The Hotel/Casino Trap (LINK)
November 15th 2007 07:33
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The Top Ten Ebay Bargains of 2007, Part Two
December 19th 2006 15:18
I called this series, The Top 10 Ebay Bargains of 2007 (in reviewing Fortunes top 10 in-demand toys) because all these items that are so expensive this year are almost all certain to be back on Ebay at relatively huge bargains.
Now, some are constantly upgrading every year. The toy companies depend on these people to make each year a better one than the last. They’ve got more than enough fools out there, don’t you be one of them.
In the last part, I discussed why it’s an incredibly bad idea to buy an expensive $500 game console at an inflated price. But none of the other items on the list are that good of an idea, either.
Take the Kid Tough Camera. It’s a $70 digital camera for kids. Not too bad an idea, but plenty of low-end digital cameras are available for well under $70 and a plain digital camera doesn’t break too easily. A real camera does, because there are quite a few more parts inside. But, I’ve dropped my digital a few times and the worst that happened is the batteries popped out. There’s no reason a kid can’t use a real digital camera if the primary object is getting a camera that’s not the parent’s high end camera.
The SpongeBob Square Pants Lego set is another loser just because of how most kids play with toys. I had Lego sets with specialized themes when I was a boy. Invariably the special themed pieces disappeared, making it the same as just another Lego set. I’ll guarantee you this will happen with most kids who get this set.
Next, we turn to our final two groups of toys.
Now, some are constantly upgrading every year. The toy companies depend on these people to make each year a better one than the last. They’ve got more than enough fools out there, don’t you be one of them.
In the last part, I discussed why it’s an incredibly bad idea to buy an expensive $500 game console at an inflated price. But none of the other items on the list are that good of an idea, either.
Take the Kid Tough Camera. It’s a $70 digital camera for kids. Not too bad an idea, but plenty of low-end digital cameras are available for well under $70 and a plain digital camera doesn’t break too easily. A real camera does, because there are quite a few more parts inside. But, I’ve dropped my digital a few times and the worst that happened is the batteries popped out. There’s no reason a kid can’t use a real digital camera if the primary object is getting a camera that’s not the parent’s high end camera.
The SpongeBob Square Pants Lego set is another loser just because of how most kids play with toys. I had Lego sets with specialized themes when I was a boy. Invariably the special themed pieces disappeared, making it the same as just another Lego set. I’ll guarantee you this will happen with most kids who get this set.
Next, we turn to our final two groups of toys.
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Posted By: AdamG - Category: Bargain Hunting
On the Hunt for a Laptop
November 17th 2006 06:53
In a few months, I’m going to buy a laptop. Consider this a trial run. The first step in the Bargain Hunt is to define what I need and my needs are simple. A computer that’s wi-fi capable and has basic word processing. I won’t be playing any game more complicated than Mine Sweeper.
The final thing I need to do is define my budget and I’ll set it as $450. Basically, what I need is a Windows computer with a 802.11 card. First thing I do is go to Ebay search for Laptops and then click on the Buy It Now tab and sort the items in price from lowest to highest. Now, you’ll get a string of people promising free laptops on a $5 bid or so. Just ignore those and look for the real machines. Now, you’ll want to skip ahead several pages because you’re going to get old junk that generally doesn’t work until you get above $100 or so. In the process of my search on Ebay, I eliminate several computers. One has an old battery that will likely fail. Others at this price are junk usable mainly for parts or repair. A $225 laptop from an Ebay seller with a 99.4% positive rating looks like a winner but a $249.99 laptop will do the job better. The $225 laptop has 128 MB of RAM, while the $249.99 has 256 MB of RAM. Both have Windows XP and while 128 MB is listed as a minimum requirement, a realistic computer tech. knows you can’t run XP at all on less than 256 with even decent performance.
Now, I wouldn’t necessarily stop with Ebay. Even though, I found a good deal, did I find the best one? Whenever you buy used, you’re taking a risk, particularly with electronics and especially with a laptop. Keeping in mind that laptop batteries go bad sometimes, I go over and check Overstock.com and find the least expensive computer there is $429.99, but there’s no warranty information, which is a concern. If I look at the overall appearance of the system, I may go ahead and e-mail Overstock and find out what warranty is on the product. The unit is a refurbished unit, so I’m not going to buy a used item without a warranty over a cheaper used item also without a warranty.
Walmart.com may have the winner: $418 and a 90 day warrantee. Now, that’s a short warranty period, but more than I’d get off of Overstock or Ebay. In addition, if something goes wrong, we can always have it repaired. (that, after all, is what an emergency fund is for.) So, I’d purchase the Stepnote laptop from Everex and call it good.
