Huge markup on Prescription Glasses (how to save)

So, a member of our staff went shopping for a new pair of progressive prescription eye glasses and quickly discovered the similarities share by our experience shopping for a new car.  Big sales pitch, huge markup and attempts to create a sense of urgency by stating that their “fantastic”  offer will expire the minute I exit the premises.

For us, the big dramatic pitch signaled the presence of  a huge markup as well as the realism that the staff are open to negotiation.  If you like negotiating, this is good news.  However if you’re like most folks, you find the situation both annoying and deceptive.

So, after comparing, prices, quality and customer service, we actually decided to pay a little more and get them from Costco.   A major factor was that Consumer Reports recommends Costco because of the quality job that their lab does.
We found the quality of the glasses as well as the opticians at Costco to be top quality.

That being said, you’ll have to wait at least a week for your new pair of glasses to arrive at your local Costco store.

We also checked online optical options, but we were apprehensive about purchasing such important item online.
That being said, the prices appeared to be much lower.  We simply could not find enough independent evidence to suggest that it was a safe bet.  So we stuck with what we know.

How to buy smart on eBay

How to buy smart on eBay

If you’ve never used eBay before visit the eBay how-to-buy page.  Otherwise, jump right into our step-by-step article.

Step 1   Decide on the specific product that you want to purchase (brand, model, etc.)

Step 2   Use Internet Resources like google and Amazon.com to determine the going retail and used prices on the specific product that you decided on in step 1 (above).  While researching, be sure to check on return policies and warranties being offered on new, used and refurbished products.  These considerations should be taken into account before you buy.

Step 3  Armed with the information that that you collected in steps one and two above, you need to consider how much the product is worth to you.  Write down the maximum dollar amount that you are willing to spend on this product.

Step 4  Consider the shipping costs.  If the shipping costs include insurance and/or rapid delivery, slightly higher than normal shipping costs may be worth it.  However, keep an eye out for sellers trying to boost their profits by adding costly shipping and handling charges.

Step 5 Know the risks and how to deal with them.

Step 6   Bid or Bail. Now that you’ve completed your homework assignments, it’s time to decide if biding on eBay is right for you.

March could be the best time to purchase these select products.

Every month brings new opportunities for saving money.  In March these are the items that you want to look for to be priced to sell.  Patience and timing are two powerful tools for ensuring that you get the best deal on your purchases.

• Winter coats & sporting goods (gear)
• Luggage
• Frozen food: (during National Frozen Food Month)
• Boats
• Humidifiers
• Mattresses
• Easter Crafts
• Cold Weather Accessories (mittens, scarves, gloves, hats)
• Wedding gifts
• Spring clothing
• Washers and Dryers
• Garden supplies
• Air Conditioners
• China

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Could you be paying more than you figured?

Most people don’t take the time to check their cash register receipt before they leave the store.  Folks tend to trust the computer scanning equipment and don’t give it a second thought.

As more and more news reports have revealed, mistakes made at the cash register are not at all uncommon.  Some areas of particular concern involve ringing up

• Produce – Since many produce items don’t contain bar codes to scan, it is easy for the clerk to enter in the wrong price.
• Sale and Clearance Items – Items on the clearance rack may ring up at full price at even though a clearance price sign is displayed on the shelf.
• Multiples of the same item – Clerks tends to grab one of the multiples and drag it across the scanner the several times until they believe the number of scans matches the number of items in your card.

Here are a few tips that might help

• Write down the shelf price of the sale and clearance items that you’re buying and compare the cash register receipt against the prices that you wrote down.
• Watch the clerk as they scan your items (especially if you’re buying multiples of the same item)
• Take a couple of minutes to double check the entire receipt before you leave the store.  If you find mistakes, point them out to the clerk or the staff at the customer service desk.

Rent your college textbooks and save big!

College students now have a new option to help them escape the high cost of buying textbooks.   Students can now rent their textbooks for the semester or quarter that they need them for and pay a fraction of the price of buying them.  Remember to include shipping when comparing one book store to another.

