Consumers Digest

What is the best major appliance brand? I am buying a new electric range. I want self-cleaning smoothtop. Please include source of knowledge. Why a bear? Are they high maintenance?

Which major appliance brand (kitchen) is the best? We are ready to purchase our first stainless steel frig and gas range. However, for the past couple of weeks I have been checking on different brands and visiting some of the major stores around town trying to get more info. Well, nothing has helped. I feel even more confused then when I started. Do you have a stainless steel frig? What can you tell me about it? I was going to buy a Samsung but then one of the sales rep I spoke with stated that they just started making refrigerators. Also, they do not make gas ranges only electric. I really want to keep all the brand names together. I also got word that Kenmore will be turning to LG next year and that GE will stop making major kitchen appliances. Not to forget...Frigidaire is noisy and that Whirlpool has an issue with aligned doors.

have you bought any major appliances or anything big, brand new this year? we just got a new washer & dryer.? yes cars count too. we have whirlpool also, awsome! Dyson animal isn't that a really spendy vacuum? is it a good one? oh furniture counts too, anything big.

What are the top 5 brands of major kitchen appliances? Thank you.

How many brand names are there on major appliances in the U.S.A ..this includes all imports?

Replacing major kitchen appliances - need opinions? We are replacing the following: 42in built-in refridgerator 27in double wall oven 36in cooktop built-in dishwasher built-in microwave We want all stainless steel and like the idea of going with one brand for conforming look. Looking for recommendations on brand..... We feel wolf, viking, thermador are overkill for us so looking at kitchenaid which we are told is the high end of the low end.

Best Major Appliances ? Can someone steer me through the web of brand wars and tell me the best company for major appliances. We are thinking of going towards Kenmore or Whirlpool for a whole Kitchen and Laundry full. Trying to keep the Energy star throughout. Thanks for your time.

Do you think 5k for kitchen appliances is a lot? I'm in need of new kitchen appliances and I have a 5k budget, I found all the appliances I want. They're stainless steel and the brand is KitchenAid, and it's the 4 major appliances - stove, dishwasher, microwave (the ones that go over the stove) and a fridge. Well altogether it's around 4,600 but plus tax I'm sure it'd be close to 5k. Think that's too much?

A kitchen appliance I am looking for, and can not find,is a stove with a regular, electric coil cooktop, but a? convection/electric oven. I have searched all major appliance brand sites, and have found nothing! Can someone tell me why they are not made, and why they are not available??

Best major kitchen appliances? So many different brand names but what are the best yet reasonably priced ones in your opinion? Fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and washer/dryer.

Major household appliances? I need to buy new fridge, dishwasher, he top load washer, he front load dryer. If anyone would kindly advise me what brand to, or not to, buy and why I'd appreciate it. Perhaps you could tell me what to look for when looking for these items. I'm not looking for "cheap" in this matter, I want good quality items that will last and hopefully not need many repairs. I'm looking for white, and the dishwasher could be white or stainless inside and I'd like the top rack to adjust and a good size cutlery tray. The fridge I'd like automatic icemaker and a dispenser for the ice and water. Any and all comments would be most welcome.

Is it proper etiquette to ask for gift card in lieu of gifts? I just purchased my 1st home a brand new condo and planning a house warming/open house. I have pretty much purchased everything (major appliances, TVs, etc.)but still need some things and out of funds now. I would prefer if someone wanted to buy me something that they give me a gift card instead of a gift. I don't like registry because often times people do not follow it any way. Is there a way to word this on the invitations? When people ask me I've been just telling them a gift card is appreciated but I really feel ackward. What do you think?

Research: Major Brands in the 1950's? I'd like to know what brands were popular among low-middle class families in 1950's Canada? Specifically, electronics, appliances and vehicles. Thanks

I need Ideas of a new Improvement to an existing home appliance.? These is for my Intro to engr. class. please provide me with ideas of some Home appliances,i will appreciate it a lot. The report must include: purpose and major uses of the appliance. History of the appliance, when and who invented it. Improvements made over time. major differences between competinf brands. Desciption of the improvement you propose for the appliance.

Giving a presentation for an interview? I have to give a 10min presentation on a major home appliance (oven) for an interview. I know about appliances but not specifically about this brand. I'm really nervous and i'm not sure what I can do to stand out...any help/advice would be appreciated. This role is reporting to the Marketing manager - but you need to be technically inclined aswell.

what is the fanciest brand of kitchen appliences? Like small appliances like blenders, mixers, processors etc... cause I think that electrolux has the nicest major kitchen appliences like ovens, fridges, and microwaves.....

Need a New Dishwasher - Want Opinions? Well, I've finally had it with my barely 2-year old Frigidaire dishwasher that has had the timer replaced TWICE in 5 months and is now out again. So, what kind of dishwasher do you have? Do you like it? How old is it? And, have you had to have it repaired? I've heard horror stories on almost every brand, so I'm not sure if one is any better than the other. I do know, without a doubt, that I will NOT be buying another Frigidaire appliance. So, please, no suggestions to buy one of them. I would love to hear from appliance repair people to find out what they are constantly having to service, and what brands are decent and which ones are not. I do know the last time I had my dishwasher fixed, I asked the repair guy what he would buy and his only response was "Not a ^&$%^ Frigidaire. I would never buy a Frigidaire appliance. 75% of what I work on is Frigidaire and I service all major brands." I have 2 houses and the dishwasher at the other house is 15 years old and has never given me a minutes trouble. It is a Kenmore. But, Kenmore dishwasher's are now made by Frigidaire (at least some models are), so I won't be buying one of them, either.

