Navigation on the road
I started the day by driving south to Fry's which is near Renton. Up to now I relied heavily on Google Maps to provide directions to the destination. Maps does a fantastic job at it. In an unfamiliar land, it's a must-have to get around. The problem is that the phone sits on my thigh while I drive. Occasionally I do sneak peeks at the screen to have a feel of the route ahead. But that's not very safe driving. Sharp turns also tend threaten to cause the phone to fall of my thigh. I need an improved solution.
I have 2 options: get a phone holder for the car and use the phone as the primary navigation, or get a GPS. Since I was already familiar with Maps' directions (which is surprisingly excellent in the US), I was going for a simple phone holder - the one that attaches to the windscreen. Doesn't cost too much: less than $20. Thing is, there's no sample so I need to know my phone's dimensions exactly.
I chanced upon a refurbished Magellen GPS on sale for $50. Good deal! Comes with lifetime map database access, and Bluetooth support too! I've recently purchased some items which were refurbished, and they came in great working order. Saved a bit along the way, and it gave me confidence in the risk.
So I bought the GPS instead.
Be it Magellan or Maps, both gave amazing details in directions, especially on highways. They know exactly how many lanes stay on the highway, which lane to use for exit (it's not always the leftmost or the right most). Using the Magellan helps to prolong my phone batt life while on the road. For slightly less than the price of the GPS I could have bought a long USB cable and the holder. Prob save a little as well.
Bed Research
After Fry's I dropped by the nearby bed stores. Be it the higher end or the basic range, I received good sales services. There are some things to look out for when buying a bed:
1. There's King, and there's California King. This link details the differences in the dimensions. Long short cut short: king is wider but shorter. California King is narrower but longer. In other words, get California King if you are a tall person.
Either way the price is the same.
2. When buying the frame, remember that the headboard is an optional item. It may not be included in the price you see. Always clarify with the salesperson.
3. Box frame may not come with the metal support below - the one with the wheels. Most times it does not.
4. Mattress warranty is subject to conditions. For example if the mattress is stained beyond the size of a dime it's void. Always get the mattress protector. It will cost slightly more than a $100 depending on the size and brand you choose. But get it anyway.
5. Ask about the mattress return policy. Every shop have different policies. Some charge for collection and exchange, some charge for admin. Then there are those who don't charge at all but has a slightly shorter exchange period.
6. A friend of mine had to set up the bed frame by himself. Check with the salesperson if the frame will come assembled. If not, clarify what tools are needed but not included.
America is a sneaky country. They like to overwhelm you with information and you'd spend so much time digesting that you may not ask the right questions. A rule of thumb is to never buy from the first shop you step into. Act blur. Be dependent on a real or fictitious person who's not in the shop so you have an excuse not to commit.
Go for this a few more times and you'd get the hang of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment