Shopping

Buyer?s Warning

Many stores have ?self-service? systems. Items you select are taken to a checkout counter, where a cashier collects money for your purchases and issues a sales receipt. Be sure to have a sales receipt covering all items in your possession when leaving a store. It is dishonest and illegal to leave a store without paying for an item. Offenders will be arrested for ?shoplifting? and, if found guilty, will be fined. Your sales receipt is required if you wish to return an item for exchange of merchandise or a money refund.

Clothing and Household Items

Shopping malls are one place to find new clothing and household appliances in a variety of specialty and department stores. Several area malls include Ontario Mills, West Covina Plaza, Brea Mall, Montclair Plaza, and Santa Anita Plaza. To locate these malls either look in the yellow pages of a phone book under Shopping Centers and Malls or call information at telephone number 411.

New clothing and household items at discounted prices can be found at stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and K-mart. To locate a store near you call information at telephone number 411.

Used clothing and household items can be found at thrift shops, garage sales, or in the classified ads in a newspaper. Thrift shops near you can be located in the yellow pages of a phone book under Thrift Shops. ?Garage sales? or ?yard sales? are a popular shopping source. Private citizens in residential areas periodically sell used items in their front yards or garages. These sales usually last a day or two and are identified by yard signs in front of the sale locations. Bargaining is acceptable at these sales, but not in regular business establishments. Other used items (including automobiles and smaller items) are sold through newspapers. This kind of purchase requires a telephone call and a visit to see the sale item.

Food Stores

Grocery stores and supermarkets in your area can be found in the yellow pages section of your phone book under Grocers-Retail or Markets. Some common supermarket chains in this area include Stater Brothers, Vons, Ralphs, and Albertsons.

Sales People

It is not rude to refuse a salesperson entrance to your home. In fact, some people may have other reasons for wanting to enter your home or to meet with you. Do not sign a contract for any merchandise until you are sure you understand the terms of the contract. After it is signed, it becomes a legal document and you are bound by its terms. Joining a CD club, book club, or subscribing to a magazine, obligates you to abide by the terms of the contract.

Installment Purchases or ?Buying on Time?

Save money ? pay cash! ?Buying on time? is the purchase of goods or services on credit ? buying first and paying later. Credit cards and easy purchase plans involve contracts, which should be carefully read before signing. Failure to make prompt payments on these contracts will result in the assessment of high rates of interest. Inability to pay may lead to harassment, repossession of goods, embarrassment, or lawsuits. Paying cash is the cheapest way to make purchases.