There’s nothing like being ordered to pay $185 million in refunds and penalties to get a big bank to change some of its business practices. After its employees allegedly created millions of bogus accounts in an effort to meet sales quotas and earn bonuses, Wells Fargo is putting an end to these controversial goals. [More]
Making Changes
Tesla Updating Autopilot Feature With Radar, Driver Engagement Safety Check
By 9.12.16
Two months after Tesla said its Autopilot feature wasn’t going anywhere amid a federal safety investigation into what part the feature played in the first fatal crash to occur while the semi-autonomous function was activated, the electric carmaker has unveiled a software update that it claims will better incorporate the use of radar, and which the company says could have prevented the May crash.
Want To Sell Big Name-Brand Products Through Amazon? There’s A Fee For That
By 8.29.16
It’s no secret that online marketplaces like Amazon have a problem with third-party sellers offering counterfeit copies of name-brand products. The company’s latest effort to cut off the stream of fakes involves charging a fee to sellers who want to include certain big-name brands in their stores. [More]
American Apparel May Move Manufacturing Out Of California
By 8.18.16
Part of American Apparel’s identity is tied to the company’s Los Angeles manufacturing facility, but executives for the recently bankrupt clothing company recently floated the idea of outsourcing trickier items to third parties. Now comes news that AA has its eyes on keeping its manufacturing in the states, but in areas where labor costs are lower. [More]
Delta Adding Business Class Suites To Some Planes, Free Meal & Alcohol Service For Honolulu Flights
By 8.16.16
For most of us, we understand that flying means giving up some degree of privacy for a few hours, and probably means sitting next to a complete stranger who chews too loudly and wants to chat. Delta Air Lines is the latest to offer privacy to its better-paying customers with the introduction of “suites.”
[More]
Walmart To Stop Price Matching Of Local Competitors’ Ads At 300 Additional Stores
By 8.10.16
Back in May, Walmart announced that 500 of its stores in the U.S. would stop in-store price matching ads from local competitors. Despite assurances that it had no plans to expand its no-price-matching policy, the retailer has quietly ditched the service at 300 additional stores. [More]
Logan’s Roadhouse Files For Bankruptcy, Will Close 18 Locations
By 8.8.16
No road trip would be complete without stopping by a kitschy restaurant right off the highway. Travelers will soon have slightly fewer eateries to choose from as Logan’s Roadhouse filed for bankruptcy Monday, detailing plans to close more than a dozen of its locations. [More]
United Airlines Revamping Some Fees For MileagePlus Members
By 8.5.16
Determining what fees you’ll have to pay when making changes to your United Airlines itinerary is about to get a bit slightly less complicated for MileagePlus members, as the airline recently unveiled it would create one set of fees for changing and canceling flights. [More]
You’ll Never Believe How Facebook Is Changing Its News Feed Algorithm To Reduce Clickbait… Again
By 8.4.16
Ah, Facebook’s News Feed. It changes frequently in order keep you better updated on your friends’ lives, the news of the world, and other events. But one thing you’re likely see a bit less of soon: those cleverly written headlines just begging to be clicked. The social network announced Thursday that it would revamp its News Feed algorithm to reduce the number of clickbait headlines you see. [More]
Starbucks Employees Can Now Match Green Hair To Their Green Aprons
By 7.25.16
Nearly two years after Starbucks allowed employees to get a bit more graphic behind the counter — showing some visible tattoos for the first time — the coffee giant is once again revamping its dress code, this time allowing baristas to wear more color — even if that happens to be in their hair. [More]
New Guidelines Aim To Improve Customer Service, Enhance Protections On Federal Student Loans
By 7.20.16
The fact that two-thirds of college-bound students who take out loans to finance their higher education have little to no idea what they’re agreeing to, doesn’t mean these borrowers shouldn’t receive adequate protection from unscrupulous loan servicing companies. New guidelines from a pair of federal agencies are aimed at ensuring student loan borrowers get the service and protection they deserve. [More]
Now Anyone Can Apply For A “Verified” Twitter Account
By 7.19.16
For seven years, the process of obtaining Twitter’s blue “Verified” checkmark for your account has been shrouded in mystery. No formal criteria was ever given, no application process available, and no explanations from the company why some accounts got verified while similar accounts were not. Now the company has finally announced an actual application for users seeking verified accounts — but getting that little checkmark isn’t a given.
[More]
Dannon Looking To Cut Sugar In Yogurt
By 7.15.16
Earlier this year the Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services released the eighth edition of Dietary Guidelines that included the suggestion that Americans limit their consumption of added sugar to no more than 10% of one’s dietary calories. In response, French Yogurt giant Dannone is looking at ways to reduce the amount of sweet stuff in its products. [More]
Starbucks Invests In High-End Italian Bakery, Princi
By 7.14.16
Starbucks has its hands in a lot of different products outside of the coffee it serves up in stores — cold brew coffee, coconut milk, juice, to name a few. Now the company is expanding its portfolio with the acquisition of a company specializing in Italian baked goods.
[More]
Angie’s List Officially Drops Subscription Requirement To Browse & Write Reviews
By 7.13.16
Back in March, Angie’s List said it would drop its long-standing membership fees and make basic rating and review offerings available for free to all site visitors at some point in 2016. That point was today. [More]
Target Makes Changes To Coupon Policy
By 7.11.16
Have you ever had trouble using a coupon at the Target checkout line, only to have the cashier work some keyboard magic to get you the discount? Expect to see less of this after the retailer’s latest update to its checkout system.
[More]
College-Bound Students Are Unprepared For Financial Burden Of Loans. What Needs To Change?
By 6.30.16
Despite efforts by the Department of Education to educate prospective college students about the burden of student loans, nearly two-thirds of students who took out loans to pay for college say they had no idea what they were signing up for. To fix this problem, it’s going to take more than making these students sit in a class about financial aid and student loans; it may require an overhaul of the entire college financing system. [More]
Accused Of Violating Clean Air Act, Trader Joe’s To Spend $2M To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By 6.23.16
Trader Joe’s will spend $2 million over the next three years to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases leaked from the refrigeration systems at its 453 stores nationwide in order to resolve federal allegations that the company violated the Clean Air Act. [More]
