The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 1, 1981 Page: 6 of 32
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6-A THE FT. HOOD SENTINEL Thursday October 1 1981
Editor’s Note: This is the second
article in a series concerning con-
role tw ser-
vicemembers and local merchants.
“Buy now for only pennies a day!”
That type of sales pitch sounds
good and looks good but that’s when
a smart consumer should be most on
guard. Such a pitch is nothing more
than a high-pressure sales tactic and
should be avoided at all costs.
These high pressure techniques
are ost common to door-to-door
solicitors but can be found anywhere
in the confusing world of buying and
selling warns Capt. Michael Russell
Fort Hood consumer affairs officer.
Russell who runs 5-CITY (685-
2489) a ilitary/civilian business
liaison feels servicemembers area
prime target for such tactics.
or a soldier to arrive at the
largest military installation in the
free world is not enough. His arrival
rent payments credit applications
October 91871 Mrs. O’Leary’s cow
knocked over a lantern so the theory
goes and sparked one of the worst
fires in history.
A swift breeze blew the flames onto
surrounding buildings faster than
firemen could get one fire under con-
trol. A great portion of Chicago was
destroyed that night because of one
mistake.
But sometimes good can come out
of bad. This 110-year-old tragedy
which killed 250 people and des-
troyed property totaling $168 million
dollars created great interest in fire
prevention practices and is responsi-
ble for Fire Prevention Week Octo-
ber 4-10.
In 1911 the Fire Marshal’s Associa-
tion of North America initiated the
first Fire Prevention Day. In 1920
President Woodrow Wilson declared
the day an official observance and
the observance was extended to a full
week by unanimous vote in 1922. In
that same year President Warren G.
warding proclaimed the first Fire
Prevention Week.
In remembrance of the great Chica-
go Fire the annual Fire Prevention
Week is always held during the week
in which Oct. 9 falls.
“Fire and the resulting injuries and
deaths area widespread concern”
according to Calixto M. Morin chief
For Reservations/
Call
699-4220
ine
W ith Us
Take Out
Service
4
and purchases place him in position
for every solicitation possible” Rus-
sell said. “He’s the target for the sale.
The seller has the advantage because
he knows the soldier is new to the
area young and trying to make the
est possible decision. In any
cases he is with his new bride and
trying to make a good impression.”
This may result in unwanted purch-
ases.
High pressure salesmen use a vari-
ety of techniques to sell goods.
“Bait and Switch” is one common
tactic. The “bait” is merchandise
advertised at an unbelievably low
price that makes you wonder how it
could be real. But you soon discover
that the offer is not genuine but just a
trap or “bait” to get you and other
customers into the store.
Once inside you are told the adver-
tised goods are not available or the
salesperson (trained in this bait and
switch technique) discredits the
advertised item and steers you to a
“better” model and of course a more
All because clumsy cow
Hood practices prevention
fire inspector III Corps and Fort
Hood fire department. “Losses to fire
on Fort Hood alone reached over
$500000 in FY 81 to include quarters
fires buildings track vehicles and
POV’s. However with proper educa-
tion knowledge of safety procedures
and practice of these procedures the
threat to lives and property can be
greatly diminished.”
One way to reduce injuries caused
by fire is to use the Exit Drills in the
Home (EDITH) plan. “This plan con-
sists of steps every family member
should take in the event of fire. The
plan should be reviewed learned and
practiced BEFORE the fire starts”
advised the fire chief.
To begin an EDITH plan plan
escape routes ith other family
members. Each member should have
two safe emergency exits from each
room in the house and always be sure
that children understand what to do
in case of fire.
Small children and handicapped
persons may need assistance in their
escape. Assign able family members
to assist them and practice these pro-
cedures as part of your EDITH plan.
Select an area outside the house
where you and other family members
can meet a good distance away from
the fire. This is' essential so you and
the fire department will know every
Earl and Marge Mabry
Invite You To
Enjoy Some of
Our Good
German
and
American
Food!
German and American Restaurant
1914 East Highway 190
(The Old Sirloin Stockade)
Completely Remodeled
Table Service
Hours:
Sun. thru Fri. -11 A.M. to 2 P.M.
Sun. thru Thurs.-5 P.M. to 10 P.M.
Fri. and Sat. 5 P.M. to 11 P.M.
expensive one. That’s the switch. The
salesperson cfcrects you to a different
model supposedly worth the extra
cost. While he has your attention he
will try to push you into buying right
then and there because he knows if
you take your tim you ill see
through the sale.
If not on your guard as a smart con-
sumer you will be “switched” to a
more expensive item instead of the
low-priced advertised item.
To protect yourself against such
bait and switch tactics you should
plan ahead before shopping to deter-
mine what you really need and what
price you should pay for it. Once at
the store take your time and you
should not be pressured into buying
something you ad ’t originally
planned to purchase. If you find you
ant th low -priced ad ertised
“bait” insist on the erchant’s re-
sponsibility to sell it to you. If he says
it’s not available ask why and ask for
a rain check with the date you can
pick it up written on it along with the
one is safely out of the house. Stress
to children the importance of never
returning to the house for anything
and know in advance the number for
the fire department. Children in par-
ticular should be taught the phone
number and quarters number. The
III Corps and Fort Hood emergency
fire department number is 117.
