One of the good things about shopping is that depending upon what you want to buy, you have at least a couple of options of where to buy it from. This is especially true if you consider the wide variety of things that are available online. Many factors like price and convenience will probably influence your decision of where to buy something. There is another important factor that you may want to consider when you are making a choice about where to shop – company policy.
Policies for returns, price adjustments, and just about any other customer service issue that you can imagine vary greatly from one retailer to another. Some are great across the board while others are awful, and some may entice you with one good perk yet leave you out in the cold when it comes to another issue. Consumer Reports takes the time each year to examine the shopping policies of many retailers, and their Naughty and Nice Report arrives just in time for the holidays. This helpful list can guide you to customer – friendly retailers and can help you avoid shopping nightmares.
For example, did you know that if you buy a television or a computer at a Costco store, the store extends the manufacturer’s warranty on that item for two years from the date of purchase? As an aside, if you are buying things with a credit card, check your credit card’s policies because some of them also extend manufacturer’s warranties automatically for a year or two on certain items. If you are thinking about buying outdoor gear for the adventurer on your list, check out REI at one of their stores or online – their return policy is one of the best in retail.
Now for the bad news. Some stores that have brick and mortar locations in addition to online stores charge different prices and have different policies depending upon where you buy. For example, an item on the Radio Shack web site costs half the price of the identical item in the store. American Apparel gives online shoppers 45 days to return items for a full refund, while in- person shoppers have only thirty days and receive merchandise credit instead of a refund. If you are traveling this holiday season, beware the hidden fees – Consumer Reports has noted that quite a few airlines and travel agencies leave out some very important details in their advertising, preferring instead to hide them in the fine print. Things like choosing a seat, taking luggage on your trip, changing travel dates, and so on can all take a big bite out of your budget if you are not careful.
The Consumer Reports Naughty and Nice list is a great resource for consumers, and it could not come at a better time. With budgets stretched to the max, not many people can afford to be surprised by hidden fees, ridiculous return policies, and other harsh policies. You are spending money that you worked hard to earn, and it is important to remember that you deserve to be treated well by the people that you are spending it with.
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