#so all i bought was like warranty and a case

[cowardlycowboys]

Which phone do you use? Do you prefer iPhone or Android? I use the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra.

the girl in the commercial was so pretty I wanted to buy that phone so bad but I have android because my dad refuses to buy apple products

[kaalionpahaa]

sewing machine rant because im mad as hell. fucking singer man. my mom got me a new shiny singer heavy duty 4423 because my old machine jammed out of nowhere and i was told fixing it would be more expensive than just getting a new one. my mom got the old one second hand like 30 years ago and it had minor issues the whole time but until it jammed it served me perfectly well enough. and more importantly when it did have minor issues most of them i could fix myself with minor effort.

enter singer, a famously well liked and respected brand. they're marketing this machine as "beginner friendly" and "easy to use" and all the research i did told me the same. now this might have been my own fault for apparently just sucking at doing research, i probably should've dug deeper or something, lesson learned i guess.

i'm not too active with sewing, i mostly work on some cosplays, and i was specifically marketed this machine to because apparently it "can handle difficult materials" and "is good for cosplayers". it worked fine for a few months, then i started getting issues with thread tension. nothing i tried with the top thread worked so the problem must be the bottom thread then. easy fix right? i sure as hell though so. i did had to check the manual cause my old machine had the bobbin on the side so this one was different than what i was used to. turns out the user manual only says "tension is adjusted correctly at the factory, you dont need to do anything". long story short i ended up adjusting it with the help of youtube and a lot of googling and it turned out fine.

now yesterday i was doing what i thought was basic maintenance on the machine, cleaning it and checking if it needs to be oiled and stuff. i took out the bobbin case and brushed away the frankly disgusting amount of lint and dust. when i was putting it back together i noticed the shuttle was hitting the needle. i took a video of it, went to the shop i bought the machine from and asked what does that mean and how can i fix it. i get told the timing is off and "this is why you shouldn't tinker with it yourself, you are causing issues". i was a bit offended ngl and said "i wasn't tinkering or trying to adjust anything, i was just cleaning out the lint and the dust". they told me sewing machines are delicate and that everything from the thread to the needle to the fucking position of the moon i guess can affect the timing and cause issues with the machine.

i went back to read the user manual cause surely there has to be something about basic maintenance right? RIGHT? like this is something my mom has drilled into me my whole life, i need to take care of a sewing machine or it will break. yea no, there is absolutely nothing on cleaning out the machine in the manual (note that i didn't even get a full manual with the machine, i had to google it myself). there is a troubleshooting page where it briefly says "clean out as advised/instructed" but nowhere does it actually advise anything. basically any issue that can't be solved with thread tension, a new needle or rethreading the machine apparently requires a professional. oh and if anyone who is not a licensed singer repairman does anything to it it's not covered by the fucking warranty.

so now i don't know if i do get it fixed by a pro do i have to pay something like 100€ because i made the mistake of thinking that i can access parts of the machine that they gave me a specific tool to access to. i also feel really fucking bad for not liking the machine cause my mom bought it for me specifically because i thought it'd be a good machine. like idgaf if i waste money on something that sucks, cause that's my own issue and my own fault but it was my parents' money.

also why did my moms old machine handle literally anything (except whatever made it jam i guess......) but i can't apparently breathe near the new one without breaking something. if i broke a needle in the old one i could just change it and continue but the singer apparently breaks from that too. any machine meant for use should be designed so it doesn't require absolute perfection to stay in working condition.

[foldingfittedsheets]

It’s been several years since I sold mattresses, though I still have friends in that industry. Back then, I bought this wildly expensive set of sheets. They’re made of tencel (like a fancy processed plant fiber), with a quilted top sheet that’s very soft and decadent. The fitted sheet has straps at all four corners to keep it snug on the bed, and the pillowcases are quilted, too.

The problem is that the quilted top has come apart from the bottom, making the luxurious and expensive quilted top sheet a nightmare to wash and use. It’s turned into a vast floppy bag of fabric.

Having grown more frustrated with this situation over the years I finally reached out to the company I’d bought them from to ask if I could buy a single top sheet. To help this process along I claimed I still work in the mattress industry.

To my surprise the regional Vice President of sales gets back to me almost immediately and says he’s sorry to hear it, and what mattress store do I own? Presumptuous, I think. But still, a good sign.

So I text my friend who owns a store. I’ve helped cover his location a few times on a freelance basis, and I know he carries their sheets. I say, “Can I lie to this company that I work for you?”

“Of course,” he says. So I send my little email with its exaggeration that I work for my friends store more often than is really the case. I then text my friend again.

“Wow,” I say, “it’s surprising that the regional VP of sales is the one handling this.”

My friend is upset. “What?! You can’t lie to him! I just had lunch with him, he knows you don’t work for me!”

At which point I say, “What! You told me I could lie!!”

He says he’ll send an email. I feel bad but not that bad because I did ask first. But within ten minutes the VP is back, even more genial than before. He fulfills a warranty claim that gets me two new top sheets for free since I’m a friend of a friend. It felt like I was part of the bedding mob, I swear.

