Page 2^MIRR0R-HERALD—Tuesday, January 3, 1978
Take time to read the warranties
Taking time to avoid miatakea duriig the
hoiiday buying niah seems to be a iuxury most
ccnsumers cannot afford.
“Consumer protection,” said Attorney Generai
Rufus Edmisten, “is a year-round business with
us, but we can eiqtect more compiaints in
December and January than at any other thne.
“If peopie;” Edmisten continued, “take time to
read warranties and contracts or ask questiona
about refund and exchange poiicies before buying,
it actuaily saves time, money and unhappiness."
A holiday checkiist from the consumer
protection section of the attorney generai's office
aiso inciudes credit buying, iay aways, maii or
dering, fraud warnings and tips on hoiiday safety.
In addition, the agency reminds consumers that
inquiries about sellers and about misleading
advertising or deceptive bade practices may be
made to a local Better Business Bureau or to:
Consumer Protection, P. 0. Box 629, Raleigh, N.
C. 27608 (919) 733-7741).
WARRANTIES
Hie year-old Federal Warranty Act says fine
print in product warranties is out and ordinary
language is in.
Although companies are not required by law to
give warranties, they are required to provide
certain basic elements when they do issue
warranties.
That is, all wan-anties must be easy tn read and
undersUnd; must include all essential in
formation in writing; must be readily available
for shoppers to examine before buyii^.
There are two types of written warranties:
“full” and “limited.”
Full warranties mean the defective product wUl
be repaired or replaced at no charge, including
removal or re-installation if necessary. They
entitle consumers to prompt and reasonable
service, are good for anyone who owns the product
during the warranty period and provide free
replacement or full refund for a product that
cannot be fixed.
While full warranties offer a lot of protection,
they do not have to cover the whole product. They
may leave out some parts, such as the Ores on a
car or thesound system of a television set.
A product can also carry a full warranty on
some parts and a limited warranty on the rest.
Limited warranties give less than full
warranties. For example, they may: cover only
parts, not labor; allow pro-rated refunds; cover
only the first purchaser; charge for handling.
Warranties are conbacts. Read and compare
them before buying, keep sales sUps with
warranUes to prove date of purchase or original
ownership, follow manufacturer’s instructions for
registding purchases (usually a postage-free
card).
€DnORII\L
opinion
A free pam|9ilet explaining warranties is
available from the Consumer Protection Section,
N. . Attorney funeral’s Office, P. 0. Box 629,
Raleigh, N. C. 27608.
CONTRACTS
Conbacts a re formal, legal documents and most
of them wouldn't win an award for clarity or
brevity.
To avoid costly mistakes, consumers should
know precisely what they are promising to do
before signing any agreements. This may mean
asking questions about terms or phrases not
clearly understood. It may mean reading the
conbact at home, away from outside pressures.
Rushing intoanagreement or signing a conbact
with blank spaces could result in serious problems
later. Any changes agreed upon after signing
should be initialed and dated, on all copies, by the
consumer vriio should also keep a copy of the
altered document.
Under North Carolina law, if an installment
purchase is set up for more than four payments,
the sales contract must be in writing and the buyer
must sign it. The law also applies if finance
charges are added to an installment agreement,
regardless of the number of payments tobe made.
Oral agreemaits made under any of these
conditions must be put in writing. Most consumers
are shocked to discover that oral agreements for
purchases over $500 are unenforceable. Therefore,
it’s wise to get them in writing to protect the
buyer, as well as the seller, in the event of a
dispute.
All conbacts are business arrangements,
whether for credit, cash purchases of goods or
services, or warranty agreements to be entered
into slowly, carefully and knowledgeably.
All sales slips should be kept for proof of pur
chase.
Recipients should examine gifb immediately In
order to avoid delays In returning items on which
time limits have been imposed for exchanges or
refunds.
CR.EDIT
Credit seems never to get on the Christmas
shopping list but it should.
