With Christmas right around the corner, the local Better Business Bureau wants to make sure you stay safe as you shop.
President Bill McGuire says sometimes emotions run high and you need to plan ahead before you march into the fray.
He says you should check a store’s layaway plans, because sometimes the small print can get you, and adds that you should also double-check a store’s return policy.
McGuire says you should watch out for scams when selecting Christmas presents of the warm, fuzzy variety as well.
He says that unless you can visit the breeding facility before purchasing and bring home the pet yourself, do not buy from a website.
Anyone can design a good-looking website, McGuire says, so don’t be taken in by visual appeal.
McGuire says you can also protect yourself by looking for the hidden “gotchas.”
He says you should always check credentials of shelters and breeders, and ask breeders if they’re members of the American Kennel Club.
Do not support puppy mills and beware of scammers who offer to re-home their purebred puppy with you in exchange for transportation or vaccination fees.
McGuire adds that for the least stress on Christmas morning, instead of putting a pet under the tree, simply buy what the pet will need, then go together as a family to choose one.
He says if anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
For more details, call the Bureau at 979-260-2222.
Bill McGuire visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia
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