Archive for the ‘Business Bureau Accredited’ Category
How to Sell Gold Jewelry – Truth About How to Sell Gold Jewelry For More Cash
Do you want to know how to sell gold jewelry? Knowing how to sell gold jewelry correctly is the key to getting the most money for your items.
How To Sell Gold Jewelry
When selling jewelry to an online retailer and not a jeweler the condition of the gold is not an issue. This is because it will be melted down to its purest form. A jeweler would be more interested in the appearance value of your pieces.
The Weight and Karats
The weight and the quality of the pieces that you have is what’s important to consider. You will get more money when selling gold that weighs more or has more karats.
No Middle-Man Costs
The next step of how to sell jewelry is to look into finding a company that has its own refinery. The reason for this is to avoid any middle-man cost and get the absolute most cash possible.
Deal With a Reputable Company
Another step is to check and see if the company has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau. This will tell you if they are a reputable and reliable business and will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run.
Free Mail In Kit
When selling your gold online you should look to see that the company will provide you with a mailer that you can use to mail your pieces in. The mailer will be used to protect and insure your jewelry during shipping at no cost to you.
Use these step of how to sell gold jewelry as a starting point that can be very beneficial for you and insure that you get the very best deal.
How to Hire a Local Moving Company
Moving is often ranked as one of the more stressful events in life. So it’s totally natural to feel a little anxious if you have a move coming up. Perhaps you or someone you know has had a bad experience. Well, not to worry- you’ve come to the right place. This guide will help you navigate through the process of hiring a moving company!
Following these three simple, effective steps will ensure you have a solid, reliable crew show up at your door come moving day.
Step 1 – Utilize Better Business Bureau Sorting Tool To Find Member Companies:
“Furniture Movers” is by far the most researched category at the BBB, and is a great place for you to start your search for a moving company also. To do this visit the BBB Website and click on the
“USA Site” or “Canada Site” link (this will generally work better than the option of entering postal or zip code). When the next page comes up, click on the orange link titled FIND A BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS. Next, click on the “Type of Business” Tab, and enter “movers” for type of business, and your city and province/state. Also, make sure the “Limit my results to BBB Accredited businesses” option is ticked. Then click “movers” again, to further specify what type of business you are looking for. What should come up next is a list of BBB accredited movers in your city listed in order of what is closest to you. This is handy, as movers usually charge for travelling time to and from their office, so all other things being equal, finding a mover located nearby is best. Most companies will have a direct link to their website in their BBB company profile.
Step 2 – Arrange 3 IN PERSON Quotes
Each company will have a rating anywhere from A+ (highest) to F (lowest). Look for companies with a decent rating and whose information on their website appears to fit your needs and makes sense to you. (For example, if you are moving long distance, focus on companies that specialize in moving long distance). Hiring a moving company is not the same as ordering a pizza or a taxicab, so unless you move is a simple one, it should not be simply booked over the phone. Note that not all companies will be willing to come over and give an in person quotation, and so you may have to contact several companies to get your 3 quotes. Be prepared to set up an extra quotation in the event that one of the companies don’t show up, or don’t get back to you with a quote once they’ve visited.
Step 3: Evaluating the Quotes
Now that you have your three quotes in front of you, it’s time to complete the final step – choosing the best company from these.
The central and most important part of the quote will be correctly evaluating the amount of furniture, which should be listed somewhere on the quote either in cubic feet or pounds (1 cubic foot = 7 pounds).
Everything else necessary to plan and price your move will follow from this – number of movers, number and size of trucks, and so on. If moving locally, the quote should provide a minimum of 1 mover for every 400 cubic feet of furniture, assuming average moving conditions. Note that if your move involves difficult access (many stairs, steep driveway or what have you) this 400 cubic feet per mover ratio should be lower.
If any of the quotations do not include an estimate of how much furniture there is (or have an abnormally low estimate*), the resulting estimate of time and cost will at best be a shot in the dark, and will almost certainly appear lower than the other quotes that have calculated this figure accurately. If you encounter this, be mentally disciplined and resist the temptation to get seduced by a low sounding price.
In the end you will most likely not save anything, and will be putting your move at risk. A firm or “not to exceed” quote is a special treat, if offered!
*A general rule of thumb when moving locally is 1 cubic foot of furniture for every 1 square foot of living space. A 600 square foot apartment will have 600 cubic feet of furniture, a 1200 square foot home would have 1200 cubic feet of furniture, and so on. Note that for moves going across the country, the amount of furniture is often pared down, and this ratio would typically be lower.
Make sure you are happy and can abide by the Company’s Terms & Conditions before making the hiring decision, especially regarding breakage. Both sides should be clear before the move starts what their respective obligations will be in case of any damage (ie partial/full replacement, deductible payable etc). If these are not included with the quote, politely ask the company to send them to you.
