How Auto Extended Warranties Work

STEP I: D IS FOR DEFINITION Chapter 1 – Cautions and Comparisons: How to Burn $1,000,000 a Night Chapter 2 – Rules That Change the Rules: Everything Popular is Wrong Chapter 3 – Dodging Bullets: Fear-setting and Escaping Paralysis

STEP II: E IS FOR ELIMINATION

STEP III: A IS FOR AUTOMATION

STEP IV: L IS FOR LIBERATION

Chapter 4 – System Reset: Being Unreasonable and Unambiguous

Chapter 5 – The End of Time Management: Illusions and Italians

• – A free software productivity tracking tool. Just install it once, and it sits in the background measuring your productivity. Then, you can see exactly how many minutes you’ve spent on productive and unproductive apps at the RescueTime website.
• – A convenient countdown timer. Use it when you want to give yourself a boost to get stuff done.

Chapter 6 – The Low-Information Diet: Cultivating Selective Ignorance

• Website Blocking Software – If you find yourself using some specific websites too much (Facebook, I’m looking at you!), consider installing website blocking software. You’ll need either  or  as your web browser. If you are using Chrome, install . With Firefox, use . These add-ons will let you specify time-wasting sites, set a maximum counter, and block the sites once you’ve used them for too long.

Chapter 7 – Interrupting Interruption and the Art of Refusal

•  will allow you to route calls to online voicemail.
•  – Evernote allows you to easily capture information from anywhere, using whatever device you have at hand. You can take photos, write notes, or record audio. It’s perfect for getting rid of your reliance on paper, and keeping everything stored in one place.
•  – Want to screen and avoid incoming calls? Google Voice will allow you to see who is calling before you pick up, send users to voicemail, and actually transcribe the voicemails so you don’t even have to listen!
•  – a very impressive, free tool for quickly scheduling events. Create a poll in 30 seconds and forward a link to several people. Check back later to see which time is most popular/available.
•  – Let colleagues self-schedule time with you by setting available times based on your calendar’s available slots. Your colleagues can see what’s available, and choose.
•  or  – Already built into your smart phone, use Siri (iPhone) or Google Voice Actions (Android) to quickly jot down reminders, set to-dos, or send quick emails without even unlocking your phone.
•  – Dictate any message up to four minutes and the transcription will be emailed to you within hours. Excellent for brainstorming, and the accuracy is great!
•  – Sometimes, the only way to be productive is to turn off your internet altogether. Freedom is an Apple app which will allow you to turn off your Internet, irrevocably, for a set period of time. Hit it once, and you’re free — you won’t be able to turn back on the Internet until the time has run out.

Chapter 8 – Outsourcing Life: Offloading the Rest and a Taste of Geoarbitrage

Virtual Assistant Resources

U.S. and Canada

North America and International

•  –  Search “virtual assistants,” “personal assistants,” and “executive assistants.” Elance is a marketplace for assistants and workers. Each assistant has reviews, so you can see if your potential assistant is excellent or not. Other marketplaces to consider are , or

India

Philippines

Scheduling and Calendar Resources

•  – I have two Gmail accounts: one private account for me and one for my assistant, where general e-mail is sent. I use BusyMac to synchronize her Google Calendar with iCal (Mac calendar) on my laptop. 
• – It’s never been easier to sync calendars across multiple people. You can use Google Calendar to add your VA’s calendar to your own view, so you know exactly where you (and your assistant) need to be. Using  has allowed me to have assistants and employees create calendars within a single workspace, and share calendars easily with each other.
•  – Started by the co-founder of Facebook, Asana acts as a free task manager for teams. You can create to-dos, schedules, and metrics—and assign them to anyone on your team. Works seamlessly on your smartphone and computer.
• –  Share your calendar online while masking personal appointments. Can be synchronized with Outlook, and also offers document sharing and other assistant- or team-friendly features. I suggest you compare this to synchronizing your Outlook with an assistant’s calendar.

Chapter 9 – Income Autopilot I: Finding the Muse

Potential suppliers and product creators

• – A location for finding suppliers, components, and equipment.
•  – Have an idea? Get connected with an engineer who can help you build that prototype, source the parts, build the production line, and turn your idea into something amazing.

