Consumer Reports says:

According to the posted policy, you’re simply out of luck if you don’t have a receipt and Target can’t verify the purchase through its electronic “receipt look-up” system, as might be the case if you paid cash or received the item as a gift.

But for items costing up to $20, there’s another “hidden” option that you won’t see on the store’s posted return policy. Customers can get store credit, provided they show a driver’s license or other government-issued identification and haven’t already used this option twice during the year. This option actually has been around awhile, although it initially allowed no-receipt returns for items valued up to $100, an amount subsequently reduced to $40, and reduced again last year to $20.

“It is something we look at as an accommodation above and beyond the policy," says Target spokesman David Fransen. "It’s not publicized or advertised.”

Target’s 'hidden' return policy [Consumer Reports]

From Photocritic's "secrets" article:

Here's some of what you may find on their shopping lists, and at least one reason each has its rightful place in the photog's apron pocket:

Blowtorch, for browning the edges of raw hamburger patties, the goose-bumpy skins of nearly raw poultry, and hot dogs. (Caution: simmer hot dogs for a while before torching, unless your goal is an action shot of a pink-meat food explosion.)

Motor oil, as a stand-in for unphotogenic syrups.

Glycerin, along with various sizes of artist's paintbrushes (to make seafood look like it was just caught that morning) and a misting bottle (to spritz lettuce salads, giving them that just-picked-and-rinsed look).

"werbung gegen realität" [Pundo3000] (Thanks to Ben!)
"The dirty tricks of food photographers" [photocritic.org]
(Photo: Pundo3000)

Some of the key things to keep in mind: with the explosion in personal trainers at gyms all over the country, it's possible to end up with an "expert" who might not have as much formal training as you'd like. And some trainers can be more concerned with their own profits than with helping you. For instance, one former trainer with Ballys tells the magazine that he witnessed trainers intentionally over-exercising unfit clients to the point of collapse, in order to convince them that they were so out of shape that they needed to buy more training sessions. Some trainers will stick with only functional training—using balls, resistance tubes and bands, and balance equipmpent, for example—and not teach you how to use weight machines for fear of losing clients who become too confident in the gym. If your goal is to get motivated, learn how to exercise, and move on, make that clear during your first interview and talk about setting a goal for when and how you want to learn to use the equipment.

One good way to save money on personal training is to negotiate a group rate:

Though health clubs don't typically dangle the group option in front of you, most personal trainers will work something out if you ask. After all, it's a win-win situation. For a group of three, for example, the average fee of $60 per hour is reduced by half for each client, while the trainer brings in about 50% more than he typically makes in an hour. And it could mean a better workout: "There's a lot to benefit from group camaraderie, as long as you don't need a trainer counting every rep you do," says Richard Cotton, national director of certification for the American College of Sports Medicine.

"Whether our prospects like it or not, their bodies and words say it for them," writes Laura Laaman for Business First. She lists a few basic signals salespeople should look for, which you may be providing without knowing:

• Your prospect retakes possession of the product after your presentation.
• Your prospect takes mental possession of the product or service. She could, for example, ask about the warranty. A novice salesperson thinks, "She's concerned about the warranty."
• When one person asks permission of another. This can happen verbally or nonverbally. The reason a person initiates the "what do you think?" look is because he thinks it makes sense to move forward but wants reassurance from another person. If your prospect is shopping alone, he could look to you or ask for your opinion, and say something like: "Which model is most popular?"

Why is it so important to react to these buying signals immediately? Because they go away almost immediately. Buyers' remorse sets in quickly, so hearing and reacting to the buying signals instantly often is the difference between a sale or not. An exception to this rule is when a customer asks about delivery or installation time.

When they are not ready to buy

• Avoiding eye contact with you
• Making 'not now' excuses
• Casual handling of the product
• Looking at many different products
• Moving around quickly

When they are ready to buy

• Spending time looking at one product type
• Looking around for somebody to help them
• Asking questions about the detail
• Asking about price
• Using possession language
• Asking another person's opinion
• Body state changes
• Touching the money

• Visualising language abounds — In the car business this came across with phrases like: "I wonder what my neighbours will make of the colour?" or "I can just see the kids in the back."
• Going over things more than once
• Nudging your boundaries — Questions that challenge aspects of your procedures often indicate pre-sale playfulness. "You asked for a deposit of $2000. Would you accept $1000?"
• Almost all references to money
• Questions about timing

"Learn customers' buying signals to make more sales" [Business First]
"Buying signals" [Changing Minds]
"Do you recognise buying signals?" [Flying Solo]
(Photo: Getty)

He told us that when the smart tow truck companies impound a car, they write down the VIN and the license plate number, then call the DMV and put a lien on that owner for the amount of money it costs to store the car. "Other tow truck companies might just sell the car off or just apply for the title and sell it off and get what money they can for it," he said.

We asked him what the company he worked for did in these cases. "If someone offered them cash for the car they just kind of unloaded it off to them." He said they didn't get in trouble for that because, "They had a connection up at the DMV, a lady was making titles for them."

By law, the towing companies are supposed to wait 45 days before they apply for the title at the DMV. "But you know, it varies," Dan said.

RELATED
"Predatory Tow Trucks Steal, Sell Cars To Junk Yards"
"Beware The Tow Truck Pirates"
(Photo: Getty)

Consider the concept of "shopping momentum": "During a shopping trip, making a first purchase, even a minor one, can open the floodgates of buying."

Shopping has two phases: deliberation and buying. Once they buy, consumers tend to continue buying without returning to the deliberation stage for future purchases.

In an experiment, researchers found shopping momentum was broken when consumers paid from different envelopes, apparently forcing them to return to the deliberation phase and think more about whether the purchase was a good idea.

