Every October 31*, millions of children dressed as hobgoblins, witches and even more frightening visages (Bratz dolls, Jessica Simpson costumes) hit the streets to collect candy from their neighbors in an act known as "trick or treating." Under the traditional T-or-T model, children say "trick or treat" - sometimes more, especially if they are in third grade - and receive whatever candy the seller has elected to provide them.

Such a model clearly is broken, what with the soaring popularity of the Internet. Children now have the ability to visit multiple web sites and see the full selection of available candies and even the youngest can get a sense of the true cost of those oddball treats in halloween orange and black wrappers that their parents will likely throw away anyway because they're loosely wrapped at best.

Even worse, it's not uncommon for some homeowners to reward trick-or-treaters in more elaborate costumes with better candy (either in type or in number) while leaving the Brach's caramels to the kid dressed in a sheet with two holes cut out for the eyes.

So how can the model be changed, the candy received divorced from the act of trick-or-treating? First, homeowners should be required to post a list of what candy they have available. This will allow trick-or-treaters to make a more informed decision about whether it's worth ringing the doorbell. Assuming the candy list meets their basic requirements, they then should negotiate the candy they receive.

For example, when they discover they have only received one Hershey's bar, they should point out to the homeowner that in this market they should be receiving at least three pieces of chocolate, or two pieces of chocolate and a lollipop of no lesser quality than a Charms Pop or Tootsie Roll Pop. If the homeowner is unwilling to negotiate the commission, simply walk away and go to the next house.

This would seem to harm only the trick-or-treater, but in truth it could cause far more long-term damage to a homeowner who soon will be eating salt-water taffy and Mike and Ike candy for the next seven months rather than throw the candy away and waste the equity holding they have in the treats. That can lead to obesity, which itself can lead to a number of health issues.

Some homeowners will be reluctant to participate in what I like to call Trick-or-Treating 2.0, but I believe these folks soon will be destined to having broken pumpkins on their lawn and 30 pounds of candy in their living rooms should they be unwilling to adapt to the changing market.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Under the do as I say, not as I do clause - don't try this at my house. You're getting Mike and Ikes. My wife found them on sale at Wal-Mart. End of discussion.

* every year claim does not apply in Mesa, Arizona where Halloween unofficially was moved to the 30th when it fell on a Sunday night.