Why does this window AC unit keep tripping the house breaker ? 12,000 BTU Amana brand window air conditioner; on a properly grounded circuit, no other major appliances on circuit; when compressor kicks on the house breaker trips, not the one built onto the cord. any repair techs know what i could check on the unit ? Yes i'm aware how to check what Amp rating the actual circuit breaker is. No it is not tripping the Main house breaker, that would be silly. No it's not 240 Volts, show me an appliance you plug into a normal 3 prong house outlet that runs 240volts.

What can you make when you have no cooking appliances? As of yesterday my kitchen is under major construction. We are replacing EVERYTHING. Our brand new fridge is sitting in the living room. It's pretty much the only thing that works. The oven along with the sink and dishwasher and above the range microwave are sitting in a corner and it'll be Friday before everything goes in. With that being said is there anything I can buy so we don't have to live off of fast food for a week? I've thought about doing sandwhiches. I have a George forman grill that I can use and a crockpot. Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

How long does it take to fix a washing machine? Our washing machine, a Hotpoint Aquarius 1100, died nearly two weeks ago. As we're in a rented property and its part of the fittings and fixtures, we contacted the landlord on the Tuesday, and they said someone would be out to look at it on the Friday. They didn't show up until Monday, and said the driveshaft and bearings were gone, and that they would have to order the parts in. They said they'd be fixing it Friday (today!) - a week after they were first supposed to look at it. They've now said the parts have been delayed, so they'll be getting them on Monday and fitting them Tuesday. I really have two questions: 1) Is this a normal length of time for a repair of this nature? With Hotpoint being a fairly major brand, I would have thought parts would have been fairly easy to obtain. 2) What legal obligation do landlords (in England) have when repairing appliances - do they have a set time, or can they do it at their leisure? Can we ask them to use another repair man?

Do you think we should be negotiating??? We are looking at purchasing a new townhouse in a brand new community? (only the model home is up right now). If we purchase this month, they will partially finish the basement ($6,200 value), and upgrade our kitchen to have cherry cabinets, granite counter top and stainless steel appliances ($4,000 value). The asking price of the home including the "free upgrades" with everything else being basic is $199,900. However, we would like to add a few things on which are really not anything major: hardwood in the kitchen ($675), recessed lighting package ($500), double sinks in master bathroom ($375), cherry cabinet vanities in all three bathrooms @ $500ish a piece. My question is, since they are already upgrading our house with the basement and kitchen free of charge, do you think we could still negotiate with the builder? We'd really like to close on the house for $200,000 including everything, and then minus our down payment so our mortgage is a little less than $200,000. What are your thoughts? **I also forgot to mention that in order to purchase an end unit, there is a $10,000 surcharge. But, the builder has already cut this cost to $5,000 for us.

Is purchasing a residential loft a bad idea? I found an awesome loft for sale in my hometown. It used to be an old mill that was converted to resident lofts a few years ago. It's only 650SF, but it has some nice features such as: - five windows - exposed brick - brand new stainless steel appliances - hardwood floors throughout - major utilities paid for in the $193/mo condo fee (only electricity is out-of-pocket) - close to major attractions (commuter rail, post-office, nightlife, etc) I found the price at $135,000 to be attractive and am considering going for it. My older brother who really doesn't have much going for him and never owned a place of his own is telling me that a studio loft is not a good 1st time purchase for someone whose 27. He's really hot on me getting something with seperate bedrooms (probably so I can take him in, which I won't, but I'll deal with that later). I plan on being there for at least 5 years and will keep it as rental property if and when I buy something bigger. What's your take?

Am I overreacting? I know it's a very sweet gesture, but I'm genuinely pissed off about it.? I've been dating this guy for all of two days, but he's lived at my house for three months (it started as a he just needed a place to stay thing, but for the past month we started to move into a different sort of relationship that we didn't really decide to acknowledge until new years) and another roommate just broke the laundry machine... so today he went out a bought a brand new $800 one while I was out. When I found out I was really mad and wasn't shy about telling him that and now he's confused as to how I could be so upset. I've tried explaining that I had told him I was planning to buy one myself and it's not his responsibility to buy major household appliances for the home, but he's trying to say that he considers it his rent (nobody in the house pays rent-- I own it and just make everyone split my water bill when it comes in). My other roommate says that it's stupid that I could be mad because we needed a washer, but I feel like she's just saying that because she doesn't want me to insist that he returns it like I plan to. So is it crazy to be upset that he'd do something that nice? And is it crazy to insist that he returns it if I'm only going to go out and buy another one in a day or two anyway? Just to clarify as to the whole rent issue-- I only mentioned it to show how it's silly for him to consider it a rent payment. Everyone who stays in the house contributes-- they buy the groceries because I'm usually to busy and also a terrible cook, one of them is finishing the basement that he's living in, they all help out, I just don't charge them actual rent payments. And I'm not saying that it wasn't really sweet-- I just feel like it's way too much from him (he wasn't the one that broke it) and also something that I should not only be responsible for, but also have at least some say in.

