I welcome you to Consumer Corner, designed to provide free information that should be of concern to every consumer. This is not legal advice, but a venue to share consumer concerns. All information provided here is a combination of extensive research and actual experiences. This is also an opportunity to ask questions that will be answered in this column.

The first issue, and probably one of the most important for any consumer, is to research the product(s) and or service(s) you are about to go shopping for. If you have a computer, and that is perhaps a given if you are viewing this article, then you are in a perfect position to comparitive shop.

The Internet provides so much information about so many subjects that it is almost impossible to not find the product/service you are looking for. Using one of the myraid of search engines: Google, Firefox, etc., and using the least common definiton of your article: camera, kodak, digital or simple combinations like that you can surf the largest catalog in history — online.

Comparative shopping is also comparitive searching. For instance, if you want new ink cartridges for your computer printer go online and type in "compatible ink cartridge for (brand)" and you will find many options, including companies that offer pricing far below the big box stores. They call them generic because they are refilled and do not have a common popular name on them. Be sure to read about their guarantee and be sure to check more than one as some offer free shipping with a minimum order. Yes, it does take time.

But when you can save $5, $10, and more on each cartridge, it may very well be worth it to try them. Look for that guarantee and their policies. i have used them for years with no problems.

Comparitive shopping can be done online and on the phone, for services as well as consumer goods. If you need tires, call various tire stores before you leave home. You may want to compare prices for balancing and mounting only, going from winter to summer tires. Write down the information and take it with you.

Compare local stores for many items, as they are in competition with each other and you may be able to "dicker" about the prices and warranties and service packages for large purchases.

Comparing item for item, pound for pound, and quality for quality may save you a lot of money and time.

Next time I will discuss barcodes

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Who is Dale Hayward?

Dale Hayward was born and raised in Belfast and Northport, and lives in Rockland.

He graduated from Harford Institute of Accounting in Connecticut and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He was a state auditor in Delaware and Maine, where he also owned and operated private accounting practices. From 1978 to 1992 he owned and operated Seaport Office Supply. For the next eight years he drove a tour bus 600,000 miles across the United States and Canada.

Dale holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration, with a major in management and a minor in finance, from the University of Maine. He retired in 2007. He previously presented a consumer talk show on WRFR.

On why he continues to share consumer information, Dale said, "Consumer information is critical for people to survive in this economy and I would like to share my extension knowledge after having researched issues for many years. The format is to provide tips, advice and facts for people to check out further. This is not legal advice and does not carry any promises."