Consumerist
-
great moments
January 1st, 1808: Slave Importation Banned In US
Considering we spend a good deal of time focusing on legislation that protects consumers and/or (usually or) businesses, we thought it appropriate to point out one of the big historical moments of trade law, not to mention human rights—tomorrow marks the "200th anniversary of Jan. 1, 1808, when the importation of slaves into the United States was prohibited." Hey, it didn't stop the madness, but at least it was a start. More » -
Technology
Apple Files Patent App To Allow Wireless Ordering At Stores
Apple has applied to patent a wireless ordering system that would allow shoppers to place orders from, for example, their iPhones as they approached, oh, let's say a Starbucks, bypassing an ordering line altogether and going straight to the pick-up counter. The system would also allow stores to keep data on repeat customers to speed up future transactions. More » -
Bullying
Video Professor Stops Suing People For Having Opinions It Doesn't Like
The Consumer Law & Policy Blog reports:Colorado infomercial company Video Professor this week dismissed its lawsuit against 100 anonymous defendants who had posted critical comments about its products and billing practices online. Earlier this month, the company withdrew subpoenas that had sought the identity of anonymous posters on the website infomercialscams.com.
Yay. The bums will always lose, Lebowski. Get a job, sir. Stop pestering people on the internet. More » -
Most Popular Stories
Today's most popular headlines are
-
POTENTIALLY EVIL
(5,996 views)
-
TOP 10
(4,996 views)
-
REAL ESTATE
(2,975 views)
Will Car Loans Be The Next Credit Meltdown? (79 comments), Bank Of America Can't Afford Soap For Employee's Break Room (54) and Has Walmart Finally Beaten Target? (21).
-
POTENTIALLY EVIL
-
Nostalgia
Looking Back: The Subprime Meltdown Explained By The NYT... In 2002
The end of the year is a time for looking back and reflecting on the past. Perhaps learning from it. With that in mind we poked around the NYT archive and found a great article on the subprime mortgage market and predatory lending from 2002. More » -
Theft
Thieves Steal 42" Plasma TV From Mall During Shopping Hours
Those post-holiday TV sales just aren't enough for some people, because somehow, a 42" plasma set used for display in a retail store in Albany, Georgia, was stolen from the counter during business hours. The employee who was working at the time had possibly the least helpful eyewitness testimony ever: More » -
seasonal
Buy Your 2008 Holiday Crap Now While It's Practically Free
If you're one of those people who has more storage space than money (not us, sadly) go out right now and buy your 2008 holiday crap, while it's 75% off. More » -
Travel
Stressed? Grab A Last Minute Cruise Deal
Here's a tip for those who refuse to let their boviscopophobia rule them: Jim at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity recommends looking for last minute cruise deals. He recently snagged a 4 night Western Caribbean holiday for $300. More » -
-
tax tip
Last Chance To Donate Money In 2007
Today represents your final opportunity to donate money to charity for tax year 2007! CharityNavigator has some tips for holiday giving, and of course, you'll want to brush up on the tax implications of your generosity. More » -
Retail
Has Walmart Finally Beaten Target?
Though the final numbers are not yet in, the analysts are predicting an unusual win this holiday season for Walmart: More » -
Car Rentals
No Rentals Left? Pricematch With A Rival
During my break I made a reservation to rent a car from Enterprise. My flight was delayed and when I got to my destination, all Enterprise's cars were gone. However, they did tell me that AVIS was price-matching Enterprise's rates and so I was able to go over to the AVIS desk and get a car for roughly the same price. This was a good thing too as it was holiday time and otherwise I would be paying roughly triple. So, something to remember if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, call up one of the rental places "co-optetitors" and see if they'll give you a similar car for similar price. As for the logic behind them taking your reservation only to sell it out from under you, well, that's a story for another day.(Photo: Marike79) -
Smart Money has some new scams to watch out for, in particular, con artists trying to take advantage of people in foreclosure. [Smart Money]
-
Don't bring $3000 worth of wine to Melbourne's Tullmarine airport packed in your carry-on luggage, because they are hardcore. [News.com.au via Fark]
-
cancel the account
Canceling Napster Takes 30 Minutes On The Phone
Eliot Van Buskirk over at Wired found that he was no longer in need of his Rhapsody, Napster and Yahoo! Music subscriptions now that the RIAA is starting to warm up to the idea of DRM-free music. More » -
ominous
Will Car Loans Be The Next Credit Meltdown?
The LA Times has an article about car loans that caused our jaw to drop. As someone who bought both the cars she has owned with cash, (from friendly human beings who had cars but didn't want them anymore), the staggering amount of debt that people are willing to sign up for just to drive a slightly newer car made us feel sort of ill. More » -
Sales of existing homes rose slightly for the first time in 9 months, but prices fell. Analysts do not think the bottom has yet been reached: "Given stress in the mortgage market and depressed buyer sentiment, we judge this to be a brief respite and look for sales to fall further," Lehman Brothers economist Michelle Meyer said. [Wall Street Journal]
-
Fraud
Future Shop Sends You Two Blocks Of Wood Instead Of A Router
Happy New Year, Canada! Here's a special treat for our neighbors to the north: More »
New York, 11:47 AM
Sat Nov 14
20 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
tips@consumerist.com
tipline: 347-42C-ON95
Co-Managing Editor:
Ben Popken
Email | AIM | Twitter
Co-Managing Editor:
Meghann Marco
Email | Twitter
Senior Editor:
Chris Walters
Email | Twitter
Weekend Editor:
Laura Northrup
Email | AIM | Twitter
Associate Editor:
Alex Chasick | Email
Associate Editor:
Phil Villarreal
Email
