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591
July 15, 2016

Get Your Money's Worth

Stories of people trying to make sure they get what they paid for, from political change to bedroom slippers. We follow a donor as he vets presidential candidates, and go inside a company wrestling with the consequences of its "no questions asked,” lifetime return policy.

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Tax Credits

Prologue

Producer Zoe Chace takes a trip to the grocery store with Planet Money co-host – and ultimate bargain shopper – Jacob Goldstein. (5 ½ minutes)

By

Zoe Chace
Act One

The Final Countdown

Doug Deason is a political donor trying to make the biggest decision people like him make every four years – which presidential candidate to back. Producer Zoe Chace follows Deason through the unpredictable primaries of the 2016 election. (22 minutes)

By

Zoe Chace
Act Two

Bean Counter

Reporter Sara Corbett looks into what happens when a company makes this promise: if you’re not 100% satisfied by our product, bring it back. Any time, for any reason; no questions asked. She finds a returns bin that says a lot more about the customers than the products. (20 ½ minutes)

By

Sara Corbett
Act Three

Make It Count

Most stories of customer satisfaction are told by the customers. In this act, we ask: is the product satisfied by life with you? We get answers, from a product itself. Simon Rich reads his short story, “Unprotected.” Please note: this story does vaguely acknowledge the existence of sex. Safe sex. (8 ½ minutes)

By

Simon Rich

Song:

“I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night” by Faron Young

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This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

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