Your estimator is point person for your move, and it is a good sign if he or she, while giving your quote, recognizes and proactively solves any problems that could come up on moving day such as reservation of elevators & parking while loading/unloading, move out and move in deadlines, or hard to move items like pianos.
Extra Questions to Ask:
Does the quote include any specialty wrappings, such as mattress bags for mattresses, shrink wrap for sofas?
The cost of these wrappings are nominal, and it’s a good sign if your estimator automatically includes these without asking. But make sure to request these if your quote does not automatically have them included.
Are the truck(s) equipped with ramps or tailgates (or neither)?
A truck without a ramp will take much longer to load and unload. A company that passed screening step #1 is likely to be equipped properly, but it doesn’t hurt to do a systems check anyway.
By this time you’ve done your homework and you are ready to make your decision. Once you have the decision made, let the company that you have chosen know right away that you would like them to book you in. Don’t put it off, as moving companies often get booked up. You don’t want to procrastinate and have your moving company chosen for you by fate rather than your good choice. As in anything else, good things come to those who act decisively. There will always be an element of taking a leap of faith, but if you’ve done the hard work and followed these steps, you’ve maximized the chances of having a good crew show up on your door come moving day.
Extra Tips On Making Your Move Go Smoothly:
Avoid scheduling your move right at month end, if you have this luxury. Moving companies are generally more stretched for labour and resources at month end. You have a good chance of getting the company’s finest movers & equipment dispatched to you if you book your move right before or after month end. (As an added bonus, your hourly rate is often lower if you schedule mid month). Make sure that you are fully packed when the movers arrive on moving day. If your furniture is not packed properly, it will literally take twice as long to move, and the chance of something breaking escalates. In addition, your moving company will likely insist that they not be held to the original estimate of time. If you need help in this area, visit the Packing Section at VanCityMoving.com to get a step by step guide on packing your belongings. When it comes time to start unloading, the process will go much faster if you station yourself beside the door and give direction on where each furniture piece goes. Your moving crew needs you at this time, resist any urge to abandon your post and start unpacking.
Discount Gift Cards – A Creative Way to Teach Kids How to Manage Money
In light of today’s economic troubles, it’s imperative that kids are taught how to properly manage money. It’s a lesson many of us don’t receive until we are thousands of dollars in debt. Following are some creative ways to use discount gift cards to teach kids about money.
Discount Gift Cards Teach Kids to Budget
You can use discount gift cards to teach children how to budget. For example, if they receive an allowance, give it to them on a gift card. Then have them break their “expenses” down into categories, eg, birthday presents for friends, weekend social activities and money for school supplies.
In this case, you can dispense their allowance on separate gift cards, eg:
For birthday presents, give them a Walmart or Children’s place gift card. For weekend social activities, you can give them a Burger King gift card, or a Jack in the Box gift card. For school supplies, a Staples gift card would be ideal.
The lesson here: Give your money a purpose, for money that has no purpose will find a way to leave you.
Discount Gift Cards Teach Kids the Monetary Cycle
One of the best reasons to use discount gift cards to teach kids about money is that you can buy, sell or trade them. So if, for example, your child has money left on a card, you can show them how to turn money that’s sitting around earning no interest into cash by selling it.
Once the gift card is sold, they can then take those funds and put it in an interest-bearing savings account.
The lesson here: Your children will get to see both parts of the monetary cycle, ie, spending it and saving it.
Why Discount Gift Cards are an Ideal Way to Teach Kids about Money
When you go shopping with your children, they probably see you use plastic – not money. Even if you shop with cash, eg, a debit card, kids see “a card; the plastic.” They don’t see actual dollar bills. Is it any wonder that so many of them don’t realize the value of a real dollar?
Discount gift cards are a cash money tool. If you get your children in the habit of seeing and using plastic – but using it in a responsible manner – they’ll be much more likely to avoid the debt trap that so many fall into as they get older.
How to Sell Partially Used Gift Cards For Cash
Did you know that there is a whole market out there for partially used gift cards? Many recipients never spend the full balance on their cards. In fact, as of last year according to The Tower Group, an independent research group, over $8 billion on gift cards went unused.
Yes, $8 billion with a “B”.
These partially used gift cards are like buried treasure. So start rummaging! You can sell them for cash. Here’s how:
Step 1: Research. Log on to your favorite search engine and find a reputable discount gift card seller. Reputable is italicized because you want to ensure that the company you deal with is an approved member of the Better Business Bureau and stands behind every transaction.
2. Complete the Customer Verification Process. If you’re selling partially used cards, you may be wondering, “Why do I have to go through a customer verification process?”
