Spring Airlines, a discount Chinese carrier, plans to ask the government for permission to sell standing room tickets. The plan will likely win approval, since Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang was recently quoted as saying: “for a lower price, passengers should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus, with no seat, no luggage consignment, no food, no water, but very convenient.”
new and exciting products
Breaking Out In Song Is Now An Acceptable Way To Authorize Visa Purchases
By 1.11.09
Visa has revealed a darling new feature that will let consumers authorize debit transactions via song. It’s all part of Visa’s revised but always-exciting operating regulation 6.2.A.7.b, which now lets you “choose to sing to authorize a debit transaction.” Don’t worry if the merchant gives you an awkward look, they’re just sheepish about their cruddy singing skills. Sing louder to encourage them to join in the transaction-approving fun! (Thanks to Barbara!)
By 11.19.08
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There’s a George Foreman fryer now, people. It promises to “knock out” 55% of the fat by spinning your food. “Patented Smart Spin™ Technology lets you spin out the fat for up to 2 minutes with low or high speed setting.” You may begin posting your Arrested Development “cornballer” jokes in the comments at this time. [George Foreman]
By 9.25.08
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Gwyneth Paltrow wants to help you live your life by offering you some sound advice. As that is not too far off from what we at Consumerist try to do, we clicked over to “GOOP” (that’s what she’s calling the website) and were told to do the following: Treat ourselves to something (Hydrox cookies, check,); Go to a city we’ve never been to (Texarkana, here we come!); Learn something new (We’ve chosen modal logic and skeet shooting); Don’t be lazy; and finally “Workout and stick with it.”
Target Is Apparently Aware Christmas Isn't Anytime Soon
By 9.20.08
Back to school supplies? Halloween decorations? Depressing! Instead, focus on the distant future with this grossly unseasonal timepiece, a perfect gift for oblivious retail merchandisers and the counting impaired. Thanks, Target! (and Heather!)
By 6.26.08
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Chrysler announces WiFi-enabled cars: “We want to make the radio itself a WiFi port,” a spokesperson said. The service will require a subscription to a wireless phone carrier. [Washington Post]
Starbucks To Offer Smoothies And Mysterious Fruity Italian Drinks
By 5.1.08
Watch out Jamba Juice, Starbucks is coming for you. CEO Howard Schultz announced yesterday that the company would “make our first significant step forward into this category with the introduction of a Health and Wellness beverage platform.” That’s CEO for “We’re gonna make smoothies.”
Starbucks Coffee No Longer "Over-Roasted" And Doesn't "Taste Burnt?"
By 4.9.08
Starbucks debuted their new “everyday” coffee blend yesterday and the initial reports say that the new roast seems to be a reaction to all the “over-roasting” criticism that is routinely hurled at Starbucks.
MySpace To Launch DRM-Free Music Store
By 4.3.08
MySpace is starting a DRM-free music store, says the NYT.
Exact terms of the deal and details about the new site, like prices for downloaded music tracks, were not disclosed. But MySpace did say the site would offer songs free of digital rights management software or D.R.M., which is used to prevent illicit copying but can create technical hurdles for buyers. The songs would be playable on any portable music device, including Apple’s iPod.
The store will also feature ring tones, tickets, T-shirts, and all that other stuff the kids like.
Want To Seem Smarter? "Books By The Foot" Is For You
By 3.5.08
Thinking is even harder than reading so we’re gratified to hear that Strand Bookstore in NYC has a service by which the image-conscious can purchase “Books By The Foot.”
Zubaz Pants Employees Have A Good Sense Of Humor
By 2.28.08
So we obviously unleashed hell on the Zubaz site by linking to it yesterday, but the folks over there seem to have a sense of humor.
Zubaz Pants Are Back In All Their Zebra Striped Glory
By 2.27.08
Attention: If you’re one of those guys who still wears Zubaz, I have some good news for you. The company has decided to reform and is producing a limited line of the infamous pants. Finally, you can get some new ones.
Cane Sugar Pepsi "Raw" Launches In The UK Only
By 2.14.08
Traditionally, Pepsi contains fructose corn syrup, sugar, artificial colourings, phosphoric acid, caffeine, citric acid and natural flavours.
Domino's Announces Online Pizza Tracking That's Accurate To 40 Seconds
By 1.30.08
We are living in the future!
“We’re filling that black box of uncertainty — ‘Has my pizza been forgotten?’ — with information and entertainment,” says Chris McGlothlin, technology chief at Domino’s.
Move To Japan So You Can Eat Strawberry Cheetos
By 1.28.08
Yes, you read that correctly. Strawberry Cheetos. They’re really Cheetos, and they’re really from Frito Lay, but they are only available in Japan.
Macy's Contaminated With Giant Furry E. Coli
By 11.15.07
Here’s the perfect gift for your favorite little Consumerist reader! A giant stuffed e. coli bacterium.
Want To Rent A Pet For $39.95 A Weekend Day Plus $49.95 A Month, Plus $150 Initiation Fee…
By 11.6.07
ABC News has profiled a new sort of business—pet rental. After a $150 initiation fee, and $49.95 in monthly membership fees, and $99.95 in annual maintenance fees—you can rent a dog for $39.95 a day on weekends and $24.95 per day on weekdays.
Lazy? Like Pancakes? This Is For You.
By 11.2.07
Will we be buying this? No. Are we happy the it exists? Yeah. Actually, we are.
