Terms and Conditions - Read the Fine Print

Let's cut to the chase: let the buyer beware! There are lots of useful entities out there selling lots of useful products. I have yet to be disappointed by amazon.com or other major on line stores. I, like many others, have been stung by on line sellers with tactics which range from simply lucrative to outright mercenary. Do yourself a favor: read the fine print before you click the "buy now" button.

For instance, I once jumped at the chance to get a *free* sample of a weight loss pill. It looked harmless enough--herbs and such. So I order it and paid for shipping with my debit card. BIG MISTAKE. Less than a month later, the seller hit my checking account for nearly $80.00. Why? Because the Terms and Conditions, which I had NOT read, stated that what I was purchasing was a subscription to a monthly supply of the product in the amount of nearly $80 per month. I tried calling the number of the company. Surprise--no longer in service. I finally found an on line address where I could unsubscribe, but not before being asked "Wait, why not just send us $25 and we'll call it even?" No thanks, I clicked, and just considered the lost money a "stupidity tax."

Since then, I click on every link which says "Terms and Conditions" or "Terms of Agreement." My favorite is one where you click for a *free* sample, and get billed over $100.00 for an endless supply of an herbal supplement (non-returnable if you actually open the product and try it but don't like it--even though it claims to have a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.) Tried Internet marketing products? Just click for your *free* sample, but not before clicking the "Terms and Conditions" and discovering that what you're really getting is a recurring charge for a subscription to a blog notice, or e-zine, or--well, you name it.

Now not everybody is a huckster. If the herbal supplement works for you BUY IT! If you're satisfied with the information you're getting from your Internet guru STAY WITH IT. But never, ever, buy anything, or sign up for anything that requires credit card, debit card, or checking account information unless you first read: Terms and Conditions!