The world has taken a dynamic shift in how it carries on business and not all of it for the better. Decades ago, an honest smile and firm handshake were enough to guarantee value and honesty. In some instances, most instances really, deals were struck by the word of the involved parties alone and didn’t require contracts, terms and conditions and specific fine print in order to complete a given transaction. Oh, how far we have fallen in that department! That’s right folks, today’s post is a rant so buckle up!
We live in a world that is increasingly lived online. Where the internet used to be something you occasionally jumped on for some limited purpose, practically everything from our health, to bill payment and banking and even our movie and show viewing habits are all done in the online environment. In fact, the last television I purchased came equipped to connect directly to my internet so that I can use my streaming services directly through the television without connecting any of my devices to do it. You can even solicit the services of many industries that would have required an in-person visit, not too long ago I, such as medical and legal services.
So, what’s the downside to all of this? Simply put, the online environment makes it WAY more difficult to ensure the quality and validity of what you’re obtaining. It’s incredibly easy to get fooled or defrauded if you’re navigating online and not everyone has the foresight to check properly when visiting an online website. But even when you’re purchasing or getting something out there in the real world, there are still pitfalls and perils that most people don’t acknowledge. And they can’t really be blamed. The modern world moves pretty fast and in the words of Ferris Bueller, “you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Let’s use one of the most common examples of modern society; the purchase of a cell phone. Cell phones are wonderful in that they provide a number of tools and resources at your fingertips that would have otherwise required an entire room to hold about 25 years ago. The modern cell phone contains telephone and text message capabilities but also basic tools like maps/gps, calculators and a web browser that provides the entire world’s information literally at your fingertips. It’s constant reminder about how wrong my teachers were, when they used to tell me to show my work in math because I wouldn’t always have a calculator available.WHO’S LAUGHING NOW, KAREN??? But I digress…
The point for the cell phone example is that the purchase of a cell is a significant investment. You need to research what brand and model you’d like, what features you want included and what price it may cost you. After all, the price of most modern cell phones is high enough that you’re not typically purchasing it outright but financing it over the term of your cell pone contract. Once you decide to purchase and you sign up, there usually a whole mess of paperwork being thrown at you. This paperwork can include but won’t be limited to warranty information, service conditions and financing documents. For the most part, the seller will show you where to sign and you’ll do just that… usually without reading all the aforementioned terms and conditions.
The buyer can’t really be blamed for this oversight. After all, it’s a lot to read and who the hell has time for that when they’re excited and in a hurry to walk away with their new cell phone, right? The problem is that by blindingly signing those documents without reading the terms and conditions, you may open yourself up to some vulnerability that you didn’t consider at the time. You have no idea what you’re agreeing to, or acknowledging certain things that may not be covered or provided. In the event of something happening with your phone, there may be certain repairs or coverages that won’t be provided, or maybe you’ll pay certain fees for certain services that you aren’t aware of during the front-facing conversation with the seller.
There are certain things that you can do to better protect yourself when engaging in those types of interactions. Whether online or in person, the most important aspect to anything you do in the modern world is to take your time. There’s nothing worse than rushing your way through something JUST because you want it. Take time to research what you’re getting into. Talk to people. Read reviews. And read everything that’s put in front of you BEFORE you sign it. Let me reiterate. Read. Every. Thing. Period. This applies to puchasing vehicles to shopping online to fool sold fashion purchases at a store.
Take time to read the fine print. Although the world moves pretty fast, slowing it down a bit to consider what you’re getting into is a guaranteed way of protecting yourself and keeping you informed about what you’re getting into. You’ll be all the better for it and will prevent compromising yourself into agreeing to something one-sided. I’ve always been lucky enough that I’ve never suffered a significant loss but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t gotten caught on a couple of occasions. It sucks. Now, I can promise you that no matter how many times they say “Just sign there,” my response is usually “Fuck off, I’m reading this first.” I’m the customer. I decide. The customer may not always be right, but they can always be safe. Food for thought… ☯️
The Blogging Buddhist 