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(SHOTbySUSAN)

Going To The Movies Is The Most Expensive It's Ever Been
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 10, 2012 4:00 PM   101 Comments
All the whizbang 3-D hoopla IMAX excitement at movie theaters is coming at a hefty price, as the National Association of Theatre Owners says the average ticket price was at a record high in 2011. More »

(Mac(3))

Nothing Says Romance Like A Valentine's Day Tour Of A Sewage Plant
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 10, 2012 1:00 PM   29 Comments
Traditional Valentine's Day celebrations might smell of flowers, delicate perfume and the aroma of chocolate wafting through the air as you sit in front of a roaring fireplace and pledge eternal devotion, but who needs those meaningless gestures when you and your loved one can breathe in the scent of sewage during a tour of a wastewater treatment plant? More »

NBC

Kraft Bringing Back The Formerly Homeless "Man With The Golden Voice" For Anti-Hunger Campaign
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 10, 2012 10:00 AM   23 Comments
For fans of "The Man with the Golden Voice," also known as formerly homeless man Ted Williams who was discovered on YouTube, enjoyed his 15 minutes of intense media attention, filmed a voiceover for a Kraft Macaroni & Cheese spot and sort of faded back into oblivion, you'll be glad to know he's back. Williams is helping Kraft with a Valentine's Day campaign against hunger. More »

(Breslow)

Don't Make The Mistake Of Buying These Popular Counterfeit Items
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 9, 2012 12:00 PM   57 Comments
No one wants to buy something they thought was Louis Vuitton, or an iPad, only to take it home and discover it's nothing but a lousy fake. It's big business though, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection snagged around 25,000 counterfeit goods valued at $178.9 million total last year. Let's take a look at some of the more popular items you should be avoiding, shall we? More »

(Komo News)

What's On The Menu? The Chef's Specially Smushed Together Meat Glue Steak
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 7, 2012 11:00 AM   83 Comments
Look at that nice, pink cut of beef, cooked rare for your steak-gobbling pleasure. Now look a little closer and hey! It could be just smushed together pieces of diced beef, bound with something called "meat glue." Not so appetizing now, eh? More »

(Daddymcc)

Will Ferrell Brings His Love Of Old Milwaukee To Nebraska In Regional Super Bowl Ad
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 6, 2012 1:00 PM   10 Comments
Will Ferrell is spreading his enthusiasm for Old Milwaukee through the heartland, taking on Nebraska in a Super Bowl ad shown only in that state last night. Regional ads for the beer aired in Davenport, Iowa and Terra Haute, Ind. in the last few months, after Ferrell asked the company if he could make commercials for them free of charge, an offer they clearly couldn't refuse. More »

(RLHyde)

At Lids, Clearance Hats That Aren't On Clearance
By Laura Northrup on February 3, 2012 10:32 AM   28 Comments
Patrick bought three hats from online hattery Lids, but they didn't fit. No problem-that's what return policies are for! He contacted the company about returning the hats, and learned that he wouldn't be allowed to because they were on clearance. Which is interesting, because Patrick saw no indication on the site that these hats were on clearance. More »

(frankieleon)

Dating Site Says Android Users Are More Likely To Give It Up On The First Date
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 2, 2012 10:00 AM   92 Comments
Match.com did some very scientific research in Canada, polling singles living up there beyond our borders, and found that Android users are a lot more likely than other smartphone users to put out on the first date. Maybe don't use that as your pick-up line, however, if you spot someone with an Android phone. More »

(whatjaimesaid)

Survey Says We're All Still Suckers For That Thing Where You Buy Cheesy Valentine's Day Gifts
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 1, 2012 4:00 PM   34 Comments
Your Valentine's Day bahumbuggery isn't fooling anyone — consumers are still throwing cash at cute stuffed animals, jewelry, candy and fancy meals to show their loved ones they're just that — loved. At least, according to a report detailing the mushy gushy season's shopping trends. More »

This Receipt-Handling Dog Is Adorable, But Is It Icky?
By Chris Morran on January 31, 2012 1:15 PM   106 Comments
By now, there's a chance you are one of the million or so people who have already watched the viral-buzzworthy-internetty-whatever YouTube clip of the dog that apparently works at a veterinarian, where it takes a printout from the printer, takes it to the assistant, who staples a receipt to the page, and then brings the whole thing to the customer. More »

(theimpulsivebuy)

Another Guy Sues Frito-Lay, Says He Wasted $.10/Ounce On 'All-Natural' Chips
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 31, 2012 11:00 AM   81 Comments
Print something on a package and you better believe consumers are going to take it seriously, hence why a New York man is adding another lawsuit to Frito-Lay's docket, claiming their line of chips aren't made with "all-natural ingredients" as advertised. More »

(bitslammer)

Physics Professor Uses Super Math Skills To Investigate Classic Question Of Generic vs. Brand Name Battery
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 27, 2012 12:00 PM   64 Comments
It's a good thing there are physics professors around to do all the complicated math when we need questions answered, otherwise how would we know if it's worth it to buy name brand batteries? We would never know, is the answer. More »

(spinadelic)

You're Probably Not Shocked To Hear That Tickets To The Super Bowl Are Expensive
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 26, 2012 3:00 PM   36 Comments
Breaking news: Going to the most anticipated game in the NFL season isn't going to come cheap. Once you're over the shock, you should know that if you're still trying to get tickets to this year's Super Bowl in Indiana, they'll cost you anywhere from about $2,800 to about $,3600. More »

(Michelle Rick)

Why Women's Clothing Sizes Will Never Make Any Damn Sense
By Laura Northrup on January 26, 2012 12:35 PM   78 Comments
Women's clothing sizes vary over time, by manufacturer, and sometimes from one clothing design to another in the same store. Why is that? Was it ever different? Has anyone ever tried to impose order? Back in 1958, the National Bureau of Standards tried to apply standardized sizing to the pattern-making industry, and optionally to ready-to-wear clothing vendors as well, but the standards didn't take. The very sizing system we grumble at today is based on these 1958 numbers. Loosely. More »

(YouTube)

Michel Gondry Directs A Fantastically Weird Japanese Commercial Featuring A Giant Foot
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 25, 2012 5:00 PM   14 Comments
Come on, Michel Gondry — why take your delightfully odd talents to Japan? Start directing commercials in the U.S. and we will gladly take them, comically over-sized feet and all. Just like George Clooney, Michel isn't limiting himself to feature films, as his spot for a Japanese department store shows. More »

(Daily Beast)

George Clooney Makes Money Off Coffee Commercials And "F@!# You" If You Think He's Selling Out
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 25, 2012 4:00 PM   56 Comments
Guess what, everybody? George Clooney is a big movie star (he was Batman once!) and he's in it to make good films, not reap the spoils of a flash-in-the-pan money-making blockbuster. He's got overseas coffee commercials to keep him living large, and if you think he's a sellout because of it, he really doesn't give a f@!#. More »

PBS Gets In Trouble For Hawking "Downton Abbey" Jewelry Without Permission From Show's Creators
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 25, 2012 2:00 PM   19 Comments
America has gone all Brit-crazy with Downton Abbey, airing on PBS after its triumph in the UK, but perhaps the respected TV station has gone one step too far in trying to appease the clamor for all things Downton. PBS got in a bit of hot water with the show's creators after they started selling a line of Downton Abbey jewelry on their site. More »

(Mac(3))

A Record Number Of American Consumers Are Single, Don't Really Feel The Need To Mingle
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 25, 2012 11:00 AM   183 Comments
Begone, old stereotypes of sad sack singletons living alone and mourning their solo existence while covered in cats! New census data shows that there are a record number of singles in the U.S., and they're spending a bunch of money all on their own. And they're just fine with that single status, so stop asking what her sign is. More »

(mr_alterboy)

$100 Cognac-Infused Bratwurst Takes Haute Hot Dogs To New Heights
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 24, 2012 2:00 PM   45 Comments
It's a wacky world of wieners out there in the restaurant business, and a new "haute dog" on the scene in Vancouver is shoving aside other fancy contenders to claim the title of most expensive hot dog. Diners can dig into a Dragon Dog at DougieDog Hot Dogs for just $100. More »

(Eva_Deht)

Has Olive Garden Lost Its Way In A Forest Of Breadsticks & Cheap Gimmicks?
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 23, 2012 12:00 PM   213 Comments
We can see it clearly: Olive Garden, alone and afraid, wandering around the the maze of casual dining, not knowing which way to turn, lost in a forest of unlimited, greasy breadsticks, as its sale slide and its customers turn a cold shoulder to their plight. Beyond all that, the chain needs to step up its game again, say industry insiders. More »

(frankieleon)

During Trying Economic Times, Some Small Towns Turn To Their Own Currency
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 19, 2012 5:00 PM   54 Comments
Who hasn't grabbed a handful of Monopoly money and just wished it could be used to purchase things in real life? A few towns are doing that with their own currencies, and it's helping to keep things bustling within their communities. More »

(smohundro)

Survey: U.S. Consumers Are Feeling Pretty Darn Optimistic Right About Now
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 13, 2012 4:00 PM   31 Comments
We're all a bunch of optimistic Spendy McSpendersons lately, according to a new survey that says consumer sentiment is remaining high in the new year. As more jobs are being created, consumers have lifted their collective spirits for the fifth consecutive month. More »

(U.S. Embassy New Delhi)

Car Auction Company Says It's Selling Off John F. Kennedy's Hearse
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 13, 2012 3:00 PM   27 Comments
Many admirers of President John F. Kennedy have tried to walk in his footsteps, but now a car auction company says it has the hearse that drove his body from the hospital to the airport after his assassination. Which means you could ride in his deathmobile, if that's your kind of macabre thing. More »

(burnburnrocket)

Jenny Craig And Purina Team Up To Slim Down Your Pudgy Pet
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 12, 2012 5:00 PM   51 Comments
Has your pooch just been longing to fit back into her skinny leash? Or perhaps your cat is well, too fat for your lap. Jenny Craig and Purina don't want your furry friend to languish in chubbiness, which is why they've teamed up help you slim down your pet. More »

(NoNo Joe)

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye: Dublin Dr Pepper Is Now Just A Collector's Item
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 12, 2012 3:00 PM   57 Comments
​It's a sad day for Dublin Dr Pepper aficionados, unless they happen to have a stockpile of the stuff ready for eBay. The fallout of a legal battle between Dr Pepper Snapple Group and the Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company, both based in Texas, means no more neat throwback bottles with Dublin on the label will ever be made again. More »

(Make Lemons)

Paying $800 For A Premier Gym Membership Means Nothing To Bally & L.A. Fitness
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 11, 2012 5:00 PM   41 Comments
If only being given the runaround countless times could burn calories and build muscle, then maybe Iram wouldn't be so mad at Bally Total Fitness and L.A. Fitness for keeping her out of the gym. She writes that she's at her wit's end with Bally since her location was taken over by L.A. Fitness. And as a Premier member who paid out big bucks, Iram is beyond frustrated. More »

Coors Light Dethrones Budweiser In Beer Sales Battle For No. 2 Spot
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 10, 2012 4:00 PM   57 Comments
After a brewing battle, Coors Light is celebrating as they've passed up Budweiser in 2011 for the No. 2 selling beer in the country. Bud is the only full-calorie beer in the top five, so to lose ground to a lighter offering is kind of a big deal. More »

Why Is It Taking So *&%# Long To Get Good 3D Content On TV?
By Chris Morran on January 10, 2012 2:57 PM   85 Comments
Anyone who owns a 3D TV probably knows that there is not exactly an overwhelming amount of 3D programming available to merit putting on the glasses. The media and manufacturers keep saying that 3D is the next big thing to be coming-at-ya, but will there ever be content that justifies buying a 3D TV? More »

(voteprime)

Hostess Prepares To File For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 10, 2012 10:00 AM   89 Comments
Gird your Twinkies, Hostess lovers: The maker of those frosting-filled yellow logs is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week, says a new report. It's the second time in recent years that it's attempted to restructure in court. More »

(CamShah)

You Can Pay Gwyneth Paltrow $425 For The Honor Of Using Her Goop Brand Cleanse
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 9, 2012 2:00 PM   63 Comments
Have you felt plugged up and like you just haven't done your part to pad Gwyneth Paltrow's pocket? You're in luck! The movie star and "goop" blogger has slapped her brand on a colon cleanse for the low low price of $425 so her fans can start the new year off fresh. More »

(Ben Heine)

Seasonal Shopping Hoopla Results In Biggest Post-Holiday Retail Depression In Years
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 9, 2012 1:00 PM   34 Comments
The malls are hushed, the streets of city shopping districts have stopped humming and the online buyingpalooza has slowed. Yep, it's that time of the year after the holidays when everyone is finally done shopping. Unfortunately for retailers, they're facing the biggest post-holiday depression since 2009. More »

(Oregon Scientific)

CES Unveiled: Where Manufacturers Bring Their B Game To Mildly Impress The Press
By Chris Morran on January 9, 2012 12:59 AM   13 Comments
The actual tech stampede that is the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas doesn't start until Tuesday, but the press gets here a few days early so manufacturers can officially announce what's behind those curtains on the show floor. Additionally, there's the annual CES Unveiled event, in which a handful of exhibitors compete with the free food and drinks in an attempt to impress the press. You occasionally run into some items — like the baby monitor-type system for elderly people — but this year's group had few standouts. More »

(Paxton Holley)

CES 2012: The Future Will Be Like The Present, Only With Fewer Buttons
By Chris Morran on January 9, 2012 12:02 AM   11 Comments
In the future, everything will be a computer, and those computers will have fewer buttons. That's the takeaway from a speech by Shawn DuBravac of the Consumer Electronics Association. More »

(theimpulsivebuy)

Lawsuit Against Frito-Lay: "All-Natural" Means You Shouldn't Be Using Genetically Modified Ingredients
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 6, 2012 11:00 AM   97 Comments
One woman in California isn't about to let a big food company get away with what she says is fraudulent advertising. Frito-Lay is the subject of a new class action suit, which alleges that though they tout certain products as "all natural," they actually contain genetically modified ingredients, or GMs. More »

(david_stabler)

Japanese Sushi Chain Forks Over $736K For 530-Pound Tuna At Auction
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 5, 2012 3:00 PM   35 Comments
It's payback time for Japan, after the best catch of the year went to a foreign buyer three years in a row. But this year, sushi lovers there will get a chance to taste part of a record $736,000, approximately 530-lb bluefin tuna, as a local company won the fish at auction. They're also giving back to their fellow citizens by not charging exorbitant prices for the special catch. More »

Cumberland Farms Fires Employee For Having Too Much Cash In The Register
By Chris Morran on January 5, 2012 2:15 PM   98 Comments
Usually when we write about a store staffer getting followed in the wake of a robbery it's because they dared to do something about it, but a man in Massachusetts says he was given the boot from his Cumberland Farms job because his register had too much cash in it when the store was robbed. More »

Priscilla Of Boston Spray-Paints Unsold Wedding Gowns To Keep Them From Grubby Poor People
By Laura Northrup on January 5, 2012 9:00 AM   226 Comments
Priscilla of Boston, a high-end bridal chain best known for making Grace Kelly's wedding gown, came to an undignified end last week when current parent company David's Bridal shut it down. This news wouldn't have made national headlines if an alert shopper in a Minneapolis suburb hadn't noticed unsold dresses by the rackful being wrecked with red spray paint and tossed in a dumpster. More »

(stevevoght)

Liz Claiborne Inc. Ditching Its Name In An Effort To Be Like The Cool Companies
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 4, 2012 4:30 PM   40 Comments
Liz Claiborne Inc., the company that brought shoulder-padded suits and mild-mannered sweater sets to women everywhere, wants to shed its old unhip association by changing its name to Fifth & Pacific Cos. More »

(The Consumerist)

Dunkin' Donuts To Bring Double The Delight With Additional U.S. Locations
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 4, 2012 1:00 PM   80 Comments
Bring on the doughnut holes and extremely large iced coffees! Dunkin' Donuts has announced plans to double its locations in the U.S. There are around 7,000 stores open as of now, and the increase will take place over the next 20 years. More »

(@LauraLaneNYC)

Store Pits Iron Man Vs. Batman In Battle To Bring In More Tips
By Chris Morran on January 4, 2012 12:15 PM   50 Comments
If you're looking to give people a reason to drop a dime (or preferably a dollar) in that tip jar, how about turning the whole process into a popularity contest that taps into your customers' inner comic book fan boy/girl? More »

(Travelin' Librarian)

Starbucks Hikes Prices By About 1 Percent In Certain Parts Of U.S.
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 3, 2012 12:00 PM   54 Comments
If you live in the Northeast or the Sunbelt, expect to be doling out just a little bit more for your Starbucks double-shot-no-whip-extra-foam-vanilla latte, as the company is raising prices in those areas by about 1 percent. More »

(MY PINK SOAPBOX - Anahi DeCanio)

Spanish Shoppers Strip Down To Skivvies To Score Free Clothes
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 2, 2012 5:00 PM   11 Comments
Shoppers will go to great lengths to score a good sale, and one Spanish store took that idea one step further for a recent promotion: Desigual in Madrid celebrated their January sale by handing out a free outfit to the first 100 shoppers to enter the store sporting only underwear. More »

Are Women Going To Malls To Shop And Socialize While Men Stay Online?
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 2, 2012 4:00 PM   39 Comments
As online shopping grows in popularity, those with an eye on the industry are trying to figure out if brick-and-mortar stores will eventually go away forever. One opinion posited by a writer — women love the social aspect of shopping, and they'll be the ones to save malls. More »

(KeithBurties)

Buying Into History: Artifacts From The Titanic To Go Up For Auction
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 2, 2012 10:11 AM   25 Comments
The sinking of the "unsinkable" Titanic continues to captivate Americans, as one of the most famous tragedies in our history. And now devotees of the ship's story and those who perished on it can bid on a large piece of that history, as more than 5,000 items are going up for sale. More »

(frankieleon)

Car Seat Sensors Scan Your Butt To Protect Vehicle From Theft
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 30, 2011 3:00 PM   28 Comments
Some backsides are already alarming, but if new anti-theft technology takes off, the wrong rear really could set off alarms. Researchers in Japan have come up with a car seat that scans a driver's posterior to verify identity before a car starts. More »

New Device Lets You Pay Cash To Fill Up Your Tank Without Leaving Deposit
By Paul Eng on December 21, 2011 3:15 PM   56 Comments
If you want to pay cash at the gas station, chances are you either need to pre-pay or leave some sort of deposit inside before the attendant will even unlock the pump. But a station in Saginaw, MI, is testing a new pump technology called Post-Pay that allows cash-paying customers to unlock the gas pumps with a mere swipe of a driver's license. More »

(Protocol Photography)

Consumer Reports Poll Says 14% Of Shoppers Lie To Cover Up Lack Of Gift
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 21, 2011 2:00 PM   35 Comments
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. Or at least a liar, according to a new poll by our astute older siblings at Consumer Reports. While some of us hem and haw and promise a gift in the future, a full 14 percent of shoppers lie outright when they haven't bought a gift for someone. More »

(avitania)

I Didn't Loudly Announce I Was Tipping, Does That Make Me A Bad Consumer?
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 19, 2011 5:00 PM   88 Comments
We've all done the Conspicuous Tip — you wait until the barista or employee behind the counter is looking before you stuff the dollar in the tip jar, lest you be thought a non-tipper. But should that apply in a confusing situation involving a hotel shuttle and a cupholder full of bills? Bill found himself wondering if his failure to narrate his act of tipping makes him a bad consumer. More »

(Great Beyond)

How To Be A Return-Friendly Shopper This Holiday Season
By Maggie Shader on December 19, 2011 12:15 PM   18 Comments
You may think you've bought the perfect gift for everyone on your list, but at least some of your recipients are likely to disagree: Last holiday season, nearly one in seven adults returned a gift within the first two weeks after Christmas. And many shoppers make it harder for them by leaving out gift receipts or failing to look into retail return policies. More »

(pbm.)

Saab's Money Struggles Finally Lead It To File For Bankruptcy
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 19, 2011 10:00 AM   28 Comments
After trying for months to be the little Swedish car company that could, Saab has given in and filed for bankruptcy amid long-standing money problems. The trouble started last March, and the company stopped making vehicles in April. More »

(gumbyliberation)

Is This Normal? Cracker Barrel Gives Me A Free Meal To Make Up For A Short Wait
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 16, 2011 4:00 PM   104 Comments
It's refreshing to read about good customer experiences, and in this case, we're just as happily baffled as our reader Nicole. She's looking for some consensus regarding Cracker Barrel — you see, she and her sister got a free meal, without asking for it or even complaining to wait staff after waiting a short time to get their food. More »

(WBX-TV)

Customers Must Sign Waiver Before Eating Hot & Spicy "Pasta Plate From Hell"
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 16, 2011 3:00 PM   96 Comments
When a restaurant needs to protect itself from legal action should you harm yourself while eating their food, that's a clear indication that said cuisine is not meant for the average ingester. Culinary daredevils in Boston sign a waiver before eating the East Coast Grill's insanely spicy "Pasta Plate from Hell." More »

(Arlene42)

A "Buy Nothing Christmas" Can Save Money, Refresh The Holiday Spirit
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 16, 2011 12:00 PM   41 Comments
Maybe you just can't afford to buy Christmas gifts this year — or perhaps you want to revive the true spirit of the holiday. In either case, advocates of a "Buy Nothing Christmas" are doing just that — occupying the holiday season, as it were, by deciding not to shop. More »

(zieak)

San Francisco Begins Roll-Out Of Pay-By-Phone Parking Meters
By Chris Morran on December 15, 2011 1:15 PM   29 Comments
Because apparently paying by cash or credit card is too old-school for some folks, the city of San Francisco has begun rolling out parking meters that allow smartphone users to feed the meter with a wave of their handheld mobile communications device. More »

(MeneerDijk)

6 Weird Things You Probably Don't Have On Your Holiday Wish List
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 15, 2011 1:00 PM   43 Comments
We're not here to judge, but there are a few things floating around out there on the Internet that you probably won't have on your wish list. But just in case you are searching for the perfect pre-need cremation package or perhaps an all-in-one ukulele band, this list is for you. More »

(donbuciak)

The U.S. Mint Halts Production Of $1 Coins Because No One Wants Them
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 14, 2011 10:00 AM   203 Comments
If you really love $1 coins, you're probably in the minority. The U.S. Mint announced their vaults are jammed so full of the things, they're going to pull back on producing them. Not only do they have enough hanging around, the dang things keep coming back because people just don't want them. More »

(Van in LA)

Treat Yourself: Holiday Self-Gifting Is The New Way To Go
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 12, 2011 4:00 PM   48 Comments
Don't want to make excuses as to why you're not wearing that sweater your Aunt Dolores gave you for Christmas? Avoid that whole mess with one simple idea — skip gift exchanges and just give yourself what you want for the holidays. More »

(thekateblack)

Norway Is Running Out Of Butter Amidst High-Fat Dieting Fad
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 12, 2011 11:00 AM   66 Comments
Fat-happy Norwegians seem to have eaten themselves into a corner, and that corner is bereft of butter. A popular fat-rich fad diet sweeping the country is turning into a butter shortage that could affect Christmastime baking. More »

(geo.honeybee)

Tresemme Customers Are Really Mad About Not Getting Free Samples
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 9, 2011 1:00 PM   42 Comments
Oh my. Tresemme, purveyors of shampoo, conditioner and other hair-related items, has a lot of dedicated customers — or at least, a lot of customers who really wanted free samples and are now foaming at the mouth in anger over not getting them. More »

Ambush Locally-Owned Businesses With Support Via Cash Mob
By Laura Northrup on December 9, 2011 10:31 AM   56 Comments
Are you looking for a way to support locally-owned businesses that also includes the element of surprise, meeting new people, and alcohol? If so, consider putting together a cash mob for your city. No, not a flash mob: a cash mob. They're groups of people, organized online, who pledge to spend at least $20 at a locally-owned business that gives back to the community. More »

(MyJilla)

You Can Probably Find A Dollar Store Faster Than A Drugstore
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 9, 2011 10:00 AM   48 Comments
Need something quick? You might be able to dash out and find a dollar store faster than you can spot a chain drugstore location. A new study says drugstores are being outpaced in numbers by the total amount of dollar stores in the U.S. More »

Android Users Will Also Be Able To Take Faux-Vintage Photos With Instagram
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 8, 2011 12:00 PM   32 Comments
Good news, Android users who have been just dying to take as many cool, faux-vintage retro-ish pics on your smartphones — soon Instagram won't just be for iPhones anymore. Developers are working on a version of the photo app for the Android platform. More »

(kevindean)

Don't Be Mad At The NFL For Rising Broadcast Fees, Cable Is The Bad Guy
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 7, 2011 5:00 PM   92 Comments
Cable companies would have you worked up into a fury, basically foaming at the mouth over hikes in broadcasting fees the NFL is instituting. But should you be blaming the NFL, or your TV providers? More »

(sfxeric)

Christmas Trees Sales Perk Up To Pre-Recession Levels
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 7, 2011 1:00 PM   28 Comments
Tis the season to throw down some cash on Christmas trees, and this year the U.S. is finally back to pre-recession levels of spending on the festive firs and spruces. More »

(petesimon)

Designated Theater Tweet Seats Allow Audience To Chronicle Shows In Real Time
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 6, 2011 5:00 PM   52 Comments
Sitting behind a person at the opera who is busily tweeting away during a performance is totally unacceptable, which is why certain theaters are now designating "tweet seats" for those who want to live-tweet a show. Put'em all in one area so they can't bug anyone else, right? More »

(frankieleon)

Drugstore.com Named In Lawsuit Over Knock-Off Sex Toys
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 6, 2011 4:00 PM   23 Comments
Opting not to buy into name brand hype can be cheaper, but in the case of one company that manufactures vibrators, knockoffs might mean a legal battle. A Canadian company claims that Walgreen's online-only entity Drugstore.com is importing knockoff sex toys and selling them in the U.S. More »

Man Builds A Hobbit House To House His Tolkien Collectibles
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 2, 2011 2:00 PM   42 Comments
Collectors who go to great lengths to seek out rare items also want to make sure those pieces are not only protected from damage, but also displayed in such a way to show off that specialness. One man has taken that collector's sensibility to a neat, albeit expensive, extreme, building an actual hobbit home for his J.R.R. Tolkien treasures. More »

Homeowners Association Ignores Basic Math, Fines Residents For Posting Colored Christmas Lights
By Chris Morran on December 2, 2011 1:15 PM   231 Comments
Homeowners associations are supposed to represent the interests and desires of, well... homeowners. But the members of one HOA in Pennsylvania apparently have something against people putting up colored Christmas lights outside their home — and are wiling to reinterpret the math of their own survey to keep their neighborhood's exteriors homogenous. More »

Coca-Cola Nixes Those White Holiday Cans That Freaked Everyone Out
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 2, 2011 11:00 AM   130 Comments
You have grumbled, railed and complained against stark white soda cans and it seems Coca-Cola is listening, as they've announced they'll return normal red Christmas cans next week. More »

(B.S. Wise)

ATM Company Testing Out Displaying Ads Instead Of Charging Fees
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 1, 2011 12:00 PM   63 Comments
ATM fees are the bane of anyone who hates flushing $2 or $3 down the drain just to gain access to their own money. Going off the idea that any money-loving American would rather see an ad displayed during their transaction than pay an obligatory fee, one ATM company is conducting an interesting experiment. More »