Now, of course, I’d double check with Wal-Mart and make sure it had an 802.11 card, but those come standard with most new computers and should be in the Everex. But again, I would check it.
I would also checks Craig’s list because you have the benefit of being able to see the merchandise up close and in person, as well as the fliers for stores like Best Buy and Comp USA, because you never know when they’ll have a sale on computers. Just be careful that the price you’re looking at it is the actual price and not after a mail-in rebate or a rebate with the purchase of an Internet service contract.
The final thing I need to do is define my budget and I’ll set it as $450. Basically, what I need is a Windows computer with a 802.11 card. First thing I do is go to Ebay search for Laptops and then click on the Buy It Now tab and sort the items in price from lowest to highest. Now, you’ll get a string of people promising free laptops on a $5 bid or so. Just ignore those and look for the real machines. Now, you’ll want to skip ahead several pages because you’re going to get old junk that generally doesn’t work until you get above $100 or so. In the process of my search on Ebay, I eliminate several computers. One has an old battery that will likely fail. Others at this price are junk usable mainly for parts or repair. A $225 laptop from an Ebay seller with a 99.4% positive rating looks like a winner but a $249.99 laptop will do the job better. The $225 laptop has 128 MB of RAM, while the $249.99 has 256 MB of RAM. Both have Windows XP and while 128 MB is listed as a minimum requirement, a realistic computer tech. knows you can’t run XP at all on less than 256 with even decent performance.
Now, I wouldn’t necessarily stop with Ebay. Even though, I found a good deal, did I find the best one? Whenever you buy used, you’re taking a risk, particularly with electronics and especially with a laptop. Keeping in mind that laptop batteries go bad sometimes, I go over and check Overstock.com and find the least expensive computer there is $429.99, but there’s no warranty information, which is a concern. If I look at the overall appearance of the system, I may go ahead and e-mail Overstock and find out what warranty is on the product. The unit is a refurbished unit, so I’m not going to buy a used item without a warranty over a cheaper used item also without a warranty.
Walmart.com may have the winner: $418 and a 90 day warrantee. Now, that’s a short warranty period, but more than I’d get off of Overstock or Ebay. In addition, if something goes wrong, we can always have it repaired. (that, after all, is what an emergency fund is for.) So, I’d purchase the Stepnote laptop from Everex and call it good.
Now, of course, I’d double check with Wal-Mart and make sure it had an 802.11 card, but those come standard with most new computers and should be in the Everex. But again, I would check it.
I would also checks Craig’s list because you have the benefit of being able to see the merchandise up close and in person, as well as the fliers for stores like Best Buy and Comp USA, because you never know when they’ll have a sale on computers. Just be careful that the price you’re looking at it is the actual price and not after a mail-in rebate or a rebate with the purchase of an Internet service contract.
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Posted By: AdamG - Category: Bargain Hunting
Saving on Your Average Clothes
November 1st 2006 06:23
Think about how much money you spend each year on clothes. How can that be reduced?
A few tips[ Click here to read more ]
A few tips
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Posted By: AdamG - Category: Bargain Hunting
In Search of an Inexpensive Sgian Dubh
October 9th 2006 22:48
My wife’s kilt making company received an inquiry for a Sgian Dubh (pronounced Skeen Doo). Now, she sells kilts, but no accessories other than Flashes. The customer was looking for a decorative design for around $25.
A Sgian Dubh is a small dagger that clips on a kilt wearer’s kilt hose. Whenever I’m looking for something rare like that, I’m not going to bother with a retail site like Amazon or Walmart. I’ll start with Ebay
[ Click here to read more ]
A Sgian Dubh is a small dagger that clips on a kilt wearer’s kilt hose. Whenever I’m looking for something rare like that, I’m not going to bother with a retail site like Amazon or Walmart. I’ll start with Ebay
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Posted By: AdamG - Category: Bargain Hunting
The Problem with Miserliness
October 5th 2006 00:38
Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.-Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Saving money is great, indeed, ‘tis what this blog is all about. But is that all there is to life? Ebenezer Scrooge thought so, but most would disagree with him[ Click here to read more ]
Saving money is great, indeed, ‘tis what this blog is all about. But is that all there is to life? Ebenezer Scrooge thought so, but most would disagree with him
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Posted By: AdamG - Category: Bargain Hunting
Bargain Hunting For You
September 21st 2006 04:46
Bargain Hunting For You
Are you looking for a bargain? Do you need to find the best deal possible on an I-pod? A box set of Hogan’s Heroes[ Click here to read more ]
Are you looking for a bargain? Do you need to find the best deal possible on an I-pod? A box set of Hogan’s Heroes
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Posted By: AdamG - Category: Bargain Hunting
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