All Taking it seriously
Bad Consumers
(dM.NYC)
Burning Down Home Depot Will Not Help Save Your Friend's Hardware Store
By Chris Morran on May 24, 2012 4:00 PM
42 Comments
We do enjoy hearing stories about friends who go the extra mile to help each other out. There is also something to be said for helping out a local business in favor of a national retail chain. However, it's probably not in anyone's best interest to try to burn the bigger store to the ground. More »
(balmes)
Which Is Worse: Using Your Daughter To Shoplift, Or Abandoning Her At The Police Station?
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 23, 2012 3:00 PM
41 Comments
It's bad enough to involve your 11-year-old daughter in a shoplifting scheme, but to then refuse to pick her up from the police station after you get away? That's more than bad parenting. That's just mean. More »
Badvertising
Facebook Settles Lawsuit That Claimed "Sponsored Stories" Turned Users Into Marketers
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 23, 2012 2:00 PM
19 Comments
Tapping into the power of social networks to market to their users has always been an appealing goal for advertisers, but figuring out exactly how to do that has been tricky. Facebook recently settled a class action lawsuit from users of its network who said "Sponsored Stories" turned them into marketing machines, without the fun part of being compensated. More »
(afagen)
Broadcasters Would Rather Not Have To Post Political Ad Rates Online
By Chris Morran on May 22, 2012 4:00 PM
41 Comments
Last month, the FCC approved a new rule that requires broadcasters who air political ads to post on their websites the rates they charge — and other related information — for these commercials. This isn't sitting well with the broadcasters, who filed suit to stop the rule change. More »
Christmas Creep
Yep, The Easter Candy Is Out Already At Safeway And Kroger
By Laura Northrup on December 7, 2011 9:30 AM
51 Comments
In 2008, we published the first reports of Easter candy in stores on December 31. In 2009, they were spotted on shelves on December 23. Last year, the first appearance crept back to December 16. This year, our first reports came from Safeway and Kroger stores as early as December 2. More »
Malls Cancel Plans To Track Shoppers' Movements Via Cellphone
By Maggie Shader on November 29, 2011 8:30 AM
63 Comments
Remember how two malls annoyed more than a few people by announcing that they would be tracking shoppers' movements via their cellphone signals? Yeah, well that's no longer happening — at least for now. More »
Exclusives
6 Updated Confessions From A Current Sprint Sales Rep
By Chris Morran on February 15, 2012 11:30 AM
60 Comments
It's been several years since we received some good insider confessions from anyone at Sprint. So in the interest of keeping things up-to-date, a current employee of the wireless provider reached out to Consumerist to see if that original advice still holds true. More »
Suze Orman Gets Tough & Answers Your Questions In Chat With Consumerist
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 12, 2011 2:00 PM
95 Comments
You asked, and financial advisor Suze Orman answered. Consumerist readers submitted some questions for the TV host, New York Times bestselling author and motivational speaker and she sat down with Consumerist's Chris Morran last week to discuss those financial tidibits. More »
Features
(april)
Today Is World Consumer Rights Day... Where Are All The Doorbuster Sales?
By consumerist.com on March 15, 2012 1:03 PM
10 Comments
On March 15, 1962, President Kennedy addressed Congress and called for everyone to recognize four basic consumer rights — the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, and the right to be heard. It's a message worth repeating. More »
Ask Tax Cat: Should I Get My Taxes Done For Free At Walmart?
By consumerist.com on January 26, 2012 12:45 PM
55 Comments
Every year around this time, Tax Cat emerges from his basket to answer questions and offer advice to you, the fine people of the internet. More »
Government and Legal
Michigan Man Wins $65,000 In Lawsuit Over Robocalls
By Chris Morran on May 24, 2012 1:36 PM
51 Comments
As we've pointed out before, it's illegal for companies to make auto-dialed, pre-recorded calls to your wireless device unless you have given them your consent. But that hasn't stopped some offenders from continuing, even after they have been told to stop. More »
Bought A Groupon, An iPhone 4, Or Coconut Water? These Class Actions Are For You
By Laura Northrup on May 24, 2012 10:36 AM
30 Comments
Have you bought coconut water, pinot noir, a Samsung TV, or an iPhone 4? If you purchased any of these products, plus a whole bunch more, you may be eligible to file a claim in one of these recently settled class action lawsuits. Proof of purchase isn't always required, but lying is bad consumer karma. More »
Great Moments in Commercial History
Roller Skating Is Definitely Better Than Using Crack
By Laura Northrup on April 30, 2012 9:30 AM
30 Comments
More than three years ago, comedy duo and self-proclaimed "internetainers" Rhett & Link set out to find great local businesses all over the country, and make great local commercials for them. "That's nice, Consumerist," you say. "But they can't possibly still be doing this three years later and producing new ads." That's where you would be wrong, imaginary hypothetical reader! More »
Will Ferrell Asks If He Can Star In Ads For Old Milwaukee Beer Free Of Charge
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 14, 2011 5:00 PM
66 Comments
If Will Ferrell asks you if he can make ads for your oft-reviled product for free, the answer is always going to be yes. And that's what Pabst Brewing Co. said when he presented the idea to do local TV ads in Davenport, Iowa for Old Milwaukee beer. More »
Grocery Shrink Ray
Safeway's New 'Easy Scoop' Ice Cream Easier To Scoop Because There's Less Of It
By Laura Northrup on May 14, 2012 11:30 AM
36 Comments
Safeway's Lucerne house brand ice creams have been repackaged, and now come in a round container branded the "Easy-Scoop Package." That's a nice redesign, and round containers are easier to scoop from. Only, as reader Ryan points out, maybe the ice cream is easier to scoop now because there's now a half-quart less of it. More »
Has The Grocery Shrink Ray Turned Saltines Round?
