Watch out for this company. They are selling an outdoor TV antenna which looks like a Direct TV satellite dish, but its supposed to pick up broadcast TV signals much better than a conventional roof-top antenna.
I have spoken with two electrical engineers, one a ham radio operator, who have both told me that this is most likely a scam.
There is no way they say that a dish style antenna can work like a conventional TV antenna.
Most of these mail order companies that make use of TV, radio and magazine ads make profit in two diferent ways. They all have a full refund policy, no questions asked. But what's written in fine print is that their shipping and handling charges are not refundable, and you have to pay for the return shipping for a refund.
I like to call them shipping companies because that's the first way they make a profit. For example, this antenna costs $130 plus $15 shipping and handling. This company probably ships from 4 regional wharehouses and have a cut rate shipping arrrangement with UPS or Fed-Ex ground that costs them 4 or 5 dollars to ship this light weight piece of junk. The other 10 or 11 dollars they pocket. Mutiply that by the number of these routines on a national advertising campaing, and that's not a bad piece of change right there.
But the way they make most of their profit is the simple fact that 30% or more of their victims won't take the time to return the product. Also, the people who do return the product have to keep calling them to remind them to refund their money.
The moral of the story?
Rule one: Don't be the first to buy a "revolutionary" new product advertised in these ways for mail order. If it's really a good product, it will show up in Walmart faster than you can imagine.
Rule two: If you cannot speak dierctly with the owner of the company - IT'S A SCAM. If there's no way to reach them by phone -IT'S A SCAM. If the sales person does not have any information about how to contact the company directly - IT'S A SCAM.
0 comments