I am tired of hearing and reading about the scams that have been used to deceive persons in their time of crisis.

At times we are at the mercy of those we go to for maintenance. Whether it is car care or health care, we need these types of services. While many of us are trying to keep our heads above water, businesses advertise sales and discounts, only to take advantage and gouge you. The service becomes less personal, careless and at times more costly. As one friend puts it, “I feel powerless and taken advantage of.” To my friend and others alike, I ditto the same. There seems to be a shortage of businesses and professionals that are understanding and honest. So, who do we trust?

The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce has been promoting a great campaign of shopping, investing or plain spending your dollar with the local establishments. However, as much as we may endorse this concept, it is a travesty when some of our locals lack integrity, personal desire to serve, and at times unfair pricing/charges.

Some restaurants have definitely lowered their standards, shopping stores are cold and non-caring, health facilities seem to be less family oriented and more toward the green family dollar bills.

Don’t these folks realize that their job or their business, whatever it may be, is still a blessing? The competition is on, so if they intend to survive and beat this recession, they better value their clients, customers, patients and friends. We all deserve to be treated with respect and honesty.

To better illustrate my point, I will share a few incidents of my summer of scams. The following information does not represent all of Federal Way’s businesses, and I still endorse the Chamber’s campaign of shopping at home.

I faced some crisis in which I needed to use some specialized services. In doing so, I tried to use the local businesses and support my city, but unfortunately, businesses that were outside the Federal Way boundaries were more efficient.

The visit to a Federal Way based medical facility was very unpleasant. At the referred local office, I walked in the medical building, but left being wheeled out to my car and given two options: Go home or go to the emergency room. I suffered five hours of agony in the local doctor’s office, but the re-assigned doctor took less than an hour to complete the procedure, and provided quality service with respect and integrity.

Another incident was with a local roofing company, which was well advertised, yet failed to deliver the product and service as agreed. The company even had the audacity to increase the charge for the mediocre unfinished job. Yup, the local advertised roofing company opened the door for a company from outside our city limits to earn business for eight homes.

This next incident is not a specialized necessity; however its impact occurs more often. My wife and I went to dinner at a very popular eating place in our city. This lively restaurant thought that perhaps since it is a popular place, losing one customer didn’t matter. I left with a terrible taste of the cold savorless food, and with a bitter taste of that establishment. A week later, we went to one outside our city. Unfortunately, the silverware had spots and we had to get clean sets, but immediately, the manager came to our table and was very apologetic. The manager went beyond just an apology. His sincere apology would have appeased me; however what we received beyond the apology was dinner, compliments of the business. As the economy continues to affect us all with a jobless rate near 9.4 percent, lending institutions are doubling their efforts to keep the loans rolling, and coupons in the mail have increased. Spending our money becomes more selective.

So, where do we shop? How often do we hear people say that in order to get good service, one should shop at stores owned by persons of their same labeled group? Some believe that if you are of a certain religion or faith that you should give them the business. Others say “go with your ethnic group,” and then some endorse only their family members. That old way of trying to lure the Latinos’ business by placing a “Se Habla Español” sign doesn’t suffice. You have to hire the Latino who speaks Spanish first. To this criteria, I say “phooey!”

Remember, it is not what the sign says — it is who owns that sign. It doesn’t matter the color, race, political affiliation, religion, gender, family or proximity of the business. If the service is not acceptable, respectful, honest and people oriented, then don’t patronize them. Beware of the summer of scams.