Not so long ago, comparison shopping required actually going to several stores or sifting through every circular in the Sunday paper. And even as at-home internet access became commonplace, that didn’t really help if you’d gone to the store without doing the legwork in advance. But the rapid growth of web-enabled phones could be leading to better retail prices and more informed consumers. [More]
Retail Services
Forget Christmas — It's Already Easter At Kroger
By 12.16.10
Christmas is about a week away, with New Year’s following hot on its heels. And then there’s Valentine’s Day about seven weeks after that. But forget about all that junk because spring is apparently in the air at Kroger. [More]
Best Buy Finally Settles Suit Over Deceptive In-Store Kiosks
By 12.16.10
It’s been almost four years since Consumerist first brought you the story of Best Buy’s in-store kiosks that sometimes displayed completely different information than the company’s actual internet site. And after a long and drawn-out battle with the attorney general of Connecticut, a settlement has finally been reached. [More]
This Sale Depends On What The Meaning Of "Everything" Is
By 12.16.10
If you see signage in a store that says “40% off everything,” what do you assume that might mean? While shopping at Ann Taylor Loft, Mike had this wild idea that such signs mean that everything in the store is marked down 40%. He was wrong. The sale specifically excluded new spring merchandise in one corner of the store…which most of the store signage failed to mention. [More]
Report: Walmart Jacks Up Toy Prices Just In Time For The Holidays
By 12.15.10
Walmart might have had some decent toy prices on Black Friday, but a new report says that not only did those low prices not last — many of them went up. [More]
74-Year-Old Accused Walmart Shoplifter Fights To Clear Name
By 12.15.10
No one wants to spend their golden years fending off unwarranted shoplifting charges, but that’s the situation in which a 74-year-old Missouri man finds himself. Following up on Walmart complaints, authorities accused the man of nearly 20 robberies at stores throughout the midwest. He’s maintained his innocence and finally seems to be making some headway. [More]
Let's Hope Energy Drinks Improve Your Math Skills
By 12.15.10
Frank spotted this sign at his local Stop & Shop. “And to think, one of the reasons we moved to this town was for its highly touted education system,” he laments. Maybe the employees of this convenience store are from the next town over. [More]
This Dunkin' Donuts Tip Cup Has Trust Issues
By 12.14.10
The workers at this Dunkin’ Donuts hope that you’ll be happy enough with their service that you’ll leave a tip. But doesn’t trust you not to run off with the tip jar. [More]
CitiMortgage Launches "Call-A-Thon" To Answer Distressed Homeowner Questions
By 12.14.10
Tomorrow CitiMortgage is kicking off a special 1-day “call-a-thon” where people in trouble with or confused about their mortgages with Citi can call in and talk to foreclosure prevention staff. In addition, “senior managers and increased numbers of supervisors will be on hand to provide additional support,” says Citi. [More]
Procter & Gamble Washes Hands Of Soap Operas To Focus On Social Media
By 12.14.10
After pioneering soap operas as ad vehicles for its cleaning products, Procter & Gamble — which cranks out Gain detergent, Head & Shoulders shampoo and Old Spice deodorant, among other products — has stopped producing long-running daytime serials to focus on social media. P&G-produced Guiding Light went dim last year, and As the World Turns stopped turning in September. [More]
Costco Replaces Scotch Bottle, Saves Christmas
By 12.13.10
Travis has a rich tradition of an annual bottle of scotch at Christmas, a tradition that was nearly shattered along with his bottle when it slipped from its box. Luckily Costco has an even longer and richer tradition of being really cool about refunds. [More]
Store Charges $20 Fee If You Try But Don't Buy Its Shoes
By 12.13.10
Jay says he’s stumbled upon a ludicrous fee at a dance-focused shop. If you try on a pair of shoes but decide not to buy them, you owe the store $20. [More]
Target Offering In-Store Social Workers For Some Employees
By 12.13.10
Two days a week, the employees at the Target store in Compton, CA, have access to something many of us could probably use: a social worker. [More]
Walmart.com Tries To Make My Wife Smell Like A Dude
By 12.13.10
If Stephen wanted Burberry London for Men, he would have ordered some for himself. But he was after a gift for his wife, and thus ordered Burberry London for Women at what seemed to be an excellent price. He says Walmart.com didn’t care and sent him the cheaper men’s variety anyway, then wouldn’t replace the product and only offered a refund. [More]
Bank of America Thaws Foreclosure Freeze
By 12.10.10
If you’re an under-the-gun homeowner with a Bank of America mortgage and you’ve been keeping your fingers crossed that the bank’s temporary suspension of foreclosures would continue indefinitely, you can uncross them. The bank announced today that it would resume foreclosures this month. [More]
Watch Out For Bogus Amazon Marketplace Receipts
By 12.10.10
Small businesses that sell products via Amazon’s Marketplace are being targeted by a simple-yet-apparently-effective scam: Tricksters create fake Marketplace receipts and email them to the merchants with a complaint about unshipped goods. Gullible shopkeepers then send out refund checks to bogus “customers.”
Beware These 7 Holiday Ripoffs
By 12.10.10
Before you finish your holiday shopping, you may want to take a look at this list compiled by Forbes of 7 popular items that get marked up way too much. Among the worst: greeting cards, which have a markup of up to 200% above cost. [More]
Costco Replaces Stolen Nativity Scene Pieces For Free
By 12.10.10
Not everything we write about involves people getting screwed over. Sometimes a company will go out of its way to do something nice for customers. Take the example of the Kansas family whose vandalized nativity scene is being fixed with the help of Costco. [More]