[monadoboy16]

I’m done with DKOldies

Okay, this is goanna be a very long essay, but it’s necessary to do so.  DKOldies has come under fire for selling overpriced “refurbished” consoles when they are filled with dust and debris.  As some big-name YouTubers like Jacob R called them out.  But, to add even more fuel to the fire, DKOldies has been blocking people for exposing their practices on Twitter and removing related comments on their Facebook and YouTube shorts.  As a result, I will no longer be using their store to buy any retro gaming items for any future VintageTech episodes about old game systems.

Now, will I be censoring any mention of DKOldies on my YouTube channel?  Well, yes and no.  I do have plans on censoring any warranty stickers in the  PSP episode of VintageTech, but, due to the length of episode 10, I will not be removing the shoutout to DKOldies. Now, the only things I bought from that site are DS games, Metalic Rose DS Lite (Cosmetically Flawed), Some Atari Cartridges (I gave them a pass on the ones that didn’t work properly due to these cartridges being over 40 years old) surprisingly, another paddle controller, two PSPs, and two UMDs.  In addition, I got a GBA Cartridge and a PlayStation 2 8MB memory card, but that’s it.

Now, as for alternatives for DKOldies, this essay will explain four of them.  The first and obvious choice is eBay.  That site allows users to sell items or auction them. They can use photos of the items they’re selling, in addition, they can state the condition of the item whether it’s working or not (for electronics at least), so you should keep this in mind unless you want to fix the item in case if it’s not working.  However, I should point out that DKOldies did have an eBay store, so avoid them at all costs.  In other words, eBay is your safest choice for getting old tech and retro games.

Next, there is Retrospekt, which does sell refurbished items.  Retrospekt sells refurbished vintage items like Game Boys, VCRs, Film Cameras, and Polaroid Cameras (which is where I first heard about Retrospekt). In addition, they also sell custom-made items made of vintage internals. That’s where the Pepsi Polaroid 600 came from as seen in both The Mud and Friends episode One Shot Instaroid and Episode 14 of VintageTech.  Therefore, Retrospekt stays true to its name of actually refurbishing items compared to DKOldies.

If you prefer to do actual shopping rather than online shopping, we have Goodwill.  Now the best Goodwill store depends on your preference. Some are awesome, others not so much. Of course, if you’re collecting retro games and vintage electronics (besides DVDs and VideoCassettes), I recommend you shop at a Goodwill that has a section called “The Grid” like the one in Rockingham.  In addition, there are also The Grid stores across the country.  In other words, Goodwill is good compared to DKOldies’ Badwill.

Finally, I never knew about this online store until recently, we have Gameroom.  This one is like DKOldies, but better, they not only sell games but also DVDs and Monitors.  In addition, they sell not only the Atari 2600 but also the other systems Atari has produced.  They also sell Next-Gen gaming systems, as I saw an Xbox Series S and X for sale. Now, I never bought anything from that site yet, but by the time the season 2 premiere of VintageTech begins production, you know where my source will be alongside eBay.  In the end, DKOldies is dead to me, I prefer eBay, Retrospekt, Goodwill, and Gameroom as my go-to places for buying retro gaming stuff and old tech in general.  

If you’re currently following DKOldies on any social media site, please unfollow them as best as you can.

[whipplefilter]

Real Car Guy Story, Part 1

I feel like a Real Car Guy now, because what you are looking at is a new (used) EJ253. I surely did not install it myself!! But I made the decision to have it installed and paid 💸💸💸💸 for it, and I wanted to write down somewhere why I did this.

Backstory

I bought this car at 152,000 miles when it was just over 10 years old. I am its fourth or fifth owner, or something somewhat high, and one of those owners was an auction lot, where it hung around for several months unowned by anyone. It is now 16.5 years old, with 222,140 miles.

This car has burned oil the entire time I’ve owned it, though drivability-wise it’s never seemed to care. Oil burning is fairly typical for 100k+ engines, and even more so for Subarus. There are a few reasons, but I think the primary one is that the EPA sets MPG requirements--but AWD is less fuel efficient than 2WD, which makes it harder to hit the standard. Subaru responded by reducing friction in the engine, so that it takes less work to move the components. This means that as the components wear, oil can leak into the combustion chamber and burn. Industry standard across all makes is that burning 1qt of oil is within spec.

This spec is kind of BS, tbh, because you shouldn’t have to be adding a quart of oil every 1000 miles, but it is what it is and Costco-brand oil is cheap and tests well, so whatever. In the time that I’ve owned this car, it’s burned a quart of oil every 1500-500 miles (generally worse in winter/severe service). So that’s roughly 72,000 miles of trucking along like that.

Catalytic Converters

Unfortunately, it has also eaten through what is now multiple cats--catalytic converters. These are expensive--you may have noticed there’s a lot of news stories about their being cut and stolen, because their filters have a bunch of precious metals in them. So it’s not a great part to keep fouling and going through. Fouling a cat will set a P0420 code. 

For most cars, a P0420 is not going to do anything but illuminate your MIL. Your cat has to outright clog (rather than simply read out of spec) in order for anything noticeable to happen--unless you live in an inspection state, in which case a P0420 will fail you.

