After numerous speeches and seminars, Im asked, how can consumers and businesspeople protect themselves against rip-offs?

Theres no foolproof way to assure that youre going to receive quality customer service, to be surprised and delighted, or to have your expectations surpassed.

But one way to avoid scams and to foil the fraudulent is to Try before you buy.

What, exactly, do I mean?

Make sure, as part of your negotiation, you are able to sample something before completely committing to owning it.

For example, a few years ago troubled car maker Jaguar offered a 30 day, money back guarantee to folks who bought their cars. Because this nameplate had a reputation for bringing heartbreaks to purchasers, the manufacturer felt it had to try this gambit to get people to drive these vehicles from showrooms.

Theres no reason you cant personally negotiate the same guarantee from any dealer selling any model at any time. The dealer owns, or is technically financing the car he sells to you, so he can cut nearly any deal he wishes.

If you insist that you want to try before you buy, or more specifically, that you need an out, if the car fails to meet your requirements, then he can write that into the deal, if he wants your business badly enough.

This also means beware of any situations where you see the sign, All sales are final.

Thats usually a tip-off of a rip-off; that whatever is being sold either falls apart fast or fails to satisfy buyers, so sellers feel they must circumvent buyers remorse.

Never make a sale final until youre convinced you have done the right thing.

Sometimes this means crafting, or having your attorney draft what is referred to as a condition precedent or a condition subsequent.

In laymans terms these are clauses in contracts that say a deal isnt sealed until something happens first, or its only a deal if something doesnt happen later.

I have to keep it 30 days before the sale is final or I can return it for a full refund within 30 days if Im not satisfied are the kinds of conditions that can be agreed to.

When you have these in effect, you can be assured that you can safely try before you buy!