If You are Thinking of Buying a Down Comforter - Now is the Time

Are you putting off your final decision to acquire a down comforter?

I can easily recognize the reason why you delayed your purchase– in fact I had been sitting on the fence, postponing purchasing a new down bed comforter until the fall - what with the economic climate and all. So I can certainly relate with your reluctance to purchase right now.

But I read a new press release this weekend which should make our choices easier....

The price of a down bed comforter will dramatically rise by the autumn of this year

And Get This – By this time next year your down bed comforter could cost you a whopping Twenty to Fifty Percent extra !

Sometimes  you and I realize delay is costly. But you can easily take advantage of our knowledge in addition to save ourselves money in the end.

Yet being conscious of this is certainly welcome information for us – especially given that we were currently seriously considering purchasing a down comforter .

But exactly why this alarming price increase? Haven't prices for down bed comforters been the cheapest they've been for many years?

3 aspects will be to blame for this kind of price jump

 1. Emerging new economies. Currently there is an ever growing Chinese domestic interest in down filled comforters.

 2. Higher commodity prices. The existing spot market prices with regard to duck down, goose down, and cotton down-proof shells – the 3 primary elements for any down bed comforter – have significantly improved Ten To Fifty Percent in the past couple of months.

3. Global economy. The economic climate is thankfully improving, however with this will come rising demand for high-class items – down comforters included.

Warning: Don't wait. Buying a down bed comforter will certainly cost you much more 6 months from now

5 Ways to Deal with Latest Hotel Scam

Some hotels benefit from 'overbooking' at your expense. Here are 5 tips to avoid the latest travel scam.

You arrive at your hotel only to be told it is overbooked and the room you reserved is not available Even in a downward economy that has seen room occupation rates at an all-time low, people are still being walked down, experts say.

So what if it happens to you?

Refuse the room. Instead of immediately agreeing to the alternative accommodation, politely stand your ground and remind the hotel that you have a guaranteed reservation.

Try to find out the real story . When a hotel says your room isn't available, it doesn't necessarily mean the hotel is full.

Invoke your status . If you're a frequent guest, and you're in danger of being walked down, this would be a good time to reveal your program membership card or any other clout you might have.

Use humor. You may not feel in a humorous mood, but cracking a joke just might help. Hotel employees often go out of their way for people who are friendly.

Be nice. When faced with an involuntary downgrade, you may not be feeling very nice either -- but putting on your diplomatic hat could make the difference between being downgraded and upgraded.

See to the details.  If you're being moved, ask for perks such as taxi fares and complimentary breakfast.

By following these steps you may not end up with a room in the hotel you booked but neither will you be downgraded to a lesser hotel either.

Check Out that Credit Card

People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?

A friend  went to the local gym and placed his belongings  in the locker.  After the workout and a  shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and  thought to himself, 'Funny, I thought I locked  the locker.'

Hmm?  He dressed and  just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in  order. Everything looked okay - all  cards were in place.. A few weeks later  his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of  $14,000!

He called the credit card  company and started yelling at them, saying that  he did  not  make the transactions. Customer care  personnel verified that there was no Mistake in  the system and asked if his card had been  stolen.

'No,' he said, but then took out  his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep  -  you  guessed it - a switch had been made. An  expired similar credit card from the same bank  was in the wallet. The thief broke into  his locker at the gym and switched cards. 

Verdict:  The credit card issuer  said since he did not report the card missing  earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to  them.

How  much did he have to pay for items he did not  buy? 
$9,000!   Why were there no calls made to verify the  amount swiped?  Small amounts rarely  trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card  companies. It just so happens that all  the small amounts added up to big one! 

Make sure the credit cards in your  wallet are yours. 

Check  the name on the card every time you sign for  something and/or the card is taken away for even  a short period of time.