Hidden Perk with Magazine Subscriptions

With all the free magazine subscriptions available, it's extremely rare for me to actually purchase a subscription. The one exception since college has been Entertainment Weekly. I know what you're thinking, but yes I am that type of person.

Today I was upset to find my copy of EW ripped in my mailbox. I have a wonderful mail person and I understand that stuff happens occasionally, but it's still upsetting to come home and be unable to read the articles.

I logged on to EW's website to see if I could at least read the touching tribute to Cory Monteith online and found out something really cool. It seems that while not all the magazine's content is online, by subscribing to the magazine I also get the digital issue for a tablet or eReader. While creating my password I found another link that allowed me to report a damaged issue. I was given a choice between having the magazine re-sent or having another copy added to the end of my current subscription. That was really a no brainer. I was able to read these articles online and will get another magazine before I need to renew.

If you have any magazine subscriptions, I highly recommend checking out their websites. You might be surprised about the extra free content you're entitled to or little hidden features like reporting a bad delivery. EW didn't need to replace a magazine that was ripped in transit because they're not responsible for the post office but I'm really impressed that they were not only willing to resend it but made the process so easy.

Warranty Once Again Saves the Day (And Money)

I've said it before, spending a few extra dollars once can save you money in the long run. This time, I placed a claim with Camelbak after my better bottle started to leak out of the top. The bottle, which promises to be leak proof, began dripping when flipped over. You might be asking why I would flip a water bottle over, but it was in the side pouch of my backpack and would drip over me any time I bent.

I logged onto Camelbak's website and easily found the warranty on the bottom menu. I completed the form and a week later a new lid arrived in the mail. For just the lid, you didn't need to mail anything in, but if the bottle itself was broken, such as the threads that connect the lid to the bottle, you'd have to mail the old bottle in for a replacement.

Thank you to Camelbak for a great product and a good warranty. I look forward to enjoying my water bottle for many more seasons.

Always Save Your Receipts

Almost exactly three years ago, my car wouldn't start and it turned out to be an issue with the battery. I'm very lucky I saved my receipt in the glove compartment because today when I left work I found my car stalled in the parking lot. As I waited for AAA, I thought back to when this happened. Then I thought about the fact that I remember the guy trying to upsell me on the battery but I took the cheaper one thinking that I would probably be buying a new car before the six years were up.

I pulled out the receipt and saw June 2010 so I called Pepboys and asked. The battery had a 24/72 warranty on it. This means that if it goes within 24 months it would be replaced for free but if it had 72 months it would be discounted for a replacement. After AAA jumped the battery, I drove to Pepboys and am now sitting in their waiting room while they replace my battery at a fraction of the cost.

The point of this post is to always save receipts until after the warranty expires. I purchased the battery in a different state so it wouldn't be in this store's computer. Thanks to the receipt I was able to prove the date I purchased the last battery.

I would also like to give a shout out to Kenny from AAA in Philadelphia because I was so upset sitting in a car that wouldn't start but he not only showed up quickly, he was funny and friendly as he jumped the battery and tested a few other things that might have caused the problem. If you don't already have an AAA membership it's one of my favorite money saving tips. Even if you don't drive, the AAA membership will save you money when traveling and shopping. If you do drive, they will help you 24/7 if you get stranded on the road (or parking lot).

Why I believe in Extended Warranties

I am currently suffering from mycomputerhatemeitis. Last week, Windows started having trouble loading and I had to go into safe mode. Yesterday, I spent the whole day allowing the computer to reformat the harddrive, and today I am still getting the error messages on start-up.

Luckily, three years ago I purchased an extended complete care warranty. At the time, I wasn't sure about the value and compared both the in-store and company based protection plans. In the end, I bought the HP Complete Care Warranty for my computer. This plan covered everything even if I dropped the computer. A great guy named Jarrod walked me through a BIOS test and determined that the problem was in fact the harddrive. I am mailing my computer in and by next week it will be working again.

