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Why You Might Not Have To Spend A Penny On Shopping This Valentine's Day! Plus: Who Do You Trust When It Comes To Expensive Repairs? And: How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off On Jewelry Posted: February 4, 2004
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With Valentine's Day coming up next week, jewelry stores across North Texas expect to do big business, but for many if you, a Valentine's Day gift might already be under your nose.
Our un-common sense expert and Dallas Morning News columnist Benjamin Dover thinks that for many of you, the best gifts might already be right under your nose.
Question 1: What do you mean, the best gifts might be right under their noses?
Answer 1: Simple. How many of us have a favorite watch that doesn't work or ring or pair of earrings with a loose stone or maybe they're missing a stone-or-two, just sitting in a drawer that's doing you no good? One of the biggest challenges for consumers is finding a place that'll repair jewelry that we can trust.
Question 2: And I suppose you've found someone worthy of the Dover Seal of Approval?
Answer 2: Absolutely! I visited recently with Bill Oyster of Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange and he gave us a quick lesson on what to look for in the world of jewelry and watch repair. It's all about who do you trust...let's take a look.
Question 3: So Ben, reputable jewelry repair facilities should let you watch them repair your jewelry?
Answer 3: You bet...keep in mind that you may need to make an appointment to "watch" the repair in progress since they're going to be other work ahead of yours, but sure--what do they have to lose?
Question 4: How do you know that a jeweler hasn't swapped out one of your diamonds for a cubic zirconia or a poorer grade stone?
Answer 4: Again, it's about patronizing a reputable jeweler and even more importantly, you've gotta know that you had a quality diamond in the first place--this is where a valid and current appraisal by a qualified gemologist right outta the blocks.
And equally important: Where is the repair actually performed? A large percentage of jewelry stores don't even do their own repairs, they send everything out/off site, many times to a third-party repair shop. Of course this challenge is solved if you're allowed to watch the repair as it's being done.
Question 5: Wasn't the Rolex the official watch of Texas back in the 1980s? It's really made a comeback, but when it comes to higher-priced watches, sometimes the great deals on pre-owned watches can be found outside of the usual channels, right?
Answer 5: No question...one of the first things to get sold during cash flow-challenged times seems to be the watches and jewelry. And one of the best resources for pre-owned high-end watches, or even new bands or customized faces has to be places like Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange...in fact they're one of the top re-sellers in the entire country...thanks in part to their website-based business.
Question 6: And with Valentine's Day next week, you've got some tips on how to buy diamonds and expensive jewelry on your website, correct?
Answer 6: Absolutely. It's not always easy knowing what you're looking at and how to buy jewelry, especially in these days of excellent synthetic diamonds like Moissanite that can only be detected under one of the newer thermal detectors/scopes.
And then there's always the threat of "treated diamonds," also known as "fracture filled" diamonds that might look great but won't last--they'll eventually break--and the real bottom line is that you'll never get your money out of one of these, not that anyone's going to want to actively sell their diamonds, but many times women love to "trade up" and turn that diamond ring into a pair of earrings. Once again, like anything else, if you're getting an incredible deal on a big diamond, there's a reason. If it sounds too good to be true....
Close: For all of Ben's jewelry-related tips, just in time for Valentine's Day, check out his ward-winning website at www.benjamindover.com and of course you can read his column every Thursday, as in today, in the Texas Living section of The Dallas Morning News.
By the way Ben: I hear you're getting in the Valentine's Day spirit on next week's segment?
Reply: You could say that. Just in time for the big day of the year for lovers, I'll tell you how to catch a cheating spouse. When you consider that Valentine's Day is the #1 day of the year for marriage proposals, and then you realize that 50% of first marriages and 60% of second marriages end up in divorce...I think that my topic is at the very least, timely. And it might save you a bunch of cash, especially when you hear some of the "ohmygod!" signs that your spouse or significant other might have their hand in the ol' cookie jar.
Let’s see–it’s the "off-time" of year and interest rates are at 6-month lows. What other kicks-in-the-butt do you need to move into the home ownership world? Maybe you already own a home and just need to re-fi your investment, now's the time to get off the proverbial dime. Ben's no-brainer choice? W.R. Starkey Mortgage has the Dover Seal of Approval because they're the best, no-B.S. mortgage company in the nation...period. They consistently on their company positioning statement: "A different kind or mortgage company where people come first."
If you're considering taking the home ownership plunge this year, get smart(er) about the process: Click here to get your free copy of Ben's 2004 Home Buyer's Guide.
