Laugh Lines

Free Isn't Always Free

I don't know if you are like this, but I love getting something for free. I see those four letters in any advertisement and I am instantly hooked. However, I have learned the hard way that “free” doesn't always mean free. Let me share a few personal examples.

When office or electronics stores offer a free printer on the front page of their ads, it is imperative that I get my good old reading glasses out to check that very tiny small print. The first catch is that it is free with a store coupon for instant savings, and after the mail-in rebate. This means I must hunt down the coupon or find a clerk that can provide one. After that adventure, I must pay close to full price and get my rebate paperwork to take home and complete. Finally, I must be aware that months may go by before that rebate check comes my way. By then, I will have forgotten what it was for.

The next little trap I have found is that when I purchase (even with rebate) anything “digital” or “electronic,” something will be missing. A printer, scanner, fax machine or camera will invariably need some cord that is not included. Of course, I don't think of this until I drive all the way home, get comfy in my sweats for the evening, and then discover I can't even hook the thing up to use it. That means I either have to wait another day, or get dressed again and drive like a crazy woman to get the needed cord from the store before they close. I would think by now that reading the box contents would be second nature.

For a period of time, I used an incredible “free” camera. I thought it was marvelous to have such a nice gift as a reward for making a purchase. I did not realize that this camera ate batteries! I know cameras need a power source to function, but this one was ridiculous! The batteries it used didn’t come in bulk at the big box stores. It used special tiny camera batteries that were not easy to purchase just anywhere. The batteries were small, hard to find (yes, I know that means very expensive) and this camera would use them up like a box of tissue. The worst part was that the one store in my small hometown only sold those batteries in the smoke shop section. I’m afraid the townspeople thought I had a nasty habit, since I was constantly going in there for yet another pack of batteries.

Pam and Kathy’s 7 Tips for Smart Buying Electronics:

Fill out rebate slips and product registration cards immediately.
Make a copy of any paperwork sent in to keep for your files.
Make a note on your calendar when a rebate should be coming, so you watch for it.
Read the contents of the box carefully to verify what is included.
Price the supplies that will be needed to see if this is an economic piece of equipment.
Try store brand toners, paper, batteries, etc., to see if you can save future costs.
Don't let the Sunday paper ads convince you that you need something just to get that “free” item.