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Statisticallyspeaking, chances are slim-to-none that you consistently avail yourself of the most fundamental of all finan- cial princi- ples — to get what you pay for. Accord- ing to Donna McCrohan, author of "Get What You Pay For or Don't Pay at All," only 4 percent of dissatisfied customers let a business know when they are unhappy with a product or service and then follow up effectively until they are satisfied. One can only conclude that the rest of us throw good money down the drain for clothing that doesn't fit right and appli- ances that don't live up to their promises. We prefer to cram the stuff into clos- ets and cupboards rather than take the time and ef- fort to request a refund or satisfactory replacement. When the dry cleaner ruins a favorite shirt, we gripe to a friend instead of the dry cleaner's owner. Or when the coffee grinder doesn't grind, we mum- ble under our breath and don't even look for the cus- tomer service 800 num- ber, which might well be printed right there on the infuriating little monster. I can only conclude from all of this that 96 percent of us complain about shoddy workman- ship or inferior service but never get around to re- questing the work be re- done or negotiating a fair and reasonable adjust- ment. We give up too soon — or more likely, don't even get started. Why are we like that? We don't want to cause a scene. It's easier to say nothing than raise a fuss. We're too lazy to make the call, go back to the store or write the letter. We're masters of denial. We'll do anything to avoid a con- frontation. Whenever you do not get what you've paid for, see the remedy process as a ladder. Climbing it is the way to get to where you want to go. Surprisingly most situations can be re- solved on the first rung of the ladder. RUNGONE Don't delay. If the service was lousy, the food awful or the product disappointing, let some- one know of your dissat- isfaction. If you find it doesn't fit or wasn't what you expected, return it immediately. Each day you delay increases the possibility you'll never fol- low up. Do you really have room to store something you can't use? Take your problem to the highest- ranking individual avail- able right there in the store. That could be a su- pervisor or the store man- ager. Communicate your problem clearly and cour- teously along with a spe- cific, reasonable outcome you expect. RUNG TWO Use the phone. Find the number of the corporate headquarters, the name of a regional su- pervisor or the customer service department. This information is likely at the company's website. Be gently persistent un- til you are able to speak with this person. Explain your situation, what you've done so far and what you would like him or her to do to correct the situation. If this doesn't work, keep moving up. RUNG THREE Write a let- ter. Letters have three de- cided advantages: You avoid confrontations, you can compose your thoughts carefully and you will have a record of what you said and when you said it. Make sure your letter is neatly typed, includes your name, address and phone number and a date by which you would like to receive a response. Be sure to keep a paper trail made up of copies of cor- respondence, receipts and detailed notes of conver- sations. Most consumer disputes can be settled somewhere on those first three rungs. In the unlikely event you need to move higher, you have options, including enlisting allies such as elected officials and the media or pursuing arbi- tration, mediation, litiga- tion, small-claims court or class-action suits. To make sure you are al- ways courteous and main- tain a fragrant spirit, never forget that every sales and customer service person: • Has the right to be as- sumed intelligent • Has feelings • May have a difficult or irrational boss • May be aware of a stu- pid policy, yet be forced to observe it • Has a personal life complete with sick loved ones, career disappoint- ments and bad days As consumers, it's our right to have our reason- able expectations met when we make purchases or contract for services. That puts sellers on notice that our money isn't theirs without our consent. And if they take our money without returning full satisfaction? We sim- ply will not let them keep it. Period. MaryHuntisthefounder of www.DebtProofLiving. com, a personal finance member website. You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE Satisfaction; your basic consumer right The Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Western Art Show and Sale offered, by silent auction, braided rawhide reins by Buck's Harness to raise funds for Wounded Warriors, Fisher House Foundation. The custom braided raw- hide reins went to Karen Foster, owner of Burr Val- ley Ranch west of Red Bluff. The five-button pattern of red, white and blue but- tons on these reins repre- sent the five branches of the United States Armed Forces. The rein ends are NATO-marked military M-16 rifle shells. These all rawhide Santa Ynez reins and custom rein chains were made to sup- port the Fisher House Foun- dation. Buck, the artist, says he has always had an apprecia- tion for quality ranch made rawhide gear. "To me, the beauty of the gear is in its function- ality and usability," he said. "It should have a purpose and you should be able to use it for the rest of your life and then pass it on to your grand kids. This gear and method of making it have remained relatively unchanged for almost 250 years." The Fisher House Foun- dation furnishes lodging at no cost to families of veter- ans receiving treatment at military and VA hospitals nationwide and abroad. They also have programs to assist with travel expenses and meals. For information on the 2016 Red Bluff Bull & Geld- ing Sale and Western Art Show send an email to madranchmama@gmail. com. BULL SALE Auctiontosupport military families Altacal Audubon pro- gram and field trip activi- ties for June are as follows. All programs and activities are free of cost unless oth- erwise indicated and are open to the public. ALTACAL AUDUBON POT- LUCK AND BIRDING MEXI- CO'SYUCATANPENINSULA presented by Scott Huber, 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, at the Chico Creek Na- ture Center >> Travel along with the Huber Family on a PowerPoint of their March birding trip to the Yucatan. Scott will share the itiner- ary, travel tips, locations and of course the birds. The Huber's departed the beaten path and stayed in a variety of Eco-Lodges, vis- ited some out-of-the-way ruins, swam in cenotes and snorkeled in the Caribbean. Bring a Mexican themed potluck dish to share, bev- erage for yourself, utensils and chair. