A few weeks ago reader Elizabeth bought a discount “as is” mandoline slice from Bed Bath and Beyond. It didn’t have the food holder so she bought some cutting gloves from Amazon, which fit her, but not her husband. In vain, she searched for the replacement parts online. So she sent OXO an email asking if she could buy one directly. She was pleasantly surprised by their reply. [More]
Retail Services
Citibank Jacks Up Monthly Fees On Checking Accounts
By 9.29.11
Citibank sent customers a letter informing them that starting in December, they’re raising monthly fees on checking accounts, in some cases by double. [More]
Jared Sells You Ring Engraved With Someone Else's Wedding Date And Initials
By 9.29.11
When Eric got married a few weeks ago, his wife put a wedding band on his finger engraved with initials and a wedding date. Only they weren’t the initials or wedding date of Eric and his wife. The ring was engraved for another couple who got married the week before, and evidently got their rings from the same Jared store. Er, Galleria of Jewelry. [More]
Best Buy, Macy's & Other Stores Announce Holiday Hiring Surges
By 9.29.11
Good news for anyone looking for a seasonal job — Best Buy, Macy’s and Toys R’ Us have all announced they’ll be hiring a few thousand extra workers for the upcoming holiday season. [More]
Video: Consumer Reports' Preview Of The Kindle Fire
By 9.28.11
As you probably already know, earlier today Amazon announced the launch of the $199 Kindle Fire tablet. Consumer Reports Electronics Editor Paul Reynolds has had the chance to get a brief look at the device and has filed this video report with his initial impressions. [More]
Movie Theaters May Start Charging For 3-D Glasses
By 9.28.11
In case you thought that part of that higher ticket price you pay for seeing a 3-D movie goes to pay for the glasses required to see the often poorly done, post-production 3-D effects, you’re mistaken. It’s the studios behind these big-budget cash-ins that have been footing the bill, but that could all change in the next year. [More]
Get A Jump On Scoring The Holiday Season's Hottest Toys
By 9.28.11
In order to avoid your little angels throwing a massive, diabolic fit, parents who want a sporting chance at a happy holiday season might want to start thinking about what the hottest toys will be. We aren’t here to judge your spines, just here to help, after all. [More]
Amazon Launches $199 Kindle Fire Tablet, $99 Kindle Touch
By 9.28.11
Amazon today announced its long-awaited tablet, the Kindle Fire. The 7-inch tablet will be available in November for $199. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos also announced out two new Kindles: the $99 touchscreen Kindle Touch, and a $79 version of the traditional Kindle. Both will include “Special Offers.” Ad-free versions will be available at higher prices. [More]
That Whole Pumpkin Shortage Thing? It's Gonna Be Just Fine
By 9.28.11
OMG how is the Great Pumpkin going to show up on Halloween if the big bad pumpkin shortage deprives us all of our jack-o-lanterns? Yes, everyone (even us!) reported on the frightening loss of the all-important Halloween gourds, but really, don’t worry. [More]
Pay Target.com With PayPal And Return Stuff, Only Get Store Credit
By 9.28.11
Cora has a warning for the Consumerist community: while you can pay on Target.com using your PayPal account and then return it, it’s not necessarily a good idea. You’ll get your money back, but it won’t be automatically credited back to your PayPal account. Instead, you’ll receive the balance on a Target gift card. This can be either frustrating or convenient, depending on the amount of the order and how often you shop at Target. [More]
Why Did My Walmart Change The ‘Use By’ Date On My Beef?
By 9.27.11 — Updated: 11.19.13
What’s a grocery store to do when an expensive piece of beef goes unsold by the time it’s reached its “Use/Freeze By” date? Consumerist reader William believes he caught his Walmart simply slapping a new sticker with a new date on top of the old one. [More]
Economist: 2011 Will Be Worst Year So Far For New Home Sales
By 9.27.11
As nearly each month passes, home sales get slower and slower. New home sales in August declined 2.3 percent from July. The numbers were up 6.1 percent from August 2010, which isn’t saying much considering that was the 48-year low for the housing market. [More]
This Pawn Shop Is Very Up Front With Its Feelings About Crack Smokers
By 9.26.11
Last week, we brought you a marketing ploy by one Albany pawn shop looking to expand its customer base by giving spurned mothers a way to get back at their exes. Now, Consumerist reader Brady sends us a photo of a Georgia shop that is trying to limit certain people — namely those who smoke crack cocaine — from entering. [More]
Customer Sues Bank Of America After Getting Locked Inside & Then Teased By Staffers
By 9.26.11
How many bank heist movies have involved a thief cooking up some elaborate plan just to get a few hours alone inside an empty bank? Well there’s one Bank of America customer in Connecticut who wasn’t too thrilled when he found himself in this situation, and even less thrilled when he was let out only to then allegedly be mocked by BofA staffers. And this is how we end up with the nation’s largest bank being sued for false imprisonment. [More]
Bank of America Wants To Get Out Of The Pizza Business
By 9.23.11 — Updated: 10.26.17
Bank of America has decided to stop selling pizza. The bank, which operates 1,140 Pizza Hut branches through its NPC International division, has reportedly decided to sell off the business. BofA could get more than $800 million for the Pizza Hut stores. [More]
Amazon Realizes Fainting Workers Are Not Effective Employees, Installs Air Conditioners At Warehouses
By 9.23.11
After a summer in which upward of 15 warehouse employees passed out from heat exhaustion in a single day at one Pennsylvania warehouse, the folks at Amazon have realized this may not be the most effective way of maintaining a workforce and has recently spent millions to install air-conditioning units at four facilities in the Keystone State. [More]
How Much Of P&G's Ariel Laundry Detergent Should You Really Use?
By 9.22.11
Here’s a quick quiz: If you use Procter & Gamble’s Ariel USA laundry detergent, should you use 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup or 1/5 cup of detergent for a medium-size load of laundry? [More]
How To Scam A Free Kindle From An Amazon Seller, In Four Easy Steps
By 9.22.11
Want a free Kindle? Eric shared this story of how an unscrupulous Amazon Marketplace buyer scored one from his friend through the use of lies and some attempted mail fraud. Here’s how the buyer did it. (Disclaimer: Do not actually do this.) [More]