Take the Dover-proven route to stress-free finance, and take advantage while interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low levels! Do it all on-lineor on the phone with the official mortgage company of www.benjamindover.comand your first (and only) stop:W.R. Starkey Mortgage. Hit their website or call their main Dallas-Fort Worth office toll-free:(888) 282-6632.
The cold weather making you think about getting a new set of wheels? Now's the perfect time to cash in on [still] low interest rates...lower financing rates will give you more bang for your four-wheeled buck, but id you get hosed during the process, it doesn't matter. Click here to get a free copy of Ben's Smart Car Seminar guide to avoiding car-buying brain damage.
The key to avoiding auto buying heartache is to deal with an honest company in the first place: No matter where you're located, Manufacturer's Auto Leasing delivers on that promise, and more. They've got the Dover Endorsement because they really are auto experts you can trust. Check 'em out for yourself.....
Don't go broke this Valentine's Day: Here are some gift ideas that'll stretch your love-budget a little further.....
Incredible flowers--not overpriced roses--but beautiful and affordable flowers sent direct from Hawaii!
Give the lady in your life something she'll like for a change?
Reverse the hands of time--for him or for her?
Send a gift that they'll love (and you can afford)?
IRS-related troubles hanging over your head? Personal or business challenges aren't as hard to work out as you might think, especially if you hire the right representation to cut a deal with the world's most powerful debt collection agency. Wanna read more about it?
Speaking of credit: Life happens and when it does, money can get awfully tight. Don't make bad decision make a lousy situation even worse. Here's where you can get your hands on Ben's popular pull-no-punches books and fire the debt collectors! Or maybe you need to take legal actions and clear the slate in '04? Read more here.....
Did you get infected by the recent e-mail laden virus attack? If so, you’re a dope. The only thing certain these days is that only the most cyber-stupid are spreading viruses more freely than a hooker in Haiti: You’re not dumb enough to open e-mailed attachments...are you? Here’s more info about the latest digital plague.....
But didja hear about the good news from the latest cyberattack? It’s the unveiling of the National Cyber Alert System, another service from our pals at the Department of Homeland Security: Sign up for breaking news and a chance to see our tax dollars at work.....
C’mon! It’s easy to get the latest information about the newest/most dangerous viruses running the Internet: Even better–it’s free! Click here and sign up.....
Since we're on the subject of keeping you informed and in the loop, do you know what’s on your credit report? Here’s how to get a free copy, right here/right now! Look Einstein, your credit scores change every single hour–when was the last time you saw a copy of yours? Click here and get a look at your reports...
There’s no such thing as a free lunch: Just because they position themselves as a source for a "free credit report," it doesn’t mean that they’re really free. They’ll give you a free 30-day trial with the hope that you won’t cancel and you’ll stick around for an entire year, but this service really is free if you cancel before the 30-days is up, so go for it.
Looking for a Dover-smart way to keep a handle on your family's spending? (Just in time for Valentine's Day): Every time your wife or husband opens a new (joint) credit card account or requests a credit line increase (on an existing) joint account, you'll be instantly notified. This type of information is invaluable to innocent spouses being rudely jolted into the spending reality that's been going on behind their backs. If you think your spouse might be less-than-faithful or ven planning to divorce you in the near future, credit report activity is always one of the earliest signs that's ignored or not even recognized by soon-to-be-ex-spouses (or their attorneys). Cut 'em off at the knees and start monitoring your credit reports
As you prepare to paper your tax-related trail, do you know how long you need to keep your receipts? Dover’s Rule of (IRS) Thumb* will help you clean out your filing cabinets:
– Tax-related documents: From charitable receipt to the returns themselves: 3 years
– Real-estate investment paperwork: 1 year after selling the property
– Major home repairs/improvements: Ditto
– Utility/phone/credit card bills: 1 year
* These are general guidelines: Don’t come whining to me if you get audited and don’t have any proof. Like anything/everything else, consult with a certified/qualified expert for the final "keep-or-burn" decision. When you do start throwin’ stuff away, shred it/burn it. Don’t just toss it, or the bad guys will find it and make your life more miserable than a busload of IRS auditors.
Too late and already in the IRS cross-hairs? Here's your Dover-blessed solution: The Schlichting Group.
In the market for some high-end Valentine's Day-related baubles? The big day's only 9 days away...more motivation to check out Ben's diamond/jewelry buying tips... all assembled in one easy-to-reference section.....
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