(u2acro)

Gas Prices Dip Across The Country While Still Being Really High
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 29, 2011 12:00 PM   77 Comments
There's good news and bad news when it comes to gas prices. First, yay! Gas prices are falling! But boo, they're still at record highs for this time of the year. More »

(moxythecat)

Why Is Waffle House Such A News Magnet?
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 28, 2011 2:00 PM   56 Comments
When something big goes down in the news, and it happens at a diner, it's not unlikely that Waffle House is somehow involved. From acting as a sign of the effects of natural disaster to a string of robberies, Waffle House gets in on the headline action quite often. More »

(Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie)

That Honey You Thought Maybe Wasn't Honey Is Actually Probably Honey
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 28, 2011 10:00 AM   59 Comments
Just in case you've been staring numbly and accusingly at the plastic bear in your pantry, after a recent report that most honey isn't really honey, and is instead "ultrapurified," rest easy! Another report says it probably is the real deal. More »

({Guerilla Futures | Jason Tester})

Retailers Rejoice Over Record Black Friday And Weekend Numbers
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 28, 2011 8:00 AM   58 Comments
Retailers must be rubbing their hands together in glee, as the numbers from Black Friday and the post-Thanksgiving weekend come rolling in. Records have been broken, many a TV has been purchased and shoppers really went at it. More »

( The Joy of the Mundane)

Malls To Track Shoppers' Movements Via Cellphone Signals This Holiday Season
By Chris Morran on November 22, 2011 3:15 PM   83 Comments
Because you as a shopper are nothing but a lab rat to be tracked, measured, quantified and dissected so that retailers can market to you in a more efficient manner, at least two malls will be using shoppers' cellphone signals to map out their routes from Sbarro to the Spencer Gifts to Chess King (okay okay... so I haven't been to the mall in a while). More »

(catastrophegirl)

Does Anyone Need Perfectly Shaped Mini Baked Goods Of Uniform Size?
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 22, 2011 10:00 AM   97 Comments
Are you hankering after six perfectly formed donut holes right now? How about some circus waffles? If you had any of the plethora of niche baking machine options one of our Consumerist commenters espied, you'd be set for baked goods for life (and maybe short on storage space). More »

(Beth Rankin)

5 Things You Should Know About Black Friday
By Chris Morran on November 18, 2011 2:30 PM   70 Comments
As we mentioned earlier this week, some people have already begun camping out to get in line for this year's Black Friday sales. But are these people going to actually see any big savings or have they just given in to the annual hype machine surrounding the super shopping day? More »

(Michelle Rick)

Survey: Recession Has Made Us Smarter, More Efficient Shoppers
By Chris Morran on November 16, 2011 1:30 PM   32 Comments
If you're looking for an upside to the last few years of economic doldrums, here's some news for you. The results of a new survey demonstrate that Americans have become more focused, efficient and less impulsive when it comes time to do their shopping. More »

(Cranky Media Guy)

Consumer Reports Looking For Mystery Shoppers In New York State
By Chris Morran on November 15, 2011 2:30 PM   27 Comments
Once again, our cohorts at Consumer Reports are looking to recruit new freelance mystery shoppers to make undercover purchases for the magazine, all while getting paid to shop. More »

(eric731)

Layaway Can End Up Costing More Than A Credit Card, Senator Schumer Warns
By Ben Popken on November 14, 2011 11:00 AM   60 Comments
Retailers are trying to push layaway this holiday season as a way to buy stuff you don't immediately have the money for. For people without available credit, this can be a way to eventually get what they can't afford now. But NY Sen. Chuck Schumer is warning that layaway fees can add up to be a much higher interest rate than any credit card would be allowed to charge. More »

( Stéfan)

Toy Makers Expecting Lower Sales From This Meager Christmas Season
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 14, 2011 8:30 AM   61 Comments
Santa's elves will have cold comfort up at the North Pole this year, as one of the biggest toy makers announced a disheartening sales prediction for Christmas sales. More »

Michigan Lottery Won't Let Anyone Else Play 1111 Today
By Chris Morran on November 11, 2011 3:15 PM   52 Comments
There has been a lot of talk about today being 11-11-11 (or if you're European, 11-11-11) and how a number of people somehow think that this might be a good number to play in any number of lottery drawings. But the folks at the Michigan Lottery Commission have stopped any more people from selecting these digits because the state wouldn't be able to pay everyone who picked them. More »

(lylevincent)

Cheap Chinese Labor Will Die On Jan 1 With A Minimum Wage Increase
By Ben Popken on November 11, 2011 2:00 PM   62 Comments
Many of the things you buy and own were touched at some point by Chinese hands, and those hands are about to get a little more expensive. The Guangdong province in China, the seat of the country's manufacturing might, is going to get a 20% minimum wage increase starting January 1st, 2012. More »

Tablet For Tots, Coca-Cola Monopoly, T-Pain Toy Mic Among Worst Toy Of The Year Nominees
By Chris Morran on November 9, 2011 4:15 PM   108 Comments
While toy makers around the world are hoping they'll be considered among the best toys of the year, the folks at the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood are calling out a handful of toys as nominees in their worst-of 2011 contest. More »

Girl Scouts Tease America With Cookie-Flavored Lip Balm
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 8, 2011 3:00 PM   83 Comments
Is that package of Thin Mints from last season's Girl Scout cookie buying palooza looking a little too freezer burned to eat? If you can't wait for those glorious order forms to come around again, perhaps some Girl Scout cookie-flavored lip balm will tide you over. More »

(OldManMusings)

Behold! The Scourge Of Mad Holiday Shopping Now Starting At "Black Midnight"
By Mary Beth Quirk on November 8, 2011 12:00 PM   85 Comments
Black Friday? That is so 2010! The drive of rival retailers wanting to get the jump on you getting the jump on post-Thanksgiving holiday sales has resulted in a new sleep-defying ritual of shopping insanity known as "Black Midnight." More »

Customer Says Grocery Stores Wouldn't Accept $32 In Quarters
By Chris Morran on November 2, 2011 5:30 PM   207 Comments
Any number of stores have policies against accepting cash in denominations higher than $20 or $50 bills, but what about loose change? A woman in Portland (the one on the left side of the country) says her local grocery stores refused to let her use quarters to pay for $32 in groceries. More »

(respres)

Americans Spend About $6.8 Billion Total On Halloween
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 31, 2011 10:30 AM   72 Comments
Even when the economy is shuffling along like a zombie, American aren't scared to spend big bucks on Halloween. A recent survey says the average person will spend $72.32 on Halloween — or about $6.8 billion nationwide. More »

(Tom Garrett)

Fish Fraud: 10 Of 10 Samples Of "Lemon Sole" Were Actually Something Else
By Paul Eng on October 28, 2011 4:15 PM   60 Comments
Consumer Reports investigators bought 190 pieces of seafood from retailers and restaurants in the tri-state New York area and sent them out for DNA analysis. The results confirmed what other recent studies have shown: More than 20 percent of the fish bought were different species, incompletely labeled or mislabeled. For example: More »

(Bennett V)

Would You Pay Someone $4/Card To Write And Send Your 'Thank You' Notes?
By Chris Morran on October 27, 2011 2:15 PM   86 Comments
If you think that the opportunity to spend money on a wedding ends with the honeymoon, you're mistaken. A new business wants to unburden newlyweds and others by writing and mailing all those pesky "thank you" notes, for a price. More »

(Amazon)

Warner Bros. Pulling Harry Potter Videos Out of Circulation On Dec. 29
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 25, 2011 12:49 PM   72 Comments
Attention, Harry Potter fans: If you want individual copies of your favorite films in the series, you better buy them before Dec. 29. On that date, Warner Bros. is ceasing all distribution of the movies, presumably in order to push a comprehensive set of all eight in the franchise. More »

Creepy Or Cool? John Lennon's Tooth To Be Auctioned Off
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 25, 2011 11:30 AM   27 Comments
It's pretty lucky for whatever memorabilia hungry fan out there who doesn't quite have everything Beatles just yet, that John Lennon handed over his tooth at one point. Because now that dental piece of history is going up for sale at auction. More »

(Compwalla)

If You Can't Figure Out How To Go Green, There's Someone Willing To Do It For You (For A Price)
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 25, 2011 11:15 AM   32 Comments
Having trouble picking up the right brand of eco-friendly dish soap or making your own compost collection? Being green might not come naturally to everyone, but like anything else, it can be bought, with the help of an "eco-concierge." More »

(Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com)

Has Nordstrom Finally Succumbed To The Christmas Creep?
By Chris Morran on October 24, 2011 2:30 PM   16 Comments
For four years, we've been documenting Nordstrom's resistance to that insidious holiday shopping problem known as Christmas Creep. But after all these years of making it clear that it wouldn't be getting into the yuletide spirit until after Thanksgiving, there is some concern the department store might be feeling the creep's siren song. More »

(Marike79)

Virginia Restaurant Tried "Pay What You Want" Model 50 Years Ago
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 24, 2011 11:15 AM   15 Comments
Not so fast, Brooklyn, you aren't the first place for a non-chain to try the "Pay what you want" outside Panera. Turns out a downright mom and pop restaurant in Virginia had you beat by 50 years. Take that, hipsters! More »

(Great Beyond)

Solar Power Becoming More Affordable, Realistic
By Phil Villarreal on October 24, 2011 9:45 AM   80 Comments
Engineers and manufacturers are ever-so-slowly getting better at helping you siphon electricity from that massive power generator 93 million miles away. Due in part to technological advances and growing demand, solar power is starting to grow a little more mainstream and practical. More »

(Gunns)

BlackBerry Outage Apology: Here Are Some Free Apps You Might Not Want
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 18, 2011 8:30 AM   29 Comments
In an attempt to placate millions of BlackBerry users who suffered service outages for up to three days last week, the smartphone's makers, Research in Motion, have announced they'll offer up a $100 credit for certain apps. Yay...? More »

(Mike Rollerson)

Hardware Store Takes The Zombie Preparedness Route To Boost Sales
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 11, 2011 12:30 PM   71 Comments
Nothing like the undead to put some life into your business... or at least, that's the tack a hardware store in Omaha is taking by marketing their goods as items ideal for Zombie Preparedness. More »

(frankieleon)

Free Texting Apps Poised To Eclipse Traditional Text Messaging?
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 11, 2011 11:30 AM   64 Comments
With prices of up to 20 cents to send and another 20 cents to receive text messages, free texting apps could be poised to take business away from cellular carriers charging customers to send their 160 characters of thoughts to friends and family. More »

(frankieleon)

Banks Attempt To Woo Customers With Lower Credit Card Rates
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 10, 2011 9:00 AM   47 Comments
Banks know consumers are angry at them for doing things like charging $5 a month for a checking account (not naming any names, but rhymes with Shank of Clamerica). So in order to lure back your business, banks are offering lower rates on their credit cards. More »

Watch Out For Petco's Fuzzy Kitty Litter Math
By Laura Northrup on October 6, 2011 9:30 AM   24 Comments
Just because something is on sale, even a sale only available to holders of a store's discount card, that doesn't mean it's a good deal. Want a real-life example? Here, the sale price of a container of cat litter is higher than the sale price of a container that's actually larger. Fuzzy math, or subtle bias against customers who aren't able to carry a 31-pound box? More »

How Buying Grocery Items At A Drug Store Can Be A Bad Deal
By Ben Popken on October 5, 2011 10:00 AM   92 Comments
Drug stores have been adding more and more food items to their shelves lately, but is it a good deal to get your mac and cheese from the same place you get your Advil? ConsumerWorld did a mystery shopping investigation to find out, and the results will give you a headache. More »

(Brian A. Wolf)

Rachael Ray's Magazine Assumes You're Okay With Fewer Issues
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 3, 2011 1:15 PM   66 Comments
Guess what, subscribers of Every Day With Rachael Ray? You're getting fewer issues this year because of 40 pages being added to a "special" Thanksgiving issue. You won't find out until that magazine arrives, however, as one Consumerist reader wrote in to tell us. More »

(BemDevassa)

Hooters Sues Twin Peaks Restaurant In Breastacular Battle
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 3, 2011 10:30 AM   73 Comments
Prepare your best boob jokes, everyone, there's a legal battle going down in the C-cup Corral between established stripmall mega-chain Hooters and an upstart restaurant named Twin Peaks. More »

(NYCviaRachel)

Girl Scouts Pledge To Cut Down On Palm Oil In Their Delicious Cookies
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 2, 2011 2:18 PM   88 Comments
Girl Scouts do more than sell cookies, as two young troopers proved with their five-year campaign to change the famous cookies' formula in the name of environmental preservation. More »

Jared Sells You Ring Engraved With Someone Else's Wedding Date And Initials
By Laura Northrup on September 29, 2011 10:30 AM   80 Comments
When Eric got married a few weeks ago, his wife put a wedding band on his finger engraved with initials and a wedding date. Only they weren't the initials or wedding date of Eric and his wife. The ring was engraved for another couple who got married the week before, and evidently got their rings from the same Jared store. Er, Galleria of Jewelry. More »

(Zorlack)

Movie Theaters May Start Charging For 3-D Glasses
By Chris Morran on September 28, 2011 2:40 PM   143 Comments
In case you thought that part of that higher ticket price you pay for seeing a 3-D movie goes to pay for the glasses required to see the often poorly done, post-production 3-D effects, you're mistaken. It's the studios behind these big-budget cash-ins that have been footing the bill, but that could all change in the next year. More »

Get A Jump On Scoring The Holiday Season's Hottest Toys
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 28, 2011 11:15 AM   79 Comments
In order to avoid your little angels throwing a massive, diabolic fit, parents who want a sporting chance at a happy holiday season might want to start thinking about what the hottest toys will be. We aren't here to judge your spines, just here to help, after all. More »

(Great Beyond)

That Whole Pumpkin Shortage Thing? It's Gonna Be Just Fine
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 28, 2011 10:30 AM   39 Comments
OMG how is the Great Pumpkin going to show up on Halloween if the big bad pumpkin shortage deprives us all of our jack-o-lanterns? Yes, everyone (even us!) reported on the frightening loss of the all-important Halloween gourds, but really, don't worry. More »

This Pawn Shop Is Very Up Front With Its Feelings About Crack Smokers
By Chris Morran on September 26, 2011 3:30 PM   48 Comments
Last week, we brought you a marketing ploy by one Albany pawn shop looking to expand its customer base by giving spurned mothers a way to get back at their exes. Now, Consumerist reader Brady sends us a photo of a Georgia shop that is trying to limit certain people — namely those who smoke crack cocaine — from entering. More »

(ashi)

How Much Of P&G's Ariel Laundry Detergent Should You Really Use?
By Marc Perton on September 22, 2011 4:30 PM   35 Comments
Here's a quick quiz: If you use Procter & Gamble's Ariel USA laundry detergent, should you use 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup or 1/5 cup of detergent for a medium-size load of laundry? More »

Christmas Creep Pops Up Down Under
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 19, 2011 2:15 PM   44 Comments
Even though Australia feels so very far away for must of us in the U.S. (kangaroos!) Christmas Creep exists even Down Under, where, as our reader Natalie notes, it's about 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 hot hot degrees, at Christmas. More »

(KateMonkey)

Taiwanese Animation's Take On The Star Wars Blu-rays
By Phil Villarreal on September 16, 2011 9:15 AM   31 Comments
The controversial new Star Wars Blu-rays hit shelves today, with bonus, George Lucas-led digital revisions that rile some vocal fans. To best understand the situation, it's necessary to turn to Taiwanese animators. More »

(walkerspace)

When You Hard Sell Customers Too Much, They Sort Of Leave
By Laura Northrup on September 15, 2011 4:00 PM   219 Comments
Aggressive sales pitches are a delicate balance between selling customers on what you have to offer and pissing them off so much that they never return. When AMC theaters recently changed their loyalty program from free to paid, employees began to sell memberships too aggressively for AgentG2's taste. He found the experience off-putting enough that he doesn't plan to return to AMC. He wonders: did he overreact? More »

(whatjaimesaid)

This Craft Store Really Doesn't Trust Its Customers
By Laura Northrup on September 15, 2011 12:00 PM   187 Comments
When A. saw that a local craft store had a "no bags" policy, she assumed that meant that the store didn't allow shopping bags from other stores. No, it refers to purses and other personal bags. It's not a huge hardship to lock one's purse up and carry one's wallet around in order to browse a store, but it is awfully annoying. More »

(dooley)

Private Colleges Starting To Offer Four-Year Degree Guarantees
By Phil Villarreal on September 15, 2011 9:15 AM   67 Comments
Battling concerns from parents and students that they'll toil in school for a half-decade or more without landing a degree, several private colleges are offering four-year degree guarantees. As long as students agree to meet with advisers and succeed in class, the colleges will waive tuition for any additional years it takes to finish up. More »

(pbm)

Signs Of Hard Times: Abandoned Pets, Backyard Gardens
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 12, 2011 10:30 AM   66 Comments
When you want a good idea of how the economy is shambling along, checking out what consumers are doing provides a lot of insight. What we're spending (or not spending) money on and other lifestyle trends speak as much as stocks and budget numbers. More »

(romulusnr)

Despite Gadget Infestation, Residential Power Use Is Expected To Decline
By Phil Villarreal on September 8, 2011 10:15 AM   31 Comments
You'd think the bombardment of HDTVs, cell phones, computers and video game consoles would make residential power usage skyrocket, but all-around power efficiency should cause it to plateau. Government-subsidized home energy savings programs and power-savvy consumers are among the reasons power usage is expect to decline over the next decade. More »

Shell Gas Station Uses Stickers To Prevent Credit Card Skimming
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 5, 2011 4:25 PM   79 Comments
As gas stations with pay-at-the pump, ATMs and other unattended machines where you scan your credit card get hit by skimmers tampering with their equipment, some businesses are taking preventative measures by way of a simple sticker. More »

Dave And Buster's Adds Mystery Service Charge To My Bill
By Mary Beth Quirk on September 5, 2011 4:01 PM   149 Comments
Nothing like a sneaky additional charge slapped on a bill to get customers to shell out more money, right? Consumerist reader Pat writes in to tell a story of gratuitous gratuity trickery at Dave And Busters recently. More »

American Apparel Looking For "Next Big Thing" To Model XL Size
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 26, 2011 9:30 AM   75 Comments
We're sure American Apparel is just trying to be ever-so-adorable by making a play on the phrase "next big thing," it's not exactly cute to call someone a " big thing" when you're searching for a model to show off XL sizes of clothing. More »

Donnie & Mark Wahlberg Do The Inevitable, Plan To Open Wahlburgers Burger Joint
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 25, 2011 4:30 PM   43 Comments
The dream team that is brothers Donnie and Mark Wahlberg (AKA the bad boy from New Kids on the Block and kid brother, the former Marky Mark), are hoping their star status will be enough to power their new restaurant, dubbed "Wahlburgers" to success. More »

([RAWRZ!])

Admission Party's Over At For-Profit Colleges
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 25, 2011 10:15 AM   57 Comments
As the economy (sorta) bounces back and would-be students are able to find jobs, colleges trying to make money to teach business or technical skillsare having a harder time convincing new students to enroll and pay them the big bucks. More »

Groupon Uses Pretty Picture To Advertise Not As Pretty Reality
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 24, 2011 1:15 PM   64 Comments
Being the savvy consumers that you all are, you're probably no stranger to something not appearing in person as it does in a promotional photo. More »

(JD Hancock)

Save Money By Shopping Near Hot People So You Buy Less
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 23, 2011 12:15 PM   33 Comments
The next time you go shopping for clothes, make sure there are no attractive people around wearing store brands, or you could end up never buying anything to wear. Or if you don't want to spend money, look for the hot people in the store and make yourself feel bad. More »

(DizaBlah)

This Is Why You Avoid Buying The Cheapest Wine Even If You're Stingy
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 23, 2011 11:30 AM   117 Comments
Maybe in college you can get away with bringing out a bottle of two-buck-Chuck, aka Charles Shaw brand wine at Trader Joe's, but since no one likes to look cheap, even the most frugal shoppers will opt for a more expensive wine choice. More »

Restaurant Requires You To Sign Contract Forbidding Use Of Phones & Cameras
By Chris Morran on August 15, 2011 12:30 PM   139 Comments
The biggest hassle of dining at a buzzed-about restaurant is usually just trying to score a reservation. But one eatery in Washington, D.C., is going the extra step and requiring diners to fill out and sign a two-page contract that covers everything from its cancellation policy to cell phone use. More »

California "Free Store" Has Best Prices In The Neighborhood
By Chris Morran on August 15, 2011 12:15 PM   48 Comments
With the motto "Share what you have, find what you need," the Long Beach Free Store in California isn't your conventional retail outlet. In fact, while everything in the store is for sale, there are no price tags because everything is free. More »

Macy's Admits It's Totally Peeping On You In The Fitting Room
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 8, 2011 11:15 AM   97 Comments
If you live in Florida and feel like someone's peeping on you in the department store fitting room to make sure you're not thieving, well, they could be! More »

(david_stabler)

Woman Claims Sushi Restaurant Added Semen To Spicy Sauce
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 8, 2011 9:30 AM   42 Comments
What is it about bodily fluids going into professionally prepared food these days? Ugh! A woman in New York is suing a sushi restaurant, claiming there was semen in the spicy sauce that came with her delivery of tuna rolls. More »

(Protocol Photography)

How Record Companies Spend More Than $1 Million To Manufacture Each Hit
By Phil Villarreal on August 3, 2011 11:15 AM   64 Comments
It's easy to imagine a famous singer-songwriter whipping up musical magic in a flurry of inspiration, then pushing it through the studio system and onto iTunes and the radio with minimum interference. But that's not the way the pop music factory manufactures its sausage. More »

(Photo: Wrap Media Group)

Need Cheap Wheels? Rent A Rolling Ad From Budget In Atlanta
By Paul Eng on August 1, 2011 3:30 PM   36 Comments
If you want cheap car rentals this summer, Budget Rent a Car in Atlanta might have a deal for you. That is, as long as you don't mind driving a rented car that seems more like a rolling billboard. More »

Which Cities Spend The Most On Gas Each Month?
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 1, 2011 1:15 PM   70 Comments
It's always easier to just look at neat infographics to get information, and such is this case with a spiffy new pic of just that sort showing where consumers spend the most per month on gas. More »

(Jezebel)

Online Fashion Retailer Apologizes For Holocaust Reference
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 1, 2011 9:30 AM   75 Comments
Note to retailers: Under no circumstances, at any time or for any reason, is it okay to sell a piece of clothing with a Holocaust theme. Like, never ever ever. BuyDefinition learned that lesson the hard way. More »

(Chris Rief)

Fox TV Putting New Episodes Behind Online Paywall
By Chris Morran on July 27, 2011 1:15 PM   95 Comments
Because people don't hate Rupert Murdoch and News Corp enough right now, Fox TV has announced that the only way online users will soon be able to access new episodes of its shows is to prove that they are paying cable, Hulu Plus or satellite subscribers. More »

Would You Use Your Webcam To Pay By Credit Card?
By Chris Morran on July 26, 2011 1:30 PM   44 Comments
We're going to assume that most of you have made some sort of credit card purchase via an online vendor. We're also going to assume that most of you did so by typing in your credit card number. But new technology is on the horizon that will let users pay by simply holding up your credit card to your webcam. More »

(tjean314)

Surprise! Some Things Are Actually Getting Cheaper
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 25, 2011 6:00 PM   69 Comments
Everyone hates rising prices, so to hear that a few things on the market today are actually getting cheaper... well that is a welcome balm to our sorely overtaxed wallets. Here are a few items you'll spend less on today than you did in times past. More »

(Tracy O)

Tulsa Man's Rhino Cups Break Antique Roadshow's Appraisal Record At $1-1.5 Million
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 25, 2011 11:15 AM   47 Comments
Start digging through your attic, basement or anywhere else you keep junk — it could be worth millions. One man in Tulsa found out just that, when his set of Chinese rhinoceros cups were pegged at a value of $1-1.5 million by Antiques Roadshow, breaking the program's previous appraisal record. More »

(largeprime)

Guitar Hero Is Coming Back After All
By Phil Villarreal on July 25, 2011 9:45 AM   48 Comments
Like an aging rock star who just knows he's got another hit in him despite being written off by the world, Guitar Hero will be making a comeback tour. The plastic video game instrument phase seems to have run its course, but Activision Blizzard is betting otherwise. More »

(matneym)

Truck Toting 40,000 Pounds Of Watermelons Overturns On Freeway
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 20, 2011 9:45 AM   49 Comments
The bad news is that a semi hauling 40,000 pounds of watermelons overturned. The good news? None of the delightful summer treats spilled out onto the roadway. We hope they're okay! More »

(Matt McGee)

Happy Hot Dog Birthday! The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Turns 75
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 19, 2011 10:30 AM   27 Comments
If only we'd known Monday was the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile's 75th birthday, we would've popped a package of hot dogs on the grill to celebrate! The classic car was born in 1936, and has been bringing tubular meat joy around the country ever since. More »

(backkenrecord)

Forever 21 Sued Again, This Time For Allegedly Swiping A Textile Design
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 18, 2011 8:30 AM   27 Comments
Poor gigantic corporation Forever 21! They just can't stop getting sued by people claiming they've stolen stuff! In the latest lawsuit against the low-priced fashion chain, the Feral Childe line claims Forevs ripped off one of their textile prints. More »

Just Because You're Illiterate Doesn't Mean You Shouldn't Be Able To Use The ATM
By Chris Morran on July 11, 2011 4:15 PM   99 Comments
If you've ever found yourself trying to get money from an ATM that doesn't want to display its menus in English, you know it can be aggravating. But imagine what it must be like for someone with no understanding of any written language. Now there are new ATMs being created for use in developing regions with lower literacy rates. More »

(bitslammer)

Are Batteries Going The Way Of The VHS Tape?
By Chris Morran on June 28, 2011 2:37 PM   119 Comments
When portable radios, cassette and CD players exploded onto the market, users began chewing through batteries like they were going out of style. But now, even though the use of personal electronic devices is at an all-time high, fewer devices use traditional batteries and companies like Duracell and Energizer are feeling the pinch. More »

(SA_Steve)

I Signed On To Sell Clothes, Not Force Magazine Subscriptions On People
By Laura Northrup on June 23, 2011 10:30 AM   146 Comments
L. works at a popular retailer of plus-sized women's clothing, Avenue. Selling clothes is the job that she signed on for, and she doesn't have a problem with that. It's the credit cards and magazine add-ons her company wants employees to push on customers that make her uncomfortable. She vented in an e-mail to Consumerist about why this bothers her so much. More »

(Paxton Holley)

Transformers Director Explains Why His Movie Is Worth Paying More To See In 3D
By Phil Villarreal on June 22, 2011 11:15 AM   130 Comments
Although 3D movies are no longer all the rage, Michael Bay, director of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, claims that his film is worth forking over the extra $3 to $5 in order to see Autobots, Decepticons and Shia LaBeouf's befuddled expressions pop off the screen. More »

(Orignaux Moose)

Mannequins Getting Jazzed Up With Celebrity Faces & Runway Poses
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 9:30 AM   48 Comments
If there's one area of retail calling for reform, it's those unsightly lifeless mannequins, right? Sarcasm aside, it is interesting to note that stores are trying out some new tricks with mannequins, including giving them the faces of celebrities and having them emulate model poses. More »

