Wednesday, 26 September 2007 01:49

Truth-In-Advertising for Rebates

slide7EVER BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH THOSE MAIL AWAY REBATES OFFERED ON ELECTRONICS AND CELL PHONES? FINALLY, THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE MAY BE DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT POCKETING MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DUE TO CONSUMERS. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS HAVE NOW PASSED A BILL TO BAN SUCH ADS THAT PROMISE A LOWER PRICE, WHICH IS REALLY THE PRICE AFTER THE MAIL IN REBATE IS RECEIVED. ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE FEUER, D-LOS ANGELES, SAID HIS BILL STEMS FROM A SIMPLE PREMISE: "THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY THE ADVERTISED PRICE." CUSTOMERS ARE LURED BY BARGAIN PROMISES ONLY TO FIND IN TINY TYPE, OFTEN OVERLOOKED, THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO PAY MORE NOW BUT CAN FILE A REBATE REQUEST LATER, FEUER SAID.

"THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY A TRUTH-IN-ADVERTISING BILL," HE SAID. "FINE PRINT IS FINE PRINT FOR A REASON. IF IT WERE MEANT TO BE FOCUSED ON, IT WOULD BE IN BOLD TYPE." UNDER ASSEMBLY BILL 1673, STORES ADVERTISING MAIL REBATES WOULD HAVE TWO CHOICES: EITHER EMPHASIZE THE HIGHER PRICE OR HONOR THE REBATE IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK REIMBURSEMENT THEMSELVES.

FEUER'S MEASURE IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF CONSUMER-RELATED BILLS ON GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER'S DESK, INCLUDING:

• SENATE BILL 250 -- ENABLE CONSUMERS TO REDEEM GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR CASH ONCE THEIR VALUE FALLS BELOW $10.

• SENATE BILL 120 -- REQUIRE RESTAURANT CHAINS WITH 14 OR MORE OUTLETS TO PUBLICIZE CALORIES, CARBOHYDRATES AND NUTRITIONAL DATA ON EACH MENU ITEM.
• SENATE BILL 220 -- REQUIRE LABELING FOR BOTTLED WATER TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE WATER WAS OBTAINED, AND MANDATE THAT WATER-VENDING MACHINES BE CLEANED AND SERVICED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 31 DAYS.
• SENATE BILL 63 -- REQUIRE LABELING TO IDENTIFY FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION THAT IS PRODUCED FROM A CLONED ANIMAL.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN NO POSITION ON ANY OF THE BILLS AND HAS UNTIL OCT. 14 TO ACT. BUT MOST GOP LEGISLATORS HAVE REJECTED THE FIVE CONSUMER MEASURES, AND A VARIETY OF BUSINESS GROUPS ARE URGING THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TO VETO THEM. THE SACRAMENTO BEE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY