Cory Doctorow is self-publishing a book and documenting the process for Publishers Weekly. His latest column is about selling audiobook versions of his past works, and how both Apple and Audible have refused to budge on their anti-consumer policies when it comes to digital rights management (DRM) and end user license agreements (EULAs). Even though both companies get paid the same either way, and even though both Doctorow and his publisher, Random House, want to sell the content without these restrictions, Apple and Audible have said no. [More]
fine print
![Apple And Audible Refuse To Sell Author's Audiobooks Without DRM Or Abusive Licensing Agreement](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/121109-002-no.jpg?w=300&h=168&crop=1)
Apple And Audible Refuse To Sell Author's Audiobooks Without DRM Or Abusive Licensing Agreement
![Why You Should Read The Fine Print On E-Deals](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/fineprint.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Why You Should Read The Fine Print On E-Deals
Wisebread’s Elizabeth Sanberg posts about an Amazon deal that offers a free subscription to Wired magazine if you spend $75 on certain electronics. [More]
![Senator Wants Investigation Of Frequent Flyer Programs](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/112309-003-airplane_01.jpg?w=160&h=120&crop=1)
Senator Wants Investigation Of Frequent Flyer Programs
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is calling for a probe of frequent flyer programs to determine whether they deliver the value that they promise. In particular, he wants the Department of Transportation to look into the issue of evaporating miles, a relatively new phenomenon brought introduced via expiration dates in recent years.
![Making A Donation? Ask For Details First](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/111809-003-jitb-antenna.jpg?w=160&h=160&crop=1)
Making A Donation? Ask For Details First
This is the time of year when retailers like to give back to the community by getting you to do it for them when you’re buying stuff. It might feel nice to help out a good cause, but make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for before you hand over any cash. Dominick, for example, just bought a Jack in the Box antenna ball when he thought he was straight-up donating to a non-Jack charity.
![Federal Reserve Proposes Rules On Gift Cards](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/111609-005-giftcard.jpg?w=160&h=160&crop=1)
Federal Reserve Proposes Rules On Gift Cards
Here’s your chance to sound off on another consumer protection issue. In accordance with the CARD Act, today the Federal Reserve proposed new rules that would protect consumers from fees and expiration dates on gift cards, and they’ll soon be accepting comments on the rules.
![Don't Let Maintenance Fees Ruin Your Automatic Savings Program](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/111109-005-starving-piggy-bank.jpg?w=160&h=104&crop=1)
Don't Let Maintenance Fees Ruin Your Automatic Savings Program
If you participate in an automatic savings program like Bank of America‘s Keep the Change service, where debit card purchases are rounded up and the difference is deposited into your savings account, keep an eye on maintenance fees. James says he was hit with a $5 charge last month because he hadn’t met the minimum monthly deposit requirement of $25: “It turns out that I wasn’t even accruing $5 worth of change per month, so I was losing more money due to the maintenance fee than I was saving via Keep the Change!”
![Seattle Coffee Direct Decides You Need $40 Worth Of Coffee Per Day](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/thumb160x_332176768_b3e748bf3a_m.jpg?w=160&h=129&crop=1)
Seattle Coffee Direct Decides You Need $40 Worth Of Coffee Per Day
If you’ve been tempted by Facebook ads promising cheap “introductory” offers from Seattle Coffee Direct or World Bean Cafe, located in the world coffee capital of Evanston, Illinois, readers Adam and Ivan say, “don’t do it!” The ads promise t-shirts or a free coffee grinder as an incentive to sign up, or tempting introductory offers. But you’re really signing up for a coffee delivery service for close to $80 per month. Or more, as reader Ivan learned. He says that the company accidentally billed him for, and sent, two bags of coffee per day.
![Brooke Shields Has Hypotrichosis](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/102709-003-brookeshields-has-hypotrichosis.jpg?w=300&h=181&crop=1)
Brooke Shields Has Hypotrichosis
Oh no! Brooke Shields used to have stringy, stick-figure eyelashes! I figured this out after watching Consumer Reports’ video dissection of a new commercial for Latisse, the glaucoma medication that has been rebranded as an expensive, temporary eyelash enhancer with side effects.
![Frontier Communications Has To Pay Back Early Termination Fees](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/100609-006-frontier.jpg?w=158&h=101&crop=1)
Frontier Communications Has To Pay Back Early Termination Fees
If you signed up for Frontier Communications’ Price Protection Plan—a combo phone and broadband package—between January 2007 and September 2008, and you canceled the agreement and were charged an early termination fee (ETF), you may be getting some cash back.
![GM's Money Back Guarantee Comes With Lots Of Fine Print](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/092509-005-gm-60-day-guarantee.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
GM's Money Back Guarantee Comes With Lots Of Fine Print
GM’s new 60-day money back guarantee (good through November 30th, 2009) on new car purchases sounds pretty straightforward—if you don’t want the car for any reason (it doesn’t have to be a good reason), you can bring it back. But it has a few rules that you should be aware of before your purchase, notes the Associated Press.
![How To Stop Verizon From Sharing Your Info](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/verizon1.jpg?w=240&h=160&crop=1)
How To Stop Verizon From Sharing Your Info
Digging through Verizonwireless.com legal notices, Steve found that the company has gone ahead and given itself permission to share your personal information:
![$10 XSport Fitness Upgrade Really Costs $20](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/082609-004-xsport-ad.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
$10 XSport Fitness Upgrade Really Costs $20
Cache asked about the $10 “Super Power Pass” add-on at his local XSport Fitness club today—the sign in the window says “work out where you want, when you want with a Super Power Pass for just $10 more*,” and lists “Chicago – New York – Washington” across the top. We don’t know what’s linked via that asterisk, because the fine print on the ad is so small that it’s unreadable in the photo Cache took, but as you might expect there’s no such thing as a $10 add-on that lets you use any XSport Fitness.
![Ryder's "Guaranteed Availability" Does Not Guarantee Availability](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/081709-001-ryders-meaningless-guarantee.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
Ryder's "Guaranteed Availability" Does Not Guarantee Availability
If you saw this image on the Ryder website, you might think that it means two things: that they guarantee some sort of vehicle availability to customers, and that they will make sure you are satisfied with your experience. You would be wrong. Update: Ryder has responded to Jesse’s complaint.
![Warning: Read The Fine Print Before Cashing An Unexpected Rebate Check](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/071009-004-target-on-snuggie.png?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
Warning: Read The Fine Print Before Cashing An Unexpected Rebate Check
At first, it looks like a rebate check, but read the fine print. It says if you endorse and cash the check, you are signing up for a marketing service called “Great Fun.” Then, your credit card will be charged $149.99. That subscription will renew annually unless you cancel it with Great Fun.
![Best Buy Shrinks Reward Zone Program](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/070609-001-best-buy-shrinks.png?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
Best Buy Shrinks Reward Zone Program
Reader IfThenElvis forwarded us the following email he received alerting him to changes in the Reward Zone program from Best Buy. He adds, “I can’t tell if this is good new or not. I suspect not.” It’s not the end of the world or anything, but it definitely marks a slight constriction in the program.