Consumerist
followups
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interviews
Verizon C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg Reveals The Telecom's Future
The future of Verizon lies in bundled apps and global domination, according to C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg. Verizon's head honcho appeared last week on Charlie Rose to chat about a range of things, including FiOs, the decision to build a CDMA network, and the future of your cellphone service. If nothing else, it's nice to put a calm, seemingly rational face to the grotesque anti-consumer corporate monster that we all loathe. Hit the jump for the full interview. More » -
funny
Jake Hunts For A Good Laptop
Funny or Die has a pretty funny, nsfw parody of the current Microsoft "You find it, you keep it" commercials. Jake's in the market for a decent laptop that can meet his needs, which include a big screen, the ability to go online, and enough cash left over for some subscriptions to certain adult websites. It's basically what the real commercial would look like in a world without TV censors. More » -
videos
Consumer Reports Evaluates Cool Surge Portable Air Cooler, Made By Same Folks Who Brought You The “Amish Heaterâ€
The company behind the "Amish man's new miracle idea"—a heater—is back! Here's Consumer Reports' evaluation of the Cool Surge. More » -
parodies
Finally, A Competitor To The ShamWow Has Arrived
There's this new towel technology that Steve here is showing off, and it's got us pretty impressed. We may have finally found something to replace all of our ShamWows. More » -
videos
Recap: Ben & Meg Interview Obama Administration On Credit Card Reform
Here, catch all of our interview with Austan Goolsbee breaking down why the credit card reform act was needed. If you missed any of the clips, here's is the four-part series in its entirety...
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2:21 PM on Fri May 22 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 36 comments -
videos
"Homeboy Hookup" Scammer Rips Off Renters
Apartment scams are the new hotness. Can't do housing scams anymore because no one can afford a house, so it's on to rentals. Insert "Merce," a guy is ripping off renters saying he's got the "homeboy hookup" and can get them into a rental cheap and with free gas an electricity, but he doesn't actually own the properties. Fox NY investigates in this video. More » -
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snuggie
Video: Consumer Reports Tests The Snuggie
We can yuck it up all we want about The Snuggie meme, but how does "the blanket with sleeves!" stand up to Consumer Reports rigorous testing procedures? In this delightful and informative video, Meg Marco and Ben Popken journey to the Consumer Reports labs to find out the straight dope on the fleecy wonder that has captivated the nation.
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11:54 AM on Thu May 21 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 125 commentsMost discussed wgrune: I would like to see a comparison test between a Snuggie and a bathrobe worn backwards. more »
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media whoring
Video: Panel w/ Craig Newmark, Bob Sullivan, Rachel Sklar, Ben Popken
Here's the video of the Consumerist/Consumer Reports panel Tuesday night with with Craig Newmark, Bob Sullivan, Rachel Sklar, and Ben Popken. Moderated by Consumer Reports Editorial Director Kevin McKean, the topic was "Protecting The Endangered Consumer: High Impact Journalism In A Low-Budget Era." Highlights.... More » -
schadenfreude
Video: Watch Shopaholic's Range Rover Get Reposessed
Watching this clip of a high-rolling lady who has to remove all her bags of designer clothing from her fancy Range Rover before it gets repossesed made my day. Schadenfreude so good. Even when I learned that Operation Repo is a faux reality show where they do re-enactments of real repossesion stories, it's still all good, especially because of when the real reposesser says that if it weren't for his kind, no one would be able to afford a car. Food for thought. More » -
videos
Consumerist Interviews Goolsbee On Credit Card Reform: Part 4 of 4
The final installment of our 4-part interview on credit card reform with Austan Goolsbee, President Obama's senior economic adviser. In this one we say, hey, what about mandatory binding arbitration?
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10:47 AM on Wed May 20 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 24 commentsMost discussed Bladefist: Obama doesn't need a credit card, he prints his money more »
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videos
Consumerist Interviews Goolsbee On Credit Card Reform: Part 3 of 4
Are credit cards set up like a horrible game of Chutes & Ladders that plays for keeps? In the 3nd of our 4-part interview series with President Obama's Senior Economic Adviser, Austan Goolsbee, on credit card reform, we ask why credit card companies can raise the APR on stuff you already charged, and go into some of the credit card companies' anti-consumer tricks like liquid and fickle terms and conditions, penalty fees that aren't trying to discourage behavior anymore, they're just pure profit, and teeny-tiny contracts written in "Bank-o-nese."
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10:12 AM on Tue May 19 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 10 commentsMost discussed PersonalResponsibility: ...Still waiting for even one hardball question here. Just one that doesn't ask him to spin the political propaganda. It isn't more »
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videos
Consumerist Interviews Goolsbee On Credit Card Reform: Part 2 of 4
In the 2nd of our 4-part interview series with President Obama's Senior Economic Adviser, Austan Goolsbee, on credit card reform, we ask, what about the kids? Specifically, what is this bill going to do about those guys giving away shirts on campus in exchange for signing up for credit cards? Because these seems a really great service for college students, who, as we know, frequently go shirtless. Also, how one side of the debate on credit cards is essentially arguing that if you didn't want to get carjacked you should have taken the bus... because an honest business model and a profitable one needn't be mutually exclusive.
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1:40 PM on Mon May 18 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 32 commentsMost discussed badhatharry: Ben, why does your jacket have an extra pocket? more »
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goolsbee
Goolsbee Video Fixed
If you had problems viewing the Goolsbee interview, this here video should work for you now. [Consumerist] -
videos
Consumerist Interviews Goolsbee On Credit Card Reform: Part 1 of 4
We took your credit card reform questions to DC yesterday and interviewed Austan Goolsbee, senior economic adviser to President Obama. In part 1 of our 4-part series, we ask how are banks getting billions in bailouts and can turn around and cut off millions of credit cards and raise rates? How does it make sense that credit card companies can raise the interest rate on an existing balance? And, most importantly, why don't we treat credit cards more like Canadians do cigarettes?
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3:16 PM on Fri May 15 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 22 commentsMost discussed DanGarion: FYI, only reason I bring this up, is it seems to happen a lot, that I see a post, and more »
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videos
Consumerist Interviews Goolsbee About Credit Card Reform: Part 1 of 4
We took your credit card reform questions to DC yesterday and interviewed Austan Goolsbee, senior economic adviser to President Obama. In part 1 of our 4-part series, we ask how are banks getting billions in bailouts and can turn around and cut off millions of credit cards and raise rates? How does it make sense that credit card companies can raise the interest rate on an existing balance? And, most importantly, why don't we treat credit cards more like Canadians do cigarettes? More »
3:15 PM on Fri May 15 2009
By Ben Popken
0 views, 59 commentsMost discussed Zclyh3: gn. Mg lks ht! nd n tht's nt why cm t ths st. ND YS dntd lrdy. more »
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funny
Colbert's Credit Card Pre-Approved For Its Own Credit Card
"Being in a financial hole is as American as borrowing apple pie." Colbert took on credit card reform last night. Here's the clip. The best part is where his credit card is approved for its own credit card. More »
