Gift cards have fewer hidden fees and expiration dates this holiday season, thanks to FTC action, reports the Washington Post. A survey by the Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection found that about 80% of the 22 retail examined had no fees or expiration dates, could be replaced if lost or stolen and had scratch-off PINS for security.
shopping
Sales Of Women's Clothing Down, Bargains Are Coming
By 12.17.07
The New York Times says that sales of women’s apparel, usually a staple of the holiday season, are down 6% so far this season.
Morning Deals
By 12.17.07
Dillard's Boots Disabled Iraq War Vet And His Service Dog, Too
By 12.16.07
Dillard’s ejected disabled Army Staff Sergeant J. Alex Gozalez and his service dog Mason for violating the store’s no animals policy. The store manager did not believe that Gonzalez is disabled because he is neither blind nor deaf. Gonzalez uses Mason—who wore a vest reading: “SERVICE DOG – DO NOT PET”—to help keep his balance.
By 12.15.07
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“Shoppers who pay the full price of about $249 for an out-of-stock Wii on December 20 and 21 at retailer GameStop Corp will get a certificate promising a Wii ‘sometime in January,'” sez Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime. Only at GameStop, urg. [Reuters]
3 Sites To Help You Save Money Online
By 12.14.07
PriceSpider works much like WishRadar that we mentioned last week, except PriceSpider focuses exclusively on electronics, and searches more sites. You choose the product and set a target price, and when it sees that price somewhere online, it sends you an alert.
Save Money By Buying Last Year's Gadgets
By 12.14.07
The evolutionary cycle of gadgetry is fast enough now that you can score some great deals on last year’s products, which are perfectly fine for all but the most technologically literate (or obsessed) people in your life. A perfect example: the first generation Zune, which can be found for as low as $80, has a bigger screen than a non-Touch iPod, and a 30 gigabyte capacity. Yes, it’s also got lots of drawbacks. But that’s why it’s $80, and for the average consumer who just wants a decent mp3 and movie player, it does the job nicely.
By 12.13.07
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Mention coupon code MORE4U on your next Sprint phone purchase and get $25 off.
10 Magazine Gift Guides Reviewed & Ranked
By 12.13.07
You’re busy: you don’t have time to shop, or to read magazines, or to look at magazines for ideas to guide you when you go shopping, which you’re not going to do because you’re too busy. Luckily Slate has pre-digested the gift guides from ten magazines including Vogue, Maxim, Consumer Reports, and Gourmet, then barfed them up like an HTML mama bird for your shopping convenience.
Morning Deals
By 12.13.07
Want To Shop At Amazon.com Without A Credit Card?
By 12.12.07
BusinessWeek says Amazon is buying a stake in “Bill Me Later” a firm that offers open lines of credit to customers so they can shop without using a credit card.
"Why Does Best Buy Hate Its Customers?"
By 12.12.07
My problem started yesterday morning when my wife and I decided we would either purchase 3 Microsoft Zunes or 3 iPods from Best Buy for part of our children’s Christmas gifts. I checked prices by going to bestbuy.com and searching Zune. [ed.note— item no longer on sale.]
Gawker Tshirt Shop Liquidation Sale
By 12.12.07
We’re liquidating the Gawker Tshirt Shop and all shirts are on sale for $17.99, down from $20 (yes, we know, Gawker is taking a cue from the CompUSA handbook. The liquidation company sets the prices! ::ducks). That means it’s your last chance to get The Consumerist “My Call Is important To You” before it becomes a valuable collector’s item and we post confessions from people who scalp it on eBay. A perfect gift for the consumer avenger in your life, even if that person is just you. Retailers will quake in fear when you stride up to the counter in this hot baby blue number. Printed on American Apparel so you’ll probably want to get one size larger than you normally do.
TryPhone Lets You Test Phone Interfaces Online
By 12.12.07
TryPhone seems like a great idea on the surface—you can preview mock-ups of current phone models and test out their interfaces through your browser. In reality, the beta launch feels underdeveloped, even for a web service beta, with only four models to choose from and limited interactivity on each. The idea is good, but we hope they work on execution.
Morning Deals
By 12.12.07
Avoid In-Store "Finance Traps" When Buying An HDTV
By 12.12.07
Several retailers are offering special deals on expensive HDTVs this season—things like no payments until x date or zero percent financing—but PC World cautions that they’re not always the bargains they appear to be. Their advice: “Cash is always best. If you need a special promotion to buy an HDTV, you can’t afford it.”
