"I was trying to give my sister some candy and when I looked at it, it had a razor blade in it," said Chris, 10-years-old. His mother asked that we not use his last name.

The Pokemon cards and Valentines Day candy is imported from China by Sherwood Brands. In a recorded message Thursday Dollar General ordered all Pokemon candy and two others removed from store shelves.

"The items are the Pokemon cards and valentines candy. Dog valentine and pops and 20 strip, or 20 count strip Heart pops. Removing these items from the sales floor must become your most important priority today," said the recording from Dollar General Headquarters in Tennessee.

Importer Recalls Valentine Lollipops [AP]
(AP Photo/Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Perhaps $75 is not a lot to you. Perhaps the happiness of your customers does not mean a lot to you either. Perhaps, for a company that's been around for nearly 100 years, you simply forgot to mark your calendar that yesterday was Valentine's Day.

Well, $75 means a lot to me. What means even more is the happiness of my girlfriend. I was fully aware that yesterday was going to be Valentine's Day...same day every year...which is why I thought ordering flowers for her to be delivered at work on 2/14...Valentine's Day...was a good idea. Your site said it would be possible to deliver that day, even when the order was placed on the 12th. For those of us busy working in hi-tech companies across the land, ordering online from the florist that's been around for nearly a century seemed like the thing to do at the time.

But yesterday came and went, and my girlfriend received no flowers. Calls to FedEx pointed the finger at FTD. And an email and calls to FTD Customer Service - 800-736-3383, option 3 - were pointless, as the calls were dropped due to "heavy demand" or some such nonsense. Kinda like the guy that owes you money not answering his door when the collector comes a'callin'. So...fair enough...no flowers. Valentine's Day came and went. I purchased some flowers from a local store instead, and we went on to enjoy our special day, despite your efforts of sabotage. At least I wasn't billed...

So what happens today...I check my bank to find out that YOU STILL CHARGED ME $75?! The cycle begins again. Another email to FTD Customer Service (just got the automated response). More calls to your failed Customer Service phone tree. And my blood pressure, typically low, is shooting through the roof.

Well, sir...I expect you to make this right. I want my money back. Immediately. Oh, and sending my girlfriend some flowers to make up for your failure wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I would appreciate a prompt response.

- Tip

PS - Looks like 2007 was a pretty good year for you, Mr. Soenen... I see you sold off a LOT of shares, and I'm just going back through September of last year. How nice for you. I bet you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.

Relying on internet outfits to express your love is not a winning strategy. Show you care by taking ten minutes to visit the local florist. You help a local business, speak to helpful people, and—this is the key part—walk away with flowers.

(Photo: Dr. Hemmert)

Ars Tech reprinted Microsoft's letter:

We wanted to provide you with an update on your order status. Due to some issues in our fulfillment center there remains a chance we will miss getting your Zune to you by February 14th. We are working hard to get your order to you as quickly as possible and we currently plan to ship your Zune within the next 3-4 days. Once your order is in transit, we will send you a shipping confirmation with a link for tracking.

Our goal is to provide a smooth customer experience for ordering, customization, and delivery. We sincerely apologize for not meeting that goal in this specific case. We will be refunding the entire amount of your order, which you should be able to see on your credit/debit card within 7-10 days. We hope you love your Zune and that you will accept our sincere apology.

If you have additional questions, please call 1.877.GET.ZUNE. For fastest service, press 5 then press 1 and have your order information ready.

The Zune Originals Team

Microsoft says "sorry" with free Valentine's Zune 80 players [Ars Technica]

Juan G. writes:

"I ordered roses for my wife. To be delivered to her on Valentine's Day- 2weeks before. When they arrived they were drying, everyone at her office was laughing at her receiving roses they were dead on Valentine's Day."

Dead flowers for Valentine's? Surely FTD, with its "Good As Gold Guarantee," is aware of the problem and proactively taking steps to aid wronged customers.

sanjeevkapoor2005 writes:

I sent at least 3 emails asking about the status and received no reply. It was very difficult to contact cust service. The one time I did get thru they informed me that they need to contact the local florist first.