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO ANDLESSERNIGHTHAWKAT SACRAMENTO RIVER WILD- LIFE UNITS June 6. The group will be scouring Pine Creek Unit and other Units of the Sacramento River Wildlife Refuge in search of the ever-elusive Yellow- Billed Cuckoo. The trip will begin at 7 a.m. and will be meeting at the parking lot at Pine Creek off of Hwy 32, just east of Hamilton City. Other notable birds of in- terest will be Blue Gros- beak, Lazuli Bunting, Cas- pian Tern and Forster's Tern. There will be an as- sortment of warblers, Bull- ock's Oriole and flycathers. Pack a lunch, there are picnic tables at the Indian Fisheries and a bathroom unit. Contact Matthew For- ster, findforster@yahoo. com or 619-347-2269 for more information. SHASTA COUNTY BIG WEEK- END June 13-14. Trip Leader: Scott Huber. True bird-nerds are always seek- ing some new list to keep or way to challenge them- selves. Huber will lead a two-day trip to Shasta County to try to see as many birds in the county as possible. Great for those who keep county lists. Gi- ant Shasta County includes the Sacramento river, the north side of Lassen Park and the Pit River and Fall River Mills area. Plan on leaving early Saturday morning, camping Satur- day night. Sign up early to assist in planning. Plan on bringing all food needed for the weekend, tents, sleeping bags, an adventur- ous spirit and good sense of humor. Prepare for the pos- sibility of rain. Car-pooling encouraged. Contact Huber if you are planning to at- tend at 321-5579 or wm- scotthuber@gmail.com. WARNER VALLEY CAMP- ING, LASSEN VOLCANIC NA- TIONAL PARK June 19-21, trip leaders Joseph O'Neil and Gaylord Grams. A multi-day camp, hike and bird watching adventure. Lakes, streams and gey- sers are close by to Las- sen's Warner Valley camp- ground which is mile before Drakesbad Guest Ranch. This is located on the east side of the park and accessed from Chester. Summer upper elevation birds such as Cassin's Vi- rio, Pileated Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak, possibly the coveted Goshawk and a multitude of Warblers. Bring your park pass or $14 a day per camp site for the Iron Ranger. Bring din- ner food to share, also your own lunches, breakfast and snacks. Contact Joseph O'Neil josephoneil@earth- link.net or Gaylord Grams at 533-1624 for more infor- mation and finalized plans. WINTU, REDBUD AND RED- WOOD ALTACAL CAMPOUT AT LASSEN VOLCANIC NA- TIONAL PARK June 26- 28, trip leaders Mary Muchowski and Jenni- fer Patten. The park road should be free of snow by late June and it should be ideal for observing nesting birds. People can either camp at Lost Creek or drive up for either or both Satur- day and Sunday. Campers can arrive at the campsite at a time of their choosing on Friday afternoon. Day trippers meet 9 a.m. Sun- day, June 28, at the camp- site. Lost Creek has primi- tive facilities — pit toilets and no electricity, but po- table water is available. Group size is limited. Con- tact Mary Muchowski at 228-0625, mmuchowski@ earthlink or Jennifer Pat- ten at 345-9356, jpchico@ sbcglobal.net. If you have any questions or want further informa- tion about specific activi- ties please contact Wayland Augur at 530-519-4724 or email wba@acm.org. ALTACAL Audubon events planned for June Mary Hunt COURTESYPHOTO Karen Foster poses with braided rawhide reins by Buckís Harness which she won at silent auction during the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale's Western Art Show and Sale in January. The annual Police & Fire Fun Golf Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9 at Sevil- lano Links at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning. Golfers will tee off with a shotgun start 9:30 a.m. in this 4-person scramble-for- mat event. Each team must include at least one police, fire or first responder — active or retired — in its group. Entry fee is $60 per player, which includes green fees, cart, range ac- cess, lunch and an entry into the raffle. "The day is meant to be a celebration, with more focus on the fun factor and camaraderie than the com- petition and score," said PGA Teaching Pro and Golf Coach Ron Kuwata. "We en- courage police and fire as well as other first respond- ers to block their calendar and invite their friends, co- workers and family to play in this event ,which was es- pecially created for them." Kuwata, who co-founded the tournament with his wife, Willow's Police Officer Mrs. Kelly Kuwata, under- stands the importance of gatherings such as this one. According to Kuwata, there is a hole-in-one con- test with a 2015 Ford Fu- sion from Corning Ford as the prize plus a raffle with exciting prizes, such as twosomes and foursomes of golf at Sevillano Links and other popular golf fa- cilities in Northern Cali- fornia. The entry deadline is Tuesday, June 2. Make checks payable to Sevillano Links and mail to: Ron Kuwata, 380 El Dorado Ave., Willows, CA, 95988. Any questions about the tournament, call Kuwata at (916) 616-1187 or send an email to RKPGA@att.net. For those traveling in for the event, hotel accommo- dations can be made at The Lodge at Rolling Hills Ca- sino at (530) 824-3220. TO DO An nu al p ol ic e an d fir e fu n go lf d ay VISITUSONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION Sendusyour rants & raves 645Antelope Blvd. (across from the Tehama District Fairgrounds) at Frontier Village Frontier Village Farmers Market IsMoving! NEW LOCATION SOON Same hours 8:00-12:30 Every Saturday Interland Business & Gifts 1122 Solano St, Corning, CA Office (530) 824-5696 Email: interlandbus@gmail.com Public Fax: (530) 824-6659 Black&ColorCopying Laminating ~Spiral Binding Business Cards Raffle Tickets Typing ~Resumes ~Flyers VisitourGiftShop LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, June 2, 2015 MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5