By Chris Morran on May 4, 2012 1:30 PM
45 Comments
We don't eat saltines all that often here at Consumerist HQ, but we are certainly familiar with the classic cracker's orthogonal form. Well Nabisco is out to shake up the "stuff you crumble into your soup" market by testing a round version of its Premium brand saltine. More »
Happy Endings
(Facebook)
Disney Cruise Line Places Alleged iPhone Thief On Administrative Leave
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 24, 2012 10:00 AM
38 Comments
Well, "Nelson"... If you really did take a passenger's iPhone while working on a Disney cruise ship, it was silly of you to take photos of your stolen phone shenanigans, because now you've been caught. More »
Would You Return $1,800 In Cash You Found At An ATM?
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 22, 2012 12:00 PM
110 Comments
Just imagine — no need to insert your card or tap in your PIN, there's money sitting right there, sticking out of an ATM deposit slot, waiting for you to pocket it. Would you do it, or would you go the honest route like a Florida woman who turned in the $1,800 in cash she found? More »
Health
Ohio Man Selling $1000/Cup Kool-Aid To Raise Money For Doctor Bills
By Chris Morran on May 22, 2012 11:45 AM
37 Comments
When life hands you three bouts of pancreatitis, gall stones, a cholecystectomy, and possibly kidney stones, you make incredibly expensive lemonade in the hopes that some generous folks will pay — and that the local news will pick up your story. More »
School Fined $15,000 Because Bookstore Sold Soda During Lunch
By Chris Morran on May 21, 2012 2:36 PM
189 Comments
A high school in Utah says it won't be able to pay for some of its arts programs this year because it's been hit with a $15,000 federal fine after the school's bookstore was caught allegedly selling soda during lunch time. More »
Horror Stories
(Yo Spiff)
T-Mobile Admits It Made A $250 Error, Still Manages To Blame Me
By Chris Morran on May 22, 2012 5:00 PM
43 Comments
Welcome to the T-Mobile Customer Service Labyrinth, where every turn brings you back to the center, where headset wearing minotaurs tell you that the exit is right in front of you but it's not the exit, and where the company can admit in writing to making an error that costs you $250 but says it's your fault. More »
Petco Loses Dogs Too
By Chris Morran on May 18, 2012 2:30 PM
48 Comments
It's not just airlines that fail at keeping a handle on customers' pets. Just ask the Texas man who took his retriever in to his local Petco for some grooming and is now looking for help trying to find the lost pooch. More »
Investigations
Report: Walmart Lobbied Aggressively Against Anti-Bribery Laws They May Have Violated
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 25, 2012 1:00 PM
44 Comments
As every action Walmart has taken over the last few years is being picked apart in the aftermath of the New York Times story that alleges they used bribes to expand in Mexico and then covered up those bribes, lots of little interesting side stories are popping up. For example, a new report says Walmart was involved in lobbying aggressively against the very anti-bribery laws they are being investigated for violating. More »
Report: Feds Targeting Walmart With Criminal Investigation In Wake Of Bribery Claims
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 24, 2012 2:00 PM
25 Comments
A new report says the U.S. Justice Department is taking allegations of Walmart bribery in Mexico very seriously, and have started a criminal investigation. And just as that news hits comes a story that the company has created a Global Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance Officer. Coincidence? We think not. More »
Pranks
(Facebook)
Chick Fil-A Is Totally Cool With You Stealing Its Topiary Cow
By Chris Morran on May 24, 2012 5:00 PM
40 Comments
This is the time of year when high school seniors around the country celebrate the end to a dozen years of education by pulling pranks. Usually, at least in the 1960s sitcom world in which I live, this results in a lot of grumbled "kids today"s and a spike in the general level of fist-shaking from local business owners. But a Chick Fil-A in Virginia seems intent on breaking that cycle, by embracing the theft of its topiary bovine by local teens. More »
Pranksters Tell Xcel Energy Customers Their Power Is Being Shut Off
By Chris Morran on April 3, 2012 11:46 AM
12 Comments
The government in Boulder, CO, recently decided to look into the idea of forming its own power company as an alternative to Xcel Energy. But some residents of the city were perplexed when they received letters claiming to be from Xcel and stating that their service was being cut off. More »
Recalls and Safety
FDA Still Not Sure Why Chinese Jerky Made 1,000 Dogs Sick
By Laura Northrup on May 23, 2012 12:36 PM
32 Comments
