Three for Thursday 08.26.2021
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
"Everybody catastrophizes." "What" I said. My old buddy Bill, who is one of the smartest people I know, went on to say that he had dropped out of social media and even news media because -regardless of how polarized the sources are, they share the common denominator of making money hand over fist by "catastrophizing" everything. The news recently told us 61 Americans in the Olympic bubble had tested positive for covid but failed to tell us how many people were in the bubble (more than 800). That second number would have given us something that was sorely missing; relevance and perspective which can lessen or remove fear. This can also happen in consumerism. "That's the worst customer service I've ever seen" might be the statement, when in truth they were periodically inconvenienced while waiting in line for a hamburger. Next time someone wants you to join their bonfire of anxiety, take a deep breath and consider whether it's truly a catastrophe.
Watch this Investigation
What happens when you discover your lifetime warranty doesn't cover the central problem you paid them to fix? Watch, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Amanda, who wants to know if she should be concerned about water temporarily pooling in her basement...
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on hiring a member of your church (which happens a lot)!
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Minor financial transactions (say, for less than $100) for immediate results are ok. Anything larger should be accompanied by a written contract.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Don't allow the perceived comfort of the relationship trick you into believing a something for nothing promise.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Church members can quickly become former church members. If it's a serious transaction, follow my seven-step process ALWAYS.
Define - Your deal by comparing Product, Offer and Price. If you want to help out a like-minded person, you might consider paying a little more - but the key word is "little."
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. If you would be harmed by the loss of your money or failure of a product to perform, please take the time to ENSURE your deal.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS