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Internet “Caveat Emptor”
Back in ancient times, “caveat emptor” was the phrase that warned the Romans to know what they were buying before they put their coins in the hands of market vendors. The Romans could touch and see the quality of the products they were buying in the market square. In our present Internet buying world, we can’t rely on those human senses.
Many descriptions of kayaks on the Internet sound great for everyone! Is it rational to put a 6’ 3” man weighing 220 lb in the same kayak as a 5’ 2”, 120 lb woman? NO! One size does not fit all. Reality hits the wallet hard when the buyer actually tries to get in the kayak and paddle it. If the buying decision was based on price alone, the kayak will usually be too small. If the buyer can squeeze in, the kayak feels very unstable because he has exceeded the limits of the boat. As a result, many Internet kayak shoppers get burned. The “super deal” becomes a “super loser.”
When a consumer buys a product over the Internet, he often does not realize that he owns the kayak as soon as it leaves the company. When the freight company delivers a poorly wrapped, damaged kayak, the buyer must personally file a claim. It’s a time-consuming hassle that is easily avoided by shopping at a specialty store. Buying from a local brick and mortar store is the best choice because the buyer can see that he is getting a first quality product. He can sit in it and paddle it to determine if it is the right boat. While supporting a local business, the buyer is getting the expertise and service of a specialty store. Keeping business local creates jobs and forms close contacts with other paddlers in the community.
“Caveat emptor” will not be a concern if a consumer deals with a reputable local kayak dealer.
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