The Chronic Consumer

Although I like to wear some jewelry when I go out, I certainly don’t go overboard. While I have several friends who think nothing of spending thousands of dollars on a single necklace, ring, or bracelet, that’s not something I could ever imagine doing. Even if I had that kind of money, I would never be able to justify buying jewelry with it.

Instead, I’d be perfectly content to buy designer inspired jewelry instead of the name-brand stuff. That way, I’d be able to wear the hottest styles around without having to pay premium prices, which is definitely a win-win situation for someone like me!

So if your limited budget prohibits you from spending lots of money on jewelry, I recommend buying replica pieces instead. No one else will ever know the difference!

I was browsing through the Linens ‘n Things website earlier today when I noticed a special offer for 20% off any single item purchased online or in stores. All you have to do to receive this discount is sign up for the Linens ‘n Things email newsletter. Once you submit your name and email address, you’ll get a confirmation email with further instructions on how to redeem the offer.

There are a few restrictions, such as one discount per customer, limited to new sign-ups only, and discount cannot be combined with other offers. But other than that, this seems like a pretty painless way to get 20% off and would be great if you were thinking about purchasing a more expensive item from the store.

As a chronic consumer, I’m bound to run into problems with the products or services I use. I firmly believe that I’m entitled to my money’s worth from whatever I buy, so I’m not shy about speaking up and contacting customer service when I feel I’ve been shortchanged.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is that it’s very important to document every step of the complaint process so you can prove your case when the time comes. For example, note down the dates, times, and people you speak to whenever you call a customer service line. I find that it helps to get this info (employee name and/or ID#) right at the beginning of a conversation so that person knows you mean business. Take photos of the damaged product whenever possible, and offer to submit them as evidence should the manufacturer wish to see proof of your claim.

If you complain via email, make sure you retain copies of everything you send, as well as copies of the replies you receive. It could help to create a separate folder or label in your email client to keep things organized.

And finally, do not settle for a resolution that you’re not happy with. If you have a shoddy product and want a replacement, then hold out until you get one. Do not settle for a discount on your next purchase or any similar offers that customer service feels inclined to throw your way. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be willing to compromise in some instances, but if you feel very strongly about something, then stand your ground.

Obviously, there are different degrees of manufacturer liability here. Many times your problem can be solved with a quick exchange at the store; but occasionally you’ll have to go looking for truck accident lawyers or other product liability specialists to get the restitution you’re entitled to.

No matter how big or how small your case, just remember to be as thorough as possible when laying out your claim. More often than not, you’ll get what you want!

Today was a bit odd in that almost all of the supplies in my medicine chest ran out at practically the same time. So I had to go out to buy contact lens solution, dental floss, vitamin supplements, some special headache treatment stuff that my husband uses, and a bunch of other things. All told, one trip to the drugstore to restock the medicine chest cost me $83 — and I didn’t even have any prescription meds to buy!

I really need to find a good website where I can get these types of products for less. Do any of you have suggestions?

This year I’ve steadily been building up my collection of DVD box sets of my favorite television shows. A couple months ago, I bought The Golden Girls: The Complete First Season since I loved this program back when I was in junior high. I’m not going to talk about specific episodes in this post; I’m more interested in giving the lowdown on the DVD set itself.

The Complete First Season is a 3-disc set that contains 25 episodes. All of the discs are single-sided and have the main characters on them. Disc one features Dorothy and Sophia, disc two shows Rose, and disc three is reserved for Blanche. Each disc also lists the episodes that are on it, which is a nice change from those plain, double-sided discs that come in the cheapo sets these days.

There’s also a short bonus feature showing Melissa and Joan Rivers talking about the various outfits that the Golden Girls wear on the show. You have to remember that this program was on in the ’80s, so there’s plenty to laugh about, including all the pastels colors of the time; the huge shoulder pads; the large, pointy collars; double-breasted crossover tops; and the endless parade of nightgowns, pajamas, and bathrobes that the girls wore. This was a cool feature, but much too short!

The DVD case is made of cardboard and folds into thirds. One flap contains a full listing of the episodes (as well as the writer and director for each), and the other two parts are for the DVDs. The reverse side has a few photos from various scenes.

I feel that this DVD set was a good value at $23.99 from Amazon.com. There’s not much to it, but the packaging and presentation look a lot better than I expected it to. I wish there were more extra features on the DVDs, such as commentary from the actresses or a retrospective to remind us how original and well-received this show was when it first came out.

Anyway, I recommend purchasing The Golden Girls: The Complete First Season. At less than a buck per episode, you can’t go wrong!