Using non-OEM Cannot Void Warranty
Myth: If you use compatible replacement parts such as ink, toner, printer drums, et cetera, the manufacturer or service technician can void their warranty.
Fact: This is a common misconception! U.S. legislation enacted in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act, Section 108, and the Sherman & Clayton Antitrust Act prohibits manufacturers from voiding your warranty if you use non-OEM parts unless they can prove the part or supply damaged the product. In plain English:
“Tie-In Sales” Provisions
Generally, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty. The following is an example of prohibited tie-in sales provision: In order to keep your new Plenum Brand Vacuum Cleaner warranty in effect, you must use genuine Plenum Brand Filter Bags. Failure to have scheduled maintenance performed, at your expense, by the Great American Maintenance Company, Inc., voids this warranty.
So save money purchasing non-OEM parts and supplies, you’re covered!!
Liked this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed!!
Backing Up Data Made Easy
Losing your valuable files through accidental deletion, hard drive crashes, theft or virus attacks can be devastating. Data loss always carries a disastrously high cost in time, money and stress.
Making regular backup copies of your files is a good idea — you’d do it if you knew where to begin, right? There’s a free, simple-to-use program that allows you to create, schedule and run your own backups 5 minutes after you’ve downloaded it? Just pick your source and destination folders, pick the times you want it to run and you’re set. From now on, if your data gets lost, damaged or deleted you can quickly recover it at the touch of a button.
Comodo BackUp is suitable for both beginners and experienced users and is completely free of charge. Features of free Backup Software include complete file and folder duplication to local and network drives, FTP servers and CD/DVD re-writers; intelligent incremental backups; e-mail reporting; extensive report logs; real-time backups with synchronization mode; advanced rule-based filtering; flexible scheduling of backups; space-saving archiving capabilities and more.
Operating Systems
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP (Service Pack 1 or later)
- Windows 2000 (Service Pack 3 or later)
Hardware
- Intel Pentium II 233 MHz or equivalent processor
- 128 MB RAM
- 12 MB free hard drive space
PayPal Alternatives
PayPal, which is owned by eBay, is very popular but if you are a small-business owner there are a few things you should know. PayPal is not a bank and is not regulated by federal bank regulations. PayPal will not defend you nor really “investigate” complaints but rather sends you boilerplate responses and 99.9% of complaints filed are denied. PayPal’s main income is making interest from the balances in PayPal accounts. If your business deliver services as opposed to tangible goods, they do not defend you at all. Google the phrase “PayPal alternatives” or “PayPal problems” and you will find thousands of horror stories.
So what are the alternatives if you do not want or cannot afford a merchant account? This list contains various alternatives to PayPal.
Google Checkout - When you use Google Checkout to process your sales, you’ll only be charged a low 2% + $0.20 per transaction. With Google Checkout, there are no monthly, setup, or gateway service fees. If you advertise with Google AdWords, you will also be eligible for free transaction processing for some or all of your Google Checkout sales each month. For every $1 you spend on AdWords each month, you can process $10 in sales the following month for free through Google Checkout.
2Checkout - In 2007 Inc. Magazine named this as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S.
AlertPay - Offers personal and business accounts. Works and feels like PayPal.
E-junkie - Shopping cart for selling downloads and tangible goods. Great pricing - upload 10 products (50 MB) for $5 a month, up to 999 products (999 MB) for $125 a month.
ProPay - Registered agent of Wells Fargo Bank and MetaBank. Offers fixed rates on all transactions. Processes credit card transactions via internet and phone.
NETELLER (U.K. based) - Want to move your money? Maybe kick a payment over to your favourite site or send some to a friend? Or do you want to load up a prepaid card for your next trip? You can do this and a lot more. Instant deposits, withdrawals, transfers to merchants and other NETELLER members.
WorldPay - Accept payments via internet, phone, fax and mail. Major credit cards are accepted and they have also included debit cards and local payment schemes like Maestro, Laser and Electron.
ClickBank - If you have a digital product or service to sell, consider the benefits of becoming a ClickBank publisher.
Escrow - Both parties agree to terms, which includes a description of the merchandise, sale price, number of days for the Buyer’s inspection, and shipping information.
Is there a good PayPal alternative not listed here? Let me know!
Hyphenation and Nonhyphenation Rules
I’m often asked what the rules are regarding when and what to hyphenate. Here are two easy rules of thumb to use when writing:
Rule 1: ALL pre-, post-, semi-, multi-, non-, and anti- words are NOT hyphenated.
EXCEPTIONS:
- all pre-e words (as, pre-engineered) and pre-owned
- all semi-i words (as, semi-indirect) and semi-antique
- all multi-i words (as, multi-indented) and multi-ply (confused with multiply)
- non-oil, non-euclidean, no-nonsense (adjective), non-U, and no-no (noun)
- all anti-i words (as, anti-inflammatory), anti-art, anti-utopia, and anti-utopian
- post-Kantian and post-obit
ALL words involving a proper noun MUST BE hyphenated (as, pre-Columbian, post-Stalin, semi-Impressionist, multi-European, non-American, and anti-Albanian)
Rule 2: ALL sub-, super-, ultra-, un-, under-, counter-, hyper-, hypo-, inter-, intra-, mega-, micro-, mini-, mis-, over-, para- are NOT hyphenated.
EXCEPTIONS: intra-arterial, para-aminobenzoic, para-aminosalicylic
When the prefix “ex-” denotes former, hyphenate (as, ex-child actor, ex-husband, ex-wife, ex-president)
Free CraigsList Search Tool
Are you an avid CraigsList reader? If you are, you know searching CraigsList is time-consuming and rather clunky. You need the free CraigsList Reader by Motion Technologies.
Main features include:
Your search will be based on multiple locations and multiple categories. Fast searches are performed by using concurrent connections. You can also only search for titles or for the jobs that have images.
You search through all the categories and sub-categories. A section “Categories” is provided in the left menu so that you can easily select mutliple categories and sub-categories.
You can search through the entire world, or just some Country, State or City.
A separate section “Options” is provided for you to manage your search settings. You can set the maximum thread count value and also you have the option to “Save settings when exit” or “Save Search result when exit.”
You can easily sort items by location, category or heading.
Save some time and get organized with the free CraigsList Reader search tool.
