Michael wrote in to point out that CNN has a weird new feature on its site—now you can proudly display your favorite, uh, headlines(?) on your body with their “CNN Shirt” service. It’s beta, naturally, and they pick the headlines you can choose from—so no “What drove dad who kept ‘house of horror’?” tee to shame your parents during the next family holiday. (That’s the current top headline on their home page.)
Retail Services
These Costco Guys Are Going To Assemble Your Table No Matter What
By 4.30.08
Unlike Drew’s story about IKEA from earlier today, Philip had what sounds like insanely good customer service from Costco—which is a good thing, since both the original table he purchased and the replacement table Costco’s delivery guys brought were missing key pieces.
Who To Contact About Your Missing 5 Free BluRay Discs
By 4.29.08
If you’re still wondering where your 5 Free BluRay Discs are, here is the mailing address to send copies of your forms to (not Buena Vista Home Entertainment, as previously reported)
I Was Blacklisted By UPS For A $30 DVD That Was Never Delivered
By 4.29.08
Reader John is an Amazon Prime member who can’t get anything sent to his house via UPS without a signature after he filed a claim over a $30 DVD that never showed up. He really likes his UPS driver, but the guy says that because of the “blacklist” he’s powerless to leave packages when John isn’t home. Period. Does anyone know how to get off of a UPS blacklist?
Walmart Won't Let You And Your Friend Each Buy A Wii Because You're "Together"
By 4.29.08
Reader Dave said he was shopping with his friend (male) at Walmart, searching for the coveted Nintendo Wii. He was happy to find that Walmart had 7 or 8 of the consoles in stock — enough for both he and his friend to purchase one. Walmart, however, had other ideas. Dave says that Walmart wouldn’t let he and his friend each purchase a Wii because they were “together.” First they’re rationing rice and now men are forced to share their video games? What’s going on in America, folks?
Escape Verizon Without Early Termination Fee Based On Administrative Charge Increase
By 4.29.08
Verizon is increasing the monthly administrative…
Cellular South Pays Your Early Termination Fee If You Switch To Them
By 4.29.08
Cellular South is so eager to get you as a…
Morning Deals
By 4.29.08
- Brecks: 2 Perrenial and Bulb Collection grabbags, shipped for $35.95 ($200 catalog value)
- Bloomingdale’s: Vera Wang Lingerie Chenille Logo Robe for $25.99 (S and XL only)
- Amazon: Gillette 3 Venus Embrace Cartridge 8-Count for ~$12/box with coupon code Apr08PNG
Highlights From Dealhack
- Nike Store: Save 20% off Clothing, Gear, & Footwear or in the Clearance Section
- Buy.com: Logitech X-240 2.1 iPod Speaker System only $20 & Free Shipping
- Amazon: Save up to 60% off TV & Movie DVD Box Sets
Highlights From Bargainist
- Ben & Jerry’s: Free Cone Day
- Banana Republic: Select styles 30% off
- Toys “R” Us: Buy Mario Kart w/Wheel for Wii, get 50% off 2nd game
Citibank Promises To Credit ATM Fees, But Will Try To Get Out Of It Unless You Badger Them
By 4.25.08
Tim was pretty sure he met all the conditions of Citibank’s offer to refund ATM fees—he opened his account online and he doesn’t live near a Citi Financial center. When he wasn’t credited, he contacted them to ask why, and was told he had to meet the conditions he’s already met. He had to contact them four times to finally get the $2.00 fee credited as per their advertising. You might be asking yourself, “All that trouble for two dollars?” Well, that’s why he ends his email with this: “Can someone point me in the direction of a better bank that actually provides ‘reimbursement of the fees other banks may charge you for using their ATMs’ without hassle?”
Satire: Home Depot Honors Fallen Veterans With "Memorial Decks"
By 4.25.08
The Onion News Network delivers a mock news sketch where an interview with the mother of a fallen US soldier is interwoven with bald-faced Home Depot ads.
Motorola Flip-Flops On Flap Failure
By 4.25.08
When reader Stuart bought his Motorola Razr V3XX, he was pleased with the phone but could not understand why the tiny flap covering the charger port was held in place by only 2 fragile plastic hinges. As if channeling the spirit of Nostradamus, Stuart made a startling prediction: This flimsy flap will fail. And it did. Twice. The first time, Motorola happily sent Stuart a new flap. But when the flap failed again 8 months later, Motorola unleashed a volley of red tape that left Stuart stuck. Stuart’s letter and Motorola’s response inside…
3-Part Amazon Coupon Code Book
By 4.25.08
CouponCodesMall has rounded up some previously published Amazon deal hacks into one Amazon coupon code e-book in three parts:
By 4.25.08
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If you thought AT&T’s $2 fee to pay a bill in cash in-store was bad, wait till it goes up to $5. The price increase is scheduled for later this year. [Red Tape Chronicles]
Sprint Sends You Bill For $32,669
By 4.25.08
Jessie opened his Sprint bill and nearly had a heart attack. Staring back at him was in big bold letters: COLLECTION AGENCY ALERT. After recovering, Jessie looked at his bill and nearly had a second heart attack. It said the amount due was $32,669.00. Huh? Had his cellphone been hacked? Used as a call-home payphone for a neighborhood of Tajikistan émigrés? Used by NASA as a Space Station communications channel? Take a guess and then see the answer inside…
Round 31: Chase vs United Healthcare
By 4.25.08
This is Round 31 in our Worst Company in America contest, Chase vs United Healthcare. Vote which sucks more, inside…
Morning Deals
By 4.25.08
Woot: Electronic Metro Triple Charger for $4.99AirTran: One-way flights from $39Buy.com: JVC HANC100 Noise Cancelling Headphones for $39.99Highlights From DealhackTiger Direct: Lexmark Wireless Inkjet Printer & Trendnet WiFi Router Bundle only $40Dell Business: Dual Core Vostro 200 Desktop PC &…
Peeping Tom Sears Manager Sued For $2.7 Million
By 4.24.08
It seems the floors aren’t the only thing that’s dirty inside Sears. According to Style Weekly, former Sears assistant manager, Robert E. Lee of Virginia, is being sued for $2.7 million for allegedly spying on a young girl and her mother through the ceiling tiles of a dressing room, while hiding inside of a “peeping hutch.” The alleged crime occurred in March, 2006 when Lee was discovered spying from the masturbation station, strategically located above the ladies’ dressing room. The young girl, whose age is described as “prepubescent,” is said to have been traumatized when she suddenly noticed Lee leering from the ceiling while she and her mother were trying on bathing suits. Lee admitted his culpability. The lawsuit states, “During the search of the room, police officials recovered sexually explicit magazines and seminal fluids.” Oh Sears. Before we were only ashamed of you, but now that shame has grown into disgust, with loathing not too far off in the distance.