Ok, we give up. FTD fails. A refund and an apology is in order. Maybe they could send everyone apology flowers?

Did your order for Valentine's Day flowers make it to your Valentine? Tell us how you pulled it off in the comments. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Yahoo! Shopping (Thanks to Rich!)

Pier 1 Imports Inc. said on Tuesday it had received a temporary restraining order that would prevent TJX Cos. Inc. from filing a lawsuit against Pier 1's new President and Chief Executive Alex Smith....
On Monday, a Pier 1 spokesman said in a statement the company was trying to stop TJX from interfering with Smith's new employment agreement. Such threats were "improper," said spokesman Tom Thomas, because the two companies are not competitors.

The restraining order was necessary "to assure that Alex will be at his post next Monday to oversee the beginning of Pier 1's return to profitability," said Thomas.

Unfortunately, TJ Maxx didn't return calls for comment. They were too busy painting over Smith's parking spot and ripping up old prom photos. Happy Valentine's Day.—MEGHANN MARCO

UPDATE 1-Pier 1 says gets restraining order against TJX [Reuters]

1) Breakfast in Bed. This is thoughtful and cheap. You can even go to a fast food place and get his/her favorite fast food breakfast and serve it to her/him in bed with a bunch of flowers from the grocery store. It's the thought that counts.

2) CD or iPod Playlist. Pick stuff you know your Valentine would like, but maybe don't own or haven't heard yet. Or maybe put together a playlist of songs that have meaning. Beware: Some people find this cheesy and annoying, particularly if you are one of those music nerd people who is always giving mixes to people. If your Valentine will also get a "Casimir Pulaski Day Mix," choose another option.

3) Wine. You don't have to spend a fortune for a good bottle. Buy some nice wine, make dinner and do the dishes.

4) Books. Buy your favorite book for your Valentine and write a nice sappy love message inside the cover.

5) Home Spa. Buy some spa stuff and create a spa in your own home. Bath salts, massage oil, flower petals, whatever. Light some candles, slap cucumbers on her/his eyes, whatever they do at spas. Listen to Enya. Ok, not that last part.

What are you ideas for cheap last minute gifts? Share them in the comments.—MEGHANN MARCO

The U.S. doesn't test imported flowers for toxins. A survey of the pesticides Columbian growers apply indicates use of chemicals linked to higher incidences of cancers and neurological disorders among workers.

Colombia produces 62% of the flowers sold in the United States. — BEN POPKEN

Do you know where your flowers have been? [AP via Consumer World Blog

• Don't Get Screwed On Valentine's Day: Cards And Gifts

• 10 Things Your Florist Won't Tell You

• Groceries offer bargains - just provide your own vase

• Price Guide To Long-Stemmed Roses

• Last-Minute Valentine's Day Deals

• NPR's Bittersweet Guide To Chocolate, Yum!

• Best Valentine's Day Pinot Noirs For Under $20

1-800-FLOWERS
• Multicolored Rose Bouquet for $18.99
• $5 off with coupon code VDAY7
• Buy One Dozen Roses, get 6 roses free for $29.99

ProFlowers
• 25% off Valentine's Day Flowers
• 24 Assorted Roses + Vase + Chocolate for $29.99 w/shipping

Hallmark Flowers & Gifts
• 20% Off Select Valentines Flowers & Gifts w/ Coupon VALDAY20
• Free Chocolates w/ Select Valentine's Day Bouquets

Teleflora
• 15% Off All Flowers

FTD
• $15 off or 25% off for orders over $60, read more.

— BEN POPKEN

Volunteers near our Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters received the flowers, then called a staffer who typically picked them up within a half-hour. We immediately measured and weighed the roses, trimmed their stems, and placed them in water with any accompanying flower food. We evaluated them over the next week.

Which rose should grace those lips that love's own hand did make?

CR's take. Consider ordering from a florist near the recipient (check the Web). Among rated companies, try ProFlowers, a good value, or Hallmark, which supplies a vase. Companies use FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

"Nothing says loving like flowers with a tracking number." - Shakespeare

— CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

A rose is a rose. Or not [Consumer Reports]

So thanks to your generous click-throughs on ads on this site, I deployed my tasting budget gathering 12 bottles of pinot noir under $20 and a few friends. The wines hailed from Burgundy, the grape's ancestral home, as well as California, Italy, Chile, and Oregon. All were tasted blind, which provided some unusual surprises.

