American spend on reading? Just $118 a year.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Gift Cards and Refunds
Now that the X-Mas shopping is done and the gifts opened, what happens if you want to return your gift? Or, if you received a gift card, do you know when you can get cash from the card? Here are some tips, prepared by the Consumer Protection Unit of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, relating to refunds/returns and gift cards:
Refunds
A retail store in California does not have to accept your return of merchandise simply because you have changed your mind.
A retail store in California can set its own policy on returning merchandise. It may elect to refuse any returns once a purchase has been made, or accept returned merchandise for a store credit only.
However, if a retail store elects not to give a full refund or store credit within 7 days after purchase, it must post that written refund policy:
*on a sign at each cash register and sales counter;
*on tags associated with that merchandise;
*at each public entrance; or
*on order forms.
The policy must state:
*whether the store will give a cash refund, store credit, or exchange for the full amount of the purchase price;
*the time within which the return must be made; and
*any other conditions related to the policy.
There are exceptions under this law so be a wise shopper and ask to see the refund policy.
Gift cards and gift certificates
While gift cards and certificates make for very flexible and easy gifts, you should keep in mind the restrictions allowed under California law.
While the gift card or certificate cannot have an expiration date, the card may include a dormancy fee (a fee charged for not using the card or certificate within a certain time period); such fees are required to be printed on the front or back of the card or certificate. You also need to consider the likelihood that the store will close before you can use the card or certificate.
Finally, sellers of gift cards and certificates must redeem them only when the balance on them falls below $10.00.
Refunds
A retail store in California does not have to accept your return of merchandise simply because you have changed your mind.
A retail store in California can set its own policy on returning merchandise. It may elect to refuse any returns once a purchase has been made, or accept returned merchandise for a store credit only.
However, if a retail store elects not to give a full refund or store credit within 7 days after purchase, it must post that written refund policy:
*on a sign at each cash register and sales counter;
*on tags associated with that merchandise;
*at each public entrance; or
*on order forms.
The policy must state:
*whether the store will give a cash refund, store credit, or exchange for the full amount of the purchase price;
*the time within which the return must be made; and
*any other conditions related to the policy.
There are exceptions under this law so be a wise shopper and ask to see the refund policy.
Gift cards and gift certificates
While gift cards and certificates make for very flexible and easy gifts, you should keep in mind the restrictions allowed under California law.
While the gift card or certificate cannot have an expiration date, the card may include a dormancy fee (a fee charged for not using the card or certificate within a certain time period); such fees are required to be printed on the front or back of the card or certificate. You also need to consider the likelihood that the store will close before you can use the card or certificate.
Finally, sellers of gift cards and certificates must redeem them only when the balance on them falls below $10.00.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Wise Consumer Tips (California)
My readers are no doubt enjoying the new year--the Nasdaq is up 3.5% and the Dow is up almost 3%. But stock market gains mean nothing if you get scammed in personal economic transactions. To help my California readers avoid fraud, I found some excellent consumer tips, prepared by the Consumer Protection Unit of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. The resolutions/tips are very helpful and definitely worth a look:
As a consumer, I resolve, in 2009, to:
-read and understand every consumer contract, especially when purchasing or leasing a car, BEFORE signing it and get all oral promises added to the contract in writing
-check with the Contractors State Licensing Board on the status of a contractor before hiring one to work on my home (Licenses can be checked by telephoning the Board at 1-800-321-CSLB or using the Board’s website at www.cslb.ca.gov .)
-understand the refund/return policy before purchasing in a store or from a store online
-watch the register when items are being scanned to catch pricing errors (Consumers may call the Santa Clara County Department of Weights and Measures’ toll-free scanner hotline at 1-866-SCANNER to complain or ask questions about scanning devices at stores.)
-use my credit card for purchases, whenever possible and reasonable, so I can write to my credit card company to dispute any charge
-make all car payments on schedule to avoid repossession and a bad credit record
-obtain a written estimate for any auto repair and ask for replaced parts, if I need them (Licenses can be checked by telephoning the Bureau of Automotive Repair at 1-800-952-5210 or using the Bureau’s website at www.bar.ca.gov .)
-review my itinerary and cancellation terms before purchasing travel arrangements, whether online or through a travel agent
-not disclose my personal or financial information, such as credit card or bank account numbers, over the telephone or online to any organization I cannot verify as reputable
-check with the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Reports, the Bay Area Consumer Checkbook or simply do an internet search on any company from which I am purchasing
For more information, call the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit at 408-792-2880.
[Note: this number goes to a local D.A.'s office, designed to assist residents of Santa Clara County, or those complaining about businesses in Santa Clara County.]
As a consumer, I resolve, in 2009, to:
-read and understand every consumer contract, especially when purchasing or leasing a car, BEFORE signing it and get all oral promises added to the contract in writing
-check with the Contractors State Licensing Board on the status of a contractor before hiring one to work on my home (Licenses can be checked by telephoning the Board at 1-800-321-CSLB or using the Board’s website at www.cslb.ca.gov .)
-understand the refund/return policy before purchasing in a store or from a store online
-watch the register when items are being scanned to catch pricing errors (Consumers may call the Santa Clara County Department of Weights and Measures’ toll-free scanner hotline at 1-866-SCANNER to complain or ask questions about scanning devices at stores.)
-use my credit card for purchases, whenever possible and reasonable, so I can write to my credit card company to dispute any charge
-make all car payments on schedule to avoid repossession and a bad credit record
-obtain a written estimate for any auto repair and ask for replaced parts, if I need them (Licenses can be checked by telephoning the Bureau of Automotive Repair at 1-800-952-5210 or using the Bureau’s website at www.bar.ca.gov .)
-review my itinerary and cancellation terms before purchasing travel arrangements, whether online or through a travel agent
-not disclose my personal or financial information, such as credit card or bank account numbers, over the telephone or online to any organization I cannot verify as reputable
-check with the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Reports, the Bay Area Consumer Checkbook or simply do an internet search on any company from which I am purchasing
For more information, call the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit at 408-792-2880.
[Note: this number goes to a local D.A.'s office, designed to assist residents of Santa Clara County, or those complaining about businesses in Santa Clara County.]
Monday, August 18, 2008
Book Excerpt
Saw this in the Atlantic Monthly, and had to share.
William Graebner, in his book, Patty's Got a Gun, talks about consumerism. He explains the last eight years, a time of extended executive power and debt, in one neat paragraph:
[There was] the sense that ordinary people had been conditioned by the public schools and drugged by materialistic consumer affluence into uncritical acceptance of their circumstances.
In other words, pass the soma. Even Mr. Huxley couldn't have said it more concisely.
William Graebner, in his book, Patty's Got a Gun, talks about consumerism. He explains the last eight years, a time of extended executive power and debt, in one neat paragraph:
[There was] the sense that ordinary people had been conditioned by the public schools and drugged by materialistic consumer affluence into uncritical acceptance of their circumstances.
In other words, pass the soma. Even Mr. Huxley couldn't have said it more concisely.
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