AARP Discount: American Home Shield

https://shopping.ahs.com/aarp?utm_source=aarp&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=aarp_members_0824_mbu&utm_content=cta_learn_more

A home warranty is a yearly protection plan for your home’s systems and appliances. We spend about two-thirds of our time in our homes, and over time, the systems and appliances we rely on most will inevitably break down—like your heating and AC system, refrigerator, water heater, and washer/dryer. But when you warranty, you can look on the bright side because your covered items are protected.

AARP members save $36 on an American Home Shield® home warranty. And for a limited time, we’re giving you an additional $100 off.

*Available to new American Home Shield members only; discount cannot be applied to previous purchases. Not valid in conjunction with a real estate transactions or renewal. Discount only available for single-family home under 5,000 sq.ft. (includes condos and townhomes). Coverage may not be available in all areas.

AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider, American Home Shield, directly for details.

AHS: 866.819.3917

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need maintenance records before I buy?
No. American Home Shield does not require you to provide maintenance records or have a home inspection before you purchase a plan or to be eligible for covered repairs.

My stuff is old. Does that matter?
No, it does not. You can get an American Home Shield Home Plan no matter how old your home’s system or appliances are.

Can I cancel anytime?
Yes, you can cancel at any time. If you cancel your contract within the first 30 days of your coverage, we’ll refund your contract fees minus any service and claims incurred by American Home Shield. If you cancel your contract after 30 days, you’ll receive a pro-rated refund of your contract fees for the rest of the contract term, minus an administrative fee of up to one month’s payment (where permitted by law) and any service or claims costs incurred by American Home Shield. Terms may vary by state.

View more FAQs

8 Prices You Should Always Haggle Over

https://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2023/how-to-negotiate-better-price.html?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-WBLTR-1532702-1950618-8509287-NA-08032024-Webletter-MS1-SAPLA-NA-CLKBT-Money&encparam=5%2bC2mVxt12xh9J5%2b3s9I%2fP4TPTj%2f0D1gLWRwTQ%2fdeck%3d

8 Prices You Should Always Haggle Over

Places where negotiating can save you cash


By

Donna Fuscaldo,

AARP

112 Comments

Published June 23, 2023

/Updated July 01, 2024

Whether to haggle is a question that looms large for consumers, especially when mobile apps make price comparisons simple and online discounts are readily available.

Although downloading a coupon code is easy, asking for a break in person may conjure up feelings of fear and dread. Nobody wants to be shot down or feel embarrassed, but not asking can leave money on the table.

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“Haggling has always been the case for some kinds of goods, but increasingly there are more things to negotiate face-to-face,” says Linda Babcock, a professor of economics and head of the Social and Decision Sciences Department at Carnegie Mellon University. “Businesses that are not online are more open to haggling than they used to be.” With that in mind, here are eight categories in which it absolutely makes sense to open your mouth and ask for a deal.

1. New cars

When it comes to cars, negotiating a better price is expected and tends to pay off. As of May, the average discount off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of a new car was $616. That is much lower than the $2,573 discount seen in May 2019, according to data from Edmunds. ​Still, in 2022, people were paying as much as $700over the MSRP. 

Pro tip: Think about more than the MSRP when negotiating, says Jaime Peters, an assistant dean of accounting, finance and economics and assistant professor of finance at Maryville University​. “In addition to the price, you might think about other things that are important to you that the seller may be able to throw in.”

2. Houses

As interest rates rise, homes sit on the market longer, which means you can haggle for a better price. That’s particularly true the longer the house is on the market. Just like with cars, doing your due diligence can go a long way in saving you money. That means understanding the local market, how long houses are for sale and what the average price is for similar homes. Armed with that information, you can make an informed and hopefully lower offer.

Pro tip: Make sure you do comparison shopping before making an offer, Babcock says. You can do that online or with a trusted real estate agent. The last thing you want to do is insult the seller with an offer that’s too low.

3. Furniture 

Furniture stores have taken a hit from the pandemic and the ease of buying online. That gives you a shopping advantage, particularly if the item you want has been at the store for a while, Babcock says. Retailers want to move older inventory to make room for new furniture and may be willing to give you a deal. At some stores, salespeople and managers have the discretion to reduce prices even if they are discounted. However, they won’t offer unless you ask. ​

Pro tip: “You have to have an attitude that while I might not be successful, what do I have to lose,” Babcock says. “Really nothing. They might say no, but if you don’t haggle, it’s a no for sure.”  