Last summer, I managed to outright clog a cat, which resulted in TROUBLED TIMES aka an asthmatic engine, and a complicated 100-mile tow back to my old mechanic shop, because I’d moved but that cat was still under warranty and I wanted it replaced for free under warranty. I was apprehensive about having to make small talk with a tow truck guy for 100 miles, but he was fun and we talked about his crappy Taurus and it was a good time until he tried to ask me out after the tow. I was like 🙃 I thought we were just having a nice conversation about cars but I guess not. 

Anyway, fast forward to just over a year later, and I trip the P0420 AGAIN, which means I’ve burnt out a cat in UNDER A YEAR. With EPA-compliant replacements running $1500-$2000, that’s not ideal. What to do?

Cost Comparisons

In the last 72,000 I’ve done some minor experimentation with oil and oil burning. I replaced the PCV valve (no dice), and have tried different brands of oil and synthetic vs. conventional, etc. One of my previous mechanics suggested a cocktail of oil additives to plump up worn seals in the engine to stop the oil burning, but I was basically just like, might as well do the full engine and stop messing around.

I recognize that engine replacement is not a regular, normal-person repair--not for a stock, standard issue family vehicle with 222k+ on the chassis and an entire lifetime in the saltbelt (almost 17 years). But I really think it made sense in this instance, because:

1) Love: I love this car; I prefer this body style, which Subaru no longer makes; I remain leery of both CVTs and screen-based infotainment systems; and tbh it all smacks of planned obsolescence to me. Plus, if I’m going to buy a newer car, I don’t want it to be an ICE car--I think electric is the future and ideally I want to run this car until it makes sense for my next one to be electric or plug-in hybrid. But for my needs, and for how I drive, and for where I live, the infrastructure for that is not yet where I want it to be.

2) Neurotic Recordkeeping: I’ve built a really strong maintenance history for this year over the last 72k miles. I know how it drives, I know what work it’s had done, I know the history and condition of a panoply of random things that would not come up in a used-car inspection. And I know these things over time--the oil consumption, for example. I could’ve bought basically the same car for less than an engine and cat replacement, but who’s to say what else it might need or what kind of car it is? And I know this car regularly has its oil levels checked; I check the condition of all the fluids visually and with test strips. I know how it’s been driven, and I know whether the maintenance intervals have been respected. (I’ll return to this in Real Car Guy Story, Part 3, because LOL F ME). 

3) Clean Chassis in a Hostile World: For a 16.5-year old r u s t b e l t car, the chassis is very solid. It’s a clean car. And maybe if you live somewhere else you can make that assumption, but you can’t here.

For these reasons, I felt like this is what made sense for me. Maybe it wouldn’t have if I didn’t trust this car, or know it well. And maybe it wouldn’t have if I were excited about a newer vehicle, or if it was financially unwise to sink so much money into something all at once. But I do love this car and I did have the money--and I used it to play for keeps, rather than to ensure that I had a set of wheels that’d be reliable for another 3-5 years.

How many years do I think I’ve given myself? I’m aiming for another 10, would grudgingly accept another 5, could easily see another 20 (though probably not as my primary vehicle).

[loosestitchescomic]

Love the comic!! I was wondering if you have any tips for people who want to get into digital art? What program do you use?

Hope you have a good day :D

oOF so that's hard cause it's been kind of a really long journey and a lot of the stuff I've picked up has been from watching youtube, looking stuff up, and only recently a few classes here and there. So I don't have any TIPS but I CAN walk you through my digital art journey, if you will. (also if you don't wanna read this all: I use Clip Studio Paint Pro, and a Wacom Intuos Pro)

SO. my first tablet was a cheap, tiny square thing that cost 30 dollars and connected to my labtop via a usb cable. It only lasted a few years. It was a Huion drawing tablet, don't know what kind but a brief search shows they're still selling tables for around 30-50 dollars and they look WAY better than the one I started with. so if you wanna start digital drawing but don't wanna buy a super expensive tablet at first in case you don't like it, I'd suggest Huion.

NEXT I used a free digital art program called Fire Alpaca for a while, and since I was new to digital art I didn't really need all the fancy brushes and options that expensive digital art programs had because I just needed to familiarize myself with the basics first.

After a while I wanted an upgrade, but adobe products are super expensive and slowed down my cheap broken laptop. Eventually I ended up finding Clip Studio Paint, which I bought for like 40 dollars (I think it's 50 dollars now) and has been my faithful companion ever since. It helps that it's made specifically for digital illustration/manga creation too, since I like making comics.

somewhere along the line my Huion tablet started sporadically cutting out and losing pen pressure so I asked my mom for a better one, since I'd proven that I was serious about digital art, and I ended up getting a Wacom Intuous Pro for christmas (also a tablet without a screen, I've found from using others ipads that I kind of hate screen tablets haha)

WHICH SURPRISED ME cause I thought they were WAYY too expensive. That's the tablet I still use today but I wouldn't suggest buying it, the charging port broke multiple times and after the warranty expired there wasn't much I could do about it, so I had to switch to using the wireless option and charging the battery via a different battery charger I bought on amazon and the whole thing was very annoying and BAD, I made do cause I can't afford a new tablet but the charging port breaking is kind of a big fucking deal :/

anyway thank you for your interest and giving me the chance ot ramble haha

AH SORRY I THOUGHT I POSTED THIS THE DAY I GOT IT. My bad i saved it as a draft instead haha.

