[net.consumers] mailorder rip-offs by credit card companies

tomm@tektronix.UUCP (Tom Milligan) (04/27/84)

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A point that I always suspected, but never really paid much attention
to involved those advertisements that credit card companies (VISA/Seattle
First National Bank in my case) put into your monthly account statement.  I 
have always perceived that the items advertised seemed high-priced for what 
I could get them for at a local store.  This point was drived home two days 
ago when I bought a wrench.  Well, in my most recent VISA statement there 
was an ad for a set of two of them.  I could get both for $15.99.  Needing 
one immediately I chose to go to a local store to see if they carried 
something like the wrenches described in the ad.  Sure enough, the exact 
same wrenches (same brand even!) were in the store.  The prices were... $3.95 
for the small one, $4.95 for the large one.  Both would cost $8.90, compared 
to $15.99 from the credit card company.  

				Caveat emptor,

				Tom Milligan
				Software Tools Support
				Tektronix, Inc.

				tektronix!tomm