4. Mattresses 

Comfort and achieving a good night’s sleep are usually the main focuses when shopping for a mattress, but saving money should be as well. You can save cash to the tune of about $245 just for speaking up. Consumer Reports recently polled about 4,000 consumers and found only 23 percent tried to negotiate when shopping for a mattress. Of those who were brave enough to speak up, 60 percent were successful, saving a median of $245. And it wasn’t just at brick-and-mortar stores. Sixty-eight percent of people who haggled with a sales representative online got discounts. To score the best deals, consumers in that survey asked for discounts and were willing to walk away if they couldn’t get money off.​

Pro tip: “When negotiating, you have to think about who has the power and is able to negotiate,” Babcock says. Typically cashiers are not empowered, particularly if you are in a big chain store. Negotiating tends to be more successful in smaller, independently owned retail locations. ​

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5. Mobile phone and internet service

Loyalty has its rewards when it comes to your mobile phone bill and internet. The wireless carriers and internet providers don’t want to lose you and will often give you deals and discounts to retain your business. But you have to ask. 

Go in armed with knowledge about how much you pay and what you would like to pay before calling your provider. You may find you are shelling out serious cash for bells and whistles you don’t need or use. Let the provider know you are thinking about leaving. If you aren’t happy with the company’s response, ask to speak to someone in the retention department. Its job is to keep you as a customer, and staffers may be willing to give you a discount to achieve that or throw in perks you’ll actually use. 

If you aren’t getting anywhere, hang up and try again later. Every customer service rep is different. A bad experience with one may be a great time with another. 

Pro tip: “It’s important to plan for what you can negotiate. Know what your options are, what you care about,” Peters says. ​

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6. Home improvements 

“You get what you pay for” couldn’t be truer when it comes to home improvements, which is why homeowners are encouraged to get several estimates before deciding on a contractor. Once you find one you like, there is room to haggle for a better deal, especially if you get the work done during a down period for the industry. Your contractor may be willing to charge a lower price because business is slow. Make sure you are reasonable when asking for a discount. You don’t want to insult the person with an unrealistic counter price for the work. 

Pro tip: “People often think negotiations are a push-pull competitive exercise. You want more, I want less; the more I win, the more you lose,” Peters says. “While that might be the case, more often than not, the parties have a lot of different interests. We should view this as a problem-solving experience in which both parties want to reach an agreement that can be mutually beneficial.” 

Sure, the contractor may give you 10 or 20 percent off, but if that means more work will come her or his way in the future, that discount is worthwhile. “A lot of negotiations aren’t simply one shot,” Peters says. ​

7. Retail items

Haggling for a deal at a national chain will be an uphill battle, but at smaller, independently owned stores, it could be a winning strategy. Store managers, owners and even salespeople have more freedom to negotiate with you. They don’t have a corporate office to answer to and are more motivated to close a sale. That strategy can be effective if the item you have coveted has been on the shelf for a while. Before you start the negotiation, make sure you know the price of comparable items. ​

Pro tip: “Sometimes asking when the price will be marked down or when they are having a sale can be really successful,” Babcock says. “The older the inventory, the more open they will be.”

8. Car Insurance

Most states require car insurance but when it comes to getting the best rate, Peters says this one is worth haggling over if you are working with an insurance carrier that uses agents. “Insurance is a massively competitive business, typically based on actuarial tables and demographics,” Peters says. “Even if you are happy with your carrier and agent it is prudent to shop your insurance coverage around every two or three years at the least.”​​

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Pro tip: Peters says to get a competitive quote from an alternative provider and present that quote to your current agent. “It can be surprising how quickly they find new ways to reduce the cost.  These savings can save several hundred dollars a year,” she says.​

If negotiating isn’t your thing …

Haggling may not be up your alley, but the more you practice, the better you’ll get at it. Babcock has her students try to negotiate every week, starting out with something small and building up. “Go to a flea market or garage sale. Negotiations are completely expected and usually quite successful,” she says. “You’ll get some experience and confidence and can go up from there.”

Help for SaddleBrooke Residents: SaddleBrooke Service Providers

sbazservices.azurewebsites.net

https://sbazservices.net > House > Movers

SaddleBrooke Service Providers

The SBAZ Yahoo Group is a place residence of SaddleBrooke use to discuss, recommend (or not) various service, medical, restaurants and personel establishments. In reading the SBAZ group discussions over the last year or so it became evident there were problems finding this information in the archives. This site is an attempt to remedy that by being a place that is easy to search and find competent support services for our community.

