We just love the word unconscionable. You know who doesn’t love it? AT&T. Their mandatory binding arbitration clause was ruled unconscionable by the state Supreme Court of Washington, after AT&T tried to prevent a consumer who believed he was being systematically overcharged from filing a class action lawsuit.
Retail Services
ATT Data Network Down, Complain For Credits
By 9.3.08
AT&T wireless is experiencing some kind of data outage in the Northeast, and if you call up and complain, you can get a $10-$20 credit (YMMV), Gizmodo reports. Let us know in the comments if you’re an AT&T user experiencing data outages, where you’re located, and if you have any luck snagging credits. If calling 611 from your phone doesn’t work for ya, here is a variety of contact information to try.
"The Computer" At AT&T Is All Powerful And Humans Have Lost Control!
By 9.3.08
Attention citizens: A machine known only as “the computer” has taken control of AT&T. The humans are powerless to control it — or even to negotiate with it. If it decides that you should be triple billed for phone numbers you don’t need or use, there’s nothing AT&T can do. Gather your children and all the salmonella-free peanut butter you own and report to your basement. Dunk your cellphones, DVRs, Apples and XBOXes into cold water before they rise up and destroy you like they’re destroying reader Patrick.
Morning Deals
By 9.3.08
- Amazon: 37 new coupon codes for September 2008
- Google: Get Chrome for free, Google’s new super-minimal browser (still in beta, read review at Lifehacker)
- Apple: Seven refurbished Apple Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo Desktops from $949 each + free shipping
Highlights From Dealhack
- Newegg: Nikon Coolpix P60 8.1MP Camera $150 Shipped
- Amazon: Save Extra $20 off Kellogg’s, Keebler & other Grocery Products
- 1-800 Contacts: Save $20 to $80 + Bonus $5 off Contact Lenses with Coupon
Highlights From Bargainist
- Toys “R” Us: BOGO 50% off all video games up to $19.99
- Proctor & Gamble: Free Tide TotalCare sample
- BuyCostumes.com: Sale: Up to 60% off
Highlights From Buxr
- Amazon.com: Get three DVDs for $10 when you add all three to your Shopping Cart
- Golden Gadgets: 2 Pack of 9 LED Aluminum Pocket water resistant Flashlight for $3.99 + Shipping ($2.02)
- Newegg.com: A-DATA 16GB Flash Drive WHITE for $24.99 after $15 rebate!
Quickest Measure Of Gustav's Negative Economic Impact: Woots Per Capita
By 9.3.08
UPDATE: Prompted by this post, Woot did their own post analyzing their internal data much more thoroughly.
Teddy Bear Cellphone
By 9.2.08
I am secretly coveting this stuffed teddy bear that is also a cellphone. It’s called Kuma Phone. Price: $500. Conspicuous consumption has never been cuter. [Cscout Japan]
Amazon Ships "Ready To Ship" Box… Inside Another Box
By 9.2.08
On one hand, the mere existence of such a thing as a “ready to ship” box at Amazon leads us to believe that there may be hope for them after all. Sadly, the fact that they packed the “ready to ship” box inside another box before they shipped it does leave us with some nagging doubts.
Help! Chase Suddenly Wants Me To Buy Tons Of Flood Insurance!
By 9.2.08
Reader Nate and his wife recently bought their dream home, which they admit is more modest than most people’s dream homes, for $60,000. During closing, they wrote in their offer “that if the home was found to be in a flood plane we withdrew our offer,” but were happy to find out that the house was, in fact, not in a flood plain. That is, until Chase, decided that their house was in a flood plain after all and is requiring $185,000 in flood insurance.
AT&T: Being Robbed At Knifepoint Will Not Help You Qualify For The Cheaper iPhone
By 9.2.08
Reader Anthony was robbed at knifepoint by a jerk with a 10″ blade, but his real complaint is that he feels that AT&T is robbing him again. After he filed a police report and told AT&T that his new iPhone had been stolen, they told him that since he already bought an iPhone he no longer qualified for the subsidized price of $199.
