As we’ve mentioned before, many companies try to lure consumers into purchasing products — be it skincare treatments or weight-loss supplements — by plastering offers for “free” or “risk-free” trails on advertisements. But as federal regulators reminded us once again, these deals often aren’t free, and don’t come without risk. [More]
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Feds Shut Down “Risk-Free” Online Marketing Scheme Peddling Golf, Kitchen Products
By 3.24.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
More Than 2,000 Amiga Games Now Online
By 8.9.16
Update: As of Aug. 12 the Amiga games are no longer available. The Internet Archive removed the games and software for further development after completing a beta test.
Long before we wandered the streets, using our smartphones to hunt virtual creatures, some of us huddled around bulky home computers like the Commodore Amiga to play Bubble Bobble, Double Dragon, and (when the parents weren’t looking) Leisure Suit Larry. Now you can relive that aspect of your youth thanks to a new online library of thousands of Amiga games available to play for free. [More]
ABC Relaunches Online Streaming Service With Mobile-Friendly Short-Format Shows
By 7.13.16
For years now, TV networks have used their online presence to promote their series with extra digital content, like deleted clips, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. ABC is now expanding on that tactic by creating seven original shows that will only be available on its website or one of its mobile or connected TV apps. [More]
Delta To Offer Free In-Flight Streaming Entertainment Starting Next Month
By 6.3.16
If movies and TV shows make your flying experience more enjoyable, Delta Air Lines has some good news for you: by July 1, the carrier will make all of its in-flight entertainment for free. [More]
Walmart Expands Grocery Pickup Option To Eight Additional Cities, Doubles Effort In Others
By 4.13.16
Consumers in eight additional cities will soon be able to order their groceries online and head to their local Walmart to pick them up later. Walmart announced Wednesday that it would expand its free online grocery pickup option — which officially launched in October — to Kansas City; Boise, ID; Richmond and Virginia Beach, VA; Austin; Provo, UT; Daphne, AL; and Charleston, SC, as well as double the number of stores that take part in the service in Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. To use the service, customers simply place their orders online, pick a time to pick up their items, drive to the store, park in a designated spot, and call a special phone number. An associate then brings the goods straight to their trunk. [Walmart] [More]
Can A Coupon Taste Good? Krispy Kreme Creates Barcode Of Glaze For Free Dozen Donut Coupon
By 12.9.15
Everyone loves (mostly) free donuts right? Of course they do, which makes Saturday Dec. 12 your lucky day – as long as you enjoy the idea of getting 12 free glazed dough tori from Krispy Kreme. To ensure everyone has their fair shot at what it’s calling #dayofthedozen, the company has created the “World’s Tastiest Coupon,” a video feature donuts rolling under a stream of glaze. That glaze just so happens to make a barcode, and when scanned – either via a print out or the video on your phone – gives the customer a dozen free donuts when you buy a dozen. [h/t to Consumerist reader Brandon] [More]
The Best Things In Life Are Free, Including Our Weekly Newsletter
By 12.11.14
Imagine your pockets are bulging, full of cash and gold pieces like the kind Scrooge McDuck has in his vault/swimming pool. Now imagine you’ve just read Consumerist’s weekly newsletter, and enjoyed the heck out of it… and those pockets are still flush with riches. It’s a win-win. [More]
Guy Looking For Woman With Same Name As His Ex To Use Round-The-World Plane Tickets
By 11.4.14
Listen up, ladies: If you have a Canadian passport and happen to have the same name as this guy’s ex-girlfriend, you could be in for a treat. And by that I mean, you’ll get free plane tickets to go on a trip around the world with a stranger. [More]
Hanes Throws In 2 Undershirts For Free, Charges More For Them
By 9.24.13
Here’s a puzzle: if a company adds more of an item to a package and advertises that you “get X items” or get X ounces free,” don’t they have to keep the price the same? Well, no. I suppose not. Reader Scott found this fascinating example of fuzzy math on various packs of undershirts at Walmart. [More]
