|
|
Smart Organized Shopping
by Rose Zappa-Jehnert
We all want to get a good deal. Let’s face it – it’s a great feeling
when you know that you’ve gotten something at the best price possible.
We work hard for our money and want to get the most “bang for our buck”
– no matter what we purchase.
A small investment of time coupled with an organized approach when
shopping for high-ticket items, whether you’re looking for a car, a
large appliance, furniture, a computer, or even a digital camera, can
make all the difference. Many of us don’t purchase these high priced
items often enough to become proficient at it. And you’d better believe
that enterprising sales people realize this. It is the consumer’s
responsibility to take matters into their own hands if they want to get
a good deal!
Try the SOS method – Smart Organized Shopping! Start with research. Your
computer (or a friend’s if you are just purchasing one) is a great place
to start because of the many sites on the Internet to check products and
ratings. There also are sites that specialize in recalls or complaints
which can give you a “heads up” on products that may not be safe or a
good buy. For those without access to a computer, another avenue for
research is your neighborhood library. Not only can you can check out
Consumer Reports and other informational books, you can access sites on
the library computer system that will be helpful in making the most
knowledgeable decision.
Some sites that will assist in your research are:
www.cpsc.gov -
Government site for recalls, reports and alerts
www.timduffy.com -
Consumer advocate offering advice on how to get the most for your money
and pitfalls all consumers should be aware of.
www.consumertips.com - Links to complaint sites, scam alerts, fraud
complaint centers, advice columns, advocacy resources for products,
automotive, real estates, taxes, financial including credit cards
www.consumerinfo.about.com - Current consumer news, consumer tips on
timely topics, and links to consumer resources
www.consumersunion.org - Consumers Report non-profit site,
everything from food safety to product recalls
Approach the purchase in an organized fashion. When visiting stores or
showrooms, make sure that you have a pad of paper and a pen to make
notes. I have found it helpful to have a form to take to stores or even
car dealerships with an itemized checklist of requirements you have for
the product, extras you would like, manufacturer name, model number,
price and comment section. Don’t wait until you get home to make notes –
you are bombarded with too much information to remember everything
necessary to make your decision!
Those who rush into a major purchase may later find that they not only
did not get all of the features they wanted, but that the price was
higher, or another brand was rated better. It is important to compare at
least three stores – or even more if you feel it would help in your
decision.
Another important item to consider is the time of the year you are
making the purchase. Don’t buy an air conditioning unit in the spring as
many dealers discount them in the fall. Consider purchasing a car when
the next year models arrive on the market – dealers want to clear last
year’s stock to make room for the new models. You are still able to get
a new vehicle with features you desire, but at a better price.
After you have your notes together, go home, sit down and examine your
options. Discussing your notes and thoughts with a family member or
friend may help you be more open-minded and view the purchase in a
different light. Many times our emotions rule in the heat of the
“purchase moment”. We fall for the way something looks (or how we’ll
look in it), the hype of the sales person who says, “this deal is only
good today”, or just the excitement of owning something new. Getting
input from others will enable you to make the most knowledgeable
decision possible. Most importantly, listen to your gut feeling. If you
believe you are not getting a good deal, then you probably aren’t. You
never want to leave the store wondering if you made the right decision.
In the end, after a small investment of time, it’s great to realize that
you’ve made the best purchase possible. Happy shopping!
About the Author
Rose Zappa-Jehnert is President of
www.Getit2gether.com, a professional organizational service for your
home, office and whole life. Visit the Get It 2gether site for more
information and FREE organizational tips!
|
|
