A new survey from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared annual costs around the world for consumers who have cellphones, and the U.S. is in the top three for most expensive. How expensive? DSLReports notes that “on average, the OECD found that Americans pay $635.85 on cell phone service, compared to $131.44 per year in the Netherlands or $137.94 per year in Sweden.”
Retail Services
Morning Deals
By 8.12.09
- “Circuit City”: [Projectors] 3M MPro110 LED Pico Projector for $200 + free shipping
- Kmart: [Console Accessory] Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Play & Charge Kit for $9.99 + $4.95 Shipping
- Amazon: [Blu-ray Movies] Buy 2, Get 1 Free on Blu-ray, over 300 titles, through August 21st
- Victoria’s Secret : [Apparel] 40% Off One Clearance Item w/ Coupon CLEAR40
Updated: Customer Thinks Sears Blasts High-Pitched "Mosquito" To Ward Off Teens In Store
By 8.12.09
UPDATE: We called the Sears in question and they say there’s no high-pitched ringing going on at this store. They didn’t install any Mosquito devices and they aren’t having any malfunctions right now that would cause such a ringing. The woman who picked up in women’s apparel said that in response to what was being said on Twitter, they even sent out some young associates to check out all the entrances and they didn’t hear anything.
Target Charges You More For Free Bonus
By 8.11.09
Reader Michael sent us this picture of a 16-ounce bottle of Crest whitening rinse and a 32-ounce bottle that says “BONUS 100% MORE FREE.” Turns out by “FREE” they mean “$1.15 more.”
How Outlet Malls Fool Shoppers
By 8.11.09
Alternet is running an excerpt from Ellen Rupel Shell’s fascinating new book, Cheap: the High Cost of Discount Culture. The piece handily illustrates Shell’s argument that outlet malls are for suckers.
Judge To BoA: "I'm Glad You Think $91,000 Is Not A Lot Of Money"
By 8.11.09
Recently, the SEC settled with Bank of America over charges that the company mislead its investors about the $3.6 billion in bonuses paid by Merrill as the brokerage was being taken over. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, however, isn’t buying it. He’s refusing to approve the settlement until it can be shown that the $33 million Bank of America agreed to pay is adequate. That’s nice, but he best part is that the judge is being hilariously sarcastic during the hearings.
Financial Advertising Through The Years
By 8.11.09
Slate has put together a sarcastic look at financial-type commercials through the years. We like the one with Samuel L. Jackson and the centaur.
BoA Strands Customer In Siberia With No Money
By 8.11.09
Bank of America has cut off Shannon’s debit card and says she has to get a new one. This would otherwise be a minor inconvenience except for the fact that Shannon is in Irkutsk, Russia on a 2-week Trans-Siberian trek.
E.E.C.B. Forces Best Buy To Finally Replace Defective TV
By 8.10.09
It took an Executive Email Carpet Bomb to convince Best Buy to replace Bryan’s Panasonic LiFi LCD Projection TV after it ate through four lamps. Bryan had purchased Best Buy’s extended warranty, which contains a no lemon clause that promises a replacement after three failed repairs. Best Buy conveniently insisted that replacing the broken lamp did not count as a “qualified repair.” Bryan first escalated his complaint through normal channels; when he had no other choice, he launched the mighty EECB.
Quick! Stock Up On Ben & Jerry's Before This Sale Expires!
By 8.10.09
We were going to list this in tomorrow’s Morning Deals, but decided the bargain was just too good to hold off posting: Harris Teeter has reduced the price on all of its Ben & Jerry’s pints, from $3.99 to $3.99.
USAA: Deposit Your Checks With An iPhone!
By 8.10.09
The friendliest bank in the world, USAA, will soon let customers instantaneously deposit checks through its iPhone application. Here’s how it works: you snap a picture of the front and back of your check, and send the picture to USAA. That’s it.
10% Of Consumers Pay 90% Of The Overdraft Fees
By 8.10.09
Banks are set to make a record $38.5 billion in overdraft fees, says a new report in the Financial Times, and the bulk of the money is coming from those who can least afford to lose it.
Reserving A Game At Target Apparently Doesn't Mean You'll Get It Day One
By 8.10.09
Back in April, Target announced an appealing if confusing reserve program that nets gamers a $5 gift card if they buy a game they reserved in advance by paying for a $1 reserve card — netting a $4 savings since the $1 doesn’t go toward the full price of the game.
Sears Finally Delivers Air Conditioner, Follows With Barrage Of Phone Calls
By 8.7.09
Remember Eric, Fleur, and their epic air conditioner ordeal? When we last spoke to them, they were AC-less, hot, cranky, and reaching out to the Internets for help. Now they have their air conditioners, but only after a stunning show of disorganized solicitousness on the part of Sears.
Oh Look, Morning Deals
By 8.7.09
- DeepDiscount: [Toys & Hobbies] DeepDiscount.com coupon: 50% off toys, puzzles, and games + free shipping
- Ties.com: [Apparel Accessories] Ties.com Clearance Sale: Up to 97% off
