{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"BBB Shares Password Tips","description":"A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties: https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/local-bbb\/bbb-of-... A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair for Supporting this Channel! Welcome to this week\u2019s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Buying refurbished items can save you money, but it\u2019s important to research before you take the plunge. While many reputable businesses offer quality pre-owned electronics, appliances, and other products for a fraction of their original price, BBB Scam Tracker has received reports of con artists ripping off consumers by promising a great deal on \u201clike-new\u201d devices that they don\u2019t plan on delivering. How the scam works: You find a website that sells refurbished items ranging from car parts to cellphones to hair dryers. The site looks legit, and they are selling a high-dollar item you want for a price that fits your budget. You decide to purchase through the website or a payment app like PayPal (a BBB Accredited Business). Then, a few days after receiving your order confirmation, you wonder why you haven\u2019t received a shipping confirmation. You reach out to the company, and they respond with an excuse. They may claim they are understaffed or have had a problem with their supply chain. Still, they assure you the item will be shipped soon. As more time passes, it eventually becomes clear that the seller has no intention of shipping anything. Each time you try to contact them, they either have more excuses or become impossible to reach. One consumer reported, \u201cI was told multiple times the delay was from the owner being in a major car crash or dealing with a catastrophic medical accident. They even told me they were moving shop (more delays) and then that they had moved personally, which slowed delivery.\u201d Unfortunately, the item you ordered doesn\u2019t exist, and you\u2019ve li lost the money you paid for it. How to avoid refurbished product scams: \u25cf Carefully examine a website before making a purchase. Before doing business with an online retailer, examine their website carefully. Not only should it have quality photos and typo-free content, but it should also have working contact information. In addition, you\u2019ll want to research to find customer reviews and complaints. If you find reports of scams or no reviews at all, think twice before making a purchase. Always double-check the URL you are visiting to ensure you aren\u2019t on a fake website. \u25cf Understand what the term \u201crefurbished\u201d means. Keep in mind that refurbished means different things to different manufacturers. It can mean the product had shipping damage and was returned; it could refer to an open box product, a demo model, or an item that was broken and returned to the manufacturer. Find out what a company means by refurbished before you commit to a purchase. Remember that unauthorized third-party resellers are a big risk, especially if they don\u2019t offer returns. Even if a reseller claims the manufacturer has refurbished the item, there\u2019s no way you can confirm it. Buying under these circumstances is a big gamble. \u25cf Ask about return policies. It can take a while for problems to show up, so make sure you have the option to return a refurbished item. If you can\u2019t return it, or the return window is only a week or two, it may not be worth the risk. \u25cf Inquire about warranties. Some manufacturer-refurbished items have an extended warranty, but this isn\u2019t always true. Find out if the item you\u2019re interested in qualifies for a warranty and what the conditions are. Warranties can come in handy if the refurbished item does have issues down the road. Know that anything marked \u201cas-is\u201d won\u2019t have a warranty. \u25cf Buy refurbished products from the manufacturer when possible. When a manufacturer gets a returned product, they recondition it to be like-new. They use original parts and trained repairmen to get the job done. An item refurbished by a third party may not get the same treatment. It could be repaired by someone who isn\u2019t an expert with the brand, or it might contain different parts. Either issue means it won\u2019t be in like-new condition when you buy it. \u25cf Use a safe payment method. Always make online purchases with your credit card. If an online retailer doesn\u2019t deliver on their promises, it will be easier to dispute the charges, and you\u2019ll be more likely to get your money back. Until next time! ","author_name":"Your Moment of Trust","author_url":"http:\/\/yourmomentoftrust.libsyn.com\/website","html":"