During this “mood” buying season, consumers
consistently accq>t any te^ms that provide the
means to get those special gifts for loved ones,
faithfully promising them'sdves to worry about it
later.
To avoid pitfells and sbains on the budget in the
ensuing months, it’s a good idea to let “credit”
head the list of anticipated expenditures.
After determining how much will be needed is
the time to decide how the credit will be sought (1.
e., a lump sum cash loan, a bank credit card or a
retail charge account.)
Before entering into any credit agreement,
consider how much It’s worth. Interest, finance
charges, fees, etc. should be added to the principal
dollars of the loan or charge account and this total
should be evaluated in terms of the true value of
what it will buy. An often overlooked important
money factor is how long it will take to repay the
debt.
REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES
Refundand exchange policies vary from store to
store and buyers should make sure they un
derstand each store’s policy beforehand.
A champagne bath
Speedometers creeping up
LitUe by little speedemetere are creeping past the legal, 55 mUes per hniif JUma
cording to the State Highway Patrol. SJ!
M. John T. Jenkins, commander of the tar heel highway troops, is again instructing all
units across thestate to begin cracking down on speeders.
Capt. E. T. Green, commander of the unit covering Cleveland Cqunty, is reemphasizing
that the 55 limit must be obeyed. He has urged motorists to voluntarily keep the legal
limits as posted.
lx)cal motorists may take the captain’s “urging” as a gentle “warning” that those
leaking the speed Umit are being watched by the patrol and each trooper has his orders
to stop speeders and cite them into court.
llie 5S-mph law, as the public service announcements indicate, “is a law we can live
with. The statistics on increasing hi^way deaths due to excessive speeding clearly
indicate that the law is being violated.
It appears that the driving public equates the 55 limit with the flow of fuel. When the
public is warned diat gas is being rationed because of short supply, then the drivers slow
down. Th^ obviously figure that driving 55 was designed solely to save on gasoline
consumption. When there is no hint of a gas shortage, then the drivers suddenly develop
heavy feet on the accellerators again.
Trtie, driving 55 does help conserve gasoline, but more importantly it helps preserve
life. When you’re out of gas you can always walk. But when you’re out of breath, you’re
out of it altogether. Of course the accidents always happen to the other guy, but to a
stranger, you’re the other guy.
When Annette Smith and Bill StilwcU got
married recently they spent their honeymoon at
the Radison Hotel in Charlotte.
To toast their new venture they opened a bottle
of champagne. When they were rea^ to letvet.the-
still had almo^ a fuQ bottle.
mbSte's mom, Lois Sgiith of Bessemer City
(editor of the Mirror-Herald’s sister newspaper —
TbeBessemer City Record) said “they didn’t want
to leave the champagne behind, so Bill put the
bottle inside a suit bag. As they passed throi«h the
lobby the cork popped out and some little old
ladies having breakfast got soaked.”
Lois said the management was upset, but the old
ladies thought it was hilarious. "They told the
newlyweds not to worry about it because they
didn’t know when they would ever again get the
chance to take a bath in champagne.”
On the way home the mischievious cork popped
out of the bottle again and struck Annette in the
chin.
“Hiey tossed the bottle into the garbage once
they got home,” Lois said. “They figured that
bottle was too dangerous to have around.”
-oOo-
How was Christmas aroind your house?
It was in-etty good at mine. One youngster got a
10 - speed bike and the yoingest got a tank con-
i
TOM
MclMTVRe
The December politics
€D
SMITH
The month of December has figured
prominently In the affairs of this sUte’s General
Aasembly, for in past times the legUature met
tfciring this period. In fact, what hUtoiians have
called “the stormiest session in the history of the
General Assembly” was held on C2iristmas Eve in
IBM.
And as is so often the case, it was over a matter
which scarcely ooneemed the average citizen of
that day. Atissue was no fl^t over taxes, budgeu,
roa* or education. Inatead, It was primarily an
internal matter, concerning the legislators
themselves. (Historically the loudest, bitterest
fighU in our legislature halls have overcome
issues such as annual seasiona, gubernatorial
sucoesBlon, etc.)
