Avoid Money Scams

I started reading “Never Be Lied To Again” (link to Amazon) by David J. Lieberman, and then I happened upon a little blog that had an article about the same topic.

I throw these out there as references for further reading and research. But the topic of the day is how you can apply these techniques and methods to help you keep your money.

Remember that advertisers and salespeople are in the business of making money. They need to sell, and many of them have no qualms about lying to you to get you to make that sale.

Of course you can’t read body language over the internet or television. You can’t tell if the printed word is nervous or trying to hide something.

However, when you go to make a major purchase, such as for a new car or a major appliance the odds are good that you will be talking face to face to a sales associate. At these times it is a good idea to take note of the person’s body language. Listen to the words they use. Especially look out for some of these signs.

• Do they look nervous? If so, find out why. Is it because they are new to the job? Do they lack knowledge?
• Are they pushing only one product? Do they steer the conversation back to another model when you ask questions?
• Do they make eye contact? If they won’t look at you then you may want to go elsewhere.
• Do they listen? Many times a sales person will talk without stopping to listen. In these cases, you can be sure that they are rattling off a canned pitch to sell a specific product whether it is the best product or not. This can also be a form of nervousness.
• Do they get defensive? When you question the quality or price of the product, do they get defensive? Do they focus on the bad aspects of other products while avoiding the same questions about the product they are pushing?
• Lack of direct statements. How much conviction do they have? Do they really believe in what they are selling or are they just repeating a sales pitch?

Remember that they don’t get paid unless you buy something. Even salespeople who are not paid on commission will be out of a job if nobody buys from them. Keep this in mind. Yes they can be an excellent resource and help you answer questions, but watch out for those who have no intention past getting the sale.

If you find yourself dealing with someone who seems more interested in getting your money then helping you find the best deal for your needs then walk away. There is another place selling the same product or service down the street or in the next town. They will be happy to get your business.

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