Consumerist
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classy
Meet JC Penney's Notoriously "Obese" Mannequins
Over at The Awl there is an intensively researched fact-check of Cintra Wilson's review of the Manhattan JC Penney store, which at the time, we described as "simultaneously hateful and boring." The review-of-the-review features photographs of the mannequins Ms. Wilson described as "obese." More » -
party crashers
Tavern On The Green Plays Halloween Trick On Thousands Of Partiers
Melissa is one of thousands of people who showed up at the bankrupt Tavern on the Green restaurant in Central Park on Saturday night for a ticket-holders-only Halloween party. She was forced to wait outside at the front of an increasingly agitated mob because the restaurant had sold too many tickets, or because someone had sold fake ones, it's still unclear. The Daily News says one reveler waited 5 hours before he was finally let in, just before 1:30 am—which was when the party was shut down by police. Now they all want their money back, but Tavern on the Green and the party promoters are blaming each other. More » -
home buying
Know Your Closing Costs Or Else A Shark Will Eat You
Homebuyers looking to save money will try to buy without an agent and deal directly with the seller's broker, but beware, they feed on your weaknesses, ignorance, fear, and money. More » -
free publicity
Best Buy Can Now Overcharge New Yorkers 'Round The Clock
If you like Best Buy, come to New York City! In November the company will open its first 24-hour store, in the remodeled carcass of the Circuit City that formerly anchored Union Square. In fact, it's probably best we call it the Circuit City Best Buy to avoid confusion. According to Best Buy's PR department, the store will also feature "the largest Best Buy Musical Instruments Department in the United States."
"Best Buy Opens First 24-Hour Store" [RetailWire]
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time warner cable
New Executive Customer Service Number For Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is updating the phone number for executive customer service, the new number will be:
212-364-8300, option 2.
twc.cotp@twcable.com remains the email address.The number goes straight to the customer care advocates in the TWC Office of the President. Thanks to TWC Director, Digital Communications Jeff Simmermon for proactively keeping us up to date. He writes, "Your posts help us get help to customers that need it, and we appreciate all your efforts." Yay. (Photo: billaday)
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health
People Ate More After Calories Got Posted At Fast Food Joints
Calorie posting is supposed to help people make healthier eating choices, but study of fast food joints in poor New York neighborhoods saw customers eating more calories after the calories went up on the sign. More » -
crime
Just Because Someone Tries To Sell You A Building Doesn't Mean They Own It
Meet Mr. Vargas. He would like to sell you his stake in some commercial property, a triangular lot just north of Central Park, at Lenox and St. Nicholas Avenues, in NYC. You would like to buy this property, because it's apparently awesome. Unfortunately, after you give Mr. Vargas the money — you find out that the property is owned by an entirely different person. More » -
verizon
Verizon, NYPD Don't Care About Fires
Once again, Verizon has been caught leaving its vans parked in front of fire hydrants.
More »
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marketing
Expense-A-Steak Receipt Generator Makes Fraud Easy
Midtown Manhattan steakhouse Maloney & Porcelli's tongue-in-cheek "Expense-a-Steak" tool generates remarkably realistic-looking expense friendly receipts for whatever amount you enter into the website (supposedly the cash you dropped on their fine hunks of meat.) Is it aiding and abetting fraud? Who knows. More » -
zipcar
Zipcar Launches iPhone App With Magical Car Unlocking Powers
The San Fran/NY-servicing Zipcar car sharing service has finally launched their iPhone app. Besides the expected seamless reservation system, it has a pretty sweet extra feature: It turns your iPhone into a keyfob capable of locking and unlocking your car, and honking its horn. Not owning a car just got awesomer.
ZipCar turns your iPhone into a virtual keyfob! [IntoMobile]
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shopping
Man Goes Into Business Delivering Costco To Overpriced NYC Neighborhoods
Groceries on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan are expensive. How expensive? One guy with a truck has started a business delivering cheaper groceries. One catch, he doesn't own a grocery store. He will go to Costco, where items cost a fraction of their Manhattan prices — and split the savings with you. More » -
dell hell
Get Your Piece Of The Dell Fraud Settlement
If you live in New York and bought a Dell computer within the past few years, you may be eligible for compensation as part of the recent settlement between the company and the office of New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Forms are due by December 15, and are, according to AG Cuomo, "as simple a claim form as 100 lawyers could write." In other words, you'd better get started now if you want to get one in on time.
Inside: Video - Cuomo and plaintiff Cary Lou Canfield lay down the law at Consumers Union earlier this week, and more info on getting some bucks from Dell. More » -
dell hell
AG Cuomo: Dell To Pay $4 Million For "Defrauding NY Customers"
If you live in New York State and purchased a computer from Dell using a Dell-financed "no interest loan," today may be your lucky day, dude. Based on a settlement with New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the computer company will pay $4 million "in restitution, penalties and costs to resolve charges of fraudulent and deceptive business practices that scammed consumers across New York State." More » -
plastic only
NYC Restaurant Stops Accepting Cash
If you decide to eat at Commerce, an unpleasantly named upscale restaurant in New York City that charges nearly $25 for spaghetti, your cash is no longer welcome.
More »"If you don't have a credit card, you can use a debit card," said the restaurant's co-owner, Tony Zazula. "If you don't have a debit card, you probably don't have a checking account. And if you don't have a checking account, you probably shouldn't be eating at Commerce to begin with."
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go for the ambience
Tavern On The Green Files For Bankruptcy
Tavern on the Green, that New York staple for generations of tourists, Upper West Side matrons, and, oh, tourists, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Central Park eatery, which is the second highest-grossing independent restaurant in the country (number one is Tao, in Las Vegas), has debts as high as $50 million, according to the filing. More » -
funny
NYC Restaurant Calls Coupon Bitches "Bitches"
Zach at Midtown Lunch sent us this receipt from Crisp, a falafel joint in New York. The customer used a "buy one get one free" (BOGO) coupon for his meal, triggering a memorable coupon code on his receipt. Enjoy your meal, freeloadin' bitches! And let's hear if for comedic receipts! The more, the merrier. More » -
reality check
If The Bank Accidentally Gives You $11,000 And You Won't Give It Back, You're Gonna Get Arrested
"Bank error in your favor" may help you out in Monopoly, but in real life — you gotta give the money back. One New York man didn't agree, and now he's been arrested and has been charged with grand larceny. More » -
backlash
New York Times Wishes It Had Not Published "Snotty" JC Penney Review
The NYT is now expressing regret over publishing Cintra Wilson's "Critical Shopper" review of JC Penney's new Manhattan store. The column was simultaneously hateful and boring, offering astute observations such as the fact that middle class people shop there and that the store carries clothes for the average-sized woman. More »
new york
New York, 7:13 PM
Sat Nov 7
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