Until 1913 (and the paseage of an amendment to
the U. S. Constitution) the General Assembly in
thU state elected our two U. S. Senators. And
having elected them, the legislature felt It had the
right to tell those Senators how to vote on Im
portant issues.
Hie burning issue in 1834 was an effort by the
Donocrats in Congress to have a vote of censure
against President Andrew Jackson removed from
the records of the U. S. Senate. (Jackson had been
ensured by that body several years earlier (or his
actions in trying to destroy the Bank of the United
SUtes). One of North CaroUna’s U. S. Semtors,
Willie P. Mangum, a Whig, had voted in favor of
that censure, snd It was well understood that be
would resign his seat rather tl«n reverse that
vote at this later date. Consequently, WMgs in the
slate’s (lenersl Assembly — now outnumbered —
(flight bitterly to prevent Mangum from being
“instructed” to do so by the state legislature.
For almost two months the legislature had
wrangled over the matter, acoomplishing Uttle
else. On Christmas Eve — long pmt the usual time
of adjournment - the battle continued. Repeated
motions I9 the Whigs to adjourn were voted down.
Tempers frayed, and the language used by both
sides in the debate became more rancorous than
ever before in the legislative ctambers.
Finally, the motion to instruct the state’s two U.
S. Senators to vote for removsl of this blot from
Jackson’s reputstion passed by a narrow margin.
The weary legisUture adjourned, and North
Carolina’s leading figure In Washington, Senator
Mangum, had been given a long tide home for his
Christmas prasenti
-oOo-
Andrew Johnson, the Seventeenth President of
the United States, was born in Raleigh, December
29, 1794.
Johnson wu bom in poverty, and grew up
ineducated, a tailor’s apprentice, until after he
fled this state and moved to Tennessee. His birth
place, a tiny clapboard house which had been
situated behind the inn where his parents worksd,
has been preserved, and though moved from its
original location, still stands In Raleigh.
Hie controversy of the Reconstruction Period
and Johnson’s impeachment trial (on trumped-up
political charges) hu helped obscure the (act that
he was a better President than earlier supposed.
His narrow — one-vote — acquittal by the Senate,
and his later return to that bo(ly m a Senator from
Tmnessee, represent a real triumph of the
democratic process over political expediency.
taining two GerbUs. Ybu know what Gerbils are. A
cross between a squirrel and a rat.
Marla, she’s the youngest, is one of those people
who loves animals. The Gerbils were to sort of
makeup for the hamster that died.
How am I to know hamsters are subject to
siiistroke?
Anyway, Marla now has the GerbUs snd she
couldn’t be happier than if she were to be suddenly
smtenced to life at Disneyland.
The Gerbils are named Romeo and Juliette.
Hiat should give you a rough idea of the im
pending population explosion due to hit Poverty
Heights soon.
-oOo-
I took a vacation week leading up to the holidays
in order to get my shopping done, the tree trim
med and like that.
And it never fails. Some lltUe old lady wUI
always be the one to wait on me when I’m shop
ping for presents (or the wife.
Hiis year the Mrs. hinted she would like one of
those long, flowing robes and a gown she could
wrap ig) in. I found the robe by myaelf, but the
little old lady clerk insisted on showing me the
gown selections.
“Now here’s a pretty number,” she said, holding
up an expensive item ttiat looked Uke what Rife
Hayworth wore to seduce Stewart Stranger in
“Salome.”
‘Tm not looking for sexy,” I said “I’m looking
for warmth.”
She blushed and so did I.
“I also want to look at some sizes seven pen--
ties,” I said.
She blushed again. I bought the whtge box sight
unseen just to get outta there. Ahhh, those old
Victorian hangups.
But Christmas morning the robe, the gown snd
the unmenttonaUes aU fit, so it wasn’t a bad
day’s work.
The only problem I had was with the new Water
Pfc. You know, one of those water squirting
devices to clean your teeth.
