• amazon

    No More Amazon Referrals For North Carolina Residents

    This morning, Amazon e-mailed all North Carolina residents who are part of its Associates program to notify them that their accounts will be terminated in the next few weeks. More »

    10:50 AM on Wed Jun 17 2009
    By Laura Northrup
    12,760 views, 124 comments

  • spicy meats

    Slim Jim Factory Explodes, Kills Three, Requires HazMat Team

    A ConAgra plant near Raleigh, N.C., that makes and packages Slim Jim beef jerky was rocked by a huge explosion on Tuesday, killing three employees and sending dozens of workers and three firefighters to hospital with severe burns or "exposure to toxic fumes." More »

    8:16 AM on Thu Jun 11 2009
    By Lucy Bayly
    14,851 views, 191 comments

    Most discussed PunditGuy: So... how about an Air France disaster story on Consumerist with a wacky picture of someone waiting in line for more »

  • monopolies

    Time Warner Cable Cannot Possibly Compete With The Small City Of Wilson, NC

    The city of Wilson, NC was tired of high internet, cable, and telephone prices, so they decided to do something about it. They started their own, city-owned, ISP. Now Time Warner Cable and Embarq have teamed up to convince North Carolina's legislature to propose bills outlawing community owned ISPs because the big guys cannot possibly compete. More »

    11:52 AM on Thu Apr 23 2009
    By Meg Marco
    190,774 views, 219 comments

    Most discussed Esquire99: I'm pretty torn on this issue. I understand the cities decision, but it bothers me that they are potentially using more »

  • ripoffs

    Not Even Money Saves You From Foreclosure

    Eric lost his home to foreclosure, but unlike other homeowners, he had actually been trying for the past month-and-a-half to buy it back from the mortgage company for more than the mortgage. The law firm that was handling it, however, wanted an extra $20k in fees to make that happen. He told the realtor that he would buy it for more than it was going to be listed for. The realtor told him that he couldn't make a bid until it was "active," which would happen on 11-29. On Sunday he tells the broker he;ll give an offer on Monday. Monday rolls around and they've already sold the house to someone else, for less than Eric was willing to pay. They said they "forgot" that he was going to make a bid. Eric is livid. His story, inside...

    9:33 AM on Thu Dec 4 2008
    By Ben Popken
    21,939 views, 165 comments

    Most discussed TeeDub: Maybe next time you will stay current on your mortgage and this won't happen. more »

  • junk mail

    Mail Carrier Gets Probation For Burying Your Junk Mail In His Backyard

    "Mailman Steve," as he's known to the children on his route, got 3 years probation yesterday for failing to deliver years worth of junk mail that was found stacked in his garage and buried in his backyard. He'll also have to pay a $3,000 fine and serve 500 hours of community service. More »

    9:30 AM on Thu Nov 20 2008
    By Meg Marco
    14,404 views, 125 comments

    Most discussed WEGGLES90: He has to do community service? Wasn't burying the junk mail a community service in it's self? hate junk mail so much, more »

  • best buy

    Best Buy Caught Using Sneaky Sneaky Tricks To Sell HDTV Calibration Service

    I've read some bad Best Buy stories in my time here at The Consumerist, but this one really takes the asshole cake. To sell its special HDTV calibration service, this Best Buy in NC set up two identical model HDTVs, both showing ESPN. As seen in the picture tipster Robert took, the "calibrated" one is noticeably better. That's because it's showing ESPN HD and the one on the left is showing just regular ESPN. You can also see how a set of box have been placed in front of the non-calibrated tv on the left so you can't see that's it not ESPN HD. That, my friends, is quintessential deceptive marketing. Robert's story of what he saw, and the rivers of bullshit and non-answer that came out of the Best Buy employees' mouths when he confronted them about it, inside... More »

    9:31 AM on Mon Nov 3 2008
    By Ben Popken
    82,997 views, 207 comments

    Most discussed mariospants: Haha, classic. They didn't honestly believe they would get away with this, did they? more »

  • Gas Shortage

    Two More Weeks Of Gas Shortages In The South?

    The New York Times has quoted an expert from Rice University who thinks that the gas shortages in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee could continue for two more weeks. More »

    6:58 PM on Tue Sep 30 2008
    By Meg Marco
    7,502 views, 78 comments

  • manicures

    Complete Medical History Required For Manicure

    In a dime-a-dozen business like nail salons, you need to have a hook or a gimmick to be unique. At the The Bella Aqua Spa in Laurinburg, North Carolina, they seem to have settled on requiring a copious amount of personal and medical history from you before you get to have a manicure as their little way of standing out. More »

    1:15 PM on Fri Aug 29 2008
    By Ben Popken
    13,974 views, 47 comments

    Most discussed mzs: They also need to know about diabetes and hemophilia. In fact there are nail salons that simply will not do more »

  • travel

    Delta Steals Cremated Remains From Passenger's Luggage

    A North Carolina man says that his son's cremated remains are missing from his suitcase. When he got his luggage at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport after a trip to Orlando, he found his bag was unzipped. Inside, some gadgets items and a box with some of his son's ashen remains was gone. The family says it has filed complaints with Delta Airlines, the Transportation Security Administration and Orlando International Airport. They should also file a police report, but more importantly, if they have the electronic item's serial numbers, they should check to see if the gadgets have shown up on eBay. One guy did that, found a guy listing his camera stolen from his luggage, and the thief ended up getting caught and prosecuted.

