Mail Order Shopping

Here are some helpful hints to remember when ordering by mail:

• Know who you're dealing with. The best endorsements come from someone who has dealt personally with the company. You may also wish to check whether the Better Business Bureau has had complaints about them, or call the Canadian Direct Marketing Association, at (416) 391-2362 and ask if the company is a member. Association members adhere to strict code of ethics.
• Check the company's mailing address. Is the full name and street address of the company printed directly on the catalogue or only a postal box number? You should also be aware the most out of country companies that use a street address to give you the impression that they are a local firm. If you deal with a firm from outside Ontario you're not protected by the province's consumer laws.
• A number of mail order offers ask you to call a "900" number to claim your prize, but in reality they cost you far more than the gift is worth.
• Know what you're buying. Does the product description give you enough information to make a wise choice? Can you compare the product with similar goods that may be offered by other suppliers? If the price seems too low for the item advertised, it may be of low quality.
• Be wary of "special offer." Many companies offer incentives to boost sales. For example, you may receive the first in a series of collectibles for less if you agree to pay full price for the other pieces. Other companies may offer a gift if you order by a certain date. The consumer's best policy is to never buy a product because a gift is offered with it. If the product isn't worth the price on its own, chances are the bonus won't have much value either.
• Check the return policy. Even if you've dealt with a company for years, refund and exchange policies can change with new management. The policy should be clearly stated in the advertising. If it isn't you may not be able to make returns.
• Pay on delivery whenever possible. Cash on delivery (COD) payment ensures items arrive before you part with your money. When it's not possible to shop COD, try to use cheques instead of credit cards, and never send cash in the mail. Credit-Card charges may be impossible to reverse if you're later dissatisfied with the goods. The danger of loss is too great to send cash by mail.
• Don't accept delivery after you've cancelled an order. Consumers who accept orders they've already cancelled will be expected to pay shipping and handling charges to return the items.
• Negative-option selling can be tricky. Many collectable, book and record clubs use negative-option selling. This means that rather than requesting items you want, you must mail in a form when you don't want to receive items offered. Some well-organized shoppers like buying by negative-option. But if you're not careful, you can end up with items you don't want.
• Any un-requested items mailed to you are yours to keep, discard or return. It's up to you, as long as the item isn't part of a negative-option contract you signed, or clearly addressed to someone else.