To find someone to do a service click on the category of interest in the left sidebar menu. the menu will slide down showing cervices associated with that category. Some services will also slide down providing a finer granularity for that service. For example under the ‘Medical’ button there is a service ‘Joint Replacements.’ Clicking that will slide down a further refinement of ‘Hip’, ‘Knee’, and ‘Shoulder’. Selecting one of those will then open a table of providers in this main area.

To obtain more info on a particular provider, click the ‘Info’ button and a modal will open giving more information as well as reviews. If you have registered with the site you will be able to add a review from this screen.

Stamps.com: Reprint Shipping Labels from History

https://help.stamps.com/hc/en-us/articles/20821615507867-Reprint-Shipping-Labels?utm_campaign=SDC%20Feature%20releases%202024&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9DxoY3htfxTWSyggME5-ZAN9LECwti7MjCo-Yck5alKVM8waYH9YQ122qO1slNbQJv8xa3F_6lGtp6l5WXi7L2m51eitYq41AvoWixHR0xf2hU8fQ&_hsmi=318361746&utm_content=318361746&utm_source=hs_email#UUID-7f367ce8-3a4f-a789-70b5-51437e8ca8a8_UUID-2bbeda95-bf18-ebce-c057-c0ffa9622661

Also from Gmail: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#label/Stamps.com/FMfcgzQVxtmdgSJgLKJWvJJqCtGkqNNw

Reprint Shipping Labels

If your shipping label prints incorrectly due to a printer error, you can reprint it immediately after the print from the Mail tab or later from the History tab in the Stamps.com Online app. Stamps.com will reprint shipping labels for no additional charge.

The reprint process for ecommerce shipping labels differs somewhat. Please review our Reprint Ecommerce Shipping Labels article for details.

Print On Options

When processing a reprint, you must use the same print material used on the original print. For a list of compatible print materials, refer to our Print On Options.

Reprint From Mail

Reprint shipping labels from the Mail tab:

Online
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  1. Click Reprint, which appears at the top of the page after your initial print. Do not change any print details, such as mail class or weight, or leave the page. Any changes to print details disables the Reprint feature and you will need to request a postage refund.
  2. Check the box to certify that the misprinted postage will never be used.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. Select the correct printer and paper tray, then click Print in the Reprint Postage window.

Reprint From History

You can also reprint shipping labels from the History tab when using the Stamps.com Online app if your account is on a subscription plan that supports this feature.

Subscription Plan Requirement

This feature is not available for all subscription plans. If you would like to use this feature but cannot access it as described here, you will need to upgrade your plan.

Visit our plan pricing page to see what features are available with our current plans. To upgrade your plan, go to the profile menu in your account and choose Manage Account > Subscription Plan.

Reprint Timeframes

When reprinting from the History tab, each Stamps.com carrier has a specific window for processing reprints. Please review the table below to ensure you are within the reprint timeframe window for your carrier.

CarrierReprint Window
USPS24 hours
UPS90 days
FedexReprint requests can be made within 12 hours of the original print or until 11:59:59 PM of the print date.
DHL90 days
All other carriers90 days

Note

Once the reprint window for your carrier has expired, you will no longer be able to request a reprint. To submit a refund for your print, see Request a Label Refund.

To reprint shipping NetStamps from the History tab via Stamps.com online:

This will send the label to your printer to print again.

  1. Go to the HISTORY tab.
  2. Select the print you want to reprint and click Reprint.
  3. Click Reprint in the Reprint Label window.
  4. Select the correct printer and paper tray, then click Print in the Reprint Postage window.

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SaddleBrooke Handy Man

Saddlebrooke I just had a vey positive handyman Experience. A young man (Devin) who is moving into SB to be closer to family helped me with a toilet issue. He is friendly, can handle a wide range of projects, is neat and is very reasonable. His number is 520-965-7933

.

Furniture and Cabinetry Builder

Marc Perry, perry10360@gmail.com, ‭(520) 744-0373‬.

Marc Perry built our cabinetry for our bar in our dining room as well as the TV Entertainment Center in our living area 8 years ago. He is meticulous and did a phenomenal job. Now, 8 years later, we updated our kitchen and wanted our Entertainment Center to blend in better with our kitchen which is more contemporary. Our TV needed to be replaced as it was having some serious issues. We decided to simplify our system with all Sonos equipment and a more contemporary look. This meant that Marc was having to do a modification. He cut off the upper half of our Entertainment Center and created a false wall with a simple design and lighting. The bottom cabinets are part of the original Entertainment Center. He added the black accent strips in each door. We no longer wanted all the knick knacks and shelves we had in the past. It is now a very clean look and we love it. We highly recommend Marc Perry, perry10360@gmail.com, ‭(520) 744-0373‬.

