Just the other day I was surfin' the net...

...and I came across this site that offered a "free" Apple laptop if I would just sign on with a few vendos. You know, answer a few questions, take a few surveys, agree to try a few products. These trial offers would include a small postage and handling charge or set-up fee, and I could always "opt-out" if I followed the vendors requirements.

Very interesting, you might say. Was quite intrigued if you ask me. Alot of this seemed too good to be true. I mean how can you get something for nothing. Well, you can't! But deep down I had this belief, desire or hope that their would be some gold at the end of this rainbow... And of course there wasn't. I believe these Internet scams are so common because they play on people's naïveté and good Intentions, their hopes, their dreams. They take advantage of their positive thinking and try capitalize on it, make a buck.

In my case I am only out about $20. I signed up for a few things to get the
laptop. It turned out the reqirements got progressively difficult. I had to pick from
three levels of items. At the third, or "Premium" level, my choices were a 5-night
stay at a luxury bed and breakfast ($1500 value), a round-trip train ticket in Europe
($1200 value), or a couple plane tickets in the U.S. ($800 value). Obviously these items are over-priced and designed to pay for the $1200 lap-top.

So, I stopped there. But that is the point. Nobody complains too bad if they are out just a few bucks. Ahaa! Well I will put this blog out and hopefully let other's know what I went through. It isn't easy being suckered. I've learned there are many in cyberspace who gone through worse. I now make it a habit to check on google and elsewhere about complaints from sites. Also the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can help.

Not every scam is on there or known. They come up with new ones all the time
as well as change their names. Also, sometimes good and legitimate companes
can have unresolved customer complaints. Let's not "throw the baby out with the
bathwater". You have to look at the overall trend in a company and it's customer
service track-record. Does it handle a complaint within a reasonable time? Does
it give refunds or fix the problem? Does it answer phone calls, emails, postal
letters from the customer/client or only act after a negative file has been placed
with the BBB, the credit card company, or the local Chamber of Commerce?

More from me on all this to come. I will write about the specific companies I had problems with, as well some that do what they say and are more trustworthy, based on my experience.