What is the best way to add an automated lift to the back of a pickup truck? My father in law owns an appliance repair/sales store and often needs to deliver major appliances (refrigerator/washer/dryer/etc). His truck broke down and now we're looking for the best solution. He needs something that makes it easy to lift the appliances onto the back of a truck for delivery. We think it's the combination of a new pickup truck with a hydraulic lift added to the back. But: A) Is that the best solution? B) Are there prefered brands? Do they come as 'add ons' to a truck, or do you need to bolt it on? How much does it cost? Thanks! David

North Carolina Lease Addendum - NC legal knowledge please!? When we moved here to NC, the apartment was not what was agreed to based on the model we were shown. i.e., 25 yo appliances instead of brand new etc and dog urine all over the carpet with a stench. We learned about this the morning of move-in after driving cross country the two days prior and having a blizzard starting on move-in day. We visited the apartment complex 3 times prior to placing our deposit on a specific apt which we were told was exactly like the condition of the model and specifically confirming this apt was pet free and totally updated in the kitchen. The electricity was out 4 days and our movers iced out so we didn't actually sign the lease until 5 days after move- in by which time I was white hot due to stench and mismatched old appliances in "luxury apt" and learning that previous tenant had moved out only 3 days before instead of 3 weeks before as we had been promised plus paying for a hotel room due to no electricity. They had done us "a favor" by holding the apt 3 whole weeks they said at the time we reserved the apt. No one ever called us to tell us they needed more time to clean and update the apt although we had made it clear we were flexible on move-in dates. In return for our not seeking legal redress for misrepresentation, (we were cross country with a major van line wanting to unload and all our private mail directed to this apt), the manager agreed to many lease addendums including no rent for the rest of the move-in month. We also got another addendum that states that it is an amendment of the current lease and says specifically: ********"Landlord has agreed to change the resident's current lease from a six month to a three month lease at the same leasing price. Once the three month lease has expired, the resident will have the option to continue with a month to month lease, ALSO AT THE SAME LEASING PRICE. Landlord has also agreed to waive the 30 day notice requirement and accept immediate notice for this address in the event that a home is purchased."******** We have been paying the original lease amount and have not found a house yet but got a letter on the door stating that we have to sign a new lease or they will raise the rent $200 each month. I asked this question previously and was told month to month means month to month period. So is this entire paragraph signed by the manager and part of the lease worthless and offered in bad faith? They honored the other addendums like replacing the carpet - what does North Carolina law say about this particular situation? They have offered us less rent for a 12 mo lease but we don't want a new lease, we want our addendum honored until we buy a house. Many thanks to previous answerers.

I think I've become jaded as a new yorker. Is it wise to purchase when a con somewhat outweighs the many pros My roomate and I want to purchase a 3br 2 ba condo, brand new construction in western queens. Its near all major highways and shopping malls/centers. We are about 15 - 20 minutes by car from the city. The subway is about a 15 minutes walk from the condo. Also, a bus is literally around the corner, so I could take the bus and the bus would drop me in front of the train station. Stainless steel appliances, all new, washer/dryer combo in unit. Hardwood floors. We can control our a/c and heat. Building is on a quiet street and pkg not an issue Approx 1200 sq ft with a balcony but it faces the railroad. I'm torn 50/50 and so is my roomate. We love the fact that its move in ready. And I realize the market is subpar but we are concern that it will pick up and we will lose out b/c of price. But its near a railroad. Are we crazy or is this just NYC market for ya? I realize nothing is perfect but is this a real risk? Also, we don't mind the noise. Hard to sell or not in NY

Has anyone here at YA ever had their kitchen completely remodeled before? If your answer is yes, then how.....? long did you have to wait from the very beginning of demolition until your remodeling job was finally finished? (This is question A). We're creeping up on one month since we demolished our kitchen on the day after Thanksgiving this year (Nov. 28, 2008), and I feel as if I'm going crazy trying to get this kitchen project finished! I know it isn't going to be too much longer, (B) but I was wondering if this is about the average wait for a partial do-it-yourself job in most major kitchen remodeling projects? I know this project could have been finished long before now if we had 'farmed out' this remodeling job to professionals, but all of the contractors we spoke with wanted a fortune to do our kitchen project, even though the U.S. is now in a major recession. (C) Any suggestions from any of your past experiences doing major home renovations on how to continue being patient until the project is finally finished? I thought we were going to do most of the work from stripping down the walls and installing brand new insulation, which we did; putting up new sheetrock, which we had done; installing new wood cabinets, which were done on Dec. 23rd; painting the walls, which we're doing on Sat., Dec. 27th; laying the tile floor, which is now going to be done by a professional; putting in the new countertops, which is being done by the company we purchased our granite from on Mon., Dec. 29th; and my husband installing all of the new kitchen appliances that we have picked out and priced but haven't purchased yet!?! My hubby and I are going on Saturday, Dec. 27th to order and pay for our new appliances and we'll check into the length of delivery time. Considering the bids that we have received from companies to remodel our kitchen, we've saved ourselves a considerable amount of money, and I suppose the length of time really shouldn't bother me. But I can't help but be a little aggravated at not having a kitchen sink and a stove for almost one full month. (D) Do you have any good suggestions that might help me relax some and keep me from being so irritated when I think about the length of time that it's taking to get our kitchen totally finished? I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out on this project without losing my temper, since I was hoping that we would have our kitchen finished before Jan. 1, 2009. Obviously, it's going to be longer than we had previously thought to get everything installed, hooked up and working, and finally, what that was taken out of the old cabinets will be trashed or put back in a new space. Please be sure to answer all of my questions A through D. If you have not had previous experiences in remodeling, then your "no, I haven't had this problem before" answers won't be of any help to me! That being said, what I am looking for from YA is advice from people who've had any similar types of lengthy remodeling experiences! Thanks for any helpful suggestions you can share with me! =) Wow. Almost everyone had great suggestions and it's nice to know that I'm not the only person who has been a little agitated about not having a kitchen sink or stove for a month. I didn't realize that it's normal for a remodel to take up to two months, but thank you for all your input and encouragement! It's hard to choose a best answer here and I wish I could give it to all of you who seriously answered my questions but I have to chose one person. We had both of our baths retiled and a new jacuzzi tub and a custom built shower put in our bathrooms. Now, we need to update with next fixtures, new mirrors and repaint. What we had done wasn't that much of an inconvenience since we did them at different times.