This Valentine's Day Don't Have Pinot Envy [Dr. Vino]

Make your Valentine's day STEAMY! Take your Valentine to White Castle on Wednesday, February 14 between 5 and 8 p.m. and enjoy hostess seating, candlelit dining and your own server. Reservations are required, so check the list below for participating Castles near you!

Special this year, you can also treat your honey to a romantic White Castle dinner in your home! Cupid's Crave Kits include eight cheeseburgers, one sack of fries, two regular soft drinks, coupons and keepsake items to heat up your homespun romance. Now, ain't that sweet?

Valentine's Day [White Castle]

• Roses cost an average of $50 in Philadelphia, but $100 in New York City.

• It pays to shop around, as prices can vary wildly even in just one city.

• Order early, but not too early, to get the best deals. Feb 3 seems like a good day.

Don't forget to make sure your Valentine prefers roses. Some of us are partial to daisies. —MEGHANN MARCO

Valentine's Day Roses [Judy's Book]

• Make Your Own Cards Using Cheap Materials. You can spend a fortune making cards from expensive organic imported paper and soy ink stamps. Don't do that. Let Martha Stewart's people do that. You want to make cards out of pictures you've cut out of old catalogs, netflix wrappers, buttons you will never, ever, ever sew onto anything, and dollar store paper doilies. In fact, if you do make something really neat out of recycled crap, send us a scan at marco at consumerist dot com.

• Send Weird Dollar Store Cards. Let's face it. Valentine's Day cards are tacky anyway. Try to find the cheapest tackiest cards you can. It'll make your friends laugh, trust us. We do this whenever we send a card.

• Get Your Valentine Something Thoughtful. Make something, or locate something your valentine always wanted. Perhaps you could do something your valentine has been putting off. "Look babydoll, I did your taxes! Check out the home office deduction!" The more thoughtful the gift, the less you have to spend to make up for the fact that deep down you're a thoughtless jerk.

• Buy Kid's Valentine's Cards on Clearance the Year Before. Ok, well, too late. But you can get some this year for next year.

• Learn to Fold A Paper Rose. People dig the paper rose. Also, the paper rose is cheap. Just like you! In a good way. Learn to fold one!

• If You Must Buy Evil Expensive Jewelry, BlueNile is an online retailer that has high quality stuff for less than the 5th Ave-type stores, so we've heard. We're sure there are others.—MEGHANN MARCO

Japanese women are fed up with a longstanding Valentine's Day custom requiring them to give chocolates to men without getting any in return.

According to an Internet survey, 70 percent of working women said they would be happy if there was no tradition of giving "obligatory chocolates" to their boyfriends or colleagues.

Nearly 60 percent said they felt unhappy as Valentine's Day approached, citing the cost and time it takes to shop for the gifts, which are finely calculated to express just the right emotions toward a boss, a colleague or a true boyfriend.

Because the Consumerist is staffed entirely by long-suffering men who have had their pockets drained time and time again by our girlfriends' Valentine's Day hysteria, we're pleased with the misogynistic reversal of the ritual over in Japan. But seriously, ladies... we hear you! We hope those $200 box of chocolates you are buying to console yourselves have been formed between the thighs of virgin angels, though.