Pet owners think that we're doing our pets a favor by purchasing treats for them that are just pure dried meat: no flour, no soy, no additives, just meat. But these treats may not be as healthy as they seem. Many dog owners claim that these treats have made their pets ill with problems ranging from diarrhea to kidney failure, and many animals have died. The Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate, even sending inspectors to the production facilities in China, but can't determine what causes the illnesses. More »
Class Action Lawsuit Seeks Recall Of Whirlpool Dishwashers For Alleged Fire Hazard
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 10, 2012 1:00 PM
8 Comments
Doing the dishes is no fun (for most of us, at least), which is why having a dishwasher is super great. But if that appliance starts to smoke and burn inside while it's running, well, that's not so fun. Just such a fiery experience is what one man claims happened with his Whirlpool dishwasher, prompting him to seek a recall from the company. More »
Recession Watch
Survey: Fuel Economy The Leading Consideration In Picking A Car
By Chris Morran on May 22, 2012 1:33 PM
73 Comments
While I have an affection for cars with after-market, clumsily welded spoilers, it appears I am in the minority, as a new survey by our test-driving in-laws at Consumer Reports says that fuel economy — and not undercarriage lighting — is the leading consideration for folks looking to buy a vehicle. More »
(source: U.S. EIA)
Why Are West Coast Gas Prices Rising While Dropping Everywhere Else?
By Chris Morran on May 18, 2012 1:30 PM
72 Comments
While the national average for a gallon of gas has dropped nearly 20 cents since peaking in early April, prices on the West Coast of the U.S. recently began rising again, even as prices in every other region of the country trend downwards. More »
Scams
Don't Be Attacked By Criminals Posing As Comcast Techs
By Chris Morran on May 24, 2012 12:15 PM
33 Comments
What's worse than having a bad cable company tech wrecking your house? How about three men posing as cable techs who want to break into your house to rob and assault you? More »
No, Microsoft Techs Are Not Proactively Calling You About Your Error Messages
By Chris Morran on May 22, 2012 12:45 PM
46 Comments
Software crashes. And sometimes when it does, you get the option of sending an error report to the developer. You'll never hear back, because that's not the purpose of the report. But that hasn't stopped scammers from pretending they are Microsoft techs responding to your crash reports. More »
Smoking Guns
Bloggers: TSA "Strongly Cautions" Against Writing About Security Loophole
By Phil Villarreal on March 9, 2012 8:15 AM
114 Comments
It seems the TSA isn't so happy about the dissemination of a blogger's contention that you can sneak dangerous stuff through security by placing it along the side of your body. The blogger says reporters complained that the TSA tried to get them not to write about the story. More »
(Tracy O)
Michigan Woman Who Won $1 Million In Lottery Stays On Food Stamps
By Phil Villarreal on March 7, 2012 9:15 AM
139 Comments
It's not unheard of for recent Michigan lottery winners to consider themselves so hard up that they subsist on food stamps. Following last year's revelation that a Michigan man who won $2 million in the state lottery remained on welfare, now there are reports that a woman who snagged $1 million in winnings is doing the same. More »
Unacceptable Food
9-Year-Old Shames School Into Healthier Food With Blog About Its Lacking Lunches
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 24, 2012 12:00 PM
78 Comments
Here at Consumerist, we know a little something about publicly shaming big, bad companies into doing right by customers. But apparently, it works on other levels as well — say, a 9-year-old girl blogging about her terrible lunches at her school in Scotland. More »
What Peeves You Most When You Eat At A Restaurant?
By Chris Morran on May 23, 2012 3:45 PM
350 Comments
Most of the time when you go out to a restaurant, you're not only paying for food, but also for service and ambiance. So even if the meal was perfectly prepared, there are still plenty of things about which diners feel justified to complain. More »
Worst Company In America
The Day After Winning Worst Company Crown, EA Does Something Nice For Mass Effect Fans
By Chris Morran on April 5, 2012 2:22 PM
64 Comments
As much as we'd love to think that yesterday's victory by Electronic Arts in the Worst Company In America tournament pushed them to do something nice, we have a feeling that it's just a coincidence that the video game publisher has announced it will release some downloadable content — for free! — to appease angry Mass Effect 3 players. More »
EA Responds To Worst Company Win By Name-Dropping Past Worst Company Winners
By Chris Morran on April 4, 2012 1:21 PM
165 Comments
Usually when we announce the winner of the annual Worst Company In America tournament, the victor chooses to quietly reflect on their triumph rather than make a public comment. But not this year's champ, Electronic Arts, which has responded to being voted the WCIA winner by hinting that it's not as bad as other companies. More »
