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.
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)
The Final Countdown
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)
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)
Related
Act Two: A Brief History Of Republican Time
Act One: Alien Experiment
Act Two: Maul in the Family
Staff Recommendations
The Giant Pool of Money
The surprisingly entertaining story of how the U.S. got itself into a housing crisis.
Simulated Worlds
Civil War reenactments, wax museums, simulated coal mines, fake ethnic restaurants, an ersatz Medieval castle, and other re-created worlds that thrive all across America.