[cirgaydian-rhythm]

I will agree on going to the store 99% of the time

HOWEVER

The one and only time I will recommend an online store for a mattress is BigFig.

If you're somebody who tends to cause craters in most mattresses, whether that's because of weight, size, or frequency of use, I ABSOLUTELY will 100% PERSONALLY RECOMMEND BigFig.

Story time:

My partner and I aren't "big" people, but my partner is stocky with relatively wide hips and a big butt, and because they sleep on their back, their butt tends to cause a lot of wear and tear on most mattresses. To add to that, before we moved to our current place, our bed doubled as our lounge, so we used it day and night. For quite a while, we were tight on money and could only really afford crappy online mattresses, which never lasted long with all factors considered. When we finally came into some money (thanks to an inheritance), we decided to look into getting a Proper Mattress. I did a lot of research, aiming specifically for mattresses vetted by fellow serial mattress-destroyers. That's how I found BigFig. Between the product descriptions, the strong warranty, and the customer reviews (including from people who also used their bed during the day), we decided to go for it.

We have had this mattress for about 5 years now. It is comfy af, and the surface is just as flat as when we bought it despite never actually flipping it around. We love it, and honestly, sleeping on any other mattress at this point is just uncomfortable.

I will say this: it is an investment, yes, but any good mattress is going to be, even if you go into a physical store. Like I said, 99% of the time, I will recommend going into a store and sticking your butt on a lot of mattresses (same for couches and chairs - anything that involves spine support should be given a thorough butt-test before investing in it), but in the specific case of not wanting to sink money into something you're not sure will stand up to your powerful behind, I recommend BigFig.

adults of tumblr how on earth do you decide on what mattress you want to order

[voodslifestyle]

Get the Best Offers: Latest Offers: Neckbands Available at the Cheapest Price when Bought Online

Do you always find yourself with your cables all tangled around you when you just want to jam to your music or pick calls? Is it your desire to employ fashionable, functional earbuds that are free from complications? One might have to consider purchasing choker online sometime soon! Nowadays, it is easier and cheaper than ever to choose the right pair because the choices are virtually limitless. Now, let’s discuss shipping prices and how to make the best neckband purchase as well as focusing on the online stores option.

Neckbands: Why Choose Them? Neckbands are also rapidly gaining popularity due to their practicality plus they are very versatile. But unlike earphones, choker are designed to be worn around the neck of the wearer. It fits well and these shoes are suitable for people with active schedules. Neckbands enable the user to engage in physical activities such as exercising, jogging, or even for a leisurely walk while leaving wires behind as they are visible. Moreover, these often have such qualities as great sound quality, battery life, and noise cancellation at their disposal. Voods Lifestyle, a brand committed to innovation and excellence, offers some of the best neckbands in the market. With Shivam Dube, brand ambassador of Voods Lifestyle, they are setting new standards in wearable technology.

Advantages of Online Neckband Purchases The following benefits can therefore not go unnoticed whenever one is deciding to buy neckbands online. Well, the very first advantage that comes to mind. You get to read through numerous choices of the automobile without having to run around from one place to another or even deal with overzealous salespeople. Moreover, from time to time, internet retailers offer various promotions and offers that cannot be found in physical stores. And when you are making a purchase online, one may even compare the price, take some time to read the reviews that consumers have to give concerning certain products before they make a purchase.

Where Can I Find Neckbands at the Most Affordable Prices? Actually price is not the most influential factor to consider when searching for the best deals on the internet; it is value instead. Go online and look for companies that offer good services at cheap rates that you can afford. Be on the lookout for any promotions, bundled deals, or special offers available during the weekly as well as yearly star packages. Ensure that you compare features of the two devices with a view of pointing out differences in aspects like battery life, connectivity range, and sound. Before committing to a choker, one should assess consumer reports for insight into how effective they are as accessories. When shopping online, be sure to check whether there are warranties or procedures for returning merchandise since this will ensure that you are fulfilled by the product you have purchased.

Keep an Eye Out for Unbeatable Prices When buying online, make sure to find neckbands at the most reasonable prices. Supposing it is in festive seasons, a particular season of the year, or when the company is clearing its inventory. You can also use price comparison websites or its app to monitor price drops and ensure that you are getting the best deal. Often you can get the information about some special offers and discounts by subscribing to newsletters and following firms in social networks.

Final Thoughts: Third on Making the Right Purchases and Sparing Money! This is a positive outcome; You might also find that with this online shopping, you shall have so many choices that you shall get the best value for your neckbands when purchasing them online. Therefore, there must be a great neckband that might cost you a few cents only, if only you are willing enough to look for it, and in some cases, waiting. Why then wait? The time to start looking for the perfect is now, and the time to appreciate the perfection is also not far off.

