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Yesterday’s (retail) mistakes
How many mistakes did you make yesterday, and how many will you make for the next four weeks? Farhad Manjoo has at least six mistakes he’s ready to warn you about, particularly regarding what you shouldn’t buy for loved ones.
Remember, retailers are counting on your irrationality—the whole point of a “doorbuster” sale is to get you into the store to seduce you to spend cash on more profitable items. So, check your shopping cart before you check out. Ask yourself: Do I really need this contoured lap desk, or am I just buying it because it’s half off?
Among his suggestions of what not to buy:
1. “Blu-ray players”
2. “TVs that are too big, or too fancy”
3. “Extended warranties”
4. “Photo printers”
5. “Digital picture frames”
6. “FM iPod transmitters”
And he’s got good reasons for suggesting as much.
back to top17 Comments to “Yesterday’s (retail) mistakes”
Oops! SIL is getting Mama a digital picture frame.
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My husband really wants a digital picture frame. Not one for the house, though – he wants a portable one he can take to work (or wherever) to show friends pictures of family, puppy (he got the puppy from a co-worker, who always wants to know how she’s doing), vacation. I’ve printed out pictures on our inkjet printer, but I doubt they survive very long in his pocket. At one time I got him a pocket photo album but the constant rubbing in his pocket made it fall apart.
So I’ve agreed to get him one, the thing is finding one with the best features. It has to be rechargeable with decent battery life, have both internal memory and accept memory cards, and he’d like some way to control what pictures he shows. This last point seems to be the problem with most if not all of them. You can (with difficulty with some models) control the order the pictures show in, but not pick out a particular one to show. I read in one online discussion that the reason is that the software controlling them was borrowed from DVD players – but apparently not the part that lets you pick a scene from the middle of a movie.
So I’m hoping he’ll be willing to hold off until there’s a model that does what he wants. But if he decides to settle for what he finds today (while we’re in a city with lots of shopping choices), then that’s what he gets and he’d better be happy with it.
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Are we to expect a huge price drop in TVs that arent compatible with the digital switchover in Feb 2009??
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I don’t know what a digital picture frame is.
I wear glasses, but only when I want to see something. Usually, I have my glasses in a case in my shirt pocket.
Last year, dear wife gave me a Ralph Lauren shirt. It has zero pockets. Nice shirt. The only place I wear it is around the house. I do have a glass case that can clip to my belt, but I seldom use it.
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Sawgunner,
There are no TV’s being sold that aren’t “compatible” with the digital switchover in Feb. ‘09.
Even if you have an old TV with rabbit ears, it will still work if you purchase the digital antennae. In fact the signal is so good that you’ll think you have cable hooked to it.
I’ve found there is still a good bit of confusion out there regarding the switch to digital in February.
1. If you have a TV that’s hooked to cable, you don’t need to do anything.
2. If you have a TV that’s hooked to satellite, you don’t need to do anything.
3. If you have a TV with rabbit ears that you’re using, you do need to get a new digital antennae. Rabbit ears and rooftop antennaes will no longer work after Feb. ‘09.
Go online to http://www.dtv2009.gov and order a coupon, which will save you $40.00. Limit of two coupons per household (if you have two TV’s). The government is very strict about checking to make sure you haven’t already received a coupon and will only mail to home addresses (no P.O. Boxes or business addresses). With the coupon, the digital antennae will only cost you from $0 to $20. The boxes are selling from $40 – $60. The coupon expires 90 days from the issue date, so be sure to use it before it expires because you can’t get a new one.
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Anlir,
I saw traditional/non-digital tv’s sold last week. Deeply discounted, and with a big disclaimer sticker, but they’re out there.
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Cameron, I think Anlir’s point is that even TVs without built in digital tuners can be easily adapted with the right kind of signal input. So truly, there are no incompatible sets.
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Didn’t make no mistakes. I stayed home with family, and played in the shop. I am glad to have spent time with my son helping him with his project.
I’m sure at some point I’ll have to brave the crazy crowd.
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My vet’s waiting room has one of those digital picture frames, I think — is that the one where the pics rotate and change all the time?
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I spend a LOT of time at my veterinarian’s office. So I’ve studied it quite a bit.
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SteveG,
Ah, I think you’re right.
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Donna,
That’s a smart place for one of those frames! My vet’s office has old-fashioned photos taped to the wall. I sent him one of Misten in a Christmas card (a gorgeous photo of her at about six months old, one of the few photos taken of her with both ears tipped like collies’ ears are supposed to tip). It’s up on the wall in one of the examining rooms, with her name added to it.
As to shopping, I bought gas yesterday, and went through the bank drive-thru with a deposit; otherwise I didn’t do any business with anybody.
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Digital Picture Frames,
My adult kids gave me one for Mother’s day. I like it very much. They all sent pics to the daughter in law putting it together and she loaded it for me and sent it. My son called from Qatar at exactly the time it arrived and walked me through turning it on. I have been delighted with it. Eldest daughter added another memory deal so the pics could be changed more and it is set up so it will start on whatever pic I select. Many visitors have enjoyed it as it sits quietly shuffling through fmaily photos.
As far as shopping, we stopped at the grocery store on the way to get firewood so we could add to our picnic lunch. Hubby went in and grocery shopped while the kids and I went over and filled the tank. There were no lines and no tents set up for people buying gas.
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I want a digital photo frame too. I’m sorry the author doesn’t like them, but I do. I think they are quite fascinating to watch, and I take so many photos that there is no way I can frame and place them all around the house.
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We don’t Christmas shop, except for a Christmas tree. We spend time with family and friends. Isn’t that what everybody does?
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Random – Yup. And we eat lots of good food, too.
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We don’t buy a lot of gifts, but try to make the ones we do buy as personal as possible. This year for my niece in college, we’re buying a collection of foods & snacks that she likes. For my mom, I’m going to get something General Hospital-related. (She’s been watching it since it began 45 years ago.)
One year my gift to my husband was a promise to bake brownies-with-nuts once a month throughout the year. (I like them plain, but he loves them with nuts.)
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