Marilyn Monroe's Iconic White Dress Sells At Auction For $5.6 Million
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 12:05 AM   29 Comments
We knew we should've been saving our pennies up all these years, and now it's too late: Marilyn Monroe's iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch has sold at auction for $5.6 million. More »

(So Cal Metro)

Do DVD Rental Store Closures Make Summer Road Trips Tougher?
By Phil Villarreal on June 17, 2011 3:30 PM   115 Comments
Now that spotting an open Blockbuster location is a novelty that merits a double take, and scores of other video rental chains have vanished, movie fans who want to rent some DVDs for the road have had to change the way they operate. Redbox remains an option for nightly rentals, and Netflix will still ship out discs via the mail, but gone are the days you can stop by a rental store, browse and pull some discs off the shelves and not have to return them for a week or so. More »

(Triborough)

California Kills Automatic Phone Book Delivery
By Phil Villarreal on June 17, 2011 9:15 AM   70 Comments
Add phone books to the growing list of things that will one day make you feel old for living in a time in which they existed. The California Public Utilities Commission approved Verizon's request that the residential white pages would no longer be delivered statewide automatically. Yellow Pages, and government and business listings will still be distributed. More »

(The Consumerist)

Jiffy Lube Ditches Dubious Oil Change Frequency Stance
By Phil Villarreal on June 14, 2011 10:30 AM   176 Comments
One of the great myths of car maintenance — that vehicles need oil changes every 3,000 miles — has taken a significant hit now that Jiffy Lube has changed its policy and will no longer recommend oil changes to customers on that schedule. More »

(Triborough)

Kodak Wants Your Old Cameras, Electronics
By Phil Villarreal on June 5, 2011 10:30 AM   61 Comments
If you've got a drawer full of old camera equipment, you can turn it into money by selling it to Kodak, which has introduced a trade-in program in which it's seeking digital and film cameras and accessories, digital video cameras, digital picture frames and printers. More »

(truche)

Urban Outfitters Offers Jewelry Identical To Independent Designer's Line
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 26, 2011 5:15 PM   122 Comments
Something is rotten in Denmark, or rather, in the I Heart Destination jewelry line of baubles offered by Urban Outfitters. Turns out those $19 danglers in the shape of the various United States of America with a heart cut-out are exactly like necklaces crafted by an independent jewelry designer named Stevie. Update: 'Stolen' Urban Outfitters Jewelry Design Not All That Original More »

(felixthedeadcat)

HP Starts The Tablet Smack Talk, Claiming Theirs Will Beat iPad
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 25, 2011 12:15 PM   62 Comments
We can just hear it now: "Your tablet is so stupid, it thought a quarterback was a refund!" Hewlett-Packard hasn't released their TouchPad tablet computer yet, but already they're smack-talking iPad and Android devices and claiming it'll be the best one ever in the whole entire world. So there! More »

(Bravo Six Niner Delta)

Barnes & Noble Unveils Its New Nook Simple Touch Reader
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 25, 2011 10:15 AM   56 Comments
Fans of the Nook e-reader who don't want to shell out $250 for the color version will be happy to hear that Barnes & Nobles has finally introduced its newest, cheaper e-Reader today, turning up the heat for Amazon's Kindle. More »

(M.Markus)

You Can Now Feel Classy When Hocking Valuables At New Pawnshops
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 23, 2011 1:15 PM   32 Comments
Gone are the days of heading to that dingy pawnshop on the bad side of town to hock your grandmother's china for a quick buck! These days you can sell your valuables online or in new, classier pawnshop digs. More »

(TLFagan)

Are Publishers, Not Technology, To Blame For The Decline Of Books?
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 23, 2011 10:45 AM   105 Comments
Ah, books, those paper-paged dinosaurs! Lovers of the non-electronic form of literature are already bemoaning the end of an era, as Kindles and other e-readers seem poised to replace physical books forever. But should we be blaming technology or publishers for the possibly imminent extinction of books? More »

(hanapbuhay)

People Buying Even Fewer DVDs Than Before
By Phil Villarreal on May 13, 2011 10:30 AM   127 Comments
Poor DVDs, sitting on store shelves with dwindling hope passers-by will make loving homes for them. According to a report from a research firm, both sales numbers and revenue have dropped more than 43 percent last year from 2009. More »

Crazy Cat People Find Even Nuttier Obsession In Cat Hair Jewelry
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 12, 2011 11:30 AM   32 Comments
We love cats. Really! But when it comes to making jewelry out of balls made from shed or brushed cat fur? Well... to each her own! In case you do want a little hairy number like a cat hair ball ring or necklace, Kate Benjamin is the cat lady for you. More »

(afagen)

The Cities That Guzzle The Least & Most Amounts Of Gas
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 11, 2011 10:30 AM   91 Comments
As gas prices exasperate consumers at the pump nationwide, you might be throwing your hands up in despair and grumbling about how your neighborhood probably has it the worst. A new report shows that it's not necessarily the biggest cities that are spending the most on gas. More »

(Great Beyond)

Analysts: Gas Prices Should Drop In June
By Phil Villarreal on May 9, 2011 9:15 AM   105 Comments
By next month, $4 gas may be in our rear-view mirrors. Falling oil commodities prices will translate to less pain at the pump if analysts' predictions come true. More »

Lane Bryant Sale Flyer Redefines 'Entire Store,' 'Everything'
By Laura Northrup on May 5, 2011 12:35 PM   69 Comments
David isn't really sure why he received this Lane Bryant flyer in the mail, seeing that he's not only thin, but, well, male. But that doesn't matter at Lane Bryant, where they're stretching the limits of reality and of the English language. More »

(Maulleigh)

Survey: Going Green Is For "Crunchy Granola Hippies"
By Marc Perton on April 29, 2011 2:00 PM   114 Comments
A new study from ad agency OgilvyEarth has found that "Green Rejecters," who rebel against everything from reusable shopping bags to hybrid cars, are more likely to be male than female, and consider going green an expensive indulgence for "crunchy granola hippies or rich elite snobs." More »

(Paxton Holley)

Advertisers Fire Back At Government Over Proposed Food Marketing Guidelines
By Chris Morran on April 29, 2011 1:30 PM   93 Comments
Yesterday we wrote about the proposed guidelines put forth by a federal interagency working group regarding the marketing of food to children. The "principles" asked for food companies to market products with healthier ingredients and gave suggested limits on things like fat and sodium. The ad industry is less-than-pleased by the news. More »

(frankieleon)

Government Proposes New Guidelines For Marketing Food To Kids
By Chris Morran on April 28, 2011 3:30 PM   107 Comments
Earlier today, an interagency working group consisting of folks from the Federal Trade Commission, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and the Dept. of Agriculture, issued a set of "proposed voluntary principles" it hopes the food industry will ultimately adopt in its marketing to the youth of America. More »

(Silent Watcher)

Tips For Saving Big Bucks On Baseball Tickets
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 27, 2011 1:30 PM   77 Comments
Before you can buy me the peanuts and cracker jack, you need to get tickets to the baseball game. There are ways you can snag deals on tickets to even the biggest games, and save some money for beer, food or cheaper seats at future games. More »

(matneym)

Rising Gas Prices May Lead To Fuel Surcharge Increases On Shipments
By Phil Villarreal on April 27, 2011 9:15 AM   52 Comments
Surging gas prices affect not only those with gas guzzlers, but potentially just about every product you buy. Rising shipping costs will likely be passed on to consumers, who will have less money to cover the costs because of other ways expensive gas is sucking them dry. More »

(arepa182)

Will Women's Clothing Sizes Ever Be Standardized?
By Laura Northrup on April 26, 2011 5:15 PM   191 Comments
The good news: clothing manufacturers have figured out (again) that perhaps they should standardize women's clothing sizes. The bad news: multiple companies are working on different systems, so this standardization won't be standardized any time soon. More »

(Maulleigh)

Proposed NYC Law Could Send Buyers Of Knockoff Handbags To Jail
By Chris Morran on April 26, 2011 12:15 PM   200 Comments
The sidewalks of lower Manhattan, especially Chinatown, are filled with vendors selling genuine faux Louis Vuitton bags "Ugggs" boots and Ronex watches. One city councilwoman from that neighborhood is so fed up of trying to fight the problem from the supply side that she's introducing new legislation that would attempt to curb demand by making it illegal to purchase counterfeit merchandise. More »

The Easter Bunny Has Very Poor Math Skills
By Laura Northrup on April 26, 2011 12:00 PM   42 Comments
Is it an Easter miracle, or just fuzzy math? Reader Elgog sent in this photo of a chocolate bunny, wondering, "Apparently ¼ of the bunny equals about 5 servings. Does this make it a diet chocolate bunny?" No. If there are five servings, each of which consists of one-quarter of the bunny, that means that the fifth person is on a diet. Obviously.
The Story Behind Easter Candy Favorite: Peeps!
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 24, 2011 11:52 AM   49 Comments
Let's take a moment, and put down that 11th Peep to be smushed into your mouth today, to consider the rich history of Easter's favorite marshmallowy, sugar-coated bird (or bunny or other various springtime shape). More »

(TLFagan)

Downloadable Video Games Will Be Rated By Computers Instead Of People
By Phil Villarreal on April 19, 2011 11:30 AM   19 Comments
Up until now, the Entertainment Software Rating Board has used a three-person committee to assign video games ratings that determine the age groups for which they're appropriate. To lighten the load, the ESRB will hand some of their duties over to computer software. More »

(jabella)

Don't Fall For These Gas Saving Myths
By Phil Villarreal on April 16, 2011 10:30 AM   165 Comments
The economic hardship brought on by gas price increases is a spawning ground for silly, ineffective conventional wisdom on how to cut down on fuel use. It's important to distinguish between genuine gas-saving maneuvers and moronic wastes of time and effort. More »

(triterion)

Do You Like E-Mailed Receipts For Offline Purchases?
By Laura Northrup on April 15, 2011 9:06 AM   92 Comments
Our smart-shopping colleagues over at ShopSmart magazine recently noticed a promising trend at some high-end retailers: stores e-mailing your receipt to you rather than printing it out on old-fangled paper. Stores trying it out include Apple Stores, Nordstroms, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and a few Whole Foods stores. More »

(photopete)

Reports Of Guitar Hero's Death Were Slightly Exaggerated
By Phil Villarreal on April 14, 2011 10:15 AM   35 Comments
February was a dark time for video game publisher Activision Blizzard, which announced layoffs of 500 along with the shelving of its overused Guitar Hero brand. More »

( WMAZ)

Church Group To Pray At Gas Station For Lower Fuel Prices
By Laura Northrup on April 12, 2011 11:00 AM   213 Comments
For the third time, members of a church group in Georgia will gather to pray for stability in the economy, lower fuel prices, and peace in the Middle East. Where will they gather? The gas station of their local Kroger, where else? More »

Slobstopper: Your Coffee And Donut-Blocking Poncho
By Laura Northrup on April 12, 2011 10:00 AM   33 Comments
Have you ever sipped coffee while driving, and spilled it down the front of your shirt? Man, we've all been there. What if there were a product that could prevent such mishaps? Perhaps a massive synthetic backless poncho of an adult bib, with a handy homemade-looking infomercial, and with a gross name. Yes! That's perfect! More »

DirectBuy Pressured Me Into Membership But Won't Let Me Buy Anything I Want
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 11, 2011 10:30 AM   109 Comments
It's kind of like DirectBuy is just refusing to be cool, ever, even once: Adding to the long list of complaints we've received and read about, a woman who says she was pressured into buying a $5,000 membership to the home club says she hasn't been able to buy anything she actually wants from them. Wait a darn tootin' second, DirectBuy is being difficult? Go figure! More »

(blue_j)

Reasons New Cars May Be Better Buys Than Used
By Phil Villarreal on April 9, 2011 11:30 AM   197 Comments
Because new cars lose a sizable chunk of their resale value once you drive them off the lot, conventional wisdom says it's wiser to buy used. More »

(voteprime)

Around One Out Of Every 10 Mall Stores Now Vacant
By Chris Morran on April 7, 2011 1:15 PM   127 Comments
The malls of America have seen better days. In the wake of the still-lingering economic downturn, vacancy rates at shopping centers — of both the "classic mall" and "strip mall" varieties — are at their highest levels since the twentieth century. More »

(Paxton Holley)

Procter & Gamble Sells Off Pringles For $1.5 Billion
By Phil Villarreal on April 6, 2011 9:00 AM   63 Comments
Procter & Gamble continued its move away from the food industry, selling Pringles canned potato chips to Diamond Foods Inc. In recent years, P&G has rid itself of Folgers Coffee, Jif peanut butter, Sunny Delight orange drink and other food properties. More »

90% Off An Imaginary Price Is Not A Sale
By Laura Northrup on April 5, 2011 10:00 AM   97 Comments
Paul Michael at Wise Bread thought that he had found a great deal on throw pillows at his local Hobby Lobby store. Signs advertised ninety percent off! Imagine that, a $50 fancy throw pillow for only five bucks! It was only when he looked closer that he noticed that the "original" prices were surprisingly high for mass-produced pillows: about $90 to $120. Research online showed similar pillows from the same company for sale for around half that. Just what was going on here? More »

(Travelin' Librarian)

New York & Company Warns Customers Of E-Mail List Breach
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 3, 2011 2:20 AM   66 Comments
Several readers have forwarded us an email from New York & Company warning customers that their email system had been compromised. The company assures subscribers that "only" names and email addresses were accessed, adding that customers might receive spam email as result. More »

Movie Studios Set To Charge $30 To Watch Movies On-Demand While They're Still In Theaters
By Chris Morran on April 1, 2011 11:15 AM   101 Comments
When we first brought up the idea of charging $30 for on-demand titles that are still lingering in theaters, less than 20% of you said you would be interested. But our little poll — and the protests of theater owners — hasn't stopped everyone from moving forward with plans to launch the service in the coming weeks. More »

(sallyvillareal)

Drug Companies Pushing Up Prices In Patent-Ending Panic
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 30, 2011 11:30 AM   141 Comments
Get it while you can, big drug companies! Pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca and Bristol Meyers Squibb are feeling a little panicky as the deadlines loom on patents for some of their best-selling drugs, so what do they do? Up the prices now, before those pesky generic versions arrive to drive consumer costs down. More »

(kevindean)

Baby Formula Is A Prized Item For Shoplifting Rings, Drug Smugglers
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 30, 2011 10:15 AM   90 Comments
Raise your hand if you're surprised to hear that baby formula is a popular choice of not only shoplifting rings, but drug smugglers who use it to cut heroin and cocaine. Yes, we're shocked, too! More »

(propaganda panda)

Coors Light To Pass Budweiser As Second On Biggest Beer List?
By Chris Morran on March 29, 2011 10:30 AM   63 Comments
First it was Diet Coke pushing Pepsi out of the way to take over second place on the bestselling soda list, now it looks like beer behemoth Budweiser might lose its coveted number-two slot to Coors Light. More »

(NYCviaRachel)

Some Girl Scouts Join 20th Century, Begin Taking Credit Cards For Cookies
By Chris Morran on March 28, 2011 11:30 AM   54 Comments
For decades, if you wanted to chow down on Thin Mints or any other Girl Scout cookies, you needed to have cash on hand or find someone willing to take a check. But now, a handful of troops in Ohio and California are shaking things up at the 100-year-old organization by accepting credit cards. More »

(Jenna Belle)

Think Twice Before Using Dryer Sheets In Your Own Dryer
By Phil Villarreal on March 27, 2011 1:00 PM   116 Comments
That crisp, fresh smell on your laundry and lack of static cling provided by dryer sheets apparently comes at a price. Many online sources, including a Snopes message board, are filled with authorities who say dryer sheets can clog your lint filter, potentially creating a fire hazard. More »

(I am Rob)

Top Posts Of The Week And Open Thread
By Chris Morran on March 25, 2011 12:44 PM   106 Comments
More »

TripAdvisor E-Mail List Hacked
By Chris Morran on March 24, 2011 3:33 PM   10 Comments
A lot of TripAdvisor users have received a somewhat alarming message from the company's CEO advising that part of its e-mail list was compromised over the weekend. More »

Is Charging $17 For A Pint Of Ice Cream Ever Justified?
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 21, 2011 8:00 AM   179 Comments
If you're a one-woman ice cream company (chef, delivery gal, publicist, and more), there's nothing stopping you from charging whatever you want for your product. And if there's a 1,500-person waiting list of customers, you can probably get them for a lot of money. More »

(Jon Olav)

Norway Is Totally Jealous Of Our Relatively Low Gas Prices
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 14, 2011 1:30 PM   127 Comments
The next time you're staring in disbelief and a recently jacked up gas price at the pump, this thought might console you a little bit — they've got it much worse in Norway! More »

(EllenJo)

Consumer Electronic Association Wants To Standardize 3D TV Glasses
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 14, 2011 11:15 AM   27 Comments
I don't know about you, but when I ditch the 3D I have now and get a new one, I want to be able to still use 3D glasses on the new version, even if it's a different brand, when I watch Justin Bieber's life story. More »

Bestselling Business Books Now Available In Comic Book Form
By Chris Morran on March 10, 2011 4:30 PM   14 Comments
Even the most accessible books about business and personal finance can tend to be dry reads. That's why a publishing company is releasing a handful of these titles in the always fun comic book format. More »

(hanapbuhay)

Disney CEO Declares DVDs Are Not Dead, They're Just Ignored
By Phil Villarreal on March 10, 2011 10:15 AM   93 Comments
Interviewed on Charlie Rose, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the decline of one of the company's former cash cows. The days of people collecting DVDs like baseball cards have apparently passed, but there's still a little life left in the market, he says. More »

(niteflytes)

Why Compact Cars Give You The Most Value For The Money
By Phil Villarreal on March 9, 2011 12:15 PM   87 Comments
To frugal drivers, value and efficiency are sexier than horsepower and design. With fuel economy, cost of ownership and resale value in mind, Forbes evaluated cars on the market and chose the most value-packed models. Most are compacts, with the Mazda2, Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Cruze taking three of the first four spots on the list. More »

(Louis Abate)

Broadband Internet Keeps Cable Companies Dominant Despite TV Losses
By Phil Villarreal on March 9, 2011 10:15 AM   63 Comments
Cable companies are hemorrhaging subscribers, but the businesses are still sitting pretty thanks to the trump card of broadband internet access. More »

(chadmagiera)

Michigan Donut Shop On Verge Of Paczki Prize
By Marc Perton on March 8, 2011 10:15 AM   26 Comments
If you don't know what a paczki is, you may have to wait until next year to find out. Today is Fat Tuesday, known as Paczki Day in many Polish communities — and as polish jelly-donut day among many others who crave the sweet annual ritual. And while one bakery in Michigan is attempting to set a local record by selling 12,000 of the confections, if you haven't lined up already, you're probably too late. More »

Dumb Warning Labels Are Fun
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 7, 2011 1:15 PM   127 Comments
Doesn't everyone love a good round-up of "I can't believe that's necessary!"? It's true, you know it, I know it, we all like to laugh at needless warnings of "don't use this while sleeping" and "you probably could die from doing this." More »

(matneym)

Grow Your Own Everlasting Salad
By Phil Villarreal on March 3, 2011 3:37 PM   55 Comments
It doesn't take magical powers to make veggies sprout from your backyard - just some effort, knowledge and responsibility. Growing your own garden can save you money, ensure the food you eat is free of pesticides and harmful chemicals and provide a satisfying hobby. More »

(cdsessums)

I Am Not Letting Go Of This Product Until Its Usefulness Is Completely Exhausted
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 2, 2011 10:15 AM   136 Comments
It's a good sign that consumer spending is up lately, but an even more telling trend shows that no one is forgetting how tough the times can get. In ongoing efforts to save money, it seems consumers are holding products close and never, ever letting go. Or at least waiting a long time to replace them. More »

Rolls Royce Unveils $1.6 Million Electric Car
By Chris Morran on March 1, 2011 9:45 AM   41 Comments
At the Geneva Auto Show in Switzerland, Rolls Royce unveiled its foray into the electric car market: The 102EX, which has zero emissions, go 0-60mph in under eight seconds and will get you 125 miles on a single charge... all for the projected price of around $1.6 million. More »

(jeremysp)

Gas Prices Rose 17 Cents A Gallon Last Week
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 28, 2011 8:30 AM   113 Comments
Tighten those purse strings and skip those drives to the country — gas prices rose 17 cents per gallon this week and are likely to keep going up. More »

(SA_Steve)

When Couponers Don't Know Math, Hilarity Ensues
By Ben Popken on February 25, 2011 3:00 PM   83 Comments
You would think we might be enemies with a site called "The Customer Is Not Always Right" but we are not. Especially when we find among their collection of reader-submitted anecdotes from the frontlines of retail a little gem like the rude customer who insists on bad math and losing money. More »

(KitanaOR)

Brooklyn Smoker Grows Own Tobacco To Avoid Cigarette Taxes
By Phil Villarreal on February 25, 2011 9:45 AM   138 Comments
Frustrated by the tax-fueled rising costs of cigarettes, a Brooklyn woman has developed a private tobacco garden to feed her addiction frugally. She buys her seeds for $2 online and plants her tobacco along with roses and geraniums in her back yard. She expects to yield a total of 45 cartons of cigarettes from crops planted in 2009 and last year, saving her $5,000 from what she'd pay at retail. More »

(Thomas Moore)

I Don't Not Understand Sara Lee's Curiously Double Negative Slogan
By Ben Popken on February 24, 2011 2:00 PM   76 Comments
The cameraphone of reader Thomas points us to a classic American slogan that has been bedeviling consumers for decades, "Everybody doesn't like something, but nobody doesn't like Sara Lee." It is shortened on this truck to "Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee." Huh? Isn't that a double negative? Yes, and it was planned this way. More »

(Paxton Holley)

Incandescent Light Bulb Law Forces Change To Easy-Bake Oven
By Chris Morran on February 23, 2011 11:15 AM   133 Comments
After nearly half a century of injuring children and occasionally baking things, things are about to change for the Easy-Bake Oven as its traditional heat source is set to go the way of the dodo. More »

Feds Find $9 Million In Opium Inside Adorable Acrylic Kitty Cats At JFK
By Chris Morran on February 18, 2011 3:15 PM   36 Comments
Customs agents at JFK International Airport in New York City have seized $9 million of pure opium hidden inside a shipment of acrylic cats. More »

(National Broadband Map)

Map Shows Which Areas Of The Country Have Broadband Access
By Phil Villarreal on February 18, 2011 12:15 PM   37 Comments
The country's access to broadband internet has inched its way above the two-thirds mark, according to a Commerce Department survey that found 68 percent of American households have high-speed internet access, compared to 63.5 percent last year. It also released a National Broadband Map that lets you search and analyze its data. More »

(Raffles Terrace)

Compared To The Rest Of The World, Americans Are Light Drinkers
By Phil Villarreal on February 18, 2011 9:15 AM   110 Comments
Despite the best efforts of Tom Cruise to capture the booze-swilling hearts of a nation in Cocktail, Americans have one of the lowers per capita drinking rates in the world. More »

(frankieleon)

Shopper Sues Department Store Over 80 Cents
By Chris Morran on February 17, 2011 11:15 AM   75 Comments
A woman in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Century 21 (the department store; not the real estate agents) because she claims she was short-changed by 80 cents. More »

The Children's Place: Where 3 for $20 Equals $20.97
By Laura Northrup on February 17, 2011 8:00 AM   41 Comments
After Mario bought some shirts at The Children's Place shortly before Christmas, he discovered that the "sale" the store was running on the items he bought was a bad deal. Using an amazing trick of fuzzy math, the store actually increased the price of the items that Mario bought by putting them on sale. Wait, what? More »

Woman Says Mall Made Her Leave For Breastfeeding In Public
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 16, 2011 12:15 PM   474 Comments
Rhonda B. is none too pleased with her local mall for giving her the boot because she was breastfeeding. She says security workers at Fairfield Commons Mall in Beavercreek, OH, told her other shoppers had complained that she was feeding her two-month-old daughter and she'd have to leave. More »

(TimmyGUNZ)

NFL, Electronic Arts Extend Madden Exclusivity Deal
By Phil Villarreal on February 15, 2011 11:15 AM   52 Comments
If you like video games and football, you'd better like the Madden NFL series as well, because that's the only franchise the league will allow to boast games that include authentic teams and players. More »

(angela n.)

LCD Soundsystem Fights Back Against Scalpers By Adding More Shows In NYC
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 12, 2011 2:57 PM   127 Comments
You're not the only one who hates scalpers who drive up the price of tickets from say, $50 to $500 — even the bands with the show in question get ticked off, as is the case with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. More »

(j.buck)

Don't Rush Into Buying Stuff At Liquidation Sales
By Chris Morran on February 10, 2011 5:15 PM   57 Comments
With the news that the Ultimate Electronics chain is to be liquidated, we were reminded of the Circuit City liquidation and the lessons consumers (hopefully) learned from that debacle. More »

Are Any Luxury Dog Items Worth The Price?
By Phil Villarreal on February 8, 2011 4:40 PM   85 Comments
Most dog owners try to do everything they can for their pooch without crossing the line into heiress-with-poodle-in-her-handbag territory. But with pet shops and online specialty stores flooded with indulgences for your dog, it's tough to determine what is worth buying and which are superfluous. More »

(saramarie)

Things They Won't Tell You At The Furniture Store
By Chris Morran on February 8, 2011 1:09 PM   112 Comments
Furniture shopping can be a daunting, and often expensive, process. But, unless you like the feel of sleeping, sitting and eating off your floor, it's a process we all must endure. More »

(Coco Mault)

A Little Pesky Snow Can't Deter Shoppers Set On Spending
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 7, 2011 9:15 AM   23 Comments
Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor that crap they call wintry mix can keep shoppers out of their favorite stores, even in the depths of cold, blustery and wet January. Numbers are in on last month's sales, and stores like Costco, Victoria's Secret and Macy's are boasting strong numbers. More »

A Rose Scented Conditioner By Any Other Name...
By Ben Popken on February 1, 2011 2:00 PM   47 Comments
Guys, if you're looking for something nice and Consumeristy to do for your gal for Valentines, here's some inspiration. Benjamin Stein blogs about how his wife was in love with, besides him, Clairol's Herbal Essences with Rose Hips and Jojoba conditioner. Then the line was discontinued. She was crushed. So he concocted a plan. He bought up all the overstock of the conditioner he can get from eBay and stashed it away, 38 bottles worth... More »

(maury.mccown)

You Deserve A High Five: Consumer Spending Is Up
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 31, 2011 7:30 AM   25 Comments
Spend, spend, spend! Buy, buy, buy! That's what all of you have been doing, especially at the end of 2010, says a new report from the Commerce Department, leading to an uptick in consumer spending which is helping to boost the economy. Good job! More »

(tjean314)

Beware After-Market Auto Warranties From Third Parties
By Phil Villarreal on January 26, 2011 1:30 PM   51 Comments
The Better Business Bureau sent out an alert that it's been bombarded with complaints about extended auto warranty companies. Gripes include deceptive sales practices — including high-pressure phone sales tactics to get customers to pay upfront for contracts they can't see — as well as insurance fraud. More »

(Wet Seal)

Your, Um, I Mean, You're Gonna Like This Shirt
By Phil Villarreal on January 25, 2011 2:30 PM   63 Comments
There is a tiny chance that this "Your Single Tunic" from Wet Seal totally intends its misuse of the word "your" as some sort of ironic wink meant to mock the plight of dating in the grammar-destructive text message age. But yeah, odds are this shirt did not display the message it intended. More »

Do You Love Your Dog Enough To Buy It A $32 Aromatherapy Candle?
By Chris Morran on January 25, 2011 11:15 AM   56 Comments
Feel like you didn't do enough holiday shopping for the canine companion on your list? Here's your chance to atone for your stinginess by pampering your pooch with pricey candles catering to the canine nose. More »

(amagill)

Man Pays For Escort, Sues For Subsequent Threat Of Arrest
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 24, 2011 1:15 PM   70 Comments
Ugh it is like, sooo annoying when you pay a prostitute to have sex and then you get arrested and it's very upsetting and so you have to sue! A tourist in Las Vegas claims he was traumatized after police threatened him with arrest post-prostitute coitus in his hotel room. More »

(brentbot)

Bra Sizes Bloom Bigger With Introduction Of New L Cup
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 24, 2011 12:15 PM   153 Comments
Good news for ladies who can't make do with anything less than a KK cup bra: Lingerie company Bravissimo has introduced a side L, saying women were asking for more cup room. More »

(Daniel)

My Rotisserie Chicken Has a Chemical Found In Brake Fluid
By Phil Villarreal on January 19, 2011 2:30 PM   162 Comments
Daniel took a hard look at the label on a rotisserie chicken he picked up at the supermarket and was unnerved to find propylene glycol on the pictured label. More »

(Michelle Rick)

Caption This Picture Of Four Shoppers
By Ben Popken on January 19, 2011 11:00 AM   89 Comments
A group of young women, with purchases in tow, gather together on Broadway in Soho and ponder their move. Which store will the hone their collective shopping energies on next?