There are tell-tale signs that can
warn of an impending fire and should
be learned by family members.
Test the upper part of a door for
heat (remember heat rises). If a door
feels hot DO NOT open it but try to
escape by an alternate route.
If you are unable to escape by
another route stuff pieces of cloth in
cracks under the door and air vents.
This keeps smoke from entering the
room. Always be sure to crawl low in
smoke keeping your head just above
the floor as fresher air lies closer to
ground level.
“This procedure is im portant”
Morin explained. “Smoke can pene-
trate eyes and obscure visibility as
well as hinder judgm ent which re-
duces the chance of escape.”
Also open a window. If you do not
have access to a telephone call to
persons outside for help.
When the fire department arrives
signal to show them your location.
One important thing to remember is
r1
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I
L.
Coupon
Good For
Oct. 1-3
10% DISCOUNT
ON A N MEAL
ood soldier target for high pressure sales
.'.V*
sale price you will pay for it.
“Perhaps the best advice to avoid
pressure-filled purchases is to shop
around” advises Russell.
“But you can only have it for that
price tonight” the salesman will
warn. “There’s no discount unless
you buy now.”
“That’s a pressure sale” Russell
explained. “Stop and think the dis-
count is in the budgeting. Why enroll
in 4 book club or buy children’s en-
cyclopedias when you may not have
children. In most cases it will be
seven to eight years before the child
not yet conceived can use the books
the salesman says you so desperately
need .” Your only real needs are for
food clothing shelter and insurance.
“Why buy what you don’t need?”
Russell asked. “Should a family pur-
chase a $500 vacuum cleaner when
they clon’t even own their own carpet
or home yet? Especially when the
Post Exchange offers an excellent
substitute for $200.”
But the salesman says you can
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to act fast. Impress on children the
importance of getting out quickly.
Do not stop to dress or get pets or
belongings.
THANKS
TO SP/4 MILLER
& SP/5 SMITH
FOR STOPPING
& HELPING ME
WITH MY CAR.
MRS. STANTON
KILLEEN 1
downtown
INC-
Vji Irt
make easy monthly payments. “It’ll
cost just pennies a day” he’ll prom-
ise. “My car costs only 800 pennies a
day” Russell said. “But that’s $240 a
month.”
“But you need the Seller will
continue. “No” Russell maintained
“he needs you do not need. He needs
and wants the sale. Boats cars jewel-
ry and fancy clothes are not needs.”
You should not only be wary of the
bait and switch tactic but also of what
looks and sounds too good. You are
not obligated to buy at any solicita-
tion. Even if the salesman whines “I
drove all the way over here.” “He’s
getting paid to drive all the way over
there” reminded Russell.
I ’m rk in late a se I
thought you’d buy.” He’s working
late because he wants to and prob-
ably didn’t get up until noon or 2 p.m.
“My boss is really going to get up-
set if I don’t get a sale.” Let him get
another job.
“We’re having a contest and if I can
only get one more sale Let him
-4
“To help stam out life-taking
fires install a smoke detector. Smoke
detectors cannot prevent afire but
can give an early warning to aid in
escape before serious hazards are
apparent” Morin advised.
overnm ent housing on ort
FIRE bEPT.
Have a nice weekend
but9 be careful!
ANNIVERSARY I
CELEBRATION!
SERVING THE GREATEST PEOPLE
IN THE GREATEST AREA
IN THE GREATEST STATE
IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY
FOR 32 YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO BEING OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE!
S O E SELECT ITEMS REDUCED
EVEN FURTHER!
SHOP NOW AND SAVE!
ALL SALES FINAL NO EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS
N O LAY-A-WAYS AT SALE PRICES
ALTERATIONS AVAILABLE AT NOMINAL CHARGE
O N ENTIRE STOCK
THRU
SATURDAY OCT. 3RD!
MEN'S
SHOP
OPEN LATE EVENINGS
CORNER OF 8 & A E O W N O W N KILLEEN
get it from someone else.
Consumers should beware of seL*.
lers that put them on such “guilt
trips.” In a solicitation your only
obligation is to protect yourself. So
stop feeling guilty.
A smart consumer avoids pressure
sales of item he doesn’t ant or
need. He researches the best possible
rice and ro for his ant
through consumer magazines and
checking with friends and neighbors
who own similar items. '.'V-v
He takes his time to buy to avoid
impulse spending which usually re-
sults in unwanted items and debts
and he works wth salespeople and
businesses of which he’s certain.
Being new to an area makes you
the target for every kind of sale from
every type of seller. Your protection
can only come from learning the
smart way to shop. !
If you do experience a consumer
type problem you feel is the er-.
chant’s fault Russell is available by
calling 685-CITY (685-2489).
fl
Hood should already have smoke de-
tectors installed. If not contact Fami-
ly Housing and ask that one be put in.
your home. Protect the safety of you
and your family before afire starts
and lives and ro rty are en
dangered” he concluded.
DOWNTOWN
INC.-
5HP*.
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The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 1, 1981, newspaper, October 1, 1981; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth309521/m1/6/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=0: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Casey Memorial Library.