Tag Archives: online consumer panels

Haggling How-to’s

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haggleIt’s certainly not for me – I hate confrontation! But Yahoo Finance says that you could save 10-15% if you learn the ancient art of haggling.

When you do decide to haggle, it can be a spectacularly successful strategy. According to Consumer Reports, almost 90 percent of those who took a stab at it got positive results and saved some cash.  Yahoo Finance

So, what’s the secret? Here are some tips:

Research! What is this product or service really worth? What do other companies charge?

Timing is Everything: First of the week, end of the month, etc. When do they need your dollars the most? 

Seasonal Savings: Related to Timing. Whenever the retailer has to “Make room for the 2014’s!!!”… then it’s time to make your best offer on the 2013’s.

Fight the power: Don’t waste time negotiating with someone who doesn’t have the power to give you what you want. On the other hand, don’t automatically assume the kid behind the counter has no power!

Escalation: Don’t be a jerk. But if you feel strongly enough to walk away, like closing your account over some injustice, then say so.

So, what do you think? I have done this once, mostly by way of research – specifically, knowing what my trade-in was truly worth when buying a car, and not budging until I got it. I made out OK, and I felt good about it. Do you haggle? Would you if you knew how? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Secrets of the Rich

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Shhh...don't tell!
Shhh…don’t tell!

Just read a piece, a slideshow really, in the latest Reader’s Digest. Entitled “How Rich People Think: 25+ Things They Won’t Tell You,” it gives us a glimpse into the wealthy person’s mind. Some of it is kind of dumb, like “I bet you think I own a lot of suits, but I don’t!” But thoughts on how they make, spend, save and think about money are more interesting. Here are some highlights:

  • Be persistent: don’t quit until you get what you came for, such as a job, a client or a good deal at car dealership.
  • Cut out the middle man whenever possible.
  • Look for savings, and don’t be embarrassed to use coupons!
  • Don’t waste anything!
  • Be bold in the workplace. You won’t get anything if you don’t ask. And aim high!
  • Make connections, form relationships and hold on to them. You never know who will send you that next great opportunity!

Pretty interesting stuff. There are a couple of humorous ones, as well. One guy says that giving gifts is always a no-win situation. If you give something normal, you’re being cheap. Give something awesome, and you’re just showing off. Boo-hoo, rich dude!

So, what’s the best advice you’ve ever heard about making, saving or spending money? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Shutdown Blues

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Hopefully, this post will be obsolete soon. However you feel – right/left, red/blue, D/R – the dysfunction of the Federal government shutdown is spooking people. In fact, they are saying it could affect your holiday shopping:

A big concern is that a prolonged government shutdown could severely hurt the economy and necessarily, consumer spending. For each week the government remains shut, the U.S. economy would lose 0.15 percent of annualized growth.  TheLedger.com

Mind you, this comes at a time – the last few months of the year – when retailers typically pull in 20 to 40 per cent of their annual numbers.

And, let’s not forget the folks who are making (or not making) the money that the retailers are chasing. Here, according to TheFiscalTimes.com, are the cities that can expect to take the hardest hit…

  • Washington DC (no duh!)
  • Bethesda MD (lots of govt contractors)
  • Norfolk VA (huge Navy base)
  • Honolulu HI (lots of military)
  • Dayton OH (huge Air Force base)
  • El Paso TX (Army base, Beaumont Hospital)
  • Colorado Springs CO (lots of military)
  • Oklahoma City, OK (Air Force, Federal offices)
  • Albuquerque, NM (THREE Air Force bases!)
  • Bakersfield, CA (Air Force)

The numbers are based on how much Federal income affects the local economy, with DC at around 18% and Bakersfield at around 7%.

So, truly, no politics here! Some folks think the shutdown is pure evil. Some think it’s a righteous protest. Others think that it is a bad thing that might lead to a better way of running things in DC. But, if you are affected, it stinks!

So, are you feeling the pinch? How are you coping? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page and have a better weekend!