Please be advised that I currently have my work computer and will still be able to update but I don't have all my software so any logos or graphics might have that annoying white box around it.

I would also like to say a quick why I love HP and would purchase their computers again. As I mentioned, I have had this computer for three years. This is literally the first time I've had any major issues. I've had the typical battery issues that all computers of this age see, but I never had to use my warranty until today.  I'm a little sad though because the problems are just starting but my three year warranty expires next month.  I guess I'll spring for the four or five year warranty next time.

When Buying a "Brand" Pays

I know that Making Cents of It is a blog dedicated to finding stuff cheap, but is cheap always the answer?  Today, I would like to discuss with everyone the value of buying from companies that stand behind their products.

Surprisingly, many store brands offer 100% satisfaction guarantees.  If you purchase a product and don't like it you can just bring it back.  If it breaks, they'll replace it.  It's really that simple.  Next time you're in a store check their policy.  If they'll replace an item that breaks from use, it will save you money.

Sometimes, it's worth buying the name brand.  Here are three examples of different types of warranties.  I have had good experiences with other brands and stores as well, however to write about every experience would take a while.

Although I probably could have purchased a raincoat cheap somewhere else, I decided I didn't want to look like a rubber ducky and instead purchased a nice waterproof windbreaker with a hood.  Recently, I noticed that my jacket's layers were peeling at the seam.  While most people would say "well, the jacket is six years old.  I guess it lasted a long time."  I knew better.  When I had originally purchased the jacket, I purchased from a brand that is known for quality.  The North Face stands behind their products so I went on their website and looked at their warranty and repair policy.  The policy states that they will cover defects in workmanship and materials regardless of the age of the product, but not normal wear and tear.  Before mailing my jacket in, I called the 800-number and asked if the problem I was noticing was wear and tear.  The woman was very polite and told me it sounded like a defect in the material but that she couldn't be positive without the repair center looking at the jacket.  I sent the damaged jacket in and four weeks later they mailed me a replacement since the issue was covered but could not be repaired.

Not every warranty will replace an item.  Replacing an item only happens when it cannot be repaired for some reason.  As everyone knows, high school students are not known for light backpacks. When I was in school, I overstuffed my Jansport bag with textbooks everyday and eventually the seams just couldn't take the weight and began to split.  I mailed the bag into the company and they reinforced the seams before mailing it back.  I would like to point out that seams were covered, however if the books had caused the actual material to rip, that would be considered wear and tear.

Another great company when it comes to repairs is Vermont Teddy Bears because even if the damage is your fault, their Bear Hospital will fix your teddy.  I love their policy:

Every once in a while a tragedy will strike - a dog attack, a chance meeting with a lawn mower. When this happens it is very easy to become upset, lose your cool, maybe even freak out! But NEVER FEAR, health care is here, and we are not just talkin' any old health care, we are talkin' FREE, full coverage health care for your Bear's entire lifetime. 

They can make any bear (purchased through them of course) brand new again.  I had a bear that has sentimental value to me from my childhood.  When I was moving out of my parent's place, my teddy had an accident involving a scissor opening the box he was in that went into his paw and pulled stuffing out.  I was devastated until my sister reminded me he was from Vermont.  I mailed him in to the hospital and a few weeks later, he returned to me in perfect condition.  I know it was still my bear and not a replacement because it still had its matted fur from years of being slept with, but his paw pad was carefully replaced.  The fun part was he came home in a hospital gown and was wearing a hospital bracelet.

I could go on telling you stories about how warranties have saved me money and stress in the long run, but I'd rather hear from you.  Leave a comment telling about an experience where you had a warranty and it saved you money, or you purchased a "cheap" item only to end up spending more when it broke.  What companies do you recommend to other Making Cents of It readers?

Disclaimer: No company mentioned in this post compensated me in any way.  This post is completely 100% my point of view and experiences.