Do you think it sounds like we have a good chance at selling our house with the repairs we made, eventho...? It didn't sell for a whole year after being on the market? When we first moved in our Double Wide home 3 years ago, which is a 93' model, it had old fridge, stove, washer, and dryer (maybe from the early 90's). We replaced all of those appliances in a matching set. They are all white fridgidaire. We bought those brand new. Also since we moved here, he replaced the whole AC unit and Hot water heater. He also painted a few of the rooms which were wallpapered from when it was built.. so you can imagine the walls looked nasty. The only thing i think will turn people away is the carpet, which is a blue and has wrinkled up i guess you could say. We are talking about having someone come in and clean it and tighten it up. Also, the kitchen floor has a few mud stains on it and some other little problems here and there (nothing major). We are trying to get out of debt and that is why we are trying to sell the home. He bought the house 3 years ago for $98,000. When we got it appraised a year ago (before we updated everything and made all the changes), they appraised it as 121,000. I was shocked. Now that we have done all of these repairs, i am thinking that if we sell, we can use the remaining balance to pay off our debts, get married and move into a nicer home with cheaper payments or at least look for something in better condition. We have 2 loan bills over 1,000$ a piece from having to replacing the AC and a couple of other reasons. We also have 2 credit cards and our furniture bill that we racked up from buying the new appliances for the kitchen. Since our credit is bad, we cannot get approved for a home equity loan, a personal loan AND we cannot refinance. My boyfriend has a 12 hour job that he works 6 days a week and he would get a 2nd job to get out of debt, but they keep changing up his hours and they are not understanding about anything. Everything is very overwhelming and hard to deal with and selling the home seems to be our only option of saving from foreclosure and causing our credit score to drop even more. Please let me know what you think we could do.. and also.. if we put the house up for the market, are we allowed to have our stuff in here while they come look at it? I always see pictures online of homes for sale and they are always empty. :/

Should I get an extra surge protector for my computer? I just got a new power bar for my computer since the old one kacked out. It's supposed to have "surge suppression" so if there's a major power surge, it just shuts off. It was cheaper then the other brand that says it's not a surge protector, and you're supposed to get their even more expensive surge protector thing that plugs into the outlet as well. Well I wonder if it would be a good idea to buy that plug thing, since it's supposed to protect against "noise" from other appliances. Does that really make a difference?

Trying to pick the right house , found two , now which one ?!? Ok , I need to weight some of my pros and cons here !! I thought some anonymous opinions might be cool . This is the deal , I was looking for a house to buy for my family and we found two we love . When does that ever happen ? Two houses that are perfect for us ! We even went out looking another day in hopes that we could find a tie breaker , we didn't ! There are some major differences in these two houses and my kids are too little to give their suggestions . The first house we saw we looked just to see it , we didn't think it would be in good condition because of the size compared to the price . Took us completely off guard ! This house is stunning , big old white house set far off the street , mature landscaping , brand new winding walkway leads up to a front porch and then inside it is completely move in ready . Even the yard is ready to go which is nice because with two little kids unpacking is more then enough ! Its priced right but it is almost water front which in Florida means $$$ flood insurance . This house has two living areas though which is nice for a family with kids , we can have a playroom and still have a nice formal living area for holidays etc . I love this house . The two kids bedrooms are very small though , I didn't measure but once they are teenagers I am sure I would get some flack about it . I do feel like I would live in this house FOREVER and never regret it .The neighborhood is 50/50 though , it is this gorgeous water front area in a Historic district which I love because I am a huge history buff . Some of the houses must be multi millions and have amazing history . Then the other half of the area is duplexes and run down , almost looks like a gypsy camp . Personally I like a little variety and culture BUT I have kids so safety and quality schooling are a concern . Now for the second house , at first sight I almost didn't even get out of the car ! I love my realtor though so just to be respectful of her time I got out . The house is bam , right on top of a very busy street , large too . Then you walk in and it has a small living area and it has this darkish feeling . However the bathroom is wide and nice , the bedrooms are very cute and spacious , one even has tons of shelving built into the wall with a low clothes hanging section perfect for my little one . The master has a 5x5 walk in closet which I love . Then instead of a garage ( which we dont use in Florida anyways) there is an apartment , 2 rooms , full bath and mini kitchen . Just perfect for my mom . The kitchen is nice , newer and open and there is a "mud room" for laundry and storage . The best part is the huge backyard . Some negatives are that there are NO appliances in the house and the house needs some cleaning , like grout ( which I have a shark so its not really a big deal ) and the carpets in the bedrooms smell like wet dog and need to be ripped up . I expected it to need work considering the price but being able to move right into the other house is a plus . When we first started looking the 2nd house with the apartment attached is exactly what we were looking for and then we get there and they have lowered the price another 10,000 dollars which is huge . However we are spell bound and in love with the bigger move in ready house , it is a little over 30,000 more in price but still in the budget . So are being ungrateful and greedy ? Should we take the cheaper house that is almost just what we wanted OR do with go with the amazing historic find that seems to have been waiting for us but is more money and not exactly the floor plan we desired ? Two kitchens is a nice idea ! I am sure there are so many more perplexing details but that is the general idea . I have no idea !!! My heart wants the big white house but my mind and gratefulness tell me to consider the smaller and cheaper house . I am just afraid that if we go for the smaller house that I will want to move on someday and I am really ready for my forever home . Ugh , any help ?!! Yes Judy we can insure it ! Glenn ,I dont want to resale , I said I am looking for my forever home ! Its more then I wanted because I never dreamed I could find something like this in my price range .