(afagen)

In Wake Of Tragedy, Tucson Goes Wild For Gun Fair
By Phil Villarreal on January 18, 2011 11:40 AM   188 Comments
Just days after a shooting rampage northwest of Tucson left six dead and 13 wounded, a gun show near the city drew 8,000 attendees. More »

(8one6)

Slash Your Restaurant Bill By Keeping An Eye Out For Upsells
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2011 4:20 PM   136 Comments
If restaurant checks always seem to be a bit higher than you envision, it's because the industry thrives on ways to trick you into giving up extra cash at every turn. Waiters can be upsell-happy con artists, and you are the mark. More »

(Listener42)

What's Your Magic Shirt Number?
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2011 1:20 PM   58 Comments
Unless you're blessed with a photographic memory, it's tough to remember exactly which clothes you have, and thus too easy to over-buy when you're out shopping. If you maintain such a program, you can end up with a closet full of stuff you didn't even know you had, riddled with duplicates. More »

(Wayne Gunn)

Brain Cells In Fear And Rage Sector Change When You Shop
By Ben Popken on January 10, 2011 4:00 PM   20 Comments
Single brain cells become altered in unison when you're shopping, a new study finds. More »

(Matt McGee)

Tastykake Empire In Danger Of Crumbling
By Ben Popken on January 10, 2011 2:00 PM   90 Comments
Tastykake, manufacturers of numerous kinds of prepackaged snack foods, could be forced to sell or merge after a newly opened factory failed to generate the hoped-for savings. Krimpets, Kandy Kakes, Koffee Kakes, and Kreamies could all be put on the chopping block. And I don't know if you're aware, but those kinds of snacks do better in your tummy than on a chopping block. More »

(chadmagiera)

Man Says Penis Enlarger Never Worked, Even After 500 Hours Of Use
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 10, 2011 12:15 PM   73 Comments
What with all that free healthcare and those easygoing natures up north in Canada, there's not much to get upset about. So why not sue over a penis enlarger to stir stuff up? More »

(Maulleigh)

Don't Miss Your Nonexistent Prescription Refill Reminder From Target!
By Laura Northrup on January 7, 2011 11:30 AM   53 Comments
If you choose to use auto-refill for your prescriptions at a chain pharmacy, be very, very careful if you move, or if you just happen to get one refill at a different store than usual. G. learned the hard way that Target, at least, will refill your prescription, fail to call you, and if you don't happen to pick up your refill within two weeks: too bad for you; you've lost that refill! More »

Holy Crap, The Electric Heated Snuggie Really Exists
By Laura Northrup on January 6, 2011 8:00 AM   28 Comments
I've never found the Snuggie all that appealing. "Call me when they make an electric, heated version," I've always said. Yesterday, our man on the ground at the Consumer Electronics Show called. The Coz-E, an electric blanket with sleeves, debuted this past fall, and somehow nobody gave me one for Christmas. Or even told me. More »

This Is What Happens When A Life Alert Breeds With A Baby Monitor
By Chris Morran on January 5, 2011 10:15 AM   21 Comments
For some people in the Baby Boomer generation, the answer to taking care of their elderly parents was to give them a Life Alert necklace to call for help when they'd fallen and couldn't get up. The Boomers are also the generation that popularized the use of baby monitors to keep tabs on their out-of-sight tots. So, with that generation going gray gracefully, some are looking to combine these two ideas into one system for adults to keep tabs on their elderly parents. More »

iRobot's Toilet-Scrubbing Robot Is The #1 Thing I Want To See At CES
By Chris Morran on January 3, 2011 2:40 PM   40 Comments
Forget 3D TVs, tablets, smartphones, streaming video devices and hoverboards. They might get all the big headlines at this week's Consumer Electronics Show, but they'll all also be obsolete by next year's CES. But a robot that not only mops the floor on its own, but can also scrub around the toilet? Now that's something I want to see in person. More »

In Which I Suggest A Timeline For Various Holiday Shopping Seasons
By Holiday Cat on December 31, 2010 2:15 PM   14 Comments
If you think they call me Holiday Cat just because I have some things to say about the handful of weeks from Thanksgiving through New Year's, you are mistaken. I'm a feline for all seasons, and as such I have a few suggestions on when stores should start selling various holiday-themed products without setting off holiday creep alarms. More »

At Least This Journeys Promotion Gets Your Attention
By Laura Northrup on December 31, 2010 9:30 AM   47 Comments
"Try on shoes, get a free smartphone," declared a sign in the window of Ryan's local Journeys store. That sounds like a deal that can't possibly be true. And it's not. More »

(mypleasurestore.com)

Are Drive-Thru Adult Stores The Wave Of The Future?
By Chris Morran on December 30, 2010 1:40 PM   41 Comments
Like it or not, adult videos and sexual aids are a multi-billion dollar business. And while many who purchase these items are more than happy to do so over the internet, some still like the immediate satisfaction of picking up their x-rated goods at the local adult emporium. One such store in Alabama has found a way to make those customers happy without them ever having to leave their cars. More »

(Protocol Photography)

Is It Impolite To Return Or Exchange Gifts?
By Chris Morran on December 28, 2010 1:40 PM   49 Comments
Returning gifts can be a tricky and sensitive proposition, especially if the gift is from a loved one who really thought they had found just the right thing for you. So to help you navigate this minefield, we turned to etiquette expert Anna Post of the Emily Post Institute for advice. More »

(Alan Rappa)

What Will You Do With Your Gift Card Haul?
By Phil Villarreal on December 28, 2010 11:40 AM   77 Comments
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, odds are you're a gift card or three richer than you were before. Perhaps your employer blanket-gifted the office with them in lieu of a year-end bonus, or maybe a friend or work contact slipped you one as a show of appreciation. More »

(Paxton Holley)

A 28-Year Santa Dishes On Kids' Requests
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2010 2:15 PM   82 Comments
Portly men who don the visage of Santa Claus hear the darndest things. A man who has played Santa for 28 years started blogging about the poignant, funny and sad things kids have told him over the years. More »

(Matt McGee)

Looking For A Stocking Stuffer? Try This $4 Million Stove
By Phil Villarreal on December 21, 2010 12:30 PM   38 Comments
Most of us don't like to spend a penny more than $3 million on our kitchen appliances, but Iron Dog has an oven that might make you dig just a little deeper into your pockets. The Iron Dog 05 Huraxdax is a $4 million gold-plated, wood-fired range that looks like something out of Austin Powers rival Goldmember's kitchen. More »

(GE Reports)

Here's One Gift For That Child You Hate And Want To Scare The Bejeezus Out Of
By Chris Morran on December 20, 2010 4:20 PM   25 Comments
Be glad it's 2010 and not 1890, if only for the fact that your child (or niece/nephew, or precocious sidekick) will not be asking for one of Thomas Edison's talking dolls. More »

The Easter Bunny Continues To Creep Into Father Christmas' Candy Territory
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 20, 2010 1:00 PM   32 Comments
While most of us are in the full throes of dancing sugarplum dreams and peppermint bark binges, it seems the Easter Bunny (or at least Cadbury) is not to be deterred in his efforts to overthrow the Christmas candy season — a seasonal creep we have come to call "Premature Resurrection." More »

Forget Christmas -- It's Already Easter At Kroger
By Chris Morran on December 16, 2010 1:00 PM   58 Comments
Christmas is about a week away, with New Year's following hot on its heels. And then there's Valentine's Day about seven weeks after that. But forget about all that junk because spring is apparently in the air at Kroger. More »

(Maulleigh)

This Sale Depends On What The Meaning Of "Everything" Is
By Laura Northrup on December 16, 2010 9:00 AM   55 Comments
If you see signage in a store that says "40% off everything," what do you assume that might mean? While shopping at Ann Taylor Loft, Mike had this wild idea that such signs mean that everything in the store is marked down 40%. He was wrong. The sale specifically excluded new spring merchandise in one corner of the store...which most of the store signage failed to mention. More »

Let's Hope Energy Drinks Improve Your Math Skills
By Laura Northrup on December 15, 2010 9:00 AM   19 Comments
Frank spotted this sign at his local Stop & Shop. "And to think, one of the reasons we moved to this town was for its highly touted education system," he laments. Maybe the employees of this convenience store are from the next town over. More »

This Dunkin' Donuts Tip Cup Has Trust Issues
By Chris Morran on December 14, 2010 3:00 PM   101 Comments
The workers at this Dunkin' Donuts hope that you'll be happy enough with their service that you'll leave a tip. But doesn't trust you not to run off with the tip jar. More »

(LivingChristmas.com)

Would You Ever Rent Your Christmas Tree?
By Chris Morran on December 10, 2010 12:00 PM   45 Comments
When we recently asked Consumerist readers if they would ever purchase their Christmas tree online, a few commenters wrote that they kept their tree potted all year round and would just bring it inside during the holidays. And now we've learned that there are a handful of businesses are offering this same service, for a price. More »

(me and the sysop)

More Shoppers Favoring Paper Over Plastic
By Phil Villarreal on December 10, 2010 9:15 AM   60 Comments
In what's probably a side effect of discipline learned the hard way in a tough economy, more shoppers are starting to opt for cash instead of credit cards. More »

What's The Crappiest Gift You've Ever Received?
By Chris Morran on December 9, 2010 4:11 PM   375 Comments
With the Christmas countdown in full effect and Hanukkah 2010 in the books, the topic of gifts and gift-giving is everywhere. But for all the holiday cheer and goodwill, some gifts are bad enough to bring out the Scrooge in all of us. More »

(Jeff)

Old Navy's Off-Putting Button Design
By Phil Villarreal on December 7, 2010 11:41 AM   111 Comments
When Jeff was shopping at Old navy with his wife, he got bored and zoomed in on the sweater buttons. What he found was not something that encouraged him to try one on. As you can see from the picture, the buttons seem to be emblazoned with swastikas. More »

Time To Make An Offer They Can't Refuse On ''Godfather' House
By Chris Morran on December 2, 2010 2:40 PM   24 Comments
Forget that Amityville Horror house they were selling out on Long Island. If you want to really live out scenes from a 1970s hit movie, there's a much cooler (and less creepy) house up for sale — the Corleone estate from The Godfather. More »

Lee Harvey Oswald's Coffin To Go Up For Auction, Minus Lee Harvey Oswald
By Chris Morran on December 1, 2010 2:20 PM   22 Comments
If you're searching for the perfect holiday gift for the conspiracy nut in your life, here's a deal for you — The first coffin of Lee Harvey Oswald, the most famous of the dozen or so men who shot John F. Kennedy, is going to go up for auction in L.A. More »

(elpresidente408)

What's On Your Holiday Wish List?
By Chris Morran on December 1, 2010 12:20 PM   110 Comments
The holiday shopping season began last week and the holiday gift-giving season kicks off tonight at sunset with Hanukkah: Day 1. We already asked you what your smartest purchases have been so far, but now it's time to focus on those things you want other people to buy for you. More »

(kenfagerdotcom)

NFL Will Refund Most Tickets If Lockout Occurs Next Season
By Chris Morran on November 30, 2010 12:20 PM   56 Comments
Even as NFL fans are enjoying this season, the specter of a lockout for the 2011 season looms large. With that work stoppage looking more and more possible every day, the league has had to make a decision on how to deal with ticket refunds should the league come to a grinding halt next year. And for most people, it's not horrible news. More »

(nathanmac87)

5 Drugs That Will Never Cure You
By Phil Villarreal on November 30, 2010 10:45 AM   164 Comments
If you want to make a lot of money, invent a drug that treats chronic conditions without ridding patients of symptoms entirely. Your customers will be on the hook for your product for the rest of their lives, boosting your bottom line all the while. More »

(Vida Morkunas)

What Was Your Best Black Friday/Cyber Monday Purchase?
By Chris Morran on November 29, 2010 4:30 PM   159 Comments
You might have noticed in the last week that a small handful of forward-thinking stores and websites have offered discounts on products to kick off what some would call the "holiday shopping season." More »

The Lego Advent Calendar -- Now With Naked, Showering Santa
By Chris Morran on November 29, 2010 3:10 PM   43 Comments
Consumerist reader Trevor was having a look through Lego's online shop when he decided to take a closer peek at the company's Lego City Advent Calendar set. And what he saw there was something that could shake any child's feelings about Kris Kringle to the core. More »

Go Hiking In Style With These Teva Stiletto Heels
By Chris Morran on November 29, 2010 2:20 PM   38 Comments
Teva sandals are no longer for granola-crunching outdoors types. Now the fashion-conscious adventurer can go straight from the rugged rocks to the black-tie fundraiser without missing a beat. More »

(funny strange or funny ha...)

How Much Of Your Holiday Shopping Will Be Online?
By Chris Morran on November 29, 2010 11:11 AM   38 Comments
Don't know about you but I finished 90% of my holiday shopping this weekend, and all from the comfort of my couch. More »

(strobist)

Yesterday Was The New Black Friday
By Phil Villarreal on November 26, 2010 9:15 AM   82 Comments
If it seemed as though the Black Friday hysteria wasn't as outrageous this morning as it has been in years' past, maybe that's because so many people had the chance to get a jump on the shopping season yesterday. More »

(Chad)

Long-Armed Mannequin Scares People At Old Navy
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2010 7:08 PM   73 Comments
Chad saw this mannequin at a Kansas Old Navy. His freakishly long left arm would be the ideal genetic mutation for Black Friday, allowing one to reach products on shelves from a great distance. More »

(Eric)

Trader Joe's Syrup Does Not Suffer From GPA Trouble
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2010 11:30 AM   105 Comments
Eric found that his Trader Joe's switched grades of organic maple syrup on him from one month to the next, first offering "US Grade A Extra Amber, and then moving on to "Grade B." More »

The Best Part Of Waking Up Is Wilco In Your Cup
By Chris Morran on November 22, 2010 3:40 PM   33 Comments
Say you spent all of your weekend with your fine lady and/or fella in the hot tub sipping on Whitesnake wine. What more appropriate way to perk yourself up on a Monday morning than with some coffee from the boys in Wilco? More »

(frankieleon)

Who Made Consumer Reports' First-Ever Naughty & Nice List?
November 22, 2010 9:45 AM   32 Comments
While Santa and his pointy-eared, non-union laborers toil away at the North Pole, the editors of our more famous sibling publication Consumer Reports have compared their notes on a wide variety of companies' policies on everything from guarantees to fees to refunds and distilled it down to the best and worst of the lot in their first-ever Naughty & Nice Holiday Shopping List. More »

(TheTruthAbout)

Wise Ways To Use Plastic
By Phil Villarreal on November 21, 2010 3:00 PM   63 Comments
Some people like to live on the edge and believe they can "afford" anything they can buy with the amount of plastic credit they've managed to fool financial institutions into allowing them. These are the same spend-happy folks who skate by buy paying the minimum balances on their accounts, oblivious to the interest that's stacking up against them. More »

American Family Association Calls Off Boycott On Dick's Sporting Goods Over 'Christmas'
By Chris Morran on November 19, 2010 6:08 PM   212 Comments
My how things change overnight. Yesterday, we told you about the far-from-loony folks at the American Family Association who had called for their members to boycott Dick's Sporting Goods because the retail chain used the word "holiday" instead of "Christmas" for its November and December sales circulars. Now the AFA has announced that it's called off the boycott because Dick's will be using that word after all. More »

American Family Association Calls For Boycott On Dick's Sporting Goods For Not Using The Word "Christmas"
By Chris Morran on November 18, 2010 4:30 PM   249 Comments
UPDATE: The AFA has called off the boycott after Dick's decided to use the word "Christmas" after all. More »

What Fictional Products Do You Wish Were Real?
By Chris Morran on November 16, 2010 2:20 PM   132 Comments
Re-watching the Back to the Future movies recently, I remembered how deeply the tween me once longed for a hover board like the one Michael J. Fox races around the Hill Valley of 2015. While it's unlikely that we'll see a real hover board on the market in the next five years, the 30-something me still wants one. More »

Rad Or Bad: The Individual Pie-Making Machine
By Chris Morran on November 16, 2010 1:20 PM   107 Comments
For anyone that ever wanted to make a pie but doesn't want to share with others (or spend several days feasting on pie leftovers), there might be an answer — the Breville Pie Maker. More »

Here's The Vending Machine That Recommends Drinks Based On Facial Recognition
By Chris Morran on November 15, 2010 3:20 PM   44 Comments
Ever stepped up to a vending machine and scratched your head as you mulled over the options? Now there's a vending machine in Japan that will recommend certain products for you — based on your face. More »

( Wayne Gunn)

74% Of You Maniacs Plan To Shop On Black Friday This Year
By Laura Northrup on November 12, 2010 8:00 AM   92 Comments
Who will you be fighting for a parking space at the mall this year? A recent survey by Market Forice Information indicates that almost three-quarters of the American public plan to go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving this year, and sixty-one percent plan to do some shopping online on the next weekday, or "Cyber Monday." More »

(rockman057)

Why Can't We Resist These Classic Sales Pitches?
By Chris Morran on November 10, 2010 3:20 PM   83 Comments
No matter how savvy we are as shoppers, there are still some time-tested sales pitches that will make some of us at least give some thought to making a purchase we otherwise might not have made. More »

(Triborough)

Deciding Whether To Open Your Wallet Or Slam The Door When A Stranger Calls
By Phil Villarreal on November 7, 2010 3:30 PM   179 Comments
When a stranger knocks on your door, it's almost always someone asking for something rather than someone willing to give you something. So it's understandable to have a closed-door policy unless you see through the peephole that it's Ed McMahon. And even if it is Ed McMahon, he's most likely a zombie rather than a Publishers Clearing House representative because he died last year. More »

(SA_Steve)

Buy Your Jeans Now Before Cotton Prices Go Up
By Chris Morran on November 4, 2010 1:40 PM   32 Comments
It's been a bad year for cotton-producing regions in India, China and Pakistan and the price of cotton has skyrocketed since the summer. So before retailers begin tacking this cost of materials increase onto the consumer, the forward-thinking people at SmartMoney.com have put together a list of what items you should stock up on. More »

Gucci 3D Glasses And Other Ridiculous Designer Crap
By Chris Morran on November 3, 2010 1:20 PM   28 Comments
Are the glasses that come with 3D TVs just not stylish enough for you? Perhaps you need to chic up your curb on garbage day. And what about that label-less sponge you've been using to clean your kitchen? Now you can finally have all these things and more without having to sacrifice your love of big name designers. More »

Study: Alcohol More Dangerous For Society Than Heroin, Crack, Meth, Other Fun Stuff
By Chris Morran on November 1, 2010 1:20 PM   110 Comments
A new study out of the UK looked at the combined harm done — to both the user and to others — by a host of different drugs. The conclusion: While alcohol might not damage the body as much as some other drugs, its ill societal effects make it the most dangerous intoxicant on the list. More »

(nrivera)

What You Hate About Retailers
By Chris Morran on November 1, 2010 12:45 PM   262 Comments
Over at DailyFinance.com, they asked readers to give nominate the most annoying ways in which retail stores try to squeeze you for extra cash or tempt you into spending more. More »

(queen of subtle)

How Long Will You Wait To Do Your Holiday Shopping?
By Chris Morran on November 1, 2010 11:40 AM   50 Comments
Like it or not, we're now officially into the Holiday shopping season. While some stores haven't given into the Christmas Creep instinct to turn their sales floors into mini North Poles, plenty of people are already going to be out looking to check names and items off their gift lists. More »

(Karen_Chappell)

Study: Credit Cards Are Making You Fat
By Chris Morran on October 28, 2010 12:15 PM   52 Comments
No, it's not that second Baconator I ate yesterday or the 6-pack of Schlitz I had afterward that's causing my clothes not to fit anymore. It's the credit card I used to pay for them — or at least that what the authors of a new study are theorizing. More »

(Frankie Leon)

Will You Be Spending More Or Less This Holiday Season?
By Chris Morran on October 28, 2010 11:15 AM   69 Comments
After Halloween comes and goes on Sunday, Holiday shopping season will be upon us (whether you want it to be or not). So it's good timing that our analytical siblings at Consumer Reports has released the results of its Holiday shopping survey for 2010. Once again, a large portion of Americans say they intend on spending less this season than they did last year, but that number continues to decrease while the percentage of people increasing their Holiday budgets is on the rise. More »

James Bond's 'Goldfinger' Aston Martin Sells For $4.1 Million
By Chris Morran on October 28, 2010 10:15 AM   12 Comments
Just to show that the yucky economy hasn't stopped some people from whipping out their wallets, the tricked-out Aston Martin from the James Bond films Goldfinger and Thunderball was auctioned off yesterday in London for a cool $4.1 million. More »

Scott Rolls Out Tube-Free Toilet Paper To Reduce Waste
By Chris Morran on October 27, 2010 11:19 AM   95 Comments
The toilet paper business is going down the drain — literally. Starting this week, Kimberly-Clark has begun selling Scott Naturals Tube-Free toilet paper that won't have you throwing out or recycling anything when the roll is finished. More »

(SCHMEGGA)

Santa's Elves Had Better Get Cracking On Retina Displays
By Phil Villarreal on October 26, 2010 9:45 AM   51 Comments
Parents looking in the aisles of the toy store where they sell hula hoops, baseball gloves and baby dolls will want to start looking elsewhere to buy Christmas presents for their ungrateful ankle-biters. In face, they may want to avoid the toy section altogether and head toward the electronics department. More »

(Todd Kravos)

Avoid High Octane Gas To Save Money At The Pump
By Phil Villarreal on October 25, 2010 2:15 PM   134 Comments
Those higher-octane gas choices sit there at the gas station, looking down their noses at you and daring you to throw down the extra cash in order to buy the very best for your car. But unless you drive a high-end vehicle with a manual that specifically recommends the higher-octane fuel, you're most likely best off with regular unleaded. More »

(KateMonkey)

Recalling The Worst Halloween 'Treats' Of Yesteryear
By Phil Villarreal on October 25, 2010 10:20 AM   202 Comments
When you think back about your halcyon trick or treating days, all the good times blur into one another and it's the nasty stuff that comes to mind. For instance, the old lady on the corner who gave you apples or the creepy dude across the street who passed out tooth brushes. More »

(nffcnnr)

Retail Workers Really Hate You For Messing Up That Tee-Shirt Pile
By Chris Morran on October 22, 2010 12:45 PM   259 Comments
Ever wonder why you get the stink-eye from that girl at The Gap? Or why that dude at American Eagle groans when he sees you approaching a table of clothes? There's a good chance it has something to do with your lack of table manners. More »

(BenBalter)

Nonprofit At Work On Free Digital Science Textbook
By Phil Villarreal on October 21, 2010 9:15 AM   35 Comments
Billed as the first interactive, all-digital science textbook, Life on Earth will teach students about the birds, bees, flowers and trees — and do so for free. More »

(Marike79)

To Sell You A Used Game, This GameStop Requires Your Phone Number
By Laura Northrup on October 20, 2010 8:00 AM   131 Comments
Did you know that GameStop is a membership-only establishment, like a warehouse club? You're only allowed to shop there if you have their rewards card. I didn't know that, and neither did Jeff. He tells Consumerist that he foolishly tried to purchase a game, but refused to join the rewards program or give the cashier his phone number. The cashier, in turn, refused to sell anything to him. More »

(auxpetitsoiseaux)

Samsung Disses Toshiba, Says Common Glasses-Free 3DTVs Are At Least 5 Years Off
By Phil Villarreal on October 19, 2010 10:32 AM   44 Comments
It's a safe bet that 3D TVs that require buzzkilling glasses won't catch on in mainstream living rooms, so all eyes are on the next wave of technology — the 3DS-like goal of TVs that let you see Vikings battling dragons in 3D without the burden of eyewear. More »

(DennisMancini)

5 Of The Most Expensive Cars To Insure
By Phil Villarreal on October 14, 2010 9:45 AM   137 Comments
The more a car is worth and the more likely it is to get into an accident or be stolen, the more expensive it is to insure. The rates also have plenty to do with the driver's age and driving history. More »

(joelgoodman)

Things To Buy Exclusively At Warehouse Stores
By Phil Villarreal on October 13, 2010 3:15 PM   224 Comments
Warehouse stores such as Costco and Sam's Club like to lull you into a false sense of security, sure that everything you see on shelves is cheaper there than elsewhere. But in many cases, warehouse prices are unbeatable. More »

(Ninja M.)

