Consumerist Gets A Tip Jar
I chased Meghann through the hallways of Consumer Reports, a blue lab coat flapping in my hands, myself sporting an identical lab coat. She ducked and dodged, and every time I thought I had her, she reappeared in an opposite doorway and was overall a very wily opponent.
As I rested against the white wall,l bathed in the cool fluorescent glow to to catch my breath, Meghann still sans lab coat, I asked myself, what the hell am I doing? I'm a blogger, not a Scooby-Doo supernumerary. Myself replied that we're shooting videos to launch our new Consumerist tip jar at DonateToConsumerist.com...
When Consumerist was getting sold, we were struck by how many people said they would throw down some bucks to keep the site running. Well, now that we're a non-profit, that donation is tax-deductible, a BOGO of sorts. So we'll be putting up a tip-jar soon to help pay for the writers, the servers, techs and the legal beagles that keep the blog a-truck-truck-trucking. We've checked, and Tax-Cat approves. However, drawings of spiders will not be accepted as a valid form of payment.
According to the data dwarfs, we have about 3 million visitors in a month. If everyone gives just $2.002, our blog skills will be unstoppable. For less than the cost of a burnt Starbucks, you can keep Consumerist running longer than Obama will be president. That's change between the couch cushions you can believe in.
If you guys fill the tipjar, forthcoming in the next few days, we bet Consumer Reports will test The Snuggie for us. Like, is it flammable? And other burning questions. Plus, maybe we can get Meghann to put on her lab coat. You'll just have to watch as each hot new video drops to find out.
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Comments:
Wow Ben, that almost read like a woot! product description. Besides the great reporting, pictures of cute kitties, and the lost productivity at my job, will this be like PBS and we get stuff for certain donations? Like a Consumerist Mug? While I appreciate the stuff I mentioned before, I still can always use a mug. And what better mug than one from Consumerist? It's almost guaranteed not to leak or become lava hot in the microwave. Besides, what store will mess with someone with a Consumerist mug?
I guess what I'm really saying is, How much do I have to donate for a lab coat?
I'm in. Now where the hell do I sign up?
Please accept something other than PayPal!
I like this. The alternative to support Consumerist was to buy a Consumer Reports online subscription which frankly I have had before and was less than impressive... filled with many many outdated products (except for cars), recommended models that have not been made for years, etc. This way I can give straight to the part of CR that actually deserves money.
501(c)3 FTW!
@semanticantics: How about I send you a check and you deposit half of that in your account and send the rest to my friend.
Why is the cost of things continually related to the price of a coffee??? Some of us don't buy overpriced crappy coffee, nor do we buy other daily beverages.
@pecan 3.14159265: That would be hilarious if Paypal screws up the donation, we can't get our money back and then it will be sent in to consumerist for help.
You can count me in for a donation ... just gimme a link :)
What is the name of the non-profit? I don't see Consumer Media here: [www.irs.gov] IRS 501c3 listing
I'm not trying to be an arse, just wondering the connection
Do you accept bags of urine-soaked coins?
KIDDING! I'm totally in once you post the link.
Will you accept an Amazon gift certificate?
Hailing from the Soviet Republic of Canuckistan, would I be able to deduct a donation?
@ConroyCotta: I had an internal debate this morning about buying apple juice rather than just drinking water as my alternative to coffee.
Maybe I need more coffee.
Can we have a free lab coat with every donation? And with some of the money, can you give a lab coat to Tax Cat?
Count me in. Consumerist.com is part of my daily schedule. Wake, Pee, Coffee, Consumerist.com
Yeah i've never donated for anything before. I definately will support this.
However, I would also buy a consumerist t-shirt or hat. Just something to think about. Get whoever writes your awesome headlines to make some slogans. :)
I think if we fill this "forthcoming tipjar" that you all should have to blog in Snuggies for a day.
As long as you stay away from open flames of course.
@Hoss: I believe that this is Consumer Reports:
Consumers Union of United States Inc. E Haddam CT USA --
Consumers Union of United States Inc. Yonkers NY USA --
@WhiteGuyOnWebCam_GitEmSteveDave: Good idea there. $10 for a Consumerist mug, $20 for a Consumerist t-shirt, $35 for both (you could just donate $20 and $10, but the whole point of that would be to throw Consumerist a few extra bucks).
Accept something other than PayPal, and you've got yourself a couple bucks heading your way from me.
@Meg Marco: Can I send you a $1,000 check, have you take $100 of it, and then have you Western Union me the rest back? :P
I can has Tax Cut Mugz?
Seriously, guys. Give us da link, awready...
Yay! Something to do with my Circuit City gift card! J/K, good luck getting Meghann into uniform!
GAH! Tax CAT Mugz! CAT!!
No, no! Don't clawz me, bro!
AAIEEeee!!..
@WhiteGuyOnWebCam_GitEmSteveDave: i would donate for a t-shirt with the carpet bomb logo & some catchy phrase on it.
oh hell, i'd probably donate anyway. i just think that graphic would like cool on a shirt.
I've gotten plenty of value out of this website. I have no problem sending some money your way.
@Hoss: Consumers Union is, in fact, a non-profit. However, Consumer Media LLC does not appear to be. Consumer Media LLC is a Delaware corporation (which has to also file in New York, since they have employees there):
(You'll have to search. Unfortunately, Delaware's site is incredibly lame and the actual entry is not accessible via GET.)
Consumer Media LLC does not appear to be a non-profit themselves, although I assume it is owned by Consumers Union. I can't see the owner information, and I'm not about to shell out $10 or $20 to get it, especially since Consumers Union is, IMO, trustworthy enough.
@Meg Marco: WIN! Meg, that is an amazing address! I want to come visit some time really soon!
GO CUBS! :)
@TinkishDelight: But it should be themed--like "Consumerist" is pasting over a fake crack in the mug.
@socialSTD: No! If I donate money I want them to blog in a Snuggie with the open flames right there. What else would I get with my money?
@thnkwhatyouthnk: I am all for a cape for my cats stating they are "Honorary Tax Cats" w/the paw seal of Captain Duval Moneycat.
How about a drawing of Tax Cat, then?
After this year's 1040, that's about all I have left, since I had to mail in my bag of urine-soaked coins to the IRS.
I'm a poor college student making minimum wage, and yet, this site is so useful and entertaining that even I will donate. You guys are awesome and I don't mind helping at all.
@Hoss: Consumer Media LLC, the parent company of The Consumerist, is a not-for-profit Delaware Limited Liability Corporation. When the donation form is posted, all of the applicable information will be provided. You can find some basic information about us here. For more financial information about our parent company, Consumers Union, you can find our annual report and tax filings here. I'm happy to answer whatever questions I can about Consumer Media and Consumers Union.
Marc Perton
Executive Editor
Consumer Media, LLC
I've been a consumerist reader since your first week and I will cheerfully donate.
And I'm just curious -- you really need $6+ million to keep going!?
Well in that case, count me in for $5.