Morning Deals
By 9.2.08
- Amazon: PG Tips Tea Bags 50% off
- Boscovs: Bandana Bed-In-A-Bag for $20 + $10 s&h
- Woot: Kingston 2GB MicroSD Card with Adapter – 2 Pack for $6.49
Highlights From Dealhack
- Best Buy: Sharp 32-inch 32SB24U LCD HDTV $580
- Buy: Canon A590 IS 8MP Digital Camera $134 Shipped
- Circuit City: Compaq AMD Dual Core 15.4-inch Notebook $500 & Free Shipping
Invest In A New Freezer And Start Buying In Bulk
By 8.31.08
Freezer sales are heating up as thrifty consumers spend cash now so they can realize savings later by buying in bulk.
Best Buy Questions Your Ability To Plug In A Computer
By 8.30.08
Mike’s friend gave Best Buy $200 to install anti-virus software and an HDMI input, but Best Buy somehow sent him home with the wrong power adapter. Mike works in IT and knows how to feed and bathe himself, but Best Buy insisted that he had the right adapter and that Mike had to be “doing something wrong.” Guess how this ends…
Washington Upholds ATT Customer's Right To Class Action
By 8.29.08
In another step towards the impending demise of mandatory binding arbitration, a customer’s right to file a class-action lawsuit against AT&T Wireless was upheld by Washington Supreme Court yesterday.
Morning Deals
By 8.29.08
- Lenovo: Employee Pricing on ThinkPad and IdeaPad Notebooks, up to 42% off (login with passcode 536686)
- Woot: Sandisk Clip 2GB MP3 Player for $19.99
- Newegg: ESET NOD32 Antivirus Home Edition v3 for $14.99 (Best antivirus around, won’t slow down your computer)
Highlights From Dealhack
- Buy.com: Kingston 4GB USB 2.0 Portable Flash Drive $14 Shipped
- Hanes.com: Save 15% off Complete Order on All Clothing
- Vann’s: Sony FX820 Portable 8-inch DVD Player $150 Shipped
Highlights From Bargainist
- Amazon: Kitchen & Home Labor Day Sale: Save up to 65%
- Linens ‘n Things: BOGO 50% off bath furniture, more + 20% off coupon
- American Eagle: 40% off purchases coupon
Front Loading Washers Have A Love Affair With Mold
By 8.28.08
Consumer Reports says that despite the fact that front-loading washers are more efficient than traditional top-loading washers, they do have one major drawback. Mold. And the problem is severe enough that there have been several class action lawsuits filed against LG, Whirlpool, and Sears, whose Kenmore front-loaders are made by Whirlpool.
Morning Deals
By 8.28.08
- Newegg: Wii Fit with Balance Board, We Ski, and Hori Wii mat for $149.99
- Apple: Buy a Mac, get an iPod touch for free after rebate
- IKEA: Labor Day Sale, up to 50% off (in-store only)
Highlights From Dealhack
- Eastern Mountain Sports: Labor Day Sale Save up to 70% off
- Amazon: Up to 50%+ off High Sierra Backpacks & Messenger Bags
- Geeks: Kodak EasyShare V1003 10MP Digital Camera $90
Highlights From Bargainist
- Arbor Day Foundation: 10 trees for $10
- Arby’s: BOGO free Super Roast Beef Sandwich, more coupons
- The Fruit Company: 25% off everything coupon
Former Best Buy Manager Arrested For Stealing Identities From Mailboxes
By 8.27.08
It’s always fun when you spot people you know in the paper. Like when one reader saw an article about his former Best Buy manager, charged with seventeen counts of third-degree identity thief. Mariusz Paliwoda of Conneticut was arrested recently for stealing over 100 pieces of mail from rural folks’, then using the information to create credit card accounts. Only the cream of the crop, or former Domino’s managers, make it to the top of Best Buy!
Milford man charged in ID theft operation [New Haven Register] (Photo: Getty)
Costco Helps You Deck The Halls… In August
By 8.27.08
Reader Darascon spotted this lovely example of summertime Christmas Creep at his local Costco.
