HDTV Warranty?

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" wrote in message
...
So: when paying with cash, tell right up front that you'll pay, say,
96% of the posted price.

4% is too much. Retailers pay about a 2-3% fee for accepting a credit card
(depending on the card issuer and transaction volume of the retailer). If a
retailer only allows a customer to pay cash, they have to worry about
employee theft of cash, cost of extra security of keeping a lot of cash in
the store, extra cost of making more frequent deposits and making sure you
have enough change, and even counterfeit money. If the customer pays by
check, then there is the risk of the check bouncing. Even if it is a
cashiers check there is the risk of it being a forgery.

Another benefit of accepting credit cards is that many consumers will
purchase something on a credit card that they would not purchase otherwise.
This might be because the customer doesn't have the cash on them at that
moment, or that the customer needs to pay over time.

So the credit card companies do provide a benefit to retailers for accepting
the card, and it would be a mistake to think that the merchant fee is
wasted. Otherwise, retailers wouldn't accept them.

Jer wrote:

I'm big on convenience, and for buying stuff there's nothing
more convenient than cash.

Really? I have yet to find a way to use cash for online purchases.

On Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:19:44 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
wrote:

In article ,
Thumper wrote:

Yup, just more paper trails. Truth is, I also enjoy the benefits of
spending, but I spend a lot less than a credit card buyer. You'd be
amazed at the discounts a cash buyer can get if they do their homework.
For example, I almost always get the merchant fee waived from the
hammer price.

That's illegal in many states.
Thumper

If he's paying cash, nothing's illegal.

THAT'S A LIE.

Fact: the price of the hammer
includes the assumption that you're paying by credit card, and therefore
the credit card company's merchant fee is built into the price of the
hammer.


FACT. The price of the hammer includes EVERY business expense.
EVERY cash purchase should include a discount.


FACT. It's illegal in many states.

What you're talking about is the "surcharge for credit card use".
That's not ILLEGAL; no state has a law regarding this. However, credit
card companies frequently set up their contracts with the merchants such
that a "credit card surcharge" is in violation of the contract.


You are plainly full of crap. It is illegal in many states to give a
discount for cash purposes because in effect it is setting up a
surcharge for credit card purchases.

Interestingly enough, though, "discount for cash" is NOT in violation of
these same contracts.


Yes it is.

So: when paying with cash, tell right up front that you'll pay, say,
96% of the posted price.

It's against the law.
Thumper

Thumper wrote:
On Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:19:44 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
wrote:

In article ,
Thumper wrote:

Yup, just more paper trails. Truth is, I also enjoy the benefits of
spending, but I spend a lot less than a credit card buyer. You'd be
amazed at the discounts a cash buyer can get if they do their homework.
For example, I almost always get the merchant fee waived from the
hammer price.
That's illegal in many states.
Thumper
If he's paying cash, nothing's illegal.

THAT'S A LIE.

Fact: the price of the hammer
includes the assumption that you're paying by credit card, and therefore
the credit card company's merchant fee is built into the price of the
hammer.


FACT. The price of the hammer includes EVERY business expense.
EVERY cash purchase should include a discount.


FACT. It's illegal in many states.

What you're talking about is the "surcharge for credit card use".
That's not ILLEGAL; no state has a law regarding this. However, credit
card companies frequently set up their contracts with the merchants such
that a "credit card surcharge" is in violation of the contract.


You are plainly full of crap. It is illegal in many states to give a
discount for cash purposes because in effect it is setting up a
surcharge for credit card purchases.

Interestingly enough, though, "discount for cash" is NOT in violation of
these same contracts.


Yes it is.

So: when paying with cash, tell right up front that you'll pay, say,
96% of the posted price.

It's against the law.
Thumper

Discount for cash illegal, or merely in violation of the contract
between the merchant and the transaction processor? BIG difference. Card
transactions DO add to the merchant's expenses. If there's any
GOVERNMENT regulation that prohibits the merchant from
negotiating/hagleing with the customer for a lower price please list
some of the jurisdictions that do it and some online state or federal
code references.

Also explain why GOVERNMENT should be forcing customers paying with
"legal tender" to subsidize a card issuer's costs for all those retailer
terminals and computers that keep track of all the associated accounting
transactions.

Now IF the merchant is willing to risk losing his ability to process
credit/debit/check card transactions by violating the terms of a CIVIL
contract with the precessing company, that's his business.

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
In article merica,
Jer wrote:

I'm big on convenience, and for buying stuff there's nothing
more convenient than cash.

Bull****.

The convenience of a charge card far outweighs that of cash.

Maybe for you.



Note that I said "charge card," not "credit card". I charge things and
use a third party payment system. Once I know that what I've bought is
good and the retailer hasn't ****ed me, I pay the bill at the end of the
month.

What happens to your cash once it's out of your hands? It's gone. That
guy has no incentive to make anything good. If he's ****ed you, he's
****ed you good. He has your cash and he's moved on.

Really? The people I've dealt with for major purchases are all still
here. I even bump into one from time to time when I stick my nose in
their door to invite someone to brunch.



