Ya know, it made me wonder today...

... I presently work at Lowe's Home Improvement and it is protocol to typically offer a customer an EPP (Extended Protection Plan) on items that made malfunction. Many times, especially when I recently purchased a HE (High Efficiency) Washer and Dryer set, I actually purchase one of these myself. But that was over a year ago.

Just a week ago, I was offered a Warranty from Best Buy and I chose to accept it. But then, since my Lowe's is located across the parking lot from this Best Buy, I chose to go back and remove the warranty from my item. When I did this, I was met by a young lady who asked me the question, "...Why do you want to remove the warranty". I had to think for a moment and my immediate response was, "Well, I typically don't purchase them."

But then, she gave me a few more moments to think (while she went to go get a manager, whose sole purpose was for me to keep this warranty). When that manager came up and asked me the same question, I had this to say. "Well, the warranty I purchased was for a laptop, a 3 year warranty for $199.99. And knowing the technology of computers and their advancement rate, in three years, I will likely want to purchase an entirely new laptop (it had been 3 years since I last purchase one, actually). And by then, I can imagine Blu-Ray will standard equipment and it just doesn't make since to spend $200 for a warranty and in three years, get my old laptop back, with no new equipment." And with that, I was promptly refunded my warranty price.

But it made me think this about most of us... With warranties so much the norm these days, with companies making a good profit on them, why do we purchase them? My old laptop, a 3 year old Toshiba, is still running just fine today. Back then, when I purchase it from Wal-mart, I was too offered a warranty. And had I purchase it, I'd be out the money and Wal-mart + w/e insurance company sponsors the warranty, would bethe profit maker.

My point is, we all are scared of risk. With the economy seemingly started to come back, we're all still thinking short-term. Remember, the recession has been here for over 17 months. That's a good amount of time. And many people will be quick to thank President Obama for his work, to which he should be given no praise. He's taken $787B of my and my potential kids future (the long-term debt) and given people today a short-term fix. Nothing has changed about much of anything, except some companies have changed themselves and their policies to no longer offer subprime mortgages. But guess what? Affordable Housing a/k/a subprime mortgages are what got us into this mess and they are what President Obama, Barney Franks, Chris Dodd and most Democrats fully-support.

When you make a purchase tomorrow, my only request is that you think about that purchase and it's long-term effects. Don't let politicians change your way of thinking.