Someone Bought Newsweek For $1, Probably Overpaid
By Phil Villarreal on October 8, 2010 9:30 AM   46 Comments
An audio equipment magnate dug into his pockets, fished out some loose pocket change and bought Newsweek in August for $1. We're not talking about a single issue at a news stand, but the entire magazine operation. More »

(Ellen)

Toddler Costume Tag Admits It's Dangerous To Toddlers
By Phil Villarreal on October 6, 2010 3:30 PM   15 Comments
Remember those find-however-many-things-wrong-with-this picture puzzles? Well, here's something that could easily pass for one of those. More »

(C.Barr)

Unimpressed With Half-Baked Concession, Military Bases Still Won't Sell Medal Of Honor Game
By Phil Villarreal on October 6, 2010 1:30 PM   52 Comments
Despite efforts by Electronic Arts to make Medal of Honor more palatable to military members and their families, bases still won't sell the game when it releases next week. The game formerly allowed online gamers to play as Taliban members, but EA backed down to pressure and changed the squads' names to "Opposing Force." More »

Putting Vacuum Cleaners To The Cat Hair Test
October 6, 2010 11:21 AM   68 Comments
Among the seven different tests that our science-minded sibling publication Consumer Reports used for its most recent vacuum ratings, the one that seems to get the most attention is the fur test. Steven Colbert once accused CR — jokingly, we hope — of killing cats and tearing their fur off. Fortunately for everyone involved, that's not how it works. More »

(Frankenmedia)

Sorry, Your $80 Brooks Brothers Shirt Is Only Good For Two Years
By Laura Northrup on October 6, 2010 9:30 AM   115 Comments
The phrase "unconditional guarantee" gives the impression that a product has a guarantee, and that it's unconditional. B. writes that at Brooks Brothers, "unconditional" seems to mean "as long as you don't wash or wear articles of clothing." Is he out of line to expect the company to stand behind frequently worn and laundered items like dress shirts? Or is Brooks Brothers' use of the word "unconditional" in this situation misleading? More »

(frankieleon)

College Kids Get Hooked On Debit Cards Connected To Student Loans Rather Than Credit Cards
By Phil Villarreal on October 5, 2010 2:30 PM   39 Comments
Credit card reforms may have made it more difficult for banks to exploit college students, but it turns out there is more than one way to turn an unsuspecting post-adolescent into a debt monkey. The trick is to issue students debit cards that run up their student loans rather than over-regulated credit cards. More »

VIDEO: How Consumer Reports Tests 3D TVs
October 4, 2010 1:15 PM   13 Comments
Since 3D TVs are still a new and developing consumer technology, the testers at Consumer Reports have had to develop new ways to put the figure out which of these sets — if any — are worth recommending. More »

(photographynatalia)

EA Removes Taliban Label From Controversial War Game
By Phil Villarreal on October 4, 2010 9:15 AM   98 Comments
Buckling to pressure from the media and military families, Electronic Arts stripped the Taliban moniker away from characters in its upcoming war game Medal of Honor. More »

Gillette Introduces $.34 Razor... In India
By Chris Morran on October 1, 2010 3:04 PM   70 Comments
While here in the States — and in many parts of the world — Gillette is known for pricier devices like its Fusion ProGlide razors that will cost you upwards of $10-11 just for the handle and one blade (and replacement blades costing $2-3 each), the company is attempting to go the opposite route in India, where it is now selling a razor that costs the equivalent of $.34, with replacement blades going for only $.11 each. More »

(frankieleon)

ATMs That Spit Out Gold Are Coming To America
By Phil Villarreal on September 30, 2010 9:45 AM   40 Comments
Whenever the money level in my Scrooge McDuck-style money bin dips below levels that are safe for diving, I have to send off the servants to restock it with assorted gold bars and coins. But now I'll get to fire them because Gold to Go has announced they're bringing their gold-dispensing ATMs to our great nation. More »

(Paxton Holley)

Lucas Figures Out Way To Make You See Star Wars Movies In Theaters Again
By Phil Villarreal on September 29, 2010 9:45 AM   104 Comments
People who are sick of Star Wars have new reason to hope the world will come to an end in 2012, because the Hollywood reporter says that's the year the films will start hitting theaters in 3D. More »

(Gawker.com)

Which Tabloids Give You The Most Lies For Your Buck?
By Chris Morran on September 28, 2010 4:35 PM   35 Comments
Whether you like it or not, the five major glossy tabloids — Us Weekly, InTouch, Life & Style, Star and OK! — are still among the highest-selling periodicals, in spite of the fact that many readers know much of what's printed between those magazines' covers is stretching the truth, if not outright fiction. But the next time you're stuck at the airport newsstand and you can't decide which "Baby Time For Jen Aniston" cover to buy, there is now some guidance. More »

Merry Christmas Creep! Santa Is Everywhere In September
By Chris Morran on September 28, 2010 3:33 PM   42 Comments
The Christmas Creep season is officially here, and Consumerist shutterbugs from Portland to Puerto Rico have been sending in photographic evidence. Get into the pre-pre-holiday shopping spirit with this photo album!
More »

How To Choose The Right E-Reader
September 28, 2010 12:30 PM   118 Comments
Sales of e-book readers, also known as e-readers, are way up and prices are dropping. Consumer Reports has tested a wide variety and has advice if you're in the market for an ebook reader. More »

(Alexander Heinz)

If You Want A New HDTV, Wait A Month Or Two
By Phil Villarreal on September 24, 2010 9:45 AM   52 Comments
Analysts say HDTV prices will drop like Blockbuster stock as the holidays approach, thanks to a glut of LCDs flooding the market. More »

(nsub1)

Anyone Who Has Your Phone Number Can Steal Your Rewards In Gas Promo
By Phil Villarreal on September 21, 2010 2:30 PM   53 Comments
A Giant/Shell gas promotion ties access users' rewards points to their phone numbers, opening up a gaping security breach for unscrupulous users who want to swipe points from others. More »

(Great Beyond)

PC Game Downloads Leave Physical Sales In Digital Dust
By Phil Villarreal on September 21, 2010 9:45 AM   69 Comments
Thanks to rampant piracy, it was probably several years ago that computer gamers started downloading more of their games than they bought on disc, but now even honest gamers are following suit. For the first time in the PC game market, the number of digital sales surpassed those of disc-based games. More »

(Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie)

Someday Your Shirt Will Come In A Can
By Phil Villarreal on September 17, 2010 3:15 PM   74 Comments
Mankind is undaunted in its efforts to process as many products as possible into canned form, and when possible, to give those cans spray-on ability. Finally science has achieved the touchstone of sprayable clothing that surpasses the novelty of body paint. More »

(Scurzuzu)

Watch Out For Ripoffs At Secondhand Stores
By Phil Villarreal on September 17, 2010 2:30 PM   177 Comments
Secondhand, used and outlet clothing stores can be treasure troves for bargains, but you need to keep your wits about you as you stroll the aisles. Take it from Bob, who says four Goodwill locations were charging unrealistic prices for items. More »

DirectBuy Extends Their 'Not Without Your Spouse' Policy To Lesbians
By Chris Morran on September 17, 2010 10:15 AM   96 Comments
While it's refreshing to learn that DirectBuy — which apparently won't let women into their showroom without their husband present — recognizes same-sex couples, it's disappointing to discover the company is equally a-holish to them as it is to everyone else. More »

Groupon Responds To Cafe Owner Who Says Using Service Was "Single Worst Decision"
By Chris Morran on September 17, 2010 9:45 AM   174 Comments
Earlier this week, the owner of Posie's Cafe in Portland, OR, made headlines when she said that her decision to try advertising with Groupon was the "single worst decision I have ever made as a business owner." More »

(person)

Reader's Digest Wants Me To Renew 4 Months Into a 2-Year Subscription
By Phil Villarreal on September 16, 2010 3:30 PM   69 Comments
As magazines continue to struggle, some are treating subscribers the way Tommy Boy does biscuits that represent Callahan brake pad sales contacts. Take Rick, who was good enough to pay upfront for two years of Reader's Digest, and now must field offers from the company to renew the four-month-old subscription: More »

(TMQ.st.louis)

Would You Let A Station Attendant Hold On To Your License While You Pump Gas?
By Laura Northrup on September 16, 2010 9:00 AM   128 Comments
Larry tells Consumerist that when he tried to pay for gasoline with his credit card recently, the station attendant didn't just ask to see his driver's license. She asked to keep it while he pumped gas. Have you run across this in your own travels? What would you do? More »

DirectBuy Won't Let Me In Their Showroom Without My Husband
By Meg Marco on September 15, 2010 3:15 PM   148 Comments
Reader Stacy writes in to let us know that DirectBuy refused to let her tour their showroom without her husband. More »

(Hesweptlime)

Hobby Lobby To Couple: Only Women Can Carry Bags
By Chris Walters on September 15, 2010 10:30 AM   160 Comments
A Hobby Lobby employee asked Joe to leave his Maxpedition Versipack—I was going to call it a man purse, but it's so aggressively utilitarian that I think it gets a pass—at the front counter before he shopped in the store. That's unfriendly but not that weird, considering the loss-prevention strategies some stores use. However, they let his wife continue with the exact same bag attached to her hip, I guess because women can't steal. More »

(nadbasher)

Law Enforcement Group: Legalize Pot So Cops Have Time To Fight Real Crime
By Chris Morran on September 14, 2010 10:15 AM   137 Comments
In November, California voters will have their say on Proposition 19, which would make it legal to grow, possess and use up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use. And as that decision day draws near, a group of law enforcement insiders has come out in support of the proposition, saying it would free up the police to focus its efforts on more serious crimes. More »

Consumer Reports Puts Pledge Fabric Sweeper To The Test
By Chris Morran on September 10, 2010 4:15 PM   93 Comments
It's the problem that has vexed cat and dog owners for centuries: How the hell do I get all this damn fur off everything. There have been countless inventions that promise to lift animal hair off your furniture and carpet, but do they work? More »

Are The Glasses A Dealbreaker For Buying 3D TVs?
By Chris Morran on September 10, 2010 3:15 PM   158 Comments
Whether or not it will last, 3D is still a growing trend at the movies and with TV manufacturers. However, a new survey shows that most people won't buy a 3D TV just because they have to wear the required glasses. More »

Brownsville, Texas, The Latest Place To Ban Plastic Bags
By Chris Morran on September 10, 2010 12:45 PM   92 Comments
Shoppers in Brownsville, TX, should start investing in reusable shopping bags. Starting Jan. 5, most stores will be banned from using plastic bags and people will be charged an extra dollar for every transaction in which they use plastic bags. More »

(darabidduckie)

Which Technological Advance Of The Last 20 Years Has Most Made Your Life Easier?
By Chris Morran on September 9, 2010 2:15 PM   161 Comments
In 1990, the internet was something used by fantasy baseball fanatics on CompuServe and mobile phones were the size of toddlers — a luxury for those who could afford to not use pay phones. Satellite TV meant having a massive dish on your property; millions struggled with programming their VCRs to tape L.A. Law; bills were paid by check... in the mail. More »

(KitanaOR)

Times Square Pop-Tart Emporium Doesn't Open Until After Breakfast
By Laura Northrup on September 9, 2010 11:30 AM   47 Comments
When do you eat Pop-Tarts? They're supposed to be a breakfast food, aren't they? So why does the new Pop-Tarts World store in Manhattan's Times Square not open until 11:00? That's lunchtime, people! More »

(kevindean)

Which Transaction Is Faster For Small Purchases: Cash Or Credit?
September 3, 2010 12:45 PM   118 Comments
Since we began writing about credit card companies now allowing merchants to require minimum purchases for credit transactions, we've received feedback from readers in both the comments and in the tipline about how credit cards are faster and more efficient than cash. At the same time, there are those who swear by cash when it comes to making purchases of only a few dollars. So which is it? More »

GameStop Pulls 'Medal Of Honor' From Stores On Military Bases Because Of Playable Taliban Characters
By Chris Morran on September 2, 2010 3:30 PM   90 Comments
If you live on a military base and really want to buy the new Electronic Arts military shoot-em-up Medal of Honor, which has stirred up controversy by allowing players to play as Taliban members, you're going to be out of luck shopping at the GameStop on the base. More »

(jhpope)

Sunglass Hut To Customer: Italy And China Are The Same, Don't Be Picky
By Chris Walters on August 31, 2010 10:30 AM   193 Comments
Brett tried on a pair of "Made in Italy" Ray-Bans at a Sunglass Hut and liked them, but they were the display model so he had to come back to pick up his own a few days later. When he did, he discovered that the real pair he bought said "Made in China," and in his opinion they felt lower quality. More »

(Eric)

Converse Outlet Slashes Shoes Cost By Whole Penny After Raising MSRP By $5
By Phil Villarreal on August 27, 2010 4:30 PM   59 Comments
New York lawyer Eric spotted a pathetic attempt by a Maryland Converse outlet store to pretend that it was offering a discount on this pair of shoes. One sticker slashes the dubious MSRP by a penny, from $30 to $29.99, but another sticker reveals that the original price was $25. More »

(Mike Rollerson)

Fed Up With Being Held Up, Store Owner Adopts No-Cash Policy
By Chris Morran on August 27, 2010 11:15 AM   132 Comments
After being robbed at gunpoint for the second time in two years, the owner of a novelty shop in Fort Wayne, IN, has decided to no longer accept cash payments. More »

(yoshiffles)

How To Avoid The Nefarious Tricks Of Outlet Malls
By Laura Northrup on August 26, 2010 12:30 PM   118 Comments
What is an outlet store? Long ago, factories where consumer goods were made were actually situated in the United States, and shoppers could visit factory stores to find overruns, merchandise with tiny errors, and other wonderful cut-rate goodness. (As an exciting bonus, if you took a wrong turn, you could end up on the factory floor.) Outlet malls have proliferated, but there are few factories left in America. Today, a store proclaiming itself to be an "outlet" is more likely to be peddling lower-quality merchandise under a well-known brand name. So how do you know when an outlet isn't offering any true deals? More »

(strobist)

Do Pay-By-Smartphone Systems Put Consumers At Risk?
By Chris Morran on August 25, 2010 1:15 PM   17 Comments
As smartphones like the iPhone or Droid become more popular and more sophisticated, developers are finding new ways for consumers to use these mobile devices to replace existing items like airplane boarding passes, coupons and now credit cards. Soon, smartphone owners will be able to pay for purchases with a wave of their phones, but they should first be aware of the possible risks involved. More »

(VV C C)

Tips On Tipping Everyone From Your Pizza Guy To Your Sherpa
By Chris Morran on August 24, 2010 3:15 PM   354 Comments
We all that know that tipping your waiter 15-20% is the standard (though some of you will surely disagree) or that you usually throw the pizza guy at least a couple bucks, especially if he braves flood waters to deliver your order. But what about your tattoo artist, or your salmon fishing guide or your sherpa? More »

The Story Behind Trader Joe's 'Two-Buck Chuck' Wine
By Chris Morran on August 24, 2010 2:15 PM   80 Comments
Ever wonder how Trader Joe's stores can sell Charles Shaw wines — more commonly known as Two-Buck Chuck — for such low prices? CNN.com just posted this interview with Fred Franzia, the man behind the discount drinks. More »

This Condom Warning Label Arouses Confusion
By Chris Walters on August 23, 2010 8:00 AM   56 Comments
A reader bought this box of condoms from her local Safeway, and she says this sticker was underneath the outer packaging. People be freaky, but is there anyone who would want a raw chicken condom that you have to keep frozen until use? (Meh, probably.) More »

(twid)

All HDMI Cables Are Pretty Much The Same
By Phil Villarreal on August 20, 2010 2:30 PM   126 Comments
MSNBC's HD Guru blog skewers the shifty HDMI cable industry, which is based on ridiculous, unsupported claims of higher data speed, frame rates and refresh rates in exchange for exorbitant prices. More »

(catastrophegirl)

GameStop Selling Download Codes At Retail
By Phil Villarreal on August 20, 2010 9:15 AM   65 Comments
Sick of being left out of the party as Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo sell downloads to gamers directly through their consoles, GameStop has started hocking downloadable content codes at all of its 4,400 stores, Game Informer reports. More »

(OliBac)

Proflowers Offers 12 Months Of Crappy Plants For Only $500
By Laura Northrup on August 19, 2010 11:15 AM   26 Comments
Proflowers' "12 Months of Plants" sounds like it would make a lovely gift for a person who enjoys plants. At close to $500, it's not cheap, but it does promise a pretty, seasonally-appropriate potted plant every month for the recipient. That's what the company promises, at least. Reader Janet writes to warn readers that what she has actually received each month is a leafless, bloomless, or otherwise poorly cared for plant with no instructions. Complaining to the company only gained her another leafless rose plant. More »

(felixthedeadcat)

Look Out For These Fees As Bank Legislation Goes Into Full Effect
By Phil Villarreal on August 16, 2010 3:15 PM   60 Comments
This is the first business day financial institutions have been required to give existing checking account customers the choice to opt in to overdraft protection. Since banks are looking for ways to make up for the lost revenue by sticking it to customers in other ways, they've dreamed up some new ways to trick you out of your money. More »

(Caitlinator)

Court Says California Mall Can't Ban Customers From Talking To Each Other
By Chris Walters on August 16, 2010 10:30 AM   131 Comments
The Westfield Galleria in Roseville, California takes the comfort of its patrons seriously—so seriously, in fact, that it wants them to shut up and focus on shopping, or else ask for permission first if they want to talk about any topic that's not mall related. Last week, the state's 3rd District Court of Appeal found that the rule violated the state's constitution, so now mall shoppers can gab as much as they want to each other. More »

(atomicric)

24 Hour Fitness Rolling Out Fingerprint-Based ID Entry System
By Chris Morran on August 13, 2010 4:15 PM   70 Comments
Gym chain 24 Hour Fitness is getting some attention for a new program that uses members' fingerprints to replace the gym's existing photo ID system. More »

Would You Pay $1,045 For A Leather Bag That Looks Like A Paper Sack?
By Chris Morran on August 13, 2010 11:15 AM   77 Comments
Take a look at these bags. Some will set you back a hefty chunk of your salary; the others come free with your take-out order. More »

(bluwmongoose)

Tell Us What You Thought You'd Need At College, But Really Didn't
By Meg Marco on August 12, 2010 3:45 PM   247 Comments
We're looking to put together a list of things that college kids DON'T need for back to school, but might think they do. In our case, we thought we'd need a car (never used it, got street sweeping tickets, thank you City of Chicago). What were you sure you'd need but didn't? More »

Meet The Disposable, Recyclable, Reusable Cardboard Shopping Cart
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2010 12:15 PM   47 Comments
One great thing about living in a city like New York: Being able to buy just about anything you need. The problem: Getting the things you buy back home. That's why a designer in the UK has come up with a cart constructed completely out of cardboard that could allow you to wheel your purchases down the street and onto the bus or train. More »

(consumerisn't)

H&M And Zara To Launch Online Shopping -- But Only In Europe
By Meg Marco on August 10, 2010 11:45 AM   14 Comments
Been waiting for H&M and Zara to launch real e-commerce ventures? Well, unless you move to Europe you'll be waiting a little bit longer. More »

(Maulleigh)

How Buying Gift Cards To Shop Online Can Backfire
By Laura Northrup on August 4, 2010 9:00 AM   90 Comments
S. tells Consumerist that she had a bad experience with Lane Bryant, and now she doesn't know where to turn. She doesn't use credit cards, but couldn't pass up a great online-only sale on jeans. She went to a brick-and-mortar store and purchased a gift card, then used the gift card to make the purchase online. Simple, right? Nope. Lane Bryant canceled her order, and now S. is stuck with a $50 Lane Bryant gift card she had budgeted for two pairs of jeans. More »

(Ed Yourdon)

Banana Republic Credit Card Comes With Free Account Errors, Late Fees, Disconnected Calls
By Chris Walters on August 3, 2010 12:30 PM   27 Comments
Nick went shopping recently at Banana Republic and applied for a store credit card. Now he's being called by a collections department and receiving contradictory stories about whether or not the retailer has his correct address on file. More »

(thirdrail)

American Apparel Isn't Doing Too Well
By Chris Walters on August 2, 2010 10:30 AM   67 Comments
It's been a while since we've had a good bankruptcy rumor floating around. Jezebel says thong superstore American Apparel is just asking for it: "[The retailer] has experienced declining year-on-year same-store sales in every month for which the company has made records available since February, 2009." More »

"Elite" Shoppers Ignore Logos, Focus On Subtle Signals
By Carey Alexander on July 31, 2010 10:30 PM   119 Comments
Listen hun, your Gucci bag and Burbury scarf aren't fooling anyone. Sophisticated shoppers, the ones you're pretending to be, they know better. According to a recent study, the elite among us skip past the logos and instead focus on subtle cues like distinctive designs and details to figure out who's truly high brow. More »

(tillwe)

Colleges Are Now Required To List Textbooks During Class Registration
By Carey Alexander on July 31, 2010 12:30 PM   120 Comments
Finding the best textbooks prices just got a whole lot easier now that colleges are required to provide students with a list of required textbooks when they register for classes. The requirement was mandated back in the 2008 as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, but only took effect this year. More »

(frankieleon)

What's Your Most Expensive Habit?
By Chris Morran on July 29, 2010 12:00 PM   346 Comments
Booze, drugs and gambling aren't the only pricey habits. For example, as much as I enjoy cooking, it's often so much easier and convenient to have something delivered or get take-out. It's gotten to the point that many of the restaurants know my order before I even have time to say it. I know I'm throwing away good money, but it's a hard habit to shake. More »

(hyku)

Williams-Sonoma's Registry Policies Are Top Secret, Unless You Can Use The Internet
By Laura Northrup on July 22, 2010 9:30 AM   39 Comments
One would think that a luxury kitchen goods retailer like Williams-Sonoma would be absurdly friendly to couples preparing to set up a gift registry before their wedding. How difficult is it to discover the store's policies for registry completion discounts, returns without a receipt, and other relevant things? Dan writes that at his local Williams-Sonoma, customers aren't permitted access to that information until they sign up for their registry. Even though it's on the store's website. Huh? More »

(FindYourSearch)

Homegrown Currencies Are Popular Right Now, But Do They Work?
By Chris Walters on July 20, 2010 12:30 PM   65 Comments
Remember the Downtown Dollars that Ardmore, PA sold to its citizens this year? Sara Lepro at American Banker looked at that and other "homegrown currency" experiments happening across the country, which are intended to stimulate the local economy and take advantage of "a growing 'localism' movement." More »

Bid On 'Lost' Props So You Can Make A Series Finale Worth Watching
By Chris Morran on July 19, 2010 4:45 PM   23 Comments
I, like many people who spent too many hours attempting to solve the 6-season puzzle that was Lost, was more than a tad bit disappointed in the show's final episode. But now we all have the chance to recreate our own versions of how the finale should have gone — and do it with actual props from the show. More »

Does "One Coupon Per Customer" Apply To Couples Making Individual Purchases?
By Chris Walters on July 19, 2010 10:30 AM   140 Comments
Liz is wondering what's going on at her local Hobby Lobby. She's a professional doll maker and she buys a lot of supplies from the craft store chain every month. So far, she and her husband have been able to use the company's in-store coupons for separate purchases even if they stand together in line at the register, but it looks like her Hobby Lobby may be cracking down on that. Should it? More »

(This Year's Love)

Move To These Towns To Earn Big Money, Live The Good Life
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 18, 2010 12:47 PM   85 Comments
Beyond the obvious big cities where the rich and famous drive around in flashy cars and flaunt designer dresses and amazing homes, there are other towns across America where top-earning residents are living the good life. From north to south, sea to shining see, let's take a look at a few of these little gems and start planning where we'll move. More »

(Thomas Duchniki :: Location Scout)

Marilyn Monroe's Last Home Up For Sale
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 17, 2010 2:03 PM   15 Comments
Got an extra $3.6 million laying around? For that chunk of cash you could purchase a piece of one of Holllywood's most legendary tragedies: The Brentwood, Calif. home Marilyn Monroe died in is up for sale. More »

(johnliao)

The Children's Place Doesn't Understand How Parents Shop For Children's Clothes
By Laura Northrup on July 16, 2010 9:30 AM   216 Comments
Kim tells Consumerist that she was dismayed to learn that The Children's Place has started limiting how many returns customers can make, scanning driver's licenses to track repeat returners. She wonders, have company executives tried to corral multiple preschoolers into trying on stacks of clothing in a store fitting room? More »

(Barnaby)

Artisanal Is The New Organic
By Chris Walters on July 13, 2010 11:30 AM   84 Comments
There's a burgeoning artisanal market in the U.S., where goods made by hand or in small batches—and marketed with lots of footnotes and descriptions of quality—are growing increasingly more popular. But why, and is it just a hipster lifestyle ingredient or an actual shift in the larger population? More »

(avlxyz)

Lindsay Lohan's Jailbird Rep Could Up Sales Of Her Fashion Line
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 11, 2010 10:53 AM   0 Comments
The bad news for Lindsay Lohan, as you might be aware by now, is that she's going to jail soon. The good news for Lindsay's 6126 line of super awesome pants-are-never-an-option leggings and other apparel? Lindsay Lohan is going to jail! Some pros in the retail field are saying this little stint in the slammer could up sales of the "designer's" line. More »

(smcgee)

American Apparel's Dov Charney: A Lawbreaker Back In 1987?
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 11, 2010 10:21 AM   14 Comments
The next time you zipper yourself into that gold spandex unitard, beware, law-abiding consumer — it was created by a man that could be considered a downright criminal in Toronto! That's right, beyond the legal troubles already surrounding American Apparel founder Dov Charney — you know, the sexual harassment lawsuits and whatnot — there's more. More »

(Honey Nut Cheerios)

Apparently A Year's Supply Of Honey Nut Cheerios Is Only 12 Boxes
By Phil Villarreal on July 8, 2010 4:30 PM   117 Comments
Have you ever dreamed of winning a year's supply of Honey Nut Cheerios? No? Well, in case you did, you might have imagined a warehouse full of the honeybee-kissed circles of tedium. And you might have imagined incorrectly, because according to General Mills, just 12 boxes of the stuff should get you through a year. More »

(Sam)

Florida Theater: Don't Blame Us For Blackouts
By Phil Villarreal on July 8, 2010 9:15 AM   95 Comments
Sam snapped this photo of a sign outside a Florida Regal Movie Theater. He doesn't know what it was that drove the manager to post it. More »

Petsmart Redefines Coupon Expiration Dates
By Laura Northrup on July 7, 2010 9:00 AM   50 Comments
If a coupon says that it expires on July 4th, most people assume this means that you can use it on July 4th. Not so, in Petsmart's universe. In their coupon vortex, July 4 ends at 6:00 AM on July 4th. Which is a little weird for an online coupon, but completely insane for a printable in-store coupon when no Petsmart store opens until several hours later. More »

Does Your Baby Need Designer Diapers?
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2010 2:15 PM   61 Comments
Do you look at your baby and say, "I love him/her so much, but why can't he/she be more fashionable?" Well, the braintrust at Pampers has come to your rescue with a new line of colorful poop-and-pee-absorbers designed by Cynthia Rowley. More »

What Do $155K Shoes Look Like? Kinda Like $15 Stripper Heels
By Chris Morran on June 30, 2010 1:25 PM   39 Comments
When Paul Simon sang "She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes," we don't think he was daring anyone to actually make said shoes. But jeweler House of Borgezie has gotten pretty close, slapping over 2,000 diamonds on a pair of stiletto heels and charging $155,000 a pair. More »

(Duncan Rawlinson)

American Eagle Wants A Note From Charles Schwab Before They'll Accept My $15 Return
By Laura Northrup on June 30, 2010 9:00 AM   57 Comments
Tiffany tells Consumerist that she thought that returning a pair of $15 sunglasses to an American Eagle store would be a simple transaction. This seems sensible enough. What she didn't know that her bank issuing her a new credit card was simply too much for the chain's computers. Bringing in her credit card statement wasn't enough, and now store employees now insist that she have her bank issue her a personalized letter in order to issue the refund. More »

Dollar Tree Annexes Canada, Sells 61-Star American Flag
By Laura Northrup on June 30, 2010 8:00 AM   101 Comments
This American flag found for sale at Dollar Tree has either fallen through a crack in space and time from a future when the United States has annexed Canada, or the Chinese company that produced it screwed up. Dollar Tree, for its part, claims that the flag is a "patriotic banner" and not supposed to be a regulation American flag. Right. More »

Petsmart Manager Not Too Concerned About This Parakeet Corpse In Bird Habitat Door
By Laura Northrup on June 25, 2010 9:00 AM   75 Comments
Jack is an animal lover and a mechanic. He writes that when he went to fix a habitat door at a local Petsmart store, he found a dead parakeet trapped inside a hollow part of the door. It wasn't the dead bird that bothered him the most, though: it was the manager's total lack of concern about the situation. He was upset enough to e-mail Consumerist. (Warning: post contains non-graphic dead pet photo.) More »

Is It Too Early For Back-To-School Sales?
By Chris Morran on June 24, 2010 11:15 AM   48 Comments
Public school students in Union City, NJ, just wrapped up classes earlier this week. So Consumerist reader Juhgail was caught off guard when she popped into a Staples to pick up some supplies and came upon an entire rack of back-to-school items. More »

Ride Along For The Day In A Mr. Softee Truck
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2010 1:15 PM   44 Comments
Just about every neighborhood has ice cream trucks, but there's something special about Mister Softee. Perhaps it's the treats, but more than likely it's the ever-repeating tune that streams endlessly out of the rooftop speakers... even when the truck is parked outside your apartment for four hours straight... But I digress. More »

(raebrune)

Watch Out For Stealth Magazine Subscriptions At Motherhood Maternity
By Laura Northrup on June 18, 2010 11:15 AM   48 Comments
Derek tells Consumerist that expectant readers should be careful when shopping at Motherhood Maternity stores. His wife ended up with a stealth subscription to Parenting magazine that she claims she never asked for or approved. More »

(tssparky)

Sausage King Jimmy Dean Dead At 81
By Chris Morran on June 14, 2010 12:20 PM   37 Comments
This is truly sad news for those of us whose best memories of weekend mornings is waking up to the smell of Jimmy Dean sausages wafting up from the kitchen. The man behind the delicious dishes has passed away at the age of 81. More »

(SA_Steve)

Everything Old Is For Sale Again
By Chris Morran on June 13, 2010 1:00 PM   95 Comments
While Walmart's clothing department is going back in time a decade with its decision to focus on its historically strong underwear, socks and tee shirt market other, more fashion-forward brands and retailers are going back a lot further for their latest lines. More »

(Great Beyond)

Why Don't I Get The Cash Discount For Gas When I Pay With My Debit Card?
By Laura Northrup on June 10, 2010 12:00 PM   104 Comments
David writes that he recently had a confusing experience at a gas station, and he wanted some clarification. He's used to receiving a cash discount when he pays with his debit card at gas stations, but came across a gas station owner who wouldn't give a cash discount for anything but actual greenbacks. Are this gas station's policies illegal, David wonders? More »

Hollister Provides Refund, Will Show Employees What Washed Shorts Look Like
By Laura Northrup on June 9, 2010 12:00 PM   26 Comments
Roger, whose Hollister shorts shrank a full size after he had the audacity to wash them, sent us an update. He writes that his situation has a happy ending: the company refunded his entire purchase, not just the shorts, and claim that they'll be taking the opportunity to make sure to train their employees to see what a pair of washed shorts looks like. See the effect a good complaint can have...once you finally get through to someone with power? More »

(iwantamonkey)

New USDA Rules Seek To End Olive Oil Confusion
By Chris Morran on June 4, 2010 4:03 PM   56 Comments
While the rest of the federal government seems to be wrapped up in cleaning up the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Dept. of Agriculture has had its laser beams set on oil from a different source — olives. More »

(JessyeAnne)

If Your Clothes Shrink After Washing, That's Not Hollister's Problem
By Laura Northrup on June 4, 2010 2:01 PM   109 Comments
Roger would like the readers of Consumerist to know that clothing retailer Hollister, part of Abercrombie & Fitch, doesn't stand behind its products at all. He writes that he ordered a pair of shorts online, which shrank significantly after the first time they went through the laundry. (Yes, he followed the care instructions.) The company refused to remedy the problem or issue Roger a refund, because the shorts weren't returned in their original, untouched, tags-on condition. Wait, isn't that the point? More »

Why Am I Punished For A Forever 21 Cashier's Mistake?
By Laura Northrup on June 4, 2010 1:01 PM   108 Comments
Kat tells Consumerist that she had an odd experience while shopping at Forever 21. The store accidentally charged her twice for an item that was on clearance—no returns. In most retail establishments, this isn't a problem. But at Forever 21, based on Kat's experience, all the chain can offer you is store credit instead of a refund of the overcharge. Kat wanted the money returned to her account. More »

(blue_j)

Show Your Support For BP By Filling Up At ARCO, AM/PM
By Phil Villarreal on May 31, 2010 10:00 AM   58 Comments
Since BP is doing such a great job cleaning up that oil spill, it's only right that consumers show their support for the quicker, thicker picker-uppers by bringing their business to subsidiaries ARCO and AM/PM, and greasing the wheels with BP's Castrol Motor Oil. More »

(Welvis Tarn)

Segway Slowly, Dorkily Rolls Onto Worst Inventions List
By Phil Villarreal on May 31, 2010 8:06 AM   60 Comments
On the heels of the New York Daily News stupid inventions list comes Time Magazine's 50 Worst Inventions roundup. Equally awful Farmville, the Segway and subprime mortgages pop up along with the must-have-sounded-good-at-the-time hydrogen blimp. More »

(Listener42)

World Still Isn't Quite Insane Enough To Pay $20 For Shrek Tickets
By Phil Villarreal on May 25, 2010 9:00 AM   48 Comments
It turns out Shrek Forever After will not go down as the movie to break the $20 IMAX ticket barrier, because the AMC ticket pricing was a mistake and corrected soon after media reports circulated about the sign of the apocalypse. More »

(Morton Fox)

Ex-Panera Bread CEO Opens Commie Not-For-Profit Eatery
By Laura Northrup on May 20, 2010 12:00 PM   118 Comments
What is a meal at Panera Bread worth to you? A former Panera location in a prosperous St. Louis suburb has reopened as "St. Louis Bread Company Cares," a restaurant where customers can select a meal, then pay what they think the meal is worth—or as much as they can afford. If customers can't afford to pay anything, they can volunteer to work there. A not-for-profit foundation runs the restaurant, which opened this week. More »

(James Jordan)

1-800-Contacts Comes Through For Your Eyes In An Emergency
By Laura Northrup on May 20, 2010 11:00 AM   56 Comments
1-800-Contacts is the rare company where an actual human picks up the phone when you call—no maze of phone menus. Peter tells Consumerist that he had a fantastic experience where a customer service rep went above and beyond in the service of the health of his eyes. More »

(Divine in the Daily)

Elderly Woman Accidentally Donates $5,365 To Goodwill Inside Sock
By Laura Northrup on May 19, 2010 10:00 AM   45 Comments
If you like to hide large amounts of cash around your house, make sure to remember where you put it. And if you do tend to forget, make sure to check the crevices and pockets of everything before you donate it to charity or throw it away. This goes triple when cleaning out the home of an elderly relative. A 96-year-old woman in Asheville, N.C. recently donated a blanket that contained more than $5,000 in cash—and the Goodwill store managed to locate her and return the money. More »

(Boersenblatt.net)

Cigarette Vending Machine Repurposed To Sell Books
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 16, 2010 3:11 PM   43 Comments
Believe it or not, there are people who don't own a Kindle or an iPad and can't just order up a book when they get the sudden, overwhelming urge to read a book. So what's a voracious reader to do if they find themselves without reading material and no bookstore in sight? Well, at the University of Hamburg, book lovers can head for a vending machine. More »

(bovinity)

Video Game Industry Drawing In Users With Free Versions
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 16, 2010 2:49 PM   34 Comments
Influencing people to buy things in times of economic hardship ain't easy, but the video game industry has figured out how to lure reluctant shoppers: Freebies! By offering free versions of their games, video game marketers are drawing in users from unlikely demographic areas, namely, women and the elderly. More »

(Gordon Jack/Scotimage.com via NYDN)

Great Moments In Stupid Inventions
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 16, 2010 2:22 PM   38 Comments
Somewhere out there, at this very minute, someone, maybe even you, is inventing something totally ridiculous with plans of making it the next big thing that consumers can't live without. Instead of just wondering about what stupid inventions are out there, why not check out a round-up of 37 of them? More »

(Stuart Hughes)

Solid Gold Diamond-Encrusted iPad Sells For $190,000
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 16, 2010 1:21 PM   24 Comments
The one thing the recession has taught me is that if you've got money, might as well burn it! And what better way to treat yourself to a little bit of luxury than with a $190,000 solid gold, diamond encrusted iPad? More »

(Sony)

New TV Watches You While You Sleep
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 15, 2010 3:21 PM   67 Comments
Snoozing in the flickering light of your TV set could be a thing of the past, if you want it to be — a new Sony Bravia model uses facial recognition technology to detect when you're sleeping and turns its display off, The Guardian reports. More »

(Tower Records Japan)

Does The World Really Need A Rainbow-Colored DSLR?
By Marc Perton on May 12, 2010 12:32 PM   86 Comments
Well, does it? More »

(Oliver 62')

Victoria Wants Me To Reveal The Secret Of My SSN
By Phil Villarreal on May 11, 2010 8:30 AM   47 Comments
As if it wasn't compromising enough to give up her measurements, Lindsay says Victoria's Secret also wanted her Social Security Number. More »

Wired Reviews Smart Mop, Says It's Dumb
By Chris Walters on May 10, 2010 4:28 PM   23 Comments
The twistable, change-your-life-forever Smart Mop that's sold via infomercial looks sort of handy, but does it work? Wired tested one out, and says no, it does not work. In fact, it leaves behind liquid instead of sopping it up, falls apart frequently, and scrapes across the floor if you don't hold it just right. Wired wraps up the review with this very non-infomercial suggestion: "If you're sick of taking paper towel to floor every time Junior dumps his milk, well, tough, that's part of being a parent." More »

(matneym)

Be Polite, Not Pushy For Better Customer Service
By Phil Villarreal on May 7, 2010 9:46 AM   48 Comments
Does the squeaky wheel get the grease or do you draw more flies with honey than vinegar? Consumerism Commentary endorses the latter method when it comes to getting the best customer service possible, making the case for why politeness gets you farther than pushiness. More »

(avitania)

POLL: Which Services Do You Tip For?
By Chris Morran on May 6, 2010 4:55 PM   276 Comments
As many Consumerist readers have pointed out over the years, you're generally under no obligation to leave a tip for someone who provides you a service. That being said, most of us still do — and for a seemingly increasing number of services. That's why we want to know about those situations in which you almost always leave a little extra. More »

(frankieleon)

Retail Policies Do Little To Curtail Shoplifters
By Phil Villarreal on May 5, 2010 8:45 AM   106 Comments
Shoplifters drive up costs for law-abiding shoppers, and store policies tend to be stacked in favor of thieves, according to a UPI analysis that reports 92 percent of retailers were victimized in 2009. More »

(hagner_james)

More Than Half Of U.S. Homes Are Rocking HDTVs
By Phil Villarreal on May 4, 2010 8:30 AM   100 Comments
Nielsen's latst Television Audience Report found that people are getting more and more TV crazy. Not only do 53 percent of homes have sprung for HDTVs, but 55 percent of households have three or more TVs. More »

(analogkid281)

Say Goodbye To GameCrazy, Hollywood Video
By Phil Villarreal on May 3, 2010 8:00 AM   68 Comments
Blockbuster's main brick-and-mortar competitor, Movie Gallery, is shutting down all its U.S. stores, Reuters reports, citing the paywall-riffic Wall Street Journal. More »

(The Joy Of The Mundane)

Readers Dig Dirty Books, Boost Publishing Industry
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 2, 2010 1:54 PM   16 Comments
If any industry needs a little help to get business to be booming, it's publishing. And aid is coming from an unlikely source — erotic books could be the savior of the swiftly sinking business of book publishing, MSNBC's Brian Alexander reports. More »

(rengel134)

States Seek Sales Taxes On Haircuts, Balloon Rides
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 1, 2010 3:25 PM   142 Comments
As states across America take a look at their budgets, some are getting creative with sales taxes in an effort to increase their revenue by slapping a tax on some interesting items and services. CNNMoney checked out what's going down all over America, from magician taxes to hot air balloon ride tariffs. More »

(erikg)

Cougars Buying Up Sexy Lingerie In Devious Seduction Plan
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 1, 2010 2:41 PM   68 Comments
Watch out boys, she'll eat you up: The UK's Daily Mail says lingerie sales are on the uptick due to women in their 40's and 50's looking to seduce younger men. These cougars are on the prowl and they want their lacy bras and garters! More »

(Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com)

Coffee Cup Designer Leslie Buck Dies At 87
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 1, 2010 2:19 PM   14 Comments
Chances are if you've ever gotten a cup of coffee to go in New York City at a deli or street cart, it's been served to you in a familiar blue and white "We Are Happy to Serve You" cup — or you've at least seen it on Law & Order. Leslie Buck, the designer of that iconic Grecian caffeine receptacle, known as the Anthora cup, passed away on Monday, )">the New York Times reports. More »

(TimmyGUNZ)

Join In The Fight To Help Poor DirecTV Customers Get AMC HD
By Phil Villarreal on April 30, 2010 8:45 AM   43 Comments
If you're a cable subscriber like me you probably had no idea DirecTV customers didn't have access to AMC HD. That means they must suffer the indignity of watching Bryan Cranston make meth in his underwear and Jon Hamm sleep with every woman he meets in fuzzy standard definition. More »

(Legodude522)

AriZona Iced Tea: Don't Hate Us, We're From New York
By Chris Morran on April 29, 2010 12:27 PM   187 Comments
While there's much heated discussion about Arizona's controversial new immigration laws, the folks at AriZona Iced Tea have somehow found themselves caught in the crossfire, with some even calling for a boycott on the beverage brand. That's why one of the founders of the company wants everyone to know that, just like inauthentic picante sauce, they're originally from New York City. More »

(The Notorious T.D.P.)

Even Newspapers Are Going 3D Now
By Phil Villarreal on April 28, 2010 8:00 AM   26 Comments
Newspaper mad scientist Rupert Murdoch is apparently jumping on the James Cameron bandwagon, because now his British tabloid The Sun is going to go 3D, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports. More »

(Hoong Wei Long)

Fan Who Was Tossed Out Of Angels Game Plays Race Card
By Phil Villarreal on April 27, 2010 8:00 AM   57 Comments
A Hispanic Yankees fan who was thrown out of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim says a security guard got racial when he threw him out but let his non-Hispanic friend stay in the ballpark, NBC News reports: More »

(Paxton Holley)

DRM-Ravaged Avatar DVDs May Not Work On Blu-ray Players
By Phil Villarreal on April 23, 2010 8:47 AM   124 Comments
Amazon customers are complaining that Fox has gummed up the Avatar DVDs with DRM, rendering them unplayable on many Blu-ray players in an effort to prevent piracy. That is, if you consider making a copy of a DVD you own as piracy. More »

(afagen)

Dodgers Are Also Holding Yankees Series Tickets Hostage To Ticket Block Plans
By Phil Villarreal on April 21, 2010 9:30 AM   47 Comments
Stefan, who lives in Dodgers territory, writes in to say his team is running the same upselling scheme as the New York Mets when it comes to Yankees tickets, forcing fans to buy the tickets in blocks rather than individually. More »

(e.teel)

7-Eleven Will Now Sell You Used Games Along With Slurpees
By Phil Villarreal on April 20, 2010 10:45 AM   52 Comments
Likely looking at GameStop's profit margins and deciding there's more ways to squeeze money out of customers than by selling questionable hot dogs and Slurpees, 7-Eleven is entering the used games fray. More »

(pbm.)

Mets Sing 'Take Me Out To The Upsell'
By Phil Villarreal on April 20, 2010 10:00 AM   95 Comments
Anthony wants a ticket to see the Mets host the Yankees at Citi Field, and is annoyed that the Mets will only sell him tickets in groups of five or more. He sent us his email exchange with a CSR: More »

(cool_colonia4711)

T-Mobile Wants Me To Pay $6K For Charges On Stolen Phone
By Phil Villarreal on April 20, 2010 9:00 AM   79 Comments
Stephanie says a pickpocket swiped her cell phone a year ago and stuck her with a $6,200 bill, thanks mainly to calls to the Ivory Coast, the country so clean it was named after two types of soap. More »

(Spidra Webster)

Are Newspapers Covering Costs By Gouging Readers Placing Obits?
By Phil Villarreal on April 19, 2010 8:26 AM   78 Comments
Writing on his Reflections of a Newsosaur blog, Alan D. Mutter contends newspapers are sticking it to those who place paid obits in their pages. He said the San Francisco Chronicle wanted $450 for a 182-word death notice. Mutter says the gouging may be part of an industry-wide trend. More »

(Paxton Holley)

Pay $230 For Recycled Chair That Lets You Advertise Coke
By Phil Villarreal on April 15, 2010 8:00 AM   23 Comments
Coca-Cola is making up for ensnaring poor little ducks in six-pack containers by making chairs recycled from its bottles — understandably stamped with the company logo — and hocking them for $230, the Atlanta Business Journal reports. More »

Who Needs A Poster To Say WTF To NYC Transit?
By Chris Morran on April 14, 2010 3:27 PM   10 Comments
A few weeks back the New York Metropolitan Transit rejected a proposal from the Working Families Party that would post imitation subway service advisory signs carrying the not-that-cryptic messages of "WTF?" and "OMFG." But that didn't stop Working Families from printing up similarly themed t-shirts. More »

(catastrophegirl)

4 Reasons Consumers Still Buy Top-Loading Washing Machines
By Chris Morran on April 14, 2010 1:00 PM   217 Comments
Even though front-loading washing machines are generally more efficient and clean your dirty duds better than old-school top-loading machines, some surveys show that around 3 out of 4 American households are still loading from above. Our brighter brethren at Consumer Reports endeavored to find out why. More »

(epicharmus)

Chase Enrolled Me in Payment Protector Against My Will, Starts Charging Me
By Phil Villarreal on April 13, 2010 8:26 AM   32 Comments
David got suckered into Chase's Payment Protection plan and was stuck with a monthly charge of nearly $30, all because he unwittingly authorized his membership by accepting information about the program. More »

(Joseph Hoetzl)

Kmart Told Me To Lie On Application To Get A Job
By Phil Villarreal on April 12, 2010 10:45 AM   99 Comments
Senyaka said she applied for a temp job at Kmart and the company told her to lie on the screening questionnaire to improve her chances of getting hired. More »

(scentzilla)

Smithsonian To Hock Pretend Jewelry On QVC
By Phil Villarreal on April 9, 2010 8:47 AM   16 Comments
If you've always longed for a knockoff of the cursed Hope Diamond, the Smithsonian is about to fill your need by teaming with QVC to sell replicas of that and other historical treasures, the Washington Post reports: More »

(oracorac)

Walgreens Takes Pity On You When You Get Mugged For Your Wallet And Prescriptions
By Laura Northrup on April 8, 2010 2:00 PM   35 Comments
Tabitha and her husband were part of a horrible chain of events. She was ill, and her husband was mugged on the way home from the pharmacy with her prescriptions. With his credit cards, cash, and his wife's medicine all gone, her husband went back to the pharmacy...and received true above and beyond service. More »

(Louis Abate)

Blu-ray Not Only Here To Stay, But To Dominate
By Phil Villarreal on April 8, 2010 8:45 AM   131 Comments
Bad news for those of you who were hoping Blu-ray would become a passing fad that vanished like Betamax, LaserDisc and HD DVD. The high-definition format only continues to pick up steam as giant HDTVs continue to infiltrate households and people decide plain 'ol DVDs are no longer good enough. High-Def Digest, which admittedly has a horse in the race, reports the Blu-ray format is thriving. More »

(Maulleigh)

Florida Urologist Won't Touch You If You Support Obamacare
By Phil Villarreal on April 5, 2010 10:25 AM   228 Comments
A Florida urologist hoisted a sign outside his practice that reads "If you voted for Obama, seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years," the Miami Herald reports. More »

(Great Beyond)

Insane PC Game DRM Drove Me To Piracy
By Phil Villarreal on April 5, 2010 8:00 AM   159 Comments
An anonymous gamer wrote in to tell us why he felt justified to illegally download a copy of Red Faction: Guerilla: He bought it on one computer but found the DRM locked him out of re-activating the game on his new computer. When customer service couldn't help him, he went rogue. More »

Rub-A-Dub-Dub, The Tummy Tub Is A $95 Piece Of Junk
By Chris Morran on April 2, 2010 6:15 PM   115 Comments
Our more scholarly sister Consumer Reports recently took a look at the Tummy Tub, which "looks like something out of a chemical-mixing laboratory," but is supposed to recreate a feeling of being in the womb for your baby while you give it a bath. Because there's nothing more womb-like than being scrubbed with soap and water in a loud, brightly lit bathroom. More »

(pwrplatgirl)

They Make All The Best Bacony Toys For Dogs
By Phil Villarreal on April 2, 2010 10:16 AM   12 Comments
What a week for technology. Not only is it bringing us a giant iPod Touch and a pocket to go along with it, but it also marks the discovery of bacon-scented bubbles and toys with which to project them in your face. Chicken and peanut butter smells are also available. The drawback, as with Snausages, is they're meant for dogs, so if you're a human and you partake in their wonders then you're seen as slummin' it. More »

(Great Beyond)

Watch Out For Phone Companies Cramming Charges Onto Your Bill
By Phil Villarreal on April 1, 2010 9:30 AM   40 Comments
Some phone companies will take every opportunity to sneak ludicrous, unjustified charges onto your bill. The Boston Globe highlights the "cramming" practice in this story: More »

Rite-Aid Puts Aspirin On Sale For $3 More Than Regular Price
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2010 3:01 PM   24 Comments
Consumerist reader Uriah was shopping at his local Rite-Aid when he spotted something strange about the big yellow sale tag on this bottle of aspirin. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the huge sale price of $9.99 wasn't such a good deal... because it's $3 higher than the $6.99 the aspirin usually goes for. More »

(CarbonNYC)

Executive Emails For Victoria's Secret
By Ben Popken on March 30, 2010 3:19 PM   8 Comments
Got an issue with Victoria's Secret that regular customer service can't or won't handle? Try escalating it to the top of the laundry heap with these email addresses for senior executives. More »

(imjoshdotcom)

Blockbuster Doesn't Have Game I Want In Stock, Sends It To Me Instead
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2010 10:34 AM   26 Comments
Blockbuster and other brick-and-mortal rental stores seemingly give you fewer reasons to patronize them all the time, but Christopher discovered a step in the positive direction by the company: He says if the store doesn't have what you're looking for, it will send it to you and let you keep it longer than a normal rental. More »

(x10mr)

Print Edition Of TV Guide Tells Me To Go Online To Read Most Of Cover Story
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2010 9:02 AM   63 Comments
Scott bought a copy of TV Guide — yes, apparently that still exists — because he was intrigued by the TV's Top 50 Families story. He was dismayed to page through the magazine and discover the list stopped at 20. The article prompted him to go online to discover the remaining 30 families on the list. More »

(Alec McNayer)

The Baseball Card Bubble -- Swallower Of Childhood Dreams
By Phil Villarreal on March 29, 2010 8:30 AM   98 Comments
Slate excerpts the Dave Jamieson book Mint Condition, which details the rise and fall of the baseball card futures market of the 1980s and 1990s. More »

This Infomercial Uses A Familiar Voice To Get Your Attention
By Laura Northrup on March 27, 2010 10:00 AM   41 Comments
If you hear a vaguely familiar voice screeching from your television set during a commercial break, fear not. It's only actor, comedian, and ex-parrot Gilbert Gottfried's voiceover for the Shoedini commercial. It's hard to get across in mere words how much I wish I were kidding right now. More »

(tom.arthur)

Congressional Audit Shows That EnergyStar Label May Be Meaningless
By Laura Northrup on March 26, 2010 5:31 PM   47 Comments
Does an EnergyStar label change your perception of a product? Maybe it shouldn't. Last year, an audit showed that Energy Star gave its rating to products that misrepresented their energy usage. This time, auditors posed as companies and submitted completely absurd appliances for EnergyStar ratings, like a gasoline-powered alarm clock the size of a portable generator, and a space heater with a feather duster on top claiming to be an "air purifier." Is the study meaningless because no actual products were sold, or a warning that the program is sloppy and susceptible to fraud? More »

(ashi)

FTC Catches 30% Of Funeral Homes Violating Consumer Laws
By Laura Northrup on March 25, 2010 6:29 PM   34 Comments
Thanks to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers have certain rights when it comes to funerals. Consumers have the right to purchase only the products or services they need, to use the services of a funeral home while declining embalming, to see written price lists before they begin to make decisions, and the right to purchase a casket or urn elsewhere. An undercover FTC investigation, however, discovered that in 30% of the funeral homes they visited, at least one part of the Funeral Rule of 1984 was violated. More »

(Glenn)

My Compost Barrel Was Made In The USA, By Which I Mean 'China'
By Phil Villarreal on March 25, 2010 8:00 AM   59 Comments
Glenn bought a Suncast compost barrel that was labeled "Made in the USA" on the box. So it's only natural that when he opened up the box he found another box that revealed the included hardware was made in China. More »

(RockaWolf)

Jewelry Store Ruins Engagement Surprise With Pointless Junk Mail
By Laura Northrup on March 24, 2010 12:10 PM   156 Comments
How important is the element of surprise? Do you want to be surprised when you receive a gift? When people are about to throw a surprise party for you? What about when you accidentally learn that your boyfriend is about to propose...thanks to a stray piece of junk mail? More »

(sebastien.b)

You Don't Need HDMI 1.4 Cables For 3D TV
By Marc Perton on March 24, 2010 11:57 AM   28 Comments
If you're ready to shell out $3,000 for a new 3D-capable TV (plus as much as $150 for each additional set of goofy goggles), you can still save a few bucks in one place: cables. Despite what the aggressive electronics dealer might say, any high-speed HDMI cable will work just fine with today's 3DTVs and Blu-ray disc players. And those so-called HDMI 1.4 cables? They're not even allowed to mention them. More »

Fed Makes Sure Gift Cards Are Still A Bad Deal
By Marc Perton on March 24, 2010 9:33 AM   23 Comments
When the CARD Act went into effect in February, it also included new rules designed to limit some of the more egregious practices of gift-card issuers, like early expiration dates and "dormancy" fees. However, Congress put the Federal Reserve in charge of interpreting the new law, and yesterday the agency unwrapped its new collection of rules. Is it too late to return this one? More »

(bfishadow)

Saks Closing Two Oregon Stores, Maybe More To Come
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2010 3:06 PM   32 Comments
Fans of high-end retail shopping may be in for some sadness. The CEO of Saks & Company says they are definitely closing two Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Portland, OR, and that other underperforming stores may soon be on the chopping block. More »

(AComment)

Kosher Coke Is Once Again Here For Passover
By Chris Morran on March 22, 2010 12:43 PM   118 Comments
Passover might not be starting until next week, but Coca Cola has already begun distributing 2-liter bottles of its kosher formula, which replaces high fructose corn syrup with sugar, to stores around the country. I know because I've got some chilling in the fridge. More »

Avatar To Get No-Frills DVD Release; No 3-D Version Until Next Year
By Chris Morran on March 17, 2010 10:31 AM   61 Comments
Because James Cameron's Avatar — that little indie film about indigenous people fighting against corporate greed — apparently didn't make enough money at the box office, Twentieth Century Fox has decided to come out with three different DVD versions of the flick. More »

