(DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX)    Seniors shopping for goods and services are a huge target.  Just watch cable television news some evening and you’ll see the parade of advertisers vying for the attention of the senior consumer.   Pete Thomson, Founder of The Consumer Team, says senior consumers need to shop carefully.   Thomson said, “The senior market is big, big business.  And the marketers targeting the senior consumer is very sophisticated and, at times, diabolical.  If consumers aren’t careful, they can end up spending a lot of money for bad products and services.”

Sites offering referrals to nursing home facilities are a concern, according to Thomson.  He added, “There are some big national companies in both the nursing home and nursing home referral categories.   This fact, combined with the profit expectations for these companies, can result in a bad product for the consumer.   To clarify, I”m not saying that all of the large companies involved are bad, just that consumers need to be very vigilant when shopping in this environment.”   Thomson recommends finding a locally based referral source.  In the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, Thomson recognized Senior Living Specialists as offering best practices.   Thomson added, “Based on the research we’ve done for DFW, Senior Living Specialists is clearly offering a superior service.   Paul Markowitz is the Founder of Senior Living Specialists and we’re very impressed with his commitment to quality and personal attention for his clients.  The fact that he’s DFW based is very important, we believe.”

The Consumer Team is airing a series of program segments on the senior market.   According to Thomson, The Consumer Team will be addressing the challenges that seniors face in a series of broadcasts.   In addition to nursing home referral services, Thomson said that The Consumer Team will focus on other areas of concern, including retirement planning, numismatic coins and precious metals, PC clean-up and speed-up programs, charities and final payments insurance.   Thomson added, “Each of these consumer categories are targeting senior consumers because they’re passionate about causes, have money to spend and can oftentimes be isolated from getting a second opinion on a purchase.”

The Consumer Team with Pete Thomson is heard Saturdays from 5-7 PM (Central) on CBS Radio’s 1080 KRLD in Dallas-Ft. Worth.  The Consumer Team is produced by McQ Media, Dallas, Texas.