We applaud the idea of teaching kids how to use technology more effectively, so we’ll assume that Geek Squad Summer Academy, which teaches Girl Scouts and other youngsters “the basic components of technology through fun, engaging, and informative activities not likely found in a traditional school setting,” is a great program, and not an insidious plot to get them to go home and start optimizing their parents’ computers at the end of the summer. Then again, we bet the margin on those $39.99 tune-ups are better than what the girls make hawking cookies. [More]
Retail Services
Ben Stiller, Other Celebs, Allegedly Targeted In Credit Card Scam
By 5.8.10
It makes sense that David Duchovny, director Paul Haggis, Ben Stiller and a few other of Hollywood’s big names would all lose their credit cards and need replacements mailed to the same address in Chicago. Or at least, it made enough sense for Citibank to send out a few new cards out before they and the police got a wee bit suspicious. [More]
BoA Sued For Taking TARP $ But Not Helping Foreclosures
By 5.7.10
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Bank of America for taking $25 billion in federal TARP bailout money but intentionally failing to live up to its part of the bargain. The deal was that banks were supposed to use use the money to allow struggling homeowners to reduce their payments to affordable levels. “Bank of America came up with every excuse to defer the Kahlo family from a home loan modification, from stating they ‘lost’ their paperwork to saying they never approved the new terms of the mortgage agreement,” said the plaintiff’s attorney. “And we know from our investigation this isn’t an isolated incident.” Bank of America declined to comment.
Washington homeowners file class action against Bank of America [Seattle PI]
Countrywide Settles Class-Action Suit For $624 Million
By 5.7.10
Bank of America took a little kick in the shins today as Countrywide Financial Corp, the mortgage lender they acquired in 2008 as it suck into the quicksand, has agreed to a $624 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit accusing it of misleading investors about its lending practices. [More]
Be Polite, Not Pushy For Better Customer Service
By 5.7.10
Does the squeaky wheel get the grease or do you draw more flies with honey than vinegar? Consumerism Commentary endorses the latter method when it comes to getting the best customer service possible, making the case for why politeness gets you farther than pushiness. [More]
POLL: Which Services Do You Tip For?
By 5.6.10
As many Consumerist readers have pointed out over the years, you’re generally under no obligation to leave a tip for someone who provides you a service. That being said, most of us still do — and for a seemingly increasing number of services. That’s why we want to know about those situations in which you almost always leave a little extra. [More]
What Should I Do With This $2000 Defective Sears Mower?
By 5.6.10
Reader Edgar wants to know what we think he should do with the defective riding lawn mower he bought from Sears. [More]
Banks Gone Amok, Unlawfully Foreclosing
By 5.5.10
“Darnit, where was that mortgage modification paper? I knew I put it somewhere. Oh well, let’s just foreclose on these people’s house. STAMP! Whoo, that was tough. Time to treat myself to a Diet Coke.” That’s an imaginative reenactment at what’s going on inside the mortgage departments of the biggest banks in America: total disorganization, the right hand not knowing what the left is doing, a bureaucratic and document-strewn nightmare that can swallow up people’s homes right from under them. [More]
No, A $1,000 Purse Is Still Not An Investment
By 5.5.10
Around this time last year, we posted an article about how luxury goods companies are marketing their products as “investments” during the recession, rather than indulgences. It’s an interesting way to position four-figure handbags, but a bad use of the word “investment.” The Los Angeles Times’ Your Stylist column recently brought out this meme, describing an expensive handbag as an investment and “your new best friend.” Should it be? [More]
FutureShop Accuses You Of Scamming For No Good Reason
By 5.5.10
Adam was shocked when he tried to return a router and a switch to FutureShop and they accused him of being a scammer. All because of a little dust on the items. Well, that little dust turned into quite a dustup when a huffy assistant manager at the Canadian Best Buy subsidiary got involved. “Fine, I will play along with your little game,” she ended up saying to Adam once the actual manager overrode her and made her stop getting in the way of the return. What the heck? [More]
Retail Policies Do Little To Curtail Shoplifters
By 5.5.10
Shoplifters drive up costs for law-abiding shoppers, and store policies tend to be stacked in favor of thieves, according to a UPI analysis that reports 92 percent of retailers were victimized in 2009. [More]
Google To Join The E-Book Fray With New Store
By 5.4.10
Because there apparently aren’t enough gunslingers at the e-book OK Corral, Google announced today that they plan on joining the battle royale when they open their online e-book store sometime this summer. [More]
Walmart Settles California Environmental Lawsuit For $27.6 Million
By 5.4.10
Walmart got caught violating California’s environmental laws by dumping hazardous materials improperly and agreed to pay $27.6 million to the state to settle a lawsuit, the L.A. Times reports. [More]
Kmart Rejected My Coupon, Saying Deal Was 'Like Cash for Clunkers'
By 5.4.10
Andrey tried to use a coupon at a Chicago Kmart but was denied by the manager, who said the funding for the coupon was all used up, like “cash for clunkers.” [More]
More Than Half Of U.S. Homes Are Rocking HDTVs
By 5.4.10
Nielsen’s latst Television Audience Report found that people are getting more and more TV crazy. Not only do 53 percent of homes have sprung for HDTVs, but 55 percent of households have three or more TVs. [More]
BoA Debt Collector Tells You How Not To Be A Deadbeat
By 5.3.10
A shadowy figure emerges from even darker shadows to reveal the umber-colored world that is the Bank of America Collection department. It is a place so fell that it cannot be even spoken of directly and is instead referred to as “Customer Assistance.” A cruel joke? Perhaps. “I never expected to be working for such an evil company. but they were the only ones hiring,” says our tipster who has some tough-love advice for all you deadbeats out there so he doesn’t have to call you up and demand your money. Because he will find you, and he will get you. [More]
Amazon Cuts Penguin Hardcovers To $9.99 In Fight Over E-book Pricing
By 5.3.10
If you want to read recent Penguin releases like Roger Lowenstein’s “The End of Wall Street” on your Kindle, you may have to wait a while, since Amazon and Penguin are still fighting over pricing. If you’re willing to buy the hardbound version, though, Amazon has a deal for you: To pressure Penguin, Amazon is pricing recent Penguin releases at a very Kindle-esque $9.99. [More]
Say Goodbye To GameCrazy, Hollywood Video
By 5.3.10
Blockbuster’s main brick-and-mortar competitor, Movie Gallery, is shutting down all its U.S. stores, Reuters reports, citing the paywall-riffic Wall Street Journal. [More]
