The Academy Awards will be handed out in a couple of weeks. That means many of us will be heading to the movie theater between now and then to catch one or more of the nominated flicks. While there, we could also pack on a few pounds. The new issue of Consumer Reports looks at […]
How to Avoid the Holiday Debt Hangover
12/12/2011 By Leave a Comment
Christmas is less than two weeks away, and by now most of us have made our holiday shopping list. But before you buy, some budgeting steps now can help you avoid starting the new year with an ugly debt hangover. With the economy a looming concern, retailers anticipate most consumers are approaching the holiday shopping […]
Bah Humbug! Americans’ Top Holiday Dreads
11/29/2011 By Leave a Comment
Here’s another one of those polls or surveys we had on the news tonight that may not be all that surprising, but still gets us thinking. And hopefully changing our attitudes. The holidays are supposed to be a happy, joyous time… but unfortunately they’re not. If you feel like the Grinch during the holiday season, […]
How To Win At Whining
10/05/2011 By Leave a Comment
Have a beef with a company over a product or service? Who hasn’t? Banks, airlines, cable companies, cell phone carriers, restaurants… they’ve all done us wrong at one time or another, and we’d like to get what’s coming to us. Trouble is, it’s usually David vs. Goliath. So what’s the best way to complain to […]
In-N-Out Burger Tops Consumer Reports Survey
06/30/2011 By 1 Comment
We often turn to Consumer Reports for reviews and ratings on products like cars, computers, TVs and mowers. CR usually doesn’t steer us wrong. It just came out with its first-ever ratings of fast food restaurants. CR readers made more than 98,000 visits to 53 chains. At the top of the list? My wife’s favorite(mine […]
Customer Service Gripes: “Hey Can I Get Some Help Here?”
06/08/2011 By Leave a Comment
You’ve heard the old saying, the customer is always right. I’ll never forget as a teenager, my first boss hammered home that mantra. But a new survey finds that lately, the customer is mostly frustrated. Consumer Reports found 64% of Americans surveyed had left a store at least once in the past year due to […]
Shrinking Products At The Grocery Store
01/05/2011 By Leave a Comment
Not to get too personal, but next time you run out of toilet paper at the most inopportune time, it may because the TP roll shrunk without you knowing it. I don’t consider myself an expert grocery shopper. But one thing’s for sure, I don’t like it when I get ripped off, or tricked. However, […]
Gift Card Do’s and Don’ts
11/29/2010 By Leave a Comment
Don’t want to spend time choosing the perfect gift this year? Giving a gift card is a convenient option. But it’s always important to remember that not all gift cards are created equal. The good news is there are more consumer protections in place for gift cards. But there are still some pitfalls to watch […]
New Survey: Social Networkers At Risk
05/05/2010 By Leave a Comment
A status update. A tweet. Simple things that could put you at risk. A new survey says millions of users of social networking sites leave themselves vulnerable to identity theft, cybercrimes, and even home invasions. The Consumer Reports survey found: 52% of social networkers have posted potentially risky information on the web within the past […]
