The scoop on consumer reporters!
Our local "consumer guy", Herb Weisbaum, is really scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to come up with "How to spend less on those last-minute gifts" tips. Get this;
First, be skeptical of all sales. Sometimes the discounts aren't what they seem to be.
"Because they're not based on the MSRP, the manufacturer's suggested retail price, but on a made up original price," said Shop Smart's Lisa Lee Freeman.
What do they think the MSRP is? Somewhere along the line, someone has to pull a made-up price out of his or her ass. It's all made up.
But wait! There's more;
If you're shopping online, do it first thing in the morning. Shop Smart says you'll get the best deals that way.
"They often offer good deals early in the day. That's when traffic is lighter so they're really trying to grab people and get sales," Freeman said.
Yeah right! Like we have time to fart around with the website all day. I don't know about other webstores, but we have been busy taking orders and shipping stuff.
This one kind of got my goat;
Don't assume you'll get free shipping. Find out before you start shopping.
"A lot of the times, people don't realize how high the shipping costs are until they're checking out and then they just end up eating the cost and that can waste a lot of money."
Why would anyone assume they would get free shipping? Let me tell you, shipping is NEVER free. It might be included in the cost of the goods, but someone somewhere has to pay the postman. Is your gas free when you drive to the mall?
But I digress. Aren't there some chokey lead toys out there for Herb to fuss over?
First, be skeptical of all sales. Sometimes the discounts aren't what they seem to be.
"Because they're not based on the MSRP, the manufacturer's suggested retail price, but on a made up original price," said Shop Smart's Lisa Lee Freeman.
What do they think the MSRP is? Somewhere along the line, someone has to pull a made-up price out of his or her ass. It's all made up.
But wait! There's more;
If you're shopping online, do it first thing in the morning. Shop Smart says you'll get the best deals that way.
"They often offer good deals early in the day. That's when traffic is lighter so they're really trying to grab people and get sales," Freeman said.
Yeah right! Like we have time to fart around with the website all day. I don't know about other webstores, but we have been busy taking orders and shipping stuff.
This one kind of got my goat;
Don't assume you'll get free shipping. Find out before you start shopping.
"A lot of the times, people don't realize how high the shipping costs are until they're checking out and then they just end up eating the cost and that can waste a lot of money."
Why would anyone assume they would get free shipping? Let me tell you, shipping is NEVER free. It might be included in the cost of the goods, but someone somewhere has to pay the postman. Is your gas free when you drive to the mall?
But I digress. Aren't there some chokey lead toys out there for Herb to fuss over?
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