Gadget Gamble

ANCHOR LEAD IN:
WE DO LOVE OUR GADGETS…
OUR CELL PHONES, IPODS, ALL THE DIGITAL TOYS THAT KEEP
US CONNECTED.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GADGETS GO WRONG?
WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR GIZMO IN FOR REPAIR - DON'T COUNT ON
GETTING YOUR OWN BACK.
________ ________ TELLS US WHY IN TODAY'S HEADS UP.

NAT SOT MUSIC Length: 01
Music sting

TRACK ONE Length:11
WHEN OUR PRIZED GADGETS STOP WORKING-WE HAVE TWO CHOICES… EITHER TOSS THEM OR FIX THEM. CRISTY ORTIZ (or-TIZ) WASN'T ABOUT TO TOSS HER SON'S NEW
CELL PHONE WHEN IT DIDN'T HOLD A CHARGE SO SHE BROUGHT IT BACK.

SOT
KEY @:13 Cristy Ortiz, Got a Refurbished Phone
"They said, okay we'll replace it. It's going to be another refurbished model."

TRACK TWO Length:12
CRISTY WAS SURPRISED SHE WAS GETTING BACK SOMEONE ELSE'S REPAIRED PHONE AND EVEN MORE SURPRISED WHEN IT TOO DIDN'T WORK.FOUR TIMES SHE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS. FOUR TIMES SHE GOT BACK A REFURBISHED MODEL - EACH WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

SOT
KEY @ : 28 Cristy Ortiz, Got a Refurbished Phone
"It was incredibly frustrating."

TRACK THREE Length:13
RICK GOSS IS WITH THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ALLIANCE.
HE SAYS FOR MOST ELECTRONIC ITEMS - FROM PHONES TO
CAMERAS TO TV's - IT'S MADE CLEAR IN THE WARRANTY THAT
YOU MAY RECEIVE A REFURBISHED PRODUCT AS A REPLACEMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS.

SOT
KEY @ :44 Rick Goss, Electronic Industries Alliance
"Chief among that is the consumer would be without the product for
several weeks. Another major issue is just logistics and cost of sending it
back to the consumer."

TRACK FOUR Length: 04
BUT GOSS SAYS YOU SHOULD RECEIVE A REFURBISHED PRODUCT THAT WORKS LIKE NEW.

SOT
KEY @: 55 Rick Goss, Electronic Industries Alliance
"A product that's fully functional, a product that's gone through all the
testing protocols, a product that has the rest of the warranty associated
with it."

TRACK FIVE Length:11
SUSAN GRANT IS WITH THE NATIONAL CONSUMER'S LEAGUE… SHE SAYS MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THEY COULD GET BACK ANOTHER PERSON'S REPAIRED MODEL …INSTEAD OF THEIR
OWN. BUT, SHE SAYS, YOU DO HAVE SOME RIGHTS.

SOT
KEY @ :1:11 Susan Grant, National Consumers League
"States provide what's called the 'implied warranty of merchantability.'
That's the basic right that you have to expect that a product that you buy
will work as it should for a reasonable period of time."

TRACK SIX Length: 07
AS FOR CRISTY, WHEN SHE COULDN'T GET A SATISFACTORY PHONE FROM HER PROVIDER -
SHE FOUGHT THE COMPANY AND GOT OUT OF HER CONTRACT.

SOT
NO KEY
"You do have rights and don't be afraid to assert them."

ANCHOR TAG
AND REMEMBER…THIS RETURN AND EXCHANGE POLICY MEANS SOMEONE ELSE MAY END UP WITH YOUR OLD PHONE….SO MAKE SURE YOU ERASE THINGS LIKE EMAILS, PICTURES, PHONE
NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES BEFOREHAND. THERE'S NO LAW
THAT SAYS THE STORE OR MANUFACTURER MUST REMOVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, ALTHOUGH MOST HAVE STRICT RULES THAT REQUIRE IT.

SOURCE LIST
This information may be posted on your website at the bottom of the
NewsProNet script if your station has an extended license that includes your
Web property.

Rick Goss
Electronics Industry Alliance
2500 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA.
22201

Rick Goss is V.P. of Environmental Affairs with the EIA. He also serves
as a representative to the media on a variety of industry issues. The EIA
is a national trade organization representing electronics and high tech
companies and associations.

Susan Grant
National Consumers League
1701 k Street NW
Washington, D.C.

Susan Grant is V.P. of Public Policy for the National Consumers League.
The NCL is a private, non-profit advocacy group representing consumers
on marketplace and workplace issues.

ADDITIONAL SOURCE INFORMATION
FOR CLIENT-STATION USE ONLY
The additional information provided below is for client-station use only. This private contact information cannot be given to viewers nor posted on your Website. It is for internal station use only. It is provided to help you obtain answers to any additional questions you may have and to help you localize a story. Thank you.

Rick Goss
Electronic Industries Alliance
(703)907-7582
RGoss@EIA.ORG

Susan Grant
National Consumers League
(202)835-3323, ext. 124

EXTRA BACKGROUND

Source: National Consumers League

* It's important to remember to remove your personal information
from your electronic device before turning it in. Most
manufacturers provide instructions in the owner's manuals, or
1(800) numbers. If the information is not removed, the retailer or
manufacturer is supposed to remove the information before
servicing the product.
* Details regarding the use of refurbished items can generally be
found in the warranty.
* Consumers who receive a faulty refurbished item should first
contact the retailer or manufacturer and try to resolve the
problem. If they get no satisfaction, they can complain to their
local or state consumer protection agency. Ultimately, they can
file suit in small claims court.

***The Electronics Industry Alliance maintains that beyond getting their
products to consumers in a timely manner, and keeping costs down,
there is also an environmental factor in the practice of using refurbished
items. A tremendous amount of resources would wind up in our landfills if
products were not routinely refurbished and/or remanufactured.

Some companies will allow you specify that you'd like to have your own
item repaired and returned.
If you do get a refurbished gadget back that doesn't work, Susan Grant
says insist on a new one or your money back.
Most reputable manufacturers have 800 numbers on instructions on their
websites telling you how to erase all your personal information if you're
returning a gadget.