[trevorhunter]

$11,000 Wheelchair Accessible Van Purchase Goes South

I recently came across a story that has sparked an online uproar. A family purchased an early 2000s Plymouth/Dodge minivan for $11,000 to accommodate their 33-year-old daughter, who needed a wheelchair lift post-surgery. The van didn’t even make it home before breaking down, and predictably, the internet is up in arms, blaming the car dealer and demanding new laws to prevent this kind of “scam.” But let’s cut through the noise and get to the heart of the matter. The real issue here isn’t the dealer or the van. It’s the buyer’s lack of due diligence.

When you’re spending your money, you have a responsibility to protect that investment. Due diligence isn’t optional; it’s essential. The family could have searched the Google Reviews right there in the showroom and seen that this dealer had terrible reviews and was known for selling unreliable vehicles. Choosing to ignore those reviews and failing to get the van inspected was a costly oversight. It’s not up to the dealer to protect your interests. It's up to you to ensure you're making a sound purchase.

Now, let’s dive into the economics of this situation. The family bought an $11,000 van that supposedly needed $11,000 in repairs. That claim simply doesn’t hold water. This van likely came with a 3.8-liter Pentastar engine, a workhorse you can find in any junkyard for cheap. Even if the engine was completely locked up, you could fix it for about $2,000, max. A full engine replacement might run you $800 for a junkyard motor and $1,200 to drop it in. Claiming it needs $11,000 worth of work is more than a stretch; it’s purely fiction.

Let’s get real about the market. The guy selling the $11,000 option is still offering something valuable. He’s meeting a market need. If the internet had its way and every vehicle had to pass a 100-point inspection, come with a warranty, and be in perfect condition, these $11,000 options would disappear. You’d be spending $45,000 or more on what used to be a budget vehicle. The reality is, these folks bought an $11,000 van and might need to spend another $500 to $1,000 on repairs. Sure, they’re upset, but they’ve got a solution to their problem. Worst case, they’ll be $13,000 into the vehicle, and they’ll still have a functioning van. The claim of $11,000 in repair costs is exaggerated. If the van drove at all, that figure is pure fiction. You could practically rebuild the entire van with junkyard parts for far less.

These are budget solutions for budget-conscious people. The so-called "evil" car dealer selling cut-price cars is fulfilling a real need. This family likely bought an $11,000 van because they couldn’t afford a $70,000 or $100,000 option. If the laws the internet is clamoring for were in place, restricting these kinds of deals, this family wouldn’t have had that option. They wouldn’t be in a van for $11,000, even if it needed some TLC. Every business has its market, and everyone serves a purpose. It’s on you to know what you’re buying, and if you’re getting a budget vehicle, understand that you’re buying into a budget solution.

[anthonycblog]

What Are the Perks of the American Express Platinum Card?

The benefits of using the American Express Platinum Card are many. The first one is travel rewards for cardholders. These include airport lounge access. Picture this: You are waiting in a busy airport. Now, picture yourself lounging quietly. You may have free snacks and drinks. This surely is comfortable and a experience loved by many. It makes traveling easier. Another traveling benefit is the advantage in the hotel. Cardholders get upgraded rooms. They also receive a late checkout option. All these make the stay much more rewarding, and you will literally feel like a VIP. My friend shared his experience. He was upgraded for free into a suite, and it truly made his trip feel special. The card offers so much more than travel benefits. But then, travel's a big part of it.

The shopping area is one more where this card shines. Purchase protection comes with being a cardholder. This, therefore, means that your purchases are protected. Imagine if you purchase a new phone. It stops working within two weeks. With the Platinum Card, you can be refunded. This benefit saved me one time. I once bought a laptop, and it stopped working. The store could not help, but American Express helped. My money was refunded. Another shopping perk is extended warranties. Your products are covered for a long period of time. This gives you peace of mind. Defects are not something that worries you. These perks make shopping more secure. You can shop with a lot of confidence.

Dining is also one of the key benefits. Exclusive events are at your access using this card. One can have gourmet dinners. Imagine attending a chef's table. You get to taste dishes prepared by some very high-ranking chefs. This is a one-time experience. One friend used his card for a special dinner. He dined with well-known chefs; the food was great, he said. These dining benefits also extend to dollar credits that can be availed of in fine dining, allowing a person to save money while eating in fancy restaurants as well, thereby increasing the card's overall value. Platinum Card benefits extend to every category of life, whether it is travel, shop, or dine; it provides value in every case.

[uupiic]

If you bought a desktop comp fully (eeehhhh.... more or less) completed, even something as simple as installing case fans(!), or just the regular, completely non-invasive procedure of blowing dust out of the case by using compressed air meant specifically for blowing dust out of the case, will void your warranty, because you opened the case. 

(if things fry in there because I don’t have case fans and didn’t clean that shit out? Lmao, I read it through, and my warranty didn’t cover that; in fact, it counts as the user’s fault :) you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t :)

I weighted all pros and cons and figured that if I fry everything in there, it’ll cost me a lot, SO I just tore that shit open and now there are three case fans, and I clean dust out regularly (there’s loads of dust in my apartment, for some reason that escapes me, but it’s probably the ventilation shafts), and my warranty was void :) which reminds me... gotta clean the big boi sometime soon.

