Three for Thursday 07.02.2020
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Anyone who knows me well - knows that patience is not my strong suit. When I decide I want something, I want it now. Thankfully that instinct is balanced by the fact I'm not attracted to material things. A lot of people are, so I strongly encourage you to follow my seven-point process when making any purchase you might regret. If you don't have patience, following my process will force you to practice patience. Have a great holiday weekend!
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Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson on practicing patience when making a buying decision:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? The desire for immediate gratification almost always leads to regret. Never pay on the spot (without deliberation) if the purchase price could create heartburn later.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? If not, it's likely too good to be true. A below market price is often an indicator of an unseen unfavorable variable or a clause in the agreement that puts you at a disadvantage. Read the contract carefully!
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. The amount of money you're risking is directly proportional to the amount of homework you need to do in order to confirm the seller's findable location. When buying a gumball, it's not important, when buying anything over $50 - to me, it is!
Define - Products, Offers and Prices. This step takes and develops patience. Getting three estimates is time consuming, but educational. Don't skip this step!
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract and an Effective Guarantee. When comparing products, offers and prices, you should also compare guarantees. I recently interviewed a woman who bought a pool because it carried a "lifetime warranty." Only when she needed it did she learn it carried no definition and therefore no authority.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking Reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. This step too requires patience. It's so easy to receive references - and fail to check them. Take the time - and patience - to check them!
Legitimize your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Again, a patience builder. Following this step takes time, which gives you more time to investigate, negotiate and deliberate.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS