Don’t get ripped off buying Y2K supplies

The Y2K supplies industry has grown up virtually overnight. Some
companies have been involved in the general preparedness industry for
years; others are only a few months old. From the consumer perspective,
it’s the “wild, wild west.” As a result, it’s very easy to get
burned. Trust me: I’ve experienced it firsthand myself and personally
lost several thousand dollars.

Several companies have gone out of business — often without warning.
In fact, a few of the companies I recommended in “The Y2K Personal
Survival Guide” have
simply disappeared. Unfortunately, when they did, they took some
customers’ money with them without fulfilling the order. The
worst part is that they have vanished without a trace. We haven’t been
able to find them or get a response.

Therefore, I would like to offer a set of guidelines for purchasing
Y2K supplies. I strongly suggest that you follow them to the letter.

1. Before you order, call the company first. If the
   company doesn’t have a phone number, doesn’t answer the phone, or won’t
   return your phone calls, this is a pretty good indication that you are
   not dealing with a reputable, well-established supplier. No matter what
   the advertised prices are, look elsewhere. Don’t make any exceptions.

2. Ask for a delivery commitment. Some companies will tell
   you anything to get your business. They know on the front end they can’t
   meet their delivery dates, but they also know that once your order is in
   their system, it is unlikely that you will cancel if they are late.
   Other companies are simply incompetent. They are guessing, hoping
   against hope that they can deliver on time. Regardless, ask for a
   commitment and write it down.

3. Don’t send a check. Use a credit card instead. If you only
   follow one rule, make it this one. If you send a check, and they cash
   it, you have no recourse. They’ve got your money, and all you have is a
   hope and prayer they will keep their promise. On the other hand, if
   you’ve used a credit card, you can challenge the charge and get your
   money back. The burden of proof is on the merchant.

4. Don’t hesitate to cancel your order. If the supplier
   doesn’t meet his delivery commitment, cancel your order and find another
   vendor. The longer the delay, the less likely you will be to ever
   receive your order. This is the mistake I made. The continual delays
   were a sign the business was in trouble. Rather than seeing this for
   what it was, I kept extending grace, hoping that I wasn’t being ripped
   off. Unfortunately, that is exactly what was happening.