Hie outfit contains an electric toothbrush, which
I almost knocked my teeth out with before I
learned to control It It also hu these little plastic
tubes connected to a flexible hose. You pourwater
lito the small holder on top and turn It on. But
make sure you have the tube in your mouth at the
time or you will get soaked.
It’s also wlM to road the directions first, too I
didn’t. I almost drowned. But Ihad clean tomlls at
weU u clean teeth when It was over.
When a contract to pay in more than four in
stallments includes a separate lay away charge,
the store must tell the customer that the separate
charge is' considered a finance charge and then
must disclose the annual percentage rate (APR). '
MAIL ORDERING
/
Mail order firms are required under a Federal
Trade Commission rule to ship merchandise
within the stated time or within 30 days if no date
is mentioned in their ads, catalogs or brochures.
If a firm camot fill the order or if the shipping
date cannot be met, the buyer must be notified and
must be provided with a cost-free means for reply,
such as a postage-paid card.
For delays of 30 days or less, a customer has
three options: cancel the order, agree to the new
shipping date or not answer.
Not answering implies consent to the delay and
cancelling the order calls for full refund within
seven business days on cash purchases, one billing
cycle for adjustments on credit accounts. j
Shipping delays of 30 days or more, however,
must be agreed to in writing by the customer. If
not agreed to by the customer, the mail order firm
is required to refund the buyer’s money by the end
of the fdirst 30 days of the delay.
Commissi
beenappoii
to devise a|
a sriar ene
Named t
tniaaloners
King and W
the city gi
named to tt
HfHer, Da
^ The city
committee
: private hot
'papamunity
’ and realty
Also exp
, dItionallKM
private fii
plications 1
24 new pu
Mountain I
LAYAWAYS
Lay away plans are a form of credit buy !■« with
certain differences.
When there is no contract obligating scheduled
payments, the store usually keeps the “lay away”
until it is paid in (till. If there are no restrictions on
refunds in the original agreement, buyers may
rightly expect to get a prompt refUixl of any
money paid toward the cash price of the lay away.
If the account is to be paid more than four in
stallments and no refunds will be aUowed on
money paid toward thecashpriceof the item, then
the law requires that the contract spell ttiis out to
the customer.
Poet^s
Corner
117
IF WE SEEK HIM WE CAN FIND HIM
(01977
I looked a bout for Jesus •
In the midst of His birthday ^ ^ 1
To find Him in the center ^
Of every bright display; H
I hear Him in the ring of laughter ~
See Him in glowing smiles. ^
Feel the wonder of His love "t
That draw sinners to reconcile.
'i—' '-ir; -■
I see His reflection in lifted treeu
That set the dark spots aglow.
Trees cut down in their prime
The darkness to overthrow;
His handiwork in holly berries
Only Hecan make them red.
And His grea t love for bea uty
Hiat weaves the golden thread.
I see Him portrayed as charity
Around a festive table spread.
In the spirit of love He ministers
Red wine with living bread;
He expounds in the expectancy
Hiat envelopes the festive air.
With overwhelmiiM joy to krow
I sought and found Him here.
I see Him in the sparrow
That search for littleseeds.
In every Uttle token of love
And sacrificial deeds;
In every word of encouragement
In every note of cheer,
l« the manger is now empty
Make hastetoseek Him here.
VIVIAN STEWART BILTCLIFFE:
IfUiflK^aaniisiToisi
MiRjfwliiiaD
PusLiiMeeaacH
TUatOAY ANOTNUaSOAV
TOM McMTVflO
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WMiM't loiter
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AOv trill Mf oirectw
MIMIIIOI
NORTH CAROLINA
rriiiasiociation
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Mountoln, N eNMS. SiKInooi and tditorlal pHIctt
•r# lectttd at M4 Pladmont Ava Phono'rw
Socond data ponafa paid at Kinto Mountain.
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Vdirly in itMo, 14.11 u. month.; so N yoarly outet-
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