When Cheap Is Not A Bargain
I’m sure we have all ordered products or services that turned out not to be the cheap bargains we thought they were. What we need to learn from those experiences is not to avoid things that are free or cheap, but to evaluate whether they are really bargains.
Here are some general tips to help you avoid the non-bargains:
If It Looks Too Good to Be True. You would do well to heed this ages-old advice. When you see a bargain that you find hard to believe, check it out very thoroughly before you spend any money on it.
Be Careful with Rebates. There are many fantastic bargains to be found with rebates, but make sure you are going to follow through. Companies are counting on many people being lured by the rebate, but not sending in the paperwork.
Check the Feedback. If you buy through online auctions, be sure to check the feedback on the seller. Even if the seller has good feedback, be very careful about buying big ticket items.
Some unscrupulous sellers have been known to build up a good rating selling small items and then try to scam people with a bunch of high priced auctions.
Fight the Frenzy. It’s no bargain to buy things you don’t have a use for, even if the price is fantastic. The exception, of course, is when you can sell them for a profit, or donate them to those in need.
Ignore Unsolicited Email Offers. It probably is not an exaggeration to say that all unsolicited email offers are all either fraudulent or worthless. Sending spam is easy, cheap and considered by most to be unethical. That combination attracts the worst elements of our society to try to make a quick buck at your expense.
Never Believe Telemarketers. I’m sure there are legitimate offers made by telemarketers, but the risk of being scammed is too high. Telemarketers don’t offer anything that can’t be had through other channels.
Don’t Skimp When Quality Counts. Especially, in matters where safety could be at risk, check things out very carefully before going for the lowest price. Extremely low prices can often mean that corners are being cut in order to still make a profit.