ALWAYS GET A RECEIPT

It is imperative that you always retain a receipt for your purchases, regardless of whether they are made by cash, check, or charge.  Make sure that the receipt clearly details the name, address, and phone number of the vendor, as well as a clear description of the merchandise itself.  Additionally, make sure that all terms of the purchase are stated, including any guarantees or warranties.  Please make sure that the seller's return policy is printed or at least written on the receipt and that you understand the policy before paying for your purchase.

Compatibility with your existing hardware and/or software or Internet provider is often an issue with returns.  If you are attempting to return or exchange an item that is not defective but is not compatible with your computer, the vendor will not usually accept a return without a substantial re-stocking fee.  Unless your receipt states that you can make a return of non-defective items for this reason, we will probably not be able to help you.

BE INFORMED

Do your homework before coming to the show.  Know as much as possible about the product that you wish to buy.  The salesmen at our shows are often compensated only for sales.  Protect yourself against high-pressure salespeople and unreasonable expectations as to what the product can and cannot do. Before coming to the shows, it is a good idea to read up on the products that you are considering buying.  It is also a great idea to price shop so that you know the retail price of a comparable item.

DON'T OVER-ESTIMATE YOUR TECHNICAL SKILLS

Most of the customer complaints received about defective or non-functioning hardware purchases seem to be at least partly due to improper installation.  Please be aware that today's hardware is more complicated than previous equipment.

Motherboards may require that its voltage be set depending upon the chip being installed, and an improper setting may damage either the motherboard, processor, or memory chips installed.

If you have upgraded your system and Windows, you must be sure that your monitor can handle the higher resolution required.  Only an expert can modify windows to make an older monitor function, and even then, the results may not be entirely satisfactory.

Some older software may not run properly on newer faster machines.  Likewise, some newer software will not function properly or run at all on older hardware.

Installing a modem is always tricky.

Installing any SCSI equipment, especially hard drives, is more difficult than other options.

Please DON'T expect a salesman at a show to be able to handle all of your technical questions.

MAKE SURE IT ALL ADDS UP

When you come to the final decision to make a purchase, verify that the company you are writing a check out to or authorizing a charge for is exactly the same as the name that appears on your receipt.  It will also serve as proof that you're dealing with who you think you are.

CHECK OUT THE NEW VENDOR BOARD

At the entrance to Tri-State shows, we have a sign listing the new vendors at the show.

Vendors who have had a long successful history with us do go out of business. T o keep our shows full, it is necessary to replace these vendors with new ones.  Tri-State insists that all vendors have proper sales tax certificates and that we have a current address before accepting a new vendor.  All of our established vendors were new ones at one time.  Unfortunately, not all new vendors are honest and easy to deal with. Tri-State obviously does not have a long-term relationship with new vendors and may have less influence in dealing with the problems you may have with them.  Some of our new vendors may offer better merchandise or lower prices in order to get new customers.  Be especially careful if the new vendor is from far away!

Before you surrender any of your hard earned money, use your common sense, especially with new vendors. Ask questions about the length of time the company has been in business. Ask about the return policy and ask to see the receipt before you turn over any money. Remember that you will have some additional protection if you use a credit card for the purchase.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!

DO NOT BUY a product at a show requiring installation unless you are ready to install it NOW.  Recently, a customer brought a product back to one of our shows and claimed that it was not what he was promised.  He had bought the item 6 months ago and went to install it last week.  He then found that it was not the correct item.  The dealer would not now exchange it.  Prices fluctuate rapidly in the computer industry, companies change ownership, salesmen leave, but, most importantly, demand changes.  A product that could easily have been re-sold 6 months ago may be impossible to sell now.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?

Read the instructions that came with the product again.  Please make sure that you have the minimum requirements in your system for the product to function properly.

Assuming that you have followed any instructions and the item still does not work, call the vendor and explain the problem clearly and without being threatening.  Please be advised that most vendors work two or three shows per weekend and often do not open on Mondays until later in the morning.  They also do not answer phone calls on Sunday evenings after the show.  Setting up, selling all day, and then packing up is exhausting work.

Call the vendor after you have cooled off and try to work out a solution to the problem.  Follow-up any un-resolved problems with a letter sent to the vendor.  Make sure to save a copy of the letter.  This will be important if you cannot obtain satisfaction and ask us to help resolve a dispute.  It will also be necessary .if you subsequently must make a complaint to governmental authorities.

AS A LAST RESORT

If you can still not resolve a dispute with one of our vendors, you may contact Tri-State Fairs during our business hours.  In order for us to help you with a problem you have with one of our vendors, you must send us a copy of your receipt along with a copy of the letter that you sent to the vendor in order to try to resolve the problem.  WE REGRET THAT WE CANNOT HELP YOU UNLESS YOUR RECEIPT SHOWS THAT YOU BOUGHT THE ITEM IN QUESTION AT ONE OF OUR SHOWS.  We only will attempt to help you if the item was bought at our show.  If we attempt to help you, we can only ask that the vendor live up to the terms of a written warranty.

We contact approximately one vendor per month to attempt to resolve a complaint.  Most of the time, we can persuade a vendor to satisfy the customer, or at least live up to the terms of the written warranty.  If we cannot, or if we receive numerous complaints about a vendor, we will bar the vendor from our shows. This is a last resort by us, as it also means that we can no longer use the threat of banishment to make the vendor satisfy a complaint.