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Quicken Starter Edition: Not for Upgraders

quickenstarter.gifAs we approach tax time, many consumers are in the market for new tax prep software and may at the same time upgrade their financial management program such as Quicken. The bad news is that the combination deals of past years where one could get Quicken Basic free after rebate when purchasing TurboTax are all but gone. The replacement offer is less generous than it appears to be because of details in the fine print, and a change of corporate philosophy.

This year, Intuit, the maker of both TurboTax and Quicken, is commonly offering “Quicken Starter Edition” free after rebate when you buy TurboTax. If you think they merely changed the name from “Quicken Basic” to “Quicken Starter Edition”, think again. This free Quicken version is unlike any other Quicken.

MOUSE PRINT*:

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Only on the back of the box are potential customers warned, “Starter Edition is for New Quicken users. Does not import existing Quicken data.1 1 … Existing Quicken users should not purchase Starter Edition 2008.”

Huh? Intuit has gotten smart (to our detriment), and has discontinued “Quicken Basic,” the product previously offered free that many of us used for upgrading our older Quicken versions. Its replacement cannot import data from other Quicken editions, so for anyone with existing records to preserve, this version is useless.

As a result, current customers must now buy Quicken Deluxe, retailing for $59.99, if they want or need to upgrade. Smart business decision (probably) for Intuit, but expensive policy change for customers.

You might ask, why bother upgrading — just keep using your old Quicken? That would be great but for an even nastier bit of mouse print that will be discussed here next week.

NOTE: Some sellers are offering very limited time deals on Quicken Deluxe free after rebate when TurboTax Deluxe is purchased… so grab them when you see them. Until January 26, for example, Staples is offering TurboTax Deluxe w/State 2007 for $39.99 and Quicken Deluxe is free after two $30 rebates. In-store, save an additional 12% off the top with this coupon.

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Retail Ads: What Were They Thinking? (Part 2)

We continue a lighter look at some advertising that makes you do a double-take either because the real deal is not apparent or because you just can’t believe what you are reading.

1. Old Country Buffet: Let’s accent only the positive.

Everybody loves a bargain, so why not just emphasize that part of the offer?  Old Country Buffet has repeatedly published coupons like this:

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*MOUSE PRINT: You have to buy a regularly priced meal in order to receive the $6.99 dinner.

If you didn’t look closely, you would have thought that their dinner was $6.99 on this special offer. The offer is really, “buy one dinner at regular price, get a second dinner for $6.99.”  Why can’t advertisers just promote the offer for what it is instead of potentially misleading the customer?

2. Linens ‘n Things: Bring us your old, tired, and expired…

Both Linens ‘n Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond honor each other’s coupons. But this ad from LNT really makes you do a double-take:

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*MOUSE PRINT: “Even expired coupons” !

3. Come to our open house this weekend (if you can find it).

This five-inch by six-inch ad appeared in the Boston Globe’s real estate section some months ago touting a big open house for some designer condos. They probably paid a few thousand dollars for the ad, and hoped for a big turn out.

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*MOUSE PRINT: Missing! Where’s the there there?

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DTV Coupons: The Consumer Catch-22

For the next year, you will hear repeated public service messages about analog television service being elminated on February 17, 2009. It will be replaced by digital TV service (DTV), and all TV stations will only broadcast in digital format. The problem: what if you only have an old-fashioned TV?   Will it go black a year from now?

Easy answer: it might if you get your signal using rabbit ears or an old-fashioned antenna. The solution: get a digital converter box that will take the new digital signals and convert them back to analog. To help with the expense of buying these boxes, Uncle Sam has set up a coupon program to offer each household up to two $40 coupons toward the purchase of digital TV converter boxes.

*MOUSE PRINT:  Some key facts are buried in the fine print or not well disclosed, including:

1. You cannot combine the coupons toward the purchase of a single box (each will cost between $50 and $70 approximately).

2. The coupons expire 90 days from their mailing to you, and expired coupons will not be replaced.

3. There are only 22.5 million coupons unless Congress authorizes 11.25 million more.

4. While some boxes have already been approved, more are expected.

5. Many if not most retailers do not have the boxes in stock yet.

Translation:  The consumer has a dilemna. The coupons are available now, but the boxes are not. If you order your coupons now, the 90 day clock will begin to run on them when mailed, but you will likely have fewer choices of boxes and brands. If you wait for a better choice of boxes, all the coupons might be gone. And, initially, boxes are not likely to be on sale. Later in the year competition will likely be more stiff, and prices may drop low enough for the coupon to cover nearly the full cost.

Ideally, the coupons should have had no expiration, so the sharp consumer could order them now, but have time to choose more wisely from a fuller selection of converter boxes when they become available.

The trick is to get a coupon as late in the program as possible without the supply having already been exhausted. No easy task.

For more information on the details of the coupon program, including an application form, visit DTV2009.gov .

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