Three Lessons RElearned In The Past Month

I thought the time was right at the end of the December, to buy a Macbook. So, I purchased it from a Power Seller in the States who provided international shipping.

To cut a supremely long story short, I never got it.

Thankfully, I purchased with a credit card. I have had my eyes poked in the past, and have had to perform what’s known as a ‘chargeback’ to get reimbursed, but as far as I know, it’s only credit cards which cover you, even if they can’t get the money back from the rogue.

Lesson #1

Always, I repeat always when buying online, use a credit card. Your debit card, and often your bank issued credit option you may have on your card, do not offer the protection an independent credit card offers.

My thoughts…

When this happened I figured, ah well…I’ll just wait a few months and see what happens. I’ll maybe get a Macbook when I get back to the U.K.

Problem…

Melanie’s laptop died on Monday. I’m quite sure it’s the motherboard, and so it’s time to say goodbye to the £295 hunk of junk from Tesco!

Lesson #2

Never buy something cheap, when it’s something which plays a vital role in what you do. If you sit at a desk all day, buy a decent chair. If you drive all the time, buy a decent car. If you use a computer all the time, buy a decent one.

Necessity…

Melanie works from her laptop, and so do I to a large degree. It’s nigh impossible to share without frustration. So, this morning I have pulled the trigger once again. This time though, I went for what I should have went for the first time anyway, a Macbook Pro.

Also, the seller is from Melbourne. So, by this time next week, I’d like to think it would be in my hands.

Afterthought…

Part of me thinks, it’s just a little lesson from God. Kind of like, ‘Look Armen, you didn’t need the Macbook in December, did you?’ “Wherefore spend ye money on that which is not bread…?”

When I needed it, I knew. I didn’t have to debate about it in my mind as I did in December. We’re such impatient creatures, who make up all sorts of excuses as to when or why we need something.

Lesson #3

Learn to wait!

I’ve learned all these lessons from the past. Obviously, it’s good to be reminded of them now and again…

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Added Commentary

  • #1 of 7
    By Peter
    on 21.02.08

    Good things come to those who wait….and aMac is indeed a good thing :)

  • #2 of 7
    By David Airey
    on 21.02.08

    Thanks for the tip about credit cards. You know, I’ve used debit cards in the past purely because there’s a saving of a few pounds when doing so. I’d never thought about protection.

  • Author #3 of 7
    By Armen
    on 21.02.08

    Peter - Indeed! :D

    David - As long as you don’t miss the payment date, and you pay it in full each month, you’re not out anything. Sometimes it’s not an easy discipline though.

    edit - I just realised, you probably mean the credit card charges you get sometimes, just because you use a credit card. Like buying tickets from easyJet, etc.

  • #4 of 7
    By Glenn
    on 23.02.08

    Good reminder about credit card advantages!
    Does anybody know if this applies to PayPal purchases, over £500?
    I agree about trying to buy quality unless you get something so cheap that you can afford it to fail.

    Looking forward to hearing your experiences with the MacbookPro!

  • #5 of 7
    By Neena (NeenMachine)
    on 23.02.08

    Glad to hear that your shopping troubles are all straightened out. Hopefully you can report the seller so others don’t get snookered as well. I think you will love the MacBook Pro!

  • #6 of 7
    By Davey Boyd
    on 23.02.08

    Armen, Good point about the credit card. Too bad you got smoked on ebay. You’re right about the patience thing - I learnt to be patient one time and found that it was a virtue that needed to be repeated often.

  • Author #7 of 7
    By Armen
    on 23.02.08

    Glenn - Yeah, it does apply to Paypal purchases, as long it’s a credit card you use to make the purchase through Paypal.

    Neena -He’s been pulled from eBay a few weeks ago.
    I imagine I will :)

    Davey - Hey man, it happens. I just do what I can and then leave them in God’s hands.
    Patience is something which needs daily exercising. However, now and again it gets more severe testing.

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