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BBB of Minnesota
and North Dakota
Consumer Newsletter
September, 2011
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Contact us with your questions!
Operators in the BBB Resource Center are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer your questions at 651-695-1111, toll-free at 800-646-6222. You can also check company reports 24 hours a day at bbb.org or e-mail inquiries to ask@thefirstbbb.org.

Remember, we're your BBB: we're here for you!
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Tips on
Selling Your Gold

Be on the lookout for disreputable sellers
As global markets suffer declines, worried investors are seeking safe havens for their funds. Some are moving away from the stock market and into gold, in the hopes that their money will grow. Others are looking to cash in on the gold they own, for some extra cash or to make ends meet. With the price of gold (Au) near all-time highs at more than $1,800 per ounce, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) advises consumers to do their homework before trading their gold for cash.

Many consumers are looking to sell their gold jewelry through online venues, at home "gold parties" or local jewelers. However, not just every dealer is trustworthy. This year alone, the BBB has already received more than 500 complaints against gold, silver and platinum dealers.
Welcome aboard!
We'd like to take a minute to welcome 
new readers of our Consumer Newsletter.

If you're receiving this for the first time, you probably signed up for this newsletter at our booth at the Minnesota State Fair. We had a great time at the Fair, where nearly 1,800 people signed up for our newsletter. Thank you for visiting our booth and thank you for your support! We'd also like to thank our long-time readers.

We hope you enjoy the articles we send out each month and that you'll tell your friends and family about this valuable - but free - online publication. They can sign up at minnesota.bbb.org/
consumer-newsletter/ It only takes a few seconds!!
BBB Debuts 
New Online Directory
Find Reliable and Trustworthy Businesses Conveniently Online

When you're planning to make a purchase, start with companies that adhere to established standards of advertising and selling - start with trust! Your BBB can now provide you with a list of companies that have a history of building trust in the marketplace. Our new Online Directory is a convenient way to find reliable businesses at prices you can afford.

Here are some more reasons to check out the BBB Online Directory!
The BBB Absolute 'No' for September:
Pet Scams
Every month, the BBB informs the public of an absolute 'no,' a fraudulent scheme or offer they should be on the lookout for.

The absolute 'no' for September involves pet scams. Pet lovers seeking new canine companions are often surprised, and sometimes discouraged, to discover how expensive a purebred puppy or dog can be. That's why the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is cautioning consumers to watch out for classified ads offering purebred puppies for free or at prices that seem too good to be true.

In August, a classified ad ran in Penny Savers USA, an online portal for online classifieds and coupons, offering free Yorkshire terrier puppies - a breed that typically sells for $250-$2,000 apiece. The advertiser was listed as having locations in Minneapolis and Duluth. The consumer who reported this questionable ad to the BBB also stated that when she emailed the advertiser to express interest in adopting a puppy, they assured her they would cover all fees. However, shortly afterwards, when she received an email stating that the breeders were at the airport ready to ship the puppies but needed $170 for "ownership transfer," she suspected the offer was a scam - and she was right!
12th Annual
BBB Integrity Awards
The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota is proud to announce the 2011 finalists for the prestigious BBB Integrity Awards. The BBB presents the Integrity Award each year to companies who exemplify ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations; toward their employees, vendors, customers, and within their community. The Integrity Award is open to all for-profit businesses located within the Minnesota and North Dakota region. Each year, the BBB invites anyone to nominate a company they feel demonstrates exceptional ethics. Nominees are then offered the opportunity to submit an entry to the BBB, where a panel of independent volunteer business and community leaders review the entries and choose the winners. The 12th Annual Integrity Awards ceremony, presented by Best Buy, will take place Monday, October 24 at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis from 6 - 9 p.m. Tickets are available online.
BBB Warns of Possible Flood of 
Flood-Damaged Cars
Following every major flood or hurricane, scam artists try to pawn off flooded vehicles as standard used cars. Flood-damaged vehicles may appear at auto auctions, used car dealerships and in classified ads. The BBB is urging used car buyers to be cautious of unscrupulous businesses and individuals who may try to sell flood-damaged cars as standard secondhand cars, without revealing the vehicles' history. Unsuspecting consumers, particularly those living in regions of the country unaffected by hurricanes or flooding, can easily be led astray by fresh upholstery, new carpeting and bargain prices.
 
Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota
2706 Gannon Road, St. Paul, MN 55116 • 651-699-1111 • 800-646-6222 • Fax: 651-699-7665
51 North Broadway, Ste. 505, Fargo, ND 58102 • 701-271-2855 • 800-646-6222
355 5th Ave. S., St. Cloud, MN 56301 • 800-646-6222


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