Since Netflix began making agreements with movie studios to wait 28 days before renting out new releases, Blockbuster has been making the biggest deal about its ability to rent movies on the release date. But now it looks like Best Buy has decided to remind movie watchers that it still sells DVDs and that they don’t have to wait to get them. [More]
Retail Services
Google Shopper App Recognizes Products By Their Cover
By 2.7.11
Google has jumped into the shopping app fray with “Google Shopper,” which stands out from the crowd by being able to id products by their cover art. The feature works on book, CD, DVD, and video game covers. You can also search by voice, along with the usual barcode scanning, local pricematching and the ability to save items. If you’re a RedLaser fan, this could be a serious contender to replace it on your home screen. The app is free and available on both Android and iOS. [More]
Home Depot Employee Makes Good On Delivery With His Own Vehicle
By 2.7.11
When a Home Depot associate promised Rose M. and her husband that the items they needed on a deadline would arrive on time, they were worried that their project would be left in limbo if those pieces failed to appear. So when the store didn’t, in fact, have their items, they were bummed. But just temporarily! [More]
A Little Pesky Snow Can't Deter Shoppers Set On Spending
By 2.7.11
Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor that crap they call wintry mix can keep shoppers out of their favorite stores, even in the depths of cold, blustery and wet January. Numbers are in on last month’s sales, and stores like Costco, Victoria’s Secret and Macy’s are boasting strong numbers. [More]
Best Buy Officially Announces It Will Buy Back Your Old Gadgets
By 2.4.11
Like we told you in a Consumerist exclusive back in December, Best Buy is launching a new program that lets customers trade in their old gadgets for a gift card for a fraction of their value, good towards another Best Buy purchase. They say it “future-proofs” your technology. The announcement was emailed to customers last night and will also be publicized during the Super Bowl. [More]
Spot Fake Product Reviews By Looking For Marketing Speak
By 2.3.11
Online marketers are constantly trying to game the system by leaving puffed up reviews for their own products on online shopping sites. But they often leave tracks behind. One of the biggest is “marketing speak,” turns of phrase and words that no human would ever use to describe an actual experience they had. Coupon Sherpa says to look for the following red flags: [More]
Documents Show Chase Doubted Madoff But Did Business With Him Anyway
By 2.3.11
Newly released documents reveal that executives at JPMorgan Chase were aware of the possible Ponzi-ness of Bernie Madoff’s investment business more than 18 months before it was revealed to be a mammoth scam. [More]
Walmart Staffer Charged With Faking Kidnapping To Rob Store Of $160,000
By 2.3.11
An employee at a Walmart near Rochester, NY, stands accused of trying to get away with robbing the store of $160,000 in cash by saying she’d been kidnapped and forced into pulling off the heist. [More]
Debt Junkies, Have A Cup Of Instant Money!
By 2.2.11
This curious 1960’s ad for a Bank of America personal loan portrays needy borrowers as jerky junkies twitching for a fix. Thankfully, BofA has a storehouse of jars of “instant” money (that operate suspiciously like a cup of cappuccino) that is the balm for your frayed nerves. [More]
Chase Sends You New Credit Card, Then Cancels It Before It Arrives
By 2.2.11
Reader Danny writes in that he was approved for a new Chase Ink credit card, but by the time it showed up in his mailbox, it was already canceled. [More]
REI Ate My $385.04 Store Credit Like So Much Trail Mix
By 2.2.11
REI, the outdoors equipment co-op, has a very generous return policy. Brandon returned something and received a store credit in return, but can’t actually exchange it for merchandise. Company representatives told him that the credit still exists, but is mysteriously “on hold” – but no one knows why, or what that means. [More]
A Rose Scented Conditioner By Any Other Name…
By 2.1.11
Guys, if you’re looking for something nice and Consumeristy to do for your gal for Valentines, here’s some inspiration. Benjamin Stein blogs about how his wife was in love with, besides him, Clairol’s Herbal Essences with Rose Hips and Jojoba conditioner. Then the line was discontinued. She was crushed. So he concocted a plan. He bought up all the overstock of the conditioner he can get from eBay and stashed it away, 38 bottles worth… [More]
Report: Apple Tells Sony It Can't Sell E-Books Through Its App
By 2.1.11
The battle over the e-book market has just gotten a little nastier. According to Sony, Apple is now telling some application developers that they can not create apps for the iPad and iPhone that would allow users to purchase content — or even be able to access content — that isn’t sold through its App Store. [More]
"Armed" Man Arrested At Walmart Was "Armed" With A Cellphone
By 1.31.11
A Walmart in Missouri went into lockdown after a bystander reported a man in the parking lot was behaving “erratically” and wielding a gun, reports the Kirksville Daily Express. The eyewitness reported that the man was holding a gun to his head. [More]
Assange Tells 60 Minutes He Likes Watching Banks Squirm As They Prep For His Next Leak
By 1.31.11
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange played coy in his 60 Minutes interview last night as reporter Steve Kroft tried to press him about the identity of the big bank he supposedly has a 5GB hard drive of secrets on. [More]
You Deserve A High Five: Consumer Spending Is Up
By 1.31.11
Spend, spend, spend! Buy, buy, buy! That’s what all of you have been doing, especially at the end of 2010, says a new report from the Commerce Department, leading to an uptick in consumer spending which is helping to boost the economy. Good job! [More]
Chase Chokes Off Enrollment In Debit Rewards
By 1.28.11
After February 8th, Chase isn’t letting any more people into the debit rewards program. Citing shrinking margins due to recent legislation, Chase is closing off all new enrollment. [More]
The 8 Least Evil Banks In America
By 1.27.11
Banks that aren’t evil? Really? CNN Money rounded up eight American banks that might not be consumer paradises, but offer free checking, no ATM fees, and comparatively high interest rates for savings accounts. [More]
