Support the LGBT Community with the HRC Buying Guide

Dec 5, 2010 Melanie Shearer

Support LGBT Equality - Microsoft Images

One of the easiest ways to support lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) individuals is to participate in events that bring awareness to the many obstacles that LGBT people face on a day to day basis. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an organization that performs advocacy for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders. Each year the HRC rates businesses on workplace equality and how LGBTs are treated in their places of employment. At this time of year when many are choosing gifts for loved ones, why not try to purchase gifts from merchants who support LGBT employees and their families?

Gift Buying Guide

The HRC compiles the Holiday Buying for Workplace Equality Guide each year around the winter holidays. The Guide rates employers by using answers to survey questions that the businesses supply to the HRC. From these results, the rating system is broken down into three categories based on colors. Green businesses have the highest marks and are recommended by the HRC. Yellow businesses have taken action for LGBT equality in the workplace, but have not received the highest ratings due to continued work on improvements to LGBT equality. Red businesses are considered the least fair-minded of all workplaces. HRC recommends that buyers choose other merchants for their gift needs until red businesses improve the equality in their businesses.

Stores that Support LGBT

In 2010, the HRC has awarded several businesses with the Green rating. The ratings have been separated out by store type.

Apparel stores that scored highest ratings are Macy’s, J.C. Penney, and Sears. Most of these stores can be found at local malls in many areas of the country. They also have great online stores for convenience and to-your-door delivery.

If someone on your gift list has requested gadgets or techie items, HRC has given highest ratings to these merchants: Apply, AT&T, Dell, and IBM.

Sometimes a quick trip to the drug store is required for last minute gifts. These drug stores scored high on this year’s Buying Guide: CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.

Finally, making that holiday dinner will require a trip to the local grocery store. Choose grocers with high ratings from HRC such as Acme Markets, Save-a-lot, and Shop ‘n Save.

Why Buy from Businesses that Prohibit LGBT Discrimination

Supporting LGBT friendly businesses is an important way to encourage employers to strive for equality in the workplace. When you buy from vendors that support LGBT equality, you are doing your part to ensure that members of the LGBT community are treated fairly and with respect. For more information on equality initiatives and business that scored poorly on the equality in the workplace survey, visit the Human Rights Campaign website.

Copyright Melanie Shearer. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Lotteries -- Buying into Fantasies

Dec 2, 2010 Sheila Franschman

Picking a Winner - Sheila Franschman

When we buy lottery tickets, many do not realize the history behind that little piece of paper. We are buying into a fantasy for a period of time. From the time we purchase the lottery ticket until the draw, we are multi-millionaires who can acquire anything, travel anywhere, even donate to charity or give away all our winnings if we want. It is only on the day of the draw that reality arrives. Very few win to live out their fantasy lives and most of us pick up another ticket to renew our lease on the dream of untold riches.

Lotteries in Biblical Times

Lotteries have been around since Biblical times. Moses won land near the Jordan River in a draw, according to the book of Numbers. We do not know if drawing lots for land was a common occurrence in these times or that this winner was famous. Today’s winners are commonly featured in newspaper articles and television reports. Is this to tell the public of the winner’s good fortune or to sell more lottery tickets?

Lotteries and Public Works

Lotteries have served many uses over the years. In China, during the Hun Dynasty (200 BC), a lottery game similar to Keno was used to raise money for public works such as the Great Wall of China. Today, it is common for the proceeds of a lottery to be used for charitable works or by a government for public works. In either case, the lottery is a form of taxation which does not hurt as much when there is a chance of winning a pot of gold at the end.

Lotteries and the Arts

The Flemish painter, the widow of Jan Van Eyck found a new wrinkle on uses for another form of lottery. She held a raffle with his paintings as the prizes. Raffles are an interesting idea. If you have an article worth fifty dollars, you can sell two hundred tickets at a dollar each to anyone interested in the article; you reap a profit of one hundred and fifty dollars. One person gets the article for their dollar and are ecstatic while one hundred and ninety nine people have lost only a dollar. That’s a good deal even today. Current prizes are exotic cars and small mansions but this is a sign of the times.

