Caveat Emptor

Have you ever bought something in response to an infomercial on TV? Maybe one of those infomercials had you so engrossed, that you didn’t know what you were doing. The next thing you know, you’re whipping out your Visa and purchasing a kit that’s going to make you a millionaire.

The one that really appeals to me is the incredible Juice-o-matic. In this commercial the “Juiceman” tries to convince you that you should buy his Juice-o-matic because, this wonderful machine slices, dices and buffs your car while it’s extracting anti-oxidants to make you live longer. Take a look at the gentleman whose pitching the product. He looks like he's 95, but he's really 103. I think the only thing that engrosses me in that commercial is his eyebrows. They look like overgrown shrubs.

I'll be honest with you - I was once taken myself too. I witnessed the bargain of the century. It was a spectacular computer that had all the bells and whistles: 17" color monitor, flatbed scanner, color jet printer, power windows and air, the list goes on. Basically, I fell into some weird trance, to where I was so mesmerized that I walked over to the phone and started dialing and recited my credit card number, and expiration date by heart. Mind you, I never took my eyes off the TV. At that point, everything was still going smoothly. The Tele-marketer asked me a few questions and I reciprocated. Still, things were meshing like a pair of cogs.

I started feeling funny when she told me 4 to 6 weeks, and I didn't receive it until the 7th week. No problem, I have the computer in my possession, and I'm happy. I got all the hardware put together, and now was rockin' and rollin'. The next day my wife told me I had better turn in those rebates, totaling $500.00, so we could receive credit on them.

That's when everything started rolling down hill. The rebates had expired and they only totaled $100.00. I called the advertising company and requested the remaining vouchers. She then informed me that the vouchers were only manufacturer's rebates consisting of a $100.00 rebate and another rebate of $400.00 from Micro Soft Network. That was the first lie. When I originally talked to her the first time, I asked her if I was obligated to subscribe to an internet provider. I bet, you can tell me what she said. I told the dear woman, that she engaged in false advertising. Did she care? I don't think so. That brings me to say, "Buyer beware."

I think those infomercials are vague and immoral, because by the time the commercial is over, you're duped into buying something you don't need! When purchasing anything on TV, make sure that you have all your ducks in row before you lay down the plastic! The problems you run into can be unforeseen. Infomercials are there for one reason, to make money. They don't give a rat's ass about the conned consumer. Caveat emptor.

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