Home improvments question.? We just brought a home. It has a brand new apartment which we are living in while we work on the rest of the house that we plan on living in. We need but already have new appliances for our kitchen,new counters, a new toilet and sink in the bathroom, installation in the open walls in the spare bedroom,new front door,updated electric and to finish the basement(wall, electric flooring) and then painting. We are not in a rush we are ok with out a teneant for a few months. So my question is how do we prioritize what gets done first.Do we demo everything that goes first or work room by room? Any good web sites we can refer to for simple explanations? I have major back injury how can I help my husband without hurting myself? Thanks for the help

Is there any information on a company called Worthington International Solution LTD? I recently reviewed your resume on Careerbuilder, and I'm very impressed with your background. Below is the job description along with a brief introduction of our company. Worthington International Solution LTD was established in 1996, and is now one of the UK's leading distributors of branded consumer electronics. The company enjoys success in the home and overseas markets, supplying a vast range of items which expands over 5000 product lines; that includes calculators, blank media, batteries, watches, telecommunications, personal care, and domestic appliances, audio & video products/accessories. We are wholesalers for all major electronics manufacturers, including Casio, Franklin, JVC, Olympus, Panasonic, Philips, Seiko, Sharp, Sony, TDK, Uniross, Wahl and more. Our ambition is to meet our customer's demands wherever, or whoever they may be, and offer the widest choice of products at the best possible prices. We base our success not only on price competitiveness, but also on the quality of service we offer. JOB DESCRIPTION, TERMS AND CONDITIONS - No fees needed to get this job. - No one at Worthington International Solution LTD will ask for your sensitive info. - You are not involved in any sales. - Everything is legal under EU/USA and International laws. Your tasks are: 1. Receive payment from our customers. All check will be written in your name. All checks are US checks, no international. 2. Cashing the checks at your existing bank account. 3. Deduct 10% which will be your percentage/pay on each payment processed. 4. Forward balance after deduction of percentage/pay to any of the offices you will be contacted to send payment to. (Payment is to be forwarded by Western Union Money Transfer). You will receive 10% for every check processed in the first month. Within one month after receiving the first check you will get an extra $1,000 if you will manage to cash checks in a timely manner, also this bonus includes Internet bill, phone bill, gas/bus tickets. We will support all bills you have to pay for your Internet and cell phone. PLEASE NOTE: This bonus will apply after one month starting the day you will receive the first check. After two months of working with us, a secondary bonus will apply. You will get 15% from all our sales. If everything works as we will expect and it will, you will be able to do up to $1200 - $1300 per week + the bonus of $1,000 every month. Bonuses regarding, cashing checks are as follow: a) Cash the check same day and you will receive a bonus of $150 for each check cashed. b) Cash the check within 24 hours and you will receive a bonus of $100. c) Cash the check within 48 hours and you will receive a bonus of $50 The salary will be paid to the Representative by cashier check. WORKING HOURS This depends of how many checks you will receive but it won't take more than 2 hours to deposit the check and send an e-mail when the check arrives to you. Also when checks arrive we will send you further instructions and all details to complete the process with Western Union. Unfortunately we cannot setup any interviews now, as we do not have any representatives in US. We will be able to come to meet within the next few months when the new offices will be opened in your area! Please let me know if you are still interested and I will ask you some questions. Within 24 hours after we will receive this information we will forward you a copy of the contract you have to fill in, sign and e-mail back to us. Jennifer A Simmons Senior Corporate Recruiter Worthington International Solution LTD Morden Road, Mitcham, CR4 United Kingdom FAX 011-44-811-250-1048 FAX 011-44-325-380-4012 Note: We respect your on-line privacy. This is not an unsolicited mail. Under Bill 1618 Title III passed by the 105th US Congress and International Laws this mail cannot be considered Spam since we include contact information and a method to be removed from our mailing list. If you are not interested in receiving our e-mails then please reply with a "REMOVE" in the subject line. We truly apologize for the inconvenience caused.

What is the smart thing to do in this situation? My problem: I currently work full time as an assistant manager for a popular national retail chain (think along the lines of aeropostale or holister), I currently make $1300 a month after taxes and I live in rural NC - and 33 miles away from my job (one way). My job requires that I be available to work any time of day any day of the week (as we very frequently have to stay late or work overnight with about a days' notice). My rent AND utilities (gas/water/electric) come to $670 a month (one bedroom apt, and is the absolute cheapest in my city - I've checked). Because I live in a different state from my family and so far from my job I have to have a cell phone, which also serves as my internet access- $99.67 a month - I'm in a contract and can't change anything about the cell phone until July. My car insurance is $74.30 a month and I do not have any extras such as internet access for the home or cable. I drive a car that is quickly breaking down (15 years old - 199,000+mi.). Gas to and from work runs me about $160 a month - and because there is so much wrong with my car I have been putting about $150 - 200 worth of repairs in it monthly since august. This has left me with about $90 a month left over which goes into groceries and personal / household items. My car still has MAJOR issues wrong with it - it cut off on interstate 95 today while traveling at 60mph and the rest of the repairs are going to cost me about $1500 total. I have not had the opportunity to save any $$$ to put towards a newer / more reliable car because I have to keep fixing my old one so that I can continue to get a paycheck. I cannot get a second job because of the erratic and unpredictable schedule of my first. The town I live in is a very small town with minimal job opportunities, especially those that pay more than I currently make (I check everyday). There are job opportunities in the nearest major city but that is over an hours drive and I cannot count on my car to make it back and forth to interviews - let alone for a few weeks until I start receiving a paycheck. I am not in a position to finance a car as I have a credit score of 513 (as of last month), and the "low credit / no credit / bad credit" places I've gone to want me to have at least $1500 down with a credit score that low. My mothers' financial situation is worse than mines and I have not had any luck finding a co-signer who would back someone with a low 500's credit score - and I can't say that I blame them. I've tried to look into ways to reduce my expenses (eating store brand foods, not buying meats or fresh fruits / veggies, not turning on the heat until the temp outside hits in the 30's, taking showers every other day, not watching television or using any appliance that is not absolutely necessary for my survival, etc.) and while I am not a huge fan of the idea of being on government assistance of any kind, I have even inquired about food stamps, etc but I make too much money (not by much) to qualify for those programs. It is only a mater of time before something SUPER MAJOR goes wrong with my car and I can't drive it at all... without any money in savings, no help able to come from any family / friends, no available co-signers, and no private sellers who would sell me a car on a payment plan how on Earth do I get myself out of this situation????? *if you have taken the time to read through all of this I applaud you, and welcome ANY suggestions that you may have, thanks*

