ideas

By cwalters 3.8.08

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Here’s a free idea for the taking: why doesn’t a bank (cough HSBC cough) offer the option to have text message alerts sent to a registered phone number any time a withdrawal is made from a specific account via ATM? “$120 was withdrawn at 2:51pm EST in Palo Verde, CA. Reference #293005” See how easy that was? Such exception-based reporting would drastically cut down on fraud (we’re guessing) by enlisting the help of customers to report unauthorized transactions immediately.

Great Idea: Website To Let You Share The Cost Of Fad Gadgets

Great Idea: Website To Let You Share The Cost Of Fad Gadgets

By cwalters 1.25.08

David Pogue thinks the Pleo dinosaur is meh. He’s seen it all before with Aibo, and despite all the “it’s so lifelike!” ad and editorial copy devoted to it, the charm wears off pretty much the same day you buy it: “My surprise, though, was my kids’ reaction. They thought it was really, really cool—for the first half-hour.” He’s proposed a new website idea where you’d sign up for the latest Hot New Thing coming out of CES, Toy Fair, Macworld, etc., then pay an ever-shrinking percentage of the original sales price to own it when your turn came in line.

Idea: Find Your Way Through The Mall Via GPS

Idea: Find Your Way Through The Mall Via GPS

By cwalters 12.21.07

Now that we’ve got such advanced cell phone technology, Russel Shaw with ZDNet thinks we should start putting it to use to make shopping in the real world easier. His idea, free for the taking if you’re feeling entrepreneurial: shopping mall geolocation services.

Gift Idea: Buy Someone A Magnum

Gift Idea: Buy Someone A Magnum

By 12.19.07

Tyler Colman, Ph.D., also known as Dr. Vino, suggests giving magnums this year because those huge bottles have a smaller carbon footprint due to the more favorable wine-to-glass ratio.

Cut Spending With Flickr And A Cameraphone

Cut Spending With Flickr And A Cameraphone

By consumerist.com 7.18.07

Here’s an idea for people trying to get a lock on their spending but find writing down everything too fascist. What about taking a picture of everything you buy with your cameraphone and uploading it to Flickr?

How To Fix Online Retail

By consumerist.com 6.19.07

We’ve got an idea. On Sunday, NYT wrote about how the increase in online sales has gone from 25% to 10%. They wondered whether shoppers were getting tired of online commerce. A Harvard professor said that etailers were giving shopping a “blase” experience that felt too much like work. The solution seems simple to us. Hire more game designers to help design online shopping sites. Find ways to introduce “leveling” concepts. Let us become 34th level BattleShoppers who can shoot 20% off coupon fireballs from our clenched fists. — BEN POPKEN

Amazon's Valentine's Day Bad Gift Ideas

Amazon's Valentine's Day Bad Gift Ideas

By 2.13.07

Amazon.com has put together a list of bad gift ideas, and we must say we enjoyed it. Of particular interest is the Fresh Whole Rabbit that we posted about previously. Other bad ideas we like:

What To Do With A Broken iPod

By 12.20.06

They even have next day repair and data recovery. Because a broken iPod deserves a second chance. Sniff. Does anyone have any non-repair ideas for broken iPod fun? Hockey puck?—MEGHANN MARCO

This Next: Fun Social Shopping

This Next: Fun Social Shopping

By 12.19.06

We noticed right away that This Next users recommend the “Airzooka”, which we own and love. The Airzooka is the single best way to scare a cat off the sofa. It shoots a “ball of air” (this makes sense once you try it) wherever you point it. Seriously, Airzooka is amazing, and This Next seems pretty cool too. —MEGHANN MARCO

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