Rebecca Surran's Blog

Toss It or Keep It?

   It's happens at the most inopportune times; your computer melts down just as a big report or paper is due.  That's when you think, "I should have replaced this thing when signs of trouble first surfaced."  Consumer Reports' new magazine Shop Smart looks at the issue of when you should fix your computer or when you should toss it.  Editor Amanda Walker told me that of all the electronics equipment Consumer Reports tests, computers are the most unreliable. (The most reliable are actually digital cameras.)  Amanda says CR's research shows that the lifespan of a computer is four years, so if your computer is that old and shows sigficant problems, Amanda says junk it. For computers 2 to 3 years old she says have the problem diagnosed and if the cost to repair it comes to half of what you paid for it you may want to consider buying a new one; if it's under half the cost, fix it.  For a computer only one year old Amanda says it is generally better to have it fixed and quite often some of what is not working may be covered by your warranty.  That brings me to CR's next inquiry.  Shop Smart looked into whether it makes sense to pay for the extended warranty.  She says if you're buying a PC, considering the short lifespan it generally doesn't make sense to pay the extra money for the warranty.  The one exception is Apple.  Shop Smart says Apple's warranties are typically better, and since those computers usually last longer an extended warranty makes sense.  However, she says is if you live near an Apple Store you may not have to spend the extra money for the extended warranty because Apple Stores have what they call a "Genius Bar."  This is basically tech support with humans, and wow they're in the US!  You'll pay for any extensive repairs there, but, if its just a simple tweak they don't charge you.  On a personal note, I've tried it and I like it.

If you'd like to see more of my conversation with Amanda Walker tune into this weeks "12 On The Money."

The Digital Age

The digital age has changed us in so many ways.  We communicate, work, shop, research, etc., etc. differently all because of digital technology.  I recently interviewed Sean Conciatore of STAGE Active Brand Marketing in Wilton.  The firm focuses on "experiential marketing" and Sean is its creative director.  Experiential what?  According to Sean, advertisers and marketers have to reach consumers in a very different way today, all because of the digital media.  Consumers, he says, can now skip over commercials.  They don't need their televisions or newspapers anymore.  They've been replaced by cell phones and laptops. Consumers are no longer force fed information, they pick what they want to watch and read and when they want to watch and read it. Sean says for advertisers it has made for a very different way to approach a campaign.  Consumers, he says, want to touch, taste and use products before they commit.  Experential marketing allows them to do that.  For example, a promotional campaign for the pain reliever Advil took the product and its promoters on the road to malls and shopping centers.  Consumers were asked to come up with a "Life List," in other words what would you do with your life if you didn't have the irritating pain of a headache or arthritis or whatever bothers you?  Shoppers were given free product coupons and encouraged to think about the "what ifs" in life.  Sean says that then established a positive association between consumer and product.  He says that type of ad works and at a much lower cost than companies typically have had to spend to get the word out.

If you'd like to see more of my conversation with Sean Conciatore just tune into "12 On The Money" this weekend on news 12 CT. 

It'll Cost You

Financial experts say it is the second biggest investment an individual/family will make; the college education.  There was a time when having a college education was optional, but not anymore. And you've probably heard the horror stories, or lived through them yourself; the difficulty of gaining entrance to so many schools.  It's TOUGH getting in.  But I think the real challenge is financing a degree.  I interviewed Nathan Allen this week.  Nathan founded Andover College Prep in Westport and used to work with Princeton Review.  Nathan had some good information for future applicants and their parents.  First, read the fine print when it comes to figuring out costs.  Colleges and universities today are taking heat from Washington and beyond with regard to their rising costs.  Nathan says in response, they've gotten creative in how they charge students.  Some schools now tack on a laundry list of fees, separate from their tuition and room and board costs.  So, when comparing costs make sure you find out what fees a school will charge.  They can include parking fees, entertainment fees, maintenance fees and on and on.  A school that bills itself as $45,000 a year may in fact cost you $48,000.  Nathan also says always apply for financial aid, EVERY YEAR!  If in fact you don't get money the first year, that doesn't mean you won't get assistance the following years.  And beware of what financial aid universities are offering.  Telling a student or parent they can borrow money isn't much help. And I think one of the most important things to remember is to make sure a school actually offers courses that you want to specialize in.  Just because a student hears buzz about a particular school doesn't mean it's right for him.  Nathan says read the course catelog at a school you think you might be interested in; if they don't offer what you want, move on.  Transferring to another school often means making up credits, and right there you start tacking on additional costs. 

If you'd like to see more of my interview with Nathan Allen, tune in this weekend to "12 On The Money."