| How
to spot the rip-off.
If you are a smart consumer, you realize that the
only thing that counts to many marketers is the sale.
Their web sites, product labels, guarantees
and promises are all designed to close the deal and sell you
their product. Even if you know all this, you can
easily be swayed. For example:
Surfing for solutions to your drug
test, you come across a website with a black background.
There are pictures of models in lab coats looking at
reports or holding beakers of colorful liquid. This is
all meant to give you and impression of reliability.
The products are expensive, but they promise
everything you need. "Maybe it's worth it" you
think. Maybe you should even buy the pills to
"supplement you cleaning program", even though
you should not need it based on their fantastic claims.
To top it off there is a gold seal claiming they were
voted most effective. You see the exact same seal on
many other web pages all with different company names,
graphics, and backgrounds. At first you think that the
voted most effective seal is just a sham that many
different companies are using to give you a sense of
security. After all, they can't all be voted most
effective!
On further investigation, you see the same phone
number listed on all these web sites. You realize
that what appeared to be a dozen different companies
marketing the same old flavored drink
mixes, is really just one company trying to give you
the illusion of choice.
Looking at the order pages, you see over-priced
shipping rates and a disclaimer saying "We do not
refund shipping charges." Their web site also
markets other rip-off products such as magical diet
pills, and an easy way to quit smoking tobacco. Perhaps
they will sell you the "secret" to making a
six figure income!
Then you discover that they are working both sides
against the middle by offering "Drug Testing
Services." Just send in a cup full of urine, and
they will mail back your results.
Always be
critical when someone is trying to sell you something.
You may not find all of these example indicators in one
website. Even if you see a few indicators you may feel
safe ordering from a company. The point is to be alert.
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