Monday, December 17, 2001
Gift Cards that Expire-New Return Policies at Some Stores this Year
From KOMO-TV Seattle: Virtually every retailer that issues gift cards has conditions with them that could affect their future value. Sears’ gift cards also expire after 2 years. So do the Bon Marche’s, but they’ll let you extend them indefinitely. Fred Meyer starts deducting a $2 monthly fee if the cards not used 18 months. Wal-Mart’s card expires after 1 year. Some stores only let you have a minimum cash back. Some won’t give any cash back. You can’t get replacements if they’re lost or stolen, and gift cards are not valid in going out business sales after bankruptcy. Tougher Return Policies Here’s another trend you should be aware of: Retailers are also getting tougher about return policies.
Once the clearance sign goes up on a seasonal item, that’s the price you’ll get if you return it.
A spokesman with Fred Meyer stores tells KOMO 4 News it will implement the clearance price policy after the first of the year. These new policies will apply to Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, ad even patio furniture that goes on sale at the end of summer. Retailers are trying to cut their losses since they can’t sell seasonal merchandise for full price when the season’s over and they don’t have warehouse space to store it.
State by State Women’s Health Report Card
The 2001 Report Card compares and assesses women’s health nationally and in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. While it marked some limited advances from last year’s Report Card, the overall findings were clear – when it comes to health care in the United States, the report says women are still second-class citizens.
More than one in eight women lack health insurance, and the recession will surely increase the number of uninsured women. Insurance coverage is often inadequate to meet womenâs needs; for instance, just six states require comprehensive insurance coverage for hospital stays after childbirth for the period of time deemed necessary by the womanâs physician. Because women are often excluded from medical research, doctors know less about how to recognize and treat diseases among women.
The Report Card gives the nation an overall grade of “Unsatisfactory.” The report does find marked improvement in that only Louisiana receives a failing grade this year, while eight states and D.C. failed last year. But not a single state receives a grade of “Satisfactory” in the 2001 Report Card. -Hawaii again ranks first overall, this year followed by Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Minnesota. The states that rank lowest this year are West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Iowa, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island improved most in overall rank, while Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia and North Dakota dropped the farthest.
Taggers
This Seattle Times story caught my eye; it would be a strong local story. “Public officials and business owners yesterday announced a campaign to combat graffiti by offering up to $1,000 for tips that lead to arrests or filing of charges against vandals responsible for up to $4 million damage each year to Seattle businesses and public property. “We’re going to stop this crime, but it takes a partnership (with the public),” said Len Carver, a police officer who patrols Capitol Hill, an area hard hit by graffiti.
I have seen interviewers with taggers, the paint vandals, who consider themselves to be artists. They sometimes risk their lives to get their name in a premiere place. Imagine the frustration of property owners who get tagged over and over. how seriously are these criminals treated by courts and prosecutors?
