Sorry deal hunters, the liquidation sales starting today at over 300 Ritz Camera locations will be managed by the same cabal of corporate scavengers that oversaw Circuit City’s abysmal liquidation sales.
caveat emptor
That'll Be $176 For The "Special" Air Jet To Unlock Your Car
By 4.1.09
In this iteration of the locksmith ripoff, the shyster told the customer that he has to use a $400 “air jet” device to unlock her car, jacking up the cost to $176. The “special” balloon instrument is actually only $25 and is no rarity, most locksmiths have them. These guys take out big ads in the Yellow Pages and then prey on people’s urgency and ignorance when they show up. KCTV5 reports, “Industry experts recommend that consumers make contact with an actual local locksmith before you need one. Then, you’ll know who to call in an emergency.”
Act's Large Bottle Of Mouthwash May Say 2x, But It's Really Half The Strength
By 3.9.08
Act mouthwash may look like it comes in two sizes, but according to Mouseprint, the large and small bottles are actually entirely different products. The labeling looks largely the same until you get to the active ingredient. The small bottle contains .05% of sodium fluoride while the large bottle contains .02%. Hit the jump for Act’s sneaky explanation.
"Made In Italy" Is Italian For "Made In Sweatshops"
By 2.23.08
That $1,500 Prada bag may have been stitched by an illegal Chinese immigrant slaving away in a Tuscan factory. The tentacles of globalization are starting to snake dirt-cheap foreign laborers into once-protected enclaves known for their quality swag.
No Replacements For Prepaid iPhone Users
By 8.9.07
iPhone owners using prepaid SIM cards better take extra special care of their pocket trophies. According to Apple and AT&T, prepaid SIM cards are eternally wed without consent to one lucky iPhone, an important caveat reader JD discovered after spending 32 hours trying to activate his replacement iPhone. JD warns:
If you activated an iPhone with a new AT&T prepaid plan, you *must* keep using that iPhone. You *cannot* replace that iPhone with another iPhone. The only way to use a new iPhone with your prepaid account, is to *create a new account with a new phone number,* and have them move your balance over. Period. Apparently this is a “security feature” and the system was “designed that way,” specifically for prepaid iPhone plans.
The discouraging verdict from both Apple and AT&T should make potential iPhone users think twice before using a prepaid SIM card to skirt the confines of a two year contract. JD’s full story, after the jump.
5 Scammy Calling Card Fees
By 7.16.07
Some calling cards have all sorts of charges hidden in the fine print that like to play PacMan with your minutes. BusinessWeek has five to watch out for and what they really mean:
AirTran's Disingenuous "System-Wide Summer Sale"
By 6.19.07
Monday, AirTran announced a so-called “System-Wide Summer Sale.” FareCompare.com looked at the price history and found that instead, AirTran had raised prices, then lowered them, calling the delta a “sale.”
Shop Around for Student Loans
By 5.2.07
With the recent fallout about educational institutions accepting all matter of filthy payola in exchange for letting private lenders get exclusive access to students, it’s apparent borrowers need to take Student Loan Shopping 1000. NYT goes into how you can look for a better deal:
The Used Car You Are Looking To Buy May Have Been Totaled
By 4.30.07
Most states prevent totaled cars from re-entering the market without a salvage license, so consumers know that the used car they are looking to buy was once a complete wreck.
What bugs dealers and consumer advocates is that the tangle of state laws makes it possible to move a vehicle across state lines and apply for a “clean” title that makes no mention of its checkered past. The fact that some states don’t even require salvage titles stretches the loophole even wider.
The practice has become so prevalent, particularly in states affected by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, that Congress is considering a measure that would establish a national database of totaled vehicles. Before you buy a used car, especially in the south, first ask your mechanic to give it a once-over. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
Third-Party Text Packages Cost Subscriber $7,000 In One Month
By 2.11.07
TampaForums member Treysdad received a $7,243.29 bill after subscribing to numerous third-party text packages. By purchasing an unlimited text message plan from Nextel, Treysdad thought he could receive any texts for free.
Hot Tub Dealer Sets Up “Competitive” Fair Where It’s The Only Seller
By 12.5.06
Much like the pearl buyers in Steinbeck’s The Pearl, Master Spas in Minneapolis sets up a hot tub fair promoted with the line, “15 manufacturer’s compete for your business!” However, the only business actually selling at the convention is Master Spas. KSTP investigates.
Dumbass Ebayer Buys Three Original Playstations For $900
By 11.20.06
This retard bought three playstations for $900. That’s not the in-demand PS3, but the original Playstation, which regularly sells on Ebay for around $20 to $40.
DIY Title Search
By 11.1.06
The cost of acquiring a home can be ratcheted up significantly if the buyer doesn’t pick their own title-insurance company.
Avoid Medical Bill Sickness
By 10.20.06
Staying in a hospital can feel like the song in Les Miserables where they charge you if the window sash is down, and charge you if it’s up. Luckily, FiveCentNickle’s got a good writeup on avoiding getting nicked and dimed on your medical expenses.
Letters to the Editor: All That Glitters Is Not Gold
By 7.5.06
Some would envy Eilidh, being showered with golden jewelry by a male admirer.
UPDATE: NBA Finals Caveat Emptor
By 6.7.06
After reading on The Consumerist and elsewhere about a scammer bilking people for NBA Finals tickets, Robbie decided to do something awesome. He called the police. That’s right, if a consumer crime is committed, there is actually something more effective to do than blog about it. Robbie reports the cops seemed receptive to taking the guy out.
NBA Finals Caveat Emptor
By 6.6.06
Sports fans, beware! You may love this game, but someone out there will be more than happy to steal your lunch money for showing the love
