If you were planning on getting a Talking Jesus Action Figure this Christmas (or whatever) you’re almost out of luck. Walmart has completely sold out of the toy and Target.com has “very limited supply,” according to the manufacturer’s spokesperson, Joshua Livingston.
Retail Services
Get Used Cars Inspected Before Buying
By 12.10.07
This month’s USAA member newsletter has twelve Car-Buying Secrets from a former car salesman who got out after 6 months in the biz. One of the things he advocated was when shopping for a used car…
…take your potential purchase to your mechanic for an independent inspection. A good tech will spot hidden problems. Independent inspections usually run $75to$100. It’s the best 100 bucks you’ll ever spend on a car.
That shiny apple may contain a lemon inside. Have an expert peel back the skin so you’re not stuck with unexpected and costly repairs down the line.
By 12.10.07
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To celebrate CompUSA’s demise, this BestBuy store made a music video to the beat of DJ Khaled’s “We Takin’ Over.” A bad music video. [YouTube]
Sears Takes 2 Months And 4 Appointments To Fix Improperly Installed Washer
By 12.10.07
On Sept. 1 2006, I purchased a Kenmore HE2 Washer and Dryer from a Sears store located in Richmond, VA. These were full-sized units with the dryer stacked on top, and it was installed inside a utility closet in my kitchen by Sears technicians. I paid an additional $233 for a 5-year warranty for the washing machine.
As I will document below, Sears failed to live up to its warranty on multiple occasions, and because of this negligence my home has experienced considerable water damage.
LeverageCard Lets You Store And Trade Gift Card Data Online
By 12.10.07
A new website launched last week that lets you store your gift card data from a variety of retailers in one location, where you can track usage, retrieve card numbers if you lose the physical card, or even swap card balances with other members. The site will also pay you 1% interest on the balance of each card you register, or 3.65% interest if you purchase the card through their site.
Retailers Exploit Natural Human Stupidity To Get You To Buy More
By 12.10.07
The Chicago Tribune recaps the findings of some recent consumer behavior studies—for instance, we’re irrational buyers, prone to shoddy math and emotional decision making. The studies might be paid for by advertisers so they can better manipulate us, but as the Tribune notes, they’re useful for us too because they “can help shoppers make better spending decisions if they understand themselves better.”
Holiday Ordering Deadlines For 120 Top Stores
By 12.10.07
ordering deadlines. Customer service numbers and exceptions are included as well. Many will soon pass by if they haven’t already so if you haven’t done your shopping yet, time’s a wastin’!
Morning Deals
By 12.10.07
USAA Pays Excluded Claim Because You've Been A Customer For 11 Years
By 12.9.07
“A few months ago, the pipe under my front lawn which leads to the water main, as well as two of my neighbors’ pipes, burst as a result of city firefighters cleaning the hydrants and shutting the water off too quickly. There was a nice little stream going down the street until the city came and shut off our water the next day, routing our service through a different (unaffected) neighbor’s pipes. The Water Services Department informed us that we were financially responsible for hiring a plumber to make the repairs, and that if we failed to do so within 30 days, we would be disconnected from our neighbor’s service. All of the estimates we got from plumbers came in around $1,500.”
CompUSA Will Close All Stores After Holidays
By 12.8.07
Last Tuesday, based on industry-insider information provided “on background,” we told you that this could be coming, and here it is: CompUSA announced Friday it will close all its stores after the Christmas shopping season. So to all you doubters, we offer a rousing, “nyah, nyah.” Rumor of the impending shutdown was also given to The Boy Genius Report via a leaked internal Best Buy memo.
Fine Print Mars In-Store Pickup Guarantees
By 12.8.07
Best Buy, Sears, and Circuit City all promise fast and easy in-store pickup for online orders and are willing to pay if they fail to deliver. Mouseprint scoured the fine print of each guarantee in search of loopholes.
By 12.7.07
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This year’s early Thanksgiving weekend is messing with retailers’ minds. [New York Times]
AT&T Overcharging For Sending Pictures?
By 12.7.07
If you’re AT&T cellphone customer on a messaging plan and you like to send pictures, check your bills. After noticing he was getting overcharged for sending pictures, reader Robert says an AT&T CSR told him that AT&T is having a nationwide computer glitch that could be overcharging you too…
Walmart Pulls Superbad DVD Featuring Fake Hawaii "McLovin" License
By 12.7.07
Walmart has pulled copies of the Superbad DVD that contained a promotional “McLovin” Hawaii license after Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann objected to the item. The “license” appears to be made with a lenticular lens, and when viewed at different angles shows either Fogell or his ever-sexy alter-ego, “McLovin.”
AT&T To GoPhone User: "You Don't Have A Contract With Us And We Don't Have To Provide Service"
By 12.7.07
Reader Christian has an iPhone that is activated on a pre-paid GoPhone plan with AT&T. The EDGE service has stopped working properly for quite a few GoPhone-style iPhone users in California and Christian isn’t having much luck with AT&T’s customer service:
Sears Front-Loading Washer Leaves Clothes Stinky
By 12.7.07
Karen, a self-described, “Stinky Mom,” writes:
I have had nothing but trouble w/ my high efficiency washer – my house STINKS, my clothes STINK, my towels STINK and now my FAMILY STINKS!!! I think as a Mom you’ve had enough when the kids at school laugh at your son because his jeans STINK!!!! I’ve had Sears out a number of times (will get my service) records – and even had the senior customer service person who deals with this type of washer say “I’m surprised they haven’t recalled the washers, we get this complaint all the time”!!
Sears' Eddie Lampert Is "Worst CEO of the Year"
By 12.7.07
The fact that Eddie Lampert isn’t even a CEO didn’t stop Herb Greenberg at Marketwatch from slapping the coveted “Worst CEO of the Year” award on him. Eddie beat out such unemployed luminaries as Chuck “Whoops” Prince, formerly of Citigroup, and Ed “I Hate My Customers” Zander, formerly of Motorola.