    Chatham County Man Says Son's Cremated Remains Were Stolen [WRAL] (Thanks to Christine!)
    (Photo: Getty)

    12:50 PM on Mon Jan 21 2008
    By Ben Popken
    3,002 views, 16 comments

    Latest by littlealbatross: @GitEmSteveDave: I dunno. I ordered a computer a couple of weeks ago and FedEx dropped it off a block away more »

  • videos

    74-Year-Old Man Jailed For Shoplifting $3 Sirloin


    A North Carolina Food Lion called the cops on Joe Neal for pocketing a $3 steak. The 74-year-old didn't have enough change to pay for the sirloin, which he intended to cook for his son's birthday dinner. The steak was later consumed, not by Joe's son, but by a fire that ravaged Joe's house. The cops were summoned when Neal returned to the store to pay for the steak. Defending the arrest, Food Lion's press-keepers explained that the store has a zero tolerance policy. Don't miss WBTV's expert analysis at the end. Gastonia Man in Jail for Stolen Steak [WBTV] (Thanks To Chris) More »

    10:00 AM on Fri Dec 28 2007
    By Carey Alexander
    5,640 views, 142 comments

  • readers

    With Free Rickshaw Rides. Chase Lures College Students To 23% APR Credit Card

    Chase is giving college students free rides in special marketing rickshaws. Reader Ben reports seeing some, which look like the one pictured, on the campus of his North Carolina State University. Apparently the whole ride around the driver tries to sell you on the "Plus 1" credit card with its super-dope 23% APR. There's also pitches for Bee Movie. The card gives you "karma points" which you can cash in for crap, share with friends or donate to "causes." College kids go love to feel socially aware and responsible, and if it can be accomplished without leaving the dorm, all the better. Chase is also marketing the card on Facebook, the social networking site for people who go to college. The Plus 1 card earned a lemon award from creditcards.org.

    Looks Chase is shifting tactics since giving kids burritos and tshirts in exchange for signing up for a crappy credit card is drawing media fire.

    11:31 AM on Tue Oct 30 2007
    By Ben Popken
    1,343 views, 18 comments

    Latest by karlrove: Yes. Please don't use a false credit card. But most campus campaigns seem to emphasize a fraternity (or other organization) more »

  • home improvement

    Her Depot: Home Depot For Women

    Scary man tools will be replaced by decorative trinkets and stylish furniture at the new Home Depot pilot store designed to attract women. Tragically dubbed "Her Depot," the store will abandon Home Depot's warehouse aesthetic in favor of shorter, "cleaner" aisles that emphasize home organization and interior design.
    "There is a showroom of doors and windows unlike any other we've ever tried," Feldman said.
    More »

    12:00 PM on Sun Oct 14 2007
    By Carey Alexander
    11,347 views, 60 comments

    Latest by VolettaMagoot: I would avoid that shop not only because it is sexist, but more because I want a proper selection when more »

  • in poor taste

    Walmart "Stalking" T-shirt Angers Stalking Victim

    A stalking victim that has found she has little legal recourse against her harasser due to North Carolina's weak laws is angry at Walmart for selling a T-shirt that makes light of stalking. More »

    2:59 PM on Sun Sep 30 2007
    By Meg Marco
    5,971 views, 73 comments

  • subprime meltdown

    As The Fed Snoozes, States Step Into The Subprime Breach

    States are beginning to enact protections for subprime borrowers, reacting to the absence of a national solution from Washington. North Carolina last week became one of one of several states to clamp down on the adjustable-rate mortgages that have fueled the subprime meltdown. More »

    11:16 AM on Sun Aug 26 2007
    By Carey Alexander
    2,957 views, 38 comments

    Latest by BenMitchell: @Sudonum: If you are foolish enough to take the bait, then you should be dinner for a hungry fisherman. I'm more »

  • badvertising

    Time Warner Charges You $0.23 For The Coupons Included In Your Bill

    Time Warner charged Nick $0.23 for the Home Shopping Network coupon included in his monthly bill. The "Adhsn fee" listed on his bill was an oversight, according to a Time Warner representative, who defended the omnipresent charge as something that is usually "just bundled somewhere else." Nick writes: More »

    3:02 PM on Thu Aug 9 2007
    By Carey Alexander
    36,572 views, 67 comments

    Latest by girly: [www2.state.id.us] Apparently in Idaho, you can accept an unordered item as a free gift, and tell them you will not be more »

  • fast food

    Reader Says He Found Brains In His KFC

    UPDATE: This is probably deep-fried small intestine, according to commenters, for some of whom finding this in their KFC is apparently a common occurrence.

    John says he found some brain in his KFC chicken thigh in Raleigh, NC. We asked him if he was sure it wasn't just skin and fat mixed together.

    Pretty sure, yeah. Fat usually has more of a yellow tint, and is more gelatinous on chicken. This was a solid looking piece, a little more than 1/4th of an inch thick at the widest part, and it had the unmistakable "lines" that you see in the brain organ. It was also firm to the touch, unlike rubbery fat. If it was a piece of skin/fat, it sure pulled off a good look alike.
    Look on the bright side; at least now we know KFC uses real chicken.

    More gruesome pix, inside... More »

    6:37 PM on Tue Jul 24 2007
    By Ben Popken
    26,304 views, 93 comments

  • bank of america

    The Potentially Apocryphal, Yet Well-Worn, Story Of Ken Lewis' Personal Dedication To Customer Service

    According to a tale, possibly apocryphal, we picked up while visiting Charlotte, Bank of America's home base, BoA CEO Ken Lewis was once standing behind some customers having trouble with a malfunctioning BoA ATM. More »

    6:08 PM on Tue Jun 12 2007
    By Ben Popken
    1,793 views, 27 comments