Because new cars lose a sizable chunk of their resale value once you drive them off the lot, conventional wisdom says it’s wiser to buy used. [More]
Retail Services
BofA Charges Fee After 3 Withdrawals To Discourage You From Making More Than 6
By 4.8.11
Here’s a funny fee that I just found out about, even though it’s been in place for at least a year. So, Federal regulation, Regulation D, prohibits more than six withdrawals per month from a savings account (ATM withdrawals don’t count towards the 6). Most banks will just charge an “excess activity fee” if you go over that amount, but Bank of America charges a $3 fee if you have more than three withdrawals in a statement period. When Paul questioned why, customer service told him it was a “deterrent fee” to discourage him from hitting the Federal limit. “That’s like giving me a speeding ticket for going 27.5 miles per hour as a deterrent so I don’t go 55,” he writes. The rep was unmoved by his analogy. [More]
Madoff: Chase Execs Were Aware Of Ponzi Scheme
By 4.8.11
Despite evidence to the contrary, the folks at JPMorgan Chase have denied knowing anything at all about Bernie Madoff’s multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme. But in a new interview, the scam artist says that senior Chase execs weren’t exactly in the dark about what he was doing. [More]
Man Superglued To Walmart Toilet Seat
By 4.8.11
A man was taken to the hospital after an apparent April Fool’s prank left his rear superglued to a toilet seat at Walmart, reports CNN. [More]
Costco Selling $1 Million Diamond Ring
By 4.7.11
If you’re a rich baron of industry out to impress your beloved with a pricey piece of jewelry, forget Tiffany’s. Go to Costco. They’re selling a big ‘ol 6.77 ct diamond solitaire ring for $1,000,000. And true to form, it’s a bargain. The piece has been valued at $1,601,875. [More]
Chase Will Reinstate Debit Card Rewards If Fee Overhaul Is Delayed
By 4.7.11
Chase has pledged to reinstate debit card rewards programs if the cap on fees it collects from merchants per debit transaction, scheduled to go into effect July 21st, is delayed. [More]
Around One Out Of Every 10 Mall Stores Now Vacant
By 4.7.11
The malls of America have seen better days. In the wake of the still-lingering economic downturn, vacancy rates at shopping centers — of both the “classic mall” and “strip mall” varieties — are at their highest levels since the twentieth century. [More]
Worst Company In America Elite 8: Ticketmaster Vs. Chase
By 4.7.11
The fisticuffs continue with today’s battle between last year’s runner-up and a surging contender with promise for future tournaments. [More]
Costco Sues California Man Picketing Over Gas Prices
By 4.6.11
For the past few months, a man in San Luis Obispo, CA, has been protesting his local Costco, claiming that the store’s gas prices are misleading. Now the store has sued the peeved protester, alleging that he’s trespassed on store property and made threatening statements. [More]
Best Buy Manager: We Didn't Sell You A Defective Blu-Ray Disc, Lionsgate Did
By 4.6.11
A few months ago, Consumerist reader Dave picked up a few of the “Saw” movies on Blu-Ray while shopping at his local Best Buy in Georgia. And when he finally got around to popping “Saw IV” into his player last month, it wouldn’t play. So, since he still had the receipt it shouldn’t have been a problem to get a replacement disc from Best Buy, right? [More]
Worst Company In America Elite 8: Bank Of America Vs. Walmart
By 4.6.11
Those college kids in the NCAA may be back to hitting the books, but here in the WCIA octagon, competing companies are still hitting busy hitting each other below the belt en route to the title of Worst Company In America! [More]
Why Did GameStop Sell Me A Used Game As New?
By 4.6.11
Patrick had a confusing experience at GameStop recently, when he bought a copy of God of War III. He asked for a new copy of the game, which was on sale, but received an unsealed copy of the game that looked more like a used game. Thanks to a sale, the price difference between new and used copies was only $2, but why did they sell him a not-so-new game in the first place? [More]
Say Hello To Your Worst Company In America Elite 8!
By 4.6.11
Two rounds of WCIA bloodshed are in the book and the beaten bodies of 24 multi-billion dollar companies are being hauled off to be burned on a pyre. But for those businesses left standing — let’s call them the Elite 8 — the parade of pain marches on. [More]
Wholesale Meat Prices Up 25 Percent From A Year Ago
By 4.6.11
It’s gotten tougher over the last year to bring home the bacon, as well as the rib eye, hamburger and rump roast. [More]
Woman Buys Milk With Free Bonus Insects, Complains For Some Reason
By 4.6.11
American consumers are so ungrateful. An Indiana woman bought a gallon of Great Value house-brand milk at Walmart that included a delicious selection of flour bugs. She’s currently pregnant, so why didn’t she appreciate the extra protein? She declined the store’s offer of replacement milk, and wants a refund. [More]
Procter & Gamble Sells Off Pringles For $1.5 Billion
By 4.6.11
Procter & Gamble continued its move away from the food industry, selling Pringles canned potato chips to Diamond Foods Inc. In recent years, P&G has rid itself of Folgers Coffee, Jif peanut butter, Sunny Delight orange drink and other food properties. [More]
Shocker: Cheap Liquid Dish Soap Cleans Just As Well As The Pricey Stuff
By 4.5.11
Looks like that whole “you get what you pay for” thing doesn’t exactly apply to liquid dish soap. According to our siblings at Consumer Reports, there are plenty of dirt-cheap dish liquids that do the same job as the stuff with the fancy name and label. [More]
Netflix CEO: Pay-Per-View Not In Company's Future
By 4.5.11
While Amazon now offers both a subscription streaming video selection and pay-per-view movies, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says that is a road his company has no plans on going down right now. [More]
