Pub 129 Safety Talks - APWU

Safety Talks 15-2Mail Order - Will You Be a Victim?Before ordering that miracle product that sounds so good in thatadvertisement, stop and look at these ten tips for mail order purchases:Examine each offer carefully. Beware of exaggerated claims onproducts or price. If the claims relate to health or physicalappearance, consult your family doctor about the value of theproduct. Be wary of a claim of a scientific discovery by an unknowncompany.DO not refy on a picture of the item. Note the description, size,weight, color, and contents. Completely describe in the order thearticle or service you are purchasing.Include explici~ instructions, itemizing individual purchases by productnumber and price.Order holiday gifls well in advance to avoid heavy seasonal mailvolume. Specify where each gift should be sent. Clearly indicate therecipient’s name and how the gift card should be signed.Look for a company’s policy on returns. If it isn ‘t stated, ask for it.If a subslilule product is an accep~able alternative, say SO. Indicate .the alternative that is acceptable in a short note, including anyrestrictions on additional cost or desired features.Be sure to enclose shipping, handling, or tax charges with ~he order.Do not send cash with the order. Pay only by check, money order, orcredit card. Include your address on your check or money order incase the order and payment are separated.Keep a record of the order. Include the name and address of thecompany and the date sent.If you have any doubt-s about the offer or the company, check beforeordering. Call the Better Business Bureau and Chamber ofCommerce in the city in which the business is located, or consultyour state or local consumer protection office.The fact that a product is advertised in a responsible newspaper ormagazine does not mean the publishers have verified the advertiser’sclaim. Similarly, the fact that products are offered for sale by mail doesnot mean the Postal Service has verified the advertiser’s claims. A goodmaxim to follow in mail order purchases is “If it sounds too good to betrue, it probably is.”Don’t become a victim of mail fraud.Pub. 129, October 1990