Three for Thursday 06.23.2022
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Marketing works. If you want proof, all you must do is check out the two photos below. On a recent vacation, my family stayed at a genuinely delightful hotel that served a very tasty free cup of coffee. Forty yards away, there was a popular coffee and pastries chain in the same lobby. Every morning, I was stunned to see people wait in line for thirty minutes to pay what I consider fairly high prices for their coffee, while I was happy to take advantage of the fresh brewed free coffee. What's going on here? Considering the fact some people do like candy coffee, this company has created a story that people want to engage in. For reasons I don't quite understand, they want to be included and be seen as included in this coffee company's community. Why else would they buy mugs and reusable containers bearing the company's name? What communities do you identify with? I hope one of them is TrustDALE, where companies sell great products at a fair profit, and consumers get great products for a fair price.
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation - New York Tines subscription. Why would a company in the communications business fail to communicate with a paying customer? Watch, because this can even happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Genevieve, who wants to know if it's appropriate for a contractor to bring his wife or girlfriend along for an estimate.
Click the video for the answer.
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is how to know what is appropriate to ask while considering a purchase.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? You absolutely have the right to ask why they want your money immediately. If the answer is suspect, consider it a red flag.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? If it sounds too good to be true, ask probing questions. If the seller becomes defensive or evasive, consider it a red flag.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. You have every right to know the location the seller claims as home base. You also have the right to prove for yourself they're telling the truth.
Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. Any variable you cannot discover increases your risk of making a bad or regrettable decision. Keep asking until you feel satisfied with the answers.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Again, no questions about the product and or service are out of bounds. Reluctance to answer is a red flag.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Reluctance to provide references are your sign to move on.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. You have every right to ask for and to personally explore if a company meets these standards.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS