The classified advertising for a Mr. Ding-A-Ling man brought back fond memories of years gone by when daily, on time, we kids would hear the familiar bell-jingle of the Good Humor truck.
Grabbing our pennies, we would scamper down the road for our daily treat, and hopeful with the possibility of a "free-lucky" ice-pop stick.
Do you remember the Cracker Jack freebie "prizes" that always seemed to be was stuck on the bottom?
As much as you shook the box, the little prizes were never at the top. So the only alternative was to eat the whole thing, right?
The free drinking glasses nestled in soap detergent boxes are now collectibles. Green Stamps collected at supermarkets for free merchandise came in handy.
Free, free, free: An effective psychological advertising gimmick or, as said today, perhaps just a scam?
Yes, let the buyer beware, for there is much dishonesty in our world today.
Giveaway advertising is a real come-on for the majority of us. It seems that many folks are willing to stand in long lines for a freebie.
But a word to the wise: As said, let the buyer beware, or better yet, do your homework and always, always, read the fine print.
"Free trial." Free product to try. Yours free. Just dial 800 ..., give your name, address and credit card number and you'll receive the absolutely free product.
So I ask, "If this product is free why do you want my credit card number?" Good question.
"Oh, that's just for the shipping and handling when we send your free product," was the reply.
So how much is the "S&H"? You would be surprised, to say the least.
Many times through the years I wanted to purchase an item through a magazine ad or catalog.
After listing the items wanted on the required form, adding them up, the next little box says S&H.
A handy chart tells the customer how much this costs according to how much you are spending. It could be half the total price of the merchandise ... or even more! I tear up my order.
Alternative: Buy locally.
What's the cost of a piece of cardboard, some paper and tape? How much time does it take for one person to pop a piece of merchandise into a mailing bag? The postage today is "mucho" to say the least, but after all, fair is fair.
TV land is no exception to all of this. Just lately, a person could purchase two great, popular DVDs for only $9.99. Sounds good? Read the small print on the upper right hand corner. You got it: There was the rub. It read: S&H for another $9.
Do you know how much two thin DVDs weigh along with a cardboard mailer? Now I ask you: Who's making the bucks? Buyer beware of the small print.
How about the free $10 or $20 offer for "such-in-such" and there's a check enclosed for you to have? Free? Just sign the check and you have the money.
Did you read the very fine print on the back of the check just above where you are to sign? If you signed, then they gotcha, and for a $29.95 monthly to pay for the "such-in-such." Oh, but the check is free.
Here's the coup de grace: A letter with a free $2,000-plus check was mailed to us. All we had to do was follow directions to the T.' 1. Sign check and deposit it into our checking account. 2. Mail the sender our personal check for $500 to cover costs of all taxes and handling etc. (The mailing address was a post office box in Canada.) We can now keep the balance of $1,500. Free money!
This actually happened, and right here!
How does that sound? All sorts of fantastic ideas on how to spend this windfall zipped through my mind: A vacation to the sunny climates, bigger and better TV, or a trip to the mall in the city along with dinner and theater.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Something is fishy. Everyone is out to get your money, if any, not to give it away. So I took the check to our local bank manager. He made a few phone calls just to confirm our suspicions.
The $2,000-plus bogus check was on a bank out West somewhere in a place you never heard of. All was fictitious and would have taken so much time to clear even if there were such a bank etc. However, our personal check would clear pronto when it reached the P.O. Box number just across the border. By the time we blew the whistle, the authorities would be tied _ another country and different laws. It's a dead-end, and our account could have been minus $500.
The big windfall check would have bounced while the con-artist took our free vacation.
Elaine W. Kniskern is a 76-year-old resident of Schenevus and a grandmother of five. She can reached at ralphkniskern@stny.rr.com.
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