But also, the very computer (or rather malware etc) illiteracy and the seeming safety of the world of smartphones is why I (metaphorically) break out in hives every time stuff like “no menu, just scan the qr code” comes up. I’m not scanning that shit, I don’t know what you, or somebody else who was sitting here before, put in there. Could be the menu, could be malware that hijacks my phone. Not like the waiting staff etc. can tell by a quick look that somebody swapped their menu code for something else. I grew up in a world where an accidental click on a pop-up could infect your machine. Not risking it.

Me: oh yeah, if you think school photography is hard now, try imagining doing this with film.

The new girl: what’s film?

Me: … film. Like… film that goes in a film camera.

New girl: what’s that mean?

Me: … before cameras were digital.

New girl: how did you do it before digital?

Me:… with film? I haven’t had enough coffee for this conversation

[allisonreader]

Rant incoming...

This is about a certain sewing machine brand of which I will not name to not taint anyone's opinion of it. But I'm telling you, the customer and us at the store are frust-rate-ed with this particular company.

We have a customer who is very loyal to this sewing machine brand. She bought their extremely fancy, top of the line, extremely expensive sewing and embroidery machine which has an unsolved issue currently. If they were any other of the brands we sell, this issue would have been dealt with by replacing the customer's machine with a new one ages ago. But because this company is the company that it is, they haven't.

We've even sent the machine back to the company for their personal techs to see, but they couldn't duplicate the issue. We've tried everything. It's a singular issue though. As far as we're aware there have been no other cases of this issue that has been reported about the embroidery on this machine. Our floor model works perfectly fine in its embroidery mode. I've done several embroideries on it since we've had it without issue.

I've gone to the customer's house to take a look at her set up, which doesn't have an issue. And it's not like this woman doesn't know what she's doing. She's been sewing for most of her life and has had top of the line machines for a least 20 years. She's knowledgeable.

And yet we're still being given the run-around of things to try before they might give her a new machine. And this has been going on for over half a year now. So we are all frustrated at the moment.

The sad thing is that I know that other companies are easier to work with for warranty issues like this. My personal machine froze up completely after setting it up for an embroidery then going to hoop up the material and coming back to it being frozen. The company I got my machine from didn't even bother with trying to replace a part on the machine. I just had my whole machine replaced. A much better solution than what we're struggling with with this other company.

If I didn't already appreciate other brands better than the rather plain Jane machines of this company, I wouldn't with the knowledge of how the customer is treated with warranty issues.

[blog-carinspectors]

Can I file a Lemon Law claim for a vehicle I bought at an auction?

Do you know about theLemon Law claim for a vehicle? Lemon laws aim to protect buyers should they end up with a vehicle plagued by significant defects that just can't seem to get fixed. These regulations shield consumers from making new car purchases in all states. However, coverage gets a bit complex when it comes to used vehicles bought from places like auctions.

So what sort of protection might you have if your auction-sourced ride turns out to be a lemon? Well, that depends on where you reside. Nearly two dozen states extend lemon law coverage to used cars. Auction vehicles sit in a gray area given their unique nature. Proving eligibility could prove tricky. There are lemon law experts who can help you get the compensation you deserve! 

Opt for car inspection services in Los Angeles to spotlight issues early. Investing a little now can save you a lot of money!

Lemon Law Eligibility for Auction-Bought Vehicles

Only a handful of states explicitly exclude auction buys from lemon law claims. A few others offer limited protection should defects persist after multiple repair attempts.

If a registered dealer buys at auction and then resells to you within a set window, you may have a case in certain areas. However, eligibility sits in a gray zone overall given the sold "as-is" nature of these vehicles.

Several key factors impact potential coverage under lemon laws:

State: Each state wields its own lemon law with specific provisions around auction vehicles. Research rules in your region.

Vehicle Type: Some states omit certain types of protection, like salvage and classic vehicles. The car's classification affects applicability.

Warranties: If auction buys come with valid manufacturer or dealer warranties, lemon laws likely apply. Scope hinges on warranty details.

Seller: Understanding seller identity and licensing provides invaluable context. Dealer sales may qualify where private ones don’t.

Since requirements vary so widely, purchasers should take precautionary steps before acquiring an auction vehicle:

Research lemon laws in your state, especially for auction buys.

Dig into the car's history for defects or prior lemon claims.

Consult consumer law attorneys to discuss protections for your situation.

Remember - auction vehicles carry heightened risks. Seek out independent vehicle inspection services to spot issues early. Arming yourself with knowledge goes a long way should you get stuck with a lemon!

Filing a Lemon Law Claim

Unfortunately, filing a Lemon Law claim for a vehicle you bought at an auction in the USA is not straightforward. Generally, Lemon Laws protect consumers who purchase vehicles from licensed dealers, but coverage for auctioned vehicles varies significantly by state.

Successfully filing a Lemon Law claim for a car bought at auction presents a tricky process. General protections focus on new cars bought from licensed dealers. The rules surrounding as-is auction purchases are vague. Still, relief may wait at the end of a long process depending on your state’s provisions.

Here is a roadmap of what to expect with each turn:

Research Particulars for Your State

Go to attorney general and consumer protection sites for specifics around auction cars. Dig into eligibility criteria, claim options, and help resources to orient your trip.

