HELOISE: Appliance warranty is a serial problem

Dear Heloise: I am a longtime reader and really enjoy your column. However, I read advice about attaching user manuals and warranty information to newly purchased appliances. I have experienced a most unfortunate incident as the result of this, and I wanted to share it. My husband and I purchased a new stove and refrigerator. The clerk also recommended that we secure the manual and warranty information to the back of the appliances. We did so.

Then our home was robbed, and the thieves took the new appliances. The police said they had information regarding where our appliances might be, but they needed the serial numbers in order to retrieve our property. Heloise, this information was taped to the back of the appliances, and we had no other copies.

The police said that there was nothing they could do to help us since we could not produce the serial numbers. Please suggest to your readers that they not secure to appliances any information containing a serial number but instead keep it secured elsewhere.

Kim in Ohio

Wow, who would have thought? You do bring up a good point, especially with high-cost electronics. We have printed many hints about recording the serial numbers and even taking photos of the back of appliances and electronics where all of this information is. Your unfortunate situation does bring up another issue and is certainly something to consider. Thank you for writing.

Heloise

P.S.: The following hint also applies to the sales receipts of new purchases for electronics or appliances.

Dear Heloise: I agree that printed receipts fade and disappear in a short period of time. When my son-in-law and daughter started their business, they were advised to immediately copy all receipts. This way, they will have them later.

Rachel in California

Dear Heloise: Both my husband and I take several medications a day. His are somewhat easy to keep track of. I keep them in a drawer and mark the top and bottom of his bottles with the time of day each medication needs to be taken.

Mine are much more complicated. I have a whiteboard on my refrigerator door with the names of the medications, and I mark the time when I take each pill. That way, I know if and when I took the medication.

Mary Jo, via e-mail

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise(at)Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

King Features Syndicate Inc.