Three for Thursday 08.03.2023

Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.

There was a recent story in the Washington Post about a news outlet selling commercial time to a company selling gold and silver coins on the premise that the economy was about to tank. The ads failed to mention the company was charging consumers a 33% commission, and now there's a large brew ha over seniors feeling the news outlet knowingly allowed them to be taken advantage of. Part of the reason I created TrustDALE is because much like the fact there are no "Consumer Police," there's not much in the way of what we used to think of as "Truth in Advertising" enforcement. It's a slippery slope when you give credence to an actor when making a buying decision. The one that currently pains me most is the actor Ice T promoting Car Shield. What he doesn't tell you in those slick ads is Car Shield has a "D" rating with the BBB and has received 3,511 complaints in the last 3 years through the BBB. The lesson? A person or site you "like" should not instantly quality it/them as a site or person you can trust.

Watch this Investigation

Today's investigation = Supplement Suckers. Watch because This Could Happen to You!

Ask Dale

Today's Ask Dale question comes from Jessica, who wants to know if the website Farms-Shops is legitimate, and how to find out for yourself. Watch for the answer!

Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!

Today's seven-point lesson is on judging whether to commit $'s to an online offer.

Fast - Do they want your money NOW! Full payment upfront is always a bad idea, IF the amount required is more than you can comfortably lose.

Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? This is the primary draw, or "bait" of online offers. Too good to be true is too often synonymous with "Don't miss your chance!"

Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he cannot be found after he gets your money. Online products are usually sold from locations where it's inconvenient or cost prohibitive for you to validate in person before you purchase.

Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. My advice is to NOT decide based on reviews housed on the social media page of the product you're considering. Instead, rely on independent third-party sites.

Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. These standards are normally in short supply when negotiating for products and services online.

Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. If you can't find independent online reviews, chances are they're being washed.

Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is lawsuit and background checked. Regrettably, fly-by-night online companies don't concern themselves with these safeguards in our brave new internet world. That's why following my seven steps is so critical!