Consumerist
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consumerist hotline
DirecTV Marketer Steals DISH Customers Via 800 Number Squatting
A sneaky DirecTV marketer has bought up toll-free numbers that end in "DISH." When DISH Network customers call up, the operators make it sound like they're from Dish and offering them a free service upgrade, but in reality, they're switching the service and slamming the Dish Network customer into a DirecTV service contract. More » -
mad men
If Yours Isn't Good Enough, He'll Get Some At The Office
Marketers had a message for the housewives of the 1950s: they weren't doing a good enough job at home. Their husbands had to resort to going elsewhere for it. Why, even the girls at the office could do it much better.
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blockbuster
You Will Probably Never See A Blockbuster SD-Card Kiosk
Here's an idea: When your top rivals are renting dirt-cheap DVDs from ubiquitous kiosks, or streaming thousands of films as a free bonus to customers who rent mail-order rmovies, what do you do? If you're Blockbuster, you start a trial run of kiosks that will allow consumers to rent DRM-protected videos on SD cards, and play them back using a proprietary box that will do nothing else. Yeah, that'll show 'em. More » -
absurd
Brooke Shields Has Hypotrichosis
Oh no! Brooke Shields used to have stringy, stick-figure eyelashes! I figured this out after watching Consumer Reports' video dissection of a new commercial for Latisse, the glaucoma medication that has been rebranded as an expensive, temporary eyelash enhancer with side effects. More » -
funny
HSN Breaks TV, Showing Need To Firmly Attach Your Wii Accessories
This HSN presenter remembered to use his wrist strap when playing with a Wiimote, so good for him! Unfortunately, it turns out you also have to make sure any attachments are firmly attached. More » -
silly
Chipotle Says Their Food Does Not Cause Underwear Blood
South Park managed to combine the late Billy Mays, the unfortunately still around Ghost Hunters, and the beloved Chipotle chain in their latest episode, with surprising results. More » -
diets
NutriSystem To Be Sold At Walmart
The diet that allegedly shrank Dan Marino's ass will now be available in stores for the first time — and those stores will all be Walmarts. A 14-day starter pack will retail for $148, says Reuters. More » -
the last year of network television
Comcast May Buy Controlling Stake Of NBC Universal
Hey, are you ready for Comcast to take more control over your entertainment? Then great news for you! Yesterday a rumor leaked that the cable giant is negotiating to buy 51% of NBC Universal, which includes the movie studio Universal, Universal theme parks, the NBC network, and shows like 30 Rock and SNL. More » -
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money-saving tips
How To Cut The Cable/Satellite Cord And Remain A Couch Potato
We've written about ways to cancel satellite or cable and still be able to watch a ton of shows before, an spotted this nifty refresher, posted back in June, from the Christian money blog Bible Money Matters. More » -
inventions
HD Sunglasses Use The Power Of Stupidity To Increase Real World Resolution
Did you know your eyes have probably been viewing things in only 480 vertical lines of resolution? Thankfully someone out there isn't as stupid as the rest of us, and realized that if our television sets can be upgraded to HD, so can our eyeballs. At least they can with the help of these special sunglasses. More » -
free porn
Attention Shoppers: Free Porn Available On Walmart TVs
Two men have been arrested for playing porn over a half-dozen TV screens in a Fort Smith, AR, Walmart store. The two apparently popped a DVD into a player that controlled several screens, and let it rip. According to police, "the pornographic DVD was visible to the general public as they were shopping" for several minutes. More » -
disrepair
Man Says Best Buy Policies Prevent His TV From Being Fixed
Russ used to have a TV, but now all he has are problems. He summarizes his 52-inch Insignia (Best Buy's House Brand) HDTV's decision to check out, then goes into Best Buy's bumbling attempts to fix it. More » -
bankruptcy watch
Samsonite Files For Bankruptcy
Yesterday, a gorilla* stormed through the offices of Samsonite Corp, the "world's top luggage maker," and jumped up and down on their financial status. Their retail unit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will close approximately half of their 173 stores. More » -
digital disappointment
How Digital TV Has Let You Down
Last week NPR tore into TV networks for failing to live up to the promises it made to Congress in the late 1990s when the industry pushed to receive its slice of the digital spectrum for free. More » -
as seen on tv
Now You Too Can Dress Like a TV Newsperson
Looking for pants "custom made for a primary anchor in a top 5 market"? Or how about a sports suit worn on air "by a play-by-play announcer for a regional sports network"? Look no further. More » -
unacceptable substitutes
Man Tries To Sell Tarted Up Oven Door As $100 HDTV
This $100 flat-screen TV this random dude is selling out of his car in a Walmart parking lot is a steal! Specifically, he is stealing your money by substituting a sticker-covered oven door for a TV. More » -
beer
Not So "Drinkable?" Sales Of Bud Light Are Dropping For The First Time Ever
Sales of Bud Light are down, probably because of the recession, but we hope it's because of the aggressively annoying "Drinkability" campaign. In any case, AB has decided to roll out more than 15 new "Drinkability" commercials in the coming weeks, according to the Wall Street Journal. More » -
success stories
E.E.C.B. Forces Best Buy To Finally Replace Defective TV
It took an Executive Email Carpet Bomb to convince Best Buy to replace Bryan's Panasonic LiFi LCD Projection TV after it ate through four lamps. Bryan had purchased Best Buy's extended warranty, which contains a no lemon clause that promises a replacement after three failed repairs. Best Buy conveniently insisted that replacing the broken lamp did not count as a "qualified repair." Bryan first escalated his complaint through normal channels; when he had no other choice, he launched the mighty EECB. More »
tv
New York, 5:29 PM
Sat Nov 21
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