Lotteries and Government Debt

In the 1500’s, Florence, Italy awarded cash prizes in a lottery and the idea caught on. A few people may want a painting by a particular artist but everybody wants money. The idea of cash prizes became popular and spread to other European countries. In 1539, King Francis I needed money for his kingdom. He used a lottery to raise cash to help get the government get out of debt. Today, we do the same thing, although often the lottery raises cash for projects that would otherwise have to be funded by government. Sometimes the money goes into the general revenue stream to be divided amongst all the activities funded by government.

Lotteries and New Lands

In England, there were national lotteries and local lotteries. In 1567, Queen Elizabeth I set up the first national lottery and awarded prizes as well as money. A few years later, in 1612, King James created a lottery to raise money to build the Jamestown colony in Virginia. Gambling helped establish English settlers in North America.

Lotteries and the Colonies

It seemed only right for the colonies to follow the English lead, even after breaking away from European domination. Lotteries were used to fund schools and churches in early colonial times and later, helped fund universities such as Harvard and Yale. In this way, people’s fantasies were helping create dreams for a better future. Lotteries can serve useful purposes and allow many people to give large amounts of money a little at a time. As a bonus, they get to fantasize for a while of winning a prize that is well beyond what they originally put in.

Lotteries and Scams

Like everything else in history, there are always bad apples in the barrel. Some corrupt individuals sponsored lotteries but never awarded the prizes. Lotteries began to gain a reputation as sinful and evil, and movements sprang up to ban them. By 1905, lotteries were banned by the Supreme Court in the United States and people had to find new ways to satisfy their financial fantasies.

Lotteries and the Horses

The Irish Sweepstakes changed all this in the 1930’s. A lottery based on a horse race caught the public imagination and tickets were smuggled into the country and sold under the table. Winners gained money and a certain form of notoriety. Gambling is hard to stamp out with court rulings. The fantasies are necessary, especially during the Great Depression when gambling was the only fantasy that seemed to bring rewards.

Lotteries and the Olympics

The Olympic Lottery Corporation of Canada used lotteries to raise money for the Olympics in 1973 and the flood gates were open. Now, lotteries are everywhere and the prizes are becoming larger and larger. Some lotteries have prizes so huge that they are awarded over several years. Lotteries today can create multi-millionaires or create other problems.

Lotteries and Problems

Some people become addicted to the fantasy and buy more lottery tickets than they can afford. There have been stories in the newspapers about people who dream of lottery winnings to fund a lavish retirement and pour money into the scheme. Like all fantasies, winning the lottery may never happen. If you play the numbers for entertainment and keep your spending within your means, you can enjoy the fantasies and may even occasionally win. If you spend all your money on the dream and leave little or nothing for reality, you may need help with this issue. As with everything in life, moderation in gambling is the best path. Enjoy your fantasies but keep your eyes on reality.

Copyright Sheila Franschman. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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  Picking a Winner - Sheila Franschman

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  Lottery Tickets on Display - Sheila Franschman

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  Dreaming - Sheila Franschman

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  No Winner - Sheila Franschman

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Car Buying Tips: How to Buy a Car From a New Car Dealer

Nov 24, 2010 Jennifer Silva

Try these tips for buying a car to save money - ralev com

Buying a car can (and should) be a fun, informative experience. Unfortunately, it's also often a needlessly stressful and overly expensive one. Use these tips to protect yourself and get the best deal possible.

What's the best way to keep yourself from being taken advantage of at a dealership?

The number one way to keep yourself from being taken advantage of is to do your research before you go to the dealership. Things you should do include:

• Learn everything you can about the car/cars you're interested in. Not only do you want to learn everything about the particular model that you think you want to buy, but you also want to have some "back pocket info" for other makes and models, particularly competitors in the same class. This information can come in handy when sales people try to convince you that a particular feature is class or model exclusive and it's really not. Reviews and consumer reports are great for learning about cars.
• Check online for invoice prices, lowest prices and factory rebates. When it comes to getting a fair price on a car, knowledge is definitely power. Before going to the dealerships, make sure you've researched local prices, know invoice prices (so that you can know what's a fair price for a vehicle and what's inflated),and know what factory rebates are available. This will give you a better idea of how much "wiggle room" is available when it comes to negotiations.
• Call multiple dealerships and ask about current rebates. If a dealership is particularly desperate to move vehicles they'll often tack on extra incentives and rebates beyond those offered by the factory, especially at the end of the year.

