Kim McGrigg at Blogging for Change took a look at the dollar stores in her neighborhood and found that it can take some work to make sure you’re actually saving money. In fact, on a couple of items she actually paid a fraction more than what she would have at a superstore like Walmart. This matches what Consumer Reports’ shopping mag, ShopSmart, discovered in their recent “Dollar Mania” report (free PDF download).
Retail Services
Cancel iPhone Without Venturing Outside
By 7.14.09
I cancelled an iPhone within the 30 days buyer’s remorse period recently and learned something interesting. Before AT&T will let people who bought their iPhones from Apple cancel service, they want you to return the phone first. They also want proof it was returned. They also want you to print out this proof and take it physically to an AT&T store and show it to them. Returning the phone, I have no problem with. But trekking out to a store to show someone in person a printout of an email?Madness.
By 7.14.09
../../../..//2009/07/14/best-tweet-of-the-day/
Best tweet of the day: “my bank was just held up- with me in it. HSBC 34 and 8. also my whole trackball is GONE!!! im locked in the bank still.” [Gothamist] (Thanks to John!)
Man Can't Track Down Phantom Circuit City/Chase/Best Buy Credit Card
By 7.14.09
Ah, the perils of having a credit card issued by an electronic store that dies a slow, painful death, only to come back, haunt you and resist all attempts at seances and exorcisms.
Recent Kindle Purchaser? Ask About The Rebate
By 7.14.09
Received my new Kindle today, same day I heard about their price drop to $299. Obviously I wanted to see if I could get some cash back. Did their customer callback and got a call as soon as I hit OK. CSR said the shipping cutoff for a partial refund was July 8th and that they’d be crediting me $60 in 2-3 days.
Morning Deals
By 7.14.09
- Weinerschnitzel: [Hot Dogs] Free Original Chili Dog or Small Cone today only from 5-8pm at participating Weinerschnitzels (Thanks to Tanya!)
- Chefs Catalog: [Kitchen & Home] Chefs Catalog up to 90% Off Sale + Free Shipping $49+
- Reebok: [Sports] Clearance Shoes & Apparel Up to 50% or More off
- Buy.com: [LCD] Asus 23.6-inch Triple Input LCD $170 & Free Shipping
Chase Cancels Your Credit Cards With No Notification
By 7.13.09
If you have any Chase credit cards, call to make sure they haven’t been canceled out from under you with no notice. Huh? Are credit card companies allowed to do that? Don’t be silly. Of course they are.
Woman Pulls Gun And Threatens Walmart Customers After Being Sold The Wrong Ammunition
By 7.13.09
We know it’s stressful out there, but really, there’s no reason to start waving your gun around in the Walmart parking lot. According to the Peninsula Daily News, a woman threatened several other customers who told her to stop yelling at Walmart worker who had sold her the wrong ammunition.
Bas Rutten Does Not Like Cell Phone Contracts
By 7.13.09
Here’s a funny commercial starring Bas Rutten for some prepaid cellphone company. You probably shouldn’t try this with your own cellphone company, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be thinking like Bas while disputing that ETF.
Sears Customer Service Runaround Results In New Sander
By 7.13.09
Can we tag a story “above and beyond” if the customer service cycle is so screwed up that it eventually works out in the customer’s favor? When jpodbuild tried to get his Craftsman sander repaired or replaced, he couldn’t get anyone on the phone who could actually help him—eventually he would end up back at the first number he’d called. He decided to show up in person and let the store manager handle the phone calls. New sander!
Beware The Costco And American Express Membership Fee Double Dip
By 7.13.09
Last week we mentioned that Costco has a habit of backdating the starting date for lapsed membership renewals, which prompted Monica to write in and let us know of another issue they seem to have with billing. If you renew your executive membership with Costco but then apply for the Costco American Express card, Amex will charge you the membership fee a second time. Monica says the Amex CSR who fixed the problem told her it happens all the time.
Academic Publisher Pays Professors For Shill Amazon Reviews
By 7.13.09
This story is a little old, but was just brought to our attention this weekend. Elsevier, which is sort of the Death Star of academic publishing, was caught offering $25 Amazon gift cards to professors who gave the book five-star reviews on Amazon.
By 7.10.09
../../../..//2009/07/10/everyone-keeps-reporting-it-so/
Everyone keeps reporting it, so we feel like we should also mention it here: Amazon has dropped the price on its normal-sized Kindle to $299. [Consumer Reports]
The 7 Types Of Employees You Meet At Best Buy
By 7.10.09
Gizmodo paired up a former Best Buy employee with a professional illustrator and created a taxonomy of seven Best Buy employees you’re likely to meet whenever you shop there. The two who probably get the most coverage on our site (and who are probably the most annoying in general): Pervy Geek Squad Guy and Slick Careerist Manager.
Morning Deals
By 7.10.09
- Smith Micro: [Software] Free Anime Studio 5 for Mac or PC (Download) Update: we’ve confirmed with Smith Micro, this is truly free and not a trial, and it doesn’t require a credit card.
- Midtown Comics: [Books] 30% Off Back Issues of Marvel and Action Comics w/ Coupon bizarro
- Diadora: [Sports] 50% Off Entire Sports Equipment Purchase w/ Coupon SUMMER2009
- Amazon: [HD] Save up to 60% off DVD & Blu-ray Disc Boxed Sets
Yet Another Company Learns The Difference Between Amazon Reviews And Ads
By 7.10.09
Instead of paying outsiders to give their products fake positive reviews on Amazon product pages like Belkin and other companies, DeLonghi cut out the middleman. Their communications manager, Tara Carpenter, simply went on Amazon and gave a variety of DeLonghi products five-star rave reviews herself.
By 7.10.09
../../../..//2009/07/10/usually-to-follow-someone-on/
Usually, to follow someone on Twitter, you click “Follow.” So why does Walmart have a 3,379-word terms of use specifically for their Twitter accounts posted on the company Web site? Seriously, we’re asking, because no one has any idea. [BoingBoing]
