Hello everybody- Happy Holidays and jealousness extended to those of you who get snow!!
I know this is off topic for the CC- but I just wanted to relay a friendly reminder and share an experience w/ you re: purchase of electronic equipment/software for the holidays...
Reminder- as return policies have become so strict for purchase of electronic equipment these days my advice to most people (notice I say most as if you are buying a video game or CD there is no way to do it) my advice would be if you are buying a piece of equipment is to very carefully try to take it out of the box or plastic and check the equipment to make sure it works.
As a real life example that I will offer- last Friday a co-worker at work went to some special sale and purchased some off-brand type of MP4 players. She bought three of them to give as Christmas gifts. They were half off and she had purchased them at an early bird sale and brought them to work to show us.
After having some really bad experiences w/ elec. equip the past two years- I suggested to her to let me carefully take them out of the packaging and see if they were charged and would they work.
Guess what happened? One side of one of the ear buds didn't work for one of the players, you couldn't hear the side out of one ear! Another player wouldn't work correctly using the click wheel and couldnt' bring up the video clip it was supposed to play.
Fortunately, these were not in the "molded plastic" that a lot of stuff comes in these days, and we were able to gently slip it out of its plastic and then put it back in.
Bottom line, prevented her a lot of time and trouble as she was able to return them and find a better deal at Wal Mart anways.
Now I know some people will not agree w/ me- but esp. if you are shipping gifts long distance oversears or whatever this method may help prevent frustrations w/ equip and holiday exchanges.
And yes, I know you get what you pay for- but just thought this experience might save someone trouble for those who do all the right things- i.e keep reciepts/gift reciepts/buying extended warranties.
Finally, reason I am saying this is some stores have moved to 30 day returns AND EXCHANGES on electronics- and if you are like my family that is spread all out of the US- we have our "Christmas" sometimes the 1st week of Jan. So for ex.- if one buys a DVD player Friday and wraps it and puts it under the tree- if it doesn't get opened or even plugged in until last week of Dec or 1st week of Jan you could be stuck as the 30 day period would be over!
Thanks for letting me psuedo-vent...
Message Edited by netpanther on
11-21-2007 10:54 PM
