Before You Buy


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Advantages:
Mail order provides you with a larger number of companies from which to work with. Often you can't find the product you need at your local stores, so mail order is the only option.

Due to a lower overhead and high-volume, mail order companies often have better pricing than local stores. In addition, many mail order companies do not charge sales tax (US). While the buyer is obligated to pay the tax to his/her state, it is rarely done (though someone recieved a 35% penality from New Jersey for not paying this tax).

Disadvantages:
Shipping charges and shipping delays.

You are typically not able to review the products before purchasing them. Some companies allow you to return products you are dissatisfied with. Charges for returning the product varies. Keep in mind that if you review a product at a local store, it costs that local store a lot of money to make the product available for review. Consider that when making your decision on where to purchase.

Service after a purchase is more difficult. You must deal with them over the phone rather than in person. You will often incur charges and larger delays for shipping the product back for repair/replacement.

It's a shady world. The lack of personal contact allows mail order companies to be a bit deceptive. Sometimes they aren't authorized for the products they sell. Sometimes they send you products/services other than what you asked for. You have to be careful.

Protect Yourself:
Keep records of everyone you talk to. Record the time you talked to them and your understanding of the conversation. Keeping your own facts straight is your first defense.

Use a credit card for Pete's sake! There are some very honest companies that won't take credit cards, but it's just not worth the risk. Credit cards offer both you and the company a form of protection. I can't stress how important this is. It's not gauranteed protection, but it's a big improvement over a check.

You may even want to go to the extreme of recording any telephone conversations with the salesfolk. This way you can prove what they said. Keep in mind that laws in most US states require that you inform them that the conversation is being recorded.

Credit Card Surcharges:
I wish to note that I've confirmed with MasterCard, that they do not allow for stores to impose a surcharge to the customer when the customer is using a MasterCard credit card. Visa has a similiar statement on their web page. American Express tells me they are opposed to surcharging credit card transactions and continues to say that many states (US) have laws against such procedures.

Are They Authorized:
Ask them if they're authorized for mail order for the product you want. That's not the same as being authorized for the in-store sales. If they're not authorized for mail order for the product in question, your warranty may not apply. To be sure, you may want to contact the manufacturer and ask them.

From what I've been able to determine, the brands below are not authorized to be sold via mail order. Please note that these are general policies and exceptions do pop up from time to time. You may wish to contact the manufacturer concerning the specific company you are concerned with.
Bait And Switch:
Bait and switch tactics are not unusual in the world of mail order (or used cars). They will not have the advertised item in stock and attempt to convince you to purchase an item other than the one you wanted. This can be illegal. It's a fuzzy line, because sometimes they are simply trying to give you good advice, but other times they are doing so only because that item will make them more profit on the other item. As a general rule, don't purchase an item that you did not plan to purchase when you first called.
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