PS… I was going to include a picture, as I often do – something like “Uncle Sam turning his empty pockets inside out.” But I Googled that, got 20,000,000 results and got too depressed.

October Bargains

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Looking for bargains in October? Well, you might have to look HARD. An article on BankRate.com says that, between Back to School and Christmas, retailers usually take a breather in October. There are still bargains to be had, though, and here are a few:

  • Now is the time when you begin to see the first markdowns in winter clothes.
  • This is also the 2nd-biggest wedding season, and many of the items you would find on a bridal registry begin to be discounted.
  • E-commerce sites want to grab your attention pre-holidays, so look for bargains there.
  • Summer sporting goods.
  • Stock up on your upcoming holiday cooking needs.
  • Cruise wear and swimsuits.
  • Travel to Europe.

You will find all the details at the original article, so check it out! Do you have any October bargains to share? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Gettin’ Thrifty

"I want to go to there!" _ Liz Lemon
“I want to go to there!” – Liz Lemon

So, any thrift store junkies in the crowd? I know I’m one. Charleston SC has at least 8 Goodwills, 2 St. Vincent de Pauls and a couple of Salvation Armys, as well as 3 or 4 independents run by some disease or another. I manage to hit at least 2 each week, usually as “retail therapy” or out of pure boredom.

I have been down on Goodwill lately. Speaking as a dude, I’m there looking at the “wares,” and not clothes. I think their clothing prices are OK, but their wares are TOO DANG HIGH. I’m convinced that you can only get a good deal when they don’t know what they are selling! Example… like new, official Army cots.

oooh...COMFY!
oooh…COMFY!

I saw them on the Cabela’s website for $70 each, but Goodwill had them for $6! Then 2 weeks later, I saw them at a different Goodwill for $30 each.

Anyway, some blogger somewhere has put together 12 tips for thrift store shopping. Here are the bullet points. Enjoy!

1. Go in With a Plan…

2. …But Be Open-Minded

3. Look For Quality Brands…

4. …But Also Try New Brands

5. Try Things On

6. Don’t Go With Kids

7. Know Your Local Store’s Sale Days

8. If You Really Need Something, Ask

9. Find Ways To Repurpose

10. Stockpile; Think Long-Term

11. Go Often

12. Go With Cash

Read the original for all the details. How about you? Do you enjoy a good thrift store? Have any shopping secrets to share? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Healthcare Reform and YOU

bigstockphoto_health_care_reform_green_road__5632944Hey gang… that whole healthcare magilla is right around the corner – October 1, to be precise. If you’re like me, you have a lot of questions. And you might not know where to turn for answers. So I did some digging for all of the FAQ pages I could find…

Government Resources:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMMS)

Department of Labor

Medicaid and CHIP

Veterans Administration

 

Private Resources:

Kaiser Family Foundation

eHealthInsurance.com

H&R Block

American Public Health Association

Christian Science Monitor

Delta Dental

 

As it relates to various conditions:

Parkinson’s Disease

Mental Illness

Clinical Cancer Trials

Disabilities

Pre-existing Conditions

 

By State:

Alaska…Alabama…Arizona…Arkansas…California… Colorado…Connecticut… Delaware… Florida… Georgia… Hawaii… Idaho… Illinois… Indiana… Iowa…Kansas… Kentucky… Louisiana… Maine… Maryland… Massachusetts… Michigan… Minnesota… Mississippi… Montana… Nebraska… Nevada… New Hampshire… New Jersey… New Mexico… New York… North Carolina…North Dakota…Ohio… Oklahoma…Oregon… Pennsylvania…Rhode Island… South Carolina… South Dakota…Tennessee…Texas…Utah…Vermont … Virginia…Washington… West Virginia…Wisconsin … Wyoming

Have YOU found any good resources of information? Please share at the MindField Online Facebook page! And have a great weekend!

Christmas Comes Earlier, and Earlier, and…

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Kipper Williams 30 August 2012We were in Kmart over the weekend – that would be September 14th – a time when it is 92 degrees in Charleston, and the streets are still lined with garage sales. And what do we see? The Christmas displays are already out.