Validate Vehicle Qualifications

Do aspects like persistent defects after several repair attempts and short ownership tenure align with your state’s Lemon Law vehicle definitions? Validating these early steers your journey in the right direction.

Gather Evidence to Support Your Case

Purchase agreements, registration documents, and repair invoices all make filing a claim easier. Communication records with sellers and manufacturers prove invaluable too.

Attempting Repairs Through the Manufacturer (Maybe)

If allowed in your state, inform manufacturers of defects and request repairs according to their process guidelines. Document everything extensively should you need to veer off-course later.

Filing an Official Lemon Law Claim

If manufacturers can’t remedy issues, formally file through your attorney general, designated

state agency, or approved arbitration program. What entity you file with varies by region.

Hiring a Lawyer 

Consulting lemon law attorneys offer an authoritative guide when paths diverge. Legal advice and representation help you throughout the process!

Perseverance and preparation ensure you have a smooth claim filing! 

Conclusion

Looking to get a used car in the Los Angeles region? Choose Car Inspectors! Be confident in your purchase with our pre-purchase inspection services in Los Angeles. We offerused car inspection services so as to make sure that what you are buying is in good condition. Our company employs ASE masters certified inspectors, who are recognized for their keenness and accuracy in inspection.

A comprehensive car inspection before buying is crucial to avoid buying a lemon. Therefore, we provide on-site used car inspection. You should not gamble when it comes to investing in a car. Our trained inspectors will be available to provide you with mobile car inspections in Los Angeles.

Disclaimer- The information provided in this content is just for educational purposes and is written by a professional writer. Consult us to learn more about Lemon law claims for auctioned vehicles.

[haruka89]

The first thing you should do if you buy any kind of electronics used is check the laws re warranty for used products in your country/jurisdiction. Here, for example, it's 12 months iirc.

Then you'll probably want to stick to professional sellers. Private sellers usually have some kind exemptions re warranties and other things you don't want to deal with.

If you prefer shopping offline, there's probably at least one store if you're in a small city. They might also sell online, especially after covid, so you can get an overview of what they have before you go there.

Still check their reputation, though.

Unless they're an electronics chain, they might also specialize in things like repairs and/or selling computer parts like RAM, CPUs, motherboards, etc etc. In that case they will actually know what they are talking about if you ask for recommendations and advice, which is useful if you don't have a tech friend.

The place I get my refurbished computers from also let me chose my operating system that one time, in case you want something not-Windows like me. (I'm distantly related to one of the employees, though, so...) They might be willing to fulfill some wishes like partitioning your hard drive (splitting your single physical drive into 2+ not-physical drives) which is useful for keeping operating system and personal data separate for backup and reinstalling purposes. Asking can't hurt.

Re ports, be sure you know what you want and how you use your computer. If you want to connect any external devices (keyboard, mouse, monitor, speaker, printer, cabled internet) more ports and different kinds is better. There has been a tendency to connect everything via usb, especially since usb c, and towards less ports during the last decade. That means you either need one or several usb hubs (there's a word for hubs with different ports i can't remember) to connect everything you might want connectes and/or special adapters. All of which are additional costs.

Also, do you want a cd/dvd/blu-ray player? A sd card reader? Something else? If you don't want to shell out for external ones, make sure your new computer has them.

It might not seem important, but anything you connect externally? Is likely to block a port you want to use for connecting your smartphone or storage device or anything else. A lack of non-usb ports rarely means more usb ports to make up for the specialzed ports. (There was some grumbling a decade or so ago, when a macbook or something had, like, 2-3 usb ports total, iirc.)

Also, the last computer I bought from them? I got that in 2012 and it was originally from 2008-09. It's still running fine and I can still watch youtube videos, though higher end graphics/video work likely wouldn't be possible with current software. (I'm also using a linux operating system that's light on resources.)

How to Buy a Computer for Cheaper

Buy refurbished. And I'm going to show you how, and, in general, how to buy a better computer than you currently have. I'm fairly tech-knowledgeable, but not an expert. But this is how I've bought my last three computers for personal use and business (graphics). I'm writing this for people who barely know computers. If you have a techie friend or family member, having them help can do a lot for the stress of buying a new computer.

There are three numbers you want to know from your current computer: hard drive size, RAM, and processor speed (slightly less important, unless you're doing gaming or 3d rendering or something else like that)

We're going to assume you use Windows, because if you use Apple I can't help, sorry.

First is hard drive. This is how much space you have to put files. This is in bytes. These days all hard drives are in gigabytes or terabytes (1000 gigabytes = 1 terabyte). To get your hard drive size, open Windows Explorer, go to This PC (or My Computer if you have a really old OS).

To get more details, you can right-click on the drive. and open Properties. But now you know your hard drive size, 237 GB in this case. (this is rather small, but that's okay for this laptop). If you're planning on storing a lot of videos, big photos, have a lot of applications, etc, you want MINIMUM 500 GB. You can always have external drives as well.

While you've got this open, right-click on This PC (or My Computer). This'll give you a lot of information that can be useful if you're trying to get tech support.

