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. 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: 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) 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)