Consumerist

Airline Passengers Stranded For 9 Hours [Travel]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:15:44 EST

200 passengers were held captive for 9 hours on the tarmac outside LA this week. TACA Airlines blamed fuel delays, lack of staff, and fog. As they waited, they were fed water and crackers. [FOX]...

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FDIC Critizes Banks' Overdraft Fees [Fees]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:04:15 EST

It took 18 months for the FDIC to figure out that banks' practice of clearing checks largest to smallest makes banks a lot of money. Bankers defend it saying that people would rather their cable...

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Inside The Mind Of A Liquidator [Tweeter]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:34:13 EST

Interesting facts from a Boston Globe article profiling a member of the Tweeter liquidation team, David "The Junkyard Dog" Spehar: At the beginning of a liquidation sale, it's very typical that they...

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Dollar Tree To Murdered Black Employee: Drop Dead [Dollar Tree]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:20:07 EST

Prosecutors say Taneka Talley was killed while working at Dollar Tree because she was black, and now Dollar Tree is denying her 11-year-old her worker's comp because they deem racially-motivated...

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What You Should Tip [Tipping]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:35:12 EST

Ever wonder what the "right" tip was to give a service provider? Well, wonder no longer as Yahoo Hotjobs offers the following tip suggestions for a variety of workers: * Bartender: 10-15 percent of...

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Bally Total Fitness has filed for Chapter ... [Chapter 11]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:39:03 EST

Bally Total Fitness has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy... again. [MarketWatch]

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You Can Steal The Empire State Building In Only 90 Minutes [Scams]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:59:46 EST

The Daily News has stolen the Empire State Building, and it only took 90 minutes. They made up some fake paperwork and successfully got the deed to the 102-story landmark transferred to a fake...

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Tweeter Turns Over To Liquidators Early, Customers' Pre-Paid Items In Question [Tweeter]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:40:45 EST

Tweeter, a MA mid to high-end electronics retailer, and not a misspelling of a popular microblogging service, decided yesterday to close its doors 6 days ahead of schedule, and send home everyone...

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Monster Cable Sues Monster MiniGolf For Trademark Infringement [Douchebags]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:57:29 EST

Monster Cable has decided to sue Monster MiniGolf for trademark infringement. Monster MiniGolf is a family startup by Patrick & Christina Vitagliano glow-in-the-dark monster-themed minigolf franchise...

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Consumers Don't Think Saving The Auto Industry Would Help The Economy [Auto Bailout]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:39:35 EST

A majority, 61% of Americans are not in favor of bailing out the auto industry, says CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll. Ford, Chrysler and GM have requested up to $34 billion dollars in emergency...

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2008 Bailout Costs As Much As Several Large And Famous Government Projects Combined [*]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:38:11 EST

This graphic demonstrates how the 2008 bailout, so far, costs as much as several large and famous government projects added up together. Yes, these numbers are inflation adjusted. Marshall Plan,...

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Harvard University's endowment, the largest ... [Whoops]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:17:25 EST

Harvard University's endowment, the largest of any university, has lost 22% of its value in the past year — or approximately $8 billion. Ouch. [MarketWatch]

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Chicago To Lease Parking Meters To A Company That Will Charge $6.50 An Hour? [Privatization]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:57:29 EST

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago is trying to get "quickie" approval for a proposal to privatize the city's parking meters. Under the 75 year lease, Chicago's...

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Shoppers Suing Police Over Deadly Walmart Stampede [Blackest Friday]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:42:09 EST

Who is to blame when shoppers attack en masse? The store? The individual shoppers? The police? Two shoppers who say they were injured during the deadly Walmart Black Friday stampede in New York are...

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Auto CEOs Promise To Ditch The Private Jets And Drive To Washington [Auto Bailout]

Meg Marco — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:36:52 EST

The big three auto CEOs Bob "Big Bob" Nardelli, Alan "Leavin' On A Jet Plane" Mulally, and our personal favorite Rick "The Station" Wagoner are apparently going to drive to Washington to beg for your...