A Dog Named Beau

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wVZzooRmxd5zYo41/?mibextid=oFDknk

Jimmy Stewart loved dogs, and he and his wife Gloria had several throughout their long-time marriage. Stewart was especially fond of his golden retriever Beau, who would sleep in a corner of the bedroom at night, but would sometimes sneak onto the bed and lie between Stewart and Gloria. According to Stewart, “I know that I should have pushed him off the bed, but I didn’t. He was up there because he wanted me to pat his head, so that’s what I would do. Somehow, my touching his hair made him happier, and just the feeling of him laying against me helped me sleep better.”

When Beau became terminally ill and had to be euthanized, Stewart sat in his car, following the procedure, for ten minutes to clear his eyes of tears. He later recalled, “After he died there were a lot of nights when I was certain that I could feel him get into bed beside me and I would reach out and pat his head. The feeling was so real that I wrote a poem about it and about how much it hurt to realize that he wasn’t going to be there anymore.”

The poem, titled Beau, was first recited on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1981. As you will hear in his poem, Beau (like all his dogs) was not good at things like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘come’. Stewart said, “The difference between ‘trained OK’ and ‘trained perfectly’ doesn’t really matter all that much to me…. I suppose the truth is that I’d rather have a happy dog than a trained one.”

The poem starts out with humor and ends with sadness – with both Stewart and Carson trying their best to hold back tears.

He never came to me when I would call

Unless I had a tennis ball,

Or he felt like it,

But mostly he didn’t come at all.

When he was young

He never learned to heel

Or sit or stay,

He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag

But when you were with him things sure didn’t drag.

He’d dig up a rosebush just to spite me,

And when I’d grab him, he’d turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,

The delivery boy was his favorite prey.

The gas man wouldn’t read our meter,

He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire

But the story’s long to tell.

Suffice to say that he survived

And the house survived as well.

And on evening walks, and Gloria took him,

He was always first out the door.

The Old One and I brought up the rear

Because our bones were sore.

He’d charge up the street with Mom hanging on,

What a beautiful pair they were!

And if it was still light and the tourists were out,

They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he’d stop in his tracks

And with a frown on his face look around.

It was just to make sure that the Old One was there

To follow him where he was bound.

We’re early-to-bedders in our house – I guess I’m the first to retire.

And as I’d leave the room he’d look at me

And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,

And I’d give him one for a while.

And he’d push it under the bed with his nose

And I’d dig it out with a smile.

But before very long he’d tire of the ball

And he’d be asleep in his corner in no time at all.

And there were nights when I’d feel him climb up on our bed

And lie between us,

And I’d pat his head.

And there were nights when I’d feel his stare

And I’d wake up and he’d be sitting there

And I’d reach out to stroke his hair.

And sometimes I’d feel him sigh and I think I know the reason why.

He’d wake up at night

And he would have this fear

Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,

And he’d be glad to have me near.

And now he’s dead.

And there are nights when I think I feel him

Climb up on our bed and lie between us,

And I’d pat his head.

And there are nights when I think I feel that stare

And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,

And he’s not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn’t so,

I’ll always love a dog named Beau.

Video Clip Link

NEW HANDYMAN

NEW HANDYMAN – We have a great new handyman in SaddleBrooke. His name is Devin. He’s just moving here to help take care of his mother and is ready to get back to work. I have had him do a couple of things for me and I’ve seen all the work he has done in their house they are moving into up the street. Very nice young man and everything I have seen that he has done is first class. His name is Devin

520-965-7933

. Tell him I gave you his information. Let’s give him a BIG SaddleBrooke welcome.

Plumber recommendation

The reviews did not lie.

Joshua

Bailey is the real deal. I sent him a msg on Saturday evening asking him if he could come & replace our leaky shower control in the guest bathroom. He responded on Sunday morning & by Sunday afternoon our shower was fixed! Saved us a bunch of $$$. Very personable, honest, & quite knowledgeable with plumbing & electricity. He did such a good job we called him again a few days later to fix the other shower control in the main bathroom. Will definitely call him again in the future. Thanks Joshua !!

Joshua Bailey

Plumber by trade. Been assisting Southern Arizona for the last 25 years..I can just about do anything with my hands.I love this neighborhood and this community Hometown: Tucson