It’s a terrible, terrible cliché that “Christmas comes earlier every year!” But, dang! Doesn’t it seem like it?  It’ still regular season baseball. It’s week 2 of the NFL (when the Bengals still have a shot!) I haven’t even raked my first leaf!

So it’s no surprise that the Today show has already done a feature on the topic, appropriately enough, on Kmart.

Kmart is receiving a lot of attention for airing a Christmas ad a full 106 days before the holiday. Many customers feel the retailer is jumping the gun, but business analysts think the ad is necessary for the chain’s layaway program. Today.com

Meanwhile, in Walmart yesterday, I heard the announcement reminding shoppers that “our Christmas layaway is in full effect!”

Watch the video, and tell me…is 106 days too early? Does it bug you, or are you already taking advantage of the savin’s? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Free is Always Better!

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Free+Samples+4.1Here’s a fun one for Friday. Free Samples. They used to be a big deal; manufacturers and retailers used to advertise them all of the time. Now, in the internet age, the Savers Club age, you don’t hear as much about them. But Free Samples are very much alive!

Sample.net has put out a fun infographic that tells you what the popular samples are, who has them and how to get them, as well as a little bit of the logic behind them. Here are some highlights, then I will give you the link.

Why samples?

Well, they are a fast and efficient way to get your attention. Even better, for the companies, they get all kinds of info about your wants and interests, what you like and don’t like. That’s marketing gold to them!

Who has them?

Most of the biggies you would expect, such as WalMart, Target, P&G, Gillette, etc.

Like what?

Cosmetics, bath, home, pet supplies and more!

OK, enough yak-yak. Where’s the link!?!

Fine! Here ye be. Enjoy!

Have any good sample secrets? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook Page! And have a great weekend!

Too Much Debt?

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debt
It’s a TRAP! – Admiral Ackbar

Here’s a recap of a classic blog post from money guru and radio personality Dave Ramsey. He takes a look at folks who always seem to stay in debt. Whether they have money, or not much, they always have too many bills – and they don’t seem to do anything about it.

But what keeps people from getting out of debt? Why would someone want to stay in chains instead of living in freedom? Sadly, there are all sorts of reasons people choose MasterCard over being free from debt.  Dave Ramsey Blog

He lists a few reasons. Briefly…

  • Keeping up appearances. You’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, but they are probably as underwater as you are!
  • Fear of change. Sometimes, it’s the devil you know, right?
  • Stuff – Gotta Have It! Some folks need stuff to feel good about themselves, and can’t imagine not having it.
  • Unwilling to Sacrifice. He points to eating out all the time and having the full-blown cable TV package.
  • They don’t know how. I mean, there’s no way to get out from under this mountain, right? There is almost always a way, you just have to figure it out.
  • Laziness. ‘nuff said.

Anyway, this is not an ad for Dave Ramsey, but he does have some ideas at his blog, take ‘em or leave ‘em. What do you think? Do you recognize any of these behaviors in your family or friends? How do they cope? Have you ever been in debt and worked your way out? Tell us about it at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Tweeting Too Much?

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twitter-bird-white-on-bluePersonal information, that is. The answer is probably Yes, according to Consumer Affairs.com:

Social media users compromise their privacy all the time. They post pictures while they are on vacation, for example, advertising the fact they aren’t at home. They reveal other personal information that ought to be private. ConsumerAffairs.com

One big reason is geo-tracking. You have GPS turned on, and your tweet goes out there with really accurate location info for all to see. Other times, it’s the info you carelessly blab in your tweets.

Anyway, the article tells of a grad student in California who has studied people’s tweets and is able to map out their activities, online and real-world. He says they are usually pretty shocked what he knows about them! He has developed a site, geosocialfootprint.com, to help educate folks on privacy issues.

Now, this isn’t a indictment of Twitter. This is about personal responsibility. If you don’t like sharing all of this information, you can take steps to change it. So, what do you think? Is this a big deal, or just paranoia? Do you care if people know this stuff about you? What about your kids? Give us your thoughts over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!