Consumerist
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newspapers
Was Consumer Columnist's Demise Due To Editorial Cutbacks Or Advertising Interference?
The story of consumer columnist George Gombossy's departure from the Hartford Courant has become a "he said"/"company said" argument that seems like something out of a consumer affairs column. Was Gombossy let go for reporting on an advertiser, as he alleges, or was the elimination of his position simply part of the cutbacks taking place all over the Tribune Company? More » -
bottled water
Consumers Finally Growing Some Damned Sense, Not Buying Bottled Water
We're not always pessimists on Consumerist. Why, sometimes we actually like silver linings, if only because it gives us a chance to complain about argyria. (Don't take colloidal silver, people!) Today's silver lining is that sales of bottled water "have fallen for the first time in at least five years," says the Los Angeles Times. We're apparently showing common sense and opting for tap water over branded and labeled water, proving that in a tough economy it's hard to compete with (nearly) free. More » -
budget crisis
See The US Postal Service's List Of Proposed Closings
Is your post office on the list of locations (PDF) the USPS is considering closing to save money? We checked and our last one in Brooklyn isn't, which proves that they didn't base the list on degree or intensity of suck, or it would have been closed, burned down, and the earth salted.
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As of May 1st, Jewel-Osco, the Chicagoland grocery chain, no longer accepts expired coupons. "This practice is being phased out given the wide range of in-store money-saving opportunities, including the use of Jewel-Osco's Preferred Card, regularly advertised sales, availability of online coupons, and special in-store promotions," a spokesperson said. [Daily Herald]
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recession
Impoverished High School Seniors No Longer Able To Finance Gaudy Proms
The recession continues to rot America's cultural core, this time by attacking one of our most cherished traditions: prom. Gone are the ice sculptures and $1,000 dresses. America's children are now buying dresses off racks and trading limos for the family car. Imagine! More » -
disney
Hey! Walt Disney Reuses Animation Sequences!
We were fascinated to discover today that Walt Disney reused animation cycles across different movies—the characters are unique (sorta) but the motions are cel for cel copies. It looks like the movies that reuse animation are from that infamous era in the 70s and 80s when Disney's animation unit cut too many corners and churned out less "classic" fare. Well, they were copying classics—shouldn't that count for something? Video clip below. More » -
loyalty programs
Royal Caribbean Scuttles Crown & Anchor Society
Royal Caribbean is gutting the Crown & Anchor society that lavishes loyal cruisers with perks like discounts, priority boarding, and a concierge lounge stocked with complimentary cocktails. The free booze will now be available only to cruisers who have sailed more than 25 times with Royal Caribbean. Many loyal passengers who don't spend their lives on Royal Caribbean ships are understandably pissed. More » -
magazines
Shrink Ray Turned On Latest Issue Of GOOD Magazine
The latest issue of GOOD magazine, which arrived in our mailbox yesterday, seems to be equal parts tongue-in-cheek and an actual attempt to save money on printing. To be honest, it's the first time we ever made it entirely through a magazine in one sitting, so in that sense we kind of like the new format, even if it's just for one issue. Of note: if your resume sucks, you can enter it in their resume-makeover contest. More » -
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priorities
Five Things Worth Paying For In A Recession
Just because the economy is imploding doesn't mean you should entirely freeze your spending. The Wall Street Journal brings us a list of five things that are well worth their price, even in a recession. More » -
qwest
Qwest Updates Contact Page To Explain Why They Don't Accept Emails
Yesterday we noted that Qwest has done away with their "email us" option on their contact page, and in a comical example of corporate doublespeak they'd printed, "Your questions and concerns are very important to us, however we are no longer able to respond to email." Today it looks like Qwest has changed that pop-up window to provide a little more information. More » -
qwest
Qwest Does Away With Support Via Email
Update: Qwest has updated their contact page to provide (slightly) more information.
Justin tried to contact Qwest last week to resolve a problem with their service. He clicked the "E-mail Us" link under "Residential" and a window popped up with the following message:
Your questions and concerns are very important to us, however we are no longer able to respond to email. Please consider the other contact options available.
The "Small Business" email option has been disabled, too. More »
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airlines
4 Ways To Cope With Frustrating Airline Cutbacks
What should you do when your airline calls to let you know that they've decided to randomly cancel your flight? Travel guru Christopher Elliott gives us the following nightmare scenario: More » -
flying
Whiney Pilots Complain That Stingy Airlines Are Forcing Them To Fly "Uncomfortably Low On Fuel"
Ugh, those selfish pilots can't be bothered to help their airlines return to profitability. No, instead they're whining to NASA that they're being forced to fly "uncomfortably low on fuel" and that "safety for passengers and crews could be compromised." More » -
Airlines aren't just hiking fees to cover fuel costs—they're also reducing the number of places where they'll fly. Nearly 30 cities across the country have lost their scheduled service over the last year, making it just a little harder to get to sparsely populated areas. [New York Times]
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warning signs
17 Signs You May Be Out Of A Job Soon
If you're still on the fence about whether to spend your stimulus check, pay off debt with it, or stock up on ramen noodles, this checklist may help you decide. Some of the tips are pretty unnecessary—"your job duties are marginalized" and "your company plans to move to a smaller building" shouldn't be hard to decipher. It never hurts to remind yourself about some of the signs of an impending downsize, however. More » -
thrift
WaMu No Longer Provides Plastic Cutlery, Hot Chocolate, Keeps Tea
Our inbox contains an update of the state of WaMu's break rooms. More » -
cutbacks
Lillian Vernon Fires Employees Four Days Before Christmas
Longtime catalog business Lillian Vernon, famous for its dinky personalized items—and under corporate ownership of one sort or another since 2003—decided to personalize the sensation of being terminated last Thursday, reports the Virginian-Pilot. Although seasonal workers have always been a big part of LV's holiday workforce, this time around the axe fell on longterm employees who showed up to their normal, year-round jobs that morning. "Lillian Vernon officials declined to comment on the layoffs. Philip Read, a company spokesman, answered his wireless phone Friday and said he was no longer employed by Lillian Vernon as of Thursday." More »
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