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Welcome
Fall
is upon us, and I have the proof since a deer just walked
by my window. (We always see more of the deer in the
fall.) The cooler days are welcome: this is great power-walking
weather, and the garden needs very little watering now.
Preparations are underway to get our home ready for
winter. We make lists of all the chores that remain
"before the rain comes." No more summer dilly
dallying; time to get back to work.
Do
you want an extended warranty with that?
I
had been thinking about getting a laptop (notebook)
for nearly 2 years and finally I could justify the purchase.
I researched the issue, saw a "good deal,"
and checked it out. After sleeping on it for a couple
of nights, I was ready to buy.
I
chose the accessories carefully: compact mouse, flash
drive, and a padded notebook carrier. When the helpful
sales associate was inputting my order, I was anticipating
his question: "Would you like an extended warranty
with that?" I gave him a firm "no."
I
don't remember the exact figures, but there were at
least 3 choices of different years and dollar amount
combinations. You've been there, and don't you get the
idea that you have to make the decision right there
and then?
With
car rental companies, I give them an automatic "no"
to decline all of the extra insurance they offer even
though I've been threatened with "you'll owe us
the money, not your insurance company," and "don't
forget how large your deductible is." I'm thinking
that an extended warranty is a form of insurance anyway,
isn't it?
The
last time we bought a TV, we researched the issue like
we were buying a car. They are that complicated these
days, and there are so many choices. Out of fear we
bought the maximum amount of extended warranty. When
we had a problem with the TV, what we needed wasn't
covered by the extended warranty, but had to be handled
by the manufacturer. It got me wondering what was actually
covered by the warranty anyway. But I digress…back to
the notebook.
Why
did I say "no" to the extended warranty with
such confidence? I'm not confident, really; I'm taking
a calculated risk that makes financial sense and here's
why:
1.
Extended warranties are how retailers make their money.
2. I have a manufacturer's warranty for 1 year.
3. This is a spare computer so I don't need the loaner
that retailer is offering (and charging me for).
4. I wasn't comfortable that the retailer, rather than
the manufacturer, was going to do the repairs. If they
could do it, couldn't anyone?
Now
let's do some math. What do we think that the chances
are that I will need to have this notebook professionally
repaired (out of house) in the next 3 years (my estimation
of its useful life)? Being conservative, let's say 20%.
And let's say that the repair will cost $250 (25% of
the cost of the notebook).
With
a 20% chance of a $250 repair, the amount that I should
be willing to pay for insurance (a.k.a. extended warranty)
is $50 (.20 x $250 = $50). The retailer was going to
charge about $185 for a 3 year warranty. I wasn't willing
to pay that much.
I
figure that I've saved myself a lot of headaches, too,
by not having to battle with the warranty company when
whatever is wrong with my notebook is not covered for
some reason. I'm on my own, and I know it. Maybe I'll
regret it for one product or another, but over time,
I will save money.
And
knowing that there isn't an extended warranty with this
notebook, I'm taking VERY GOOD care of my notebook.
;-)
Can
you delegate?
Sometimes
potential clients call me and realize they need help
because they are overwhelmed with their business. One
thing that I ask them is, "Can you delegate?"
Some people can't, and I totally understand that. In
order to have a successful partnership with a virtual
assistant, in order to get the help that you need, you
need to be able to have: 1) work that is easily delegated
(systems in place), and 2) the ability to allow others
to do the work for you. Think about whether you can
delegate, and I'd be happy to talk to you about how
a virtual assistant can help your business grow.
Quick
Tip: Mailing Label
Okay,
maybe I'm slow on this one. I've been printing sheets
of labels for years (dare I say decades?), but I wasn't
quite sure how to do the smaller sizes with just one
or two labels. It turns out that it is easy! I just:
- Access Avery.com.
- Search for the label number from
the home page.
- On the page for the label you want
to print, click the link for "blank template."
- Download the template, which is a
Word document.
- Type in the information that you
want on the label.
- Save the template for future reference.
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