As a vegan, how do I stray further away from social norms and get to a better place as far as using products? I am looking to get further away from plastic, pollutants, free radical producing substances, cars, polluting the environment, and I want to do everything I can possibly do to clean up my act as a human being to live as naturally and close to mother earth as possible. Now I'm getting the idea like this: -Flouride free toothpaste. - How do I make my own toothpaste? If someone knows please pitch that in. I know Tom's of Maine has some flouride free toothpaste, but I'd prefer to make my own toothpaste at this point to not use a plastic container. - Water. How can I obtain flouride free water/ what bottled beverages should I consider buying which are in non-plastic, or biodegradable containers. Also, why do major water bottle companies not use biodegradable hemp plastic? - Clothing, why is hemp considered illegal to grow for clothes, besides I don't really care, I'd prefer to buy a better material of clothing than cotton. Oof I don't like the cotton industry... My problems with them go way back... I.E the cotton picking slaves... the only reason Cannabis was made illegal, ect... - Hemp Toilet paper? Where can I buy this product in bulk to save me the least amount of money? Does anyone know. - Pens, pencils, art supplies... I am an artist, and a musician. Any tips there? - Skateboarding products, Is hemp better than bamboo better than Canadian maple? Please let me know your opinions on that too if you have any acknowledgements. - Shoes (especially for skateboarding) I know a few vegan brands of shoes for that, and/or companies maintaining awareness for cruelty free shoes/products. - Books, paper, hemp paper vs. regular paper vs. any other more environmentally favorable kinds. - Computers/MP3 players/video cameras/ video tape vs. SD cards... ect. What are the least wasteful mediums? - Compost bins? How do I maintain them? I want to get super into it over the winter so by spring I can plant a giant garden in my back yard. Any tips on gardening? Links? - Methods of transportation. Cars vs. Bikes vs. skateboards vs. trains vs. planes vs. ships ect. Any mention on how useful a bike would be vs. a car? Are planes very negative for the environment? Would I be considered evil for taking a plane by other vegans? - Home appliances/ keeping things unplugged/ power saving tips/ ways to use less and do more/ what should not be in the house vs. what should. ex. Water boiler electronically vs. a stove to heat up water for tea. How dangerous are microwaves/ refrigerators/ toasters/ a stove ect. - I want to go on a yoga retreat soon, any advice on how cool that is to get away from normal society. Would I be able to make a difference in the world regarding electronics/ pollution / elimination of oil/ reduction of cigarettes and alcohol as well as pharmaceutical drugs, elimination of flouride being poured into our water supply, ect? - How do I better raise awareness of methods to enhance the way humanity treats planet earth. - Can we do more to prevent the destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems where animals, plants, and humans of exotic places can live and flourish in peacefulness/ reduce the torture of animals, the poisoning of our plants through pesticides plus the spreading of awareness to increase our chances as humans to eat more organically and stray further yet away from the main TV drug induced social normality our humanity seems to be locked into the single way of thinking? I mean, can we erase certain things, as individuals, by telling our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our parents, and extended family members? I want to do all I can to create a better future for our humanity, myself, and the posterity eternally because I am sick of the lies, propaganda, the wars waged for oil, the killing of innocent children, our non-vegan, oil based society, filled with plastic and death, flouride in the water poisoning us, even by showering and it entering our pores that way, I am waltzing into my town hall today to ask what is in the water supply I have been drinking for the past month. I will be infuriated if there is flouride in the water. I will take the next train to Wall Street to protest at that point. Maybe you'll see me on the news. Anyway, thank you for your intensive research used to answer these questions as I take a nap because I'm completely exhausted from thinking about all of this. I'm hoping for the best answers I could possibly receive for a question geared toward such a positive intention, and I really hope to be awoken to a new consciousness of what is understandably decent in our society, what is useful and good, and what is terrible. I want to have a new meaning and point of view on how our society treats itself from the government downwards, upwards, left, and right. I just hope humans don't really hate each other that hastily and with such intention to kill one another from the inside out. Plea

"Renting as a form of recycling"? (focusing on furniture and appliance rental) I am currently completing a graphic design major that focuses on the concept 'renting as a form of recycling'. I am looking into the concept of 'cradle to cradle' design and ideas of borrowing and lending items however i am still struggling to find more depth to this metaphor. I can't seem to find a strong concept that ties this notion of renting and recycling with the branding and identity of a rental company.

