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Gifting big electronics? Don’t throw out that box

By Jeff Clabaugh

WASHINGTON — A lot of big screens, smartphones and laptops will end up under the tree this year, and if something goes wrong, the warranty should cover it.

Still, you might want to hold off on throwing out the big box it came in.

“As soon as you get home, you’ll be able to test it out, and if for some reason there is any flaw in that product, it will allow you to put the product back in the box and easily return the item,” Ana Smith, of the National Retail Federation in D.C., told WTOP.

“Most major retailers will not accept an item if it doesn’t come with all the pieces, and that includes that big box,” she said.

Don’t toss out the warranty card, either — fill it out and mail it in right away. As for the warranty documentation itself, stash it someplace safe.

Don’t automatically decline that extended warranty many major retailers offer, either. It is usually inexpensive.

“Especially given the fact that some of these pieces of technology tend to age pretty quickly, we highly recommend taking advantage if you have the possibility of paying the extra $30 or $40 for that extended warranty to do so,” Smith said.

One more thing about that big box: It’s not a bad idea to find someplace to store it long-term if you have the space. Should you move, it will be perfect for packing up that big screen.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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