Comfort Challenge

•  – For your comfort challenge, you want to try to find a potential superstar mentor. Contact Any Celebrity is a service that can help you get in contact with someone you’ve always dreamed of.

Confirming Sufficient Market Size

•  and  – Find the number of monthly visitors for most websites, in addition to the search terms that generate the most traffic for them.
•  – A list of thousands of specialty and niche magazines, including circulation and subscription numbers. The print version is preferable to the digital version.
•  – Download competitors’ online advertising spending, keywords, and ad-word details. Consistent and repeat spending generally indicates successful advertising ROI.
•  – Check out this resource for annual listings of magazine and company customer mailing lists available for rent. If you’re considering creating a how-to video for duck hunting, check out the size of customer lists from hunting gun manufacturers and related magazines first. Use the print version in libraries instead of paying for the somewhat confusing online access.

Finding Products to Resell or Manufacturing

• Affiliate Networks: , , and  – No inventory, no invoices. Experimenting with products and categories through affiliate networks such as Clickbank and Commission Junction, which pay you 10– 75% of each purchase, is a fast method for doing a proof-of-concept using similar products. It’s often worth setting up accounts at both just to observe how bestselling items are being sold and promoted. Amazon Associates averages 7– 10% commissions, but bestselling books are excellent for testing target markets for more elaborate informational products. For all of the above: Do not get into bidding wars against other affiliates using expensive general keywords or overexposed brand names. Go niche or go broke.
• – Based in China, Alibaba is the world’s largest business-to-business marketplace. From MP3 players

  A Buying Guide to Saving Money and Making the Right Choice

  It’s easy to understand why Americans buy extended auto warranties. It’s because we want to drive our cars worry-free from expensive repair bills. We don’t like budgeting for repair expenses and we don’t want the burden of paying for an expensive repair bill either. We like to keep our cars in nice condition and we want a safe and trouble-free ownership experience, one that’s not spoiled by unexpected repairs.

  A good extended auto warranty satisfies those needs.  It pays for the entire repair, including parts, labor, rental, and towing. Auto dealerships love auto extended warranties too. I’ve been told by many service department employees, “Our customers are thrilled when the warranty company pays the bill.”

  If you’ve decided to purchase an auto extended warranty, what should you do next? Should you follow the suggestions and plans set forth by your local dealer, or try to find the best warranty plan yourself?

  If you try to do it yourself, where would you find the best extended warranty plan? How much coverage can you get? Will it be from a credible company? Can you get a good price?

  This Article Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars

  In this article I’ll answer those questions for you. I’ll show you what type of warranties to look for and where to find them at discount prices. You’ll know how to find a safe and credible warranty company and you’ll learn how to identify the best coverage available for your vehicle. I’ll give you insight on how much the warranty plans cost and how to negotiate for the best price. You’ll be able to make quick and informed decisions about the merits of your dealer’s offering and how to get the best deal for yourself.

  When you finish reading this article, you’ll know more about finding the best auto extended warranty than 99% of all customers who walk in to purchase a vehicle at your local dealership.

  Factory or Aftermarket Extended Warranty Plans?

  Start by choosing from two categories of extended warranty plans: factory or aftermarket. GM, Ford, and Chrysler offer the primary factory plans—the “GM Protection Plan” (GMPP), “Ford Extended Service Plan” (ESP) and “Chrysler Service Contracts.” Aftermarket extended warranty plans are not affiliated with an auto manufacturer and are usually insured by companies like Allstate, CNA, GMAC, and Protective.

  Many dealerships prefer working with their factory programs, particularly if your breakdown is not near your local dealership. Let’s say you are on vacation with your family and your Ford 500 sedan suffers a transmission failure several hundred miles away from home. Any Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury service department in the US and Canada will have your name in the Ford database and will start repairing your vehicle without delay. You’ll get the same service with the GM and Chrysler factory plans too. Dealership service writers and mechanics prefer working with their manufacturer warranty plans because they are familiar with the factory’s procedures. With the factory plans, the repair process usually goes smoothly. This gets you back on the road sooner.