When is the best time to buy a car?

There are certain times of the day, week and month when you're more likely to get a good deal. The best times to shop for a new car are:

• Near the end of the year. Factories often offer substantial year-end model discounts starting in the fall. And because dealers are eager to move last year's models off the lot and make room for the newest models (where there's a higher profit margin), they'll often sweeten the deal with additional dealer discounts.
• The last (or second to last) day of month. Dealers are always looking to make deals at the end of the month, when they're about to post their numbers. You'll often get a better deal at the end of the month than you will at the beginning, when the dealership and sales consultant are less desperate for a sale.
• Middle of the day during the week. When demand is high, it's hard to get a deal. That's why midday weekday shopping is best. Most dealerships are ghost towns at these times and sales people are eager to make every walk-in count.

What is the best way to negotiate for a car?

When it comes to car negotiations, there are three things you want to remember:

• If you're paying in cash, don't let them know that until you've settled on a price.
• If you're using a trade-in, try not to let them know that until you've settled on a price.
• Don't negotiate on monthly payments, no matter how often the dealership tries to steer the negotiation that way. Negotiate on final price and interest rate so that the dealership can't cloak a high final cost in a low monthly payment. And remember, the sooner you can pay off your loan, the less the car will cost you.

Questions to ask when buying a car

Ask lots of questions. If you've done your research, you should know the car you want inside and out so you should have plenty of material to work with. Most sales consultants don't know nearly as much about their cars as they want you to believe, so you want to use that to your advantage. By asking lots of detailed questions, you're building value in yourself and arming yourself with potential objections for when negotiation time comes.

What is the Road to the Sale?

Just about every car dealer on the planet is taught to sell using a sales technique called "the Road to the Sale." In addition to being a tool for building value in the dealership and quickly moving a sale to close, the road to the sale is a psychological tool meant to discover and counter your objections before you voice them.

By uncovering what your needs, price range and likes are, the sales consultant is not only finding a car you'll want to buy, they're also creating a situation that makes it harder for you to say no (because you've already, at some point, voiced a need that the car fulfills and you'll feel emotionally obligated to stick to what you've said). There's really nothing inherently unethical about the Road to the Sale but it's still important to know that you're on it so that you don't confuse sales pitch with friendship.

5 Tips to Get the Best Deal on a Car

In summary, the best five things you can do to get a good deal on a car are:

1. Do your research.
2. Time it right.
3. Negotiate the right way.
4. Ask lots of questions.
5. Know the Road to the Sale.

Further Reading

Car Sales: The Road to the Sale

TLE101

Copyright Jennifer Silva. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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  Try these tips for buying a car to save money - ralev com

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  Car shopping should be fun - packthecoo

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  Know the road to the sale - thiagofest

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  Learn how to negotiate for a new car - clix

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  Ask questions to save money when car buying - flaivoloka

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Used Car Buying Guide: The Best Transferable Factory Warranties

Nov 12, 2010 Candice Gillingwater

The Best New Car Warranties Are Transferable - Sammmm

After spending your hard-earned money on a used car, you don't want it to require major repairs soon after your purchase. Buying a reliable used car is a trickier process, however, than purchasing a reliable new car. In many cases, you know little or nothing about the previous owners and how the car was cared for. In this case, a transferable factory warranty serves as a safety net for both your wallet and your psyche.

Transferring a Factory Warranty From a Used Car

The good news about transferring your used car’s factory warranty if you buy from a dealership is that you usually don’t have to contact the manufacturer, fill out extensive paperwork or pay a transfer fee. Most car dealerships will take care of the necessary paperwork for your used car warranty transfer. Some manufacturers don’t even require a formal notification of the title transfer.

If you purchase a used vehicle from a private owner that still carries its factory warranty, make sure to verify that the warranty is fully transferable with the manufacturer before you purchase it. The used car’s manufacturer can provide you with any paperwork necessary to validate the transfer of the car’s warranty into your name.

Some Vehicle Warranties Are Only Partially Transferable

While most car companies offer extensive warranty protection that makes a full transfer from one buyer to the next, a few, such as Kia and Isuzu, reduce the warranty protection offered every time the vehicle changes hands. This offsets the amount of risk to the company.

