Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

Quality Dismay

Maybe it’s corporate America taking us for a ride. Frankly, I’m a little dismayed at seeing a real drop in quality on appliances and home furnishings.

When you spend a lot on large appliances and you can barely get 5 years out of them before they break, it should anger all of us.

I Call BS

We have a smaller home with Central Air and Heat. With about 1800 total living space we are careful about our energy consumption. After all, Energy is expensive and our energy footprint matters.

So I take serious exception to the quarterly notifications I get from my local Gas, Water & Power companies telling me I consume more energy, water and gas than 70% of my neighbors.

Excessive Hype

If you haven’t read it or heard about it yet, 2017 was a brutal year for retail.  Many once strong stores are now struggling with some closing or downsizing. Online competition is fierce. Brick and mortar competition is fierce.  Retail is a really a fierce, do or die business that is not for the weak kneed.

So retailers and brands are always looking for ways to standout in a very competitive environment.

The Problem with New Appliances

New is not usually better, in large appliances.

Back in 2009, after doing extensive research we purchase a refurbished 1980’s Maytag Washer and Dryer set. We purchased used do to the fact that old appliance models are more reliable and last longer.

Things That Irritate

Driving around LA has become quite the headache.

On any day of the week, you will encounter incredibly rude drivers, badly maintained streets that damage your car, heavy traffic at all times of day as well as difficult and expensive parking everywhere. It’s daily life here in L.A. and it will get worse, much worse with the social engineering the city is implementing.

A Home Depot Problem

Lately my hubby seems to be regularly running up to Home Depot to get hardware, parts, and home improvement items. Especially since we’ve been finishing up our bathroom project. He has bought all sorts of little things we didn’t need or use and had to return them.

Scams, Lies and Dirty Tricks

Researching discounters has its ups and downs. This last week though I had more than the usual frustrations with so called “discount” retailers.

One store had huge banner ads on the outside of their building claiming 50% off retail on Closeout Furniture. Further investigation proved that it was a scam.

Retail Pricing

Retail pricing! OY! What a headache that is for shoppers to figure out.  As we have all seen, Retailers will hide, manipulate and deceive you.  With Macys, Khols, JC Penny and Sears finally getting sued for misleading comparison pricing. Here’s what we all need to know.

Disappointed

Maybe I shouldn’t be so hopeful. Or maybe it’s this seriously wacko election… or maybe I just thought the current laws in place would protect consumers. But I recently learned, for a fact that many well known Sample Sales sites ask their vendors to over inflate the retail price so the discounts look steeper. What a disappointment!

Futile Anger

I hate getting ripped off. But I particularly hate it when I can’t vent my anger to someone who will do anything about it.

We got a recall notice for the passenger air bag for our 2008 Honda Civic. Since our daughter is the primary driver of this car, she took it into Roberston Honda in North Hollywood.