How Much Does A Free Pair Of Gloves Cost? 60 Cents
By 5.10.13
Walgreens, it’s great that you’re trying to encourage sales of your “Nice!” house brand by giving away free coordinating stuff with, say, a bottle of dish soap. It’s the part where you’re underestimating their intelligence that’s kind of bad. For example, charging an extra 60 cents, then saying that something is on “sale” and comes with free stuff. [More]
Beware Of HP’s Free Nook That Isn’t So Free
By 1.16.13
On Cyber Monday, Brian called HP about their selection of computers, and ended up selecting and ordering a computer of his own. The salesman offered him a promotion: a free Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader with the purchase of his Ultrabook. Well, as long as it’s free… The problem came when he decided the computer wasn’t for him, and returned it. HP wouldn’t take the Nook back, and insists on charging him the $99 plus tax that it costs. [More]
Apple Replaces Frayed Magsafe Adapter Cables For Free
By 11.9.11
Apple will replace or refund out-of-warranty frayed Magsafe adapters, according to the terms of proposed class action lawsuit settlement. [More]
Consumerist Techniques Land Reader Free Home Depot Tools
By 8.17.11
Andrew stared at the row of tools on the shelf at Home Depot and sighed. He had a big new job to do, but after getting all his tools from Home Depot for the past 20 years, there was but a paltry selection. No open stock items and the sets were incomplete. He wouldn’t be able to get all the tools he needed. So, drawing on what he’d learned from reading Consumerist, rather than an EECB, he crafted an email to a specific person at Home Depot corporate he thought might help. [More]
50% Off Amazon Prime Renewals For Students
By 7.14.11
Students who signed up last year for a free year of Amazon Prime are getting close to their expiration date. So, Amazon is offering them a renewal for $39, 50% off the regular price of $79. [More]
Exercise In The Urban Jungle For Free
By 7.8.11
If you’re looking to cut expenses, here’s an argument for cancelling that gym membership. NYT profiles one guy who does all of his exercising outside, at no cost, in the middle of Manhattan. The jungle gyms, trails, and tracks of East River Park give him all the workout he needs, five days a week, in all weather. His hands are calloused from doing pushups on the sidewalk and at 48, 5 ft 8, and 185 pounds, he’s in top shape. So why bother dealing with early termination fees and snooty mirror gazers when you can enjoy being outside, for free? [More]
Amex Settles Case Alleging They Advertised BOGO, But Charged Double
By 5.23.11
How’s this for a bad deal? American Express Publishing Corp. had an offer for a “free” airline ticket when you bought a companion ticket and a subscription to Skyguide magazine. But a lawsuit brought by five Californian counties says that when consumers went to the website to buy their ticket, they were often charged double what the ticket would have cost them if they bought the ticket straight from the airline. Get it? [More]
Free Sample Letters For Dealing With Credit Bureaus
By 5.12.11
Cleaning up a dirty credit report usually involves a lot of letters. Because just mustering the strength to sit down and face this task may have already drained you of your creative juice, via Frugal For Life here are a few sample letters you can use when dealing with the credit bureaus, debt collectors and creditors. Use them as Madlibs or as inspiration to kick your own cleanup spree into high gear. [More]
Teachers, Sign Up For Free Kid's Product Safety Alerts And You Could Win $100
By 5.5.11
If you’re a teacher, parent or caregiver, take 10 seconds today and sign up for safety. Get the latest alerts about food and products that affect children in a free weekly email from the National School Safety Coalition, of which Consumers Union is one of three founding members. As an added incentive, if you’re a teacher, you may be able to win $100: the five teachers who get the most parents to sign up will win $100 each (you don’t need to be a teacher to sign up for the email alerts). So sign up here and pass it along, especially to any teachers you know! No child should be put in harm’s way simply because we couldn’t get the word out. [More]
