Dear Ben: To say I'm ticked off would be an understatement. I saw a deal advertised in the paper six weeks ago that I couldn't pass up and I bought (what I thought) were ten new digital cameras for Christmas gifts at Fry's Electronics in South Arlington. When I got them home and my wife started to gift-wrap them a couple of weeks later, it was then we (she, actually) discovered that four of the cameras weren't brand new. They had been re-packaged and placed back on the shelves for sale. I hadn't noticed the (small) stickers on the box that (stating they'd been re-packaged) because you're not allowed to actually handle items being purchased until you get to the check out counter. (They do this to control theft because of the size of the item.) I went back to the store and got the run around from the manager, even though I had the original receipts. Since they didn't have any more of these cameras (at this price) brand-new in the box, I had to go to their only other location-all the way in Garland. Once I got there it took another hour and forty-five minutes of haggling with the store manager until they finally honored the original sale price. The two morals of the story? Always closely inspect all merchandise before you leave the store to make sure you're getting what you're paid for. And never settle for less than what you deserve! (Never take no for an answer!!!)

Tom Parsons, Publisher-BestFares.com

 

Dear Tom: Good points...now let me add a couple more. Anytime a product has been returned by a consumer and is then re-packaged and returned to inventory, retailers are obligated to clearly tag the merchandise and fully disclose this. According to Thomas Kelley from the Office of the Texas State Attorney General: "Section 17.46(7) of the Business and Commerce Code (deceptive trade practices) states: It is a violation of the DTPA to represent "that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand." This is a disclosure issue. If a store is doing this, it should be noted on the package. Consumers wishing to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office can call us toll-free at (800) 621-0508, or file on-line at www.oag.state.tx.us and click on the "consumer protection" button. I personally visited the Fry's Arlington location and immediately spotted tags on previously sold merchandise that was available for sale, so they definitely appear to be conforming to state disclosure laws. Unfortunately, my attempts to contact their corporate office through their website went ignored for a couple of weeks, so I contacted their corporate offices in San Jose (California) and kept being referred to a spokesman that never returned my call. The "gatekeeper" for company president Randy Fry wouldn't even take a message and their legal department also refused to talk to me. It seems rather odd that they wouldn't want to discuss their policies regarding the sale returned merchandise, doesn't it?

 

Dose of Dover For The Week: My old friend and DFW Airport spokesman Ken Capps wants to remind everyone that Christmas came a couple weeks early thanks to the FAA's allowing almost 3,000 "close-in" parking spaces to re-open for the first time since September 11, 2001. DFW Airport's also added some convenient and consumer-friendly (and affordable) remote parking lots costing as little as $5 a day. The Express and Remote parking lots feature new Guest Assistance Patrols...they provide free vehicle aid for motorists facing dead batteries, lock-outs and flat tires. Check out my updated, annual analysis of airport transportation and parking options at: www.bendover.com/parking.asp. And while you're at it, leverage today's technology when you travel over the holidays or beyond! Since American Airlines is the biggest carrier out of DFW, you'll want to save time by using their quick, self-service kiosks that'll let you skip the lines, transact business and get a boarding pass through an easy to use touch-screen interface. But the smart travelers use their Flight Status Notification feature; if you have a pager or a cell phone, American's website will notify you hours before departure or arrival of any flight delays or gate changes. The price is right for this feature...free! Sign-up on their website: www.aa.com/notify