Three for Thursday 10.27.2022
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
I am a football fan, and one of the most moving events for me is the singing of the national anthem. It's a moment everyone comes together and professes a commitment to a common bond. I find it fascinating that 100 to 150 years earlier, most of the ancestors of the people who surround me at these games fought to hold together or separate the United States. What happened in the intervening years to heal the rift? I'm sure uniting against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan had a lot to do with it. Our backs were against the wall and so that which united us was stronger than what divided us. As we continue to be bombarded by PAC dollars telling us the many reasons, we need to hate the opposing party and its candidate, I hold out hope that we can one day heal the rift that today seems so unmendable. Nothing we've experienced in the past ten years has been divisive as family fighting family in the civil war. I pray we can find our commonality without it taking a great outside enemy to force it.
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation = Big Box Refund. She loves her new refrigerator, but no so much that she wants to pay for two of them! Watch because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Audrey, who wants to know what it will take to retrieve her property from a pawn shop. Watch the video to find out!
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on how to avoid allowing emotion to drive your purchase and pursuit of customer service.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? If you get caught up in the moment and pay 100 percent up front, it's extremely hard to recover your funds, no matter how calmly you approach the matter.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? If you became carried away emotionally by the promise, it's important to act rationally when pursuing equity after the purchase.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. A disappearing salesperson is still unlikely to stand behind his product even if you are fortunate enough to find him. If you do go to the trouble of tracking him down, be certain you have the backing of authorities to act; otherwise finding the culprit is pointless.
Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. It's so easy to gloss over these steps. Being prudent and thoughtful during the process is your best assurance of being happy after the sale.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. If you felt comfortable during this process, chances are strong you'll experience the same quiet confidence while working to resolve a problem after purchase.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. It's easy to dismiss negative reviews when you're emotionally attached to the product. Don't allow your emotions to replace due diligence.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. The absence of lawsuits is a good sign you'll be able to work out an equitable resolution in the event something goes wrong with your service or product.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS