ANCHOR LEAD IN:
Source: Jupiter Research
DOES YOUR WALLET SEEM TO BE BULGING THESE DAYS? UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF US HAVEN'T STUMBLED ON EXTRA CASH - BUT WE MAY BE CARRYING AROUND A LOT OF NEW PLASTIC. NOWADAYS, THREE OUT OF FOUR AMERICANS USES REWARDS CARDS! BUT NOT ALL REWARDS PROGRAMS ARE CREATED EQUAL -- AND THAT'S TODAY'S HEADS UP.

TRACK ONE Length: :04
MUSIC TEACHER DIANE ANDERSON SURROUNDS HERSELF WITH BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS...

NATS Length: :01
Nat sting of piano playing

TRACK TWO Length: :08
SO WHEN ANDERSON WAS OFFERED A REWARDS CARD AT A FAVORITE BOOK AND CD STORE RECENTLY, SHE FIGURED, WHY NOT? SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE ALWAYS BUYING THINGS THERE ANYWAY...

SOT:
KEY @: :16 Diane Anderson, Music Teacher
"We're both avid readers and listeners of music."

TRACK THREE Length: :11
SOURCE: Jupiter Research
ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF U-S RETAILERS NOW OFFER REWARDS PROGRAMS AS A COMPETITIVE STRATEGY. CONSUMER ADVOCATE EDGAR DWORSKY (DUH-WAR-SKEE) SAYS THEY TEND TO POP UP IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES - SUCH AS BOOK CHAINS...

SOT:
KEY @: :31 Edgar Dworsky, Founder, www.consumerworld.org
"Office stores, electronic stores, pet supply stores, um, certainly the traditional things you think of to collect rewards points like airlines, hotels...even dry cleaners."

TRACK FOUR Length: :10
BUT NOT ALL PERK PLANS ARE ALIKE. SOME ASK FOR LOTS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT CAN BE SOLD TO OTHER COMPANIES. AND, LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE PERKS...THEY MAY NOT BE WORTH IT. BOTTOM LINE, ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BEFORE JOINING...

SOT:
KEY @: :55 Edgar Dworsky, Founder, www.consumerworld.org
"Is it easy to sign up, is there a fee to sign up, is the reward generous, do you get some extra perks like coupons in the mail, or maybe even free shipping?"

SOT:
KEY @: 1:04 Diane Anderson, Music Teacher
"You just hope that you're going to get some savings with the cards, because the cost of living is so high."

TRACK FIVE Length: 06
AND KEEP IN MIND, THE SIMPLE IDEA BEHIND THESE PROGRAMS IS TO BRING YOU BACK INTO THE STORE TO BUY AGAIN...

SOT:
NO KEY Edgar Dworsky, Founder, www.consumerworld.org
"This is the new fangled version of green stamps."

ANCHOR TAG:
DWORSKY SAYS THAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR A DISCOUNT, THERE ARE OFTEN OTHER PERKS TO BEING A MEMBER IN THESE PROGRAMS - SUCH AS FREE SHIPPING OR ONLINE COUPONS. SO CHECK OUT THE WHOLE PROGRAM BEFORE DECIDING.

SOURCE INFORMATION:

Edgar Dworsky
147 Shore Drive
Somerville, MA
(617) 666-5958

Bio: Edgar Dworsky is founder of Consumer World, a consumer advocacy web site, and is a former assistant attorney general for Massachusetts.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND/SOURCE INFORMATION
One-third of U.S. retailers, including 24% of Internet businesses, offer some kind of reward or point program to lure customers, according to a 2005 study by JupiterResearch, an Internet research firm.