(geeksix)

This Is What Kids Did For Fun In The 80s
By Chris Walters on March 16, 2010 6:04 PM   58 Comments
Josh at GeekSix unearthed a comic book ad that might be familiar to you if you were a kid in the 80s. Olympic Sales Club was one of those door-to-door greeting card companies that enlisted kids across the country to sell crap to neighbors in exchange for merch your parents wouldn't buy you. More »

(PetroleumJelliffe)

Botox Competitor Tries To Compete By Offering Rebate... On Botox
By Chris Morran on March 12, 2010 11:50 AM   15 Comments
We all know what Botox is. But can you name any of the anti-wrinkle injection's competition? That's why the maker's of competing drug Dysport are not only offering rebates to attract new customers, they're also offering rebates on Botox if you're unhappy with their product. More »

(purplejavatroll)

Don't Buy Your Crack With Monopoly Money
By Chris Walters on March 10, 2010 1:56 PM   33 Comments
If there's one thing every crack dealer hates, it's being paid in Monopoly money. A 33-year-old man in Wichita, KS, was pulled over by officers last week and found bleeding from the head. He told police he'd just been tricked by his angry crack dealer into coming over to his house, whereupon the dealer pistol whipped his face. According to the police report, the victim told them that "a couple of weeks ago he bought several hundred dollars of crack-cocaine with Monopoly money and now the dealer was ready for pay back." More »

(cwbuecheler)

Visit NYC, Eat Breast-Milk Cheese
By Chris Walters on March 9, 2010 7:27 PM   68 Comments
If you want to try human breast-milk cheese, make sure you stop in at Klee Brasserie in New York City the next time you visit. It's made from the chef's own wife, and he tells the New York Post, "It tastes like cow's-mik cheese, kind of sweet," and changes flavor depending on "what the mother eats." His wife says, "The breast is there to make food." Maybe, but I'm thinking this is a good way to shave a little off the cheese budget. More »

(moxythecat)

BBB: You Complain A Lot, Especially Against Cell Phone Companies, Banks
By Phil Villarreal on March 9, 2010 10:46 AM   16 Comments
People stood up for themselves and went to the Business Bureau 10 percent more often in 2009 than they did in 2008, according to BBB's figures, which also say complainers focused their ire on cell phone companies and banks. More »

(chargrillkiller)

Watch Your Weight By Gorging On Chicken Nuggets
By Chris Morran on March 8, 2010 5:29 PM   64 Comments
For every ounce of common sense inside of you that knows the last thing you should eat when trying to watch your weight is a deep-fried, battered piece of processed chicken "meat." But don't tell that to the folks at Weight Watchers who have actually given their seal of approval to three separate meals available at McDonald's in New Zealand and Australia. More »

(supertrixiecat)

Maybe People Are Stealing From Your Drugstore Because You Only Have One Employee
By Chris Walters on March 8, 2010 1:41 PM   117 Comments
I've stopped shopping at the two large drugstores in my neighborhood because they've put all the antiperspirant behind plastic flaps, like bagels at a supermarket. When you lift the flap to grab a Right Guard or Speed Stick, an alarm goes off that makes it clear to everyone in the store that you're a potential criminal with stinky pits. My guess has been that this embarrassing anti-theft deterrent is needed because there's almost no staff at either store anymore, and a new retail survey and a couple of loss prevention experts seem to back that up. More »

(Disney)

Will You Wear A $600 Disney Dress Based On One Of Its Movies? How About In 5 Years?
By Chris Walters on March 8, 2010 11:49 AM   23 Comments
The future of Disney merchandising will hit a lot more demographics than the mostly kid-oriented stuff of today, if Disney has any say over it. Disney has already angered theater chains by shortening the theatrical release window on its new movie-like product Alice in Wonderland, cutting into theaters' profit models in order to bump up the DVD release date. But CNBC notes that it's also launching the "most wide-ranging array of consumer products ever" for a Disney flick—and that includes thousand dollar necklaces, nail polish, and dresses that cost as much as $600. More »

(The Sharpteam)

Eddie Bauer Outlet Destroys Unsold Clothing, Throws It Away
By Laura Northrup on March 7, 2010 7:30 PM   156 Comments
Reader W.J. is a dumpster diver. During the controversy over H&M and Walmart destroying unsold clothing in Manhattan a few months ago, experienced dumpster divers pointed out that this is nothing new. W.J. e-mailed Consumerist about her recent find in the trash of an unnamed Eddie Bauer outlet store, and also made a video of her finds and how they were rendered unusable before throwing away. More »

If You Have Difficulty Operating Eggs, Try An EZ Cracker
By Laura Northrup on March 7, 2010 2:00 PM   92 Comments
You know what piece of technology confuses a lot of people? Eggs. At least that's the impression I get from the existence of the EZ Cracker, a device which cracks and separates eggs for people who are probably too helpless to be allowed near a stove. Oh, and their commercial has—why not—Wendy from the old Snapple commercials. More »

(Travelin' Librarian)

Use A $5 Bill To Buy Five Detroit Houses
By Phil Villarreal on March 5, 2010 10:15 AM   64 Comments
How can you tell when the housing market has truly bottomed out? When you can buy a home for a buck. A Guardian story says such deals actually exist in beleaguered Detroit. More »

VIDEO: Stores Caught Restocking Used Underwear & Lingerie
By Chris Morran on March 4, 2010 3:17 PM   88 Comments
We try not to be too paranoid about the cleanliness of things we purchase. We'll purchase used books, buy vintage clothing, drive pre-owned cars. But the "Ick Factor," as it's known in the world of science, jumps off the charts when it comes to used undies. But that's exactly what NBC claims to have discovered at several retail stores. More »

(sun dazed)

Why Won't Tupperware Send Me My Cereal Bowl Lids?
By Laura Northrup on March 4, 2010 11:27 AM   30 Comments
Brandy likes Tupperware very much. Well, she used to. She writes that when she sent in for a warranty replacement for some of her items, the company neglected to send her the coordinating lids...and now won't answer her e-mails. Without its lid, a Tupperware cereal bowl is just a plastic bowl. And what's the point of that? More »

Magazines Admit: We Have No #*&%ing Clue What To Do With iPad
By Chris Morran on March 1, 2010 3:31 PM   36 Comments
While many media outlets were heralding today's news that magazine giant Condé Nast plans to bring five of its biggest selling titles to Apple's new iPad tablet thingy, if you actually read what the Condé memo says, it becomes apparent that they really have no idea what they're dealing with. More »

How To File A Complaint With The FTC
By Chris Morran on March 1, 2010 11:55 AM   8 Comments
Here at Consumerist, we're constantly writing about online frauds, scams and misleading deals. But for all our writing, we're not a federal agency. That's where the Federal Trade Commission comes in. The good folks over at the FTC have just put together a short video demonstrating how easy it is for you to file a complaint with them on their site or over the phone. More »

(Waitrose)

Cashmere Toilet Paper Cheaper Than Wiping With "Luxury Knitwear"
By Marc Perton on February 28, 2010 7:37 PM   30 Comments
Just in case Charmin isn't doing it for you anymore, UK retailer Waitrose has come up with what it calls a "super soft cashmere loo roll," designed to "put a smile on your face." Um, no matter what we're using when we're doing our duty, it's unlikely to make us smile. Waitrose says the product — which is really just plain old paper with some cashmere extract tossed in — carries the same "stamp of quality" as the "finest luxury knitwear." More »

(Kawaii Not)

Hot Topic Steals Adorable Designs From Webcomic
By Laura Northrup on February 27, 2010 5:00 PM   37 Comments
Update: Meghan and Hot Topic have settled this situation. Fans of the adorable webcomic Kawaii Not were surprised to discover buttons made from comic panels for sale at Hot Topic. The problem? The artist sort of didn't license the designs to Hot Topic, and they are copyrighted. Artist Meghan Murphy does sell her own buttons...and these aren't those. More »

(resedabear)

Consumer Reports Gets Patriotic, Names Best American Cars For 2010
By Chris Morran on February 26, 2010 1:27 PM   59 Comments
While the Congress frets about the millions of Toyotas on the road that probably shouldn't be, our grease-monkey brothers at Consumer Reports were busy getting domestic. They just released the list of their Top Picks for vehicles put out by American car companies. More »

(jenny downing)

Lactose Intolerant? Drink Milk!
By Chris Morran on February 25, 2010 3:24 PM   90 Comments
If you think you're lactose intolerant, the National Institutes of Health says, well... maybe you're not. In a statement released yesterday, the NIH claims that lactose intolerance is nowhere near as prevalent as it's believed and that a general misunderstanding of lactose is causing people to not get the Vitamin D and calcium they need. More »

(Nintendo)

Giant Redesigned DS Coming In March, Could Be Second-Tier Kindle
By Phil Villarreal on February 25, 2010 8:00 AM   27 Comments
The jumbo-sized DS redesign, the DSi XL, which came out in Japan in November, will make its way to the U.S. March 28 and cost $190. More »

(ashi)

Heavy-Drinking Off-Duty Employee Ruined My Trip To Boston's
By Phil Villarreal on February 22, 2010 11:47 AM   65 Comments
Kris was trying to get his poker on at Boston's The Gourmet Pizza, but an unruly manager who tried to impress him by showing him video of strippers doing their thing at the restaurant after hours ruined the night for him. More »

(Great Beyond)

Science Renders Chickens Obsolete With Special Soy
By Phil Villarreal on February 22, 2010 9:00 AM   69 Comments
University of Missouri scientists have invented a soy substitute with chicken, which supposedly matches chicken's texture, moisture content, appearance and taste, Jeannine Stein blogs for the Los Angeles Times. More »

dM.nyc™

Guitar Center Solves Receipt Check Dilemma: Give Receipts At The Door
By Laura Northrup on February 21, 2010 3:00 PM   117 Comments
Tommy reports that he visited a Guitar Center store in Houston, and found what seems like a nice compromise between receipt checking and not receipt checking. Instead of giving out receipts at the cash register, the store gives customers their receipts at the exit, as they leave the store with their merchandise. Since it's hard to put a Stratocaster in a plastic bag. More »

(largeprime)

How I Learned To Start Worrying And Hate Showing My ID
By Phil Villarreal on February 19, 2010 8:00 AM   185 Comments
In response to yesterday's post about a guy who likes showing his ID to checkout clerks when he makes credit card purchases, Adam rebuts with his explanation of how he used to be OK with the practice, but has now turned against it. More »

Allow Yourself To Stop Being Obsessed With "Sell By" Dates On Food
By Meg Marco on February 18, 2010 6:30 PM   64 Comments
Slate has an interesting article about food expiration dates and their meaning — which can be somewhat slippery. The basic idea is this: You don't have to throw out food just because its past the "Sell By" date. You should inspect your food to see if it has spoiled and try to make a rational decision. More »

(Atwater Village Newbie)

I'm Happy When Clerks Demand I Show My ID With Credit Card Purchases
By Phil Villarreal on February 18, 2010 9:40 AM   236 Comments
James is just fine with companies violating the merchant agreement by checking his ID when he pays via credit card. His rationale is that the practice only increases his sense of security. He writes: More »

(Alan Rappa)

Sony Blocks Online Play On Used Copies Of PSP SOCOM Game
By Phil Villarreal on February 18, 2010 8:45 AM   83 Comments
Video game publishers generally aren't too happy that companies such as GameStop reap huge profits from buying and selling used games, and Sony has devised a way to hobble the system from sapping away sales of its newest PSP shooter — slap DRM on the game's online mode. More »

(Top: me; Bottom: Shaggy Paul)

Walgreens Opens Wide, Swallows Up Duane Reade
By Chris Morran on February 17, 2010 1:27 PM   51 Comments
Anyone who's lived in — or even visited — New York City is familiar with Duane Reade Pharmacies, the only business that competes with Starbuck in terms of retail space in the five boroughs. And, as a New Yorker, I know it's a love-hate relationship with the local chain. But the era of a Duane Reade on every corner in Manhattan may be coming to an end with the announcement this morning that Illinois-based drugstore giant Walgreens is in the process of buying Duane Reade out. More »

(frankieleon)

Redbox Bows To WB's Demand It Wait 4 Weeks To Rent Its DVDs
By Phil Villarreal on February 17, 2010 9:30 AM   74 Comments
Warner Bros. has already gotten Netflix to wait four weeks before renting the studio's DVDs, and now it's worked out a similar deal with Redbox, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports: More »

mrkathika

Brookstone Replaces Broken Electronic Thingy, Delights Skeptical Customer
By Laura Northrup on February 14, 2010 8:00 PM   10 Comments
Reader Deejmer had a lovely experience at Brookstone that he couldn't help but share. He writes that he received a wireless speaker as a gift and grew to love it. When the device died, he couldn't produce the receipt, but his local store was happy to exchange it out for him. Yay! More »

(rowens27)

How A $19.99 Flower Arrangement Costs $49.95
By Laura Northrup on February 12, 2010 4:45 PM   113 Comments
Craig writes that he found a great deal from Proflowers recently: a dozen roses for $19.99. Good boyfriend and sensible shopper that he is, he ordered them for Valentine's Day, only to discover that the delivery charges and holiday surcharges made the cost more than double. More »

(Klobetime)

How To Buy The Right Gift Of Underthings For Your Special Lady
By Laura Northrup on February 12, 2010 12:15 PM   87 Comments
Valentine's Day is soon approaching. Whatever your feelings about the day, the cold capitalist fact remains: this is a holiday when people who are not women venture into stores and attempt to purchase underthings for women. This can sometimes end badly. Fortunately, blogger Treacle over at Wisebread has broken down the essentials of lingerie-buying into four simple steps that even the most fashion-impaired gentleman can use to find a suitable gift. More »

(Watchcaddy)

Gamers, Expect Less Guitar Hero, Zero College Hoops This Year
By Phil Villarreal on February 11, 2010 8:45 AM   37 Comments
Kotaku dropped a couple bombshells yesterday, reporting that Activision will release only two "Hero" games this year — a new Guitar Hero and DJ Hero 2, after unleashing about a billion of them in 2009. Just about any band that wanted the Guitar Hero treatment in '09 got it, including, uh, Van Halen. More »

(Vince Alongi)

Light Bulb's Promises Are True Only Where Nighttime Lasts Three Hours
By Laura Northrup on February 4, 2010 1:10 PM   116 Comments
Rick bought a light bulb at Home Depot that turned into more of a geography test. The question it poses: is there anywhere in the world that has an average of three hours of darkness year-round? The answer: no. Which means that the claims on the front of this light bulb package contradict each other. More »

(DCvision2006)

This Suitcase Is Yours For Only $27,100
By Phil Villarreal on February 4, 2010 8:45 AM   62 Comments
There are some cases in which a suitcase can be worth $27,100: If the banker on Deal or No Deal offers you that amount, if it's full of $27,100 worth of drugs and there are not snipers waiting for you to hand over the cash before they take you out (but there always are snipers there) or... yeah, that's basically it. But CNN contributor Bob Greene found another suitcase that costs that much, although whether or not it's actually worth the price is dubious. More »

(Great Beyond)

Wii Fit Plus Shortage May Be Rocking The Nation
By Phil Villarreal on February 1, 2010 10:00 AM   47 Comments
Marcus wants a Wii Fit Plus game that includes the balance board and retails for $100. Problem is, he can't find it anywhere. Third-party sellers are charging $150 and more on Amazon for the exercise game, which was the second-best seller in December, and everywhere he checks seems to be out of stock. More »

(Photo: Paxton Holley)

23 Things Restaurants Do To Save Money
By Phil Villarreal on January 29, 2010 8:45 AM   95 Comments
Coupon Sherpa put together a list of 23 ways restaurants cut costs. More »

(Photo: Lawrence in Houston)

Evil Mutant Cotton Sneaks Into H&M "Organic" Clothing
By Laura Northrup on January 27, 2010 4:43 PM   49 Comments
Global fast fashion retailer H&M and European chains C&A and Tchibo have been caught selling misleading "organic cotton" products to consumers. Independent testing done by Germany's Financial Times showed that 30% of the samples contained genetically modified strains of cotton. Oops. More »

Easter Creep: Now Right Next To The Tampons
By Laura Northrup on January 23, 2010 1:00 PM   62 Comments
At an unidentified drug store last week, reader H. found something strange next to the tampons: a display of Cadbury Creme Eggs. Whoever decided to pair these products together is some kind of marketing genius, considering the kinds of chocolate cravings that some women get during their Special Time. But there's nothing unusual about having the Easter candy out early. Why, at some Walmarts, it's been out for a month now. More »

(Photo: Ben Popken)

"Stop Shopping Its Sick! Barf!"
By Ben Popken on January 21, 2010 12:00 PM   80 Comments
There is an abandoned building in Brooklyn that periodically sports a new piece of anti-capitalist graffiti. The latest, descending to self-parody, says "Stop shopping its sick! Barf!" I laugh when I see it.
Sorry We Missed The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Snuggie
By Laura Northrup on January 21, 2010 11:09 AM   19 Comments
We work hard to bring our readers all Snuggie-related news, and were remiss in not reporting on an exciting product from Hot Topic before it finally disappeared from the market. Shortly before the holidays, Hot Topic introduced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Snuggie Funky Cozy. They sold out. For obvious reasons. More »

Never Chill Your Hands With Beer Or Soda Again
By Laura Northrup on January 18, 2010 5:46 PM   59 Comments
Do you ever find yourself holding on to a soda or beer can, regretting how your hand feels cold and your body heat warms up the drink? Me either. But now there's a product that has come to the rescue, saving you from having to hold on to beverage cans with your hands. Like an animal. More »

Why Does The Word "Baby" Make The Same Product More Expensive?
By Laura Northrup on January 17, 2010 6:30 PM   114 Comments
Gail has an interesting question. She would like to know why the "baby" version of her son's eczema cream costs $.50 more than the adult formula, even though the products' packaging and contents are seemingly identical. More »

This Petsmart Uses The Opposite Of Bulk Pricing
By Laura Northrup on January 14, 2010 2:03 PM   23 Comments
Maybe, you, our wonderful and brilliant readers, can figure out the logic behind the pricing scheme for aquarium air stones that Kevin discovered at Petsmart. Because we sure as heck can't. In a move that would make Target weep with envy, air stones become more expensive the more you buy. More »

(Photo: am07)>

If You Want A Zhu Zhu Pet, Now's The Time
By Laura Northrup on January 13, 2010 11:05 AM   59 Comments
It seems like only a few weeks ago that fist fights were breaking out in stores over Zhu Zhu Pets. Because it was. Now that Christmas has passed, the cycle is complete, and retailers are up to their whiskers in robot rodents. More »

(Photo: My New Pink Button)

Nothing Like Genital Dye To Dye Up Those Genitals
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2010 9:30 AM   105 Comments
Ladies, you can put the magic markers away. My New Pink Button offers to "restore the pink to a woman's genitals." More »

(Photo: mistaken.poet)

San Francisco Weddings Are Expensive, Milwaukee Ones Are Cheap
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2010 8:00 AM   112 Comments
Weddings in San Francisco run an average of $45,284, while ceremonies in Milwaukee cost only $14,687, according to a terrifying infographic on BridePop. More »

(Photo: Jenny the Blogges)

Diet Dr. Pepper Cans Say It Isn't
By Phil Villarreal on January 11, 2010 8:00 AM   113 Comments
Jenny the Bloggess was confused when she spotted these cans of Diet Dr. Pepper, as to the amount of diet-ness to the product, which claims there's "nothing diet about it." More »

(Photo: NCinDC)

H&M Insists That All Unsold Clothing Is Donated, Manhattan Store Went Rogue
By Laura Northrup on January 9, 2010 11:30 AM   53 Comments
After last week's uproar and public shaming, over unsold clothing that was intentionally destroyed, then thrown in the trash behind the chain's Herald Square location, clothing retailer H&M insists that the incident was against company policy and a fluke. Then TV station WPIX caught an employee throwing away a giant bag of shoes a few days later. More »

(Photo: afagen)

When It Comes To Chocolate, Ain't No Recession
By Phil Villarreal on January 7, 2010 9:30 AM   16 Comments
When the world goes into an economic downturn, it turns to chocolate. According to a report from London market research firm Mintel, chocolate sales rose in several countries, especially in China (18 percent) and the Ukraine (12 percent), as well as a more modest 2.6 percent in the U.S. More »

(Photo: consumerisn't)

H&M Store Cuts Up Unsold Clothing, Throws It Away
By Laura Northrup on January 6, 2010 4:15 PM   126 Comments
Some retailers donate unsold clothing to charity, or discount it by the palletful and sell it to thrift stores or closeout retailers. But the New York Times reports that the H&M at Herald Square in Manhattan gets rid of their unsold clothing by cutting holes in it to render it unwearable, then throwing it away. More »

(Photo: gumbyliberation)

ESPN To Bore Soccer Viewers In 3-D
By Phil Villarreal on January 6, 2010 9:00 AM   65 Comments
Advancing ever closer to "The Ocho" prophesied by the movie Dodgeball, ESPN announced yet another new network, although this one will do more than televise college lacrosse and late-night strongman competitions. More »

FYE Loses Customer Through Use Of Relentless Upsells
By Laura Northrup on January 3, 2010 12:30 PM   193 Comments
Holly visited her local FYE store to purchase a DVD. She writes that she was met with such relentless upselling when all she wanted was to buy a single DVD that she is no longer interested in shopping at FYE at all. More »

(Photo: Jen Johans)

Perfume Packaging Defeats Pen, Can Opener And Knives
By Phil Villarreal on December 30, 2009 8:00 AM   41 Comments
Film critic Jen Johans can tear movies apart, but even her sharpest barbs were no match for impenetrable DKNY perfume packaging. More »

(Photo: gumbyliberation)

5 Places To Do Last-Second Shopping
By Marc Perton on December 25, 2009 7:40 AM   15 Comments
Merry Christmas! Finished shopping yet? If the answer is no, relax. You've still got time. And you're in good company. Remember, after Scrooge got scared straight, he had to do all of his shopping on Christmas, and managed to pull it off. And according to one recent poll, 4% of consumers don't plan on finishing their shopping until after Christmas. Compared to them, you're an early bird. Just follow these tips, and you can avoid showing up empty-handed — or worse, bearing gift cards More »

(Photo: Edgar Zuniga Jr.)

Do Not Retaliate For Bad Customer Service With Bomb Threats
By Laura Northrup on December 22, 2009 5:00 PM   12 Comments
Protip: The best way to deal with poor customer service from a mall is not to turn around and call in a bomb threat. From your office phone. Without blocking caller ID. Yes, a man in a Salt Lake City suburb allegedly did that. More »

(Photo: Giftcardcollector.com)

A Look Back At The Origin Of Gift Cards
By Laura Northrup on December 22, 2009 3:35 PM   50 Comments
Sure, we at Consumerist may try to steer people away from gift cards, but they remain the most popular holiday gift. But where did they come from? How did the gift card evolve from its less versatile ancestor, the gift certificate? The Big Money has a retrospective. More »

(Photo: theogeo)

Watch Out For Stricter Post-Holiday Return Policies This Year
By Laura Northrup on December 22, 2009 2:15 PM   38 Comments
If part of your plans this week involve trading in some of your holiday gifts for sweet, sweet cash, you may need to plan ahead. According to the National Retail Federation, 17% of stores have tightened their return policies since the end of last year. What should you know before you try to bring back that magenta scarf or duplicate toy? More »

(Photo: The Consumerist)

Parking Lot Safety Tips
By Phil Villarreal on December 22, 2009 8:00 AM   94 Comments
You're not done with your holiday shopping when you swipe your credit card at the cash register. You've often got to navigate a potentially treacherous parking lot and get the goods home. The personal finance blog Finance for a Freelance Life offers some common yet helpful tips on how to avoid parking lot robbers. More »

(Photo: Justin)

Valentine's Day Can Also Creep
By Phil Villarreal on December 21, 2009 9:00 AM   35 Comments
Justin snapped this shot inside the Penn Station Kmart in New York City, signifying that the cosmic order of holiday creepage can indeed infringe on Christmas by allowing the unreasonably far-off occasion of Valentine's Day to violate the yuletide cheer. More »

(Photo: peachy177)

Textbooks: The Gift For The Student Who's Got Nothing
By Phil Villarreal on December 21, 2009 8:00 AM   32 Comments
Consider buying textbooks for college students on your holiday buying list who are tough to shop for, helping them out by defraying an oppressing educational cost, the personal finance blog Poorer Than You advises. More »

Photo: g-hat

The Opposite Of Christmas Creep: Christmas Retreat
By Laura Northrup on December 16, 2009 8:15 AM   89 Comments
Around the 12th of December, Jasper in northern Virginia needed some lights to finish decorating his Christmas tree. He drove to store after store in search of a simple string of indoor lights, but could find none. I suppose that's what happens when stores start putting Christmas decorations out long before Halloween. More »

(Photo: ckilgore)

'Ethical Gifts' Might Offend Recipients
By Phil Villarreal on December 15, 2009 9:15 AM   223 Comments
Finally science has quantified that feeling of disappointment when you open up an envelope and Christmas card to find that a donation to a charity has been made in your name instead of cash or a gift card. More »

(Photo: Aijin)

Overstock Thinks Disney Fans Are Pervs
By Phil Villarreal on December 15, 2009 8:45 AM   33 Comments
Aijin was shopping for Disney Princess gear on Overstock.com, then fielded an indecent proposal from the website, suggesting Disney Princess fans would go on to purchase Girls Gone Wild videos. More »

(Photo: Lisa)

Old Navy Raising Prices By 50 Cents In 'Sale'
By Phil Villarreal on December 14, 2009 10:30 AM   17 Comments
Lisa spotted these not-so-enticing deals somewhere on Old Navy's website. More »

Maybe It Just Needs A Little Love
By Marc Perton on December 12, 2009 2:13 PM   38 Comments
We've kept quiet about the rampant commercialization of classic holiday programming, in part because we kinda like our plush Bumble, and in part because, well, what's more commercial in the first place than a made-for-TV holiday cartoon? But we have to draw the line with this little item we found in a local CVS. Haven't these people listened to Linus? Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? More »

(Photo: catastrophegirl)

Radio Shack Nearly Livestronged Me
By Phil Villarreal on December 11, 2009 8:45 AM   51 Comments
Even though Radio Shack has promised to tell its employees to manage its Livestrong donations "carefully and correctly," people are still complaining that sneaky clerks are tricking them into donating. More »

(Photo: chuckp)

Merchants Demand Credit Card Fee Relief
By Ben Popken on December 10, 2009 9:11 AM   98 Comments
Merchants are pushing for more credit card fee reform, for the fees they have to pay. Every time you swipe at checkout, whether it's a credit or debit card, the merchant has to pay two fees. One is a flat per transaction fee, the other is a percentage of the total sale, called the interchange fee. Those rewards cards you're so fond of? They have the higest interchange fees. Those rewards and cashbacks don't come from a magical reward tree, they're paid for by the interchange fees. In other words, the Quickie Mart is paying for your "free" airline miles. More »

(Photo: Paxton Holley)

Consumers Permanently Downgrading Brands They Buy
By Ben Popken on December 9, 2009 12:49 PM   187 Comments
A new McKinsey report says that a large number of consumers who are switching to cheaper brands during the recession are switching for good. Of those surveyed, 34% said they no longer preferred the costlier products. 41% said that although the liked the better stuff, it wasn't worth it anymore. Have you downgraded during the recession? Is the switch for good? Leave your thoughts in the comments. More »

