As has been demonstrated in episodes of both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, the relationship between car owner and car repair shop can be all-too-similar to the relationships you have with your friends and loved ones. But what does it take to push consumers over the edge to the point where they break up with the people who fix their cars? [More]
Retail Services
Apple Willing To Stand Trial On E-Book Price-Fixing Allegations
By 4.18.12
Even though three of the publishers accused of colluding with Apple to fix prices on e-books have already settled with the Dept. of Justice, the electronics giant continues to assert its innocence and wants the opportunity to answer the charges in court. [More]
California Grape Shortage Means You'll Likely Be Paying More For Wine
By 4.18.12
Clutch that bottle of your favorite cheap Syrah close, wine lovers — wine prices are about go up because of a shortage of California grapes. The demand for booze is increasing at the same time, says a wine industry report, which will result in higher prices for local offerings. [More]
Developer "Disappointed" That People Would Rather Hack Game Than Pay $20 For Content Already On Disc
By 4.18.12
When you buy a car and opt to get the basic, no-frills stereo, the really rad sound system isn’t also included somewhere in the vehicle, just waiting for you to plunk down some money to activate it. If that were the case, the car-maker has to know that buyers are going to be tempted to figure out how to turn that better system on without forking over the cash. [More]
USPS Turns Box Into Accordion, Hopes You Won't Notice
By 4.17.12
When Chris received this package in the mail, he assumed that his mail carrier had crammed it in his mailbox with overwhelming force. That wasn’t the case, though. The truth is more mysterious and much weirder. [More]
Do Amazon And Netflix Inflate Their Streaming Libraries?
By 4.17.12
When you read that Amazon offers 17,000 “movies and TV programs” in its streaming library, and that Netflix has 60,000, what do you assume that figure means? Sure, a movie’s a movie, but what constitutes a TV program? Using Amazon’s math, a “program” is a single episode of a series, meaning that the entire run of “24” counts as 192 programs. Is this a reasonable way to count videos, or is it misleading? Fast Company’s stance is clear: they think that both companies are using this trick to inflate their total program count and make their services look more impressive than they are. [More]
One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other: Beware Knock-Off Books On Amazon
By 4.16.12
It’s not just fake Louis Vuitton purses and Prada shoes getting knocked off and sold on the Internet — you could get scammed by a book title as well if a self-publishing author plays their game well enough. And yes, this kind of thing happens under Amazon’s watch. [More]
How A Few Minutes With A Screwdriver Saved Me $139
By 4.16.12
We don’t begrudge Sears Repair–or, indeed, any business–a healthy markup on items that they sell. That’s how capitalism works, and capitalism is awesome. But Matthew must have felt insulted when the part his dishwasher needed showed up on his doorstep ahead of a return visit from the repairman. The part needed only a few screws to install…and, making things worse, was available $50 cheaper, for only $121, on Sears’ own website. It’s even cheaper elsewhere. [More]
Best Buy To Close 42 Stores, Hold Crappy Clearance Sales
By 4.15.12
Customers stopping by some Best Buy stores around the United States on Saturday got a surprise: the stores had abruptly closed down for the day. When the electronics mega-chain announced a few weeks ago that they planned to close about fifty of their biggest boxes, they meant it. Forty-two Best Buy stores in twenty states (and one in Puerto Rico) will close by May 12. Or whenever they run out of stock: whichever happens first. [More]
Study Says The More Walmarts In The Area, The More Hate Groups There Are
By 4.13.12
This one’s sure to boil some blood over at Walmart headquarters: A new study says there’s a significant correlation between the amount of Walmart stores in an area and the number of hate groups existing in that same area. As the big-box stores proliferate, so do the groups. [More]
The Supermarket Tricks You Need To Avoid To Save While Shopping
By 4.13.12
You might have a good set of tactics while shopping at your local supermarket. But are you savvy to the subtle ways food stores (and other retailers) get you to buy more? There might be a few tricks you’ve fallen prey to in the past. [More]
An Example Of When Buying A Generic Drug Can Save You 72%
By 4.13.12
Yeah, buying generics drugs instead of their snazzy brand name versions could stifle an allergy, calm a nasty cough or banish that throb on the cheap. But at more than half the price? [More]
Raiders Of The Lost Walmart Find More Ancient Gadgets
By 4.13.12 — Updated: 8.15.13
Consumerist readers are a determined bunch. Against all odds, you keep going: exploring Walmart stores across the country in search of the oldest and most obsolete items that Wally World has to offer. [More]
For Cheap Toiletries, Don't Turn To Your Local Pharmacies
By 4.13.12
How many times has this happened to you? You’re at your neighborhood drugstore, picking up meds, when you remember you need shampoo or maybe some other personal care product as well. You’re at the store, they have the what you need… But are you gonna get hosed at the checkout? [More]
Not Everyone At Costco Understands Secret Membership Avoidance Strategy
By 4.13.12
A few years ago, we ran a post about the secret and kind of awesome way to do some shopping at Costco without purchasing a membership. Just give a member you know some cash and have them pick up a gift card (Costco Cash Card) for you. Great system if your nearest Costco is far away, or you just don’t go often enough to justify joining. In theory, anyway. Justin took the advice in our post, but was turned away at the door by an employee who wasn’t aware that a cash card entitled him to enter the store. [More]
Report: Best Buy CEO Probed Over Relationship With Female Employee
By 4.12.12
The plot continues to thicken in the story surrounding this week’s sudden departure of Best Buy CEO Brian “I Like My Burgers Well” Dunn. As some had suspected when he stepped down on Tuesday under the cloud of a “personal conduct” probe, new reports claim that the 28-year Best Buy vet was being investigated for possibly misusing company assets while involved in a relationship with a female employee of the electronics retail chain. [More]
Testing For The Best Toilet Paper For Treating Your Tushie Right
By 4.12.12
Let’s face it. using the right brand of toilet paper for most people is a matter of personal choice. But did you know that there’s a whole slew of tests that experts use to evaluate TP? After all, you’ve got to treat your delicate parts right. [More]
5 Situations Where You Shouldn't Use A Debit Card
By 4.12.12
Debit cards can help you manage your budget without sacrificing the convenience of credit cards. But there are just some cases where you absolutely should not use debit for credit. [More]
