The accessories department at Apple retail stores across the country are about to get a bit more matchy-matchy, as the retailer prepares to line its shelves with third-party accessories encased in packaging that looks suspiciously like those used for actual Apple products. [More]
products
CFPB Launches Financial Coaching Program For Transitioning Servicemembers, Financially Underserved
By 5.20.15
The first step in living a fiscally responsible life is to understand what financial products are available and how they fit into your goals. Or at least that’s the idea behind the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recently launched Financial Coaching Initiative that aims to assist certain groups of consumers become financially independent and knowledgeable. [More]
Walmart’s “Women-Owned” Campaign Officially Launches In Stores & Online
By 3.12.15
Last June Walmart said it would work to bring awareness to women-led companies by sticking “women-owned” labels on a range of products in its stores. While the retailer initially planned to start the campaign last fall, it finally appears to be getting around to it this month. [More]
Do We Choose Which Products We Like Based On How Easy They Are To Pick Up?
By 2.13.15
How hard do you look at products before you grab them? While we’re usually not thinking, “oooh that looks nice and grabbable, I’m going to buy it,” one researchers says that how easy objects are to pick up and use might have some effect on us when it comes time to choose what we want. [More]
Are Upside-Down Tomato Planters No Good?
By 8.11.10
A tipster sent us a link to this short advice column on gardening at PennLive.com, where the author says upside-down planters in general aren’t that great, and in dry hot summers are particularly bad for your tomatoes. [More]
Poll: Which April Fool's Product Should Become Real This Time?
By 4.1.10
Last year, demand for ThinkGeek’s April Fool’s Tauntaun sleeping bag was so intense that the company began selling it for reals. This time around, the site is taunting visitors with a “Want these products for real?” survey. We, however, don’t want to limit our wish-fool thinking to one site, so we want to know: Which of this year’s gag products would you most like to see in the wild? [More]
Ellen Can't Open The Make-Up She Endorses
By 2.2.10
A viewer recently wrote to Ellen DeGeneres asking if she’d ever tried to open the Cover Girl Simply Ageless foundation that she endorses. The answer, it seems, is no. [More]
Pitch Your Ideas To Procter & Gamble (But They Don't Want Kitty Swiffers)
By 1.7.10
If you’ve been sitting on some great idea that will make life easier for the average consumer, you can try pitching it to Procter & Gamble, writes the New York Times. Swiffer, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Glad ForceFlex trash bags all originated outside of P&G, although in most cases these outside ideas come from other companies. Still, you can go to their Connect + Develop website to pitch your own products if you like–just don’t try putting swiffer booties on cats, because they’ve already rejected that idea. [More]
Lick An Envelope, Taste Some Bacon
By 11.18.09
The entrepreneur-humanitarians behind Bacon Salt, Bacon Pop, and Baconnaise have introduced two new products. J & D’s has expanded their bacon flavoring empire to bacon-flavored microwave popcorn and another product that is neither food nor seasoning—snail-mail envelopes.
FDA: Um, Please Do Not Buy Stupid #$@% Like "Swine Flu Shampoo"
By 10.27.09
The FDA is calling on consumers not to fall for unapproved bogus “swine flu” or “H1N1” products that claim to offer a cure or other health benefits. There’s even a “swine flu shampoo” that claims to protect against the virus. Awesome.
Gee, Jay Leno Sure Does Like Talking About Products
By 10.2.09
Edrants.com recently edited together all the moments of Leno & guests dropping product names. Yes, this is just one episode’s worth of product references.
Sears Caught Selling "Grills to Cook Babies" Thanks To Poorly Built Website
By 8.21.09
Yesterday a reader sent us a pretty funny screen capture of a Sears product page with a suspicious category description (see above). By the time we got around to checking it out, Sears had corrected the error. It turns out, however, that the real problem was the Sears website was built in a way that lets anyone mess with the category descriptions.
Consumer Reports Tests the ShamWow
By 4.29.09 — Updated: 10.25.12
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It's Real: Reader Receives His Tentacle Grape
By 3.19.09
Last week, we wondered whether Tentacle Grape soda was a real product or a funny/tasteless joke that had turned into a scam, since people had placed orders for it with real cash and had yet to see any product. A reader named Harley emailed us to say a box of the soda just arrived at his address today, along with a condom, naturally. Because that’s just classy. He adds, “I can’t comment on the taste as I haven’t yet tried it, but I don’t think I’ll be using the condom.” Click through for a bigger pic.
Ben Popken On NBC Nightly News Tonight, Still Pimping That Grocery Shrink Ray
By 1.27.09
Yours truly Ben Popken was featured ever so briefly in a NBC Nightly News report tonight about the Grocery Shrink Ray.
CNBC Taking Votes For Best "As Seen On TV" Product
By 1.19.09
Karla writes, “I thought this fun little tournament might interest Consumerist readers, especially the possibility of a Billy Mays vs. Vince from Shamwow showdown in the Sweet 16.” The contest will determine the “greatest ‘As Seen on TV’ product,” although with entries like Video Professor and Miss Cleo on there, “greatest” seems to be loosely defined.
Pricey Stove Recalled For Shooting Flames At Your Face
By 9.5.08
Here’s something you might want to get fixed. Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis. is recalling 24,000 of their gas ranges because the 18″ oven has a tendency to shoot flames when the door is opened. This has resulted in 15 minor burns.
CPSC Says Company Refuses To Recall Bassinets That Strangled Two Infants
By 8.29.08
The CPSC has issued a consumer alert, urging you to stop using Simplicity Inc.’s “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets after two infants died after being strangled by the product’s metal bars. The company is refusing to cooperate with the CPSC and will not recall the product.
