How To Buy Online Without Getting Ripped Off
Copyright 2006 Jim Edwards
I frequently get similar questions from viewers and subscribers
all over the world.
They often ask me "Jim, what do you think of So-and-So's
product?" or "How does So-and-So's product compare to your
product?" or "Should I buy So-and-So's product?"
Typically these questions are about physical products, software
or information products.
People ask for my opinion not only because I write a newspaper
column, but also because I've produced and sold
tens-of-thousands of products to people all around the world for
the past nine years.
Bottom line: people want a clear, concise "yardstick" against
which to measure any online purchase so they never feel ripped
off.
Let me say right up front that I believe 100% in free-market
competition and that having multiple products and perspectives
on the same topic ultimately improves any marketplace for
everyone.
I thank the Firefox browser and Linux operating system for
getting Microsoft off its gigantic backside and addressing some
serious issues.
But, with so many new products coming to market online, everyone
must operate with a simple, effective criteria for evaluating
any offer, especially in the business arena.
Let me offer you the exact same 2-part benchmark I use to
evaluate any business offering that crosses my desktop.
This will help you avoid getting caught up in the "hysteria" of
the moment and buying on impulse, rather than on careful thought.
Part #1 - I ask myself this question: Do I really need this in
my business or is this just something "new" for the sake of
something new?
If I realize that I'm just getting sucked into the "try
something new" mentality, I put the purchase on hold for 48
hours to "cool off."
If I honestly decide I need the product, then I move on to part
2.
Par #2 - I ask myself this question: Has the person selling me
this software, product or course actually DONE (more than once)
what they are selling me "how to" do - and can they prove it?
If someone sells a piece of software, I want to know how much
time it saved, how much money it saved, how much effort it
helped avoid, and how much money was made as a result of using
it - and I want proof!
Let me simply repeat the mantra of the classic Wendy's
commercial from the 1980's: "Where's the beef?"
If someone tries to sell you a piece of software that claims to
get 10,000 visitors to your site, ask to see screen shots of
their server logs and sales in their merchant account.
If someone tries to sell you a course on creating website video,
ask how many money-making videos they've put online over the
years (ask for specific URLs) and run like heck if their
personal website doesn't have the first video on it (or if they
just put one up this week)!
You'll never go wrong if, before you buy anything online, you
demand concrete, demonstrable proof that lives up to the claims
made by the person or company selling it.
In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan, "Trust but verify!"