useless

It Has Come To This: Scented USB Drives

It Has Come To This: Scented USB Drives

By Ben Popken 6.17.11

Add another body to the pyre of useless USB port innovations, Maxell’s “AromaDrive,” a line of scented flash memory sticks. [More]

What Can This Babies R Us Coupon Actually Be Used For?

What Can This Babies R Us Coupon Actually Be Used For?

By 5.6.11 — Updated: 11.26.13

In the comments of yesterday’s Lane Bryant post, reader DeadPlasmaCell shared this terrible coupon for Babies R Us. The list of excluded items includes, essentially, the entire inventory of a Babies R Us store. What’s left? Clothes? It would be a nice coupon if it said “20% off any clothing item” instead (except for the excepted clothing lines) but that would be too simple and much, much too easy. [More]

The Fuel Doctor FD-47 Is More Of A Fuel-Savings Quack

The Fuel Doctor FD-47 Is More Of A Fuel-Savings Quack

By 12.8.10

A basic understanding of physics should tell you that the Fuel Doctor–a small device that you plug into the 12-volt power outlet in your car–will not work. The gadget claims that by “conditioning” your car’s electrical systems, it increases power and gas mileage. But…why have none of the major automakers thought of this? Is it all a plot between the car and gas companies… or is the Fuel Doctor just automotive snake oil?

To find out, Consumer Reports plugged the device in to cars set up with sensitive fuel mileage meters, and also tested the vehicles’ power with and without the Fuel Doctor. Their verdict? Well, there are some pretty lights on the Fuel Doctor, so it makes a nice decoration.

Online Stores Send Customers Handy Pre-Expired Coupons

Online Stores Send Customers Handy Pre-Expired Coupons

By 9.12.09

BJ received the coupon at left, offering $9.99 off at Heartland America on September 9 (9/9/09, get it?) Which would be great if they had mailed it to him before 10 AM on September 10th. “Looks like if I want to use the coupon I will need to build a time machine,” he wrote.

Don't Buy These Worthless Pieces Of Junk …Or Should You?

Don't Buy These Worthless Pieces Of Junk …Or Should You?

By 7.15.09

Over at WalletPop, they’ve made a lovely slideshow of what are, in their opinion, the “20 Most Worthless Pieces of Junk.” A few, I agree with, and most of them I quite emphatically don’t. Living without books or an iron would be such a fundamental change in my life that I can’t contemplate it.

Best Buy Offers Enticing -$120 Off Laptop Price

By 6.5.09

Looking for an insane deal on a laptop? Look no further than Best Buy. They have a sale going on now that you wouldn’t believe. We got a screencap just in case you miss it.

Dear T-Mobile: Please Stop Sending 5 Text Messages At 5 AM Every Month To Say That My Billing Cycle Has Started

Dear T-Mobile: Please Stop Sending 5 Text Messages At 5 AM Every Month To Say That My Billing Cycle Has Started

By consumeristcarey 4.11.08

Dustin is angry and tired because T-Mobile sends him five text messages at 5 a.m. on the 11th of every month to let him know that his billing cycle has started. He asked T-Mobile to stop sending the useless message, but they insist that the texts are a “feature” that can’t be disabled. Their solution? “Put [the] phone on silent on the 10th of every month.”