****Welcome to Overstock.com Customer Service, you are now chatting with Fiona.***

Fiona: Thank you for visiting Overstock.com. How may I help you today?
You: I was supposed to receive an item today which shows it only left IL this morning
Fiona: I'd be glad to help you with that.
Fiona: Could you please give me the order number that you are referring to?
You: it was one of the guaranteed by valentines day, well its valentine s day and I don't have the item
You: ********
You: I also only received 5 of the 6 coasters that I was sent
You: Hello? Anyone actually there?
Fiona: Thank you for the order number. I am really sorry for the delay.
Fiona: May I ask which is the item that you haven't received?
You: the Versace perfume which was supposed to be guaranteed by today now I don't have a present for my gf
Fiona: Please stay online while I check that for you.
Fiona: Thank you for staying online.
Fiona: May I ask whether the item was having the icon showing the guaranteed delivery by Valentine's day?
You: yes it had the icon which is why I bought it from you as it's her favorite perfume
Fiona: Thank you for the information.
Fiona: I have verified the tracking for this item.
Fiona: As per the tracking it has a rescheduled delivery date of 02/17/2006.
You: I thought that you had a guaranteed by valentines day? That's today! What am I supposed to tell my girlfriend?
Fiona: I am really sorry.
Fiona: I can certainly understand the way you feel.
You: sorry? how's that supposed to help me
You: really? did you order something promised by today that you didn't receive?
You: what kind of guarantee is that
Fiona: We are really sorry that we are not able to deliver the item as guaranteed.
You: when I check the shipping it said that it was being shipped ground which worried me and now with good reason
You: so what happens now
You: why make guarantees
You: why was half my order expedited but the one thing I needed to day, which was guaranteed BY today, isn't going to be here for another 3
You: that makes no sense
Fiona: I can really understand your frustration.
You: but what are you going to do for my frustration
Fiona: I would have felt the same, if I were in your situation.
You: please stop trying to empathize my situation
You: I'd like to know what action will be taken
Fiona: As the carrier has rescheduled the delivery of the item due to some reason, we are unable to do any thing.
You: but you sent it ground, when it was supposed to be expedited shipping
Fiona: Are you sure that the item was having the icon showing the guaranteed delivery by Valentine's day?
You: I'm positive, I was going to buy it from the store a few miles away but I was guaranteed to receive it from Overstock by TODAY, funny how I constantly have to reiterate that point
You: It was cheaper and I had a guarantee so I went through you
Fiona: Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
You: so you're not going to do anything for me other than apologize
Fiona: Please be informed that if the carrier won't have re-scheduled the delivery, you would have received the item by today.
You: I hope it was worth losing business because I spend quite a bit of money here and this is just ridiculous
Fiona: But due to some reason, they have re-scheduled the delivery.
You: saying sorry and empathizing may work in classes but not in real life
You: but you sent it ground not 2nd day air
You: with less than a week you sent it ground
Fiona: I do understand your frustration.
You: quit saying that
You: you don't understand
You: that's what you take classes on dealing with difficult guests for
You: I know I've been to plenty of them
You: but they also teach you that you should try and resolve the situation which you're not doing
Fiona: As the carrier has re-scheduled the delivery, we are unable to do something.
You: you just keep repeating empathetic responses
You: unless
You: are you really a person?
You: or are you automated just giving out prompted responses
Fiona: Yes, I am a real person.
You: so why do you keep saying the same thing over and over
You: what resolution does that bring?
You: do I really need to phone to speak to someone?
You: hello?
Fiona: I am really sorry. I understand that the inconvenience cannot be compensated.
You: why can't it?
You: you had a guarantee that you couldn't back up for WHATEVER reason
Fiona: If you don't receive the item by today, please get back to us once you receive the item.
You: you shouldn't be placing blame on a carrier when you sent it by inadequate freight
Fiona: We will help you to return the item for a refund.
You: refund?
You: broken guarantee and returned item for refund
You: that's your standard practice
You: that isn't trying to make a bad situation better
You: or trying to regain customer loyalty
Fiona: The best I can do at this point of time is to issue a $2.95 coupon to your account as compensation for the inconvenience caused.
You: $2.95? For that fact that I have to tell my girlfriend on valentine's day that she's just going to have to wait because overstock made a promise that they couldn't keep
You: WOW Now that is customer service