For a pack of gum, I don't care. For a $1500 TV, I care.


--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Thumper wrote:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:34:16 -0600, Heinrich Galland
wrote:

In article , gecko
wrote:

On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:14:14 -0500, Thumper
wrote:


It depends. How much does it cost relative to the price of the tv?
How big is the TV and where can you get serviced? I have an Hitachi
CRT that is too big to bring in for service so I bought the extended
warrantee. Warrantee are a money maker for the company but it does
buy you piece of mind. It's a highly individual choice.
Thumper
Thanks

It is a 52" SAMSUNG, and so will cost upwards of $1600. There are no
service places close by - maybe some 40 miles is closest. The prices
for extended warranty are a few hundred dollars or so. I wrote the
numbers down but can't find them right now.

-GECKO

Just for the sake of comparison, take a look at what Square Trade
Warranties has to offer for a price. Seems to me they have a pretty
good track record at a fair price.

The cost of my warrantee from Circuit City on a $3000 65" Hitachi was
around $350 for 3 years.
Thumper

When did Circuit City warrantee start? Date of purchase? If so, didn't
factory cover year one, so you paid $350 for two year coverage?

UCLAN wrote:
Jer wrote:

I'm big on convenience, and for buying stuff there's nothing more
convenient than cash.

Really? I have yet to find a way to use cash for online purchases.


For those reading this and not knowing what I'm talking about, these are
retail stores. They have a street address, a phone, and business hours
each and every day. Purchasing from these business establishments is
how deals were done before the internet was invented. Old school.

I don't do deals on the internet. I do deals in person by actually
walking in the door, shaking hands, talking to a professional about what
I want over a cup of coffee or two. Occasionally I'll decide to buy
something, and after confirming any discounts and the merchant fee is
waived, I pay with cash. We smile, shake hands again, deal done.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Thumper wrote:
On Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:28:34 -0600, Jer wrote:

CLicker wrote:
"Jer" wrote in message
netamerica...
chicagofan wrote:

... and some people say their credit cards give additional
free warranty coverage on their purchases.
I've heard of this before and I've always thought it unfair to
those of us that don't use credit cards. You'd think if a
credit card company wanted a competitive advantage they'd
lower their rate.

The rate is *zero,* if you pay your balance each month.
Granted, but most don't.


Yet,
the added benefits still apply to those of us who do not pay
usurious, or in fact any, interest. The card I've been using
since 1966 (acquired by Visa in the 70s) supplies product
warranty and some road side coverage as well as benefits for
dining, flying, and um . . . . well, just plain spending;-0)
Yup, just more paper trails. Truth is, I also enjoy the benefits of
spending, but I spend a lot less than a credit card buyer. You'd be
amazed at the discounts a cash buyer can get if they do their homework.
For example, I almost always get the merchant fee waived from the
hammer price.

That's illegal in many states.
Thumper


Well, Grasshopper, I don't know that I care, but if you're right, you
better send in the troops because I've got dozens of merchants that do
this. And not just with me.



--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Thumper wrote:
On Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:19:44 -0500, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
wrote:

In article ,
Thumper wrote:

Yup, just more paper trails. Truth is, I also enjoy the benefits of
spending, but I spend a lot less than a credit card buyer. You'd be
amazed at the discounts a cash buyer can get if they do their homework.
For example, I almost always get the merchant fee waived from the
hammer price.
That's illegal in many states.
Thumper
If he's paying cash, nothing's illegal.

THAT'S A LIE.

Fact: the price of the hammer
includes the assumption that you're paying by credit card, and therefore
the credit card company's merchant fee is built into the price of the
hammer.


FACT. The price of the hammer includes EVERY business expense.
EVERY cash purchase should include a discount.


FACT. It's illegal in many states.

What you're talking about is the "surcharge for credit card use".
That's not ILLEGAL; no state has a law regarding this. However, credit
card companies frequently set up their contracts with the merchants such
that a "credit card surcharge" is in violation of the contract.


You are plainly full of crap. It is illegal in many states to give a
discount for cash purposes because in effect it is setting up a
surcharge for credit card purchases.

True, there is a surcharge for credit card purchases - but it's with the
merchant, not the buyer - but that surcharge is passed through to the
retail buyer in the marked price. If the merchant chooses to sell a
product without a credit card, waiving the merchant fee is his/her
option. Some choose to call this a discount, I don't call it that, I
call it not paying for something I'm not using. So does the merchant.




Interestingly enough, though, "discount for cash" is NOT in violation of
these same contracts.


Yes it is.

So: when paying with cash, tell right up front that you'll pay, say,
96% of the posted price.

It's against the law.
Thumper


--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Thumper wrote:

You are plainly full of crap. It is illegal in many states to give a
discount for cash purposes because in effect it is setting up a
surcharge for credit card purchases.

In California, it is LEGAL to give a cash discount, but ILLEGAL to charge
a CC surcharge. They key is in the posted price. As long as the posted
price is not increased for CC purposes, all is OK. A 2%-3% discount off
of the posted price is OK.