Consumerist
-
FREE TRIAL OFFER
Charging You For Things You Don't Buy: Preacquired Account Marketing
Tens of millions of consumers have fallen prey to "free" trial offers and membership clubs offered by preacquired account marketers. These companies insert themselves into your everyday transactions, hoping to trick you into letting them charge your account. More » -
same item, different prices
Walmart: Want The Online Price? You Must Wait Two Weeks For No Reason
Lloyd wanted a GPS to guide him on his vacation, so to make sure he'd have it in time, and the best deal he could find was online at Walmart. Verifying that the item was in stock, he headed to his nearby store, hoping to pick it up and be on his way. More » -
settlements
DISH Network Will Pay $5.9 Million Back To Customers
In 2006, five states launched an investigation into DISH Network's crummy sales practices after hundreds of complaints from consumers. Now the company has agreed to pay $5.9 million to 46 states in a settlement announced today—and at least some of that money is earmarked for DISH customers. More » -
settlements
Acai Berry Drink Company Agrees To Give $350k Back To Bilked Customers
One of the acai berry's most miraculous powers is its ability to filch hundreds of dollars from consumers who are seeking new ways to lose weight and live forever. Now one company known for marketing an acai elixir has settled a lawsuit from the Arizona Attorney General over charges of deceptive practices. More » -
airlines
United, US Airways Bill Higher Baggage Fee As A Way To Save. Huh?
United and US Airways will soon charge an extra $5 to check bags at the airport, charging $20 for the first bag and $30 for the second. Since it will still cost $15 and $25 respectively to pay for checked bags online, United thinks they can herald the chance to "prepay & save!," while US Airways boasts that they now have a "lower fee online!" More » -
natural gas
In Which My Father Ejects Door-To-Door Gas Salesmen From His Property, Has Lunch
Apparently, Chicagoland is under siege by door-to-door salespeople from "the gas company" who want to "see your gas bill." My father, Edgar, demonstrates his technique for tossing them out of the house. More » -
serving suggestions
Computer Store Ad Uses Picture Of New MacBook Pro To Sell Old Ones
Andrew sent us this picture of a CampusTechShop ad that he says is all over his college campus. The ad trumpets reduced prices on the previous edition of MacBook Pro, then illustrates it with a picture of the new MacBook Pro. More » -
toys r us
Toys "R" Us Unable To Explain Why "All Video Games" Means "Some Video Games"
Toys "R" Us is not doing a very good job of explaining why an ad advertising a special that applies to "ALL Video Games $19.99 or less" only applies to some video games that are "$19.99 or less." Reader Laura says that not only are they unable to explain how "ALL" means "some," they aren't able to understand why she is upset. More » -
-
Mobile Solutions
Couple Can't Get Rid Of Cellphones No Matter What They Do
A desperate salesman wouldn't take no for an answer when Rob and his fiancee visited Mobile Solutions in Blaine, MN last month. Rob writes,
The sales rep did his song and dance and insisted that I test out the phone service for 2 weeks. I said no a few times but he wouldn’t hear it. Well, he gave me 2 phones and 2 phone numbers. No credit check, no money whatsoever. I walked out of the store with 2 free phones and some paper work.
Now Rob can't give the phones back. After several fruitless visits where the store manager told Rob he had to talk to the original salesman (who was never there) to return the phones, Rob simply left them on the counter. A few days later, they arrived at his doorstep via FedEx—along with a photocopy of another customer's driver license. More »
-
deceptive
Häagen-Dazs Drink Special Costs Twice As Much With "No Ice" Thanks To Handwritten Mouseprint
Reader Joanne is wondering if the tiny handwritten mouseprint on the Haagen-Dazs drink special sign is purposefully misleading. She saw the special and ordered the drink, but when she asked for "no ice" she was told that it would cost twice as much, and that this information was on the sign. Her boyfriend examined the sign (after she got her ice-packed drink) and sure enough, in tiny handwriting at the bottom of the sign was a note that said the drink cost twice as much with "no ice." More » -
colgate
This Colgate Toothpaste Packaging Is Awfully Deceptive
Logan thought this bonus pack of Colgate contained two equally-sized tubes of toothpaste. After all, the boxes are exactly the same size. Yet when he opened the bonus box, he found a smaller box containing a mini tube of toothpaste.
More »
-
caveat emptor
Act's Large Bottle Of Mouthwash May Say 2x, But It's Really Half The Strength
Act mouthwash may look like it comes in two sizes, but according to Mouseprint, the large and small bottles are actually entirely different products. The labeling looks largely the same until you get to the active ingredient. The small bottle contains .05% of sodium fluoride while the large bottle contains .02%. Hit the jump for Act's sneaky explanation. More » -
settlements
AT&T Mobility Agrees To Refund Money To Florida Customers & Pay $2.5 Million To State's CyberFraud Task Force
Florida's Attorney General scored a victory for consumers last week, when AT&T Mobility agreed to refund fees that third-party vendors snuck onto thousands of accounts under the guise of "free" ringtones, wallpapers, and text content. They also agreed to hand over $2.5 million to help fund the state's recently-created CyberFraud Task Force, to spend $500,000 for "consumer education on safe Internet use," and to start policing third-party vendors better and make sure all billed items are clearly described. More » -
secret website
Best Buy Refuses To Stop Misleading Customers With Secret Website
Once again a reader contacts us to complain about Best Buy misleading their customers with an in-store only website that looks identical to the "real" website—except for the prices. More » -
food safety
Carbon Monoxide-Treated Meat Is Here To Stay, For Now
In hearings today, the meat producers Hormel Foods Corp and Cargill Inc testified that the practice of treating meat with carbon monoxide to preserve its red color is safe and should be allowed. As a compromise, they suggested a label on all CO-treated meat and fish that reminded consumers to refer to the date on the package to determine its freshness. According to Reuters, "officials at the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Agriculture Department said they stand by the safety of the carbon monoxide practice and would revisit the process if new data becomes available." More » -
food safety
Should Artificially Colored Meat Have A Warning Label?
Over a year and a half ago, we alerted readers to the sneaky practice of using carbon monoxide to indefinitely preserve raw meat's red color—several stores admitted to the practice, and while the small amount of gas used does not pose a health risk, the perma-red meat can make it harder to detect spoilage. Now, in the wake of so many food and product safety scandals, the government has proposed a new mandatory warning label as part of the Food and Drug Import Safety Act of 2007. It would read:Carbon monoxide has been used to preserve the color of this product. Do not rely on color or the 'use or freeze by' date alone to judge the freshness or safety of the product. Discard any product with an unpleasant odor, slime, or a bulging package.
More » -
flogs
Retailers Flog About Their Own Wares, Biased Blogging Becoming Commonplace
The Wall Street Journal has an article detailing a type of flogging that is becoming more commonplace, the retail fashion flog: More » -
best buy
Connecticut State's Attorney's Office Launches Investigation Into Best Buy's Secret Intranet Site
George Gombossy, the reporter who investigated Best Buy's secret intranet site, has announced that the Connecticut State's Attorney's office is now investigating Best Buy. Hmmm, we wonder why! More »
- 1
1-18 of 18 for "deceptive"
