Reader Dave asks an interesting question. Should GameStop be charging sales tax on an XBOX live membership card? Generally speaking, only “tangible goods” are subject to sales tax, though every state is different.
Retail Services
Costco Employees Are Heroic, Help Catch Shooting Suspect
By 1.25.08
Several Costco employees who spotted two men breaking into a car parked near the store’s tire center chased the men toward the main store where an assistant police chief happened to be shopping.
$60 Million Shoplifting Ring Busted In Florida
By 1.25.08
Holy crap! A “multiagency” investigation that started with a single shoplifting incident has lead to the arrest of an 18 person crime ring in Florida, says The Ledger.
AT&T Acquires A Record 2.7 Million Customers
By 1.24.08
Team AT&T is absolutely kicking everyone’s ass all over town, adding a record 2.7 million new wireless customers in the 4Q, says MarketWatch. They also added 396,000 high speed internet customers and 105,000 U-Verse TV customers.
Best Takes In-Store Display Cashing In On Heath Ledger's Death Very Seriously
By 1.24.08
THE QUOTE: “Please be certain Best Buy takes matters of this nature very seriously. In reviewing your concerns with the management team at our Mission Valley store, they have concluded that the display was inappropriate in light of Mr. Ledger’s recent passing and have removed it from the sales floor.”
Morning Deals
By 1.24.08
Coach CEO Says Proposed Stimulus Package Necessary So Consumers Will Buy His Purses
By 1.23.08
Whether the U.S. is technically in a recession or not, Coach’s CEO Lew Frankfort says consumers are already pretending that it’s here. That’s why he’s in favor of the President’s proposed stimulus package—it will “restore confidence in consumers that they will have some additional discretionary money that they would otherwise not expect.” That’s right: we need a nation-wide tax credit this year so that we can buy more Coach purses.
Too Soon For Best Buy To Cash In On Heath Ledger's Death?
By 1.23.08
A reader over at Best Week Ever spotted this little makeshift “tribute” to recently deceased actor Heath Ledger in a San Diego Best Buy.
By 1.23.08
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S&P thinks Sprint will continue to hemorrhage customers in 2008. “Because management faces significant challenges in improving operations, we do not expect a reversal of these negative operating trends in 2008,” S&P said in a statement. [BusinessWeek]
Cell Service For The Commitment Phobic: AT&T Offers SIM Card Without 2 Year Contract
By 1.23.08
After reports started surfacing that AT&T was offering a SIM-card only option that was tied to a 2 year contract, we contacted AT&T for more information. As far as we knew, AT&T allowed new customers to bring their own compatible equipment and did not require a 2 year contract.
Sears To Split Into 5 Crappy Companies
By 1.23.08
Sears might be be poised to sell off some of the sadder, dirtier, and lonelier of its department stores. In addition, it will reorganize itself into five distinct companies based around different sectors of the business. Details are sketchy, but so far it looks like one company will just deny warranty repairs and replacements, while another will focus its entire energies on sending incompetent technicians to your house.
By 1.22.08
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One thing you don’t do: You don’t act like a rational consumer in a normal, functioning market economy. You don’t go buy the new phone, or get the cheap new plan. You don’t reward the more efficient company with your business. You can’t. You’re in jail.
[MSNBC] (Thanks, Everyone !)
Sears Automotive Tries To Charge You For Work They Didn't Do
By 1.22.08
I’ve been an avid reader of Consumerist for quite some time. Reading the good/bad experiences other readers had and the shortcomings of some companies is an eye opener. Unfortunately, my recent experience at a nearby Sears Automotive Department is worth mentioning. I’ve noticed my car would pull to the left while driving on a straight road. My initial thought was to get the wheels aligned. I decided to have it done at Sears.
Ode To The Costco Baggers
By 1.22.08
Jeanie writes:
I don’t know where I should be sending this but I wanted to compliment two excellent Costco employees. This was Friday, January 18th at the Roseville, CA store on Stanford Ranch Road. The checker was Marilyn, who was fast, efficient and friendly.
Whole Foods Will Eliminate Plastic Bags, Says "Bring Your Own"
By 1.22.08
Whole Foods says that by Earth Day 2008 they will be eliminating plastic bags and instead offer only paper bags or reusable bags made from recycled plastic bottles for $0.99.
