Sprint has set up a special phone number directly to the executive customer service queue just for Consumerist readers. [More]
Retail Services
Walmart Sells Refurb TVs As New?
By 5.29.07
Walmart takes TVs people return and sells them as new, according to this unverified report we received.
Use Typos To Get eBay Deals All To Yourself
By 5.29.07
Not every eBay seller throughly spellchecks their listings, a little fact you can exploit to buy stuff for cheaper, says Kiplinger’s:
Home Depot Is Still Really Sorry That You Hate Them
By 5.29.07
This year’s meeting was, by Joe’s account, much more pleasant.
“The first thing Mr. Blake did when he got up on the stage was he apologized for last years meeting and he said it wouldn’t happen again.”
Home Depot is turning into JetBlue when it comes to constant apologizing. —MEGHANN MARCO
Apple Store Blocks MySpace
By 5.29.07
It’s a sad day for cheap vain people, the Apple Store has blocked MySpace. One can no longer hog the computers taking pursed-lipped self-portraits with PhotoBooth and uploading them to MySpace. Apparently, such people were clogging up the Macs for hours at a time.
Walmart Executives Gone Wild
By 5.26.07
Cellphones Are Kryptonite To Nissan's I-Key
By 5.26.07
Our pocket holds two things: our keys and our cellphone, so it’s a good thing we don’t own a 2007 Nissan Altima or Infinity G35. The intelligent I-Key used to start those models can be turned into a paperweight if placed within an inch of an active cellphone.
Every Time I Use My Chase Card, They Try To Raise My Rates
By 5.25.07
About two years ago when I moved away from home I got a credit card with X limit from Chase whom I bank with. The first year I used the card for some things, made payments on it regularly and all was good until last November, they sent me a letter saying they were going to raise my interest rates. Taking some advice from consumerist.com I called and asked them to lower my rates and they did (afterward I e-mailed consumerist to say you guy’s rock). In February of this year I got a notice from Chase saying they were raising my limit by 50% and in March I paid my balance way down. Just a few weeks ago I used the card again for tires for my wife’s car and immediately after I got a notice saying they were going to double my interest rates again. Naturally I called, answered a question or two and they agreed not to change my rates and send me a letter saying this just like before.
Costco Recalls Dirty Underwear Punching Bag
By 5.25.07
We are issuing this voluntary recall notice for the TKO Sports Heavy Punching Bag with Speed Bag Combination, manufactured by TKO Sports, of Houston, TX. We have learned that the fill material in the heavy punching bag does not meet our high quality standards.
Yeah, that’s quite the understatement. If Costco’s records reflect that you’ve purchased this bag, they’re sending a box and UPS shipping label out to you right away. They’re also sending you an Everlast punching bag to replace the one that is filled with used underwear. You know, the more we write about it, the more we notice that the concept just doesn’t get any less gross. Even the grasshopper leg in the Applebee’s salad got less gross the more we thought about it. Not so, used underwear punching bag.
Connecticut Sues Best Buy For Tricking Customers With Secret Internal Website
By 5.24.07
The Connecticut Attorney General has announced a lawsuit against Best Buy in regards to a secret internal website that is identical to their public website except for the prices. Consumerist has received reports of this website being used to attempt to trick our readers as recently as March 19, 2007.
Dell: We're Selling PCs At Walmart!
By 5.24.07
Dell announced today that Walmart will be selling Dell Dimension PCs in-store as part of a new retail strategy. From
In a statement, Dell spokesman Bob Pearson said, “Our customers are asking us for additional ways to purchase our products and we plan on delivering on a global level. Offering Dell Dimensions in Wal-Mart is a great example of this approach.”
Dell seems to be contemplating offering their computers in other retail outlets as well.
Dell declined to make executives available for an interview, and Mr. Pearson declined to give further details. He suggested that other retail moves might be in the offing, however.
Watch Out For This Cellphone Scam
By 5.23.07
Be wary of people calling your cellphone claiming to be from your service provider and offering to upgrade your phone packages. They may actually be independent dealers trying to make a quick buck.
Walmart Nazi Tshirt Watch: Week 27
By 5.23.07
27 weeks after Walmart agreed to remove shirts bearing Nazi iconography from its shelves, and 15 weeks after getting a letter from Congress demanding the shirts removal, they’re still there. Don found some in Sterling, Washington:
Home Depot Sent Registered Sex Offender To Refinish Single Woman's Cabinets
By 5.22.07
“I asked for a kitchen, and I never thought I was going to get a sex offender.”
— Home Depot customer Niki Lebrecque on learning that the home improvement store sent a convicted sex offender with an extensive history of violent attacks to refinish her cabinets.
