Rebates:

Always a problem. Smaller ones aren't worth it...
Why bother on the chance of receiving a rebate under $5-10?
Most people don't, so it ends up a cheap, meaningless promotion.

 

Kingston Memory - $15 rebate on RAM - Finally got it, but they "lost" original, requiring a re-send and follow-up call.

 

Symantec - $30 rebate on Norton System Works 2002 - They also "lost" original. I resubmitted twice... and "may" have got paid twice... but will be happy to research and refund possible overpayment if they jump thru a few hoops for me.

 

Guarantees:
Another problem. Many newsletters, software vendors, etc. offer guarantees as a "risk-free way of trying their product". I've tried several and almost always found it a hassle. Assumption seems to be that most people don't check statements to see if the company actually issues credit. As a retired finance guy, I still follow up... just for amusement if nothing else.

Here's some of the more notable ones...

 

Wall Street Underground... Nick Guarino's hype enticed me to try his newsletter... but all I got for my $100 was the same spiel he'd been sending for free hyping his $5000/yr newsletter. Plus, they double-charged me to boot. They refunded the cancellation, but weren't willing to refund the overcharge based on their own records, instead demanding I submit proof. I submitted proof... I called... it apparently "got lost"... I submitted again... I called again... I emailed a few times... and finally got both the refund and the overcharge... and they "may" have overpaid me too... which I will also be happy to research and refund upon the submission of notarized proof from their CPA firm to my messy and inefficient accounting department.

 

Weiss Research Safe Money Report - I expected better from this organization. Ordering via their website was a disaster. They charged $99 for a year's subscription then never sent anything. Took a few months, phone calls and emails to get a refund.

 

Nirvana Systems - Tried their Omni-Trader Software for $395.  Didn't like and returned. Took a few follow-up calls before they finally credited Visa.

 

Float:
Float is worshipped by Accounting/Finance Depts all over America. It's about the only thing they can do to show a contribution to the bottom line... short of cooking the books, of course. They love to overstaff Accounts Receivable, understaff Accounts Payable and hold on to customer and vendor money as long as possible. A Fortune 500 Controller once told me once how much interest they could earn on the float by paying their vendors in 90 days instead of 45 days. Apparently he thought I was being sarcastic when I suggested they could make even more by not paying them at all.

 

On a Positive Note:
Doing business with companies that demonstrate Integrity, Quality and Service (IQS) pays in the long run. These are far more important than price. I suspect such old fashioned values may yet come back in style.

 

Good Guys:
There are good companies out there. I'd like to plug a few from my own experience.

 

Les Schwab Tires - A western states retail tire chain I've done business with for over 20 years. IQS so good I never bother shopping elsewhere. I use them as a benchmark for other vendors.

 

Worden Bros - Developers of TC2000, rated Best Stock Software under $200 for past 8 years by Stocks & Commodities magazine. Great software, great free training, great customer service and support, reasonably priced! Wish I'd found them years ago.

 

VectorVest - a great stock rating and market timing software with excellent customer support.

 

All for now.

Best regards,

Gary E