Three for Thursday 04.14.2022
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Are you a member of a tribe? Of course, you are. We tend to think of tribes as something primitive, but they're as prevalent today as ever. The challenge is dealing with people who believe their tribe is inherently superior. This happened when the Europeans populated the Americas. They played nice with native Americans, until manifest destiny (the belief Europeans were superior) overrode the compulsion to treat others as they would want to be treated. In the same manner great societal upheavals like World War II brought us together, profit driven social media is tearing us apart, often over squabbles no more important than whether Coke tastes better than Pepsi. I hold fast to a belief that I am third, you are second, and God is first. If our faith-based community can reflect this principal, we can survive this tough time.
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation = Fridge smudge. Brenda Walker was wowed by the cleaning strength of a product she saw in a supermarket show and tell, until she bought it and tried it. Watch, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Terri, who wants to know if the offer to buy a $400 TV and get free programming for life is legit. You know where this is going...
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is evaluating buy now or miss out offer:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? I don't believe in paying anything in advance for an unproven product unless it's a gumball.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Introductory offers with a small down payment, in trade for your signature often result in sticker shock when you read the fine print.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Have you ever bought a product at a trade show? Have you ever found the salesperson when it doesn't perform? Good luck with that!
Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. I will, from time to time take a calculated chance on a product I haven't had the opportunity to compare to other versions. But the price must be such that I won't feel remorse if I discover I paid too much.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. You don't have a chance to thoroughly review your rights within these purchases. So again, make certain you're comfortable with the price in the event the product disappoints you.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. As in the $400 TV referenced in today's Ask Dale, we were able to do an immediate online investigation when asked about the validity of the offer. We found it was, shall we say, specious.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS