A guide to savvy shopping, by New York City's public advocate, includes sixty-five chapters on various goods and services, with tips on avoiding common traps and advertising hype. By the author of Who Runs Congress? Original. Tour.

From the Publisher

Back Cover Copy

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION "THIS BOOK IS LIKE MONEY SAVED......"

.....a giant peace-of-mind reference by one who was the best consumer law enforcement official in the country." - Ralph Nader

"The most comprehensive, insightful book available about how consumers can save money." - Stephen Brobeck, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of America

"The Dr. Spock of consumer books." - Esther Peterson, Consumer Advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Nixon

"Ambitious...leads the reader through contemporary marketplace from airline tickets to water quality." - Los Angeles Times

Take the experts' word for it - this is an essential guide for every wary consumer. In 65 lively chapters, consumer authority Mark Green explains how to see through the hype and become an intelligent, informed shopper. From saving on essential goods and services to avoiding scams and schemes, here is everything you need to know. Used for every purchase, THE CONSUMER BIBLE, now completely revised and updated, is like giving your family a 20% pay raise - effective now.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION: Smarter Shopping in the New Consumer Century.....

PART 1: FOOD
Groceries
Fast-Food Outlets
Water

PART 2: HEALTH
Health Insurance
Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacists
Doctors and Hospitals
Long -Term care
Nutritional Supplements
Weight-Loss Products and Programs
Health Clubs
Infertility Services
Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

PART 3: HOME
Houses, Condos, and Co-ops
Home Improvement Contractors
The Energy Efficient Home
Home Security Systems
Furniture and Mattresses
Pets
Lawn and Garden Care
Moving Companies
Product Safety

PART 4: TECHNOLOGY
Computers
The Internet
Cable Television
Electronic Goods and Appliances
Telephones
Calling Long Distances

PART 5: AUTOMOBILES
New Cars
Used Cars
Car Leasing
Gasoline
Automobile Insurance
Car Repair

PART 6: FINANCES
Credit Cards
Banking on Banks
Mutual Funds
Retirement Nest Eggs
Mortgages and Home Equity Borrowing
Life Insurance
Homeowners Insurance
Debt Collectors
Tax Preparers

PART 7: WHAT YOU WEAR
Jewelry and Watches
Cosmetics
Dry Cleaning

PART 8: CHILDREN
Child Care
Toys

PART 9: TRAVEL AND VACATION
Airlines and Airfares
Travel
Car Rentals

PART 10: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Lawyers
Funerals
Employment Agencies

PART 11: SHOPPING
Outlet Shopping
Home Shopping
Installment Loans
Layaway and Rent-to-Own
Counterfeit and Gray Market Goods
Consumer Privacy
Environmental Claims

PART 12: BIAS IN THE MARKETPLACE
Women
Selling Minorities Short in the Marketplace
Seniors as Consumers
Consumers with Disabilities

PART 13: LAST RESORT
How to Complain
APPENDICES

STATE CONSUMER
OFFICES
SOURCES
INDEX

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Online shopping.
You can order almost anything on the Internet these day: airplane tickets, rental cars, computers, clothes, cigars, kayaks, champagne flutes...the list goes on. Countless big-name retailers have gone online to peddle their goods, like Barnes & Nobles, Ticketmaster, and JC Penny. Yet in 1997, Business Week magazine found that only 1% of consumers with online access frequently shopped via the Internet. The reason? Most people don't feel comfortable typing their credit card number into a system that works by bouncing information over a series of computer systems.

As you become familiar with the Net, you'll find that there are bargains (and convenience) to be had. Just as you wouldn't do business in a store you didn't trust - or buy a "genuine Rolex" from a vendor in Times Square - you shouldn't buy online except from reputable, recognizable companies. A flashy, high-tech site doesn't guarantee the business behind it is legitimate, but the Better Business Bureau does. The BBB (www.bbbonline,org) certifies Web retailers that meet its standards. These feature a special BBB seal on their sites that you can click on; if the seal is genuine, where you can investigate the company's profile. You can also check for any consumer alerts about the company at the Federal Trade Commission's site, www.ftc.gov, or check for news stories about the company by searching with one of the engines described above.

Shop only on "secure" sites that use some kind of encryption - the scrambling and descrambling of information. Anything you send to the site, like a credit card number and other personal information, is scrambled automatically before you send it, making it unreadable to any prying eyes. At the other end of the transaction, the details are descrambled by the retailer using special programs that only they have access to. Secure sites are marked by an "s" after the "http" in the Web address, like this: "https:www.amazon.com". (Amazon.com is an online bookseller that uses encryption technology.) On Netscape, the small key symbol in the bottom left corner of the window, usually broken, will be whole when you're using secure sites. A small, locked padlock appears in the bottom right corner of Internet Explorer's window.

If it still sounds risky, call the vendor. Any retail site worth its salt will also have a toll-free number that you can call to place orders. While Internet commerce has become safer in recent years, it's not so safe that hackers couldn't break into the online sites of ESPN Sportszone and Outside magazine in 1997 and find the credit card numbers of 2,400 customers who had purchased goods from those sites, Luckily, the intruders claimed they were trying to make a point about online security, and there were no reports of wrongful use of the card numbers.

There are also the thousands and thousands of "classical ad" - like advertisements found in news groups and unsolicited e-mail messages offering used computers, used cars, even used sporting equipment. It's easy to spot a sound deal from a major store, such as Barnes & Noble offering 20% off a hardcover book advertised on its Web site, but what about that news group post by a "company" offering a used $1,200 notebook computer for $500?

That's just what one Indiana man wondered after he replied to a similar posting, He jumped at the chance and overnight mailed a $70 check as a down payment to the vendor in Florida. The check cleared, but he received neither a computer nor further mail from the vendor. When the man threatened to report the vendor, he admitted to ripping him off and promised to return his money, but no check ever came. Eventually, the vendor stopped replying to the man's e-mail messages, and since he was unable to find a phone number for the vendor he was out of luck.

Privacy Sitting alone in your living room in your bathrobe, browsing the Web, you may imagine your time online is private, but don't be fooled. As you click from site to site, download software, or e-mail friends, information can be gathered about you - which sites you frequent, what sort of advertising you respond to, even your name and phone number. A 1998 study by the Federal Trade commission found that more than 85% of 1,400 commercial Web sites it surveyed collect sensitive personal information from Web surfers, but only 14% explained how that information would be used. And only 2% had policies protecting consumer privacy.

There are many ways to inadvertently give out such personal information, but even information given in good faith will sometimes end up in places you wouldn't want it to. Like any other commercial service, online providers maintain subscription lists, and some will share your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number with telemarketing and other direct sales firms. The idea isn't popular with consumers: In 1997, American Online had to abandon plans to sell subscribers' phone numbers to telemarketers after a flurry of angry e-mail and news group postings alerted subscribers to the impending plan.

While much on the Net is free, some sites, like The New York Times, require you to register to access their Web pages. Usually they ask for your name, address, and e-mail address, but some will also ask "just a few short questions" about your interests and habits. Sound familiar? Telemarketing firms use the same technique to discover what kind of advertising will catch your attention. The banner ads that spread across commercial Web pages change according to who's seeing them. Answer a site's questionnaire that you enjoy mountain biking and traveling, and that banner will likely feature something like Outside magazine's Web site or an airline's online travel guide.

Most Internet providers and some registration-requiring Web sites have privacy policies that detail to whom, if anyone, your personal information will be given - ask about these before signing up. An ideal policy will allow you to "opt out&qu

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Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help people read more and waste less, World of Books offers a huge range of affordable, high-quality books ? giving both new and preloved titles a second life. The company also operates World of Books ? Sell Your Books, an easy-to-use platform that allows customers to trade in unwanted books for cash, helping to keep books in circulation while promoting sustainability. As a Certified B Corp, World of Books is driven by a vision to become the world?s largest and most sustainable dedicated online bookstore. The company measures its success through the positive environmental impact it creates, the value it provides to customers, and its ability to operate profitably while supporting its sustainable mission

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We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.

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If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, glenthebookseller, 625 S Railroad St, Bldg 11, 60538, Montgomery, Illinois, U.S.A., +1 6308001491, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

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We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

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You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or glenthebookseller, PO BOX 4816, 60507, Aurora, Illinois, U.S.A., +1 6308001491, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

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Model withdrawal form

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To: (glenthebookseller, 625 S Railroad St, Bldg 11, 60538, Montgomery, Illinois, U.S.A., +1 6308001491)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

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Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

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