I've underlined in red the two key things. Processor: it can help to know the whole bit (or at least the Intel i# bit) just so you don't buy one that's a bunch older, but processor models are confusing and beyond me. The absolutely important bit is the speed, in gigahertz (GHz). Bigger is faster. The processor speed is how fast your computer can run. In this case the processor is 2.60 GHz, which is just fine for most things.

The other bit is RAM. This is "random-access memory" aka memory, which is easy to confuse for, like how much space you have. No. RAM is basically how fast your computer can open stuff. This laptop has 16 GB RAM. Make sure you note that this is the RAM, because it and the hard drive use the same units.

If you're mostly writing, use spreadsheets, watching streaming, or doing light graphics work 16 GB is fine. If you have a lot of things open at a time or gaming or doing 3d modeling or digital art, get at least 32 GB or it's gonna lag a lot.

In general, if you find your current laptop slow, you want a new one with more RAM and a processor that's at least slightly faster. If you're getting a new computer to use new software, look at the system requirements and exceed them.

I'll show you an example of that. Let's say I wanted to start doing digital art on this computer, using ClipStudio Paint. Generally the easiest way to find the requirements is to search for 'program name system' in your search engine of choice. You can click around their website if you want, but just searching is a lot faster.

That gives me this page

(Clip Studio does not have very heavy requirements).

Under Computer Specs it tells you the processor types and your RAM requirements. You're basically going to be good for the processor, no matter what. That 2 GB minimum of memory is, again, the RAM.

Storage space is how much space on your hard drive it needs.

Actually for comparison, let's look at the current Photoshop requirements.

Photoshop wants LOTS of speed and space, greedy bastard that it is. (The Graphics card bit is somewhat beyond my expertise, sorry)

But now you have your three numbers: hard drive space, RAM (memory) and processor (CPU). Now we're going to find a computer that's better and cheaper than buying new!

We're going to buy ~refurbished~

A refurbished computer is one that was used and then returned and fixed up to sell again. It may have wear on the keyboard or case, but everything inside (aside from the battery) should be like new. (The battery may hold less charge.) A good dealer will note condition. And refurbished means any flaws in the hardware will be fixed. They have gone through individual quality control that new products don't usually.

I've bought four computers refurbished and only had one dud (Windows kept crashing during set-up). The dud has been returned and we're waiting for the new one.

You can buy refurbished computers from the manufacturers (Lenovo, Dell, Apple, etc) or from online computer stores (Best Buy and my favorite Newegg). You want to buy from a reputable store because they'll have warranties offered and a good return policy.

I'm going to show you how to find a refurbished computer on Newegg.

You're going to go to Newegg.com, you're gonna go to computer systems in their menu, and you're gonna find refurbished

Then, down the side there's a ton of checkboxes where you can select your specifications. If there's a brand you prefer, select that (I like Lenovos A LOT - they last a long time and have very few problems, in my experience. Yes, this is a recommendation).

Put in your memory (RAM), put in your hard drive, put in your CPU speed (processor), and any other preferences like monitor size or which version of Windows you want (I don't want Windows 11 any time soon). I generally just do RAM and hard drive and manually check the CPU, but that's a personal preference. Then hit apply and it'll filter down.

I'm going to say right now, if you are getting a laptop and you can afford to get a SSD, do it. SSD is a solid-state drive, vs a normal hard drive (HDD, hard disk-drive). They're less prone to breaking down and they're faster. But they're also more expensive.

Anyway, we have our filtered list of possible laptops. Now what?

Well, now comes the annoying part. Every model of computer can be different - it can have a better or worse display, it can have a crappy keyboard, or whatever. So you find a computer that looks okay, and you then look for reviews.

Here's our first row of results

Let's take a look at the Lenovo, because I like Lenovos and I loathe Dells (they're... fine...). That Thinkpad T460S is the part to Google (search for 'Lenovo Thinkpad T460s reviews'). Good websites that I trust include PCMag, LaptopMag.com, and Notebookcheck.com (which is VERY techie about displays). But every reviewer will probably be getting one with different specs than the thing you're looking at.

Here are key things that will be the same across all of them: keyboard (is it comfortable, etc), battery life, how good is the trackpad/nub mouse (nub mice are immensely superior to trackpads imho), weight, how many and what kind of ports does it have (for USB, an external monitor, etc). Monitors can vary depending on the specs, so you'll have to compare those. Mostly you're making sure it doesn't completely suck.

Let's go back to Newegg and look at the specs of that Lenovo. Newegg makes it easy, with tabs for whatever the seller wants to say, the specs, reviews, and Q&A (which is usually empty).

This is the start of the specs. This is actually a lesser model than the laptop we were getting the specs for. It's okay. What I don't like is that the seller gives very little other info, for example on condition. Here's a Dell with much better information - condition and warranty info.

One thing you'll want to do on Newegg is check the seller's reviews. Like on eBay or Etsy, you have to use some judgement. If you worry about that, going to the manufacturer's online outlet in a safer bet, but you won't quite get as good of deals. But they're still pretty damn good as this random computer on Lenovo's outlet shows.

Okay, so I think I've covered everything. I do recommend having a techie friend either help or double check things if you're not especially techie. But this can save you hundreds of dollars or allow you to get a better computer than you were thinking.