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Steve & Barry Auto Industry Fail Shirts On Sale [Readers]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:34:26 EST

Steve & Barry's is in Bankruptcy, and the Big 3 are rattling their tin cups around Washington. It's a great synergy of failed brands, and it's on sale! 2 more fail shirts, inside! (Thanks to...

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No Tween Girl Clothes Are "Sexy" [Badvertising]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:25:31 EST

I don't think it's ever appropriate to market clothes to tween girls using the term "sexy." Manufacturer "PrettySinful" has a different opinion, as seen in these "sexy" tights sold on Amazon,...

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Morning Deals [Sales]

Ben Popken — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:10:38 EST

Woot: Lyon by Washburn Electric Guitar with 5 Watt Amp and Instructional DVD for $89.99LineDrive.com: Under Armour up to 50% off at with free shippingAmazon: 18 Pack of Horizon 8oz Milk for...

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GM Begs For $12 Billion, May Sacrifice Saturn, Pontiac, Saab [Auto Bailout]

Meg Marco — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:05:02 EST

GM desperately wants an invite to the bailout party — and has submitted a request for $12 billion dollars. In return, GM will attempt to return to profitability by "explor[ing] alternatives for...

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Ben Popken On NBC Nightly News This Thursday [Media Whoring]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:24:14 EST

Watch NBC Nightly News on Thursday, 12/04/08, for a snippet of yours truly, Ben Popken, laying down some tough talk on the good 'ol Grocery Shrink Ray, THE STORY THAT NEVER DIES!!! MUAHAHA!

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Nestle Quik Flipbook Ad On DC Metro Walls Is Kinda Magical [Advertising]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:13:47 EST

As the DC red line train I rode last week shot through a tunnel, a happy brown bunny jumped up and down on the walls, lofting up a bottle of Nestle Quik. It wasn't a video, it was a series of...

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US Airways Says $15 First Checked Bag Fee Is A Huge Success [Poll]

Meg Marco — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:56:24 EST

US Airways CEO Doug "OK To Drive" Parker says that US Airways new $15 fee for the first checked bag is a huge success. It's caused a 20% drop in checked luggage — which has improved baggage...

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Comcast Raises Prices, Disconnects Complaint Line [Redonkulous]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:39:57 EST

Reader Benjamin is pissed because Comcast in his town of Richmond, VA they raised his rates, and justified it by saying they have to pass on the cost of rising gas, technology, and health care. He...

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"Holistic Margin Management": What General Mills Calls Grocery Shrink Ray [Grocery Shrink Ray]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:39:44 EST

Guess what they call the Grocery Shrink Ray at General Mills? "Holistic Margin Management." I thinks that's also what they call it in 1984. Another interesting fact from a StarTribune article looking...

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Teacher Sells Ads On Tests To Cover Printing Costs [*]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:13:58 EST

Left to fend for himself after budget cuts, His tests cost over $500 a year to print, but this year he only got $316, one calculus teacher resorted to selling ads on quizzes and tests to cover his...

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Big Three Carmaker CEO's Pledge To Take $1 Salary In Return For Bailout Bucks [Money Meltdown]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:45:54 EST

The CEOs of Ford, GM, and Chrysler have all agreed to take only a $1 salary if the government will pretty pretty pretty please with killed-electric-car-on-top bail them the out. [CNNMoney] (Thanks to...

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Walmart: You Cannot Buy This Lamp Anywhere, So Just Give Up [Silly]

Meg Marco — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:29:05 EST

We love Walmart's website. We really do. Here's a nice lamp that you can't buy. At all. Deal with it. (Thanks, Evan!)