That suggests a reason for the success of the longtime tip to budget with an envelope system — that is, spending cash from envelopes designated for such purchases as food, clothing and entertainment.

The "disrupt-then-reframe" sales technique preys on the human brain's natural desire to seek "cognitive closure" when confused:

Researchers found that by presenting a confusing sales pitch to consumers and then restating the pitch in a more familiar way, they were able to increase sales.

"Consumers easily confused, manipulated" [Chicago Tribune]
(Photo: Getty)

Although AT&T is required by the FCC to offer (for a period of 30 months) unbundled, dry loop, or "naked" DSL to the 22 states that BellSouth used to serve, AT&T's Ralph de la Vega told the Wall Street Journal that "naked" DSL would be available nationwide by the end of the year.

2008 is looming large on the horizon, so now would be a good time to call AT&T and get yourself signed up, if you're so inclined.

Here's how to go about it, according to our AT&T tipsters:

• 
  
• Call the AT&T Dry Loop department directly at 888-800-4095
  
• Ask to switch to "DSL direct"
  
• If they give you a hassle, say it's a retention offer

  Products Available:

• Express 1.5/128-384, 23.99
  
• Pro 3.0/384-512, 28.99

If you do try to get this deal, please drop us a line at tips [at] consumerist [dot] com, and tell us how it went.

AT&T quietly rolls out reasonably-priced unbundled DSL [CNet]
(Photo:Morton Fox)
PREVIOUSLY: Get AT&T Dry Loop For $23.99
AT&T Promises Nationwide Naked DSL By The End Of The Year

To begin with, direct mail marketers are urged to get personal: they should leverage every bit of data they have on you and incorporate it in a way that shows that they get you. "The closer you get to something that resembles a personal letter, the higher your response rate is going to be." For some reason, signatures that are in blue ink work better than ones in black, we imagine because they subtly look more personalized and less machine-printed.

Marketers also put lots of work into an appealing teaser. Lists with numbers continue to be among the most successful for generating a response, which is why you also see them on news sites all across the web—including here, we'll admit it. (There's just something fundamentally appealing about a specific number of items on a list, apparently.)

Larger envelopes and card-shaped envelopes get opened more, as do envelopes with windows.

Among the sneakiest tricks are things like addressing the envelope by hand, using a real stamp over metered postage, and—worst of all—making it look, even if only subconsciously, like an invitation.

Everyone likes to be invited to a party or events, so take that into account when designing your direct mail envelope. "Envelopes that look like an invitation tend to work really well," Willingham says. "Especially if you use a live stamp and no return address, because that gives the piece the look of personal correspondence."

"9 1/2 Ways — To Get Customers to Open Your Direct Mail" [Kiplinger Business Resource Center]
"5 tips for better direct mail" [Trump University] (!)
(Photo: Getty)

"10 Things the DMV Won't Tell You" [SmartMoney]
(Photo: Getty)

Getting AT&T to actually sign you up for the plan, however, may be more difficult. We've been hearing that consumers who try to sign up for the plan are getting a sales pitch for a more expensive plan, hung up on, transferred to the switchboard, etc.

It helps if you know your rights and understand the conditions of the $10 DSL plan. The plan provides download speeds of up to 768 kilobits per second and upload speeds of up to 128 kbps, matching AT&T's basic plan. It will be available for 2 1/2 years and requires a 1 year contract. The modem is free. You can read about it here.

Consumerist requested more detailed information about the $10 DSL and the process by which consumers can purchase it. AT&T chose not to respond to our inquiry.

Consumers who are having difficulty with AT&T can file a complaint with the FTC, here. In addition, you may also want to file a complaint with the FCC, as they are the organization that authorized the merger.—MEGHANN MARCO

How To Get The AT&T Runaround [How To Split An Atom]

PREVIOUSLY: AT&T's Secret $10 DSL
(Photo: Peter Kaminski)

UPDATE: For those of you having trouble explaining the $10 DSL program to your AT&T CSR, you might enjoy reading them the following passage from the AT&T/BellSouth merger document:

2. AT&T/BellSouth will provide an ADSL modem without charge (except for shipping and handling) to residential subscribers within the Wireline Buildout Area who, between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, replace their AT&T/BellSouth dial-up Internet access service with AT&T/BellSouth's ADSL service and elect a term plan for their ADSL service of twelve months or greater.

3. Within six months of the Merger Closing Date, and continuing for at least 30 months from the inception of the offer, AT&T/BellSouth will offer to retail consumers in the Wireline Buildout Area, who have not previously subscribed to AT&T's or BellSouth's ADSL service, a broadband Internet access service at a speed of up to 768 Kbps at a monthly rate (exclusive of any applicable taxes and regulatory fees) of $10 per month.

AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corporation Application for Transfer of Control (PDF) [FCC]

Most media is produced by a relative small number of factories, located in several different places. The best media generally comes from Japan and Singapore. The worst typically comes from Taiwan or China (in stores) and Hong Kong (online). ... This being said, understand that the media brand means nothing. Apple is a great brand, but they do not make their own discs, instead outsourcing to MXL (Hitachi/Maxell) or MCC (Mitsubishi Chemicals). ... It is the media ID that is important, as it reveals the disc manufacturer. Unfortunately, this is not written on packaging or anywhere else. Companies want consumers to be oblivious to this sort of behind-the-scenes information.

In steps DigitalFAQ with an exhaustive list of media IDs rated and matched to manufacturers. You'll never buy DVDs the same way again. —MEGHANN MARCO

Who makes the disc: Brand vs. Media ID [DigitalFAQ via Lifehacker]