Nissan is one of the top auto brands in the country, which is nice and all, but the owner of the country’s largest chain of auto dealers gave us a peek under the hood to explain why he doesn’t like the practices that help get it there. Namely, the company gives huge rebates and incentives to dealerships that make their sales goals. [More]
Retail Services
Shoppers Will Spend More Money On Carving Pumpkins Than On Buying Pumpkin Products
By 10.31.16 — Updated: 11.2.16
Every fall it seems like all anyone can ever talk about is “Oh I can’t believe someone is selling pumpkin spice potato chips” or “Really, do we need pumpkin spice shoelaces?” So it may be refreshing to know that when it comes to pumpkins, we’re spending more money to carve them up than we are on buying into the latest pumpkin-flavored craze. [More]
Butterball Help Line Now Lets Customers Text Questions
By 10.31.16
Three years after Butterball revolutionized its Turkey Talk help line by adding male operators for the first time, the company is once again revamping how it helps those cooking a turkey for the big holiday: not talking to them at all. Rather, they’ll be texting. [More]
Self-Described “Simple Man” Pays $9M For License Plate
By 10.31.16
While here in the U.S. you can get a personalized license plate, having “ILUVCHEEZ” on your bumpers won’t break the bank. Outside of the U.S., however, there are folks willing to drop millions to get just the right message on their luxury vehicles. [More]
Luxury Retailers Offering Fewer Handbag Choices This Holiday Season Amid Lack Of Demand
By 10.31.16
Luxury labels are having a rough go of it lately, what with fewer tourists flocking to department stores and slowing traffic at standalone stores. So if you’re looking for a wide variety of handbag options this holiday season, you might be limited in your choices: the luxury retailers that usually peddle high-end handbags are trimming their lineups. [More]
Apple Discontinuing MacBook Startup Chime
By 10.31.16
One of the most instantly recognizable sounds in electronics may be about to go the way of “You’ve Got Mail,” as Apple is reportedly doing away with it signature startup sound on its Mac computers. [More]
Wrigley Gum Selling For 1908 Price, Ignoring History Of Chicago Cubs & Wrigley Field
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
The Chicago Cubs are looking for their first World Series win since 1908, so the folks at Wrigley Gum are celebrating the Series return to Wrigley Field by selling chewing gum at 1908 prices. What this cash-in promotion glosses over is the fact that the Wrigley name had nothing to do with the Cubs 108 years ago.
[More]
BMW Recalls 136K Vehicles Over Stalling Issues
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
You can’t go anywhere — or at least get far — if the engine in your car stalls. For that reason, BMW recalled more than 135,000 vehicles that could contain a wiring issue. [More]
Soylent Stops Sale Of Meal-Replacement Powder After Customers Report Becoming Ill
By 10.28.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Earlier this month, meal replacement startup Soylent announced that it would voluntarily stop selling its new-to-market Soylent nutrition bar after receiving reports from customers who became ill after consuming the snack. Now, the company says it will expand that action to include certain meal-replacement powder after receiving similar issues. [More]
Amazon Contractor Agrees To Pay Drivers $100K In Phantom Lunch Breaks
By 10.28.16
What if your employer deducted lunch breaks from your time sheet, but you weren’t allowed to actually take any time for lunch? That’s what New York’s attorney general says happened to employees of Cornucopia Logistics, a contractor that handles deliveries for Amazon and for its grocery delivery service in New York City. The company has settled with the state, and will pay affected workers and former workers $100,000 in back wages for the practice. [More]
Survey: Americans Waiting Until After Election To Shop For Holidays
By 10.27.16
Whether it’s because of anxiety due to the upcoming presidential and congressional elections or a stubborn refusal to even think about winter holidays before Halloween, Americans are reportedly waiting until after the election is over to begin their shopping. No, they’re not waiting until after Thanksgiving: that would be silly. [More]
Report: Amazon To Eventually Open As Many As 2,000 Grocery Stores
By 10.27.16
Earlier this month, all-powerful “sources familiar with the matter” claimed that Amazon was on the verge of opening bricks-and-mortar convenience stores and offering curbside pickup. Now, a new report indicates that the e-tailer plans to start small, opening 20 physical grocery stores over the next two years, but ultimately expects to have thousands of stores nationwide. [More]
Lawsuit Against Amazon Claims Exploding Hoverboard Destroyed Family’s Home
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
For most people, so-called hoverboards were just a fad, one many didn’t think much about after a serious of fiery incidents involving the electric scooters prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall half a million of the devices over safety concerns. But it was more than a trendy fad to be forgotten for others, like one Tennessee family that’s claiming a scooter sold by Amazon was responsible for destroying their home. [More]
Groceries & Millennials: They’re Buying Less, Shopping Online
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
From Whole Foods launching a supposedly hipper 365 brand of stores to Target’s mini-stores aimed at attracting young shoppers, retailers across the board have millennials in their crosshairs. But a new report suggests those efforts have been for naught, with younger shoppers continuing to seek out e-commerce options when it comes to grocery shopping. [More]
Modell’s To Take Over A Former Sports Authority Store After All
By 10.27.16
Back when Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, regional chain Modell’s reportedly wanted a piece of the business being abandoned. The chain briefly considered teaming up with a British sports retailer to take over some stores. The deal didn’t work out, and Modell’s didn’t bid on any store leases in the bankruptcy auction, either. However, the chain will now be opening a showcase store in what used to be Sports Authority’s last store in Manhattan. [More]
Camera Catches Tow Truck Driver Taking $110K Sports Car On An Alleged Joyride
By 10.27.16
A tow truck driver in Texas was unable to resist the lure of a $110,000 sports car: he took the vehicle out for a joyride before delivering it to its destination — a joyride that was caught on the car’s camera system. [More]
Tasty Burger Files Formal Opposition To Chipotle’s Tasty Made Trademark
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
Back in August, East Coast burger chain Tasty Burger sent a cease-and-desist letter to Chipotle over its trademark for the company’s new burger venture, Tasty Made. Now that the latter has opened its first location — in Columbus, OH, as of yesterday — Tasty Burger says it’s making its opposition to that trademark formal. [More]
Walmart Tackling Long Checkout Lines This Holiday Season With Troop Of “Helpers”
By 10.27.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
After spending your precious time plodding up and down the aisles of the local big box store, marking off items on your holiday shopping list, the last thing you want to do is wait in the checkout line for an hour. Walmart’s new plan to avoid this annoyance involves specialized teams whose only jobs will be to keep these lines moving. [More]