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Sears Is Rather Generous With The Term "Sale!" [Bad Deals]

Meg Marco — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:26:40 EST

Reader S. says: I went to a local Sears to return some parts (don't get me started) and the attached [photo] amused me. They're just so enthusiastic about it. Sale! No, Really! Don't look too...

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AIG Swaps "Retention Bonuses" For Annual Bonuses [Your Taxdollars At Work]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:59:44 EST

In order to get a giant honking bailout from Congress, AIG pledged it would give up executives annual bonuses, but guess what? They found a way to give them anyway. Instead, they're giving 130...

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Man Extends Cleanser's Life By Putting Water In It [Frugality]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:49:27 EST

Reader Andrew would like everyone to know that he's able to get 20 extra uses out of his Neutrogena skin cleaning face wash by dribbling a bit of water in the top. He writes, "The resulting soap...

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FDA Sets Acceptable Melamine Levels For Baby Formula [Melamine]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:42:14 EST

Mommy, I'm hungry, can I have more melamine? Sure thing, sweetie, because the FDA established that 1 part per million of melamine in baby formula is cool, as long as an additional chemical isn't...

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Mervyn's Charges $15 Fee To Talk To Customer Service [Mervyn's]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:26:42 EST

Reader Christi reports that Mervyns, a mid-range department store that is closing all its locations, now charges you a $15 fee if you want to talk to customer service over the phone. When Christi...

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Morning Deals [Sales]

Ben Popken — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:26:08 EST

Woot: Philips Plug and Play USB Webcam with Microphone – 2 Pack for $12.99Lowe's: Dog Kennel for $15FinishLine: Crocs Toddler Endeavor Sandal Shoe for $4.98Highlights From BuxrAmazon: OCZ OCZ2G8004GK...

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Panic: Are Consumers Scared To Buy Gift Cards? [Gift Cards]

Meg Marco — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:16:42 EST

Earlier this year when the Sharper Image declared bankruptcy, they briefly stopped accepting gift certificates. Eventually, they did start accepting them again — but with the requirement that...

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Walgreens Jerks You Around When You Try To Buy Plan B [Plan B]

Ben Popken — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:15:19 EST

Michael's girlfriend tried to buy Plan B yesterday, but the Oxford, MS Walgreens pharmacy seemed to go out of their way to make it has hard as possible. Mere incompetence doesn't explain what...

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How To File A Lawsuit [Lawsuits]

Sam Glover — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:57:40 EST

Consumerist empowers consumers to take on bad companies, but sometimes even the negative PR that Consumerist can bring to bear is not enough to persuade companies to behave. When that happens, you...

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Black Friday Sugar Rush Won't Last For Retailers [Black Friday]

Ben Popken — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:35:52 EST

While Black Friday revenues were up from last year, retailers are just getting a quick high. The crash starts tomorrow. On the one hand, shoppers took advantage of new and expanded deals and...

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Mom Finds Scorpion In Bananas [Walmart]

Ben Popken — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:03:56 EST

A young mom found an Israeli Gold scorpion in a pile of bananas she picked up from ASDA, a UK supermarket chain owned by Walmart. When she brought it back to the store, workers reportedly "giggled"...

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If you're in the Boston area, be sure to ... [Free Stuff]

Meg Marco — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:49:49 EST

If you're in the Boston area, be sure to check out Consumer Reports' Holiday Smart Labs. There's a kiosk where shoppers can access ConsumerReports.org and take away a free 24-hour access pass to the...

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Today is apparently National Bloody Mary ... [National Bloody Mary Day]

Meg Marco — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:20:33 EST

Today is apparently National Bloody Mary Day, otherwise known as the day Consumerist is not responsible for its many typos. [BuzzFeed]

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US In Recession Since Dec '07, Says Official Stat Group [Department Of No Shit]

Ben Popken — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:15:28 EST

We've been in a recession since December 2007, according to a fancypants stat group. WSJ reports, "In a statement, the National Bureau of Economic Research said its Business Cycle Dating Committee...

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