Better Business Bureau Tips: Pinterest, Moving Scams, Selling Your Car

Four BBB Tips for Driving a Good Deal When You Sell Your Car

When you’re looking to sell your vehicle, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist, but you do need to understand the process to ensure the sale goes smoothly. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is providing some basic pointers on selling your car, as well as some tips to help you “steer clear” of scammers.

The Internet makes it possible for people from all over to make offers on advertised vehicles, but not every “buyer” is reputable. The BBB often hears horror stories of car sales gone bad and, usually, it all boils down to the old adage “If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

“If the buyer is asking you to wire them money or is avoiding meeting you face-to-face, those are bad signs,” said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB. “Never give too much personal information to the potential buyer. In some situations, a potential “buyer” will send a check for an amount greater than your asking price, and ask you to wire the difference back to them. When the buyer’s check bounces, you’re out the money you wired…and you’re still left with the car.”

When working with potential buyers, the BBB offers the following tips:

Communicate openly.  Don’t rely solely on email conversations. Meet face-to-face and be open and honest about your car’s conditions. Experienced buyers are good at vetting a car’s condition and will pass on buying your car if it’s not in the shape you say it is. Keep all records of service so that the buyer can see proof that you have kept the vehicle maintained.

First impressions matter. Consider getting your vehicle tuned up – and cleaned up! That extra bit of cost and effort could be the difference between modest interest and a generous offer.

Be cautious. When meeting with the buyer, meet during the day in a neutral, public location. Don’t give them your home address.

Seal the deal. Give the potential buyer ample time to ask questions. When negotiating a final price, aim high and work your way down, but always be honest with the buyer on the car’s conditions. This will help avoid problems in the future.

BBB Advice for Avoiding a Moving Scam

Following a few simple rules when selecting a mover will go a long way toward protecting yourself from being victimized by scams this moving season. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) and the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) recommend doing your homework before selecting a mover.

As we approach the busiest time of the year for changing residences, the BBB encourages consumers to know their rights and be able to identify the red flags of moving scams. Each year, the BBB and AMSA receive thousands of complaints from consumers who have fallen prey to dishonest and sometimes unlicensed moving companies. In the worst-case scenario, the moving company holds the customer's belongings “hostage” and demands immediate – and sometimes exorbitant – payment to unload the van.

"Anyone can claim to be a mover, so taking time to check out a company’s background and credentials is critical," said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB. "Know your rights, and always do your homework before turning your belongings over to a mover." 

The BBB and AMSA offer the following checklist for finding a trustworthy moving company: 

Research the company thoroughly. Regulations vary, but all interstate movers must be licensed by the federal government and are assigned a motor carrier number you can verify on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMSCA’s) website; www.protectyourmove.gov.  Also check the company's rating with your BBB, which maintains more than 17,000 Business Reviews on movers across North America. 

Get at least three written in-home estimates. Not all price-quotes online or over the phone are legitimate. Keep in mind that the lowest estimate can sometimes be an unrealistic low-ball offer, which can cost you more in the end.

Know your options. Research your rights as a consumer with either FMCSA for interstate moves or the state in which you reside for moves within that state.  Also, enlist the help of the BBB or local law enforcement if the moving company fails to live up to its promises or threatens to hold your belongings hostage. FMCSA requires interstate movers to offer arbitration to help settle disputed claims. 

Consider getting full value protection. It may cost a few dollars more upfront, but it can provide some peace of mind and eliminate headaches after your move.  Investing in full (replacement) value protection means any lost or damaged articles will be repaired or replaced, or a cash settlement will be made to repair the item or to replace it at its current market value, regardless of age. It’s important to note that the required minimum coverage of 60 cents per pound would come nowhere near the replacement cost, for example, of a flat panel TV if it were damaged in transit. 

Quick Tips for Hiring a Home Contractor - Do You Know the Red Flags?

Whether you are looking to have your windows replaced, new siding installed on your garage or a pool built for the summer months ahead, it’s always important to find a home contractor that you can trust. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) recommends following this smart shopper checklist before choosing a contractor for your home.

In 2011, the BBB received more than 6,000 complaints against general contractors, which was up 11% from the previous year. While there are many trustworthy and reliable contractors out there, there are always those unscrupulous few that end up charging too much, doing too little or doing nothing at all.

“You want a home contractor you can trust, so watch out for red flags from those who might be  just looking to make a quick buck,” said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB. “Be especially wary when doing business with a contractor who solicits door-to-door. While this isn’t necessarily a red flag, it could mean that the contractor is not local and is instead just passing through and looking to defraud homeowners.”

The BBB advises consumers to follow this smart shopper checklist before choosing a home contractor:

Check out your options. Seek at least three bids from prospective contractors based on the same specifications, materials and labor needed to complete the project. Homeowners should discuss bids in detail with each contractor and ask questions about variations in pricing. The lowest bid may not be the best. 

Make sure they are certified and insured. Consumers should ask whether the company is insured against claims covering workers’ compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. Consumers should obtain the name of the insurance carrier and call to verify coverage. Ask whether the contractor meets licensing and bonding requirements set by the state, county or city. Check with local authorities to find out whether permits are needed before proceeding with the work. The contractor also should be aware of any required permits.

Get everything in writing. Ask whether the contractor will provide a lien waiver upon completion of the job. A lien waiver is a statement by the contractor that all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work. Read and understand the contract before signing. Get all verbal promises in writing. Include start and completion dates in the contract.

Remember the rule of thirds and follow it.  Pay one third at the start of the project, one third when work is 50 percent completed and one third after completion.

The BBB has Business Reviews on more than 100,000 general contractors across North America, available for free at www.bbb.org/search.

‘Pin’ Consumer Interest – Pinterest Captivates the Visual Audience

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have dominated the world of social media. However, it’s time to make way for a new, growing social media outlet that’s perfect for small businesses – Pinterest. Pinterest­­ is the new, flashy way to share business logos, products, coupons and the like. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) offers business owners tips to see if Pinterest is right for their business.

Pinterest is an online bulletin board that allows users to “pin” and organize images to specific categories of interest. When using it for business purposes, business owners can pin images of their business logos, business coupons and discounts, and other consumer-friendly images. Followers of that business can then like, comment or re-pin the image to their own boards, and continue on to the business site where the image originated. According to the retail deal site,ideeli.com, Pinterest has brought a 446 percent increase in traffic to their website.

“With enough followers and images, your ‘pins’ are sure to go viral,” said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB. “Getting eyes on your product is the key to a successful business. What better way than to use an outlet devoted to enticing viewers through images?”

Before setting up a Pinterest account, business owners should consider the following:

Do you have sales/events to promote? Is your business having a can’t-be-beat sale on back-to-school items, shirts and shoes, flashy watches? Is your restaurant offering a new item on the menu tonight? Without getting toopromotional, Pinterest can make these images catchy and fun.

Do you like to share? Nobody likes self-absorbed over-sharers, but on Pinterest your business can not only share the images that pertain to your business, but the images of other users as a way of saying, “Hey, I find this funny and it relates to our mission, too. Check this out!”

Is Pinterest a fit for you? Since Pinterest doesn’t technically have any “business” features on their site yet, and their boards are more visually based, it may be hard to lure in potential customers - but it still might be worth a shot. Social media is attracting people in all demographics and if your business wants to keep up with the times, the BBB recommends trying new social media outlets to enhance your brand visibility.

For more business news you can trust, visit www.bbb.org/news.

The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in building marketplace trust by promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct, and to instill confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, assist and protect the general public. Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the BBB at www.bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222. Visit our Centennial website at bbbis100.org.