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Page 14 THE HERALD Wednesday IMl Consumers warned about directmarketing Directmarketing companies dont sell their products In stores They contact customers directly by mall or telephone or by radio and television broadcasts and sometimes tbey make offers that sound pretty good may say holidays in the sun diamond bracelets or expensive sets of lug gage are available for free But shoppers ordering products they dont want just to get a terrific gift may be disappointed By far the majontj of firms engaged in direct marketing pro vide quality products at reasonable cost to the con says Marilyn Gurevsky expert at Ontarios Minlstery of Consumer and Commercial Rela tions MCCR And the conve nience of shopping at home can be a bonus for busy working families as well as for many seniors and others who may be less mobile during the winter months But Gurevsky warns a small minority of directmarketers may not be ethical and she ad vises consumers to check offers carefully before they buy John GostavBon President of the Canadian Direct Marketing Association agrees He says con sumers with complaints about Canadian direct marketing com panies should send a tetter ex plaining the problem to bis associations office where staff will help iron out the dispute Unfortunately he says many consumers still arent aare we cant help when deal with companies from other coun tries Ontarios Consumer Ministry is also concerned about people who have problems when they buy from other provinces Consumer protection legislation varies from one province to another and it may be impossible to enforce On tario laws if a good or service is supplied from another jurisdic tion In recent months MCCR has received complaints from people who ordered expensive water purification systems says Gurevsky Many found they were unsuitable for their plumb ing systems but couldnt be returned to another province The common factor is many of these cases is that some buyers may have been more interested in the free gift offered with the item than the article itself Offering free promotional gifts is a practice used by many ethical marketers companies may sell more magazines if they add a giveaway radio to sweeten Let COMPASS be your guide Its official Metro Toronto commuters are now using their COMPASS to make travelling Highway easier COMPASS a new high tech tool for managing traffic on ur ban highways keeps them in formed on what conditions they can expect on a 16 km section of Canadas busiest freeway Designed by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation COMPASS monitors traffic flow through the use of vehicle sensors in the road and television cameras mounted high above Metros corridor Motorists receive this informa displayed across changeable message signs on Highway from Martin Grove Road to Street A typical message might say Collector lanes blocked at Yonge Street COMPASS gives motorists up- todate useful information which will alert them to slow down switch lanes or exit the highway before encountering a construc tion zone vehicle collision or congestion Ontario Transportation Minister Ed Philip said It also provides an added safety net for drivers in need of help with the quick dispatch of emergency assistance vehicles and person available at any time of the day or night the deal But If the value of the gift seems too high for the cost of the article being purchased the consumer should be wary Experts say rule number one for buying through direct marketing is to ask yourself if youve ever thought of buying the item before If you havent perhaps you should wonder what makes it so appealing row Once youve decided you really want the article make sure the price Is reasonable Does the of fer sound too good to be true If it is and the goods turn out to be lower quality than expected con sider that it may be difficult or impossible to return them If similar goods are available at retail stores you can call to compare prices And often friends relatives or neighbors may be able to vouch for the reputation of the product and seller The Better Business Bureau can also tell you of any complaints they have on Tile regarding a particular firm Before you order be sure to read the fine print on the contract closely Does it oblige you to buy more merchandise at a later date Be wary of negativeoption sell ing deals which mean youll have to return form to the company every time you dont want to receive any goods These are common among contracts for books and records and may be fine for someone who is well- organized and wont forget to fill in the form But others may end up paying for a lot of goods they dont want Consumers who want to have their names removed from major lists can write to the Canadian Direct Marketing Association 1 Concorde Gate Suite Don Mills Ontario There is no charge for the service For general informa tion on many consumer issues contact the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations Con sumer Information Centre Street 1st Floor Toronto Ontario M7A2H6 INSTORE WALLCOVERING Reg bookpnee may racy from those shorn tot gf If n M refund fata fa im OUR I0W PRICE GUARANTEE Mpmbli point rt nam t low pita of Nana Hoi toss a at am For frandet wortwBaimi 3251 604 214GUELPHSTREET GEORGETOWN 8731363