When a used car is sold, it may travel across the country before it reaches the new buyer. This places the car in a different climate under new driving conditions. In addition, each individual has a different driving style and adheres to varying maintenance routines. All of these factors contribute to make repairs more common the more owners a vehicle has.

A partially transferable warranty doesn’t reduce the amount of protection you receive under the factory warranty. Rather, it reduces the years or mileage that the manufacturer will cover. For example, a vehicle manufacturer that offers 10 year/100,000 mile coverage on a car to the first owner may reduce that coverage to 5 years and 50,000 miles when the used car changes hands.

New Car Factory Warranty Terms By Manufacturer

The following warranty terms are offered on new vehicles by their manufacturers. With the exception of Pontiac, which was discontinued in 2008 but whose warranties are still valid, these warranties apply to 2010 and 2011 vehicles only. Because most new car warranties transfer in full to the second owner, this list should help you decide which cars carry the best factory warranties and are worth buying used and which you should pass over in favor of more comprehensive warranty protection.

• Acura: Basic – 4 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 6 yr./70,000 miles
• Audi: Basic and Powertrain – 4 yr./50,000 miles
• BMW: Basic and Powertrain – 4 yr./50,000 miles
• Buick: Basic – 4 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 5yr./100,000 miles
• Cadillac: Basic and Powertrain – 5yr./100,000 miles
• Chevrolet: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./100,000 miles
• Chrysler: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – Unlimited (2011 model only)
• Daewoo: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Dodge: Basic – 4 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 5yr./100,000 miles
• Ford: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Honda: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Hyundai: Basic – 5 yr./60,000 miles Powertrain – 10 yr./100,000 miles
• Infiniti: Basic – 4 yr./60,000 miles Powertrain – 6 yr./70,000
• Isuzu: Basic – 3 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 7 yr./75,000 miles
• Kia: Basic – 5 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 10 yr./100,000 miles
• Lexus: Basic – 4 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 6 yr./70,000 miles
• Lincoln: Basic – 4 yr./50,000 miles Powertrain – 6 yr./70,000 miles
• Mazda: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Mercedes: Basic and Powertrain – 4 yr./50,000 miles
• Mitsubishi: Basic and Powertrain – 5yr./60,000 miles
• Nissan: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Pontiac: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 10 yr./100,000
• Saab: Basic and Powertrain – 4 yr./50,000 miles
• Subaru: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Suzuki: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 7 yr./100,000 miles
• Toyota: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Volkswagen: Basic – 3 yr./36,000 miles Powertrain – 5 yr./60,000 miles
• Volvo: Basic and Powertrain – 4 yr./50,000 miles

The Downside of Factory Warranties

A factory warranty covers a vehicle’s parts if they fail under “normal” use. If the dealership has reason to believe that you may have placed additional strain on the vehicle, such as putting it through frequent street races, the manufacturer can refuse to cover the replacement of certain parts. Different manufacturers and dealerships are more forgiving than others on what constitutes normal wear and tear.

Extended Warranty Protection for Used Car Buyers

When you buy a car that still carries factory warranty protection, you have the comfort of knowing that you’re protected from the high cost of repairing parts that are faulty due to a manufacturer’s defect. If the car carries an extended warranty, however, you may not enjoy such thorough coverage.

Extended warranties don’t always transfer from buyer to buyer. Of those that do, your failure to submit the proper paperwork upon purchasing the vehicle could prevent you from being able to take advantage of the savings an extended warranty offers should your vehicle require repairs. When an individual or dealership uses a vehicle’s extended warranty as a selling point, always double check that the warranty will transfer before agreeing to purchase the car.

Regardless of the type of used car you purchase, a factory warranty is the best type of warranty to have. Try to purchase a car with as few miles as possible. and ensure that the vehicle’s factory warranty is still in place before signing on the dotted line.

Related Articles:

The Best and Most Reliable Used Cars: Buying Guide

Used Car Lemon Laws and Lawsuits

Car Valuation Tips: Estimate Used Car Values

Sources:

Consumer Reports: Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Car

Edmunds.com: Warranty and Roadside Assistance Coverage

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  The Best New Car Warranties Are Transferable - Sammmm

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  Does the Factory Warranty Transfer? - mikecco

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  Mileage Helps Determine Warranty Duration - bjearwicke

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  Extended Warranties Help Offset Repair Costs - TALUDA

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