Gift giving is often a very difficult thing with many people stressing over finding the right thing, the right size, the right color, or the right style. Then there is the added pressure of spending the right amount of money and remembering to include a return receipt in case the gift doesn’t fit, is the wrong color, or may be completely unflattering. There are simply too many things that can go wrong. This is one reason that creating personal pottery gifts for friends and family is such a wonderful way to go. It’s a gift that you get to give yourself and you get to give to your friends and family.

Seriously, you get to enjoy the time you spent selecting and painting the gift you are giving. That is always a great thing. The selection process should be fun and appropriate to your friendship or relationship. If you have a favorite movie or song that you both love together the pottery piece can either be decorated in that theme or be that thing all together. Paint a cookie plate and cappuccino mug for your friend that you meet for coffee and biscotti once a week. Paint a princess crown for the little princess in your life or a monster light switch cover for the little monster “wannabe” in your life. For the man in your life you can paint a small “bank″ for his poker night money. The possibilities are endless and you can always adjust themes suitable to the person you are painting for.

Make household decorations that are appropriate for upcoming holidays. These are often gifts that keep on giving year after year as they are incorporated into routine decorating for the various seasons. Don’t forget about Santa. Most pottery painting shops have plenty of plates from which to choose for painting and a Christmas themed plate for Santa′s cookies is sure to please. Platters are also great ideas for all of the Christmas serving that must be done. Remember to follow the care instructions closely however as most of these types of platters are hand wash only and some of them may not be food safe.

Just remember to have as much fun painting your masterpiece of a gift as you had selecting and planning it. Most shops have a gallery of sorts to help with ideas if you are truly stuck and many also have a picture book of past projects and creations that are eye catching and appealing. Be sure to check out the various books before beginning so that you don’t see something that you wish you had seen first. Of course you could always save that idea for next time.

The lemon law is designed to help customers who are experiencing repeated problems with their vehicles. The parameters by which this works varies from state to state but the end result is still the same since this entitles the customer to a full refund or a replacement vehicle.

For you to avail of the lemon law, the defect must be reported to the dealer or manufacturer within the first 2 years or has traveled 12,000 to 18,000 miles whichever comes first. The vehicle in question must only be for personal use.

The Lemon Law

The lemon law is designed to help customers who are experiencing repeated problems with their vehicles. The parameters by which this works varies from state to state but the end result is still the same since this entitles the customer to a full refund or a replacement vehicle.

For you to avail of the lemon law, the defect must be reported to the dealer or manufacturer within the first 2 years or has traveled 12,000 to 18,000 miles whichever comes first. The vehicle in question must only be for personal use.

Vehicles covered by the law are usually brand new while some states allow leased and used vehicles as long as they are registered there. In the state of California, this also includes boats, motorcycles and motor homes.

But nobody can write to a manufacturer and claim their car is a lemon without due process. Did you give the manufacturer time to repair the vehicle? This usually means giving the manufacturer at least 2 chances to fix the vehicle.

If the defects are still there, did you give the manufacturer a written notice of its last chance to repair it? When you send this, make sure to send this by certified mail and request for a return receipt. Otherwise, they may argue that they never received it.

Should the manufacturer fail to respond after having received the written notice within 10 days, then it is time to demand a refund.

If the manufacturer does not agree, under the lemon law, it is time to file for a dispute resolution through the Division of Consumer Affairs, the manufacturer’s system or in court. The first two is often referred to as arbitration since the person who will be reviewing the case is not a judge but someone very familiar with the lemon law. In the third, together with counsel, you will have to show cause as to why a civil action was filed.

In any of the three scenarios, you need to gather all the necessary documents, prepare questions and arrange for the testimony of witnesses.

When you look for a lawyer, make sure that is his or her specialty. First time consultation is usually free. When you decide to pursue this and maybe even win, the manufacturer will be directed to pay for the legal fees so those who can’t afford to hire one will be able to get proper presentation. One thing you should know about bringing this matter to court is that you can win or lose but it doesn’t end there because you can always appeal the court’s decision.

If you win unopposed, the manufacturer or dealer can give you a refund or give you replacement unit. The good news is that this is not their choice but yours. If you want to the money, you can probably buy another car but this time a different brand. If you prefer the replacement unit, you will be given a car of the same model and make.

The lemon law is valid even if you are told to sign a waiver when you purchase a vehicle. You should just be familiar with how this is done in your state by calling up the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs so you know your rights as a car buyer.