As a vegan, how do I stray further away from social norms and get to a better place as far as using products? I am looking to get further away from plastic, pollutants, free radical producing substances, cars, polluting the environment, and I want to do everything I can possibly do to clean up my act as a human being to live as naturally and close to mother earth as possible. Now I'm getting the idea like this: -Flouride free toothpaste. - How do I make my own toothpaste? If someone knows please pitch that in. I know Tom's of Maine has some flouride free toothpaste, but I'd prefer to make my own toothpaste at this point to not use a plastic container. - Water. How can I obtain flouride free water/ what bottled beverages should I consider buying which are in non-plastic, or biodegradable containers. Also, why do major water bottle companies not use biodegradable hemp plastic? - Clothing, why is hemp considered illegal to grow for clothes, besides I don't really care, I'd prefer to buy a better material of clothing than cotton. Oof I don't like the cotton industry... My problems with them go way back... I.E the cotton picking slaves... the only reason Cannabis was made illegal, ect... - Hemp Toilet paper? Where can I buy this product in bulk to save me the least amount of money? Does anyone know. - Pens, pencils, art supplies... I am an artist, and a musician. Any tips there? - Skateboarding products, Is hemp better than bamboo better than Canadian maple? Please let me know your opinions on that too if you have any acknowledgements. - Shoes (especially for skateboarding) I know a few vegan brands of shoes for that, and/or companies maintaining awareness for cruelty free shoes/products. - Books, paper, hemp paper vs. regular paper vs. any other more environmentally favorable kinds. - Computers/MP3 players/video cameras/ video tape vs. SD cards... ect. What are the least wasteful mediums? - Compost bins? How do I maintain them? I want to get super into it over the winter so by spring I can plant a giant garden in my back yard. Any tips on gardening? Links? - Methods of transportation. Cars vs. Bikes vs. skateboards vs. trains vs. planes vs. ships ect. Any mention on how useful a bike would be vs. a car? Are planes very negative for the environment? Would I be considered evil for taking a plane by other vegans? - Home appliances/ keeping things unplugged/ power saving tips/ ways to use less and do more/ what should not be in the house vs. what should. ex. Water boiler electronically vs. a stove to heat up water for tea. How dangerous are microwaves/ refrigerators/ toasters/ a stove ect. - I want to go on a yoga retreat soon, any advice on how cool that is to get away from normal society. Would I be able to make a difference in the world regarding electronics/ pollution / elimination of oil/ reduction of cigarettes and alcohol as well as pharmaceutical drugs, elimination of flouride being poured into our water supply, ect? - How do I better raise awareness of methods to enhance the way humanity treats planet earth. - Can we do more to prevent the destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems where animals, plants, and humans of exotic places can live and flourish in peacefulness/ reduce the torture of animals, the poisoning of our plants through pesticides plus the spreading of awareness to increase our chances as humans to eat more organically and stray further yet away from the main TV drug induced social normality our humanity seems to be locked into the single way of thinking? I mean, can we erase certain things, as individuals, by telling our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our parents, and extended family members? I want to do all I can to create a better future for our humanity, myself, and the posterity eternally because I am sick of the lies, propaganda, the wars waged for oil, the killing of innocent children, our non-vegan, oil based society, filled with plastic and death, flouride in the water poisoning us, even by showering and it entering our pores that way, I am waltzing into my town hall today to ask what is in the water supply I have been drinking for the past month. I will be infuriated if there is flouride in the water. I will take the next train to Wall Street to protest at that point. Maybe you'll see me on the news. Anyway, thank you for your intensive research used to answer these questions as I take a nap because I'm completely exhausted from thinking about all of this. I'm hoping for the best answers I could possibly receive for a question geared toward such a positive intention, and I really hope to be awoken to a new consciousness of what is understandably decent in our society, what is useful and good, and what is terrible. I want to have a new meaning and point of view on how our society treats itself from the government downwards, upwards, left, and right. I just hope humans don't really hate each other that hastily and with such intention to kill one another from the inside out. Plea

"Renting as a form of recycling"? (focusing on furniture and appliance rental) I am currently completing a graphic design major that focuses on the concept 'renting as a form of recycling'. I am looking into the concept of 'cradle to cradle' design and ideas of borrowing and lending items however i am still struggling to find more depth to this metaphor. I can't seem to find a strong concept that ties this notion of renting and recycling with the branding and identity of a rental company. please help...i'm kinda lost!!!

What is the best brand of major kitchen appliances from Lowe's? I want to update my kitchen with new appliances and I want to get all the same name brand for each one. All my appliances are electric and the frig will be a side by side and a smooth surface for the stove. I have a microwave over the stove as well as a dishwasher, so I would prefer them to be the same name brand. Please let me know which brand is the best for all these.