You: I don't know if you've ever heard of it but I'm going to make a rant on Craigslist that may just do some justice to the customer service that I've received today Thank you OVERSTOCK!
Fiona: Heather, let me check what best I can do for you.
Fiona: I would request you to stay online.
Fiona: This will take 2 minutes.
Fiona: Is that ok with you?
You: glued to my bloody seat mate
Fiona: Thank you for staying online.
Fiona: Heather, I have checked this issue with my Supervisor and we can issue a coupon of $5.00 to your account right away.
Fiona: If after you wish to return the item, after you have received it, please let us know....
You: I'll have to think about it
Fiona: We will send you a free shipping label to you to return the item and we will issue the refund you after we have received the item.
You: the $5 is helpful but I don't know if it's really what I'd call compensation for something so horribly done
You: Now I have to go out and spend an extra$20 on the normal one because it wasn't here in time like promised
You: I don't even want to go into the fact that part of one item is incomplete right now
You: just a bit too devastated by what I have to go do now to make things right
Fiona: Well, I just checked with my Supervisor and we will issue the amount of $10.00 to your account.
Fiona: Is that ok with you?
You: that's fine
Fiona: In that case, please stay online while I add the coupon to your account right away/
You: look Fiona, though that's probably not your name, I'm not trying to take this out on you
You: companies just shouldn't make promises that they can't keep and then just say sorry
You: its bad business practice
Fiona: I understand your concern and I am really sorry for the inconvenience this has caused to you.
Fiona: I know this inconvenience cannot be compensated.
Fiona: Let me assure you that this usually doesn't happen and I am sorry that this happened in your case.
You: do you have a list that you type these off of?
Fiona: Well, we do see that some times because of some technical issues or some shipping concerns, the items are not delivered on time.
Fiona: But we make sure that we accept the returns on the items if they are delivered late.
You: what on earth are you talking about?
Fiona: This usually doesn't happen though.
Fiona: Because, we had great success with our carriers for our deliveries.
You: please don't go explaining policies if you try to apologize more you re just going to upset me again
Fiona: I am sorry that your item has still not been delivered to you on time.
You: I know what your policies are
Fiona: Heather, I am sorry that you are not happy about this.
You: you're sure that you're a bona fide human being
You: your responses make no sense
Fiona: May I know if you wish to return the item, so that I can make a note to your account about this?
You: I don't know yet
Fiona: And we will send you the return free shipping label to you if you wish to return the item.
You: I have to go and find out if the store still has the perfume in stock
You: you can't be real
Fiona: You may check the item and may compare the prices on our site too.
You: WHAT?
You: Isn't the whole entire point that it was supposed to be here today and it's not now you're telling me to check the site! Okay either you're an automated system which is really starting to make me angry or you're just not that intelligent
You: so which one is it?
Fiona: Heather, is there anything else that I can assist you with today?
You: did you just read what I wrote
You: I'd like to know why you said that I could compare item and price on your website
Fiona: I am sorry for that.
You: on an item that wasn't delivered from your website
You: but why
You: don't tell me you're sorry tell me why you wrote it
Fiona: I mean to say that you may compare the price mentioned for the item on our site with any local retail shop.
Fiona: I am sure, you will find some difference.
Fiona: Are you with me?
You: no not really as I said earlier it's more expensive in the store
You: that's why I ordered it from you
Fiona: Well, this item is one of our fastest selling item on our site and that this the reason the item is no longer in stock.
You: so did you credit my account
You: I thought that you said that it was a carrier issue
Fiona: Yes, I have issued the coupon amount of $10.00 to your account.
Fiona: Heather, is there anything else that I can assist you with today?
You: was it a carrier issue or was it a stock issue
Fiona: Yes, it is of carrier and I see that your item was shipped on time from our warehouse.
Fiona: I am sorry that the carrier has not delivered the item yet.
You: whatever it's not here like promised I get $10 on my account get to go buy another present for my gf and you get to talk to someone else in the same position as me who's super pissed off for your broken promises
You: Have a Wonderful Valentine's Day! May yours be as fun filled an exciting as mine
Fiona: I wish I had my Valentine.
Fiona: Happy Valentine's day Heather.
Fiona: Heather, is there anything else that I can assist you with today?
You: Obviously not
Fiona: Thank you again for visiting Overstock.com. Have a great day! Bye!