Because reputable discount gift card sellers take the time to ensure that all the cards they purchase are legitimate before they are sold to customers. Just think, if you were buying these cards, wouldn’t you want to deal with a company who conducts themselves in this manner?
3. Mail in Your Gift Card(s). Once you’ve completed the customer verification process – which is relatively quick and easy – you simply mail in your gift card and receive payment.
That’s it.
Getting Paid for Your Used Gift Cards
You can usually receive payments in one of two ways – via PayPal, a trusted online payment processor. Or, you can be paid by check, which will be mailed to you.
2 Good Reasons to Sell Your Used Gift Cards
Found Money: Many times, the leftover funds on old the cards never get used. Hence, selling them is like finding cash in your pocket. This is really what it is as these cards are like cash.
Upcoming Gift-Giving Occasions: Running short on funds for an upcoming anniversary, Valentine’s Day or birthday?
Selling partially used gift cards can get you the cash you need to buy a unique gift for these special occasions.
Instant, Faxless Payday Loans Do Exist Online, But You Have to Find the Good Ones!
Instant, faxless payday loans do exist online, but you have to find the good ones! It takes a little browsing research to locate the best deal online, and while you are doing this be sure to check out the website for reliability, history, and security. This industry has grown so quickly, and there are some shady operators here, just like in any area of business. Watch for a Better Business Bureau approval, and secure SSL technology – the little gold lock icon.
No need to send sensitive personal records online.
Previously, it was necessary to fax online lenders all kinds of sensitive personal information, and that does not do a lot for your peace of mind. Becoming faxless was a major improvement for these online payday loan lenders. You do need to be an adult, 18 or older, have a job or regular income, and you need a direct deposit bank account. Your payday loan transaction is handled quickly, with the loan payment and your repayment all done electronically. Most loan periods are two weeks, or until your next payday date. When the repayment is due, you must have the loan amount plus any fee or interest available in your account for the withdrawal to be made.
Different regulations depending on where you live.
Some states have different regulations on payday lending, but in general there are some limitations on interest rates. Good ones are $10 per $100 to $25 per $100. Any higher than that, and you will lose any benefit from borrowing. If you incur bounced check charges, shut off fees, over limit fees, or insufficient funds fees, you will pay a lot more than the payday loan fee. You can borrow from $100 to $1500 for your instant faxless payday loans. Some lenders can get you the loan deposit in your account within one hour, others take until the next business day.
Improve Your Credit Score – Credit Repair Companies Put To The Test
As a consumer credit advocate I get asked all the time – can credit repair companies improve your credit score?
The simple fact is yes! You can improve your credit score and get pre-approved for credit cards and prime rate loans by hiring a reputable credit repair company to work as your advocate. There are many companies that advertise credit repair services, but asking the right questions will help you decide which company is the most reputable and the best fit for your goals. With the best credit repair company on your side, collecting the facts will help you improve your credit score.
In order to improve your credit score, I suggest you ask the following questions before hiring a credit repair company:
• Do they have a Better Business Bureau record? Legitimate and reputable companies maintain a satisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Accredited businesses are committed to its customers and maintain the highest standards of trust and reliability. Visit bbb.org to verify satisfactory rankings of the credit repair companies you are considering.
• Is the company a law firm? Attorneys are bound by rules of ethics that require them to act with absolute integrity. Attorneys are responsible for looking after their clients’ best interest and are required to utilize custom approaches to call upon every means possible to obtain positive results for their clients. Most companies, law firms or not, charge around $39 per month, so you should demand representation from a law firm for the same price to improve your credit score.
• Is a free consultation available? You should be able to discuss your goals and expectations before you enter into a contract with any credit repair company. You should also be advised of your rights under The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) [http://www.825credit.com/fcra.html] and learn how the law is on your side to help you improve your credit score.
• Can you cancel at anytime? Hiring the right credit repair company to represent you can help you gain better credit and improve your credit score. As results are obtained, you will not require the services of a credit repair company forever. Once you improve your credit score, reputable credit repair companies will allow you to cancel your account.
• Are online account management tools available? Reputable credit repair companies allow you, the client, to choose how you want your case managed to improve your credit score. Good credit repair law firms will give you options and advice on how to achieve the best results and will allow you to manage your case via a secure online client website.
• How many items have they removed for their clients? Legitimate credit repair companies have a proven track record of success. Companies such as Lexington Law have helped over 400,000 clients delete millions of items that are serious enough to harm your access to credit, prime loan rates and even a job.
I understand the challenges that you’ve encountered on your quest for better credit and, more importantly, a better life. You’ve been climbing a mountain; the right credit repair company can help you reach the top.