Feeling Pinch, Stores Woo Lagging Shoppers. Evaluate Article? Lackluster sales in this holiday season have retailers scrambling to wring a few last dollars from procrastinators by slashing prices, extending hours and wooing customers more persistently than last year. The moves show that retailers' strategy during this final weekend before Christmas -- when about 10% of holiday sales are expected to take place -- has become increasingly reliant on the same promotions and marathon hours once unique to the "Black Friday" weekend following Thanksgiving. But the discounts also reveal the pinch stores are in this year as the credit crunch, rising gas prices and winter storms have taken a toll on companies dependent on end-of-year sales. The tough economy has left aisles more empty this year. Total foot traffic at U.S. retail outlets took an 8.9% dive during the second full week of December, compared with the same period last year, according to an estimate from ShopperTrak RCT Corp., which bases its numbers on a formula that involves an electronic count of shoppers in malls and other retail outlets nationwide. A bright spot, however, has been online, where aggressive discounting and cut-rate deals on fast shipping have contributed to a surge in spending. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 16, online shoppers spent $23.5 billion, 19% higher than the corresponding days last year, according to comScore Inc., a Reston, Va., market research firm that tracks Web spending and traffic. Videogames, consoles and accessories are the fastest-growing category, more than doubling from the comparable period last year. Furniture, appliances and equipment ranks second, up 63%, while event tickets and consumer electronics are up 29% and 24%, respectively. Now, a final push is on, both online and in stores. Web retailers continued to hunt for business by cutting shipping charges to seal deals before the pre-Christmas shipping window closes. Shoebuy.com, a Boston-based unit of IAC/InterActive Corp. offered free express shipping until today. Online handbag merchant eBags upgraded purchases made by Wednesday from standard shipping to two-day air-shipping through UPS for no extra cost. Brick-and-mortar stores, meanwhile, retooled their hours for the weekend, hoping to spark their own shopping flurry. J.C. Penney Co. stores are staying open until midnight tonight and Saturday. Select Macy's Inc. stores on the East Coast will stay open nonstop throughout the weekend -- 107 hours straight for one branch in Queens. And New York-based FAO Schwarz made discounts of 25% to 50% on certain toys. Ed Schmults, the chief executive officer at FAO Schwarz, said that while foot traffic was up, business had not been as booming throughout the season as he hoped. The National Retail Federation, a trade group, is predicting just 4% in sales growth for 2007, the smallest growth rate in five years. Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, paints an even grimmer picture: He lowered his forecast of 2% retail sales growth to 1.8%, his lowest forecast in nearly 10 years. In the apparel category, men's clothing has showed modest single-digit growth through the first 20 days of the shopping season, according to MasterCard Spending Pulse, a unit of MasterCard Advisors, which tracks spending of all types. But women's apparel -- which last year constituted three times the sales of men's -- has been a major disappointment, as shoppers have avoided big purchases. Sales were down 5.7% from the same time last year. Retailers have responded with a flurry of price cuts, but large inventory remains in some stores. One of Gap Inc.'s Old Navy stores in downtown Chicago on Wednesday had piles of festive sweaters marked down to $20 from $36.50. Women's coats still stuffed the racks, despite being already marked down 50%, and its signature "performance fleece," also half off, was stacked eight shelves high. The bad tidings for apparel have left some retailers looking for other items to push. At Banana Republic, also owned by Gap, $64 gift sets of its perfumes, body creams and shower creams were marked down 30%. Gold-boxed gift sets of a new line of bath products at Ann Taylor Stores Corp. stores were discounted to $19.50 from $29. At Limited Brands Inc.'s Victoria's Secret, stores were piled with beauty gift sets, many 40% off. Meanwhile luxury goods are expected to have a good season this year, and retail consultant Frederick Crawford of AlixPartners predicts "pockets of good news" for high-end retail. For brands like Prada and Gucci, he expects to see 5% to 7% growth. According to retail surveys, electronics sales were down 0.5% in the three-week period between Nov. 18 and Dec. 9 compared to a year ago, according to Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for market watcher NPD Group. He said consumers in recent years have been delaying purchases until closer to Christmas, which may account for the slowdown. Indeed, Angela Smith has waited until the last week to make her purchases. A 39-year-old bank employee in Dallas, Ms. Smith said she is waiting for prices to drop further as well as trying to spend less. For her three nephews, ages 12, 8 and 7, she plans to buy remote-controlled cars, which Wal-Mart Stores Inc. initially priced at $59 and has since dropped to $49. "I am going to swing by this weekend and see if they are going to take it down one more time," says Ms. Smith, who was shopping for a co-worker's present at her local Wal-Mart midweek. Home-furnishings retailers, fighting the weak housing market, are being particularly aggressive with their promotions this year. At Williams-Sonoma Inc.'s Pottery Barn store on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, Christmas-tree-shaped candles were discounted 50%, and holiday garlands of fake evergreen branches were 30% off. Wrapped gifts such as silver jewelry boxes, also marked down 30%, were stacked high Wednesday afternoon. Home-improvement outfits like Lowe's Cos. Inc. and Home Depot Inc. are destined to be hardest hit, says AlixPartners' Mr. Crawford. "Consumers are absolutely showing us that they will be delaying discretionary purchases" like gear to remodel a kitchen, he said. A boom-bust pattern is typical after Thanksgiving's Black Friday discounts, which encourages a flurry of purchases early but leads to a tapering off in early December, killing shopping momentum. This year the pattern was more pronounced: A double-digit sales surge on Black Friday exceeded retailers' expectations; but come December, throngs of shoppers didn't return. There was one exception, however: online retail. Web merchants have discounted and promoted heavily this season, say industry analysts. Shipping promotions have been particularly popular. Sixty-eight percent of surveyed Web retailers said they are offering express shipping promotions this year, up from 49% last year, according to Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, an online retail trade group and unit of National Retail Federation. As the boom continues, these companies are becoming increasingly creative to draw customers. This year Ice.com, a Montreal-based Internet jeweler, has rolled out new videos to promote products and free overnight shipping. It has experimented with new marketing tricks such as buying front-page ads on Microsoft Corp.'s MSN and Yahoo Inc.'s Web sites this week. Ice.com even tried to tap influencers to drive word-of-mouth among blogs, magazine mentions and celebrities.