Here are some of the better known textbook rental outfits:

• http://www.chegg.com/
• http://www.bookrenter.com/
• http://www.collegebookrenter.com
• http://www.campusbookrentals.com/
• www.bookswim.com/

Local textbook rental option

• Textbook rental options may (or will) be available at your local college bookstore.  While some book stores have been renting textbooks for awhile now, the options are getting better with the entry of Barnes and Noble.  Click here to read more

http://www.bncollege.com/

e-Book textbook option

• http://www.coursesmart.com/iphone – over 8500 electronic textbooks you can purchase for use on your iPhone and/or your PC (course smart states “Buy and access your eTextbook instantly. Save up to 50 %.”)

Afraid to Negotiate? Check out our step-by-step guide.

Most of us have been raised to look at what’s being offered and then either take it or leave it. Well, that is easiest route for sure.   But let’s say that you feel that you’re being treated unfairly by your insurance company or by someone that you’ve contracted services with.  Perhaps simple acceptance of the situation may not be the best way to go.

Step I.   Realize that the best resolutions are the ones where both parties win.  So,  whenever possible make this the focus of your negotiations.

Step II.  Do your homework ahead of time.   Research the organization that you are researching.  Understand their lingo and what your rights are.  If  you are planning to sign or have signed a contact, make sure to read over it at least three times carefully.

Step III. Be aware that most front line staff are NOT empowered to negotiate with you and if they are their decision making power will probably be really limited.

Step IV. Be prepared to receive at least one or more NO answers before you will reach that win-win sweet spot.  Don’t assume that they will give you the keys to the castle without some back and forth negotiation.  Structures  are put in place to make you work for better deal than their typical customers receive.

Step V. Remember, it all about the dollars when it comes to negotiating with for-profit businesses.  So, try to put yourself in their shoes and think about at what point holding out on the customer will cost more than just giving the customer a break.  Remember, an organization’s reputation is highly valued because of  it’s ability to attract future customers and income.

Step VI. Be polite, but persistent.   The calmer you are as you escalate your negotiations up the line, the more seriously you will be taken.  Remember, think about what the view looks like on the other side of the desk and figure a way to a win-win solution.

Quick Tip: Calculated Savings

When shopping at the grocery store you may want to bring your calculator with you.   While you may find per unit prices on many shelf items, you probably won’t find it shown on all products. Instead of just comparing the prices of one item to another, we suggest that you compare price per unit (e.g. price per ounce, etc) to ensure that you are getting the most for your money.  We found that while some products are priced less to attract buyers, after a closer look at the per unit price, we learned that we would actually end up paying more if we were to buy the product with the lower shelf price.

If a per unit price is not listed on the shelf, use your calculator to determine the unit price.  Simply take the shelf price of the item and divide it by the total number of units in the container.  Then do the same for the item you are comparing the first product to and then simply compare the two unit prices.

The same technique can be used for paper towels, napkins and other items that are marked with a product count.

After you start pricing by unit, you might be surprised at what you find (especially if it those extra dollars in your pocket)

Rebates. Great way to save or just a marketing trick?

Rebates

If you’re a disciplined person rebates can be a great way to save.  The folks offering those rebates are betting that you won’t mail them in within the required period of time.  Their also betting that even if you mail in the rebate, you won’t  follow all of the instructions and/or remember to follow up later to make sure that you received your check.   The fact is that it’s  a safe bet for them a good amount of the time.

Most people believe that they’ll remember to mail in the rebate, but the fact is that life offers many interruptions and distractions and it’s  really easy to forget.

The moral of our rebate story:

If the only reason that you’re buying the product is because of the rebate,  figure out a way to alert yourself to follow up later.  You can do this on a wall calendar, PDA or just sticky notes posted in a location that you frequent often.  Also, be sure to read all of the instructions carefully and follow them carefully.