Shopping from the television offers consumers a fun and entertaining way to purchase innovative products that are often not yet available in stores. Using caution and common sense when purchasing products through this channel still applies. Keep these tips in mind next time you purchase a product from the television:
1-Before ordering, check the company's return policy.2-Know what you are paying. Many of the products seen on television are from infomercials that are broadcast on U.S. stations. Before agreeing to a purchase, do the math and figure out what the price will be in Canadian dollars. Most people fail to accurately convert the value of currencies and they end up paying more than they hoped as a result. Make sure you include the shipping and handling costs.
3-Always keep a record of the name, address and phone number of the company, goods you ordered, date of your purchase, amount you paid (including shipping and handling), and method of payment.
4-Keep a record of any delivery that was promised.
5-If you are told that the shipment will be delayed, write the date of that notice in your records and the new shipping date, if you've agreed to wait longer.
6-If merchandise is damaged, contact the company immediately. If you're asked to return it, get a receipt from the shipper.
7-Pay attention to product claims. They are often those of the advertiser and not objective or independent evaluations of the product.
8-Just because an ad for a product airs on television does not mean that it has been "cleared" or otherwise reviewed by a federal agency. And don't assume that a television station has done anything to check out the claims made by the advertisers; most broadcasters take no responsibility for the accuracy of the ads they air.