  Aftermarket Plans Have Their Advantages

  The main benefit to purchasing an aftermarket warranty plan is lower cost to the consumer. Because competition is stronger for aftermarket plans, prices can be lower for extended warranties, particularly on higher mile vehicles. With the lower price, consumers are able to upgrade their coverage level compared to a similarly priced “factory” extended warranty plan.

  Some Dealers Like the Aftermarket Plans Too

  Many new car dealerships who offer aftermarket warranty plans as a first choice do so for the additional profit opportunities. Unlike the factory plans, aftermarket warranty plans are known to pay higher labor rates for their mechanics and retail parts pricing for their parts department. In addition, many insurance companies offer special investment programs to make their aftermarket plans more enticing for the dealers to offer to their customers.

  Buy at the Dealership or Shop Online?

  A majority of auto shoppers buy their auto extended warranty at the same place they purchase their automobile. But today, you can find both factory and aftermarket extended warranties online at discounted prices.

  If you’ve decided on a factory warranty plan, buying it online is probably the right choice. Since all franchised dealerships from one manufacturer service the identical factory extended warranty plan, shopping online to save money makes good sense. GM, Ford, and Chrysler have authorized dealerships to sell online and to assist you with discount pricing. These outlets can help you avoid overpaying at your local dealership.

  Remember, factory-plan online outlets can only provide extended warranty plans to your vehicle if you have a portion of your full-factory warranty remaining. If the full-factory warranty on your vehicle has expired, an aftermarket extended warranty plan from a good local dealer who runs a credible business and cares about customer service should work well for you. If you feel your dealer’s warranty plan prices are too expensive, just say NO. Several good aftermarket and factory warranty programs are sold online at discount prices.

  How to Find a Good Company

  Since you’ll be putting your trust in a warranty company for several years to come, it makes good sense to be certain your company will remain in business to honor their agreement. If you are purchasing a factory-backed warranty plan, you can be sure of financial stability and operational integrity. Factory plans have the financial staying power you’ll need for years to come. .

  If the lower price of a good aftermarket plan interests you, make sure the company has credible insurance backing. The insurance company’s name and contact information will be clearly written in the extended warranty policy. Verify this information before you purchase. It’s also a good idea to check the insurance company’s financial rating. provide financial report cards for US insurance companies. Look up your insurance company and be sure their financial rating is A+, A, or A-. Avoid aftermarket warranty plans with a low insurance rating or no insurance backing at all.

  Make Sure Your Company Is Rated “A” with the BBB

  If you’d like to know more about the character of your aftermarket company, the Better Business Bureau is a good source for reports of customer service and satisfaction. The BBB report rating will provide you with answers to the following questions;

  1) Do customers receive prompt answers to their questions when inquiring?

  2) Do customers receive efficient claims service on auto repairs?

  3) How well does your warranty company handle customer complaints?

  Most customer dissatisfaction from extended warranty plans originates from repairs not covered or denied by the warranty company. If you want to be certain your warranty company provides great service, look them up through the Better Business Bureau. It’s the starting place where most troubled customers express their complaints. . Extended auto warranty companies with an “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau are exceptional, especially considering the nature of the auto extended warranty business. Aftermarket extended warranty companies given an “A” rating from the BBB are rare and probably safe to do business with.

  What You Need to Know Concerning Coverage

• –  Offers an extensive how-to guide for finding manufacturers willing to dropship product to your customers, which allows you to avoid pre-purchasing inventory. This is where Amazon and eBay power users find not just drop shippers, but also wholesalers and liquidators. is also a popular option, with more than 1,000,000 dropship products to choose from.
• (800-699-9822) Searchable database of contract manufacturers for every conceivable product, from underwear and food products to airplane parts.
• Electronics, DVDs, Books (, )
• Housewares and Hardware (, ) (847-292-4200) For these product categories and related talent (on-screen demonstrations), also consider attending local or state fairs.
• Consumables and Vitamin Products (, )
•  – Have an idea? Get connected with an engineer who can help you build that prototype, source the parts, build the production line, and turn your idea into something amazing.