Budget deficits across the country are leading states to put the pressure on Amazon.com to start collecting sales tax. But guess what? It doesn’t want to! Because really, who likes taxes? [More]
Retail Services
Sears Leaves Family Without Functioning Stove For 6 Weeks
By 3.11.11
In 2009, Ian’s family had their kitchen remodeled to become super-awesome. One of the additions was a pricey, but fast and energy-efficient, Kenmore induction range. While the new cabinets and granite countertops are still going strong, the family has been without a stove for six weeks now, severely hampering their ability to make their own meals at home. Sears and the repair company that tried to fix the stove keep blaming each other for the failure, but it’s Ian’s family that ends up paying to eat out every night. Update: Sears has delivered a new, functioning stove.
At the beginning of March, Ian sent this message to the Sears executive customer service team: [More]
Tiny Walmarts Multiply, Spread Across Arkansas
By 3.11.11
Like the tiny brooms in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” mini Walmarts are marching rhythmically into communities in Arkansas. After the opening of the world’s smallest Walmart on the University of Arkansas campus, BusinessWeek reports that the megaretailer plans to begin construction next week on three new Walmart Express stores. [More]
Bestselling Business Books Now Available In Comic Book Form
By 3.10.11
Even the most accessible books about business and personal finance can tend to be dry reads. That’s why a publishing company is releasing a handful of these titles in the always fun comic book format. [More]
JPMorgan Chase Also Considering $50 Cap On Debit Card Purchases
By 3.10.11
As we’ve previously reported, Bank of America has proposed a cap on debit card purchases. And if some folks at JPMorgan Chase have their way, account holders at that bank will also be very limited on the purchases they can make with their debit cards. [More]
Best Buy Changes Geek Squad Tech Support From Covering All Your Computers To Three
By 3.10.11
Earlier this week, we told you about Best Buy’s latest scheme: Geek Squad Tech Support, a program that, for a cost of around $200/year, would allow computer purchasers access to unlimited Geek Squad service not just on the item they bought, but on all computers they own. It looks like the electronics retailer has finally realized how much they were opening themselves up to possible abuse, because they’ve now trimmed “all computers” to “three.” [More]
Best Buy Screws Up Appliance Delivery Badly Enough To Drive Customer To Sears
By 3.10.11
Jason ordered a new dryer from Best Buy, and his experience was so frustrating that he actually threatened to buy from Sears instead. How bad does a shopping experience have to be to drive a man to such madness? [More]
Disney CEO Declares DVDs Are Not Dead, They're Just Ignored
By 3.10.11
Interviewed on Charlie Rose, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the decline of one of the company’s former cash cows. The days of people collecting DVDs like baseball cards have apparently passed, but there’s still a little life left in the market, he says. [More]
Costco Sues For Being Forced To Return Rebate Money It Didn't Keep
By 3.10.11
What happens when you don’t claim a rebate? In Washington State, the retailer from which you didn’t claim the cash hands the money over to the state for safekeeping in a program for consumers who later claim the money. Costco, based in Washington, thinks that they should get to keep the money, and filed a lawsuit last week defending that right. This should be interesting. Costco, based in Washington, was recently forced to turn over money from its’ rebate program that it says it never even kept.
From Seattle P-I: [More]
Is Target Now Cheaper Than Walmart?
By 3.9.11
Whatever problems many customers might have with Walmart’s business practices, the retail behemoth’s low prices continue to draw shoppers. But new price-comparison reports say that Target may now be the place for frugal consumers. [More]
Why Compact Cars Give You The Most Value For The Money
By 3.9.11
To frugal drivers, value and efficiency are sexier than horsepower and design. With fuel economy, cost of ownership and resale value in mind, Forbes evaluated cars on the market and chose the most value-packed models. Most are compacts, with the Mazda2, Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Cruze taking three of the first four spots on the list. [More]
Broadband Internet Keeps Cable Companies Dominant Despite TV Losses
By 3.9.11
Cable companies are hemorrhaging subscribers, but the businesses are still sitting pretty thanks to the trump card of broadband internet access. [More]
Avoid Walmart Receipt Check By Loudly Declaring That You Bought Condoms
By 3.8.11
At Walmart, it’s not just electronics that have anti-theft tags: it’s any small, desirable item. Like a box of condoms. Patrick found a way to use this information to his advantage and avoid a receipt check at Walmart. Whether anyone should do this, especially after they’ve tripped the alarm, is a matter for debate. [More]
Best Buy To Sell Unlimited Geek Squad Service Plans
By 3.8.11
UPDATE: Best Buy has already changed the program from covering “all computers you own” to “three.” [More]
Michigan Donut Shop On Verge Of Paczki Prize
By 3.8.11
If you don’t know what a paczki is, you may have to wait until next year to find out. Today is Fat Tuesday, known as Paczki Day in many Polish communities — and as polish jelly-donut day among many others who crave the sweet annual ritual. And while one bakery in Michigan is attempting to set a local record by selling 12,000 of the confections, if you haven’t lined up already, you’re probably too late. [More]
This Super Long Box Was Very Necessary To Ship A Half Ounce Of Product
By 3.7.11
It takes a certain amount of talent to be ridiculous, and so we applaud Amazon’s shipping department in this case for doing what it takes to be particularly flabbergasting when it comes to choosing quite a silly box for a very small product. [More]
Calm Man Successfully Buys TV And Denies Walmart Receipt Checkers
By 3.7.11
Rick is the Gandhi of receipt-check deniers. He writes in with a story of how he bought a 37 inch TV from Walmart and was able to successfully say no to the receipt checker blocking his way with his body. Rick did this by calmly and reasonably explaining his position to the assistant manager who showed up and by ignoring everyone around him who was trying to provoke him. Sometimes the quietest voice speaks the loudest. [More]
Dumb Warning Labels Are Fun
By 3.7.11
Doesn’t everyone love a good round-up of “I can’t believe that’s necessary!”? It’s true, you know it, I know it, we all like to laugh at needless warnings of “don’t use this while sleeping” and “you probably could die from doing this.” [More]
