buying
-
Blog
How to Test a Call Center Integration Before Buying Seats
Integrating business software with your call center is essential, but it’s rarely easy. Vendors, of course, are going to sugarcoat the hurdles and advertise a call center integration that works off the shelf. Some are more open about the difficulties, but either way, you need to do your due diligence before making any drastic changes. I’ll walk you through every…
Read More » -
Blog
Buying an SMTP Server 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
Purchasing an SMTP server is a pivotal step for any business looking to establish robust, reliable email communication SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) servers are integral for managing email communications, including transactional emails, marketing campaigns, notifications, and alerts. This guide will provide a thorough exploration of SMTP servers, focusing on the critical aspects to consider, types available, and essential features…
Read More » -
Blog
How to Actually Understand What You’re Buying on the Healthcare Exchange
I’m convinced that the luckiest people in America are those who have a decent health insurance plan paid for by their employer—but just one, so there’s nothing to choose. For the rest of us, each November’s open enrollment period starts anew the painful process of choosing the least worst plan offered by your employer. But the worst pain is reserved…
Read More » -
Blog
What to Know Before Buying a Used Electric Vehicle
EVs have fewer moving parts to inspect than gas-powered vehicles, but you’ll want to check the tires. Because of their increased weight and instant torque, EVs tend to wear out tires more quickly than conventional vehicles. Bring a quarter to the dealership: If the top of George Washington’s head is just visible when placed head first in a tread groove,…
Read More » -
Blog
Buying a used phone? We asked the experts for 5 things you should do first
There’s no avoiding the reality that smartphones have gotten more expensive. You can turn to the best cheap phones, but even those can be outside of some shoppers’ budgets. But there’s another option available to cost-conscious buyers — the best used phones, available for heavy discounts. There’s always been a bit of a stigma when it comes to secondhand phones, like…
Read More » -
Blog
Everything You Should Consider Before Buying Smart Home Tech
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Credit: Stacey Zhu; Pixel-Shot, Nick Beer, zhu difeng, Sombat Muycheen/Shutterstock.com Every time I write about a new smart home product, I can count on a few commenters to question the need to add smart functionality to a product they’ve used for years. “What’s wrong with a washing machine that doesn’t…
Read More » -
Blog
Leasing vs. Buying a New Car
It’s difficult to make a fair head-to-head comparison between, say, a six-year loan and the standard three-year lease. At the point the lease ends, the bank borrower still has three years of payments to go, but the lessee has to look for another car—or perhaps take the lease’s buyout offer. A lease can also be subsidized, or “subvented.” The automaker…
Read More » -
Blog
Buying a smart speaker? Here’s how to choose between Alexa, Google or Siri as your assistant
The best smart speakers are powered by one of three smart assistants: Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or the Google Home Assistant. Alexa remains the most popular as it works with the widest variety of smart home devices and its excellent speakers don’t break the bank. Amazon’s value focus only gets better when you account for its ease-of-use and versatility to…
Read More » -
Blog
Red Flags to Look For When Buying a Used Car
Car prices are still up considerably since 2019, making buying even a used car a major investment that requires research and consideration. If you’re buying a used car, you obviously want to buy a one that will last as long as you need it, and you’ll want to check out its quality as thoroughly as you can before pulling the…
Read More » -
Blog
Is AppleCare+ Worth Buying for Your iPhone?
Whether those prices are worth it depends on what kind of phone you have and how much risk you’re comfortable with. Let’s say you lose your iPhone 16 Pro and have theft and loss coverage. Your replacement costs are going to total $418 (a $149 deductible plus the $269 you paid for the AppleCare+ plan). That’s a substantial amount to…
Read More »