We continue our list of common phrases you may find in the fine print that should cause you to pause. What is the cost of a good deal? Know your way around the fine print, proceed with caution.
- THIRD-PARTY: This can mean you and your data are being sold to other companies for marketing purposes and you’ll ultimately receive unsolicited mail, Email, or other sales material. Many free offers are bait for third-party marketing tricks.
- LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS: This phrase suggests the company is adding to what you are telling it with outside data in order to know more about you. It might use this to target you with precise advertising in the future.
- RESTOCKING FEE: Salespeople will talk you into taking a product home to try it and promise you can bring it back for a refund. But restocking fees can be high; like 15% for electronics.
- EXTENDED WARRANTY: Consumers can find premiums for extended warranties snuck into monthly payments. The value of a warranty is debatable and you should know what the manufacturer guarantees with the item before deciding on the value of an extended warranty for you. However, you should always be fully informed of what the cost of an extended warranty is.
- NOT COVERED: Many warranties are full of exclusions that can lead to disappointment. Wear and tear items like brake pads on a car for instance.
- VOID THE WARRANTY: Sometimes, warranties became useless if consumers break terms that make them VOID. Such as getting an electronic item wet.
Check back next week as we close out our 3 part series. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.