Consumerist
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amusing
Starbucks Birthplace Coffee Tastes Just As Burnt As Everywhere Else
I visited the epicenter of Starbucks this weekend. It's a nice little store that adheres to the Pike Place Market historic district guidelines. The logo on the exterior is the original brown, nippled mermaid. Inside, it's not that large and theres a converted tackle supply shop feel to the place. The ceilings are made of painted white wood slats with lots of low white lights hanging. Otherwise, the coffee tasted exactly the same. Yes, no matter which corner in America you visit, whether the first store or the last, you can be assured of enjoying a consistent, smooth, burnt flavor. More » -
bally's
Bally's Members Still Paying Dues For Closed Gym
Ten miles isn't always a quick or easy trip. That's the message that the former members of a Bally's club in Vancouver, Wash. want to get across to the chain after their local branch closed with little to no notice. Bally's claims that they don't need to end contracts or refund members' dues since there is another Bally's within ten miles of the club, but the drive tops half an hour for some customers—not exactly convenient. More » -
rent-to-own
Rent A Center Accused Of Illegal Collection Tactics In Washington
There are many, many good reasons why you shouldn't purchase your home furnishings from rent-to-own outfits, but the state of Washington has discovered an exciting new one: collection tactics from Rent A Center that are so aggressive, they're illegal. More » -
CFPA
Vote On Consumer Financial Protection Agency Delayed Until September
This week, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) postponed a vote on a bill creating a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) until September when lawmakers return from recess. The delay is partly due to other more pressing issues, but mainly due to unexpected (really?) pushback from the financial industry. More » -
bad consumer
Woman Pulls Gun And Threatens Walmart Customers After Being Sold The Wrong Ammunition
We know it's stressful out there, but really, there's no reason to start waving your gun around in the Walmart parking lot. According to the Peninsula Daily News, a woman threatened several other customers who told her to stop yelling at Walmart worker who had sold her the wrong ammunition. More » -
bathrooms
Man Goes Crazy, Gets Tasered After Store Refuses To Let Him Use Bathroom
Village Lighting in Bellingham, Washington refused to let a 29-year-old man use their bathroom, and the man retaliated by going completely batshit insane on them. More » -
limousines
Blessed Limo Provides Hellish Prom Service
Who wouldn't want to start their prom by watching a stretch limo cruise down their street an hour and a half late before crashing into their parent's car? Apparently a bunch of high school students in Washington state, that's who. And they're not the only ones angry that they booked with Blessed Limo. The notorious local operator apparently has a knack for showing up late and then stranding kids at prom. Complaining to state authorities only goes so far because these guys don't even bother with bureaucratic backaches like "operating licenses." More » -
bathrooms
Washington State Says Stores Have To Let You Use The Bathroom
Starting July 26th in Washington state, stores with three or more employees working at the same time must allow customers access to an employee restroom so long as it doesn't pose a security threat. Businesses also have to provide bathroom access to anyone with an inflammatory bowel disease who can present a card or signed statement from a doctor saying they've got a condition. More » -
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bad consumer
No, You Should Not Pay Your $206 Speeding Ticket With Urine-Soaked Coins
47-year-old Washington resident Michael Lynch tried and failed to pay a $206 speeding ticket with a plastic bag filled with coins and urine. Surprisingly, his special payment for doing 54 mph in a 35 mph construction zone didn't violate any laws... More » -
Hampton Inn
Hampton Inn Bans Customer For Parking In Their Garage
Hampton Inn general manager Jennifer Stahler banned reader Jack from staying at her Inn again because he dared to park his car in the Inn's garage. Jack wasn't sure he could park there in the first place, even though there weren't any signs warning "private" or "employees only," so after parking, he checked in with Jennifer who told him he was fine and even wrote him a parking slip. The next morning she changed her mind and demanded $38 in valet charges. When Jack reminded her that she never mentioned any fees and had given him a parking slip, she agreed to remove the charges but then explained that he was "no longer welcome to stay." More » -
qwest
Vindictive Qwest Employee Slashes Six Phone Lines
KTVZ in Redmond is reporting that a vindictive Qwest employee is running around slashing phone lines "to get back at" another technician. Six phone lines have already been cut, prompting Qwest to launch an investigation. More » -
roy pearson
$54 Million Pants Case Back In Court
Roy "Fancypants" Pearson, the ex-judge who sued a dry-cleaner for $54 million over a misplaced pair of pants, that the cleaner even offered to replace, is continuing to press his case. He lost his original suit, he lost his job, now a court has agreed to hear his appeal. This man gets the award for worst...consumer...ever. Video inside. More » -
lawsuits
AT&T's Arbitration Clause Strips Consumers Of Their Rights
We just love the word unconscionable. You know who doesn't love it? AT&T. Their mandatory binding arbitration clause was ruled unconscionable by the state Supreme Court of Washington, after AT&T tried to prevent a consumer who believed he was being systematically overcharged from filing a class action lawsuit. More » -
pandora
Say Goodbye To Pandora?
When SoundExchange, the organization that represents many labels and artists, proposed steep new royalty rates for radio webcasters last year, they shortsightedly killed off their own revenue stream. Instead of their proposed rates being cut back as part of a standard negotiation, they were surprised to see the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board reject opposing arguments and adopt SoundExchange's rates fully. Now Pandora, the popular streaming music site, says it's paying over 70% of its revenue in royalties, and unless Washington changes the rates soon—which looks unlikely— they will have to shut down. More » -
murky coffee
Coffee-Shop Threatens To "Punch" Customer In His "Dick"
What could a customer and a coffee shop be scuffling over that would lead the owner to publicly announce that if the customer comes back in, he'll "punch him in the dick?" And the customer saying the only way he'll come back in is with "matches and a can of kerosene?" The right to pour espresso over ice, obviously. The blogstorm began as follows... More » -
home depot
Washington D.C. Police Say Its OK For Off-Duty Cops To Detain You For Not Showing Receipt
Remember Matt? He was detained by an off-duty police officer who was employed as a security guard by the Home Depot because he did not show his receipt. Matt complained about this to the Home Depot and received an apology from Frank Blake, the CEO. He also filed a formal complaint with the Metropolitan police. He says the police found his complaint to be unfounded. More » -
dc
DC Tickets And Tows Stolen Car, Releases It To Thief, Then Sends Collection Agency After Owner
Steve Steinberg refused to pay a parking ticket issued after his car had been stolen, so the Washington, DC Department of Motor Vehicles sent a collections agency after him. Steinberg's car was stolen in September of 2006. After he reported the theft, Steinberg says, the DC police and DMV ticketed his car, towed it, then released it to the thief. More » -
complaints
Dairy Queen Sells Man Four Delicious Burgers
We're not sure what Robert's problem is but apparently he doesn't appreciate the hard work Dairy Queen went into making him and his family four delicious cheeseburgers. Irregardless of the futility of the endeavor, he has decided to make it his personal mission to try to sic the health department on his local Dairy Queen, simply because his burgers came out nearly raw. News flash Robert! Ever heard of a steak tartare? This is a Freedom Steak, and you don't have to go into one of them fancy-pants restaurants to get it. His ill-informed ranting and more pictures of tasty burgers, after the jump... More »
washington
New York, 9:39 AM
Thu Nov 12
19 posts in the last 24 hours
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