***Chat session has been terminated by the Overstock Service representative.***

* this is in or around Hades near the river styx

Even more fantastic is that below this entry on Craigslist appears an ad for Overstock.com in case you too would like your $2.95 token of taking a crap on a customer s face.

Asda says the "economy" card - in the retailer's Smart Price range colours of black, white and red - is the cheapest on the market.

"Romance is not dead - it is being done on a shoestring," a spokeswoman said.

Man, what says "I love you" more profoundly than a discount Valentine's card with the words "Smart Price" proudly emblazoned right upon the outer flap? Here's an even more frugal alternative, if you're looking to make a token and ineffably cheap gesture to the slapper you're dating on February 14th. Go to the bathroom, sit-down only. After doing your business, take a lone square of single-ply toilet paper off the roll and gingerly place it between your cheeks. Clench. Take the resulting heart imprint, put it in an envelope, and give it to your sweetie. You'll save 8p and the message your lover will take from the gesture will be exactly the same.

I m not a pariah or a leper, not looking to hook up with someone for the rest of my life I was married for a long time and now I m not, it s a weird transititional state, she told The Consumerist. While not legally separated, all ties were definitely snipped. She wanted to date again but was uncertain where to begin. Encouraged by positive reviews from friends, L. signed up on eHarmony.com and began filling out their extensive profile. To get the best results, she went through the humiliating process of revealing herself to the computer questionnaire with honesty.

After spending over an hour she came to one of the final questions, Please describe your current status and was given the choice of married, divorced, single or separated. After clicking separated she got her reward, Unable to match you at this time. The kill screen continued something to the effect of how statistically speaking, separated peoples are not viable prospects as they may return to their partners. Focus groups participants voiced concerns for this possibility and eHarmony decided to make it a policy.

L.D. understands this from a business standpoint but wishes they d disclose that at the beginning.

On Friday, eHarmony.com sent her a Valentine s day email.

1. I do have to say I feel punished about my status, she wrote the company, particularly since it was one of the categories asked about at the very end. There must be a community of people who understand the transitional state of going from married to nonmarried. 2. I don't see a way to change my marital status once my divorce is final. 3. I got a valentine's day message email today. Since I cannot possibly find a match through your service at the moment, I find receiving email messages about having hope of finding someone particularly tacky.

An eHarmony lead agent, Carla W., responded to L. s complaint the same day, Once you are divorced, please reply with the county and state of your divorce proceedings, the name of the judge, and the date your divorce was finalized As an alternative, I can reset your personality profile test.

L. is not sure whether she will report the information in to eHarmony, already feeling chastened. She s heard that the founder has a Christian mission" and she finds that "really disturbing. L.D. considers their policy of excluding same-sex partnerships, offensive, to say the least. Also, since filling out the personality profile, she s noticed she seems to be receiving more Christian dating site spam.

As to whether she will continue to seek romance online, she s not sure. L.D. looked into services like Lavalife and Match but was turned off by their pay-to-survey model and their approach of hey what s your sign okay here s some matches, go! For that, you might as well head to Craigslist.

It s just so fucking complicated, reports L., I run a software company so I know all about designing a user friendly interface. Make it intuitive Otherwise I ll just go home and watch TV.

For Valentine s Day, L.D. plans on attending her daughter s parent-teacher conference.

What a shock - people willing to spend nearly $2,000 to be hooked up with anonymous strangers officially sanctioned by the love making equivalent of a headhunter end up finding a lot of desperate losers swimming around the shallow end of their dating pool. We find ourselves a bit conflicted in our reaction to this story. On one hand, 2 grand (even to find true love) isn't exactly chump change, and if these consumers aren't getting what they paid for, IJL is precisely the kind of company we started up this blog to mercilessly flagellate. On the other - it's very hard to get outraged when shallow, petty people who view love as a filled-in check list of pecuniary acquirements get burned.

Look, guys, it's Valentine's Day, so let the pimp junta over at The Consumerist tell you how to find love on the cheap. Every time you meet someone you find attractive, spark up a conversation and tell them so, bluntly if need be. Then ask them if they'd like to get to know you. If someone tells you no, well, who wants to be with someone who doesn't find them attractive in return? You move on, confident that you've done some pruning. If they do, congratulations - you've found love. It's not hard, as long as your loins can ooze over less than an x+1 figure salary and the prospect of vrooming about in a shiny new phallic symbol.