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Show 'If it sounds too good to be true it probably is,' says BBB By VICKI CROCCO Bogus claims and so called "free gift" offers are some of the problems prob-lems being tackled by the Better Business Bureau, according to Mary Lou Beckwith, guest speaker at the recent Bountiful Area Chamber Cham-ber of Commerce meeting held at Servus Drug. Beckwith introduced the services ser-vices available through the Better Business Bureau, stressing that advertising misinformation is a problem not just in the print media but telemarketing schemes called "boiler room operations" persist across the country, including Utah. Some of the most dramatic ex- Camples of these fraudulent busines-s busines-s are the "four-person power motorboat with outboard motor," and the Kamasura Model 250 VRX motorcycle. ri ill W SMm A 4-person power motorboat with outboard motor? The four-person power motorboat with outboard motor was actually a plastic inflatable raft with a plastic battery powered motor. Both of these products were offered as marketing research survey sur-vey test products. The letters sent "authorize" recipients to claim the products in a limited time frame by calling the "boiler room operations. ' ' After calling the company, com-pany, it is disclosed that participants partici-pants must help pay shipping and handling costs to receive the "motorboat." What is sent through the mail for $200 is a plastic plas-tic inflatable raft with a plastic motor which is battery powered. Just the four-person power fishing motorboat with outboard motor you've been dying for. The Kamasura Model 250 VFX Motorcycle is a small pedal hicycle with a one-cycle motor, smaller than a lawn mower engine attached to it. Regarding this contraption, the "boiler-room operation" said, "We sincerely hope that the new Kamasura Model 250 VRX will represent for you and your family a new and exciting means of transportation. trans-portation. This new motorcycle promises to be the hottest vehicle in its class." The Better Business Bureau is a private, non-profit organization supported by the business community com-munity to generate high ethics and consumer satisfaction. The Bureau is located in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo and serves the entire state. All services are provided free of charge and include reliability reliabil-ity reports on company performances, perform-ances, problem resolution, arbitration, arbitra-tion, where legally binding arbitration arbitra-tion is offered as an alternative to going to court, reports on charit- Qble organizations, media and edu-ational edu-ational presentations, and advertising adver-tising reviews to encourage adherence adher-ence to ethical standards of truth and honesty. For further information call 487-4656. Ifes. lIlllBllBllillllllll - I- - r! ' f tin -f lX "J - fprst ; , ?-'viv' JLy, . - . , I tarns m Kamasura model "250" VRX motorcycle? |