(Photo: Will)

Behold, 'HD Lighting'
By Phil Villarreal on December 7, 2009 8:30 AM   36 Comments
Will spotted this amazing new invention, which lets you light stuff in HD. He writes: More »

Photo: AComment

More Americans Plan Gifts Of Cash This Year
By Laura Northrup on December 6, 2009 9:00 AM   48 Comments
A Western Union survey proves that perhaps the American public is taking the message of Consumerist's anti-gift card to heart. Instead of tangible gifts or gift cards, more Americans are reportedly giving each other the gift of versatile, useful cash. More »

(Photo: Mark Coggins)

Having A Picture Scanned At OfficeMax Is Like Being On A Game Show
By Chris Walters on December 4, 2009 3:11 PM   28 Comments
Adam and his wife never know what they're going to be charged for scanning services at OfficeMax's ImPress print center. I like to imagine that the ImPress employee stands in front of them holding a very long microphone, and tries to build tension before a coworker flips over the Actual Price card. More »

(Photo:brewpot)

Sam Adams Makes Illegal, Expensive Beer
By Phil Villarreal on December 4, 2009 10:37 AM   137 Comments
Perhaps you've heard of Utopias, Sam Adams' $150-a-bottle beer that's banned in 13 states. An AP story says the brewery is releasing a new edition of its every-other-year beer, which the story says has the most alcohol by volume of any other beer at 27 percent. More »

Diablo 2 Scammer Inadvertently Shines Spotlight On Self
By Chris Walters on December 3, 2009 2:38 PM   63 Comments
Robert usually writes about energy and the environment on his blog. However, he recently ran into a scammer online, and surprised the scammer by fighting back:
After I didn't roll over for him, he resorted to sending me numerous threats and harassing e-mails, going so far as to threaten harm to my elementary school aged son. I wasn't about to let him get away with this.
More »

Black Friday Sales Figures Almost Didn't Suck
By Laura Northrup on November 29, 2009 11:00 AM   28 Comments
Overall, Black Friday retail sales weren't too bad, as shoppers sought deals on all sorts of products, focusing on computers (especially netbooks, if Consumerist readers are any indication), flat-panel televisions, and Snuggies. Sales were up slightly over last year nationwide, especially in the western United States, and online sales were up 35% over Black Friday 2008. More »

First Toy Store Melee Reported In Connecticut
By Laura Northrup on November 27, 2009 2:00 PM   30 Comments
The crowd waiting at the doors of the Toys R Us in Manchester, Conn., burning up with Black Friday fever, grew impatient. Shortly before the store opened at midnight, a group of people tried to jump the line and get through the doors. The store didn't open until nearly an hour later—and after twenty police officers got the crowd under control. More »

Photo: elle_emm

Yes, You Can Shop Today If You Must
By Marc Perton on November 26, 2009 1:21 AM   33 Comments
If turkey, football, pumpkin pie, a huge parade, and all of those great family members aren't enough to keep you occupied today — or if you're looking for an excuse to get away from all of those great family members — more stores than ever are open today, and some are even offering "Black Thursday" sweeteners to get you in before you slip into a tryptophan coma. More »

Photo: cmorran123

Radio Shack Employees Say They Can't Force Donations
By Phil Villarreal on November 24, 2009 10:00 AM   82 Comments
Responding to the post about a customer who thinks Radio Shack forced him to donate a dollar to Livestrong, a couple Radio Shack employees wrote in and said that cashiers lack the ability to force such charges. More »

Toys R Us Invites You To Save -$10
By Meg Marco on November 23, 2009 4:53 PM   22 Comments

—>We love when Toys R Us does this. Ah, yes. "While supplies last." Hurry, people. Hurry.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 23, 2009 9:13 AM   17 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Gap: [Clothing] Save Extra 25% off All On-Sale Apparel & Other Items
  • JC Penney : [Apparel] 15% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon PCTHANJC
  • Coldwater Creek : [Apparel] 25% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon NKP1225

  • Bloomingdale's: [Apparel] Bloomingdale's Coupon Code Additional 20% off SALE4U
  • Cabelas: [Outdoor Apparel] Columbia Men's Bugaboo Parka Jacket $79.95
  • JewelryUnder100: [Jewelry] 6mm Men's Tungsten Carbide Ring for $16 + free shipping, more
  More »

Fewer Consumers Write Personal Checks, Fewer Retailers Accept Them
By Laura Northrup on November 21, 2009 7:00 PM   110 Comments

—>Reader broncobiker sent us the photo at left, wondering whether check acceptance policies might be getting a little out of hand. But checks have so much potential for fraud, and so few shoppers use them, that many merchants have just stopped accepting them entirely.  More »

Black Friday Doorbusters Are A Sleazy Way To Lure Customers
By Chris Walters on November 20, 2009 9:45 PM   55 Comments

—>Pay no attention to those ridiculously cheap TV sets and game systems—also called doorbusters—that retailers use to lure in hordes of holiday shoppers, notes CNN. They're the equivalent of that little dangly thing anglerfish use to catch food.  More »

Sprint Gives Stranger Full Access To Customer's Account, Shrugs
By Chris Walters on November 20, 2009 7:20 PM   48 Comments

—>When Campbell changed his phone number with Sprint earlier this year, the company immediately assigned his old number to a new customer. They also gave that customer full access to Campbell's account.  More »

See Which Retailers Offer Free Shipping
By Chris Walters on November 20, 2009 3:19 PM   20 Comments

—>The website istobe offers a daily free shipping report for over 500 online retailers, where you can quickly see whether there's a minimum purchase requirement or if the retailer offers free shipping at all. It's a good resource to use as you compare prices, and istobe says they update it daily.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 20, 2009 1:58 PM   25 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Old Navy: [Apparel] Save an Extra 15% or 25% off All Orders of $75+
  • New York & Company: [Clothing] Take $25 OFF $75, $60 OFF $150 or $90 OFF $200 w/ coupon 2819 and 2820 and 2821 + Printable
  • Overstock: [Indoor Apparel] Unisex Egyptian Cotton Terry Bathrobe $36.99 + $1 Shipping

  • Nike: [Clothing & Accessories] NikeStore clearance sale: Up to 70% off + free shipping
  • Banana Republic: [Clothing & Accessories] Banana Republic Sale: 30% off outerwear
  • H&M: [Clothing] 20% off all outerwear, Nov 19-25th (Thanks to PecanPi!)
  More »

AT&T Says Their Rep Doesn't Want To Die
By Ben Popken on November 19, 2009 4:15 PM   49 Comments

—>AT&T is very concerned that you know the TRUTH about the chat transcript from yesterday's "AT&T Rep Wants To Die" post that we picked up after hit the front page of Digg. They say the screengrab is "doctored" and "fraudulent." We say, who cares? It's a hilarious online pass-around that any normal internet user would takes with a grain of salt. By the time we had picked it up, it was already old news. In any event, they provided us with the REAL conversation between rep Darlene and customer Robert:  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 19, 2009 2:31 PM   2 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Gap: [Clothing] Save 25% off All Items Store-Wide Not Already On Sale
  • REI Outlet: [Travel] Gregory Reactor Daypack Backpack $40
  • Sports Authority: [Clothing] $10 Off $50 + $25 Off $100 w/ coupon TSAYXYN and TSAQHKZ + Printable

  • JCPenney: [Clothing] $10 Off a $25 Purchase w/ coupon 104YOU + Printable
  • Dillards.com: [Clothing & Accessories] Dillard's Sale: Up to 70% off select items
  More »

AT&T Rep Wants To Die
By Ben Popken on November 18, 2009 4:33 PM   83 Comments

—>Morale is low aboard the Deathstar.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 18, 2009 2:07 PM   10 Comments

—>

    Babies
  • Pennywise: [Breast Pumps] First Years Natural Transitions Electric/Battery Breast Pump, Set of 2 for $34.99 + 1 cent shipping (Thanks to John!)

    • Clothing
  • Gap.com: [Clothing]: 20% off online w/ coupon GAP20
  • Foot Locker: [Clothing] $15 off $50, $30 off $100, $60 off $100 w/ coupon EMFL9NE5 and EMFL9NE3 and EMFL9NE6
  • Amazon: [Warmth] Cold Weather Sale: Hats, Gloves, & Scarves up to 50% or more off

  • Nike: [Clothing & Accessories] NikeStore clearance sale: Up to 70% off + free shipping
  • Eastbay: [Clothing & Accessories] Up to 40% off The North Face jackets at Eastbay: Women's track jacket for $40 + $7 s&h, more
  More »

Verizon's Response To AT&T's Lawsuit: "The Truth Hurts"
By Meg Marco on November 18, 2009 12:26 AM   104 Comments

—>Awhile back AT&T sued Verizon over their "There's a Map For That" advertisements, claiming that the maps were misleading because the empty areas on the maps represented different things. Now Verizon has responded to the lawsuit with some fightin' words.  More »

Are You Ready To Go Shopping On Your Next Flight?
By Chris Walters on November 17, 2009 11:51 PM   54 Comments

—>American Airlines is beginning to experiment with turning flights into shopping opportunities, reports the New York Times. We're not just talking about in-flight purchases of Sky Mall schwag, either: the paper reports that limousine services, tickets to theme parks and Broadway shows, and train tickets are some of the offerings being considered or currently being tested.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 17, 2009 2:34 PM   30 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Ann Taylor: [Clothing] 30% Off Entire Purchase w/ coupon FRIENDS + Printable
  • Armani Exchange: [Clothing] - 20% Off Sale Items + Free Shipping (no minimum) w/ coupon FRSHP09
  • The Limited: [Clothing] $15 Off Any Purchase or $30 Off $100, $50 Off $150 w/ coupon 193390879 + Printable

  • Lands' End: [Men's Apparel] Lands' End Men's Overstocks: Deals from $4 + free shipping
  • Wet Seal: [Women's Apparel] Wet Seal Sale Event: Extra 40% off clearance
  More »

Website Tracks Black Friday Deals
By Phil Villarreal on November 16, 2009 3:42 PM   36 Comments

—>The website BlackFriday.info tracks post-Thanksgiving sales ads as they're posted and leaked, giving you one-stop shopping to find out what deals will be worth elbowing strangers in the face for.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 16, 2009 2:10 PM   28 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Amazon: [Shoes] Save an Extra $20 off Footwear and Handbags
  • Payless Shoes: [Shoes] Extra 15% off w/ coupon 26292 + Printable
  • Amazon: [Jeans] Wrangler Men's Rugged Wear Classic Fit Jeans $6.84 a pair

  • Figleaves: [Clothing & Accessories] Figleaves Designer Outlet: Up to 70% off
  • Walmart: [Men's Apparel] Puritan Men's Short-Sleeve Polo Shirt 2-Pack for $6 + $1 s&h, more
  • REI: [Men's Apparel] SportHill Men's Symmetry II Jacket for $30 + $6 s&h
  More »

Walmart Takes Steps To Prevent More Black Friday Chaos And Tragedy
By Laura Northrup on November 13, 2009 10:37 PM   64 Comments

—>Hoping to avoid anything even close to last year's tragic Black Friday human stampede, Walmart stores nationwide aren't opening at the crack of dawn. Instead of opening their doors at 5 A.M. and inviting sales-crazed frenzies, they will open at 6 A.M. on Thanksgiving Day, then remain open overnight.  More »

Verizon Configures Phones So You Incur Erroenous Data Charges? (To The Tune Of $300 Million)
By Ben Popken on November 13, 2009 6:04 PM   144 Comments
If you have a Verizon phone, you've probably at one point accidentally hit a button that connects you to "Get It Now" or "Mobile Web." Arg. And it's double-arg when it turns out that even if you cancel right away, you still get hit with a $1.99 1MB data charge. According to a tipster, this is totally on purpose.A guy wrote in to Pogue's blog and said everyone at Verizon knows about these design flaws but no one will do anything about it, because it makes Verizon over $300 million a month. He said:
"The phone is designed in such a way that you can almost never avoid getting $1.99 charge on the bill. Around the OK button on a typical flip phone are the up, down, left, right arrows. If you open the flip and accidentally press the up arrow key, you see that the phone starts to connect to the web. So you hit END right away. Well, too late. You will be charged $1.99 for that 0.02 kilobytes of data. NOT COOL. I've had phones for years, and I sometimes do that mistake to this day, as I'm sure you have. Legal, yes; ethical, NO."Every month, the 87 million customers will accidentally hit that key a few times a month! That's over $300 million per month in data revenue off a simple mistake!"Our marketing, billing, and technical departments are all aware of this. But they have failed to do anything about it-and why? Because if you get 87 million customers to pay $1.99, why stop this revenue? Customer Service might credit you if you call and complain, but this practice is just not right."Now, you can ask to have this feature blocked. But even then, if you one of those buttons by accident, your phone transmits data; you get a message that you cannot use the service because it's blocked�BUT you just used 0.06 kilobytes of data to get that message, so you are now charged $1.99 again!"They have started training us reps that too many data blocks are being put on accounts now; they're actually making us take classes called Alternatives to Data Blocks. They do not want all the blocks, because 40% of Verizon's revenue now comes from data use. I just know there are millions of people out there that don't even notice this $1.99 on the bill."
Sleazy.Verizon: How Much Do You Charge Now? [NYT] (Thanks to John!) More »

Dollar Store Grand Opening Attracts Hundreds Of Shoppers
By Laura Northrup on November 13, 2009 5:10 PM   62 Comments

—>To promote the opening of a new store, ultra-discount chain 99 Cents Only stocked a few things they don't normally carry, and sold them for 99 cents. Things like iPods and scooters. When they opened a store in San Jose, Calif., this sale proved popular. Very popular.  More »

Photo: OldManMusings

Time To Formulate Your Black Friday Safety Strategies
By Phil Villarreal on November 13, 2009 4:58 PM   119 Comments

—>Looking ahead to Black Friday, America's annual equivalent of soccer hooliganism, Bargain Babe Julia Scott enlists the help of fellow blogger Suzanne O'Connor to compile some safety tips to keep in mind when you brave the ravenous deal-hunting crowds.  More »

What Cheer? Consumers More Glum Than Ever
By Chris Walters on November 13, 2009 4:47 PM   52 Comments

—>Retailers have been hoping that we'd enter the annual Festival of Shopping with higher spirits than last year, but it looks like that might not happen after all. The Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was updated today, and it shows a drop to 66.0, "well below October's reading of 70.6 and a sharp reversal of the 71.0 figure economists had expected."  More »

Walmart Security Guard Gets Head-butted, Sat On, Peed On
By Phil Villarreal on November 13, 2009 2:35 PM   219 Comments

—>It was a rough day at the office for a Michigan Walmart security guard last week. The Muskegon News reports a guard was physically abused and humiliated as he tried to stop two female shoplifters from making off with some goods that they found priced too high.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 13, 2009 1:57 PM   27 Comments

—>

    Kids
  • Disney Store: [Gifts] Save an Extra 20% off Toys, Apparel, & More ($89 minimum purchase)
  • Toys R Us : [Toys] $15 Off $100 Purchase w/ Coupon TOYSHOLIDAY + Multiple In-Store Coupons
  • Trainz (via eBay): [Toys & Hobbies] Lionel Train Sets from $140 + free shipping: Thomas & Friends, Polar Express, more
  More »

Middle Class Shoplifting To Keep Up Appearances
By Ben Popken on November 12, 2009 10:25 PM   52 Comments

—>Shoplifting is up 20% in the UK as choice cuts of meat, fresh fish and fancy cheeses are increasingly getting stolen, mostly by middle-class women from boutique food emporiums and convenience stores  More »

Newly Frugal Behavior Is Permanent, Say Some Consumers
By Chris Walters on November 12, 2009 9:09 PM   73 Comments

—>A new study says that 26% of US consumers "have no plans to return to their free-spending ways," which probably doesn't sound like good news to retailers. Even worse (for retailers), about a third say they've become less loyal.  More »

Sony Hunts For Morons Willing To Pay $25 To Rent A Movie
By Phil Villarreal on November 12, 2009 4:15 PM   113 Comments

—>Has Sony got a deal for you if you've got a Sony Bravia HDTV that can connect to the internet: Rent Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 30 days early for the low, low price of $24.95. Movie blogger Colin Boyd gushes about the fantastic offer on his site (citing a ZDNet story), Get the Big Picture:  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 12, 2009 2:07 PM   17 Comments

—>

    Travel
  • Delta: [In Flight WiFi] Free Wifi on your next Delta flight with coupon code DELTATRYGOGO (good through 12/31/09) (Thanks to catastrophegirl!)

    • Clothing
  • Liz Claiborne: [Apparel] Liz Claiborne Coupon Code 30% Off Storewide + Free Shipping $50+
  • Joe's New Balance Outlet: [Shoes] Joe's New Balance Outlet sale: Up to 85% off
  • Reebok : [Apparel] 25% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon FRIEND + Printable

  • Original Penguin : [Apparel] 33% Off All Outerwear and Sweaters + One More Coupon OPG33
  • Motorcycle Superstore: [Men's Apparel] Motorcycle Superstore sale: Up to 80% off
  More »

What's Too Much Work For A Price Match?
By Laura Northrup on November 11, 2009 11:11 PM   90 Comments

—>What do you do when you're unhappy with a transaction and the merchant wants to make things right, but you think their terms are unreasonable? That's what Raymond wants to know. He tells us that Aldo is willing to price match after sending him a marked down item that he paid full price for online, but thinks they want him to go too far to prove it.  More »

Block Spam Callers From Your Blackberry With Call Control
By Chris Walters on November 11, 2009 10:14 PM   19 Comments

—>You can always just not answer your phone, but if a telemarketer calling you on your Blackberry sends you into a rage, you might want to look at Call Control. The app relies on the telemarketer database at everycall.us to screen out known spammers. The free version screens out the top 100 telemarketers; an $8 version uses the entire database and includes updates.  More »

Sony's Ebook Store Prices Too High? Try Shortcovers
By Chris Walters on November 11, 2009 9:49 PM   51 Comments

—>Michael bought a Sony Pocket Reader last month, but with the exception of $10 bestsellers, he's finding that other books he wants are priced higher than he's willing to pay. For example, Tad Friend's memoir Cheerful Money is $10 on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble, but $17.49 from Sony. Michael wants to know if we have any advice on how to get Sony to lower their prices.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 11, 2009 2:13 PM   29 Comments

—>

    Veterans Day Specials (Thanks to John!)
  • KrispyKreme: [Donut] Free donut! Today only, at participating locations
  • Applebees: [Restaurant] Free meal for Veterans on Veterans Day. See available menu on Applebees promo site.
  • Brides Across America: [Wedding Gowns] Free gowns from participating shops on first come, first serve basis, for brides-to-be with deployed fiancs

  • Golden Corral: [Restaurant]Free meal for veterans from 5 to 9pm on Monday, November 16th
  • MilitaryAvenue.com: [Discounts] List of discounts or freebies offered to veterans
  More »

(Photo: midorisyu)

Seriously, Your Mom Still Picks Out Your Underwear?
By Marc Perton on November 11, 2009 12:36 PM   0 Comments
A new poll out from U.K. retailer Debenhams casts a dim light on the personal purchasing habits of the men of that country. According to the poll, British guys typically count on their mums to buy their underwear until they're 19. After that, they finally catch on and realize they should pick it out on their own, the better to woo young women, who generally start picking out their own "knickers" when they're about 13. More »

Seriously, Your Mom Still Picks Out Your Underwear?
By Marc Perton on November 10, 2009 10:07 PM   98 Comments

—>A new poll out from U.K. retailer Debenhams casts a dim light on the personal purchasing habits of the men of that country. According to the poll, British guys typically count on their mums to buy their underwear until they're 19. After that, they finally catch on and realize they should pick it out on their own, the better to woo young women, who generally start picking out their own "knickers" when they're about 13.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 10, 2009 2:02 PM   16 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Bloomingdale's: [Apparel] New Bloomingdale's Coupon Code 20% off + $100 Gift Credit w/ $500 Purchase
  • 6pm.com: [Shoes] 6PM Unlisted by Kenneth Cole Men's Shoes $14.95
  • Coldwater Creek : [Apparel] $30 Off $100 Purchase w/ Coupon NKA9439

  • Lands' End: [Men's Apparel] Lands' End Men's Overstocks: Deals from $4 + free shipping
  • eBags: [Bags] 25% off 1 Item Tuesday Only
  More »

Layaway Making A Comeback
By Chris Walters on November 9, 2009 1:48 PM   71 Comments

—>Sears and Toys R Us are among retailers who have brought back layaway programs to help boost sales, reports Eve Mitchell at the San Jose Mercury News. Not all stores think it's worth the effort, so you won't find it at JCPenney, Target, or Walmart. However, if you want to use layaway at retailers that don't offer it, there are now websites that can help.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 9, 2009 1:22 PM   14 Comments

—>

    Clothing
  • Cole Haan : [Apparel] 25% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon OURGUEST + Printable
  • Woman Within : [Apparel] $25 Off $50 Purchase w/ Coupon WW2550

    • Computers and Electronics
  • MacHeist: [OS X Software] Twitterrific, Writeroom, and 4 other applications for free.
  • Buy.com : [Remote Control] Philips 15-Device Universal Remote Control for $39.99 w/ Free shipping
  • PC Connection: [Monitor] LG 22-inch Energy-saving LCD Monitor $119 + free shipping
  More »

iPhone App Developer Sued For Stealing Users' Phone Numbers
By Ben Popken on November 6, 2009 7:08 PM   37 Comments

—>For secretly stealing users' phone number by exploiting a backdoor iPhone vulnerability, app developer Storm8 got slapped with a class action lawsuit.  More »

POLL: When Is Too Early For Christmas Creep?
By Alex Chasick on November 6, 2009 7:00 PM   149 Comments

—>After we proposed tracking Starbucks's roll out of Christmas products as a metric to gauge yearly Christmas Creep, we got a fair amount of comments saying they saw no problem with Christmas stuff coming out once Halloween was over. So, inside, a poll: at what point does Christmas Creep become acceptable holiday display?  More »

Meet JC Penney's Notoriously "Obese" Mannequins
By Meg Marco on November 6, 2009 6:12 PM   62 Comments

—>Over at The Awl there is an intensively researched fact-check of Cintra Wilson's review of the Manhattan JC Penney store, which at the time, we described as "simultaneously hateful and boring." The review-of-the-review features photographs of the mannequins Ms. Wilson described as "obese."  More »

Save The Polar Bear Sweaters Are Nice, But Do The Bears Really Get The Cash?
By Ben Popken on November 6, 2009 5:46 PM   57 Comments

—>So you're shopping and have a choice between Sweater A, and Sweater B, the one that saves polar bears. This so-called "embedded giving" where you buy something and part of the money goes towards a charity has become quite popular, especially during the holiday season, but did you ever stop to think if the polar bears are really getting the money?   More »

Game Consoles, Dolls And Wooden Dogs Are The Best Toys Ever
By Phil Villarreal on November 6, 2009 2:59 PM   99 Comments

—>Did you play with a Slinky growing up? Well, that makes you a loser, because your toy didn't make Good Housekeeping's Yahoo list of the greatest toys ever made.  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 6, 2009 2:06 PM   30 Comments

—>

    Automobiles
  • Buy.com: [Tire Gauge] Accutire Mechanical Tire Gauge w/ Backlight & Set-point $11 + free shipping

    • Clothing
  • American Eagle Outfitters: [Apparel] American Eagle Outfitters Coupon Code 15% off Sitewide w/ PayPal
  • Banana Republic: [Apparel] New Banana Republic Coupon Code 25% off $100+
  • Puma : [First Class Running Suits] 30% Off Entire Online Purchase or 20% Off In-Store Purchase w/ Coupon FANDF0911 + Printable
  More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 5, 2009 2:02 PM   26 Comments

—>

    Bags and Luggage
  • Sears: [Travel] American Tourister 7PC Luggage Set $64.99 Free Shipping
  • REI Outlet: [Messenger] Save $80 off Timbuk2 Classic Covert Messenger

    • Clothing
  • Nordstrom: [Apparel] Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale + Free Shipping on Orders $100+
  • Under Armour: [Apparel] Under Armour Coupon Code up to 50% off Outlet + Free Shipping $75+
  • Chadwicks : [Apparel] 40% Off Any One Item w/ Coupon CHDEAL40
  More »

T-Mobile Surprise Porn Not An Isolated Incident
By Alex Chasick on November 4, 2009 10:35 PM   113 Comments

—>After we posted yesterday about a T-Mobile customer being greeted by pictures of topless women when he logged into his account to pay his bill, some of you asked, "What's the problem?" Several readers' stories answer that question. (Censored but not exactly tasteful pictures inside.) UPDATE: T-Mobile response inside.  More »

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Payless Shoesource For Text Message Spamming
By Chris Walters on November 4, 2009 9:48 PM   33 Comments

—>Peter, who wrote in last month to complain about being text-spammed by Payless Shoesource on his phone, wasn't the only customer they annoyed. A man in California has filed a class action lawsuit against the shoe company and Voice & Mobile Broadcast Corporation, which is the marketing company it hired to run the campaign.  More »

Verizon Wireless To Hike ETFs On "Advanced" Devices
By Laura Northrup on November 4, 2009 5:37 PM   47 Comments

—>Are you looking to get a smartphone on the Verizon network anytime soon? Make sure that you like it before you sign a contract, since starting November 15th, Verizon will be imposing a higher early termination fee—up to $350—on contracts for "advanced" devices. That means smartphones.  More »

Yesterday's T-Mobile Outage Affected 2 Million Users
By Meg Marco on November 4, 2009 3:46 PM   66 Comments

—>Boy, T-Mo is on a roll lately. First they gave Perez Hilton fits by losing his Sidekick info, then, presumably in a misguided attempt to make up for it, they began showing boobs to one of our readers (they are still investigating), and now as an encore — a massive outage.   More »

Morning Deals
By Chris Walters on November 4, 2009 2:29 PM   15 Comments
  • Target : [Toys] $450 Worth of Coupons for Toys - Printable

    • Clothing
  • Eddie Bauer: [Apparel] New Eddie Bauer Coupon Code Free Shipping (no minimum) - Clearance up to 65% Off
  • macys: [Men's Apparel] Macy's Men's Apparel Clearance: Up to 75% off select items
  • Nike: [Clothing & Accessories] NikeStore clearance sale: Up to 65% off + free shipping

  • Esprit: [Women's Apparel] Esprit Sale: Up to 70% off clearance
  • Lands' End: [Men's Apparel] Lands' End Men's Dress Shirts: Deals from $13 + free shipping
    •   More »

    Radio Shack Opening Mobile Phone Kiosks In Target Stores
    By Chris Walters on November 3, 2009 10:10 PM   40 Comments

    —>One problem I've always had when shopping for jacked-up prices is I can't find enough crazy to go along with it. Same thing for the crazy: I know where to go to get cart-loads of that, but I can't find the 2400% markup! What I need, clearly, is for Radio Shack to open up specialty kiosks inside Target stores, so then— oh hey! It's the Bullseye Mobile Solution!  More »

    Reader: "Paid My T-Mobile Bill, Saw Some Boobs"
    By Alex Chasick on November 3, 2009 7:00 PM   175 Comments

    —>Reader Andrew has an interesting problem: whenever he logs onto T-Mobile's website to pay his bill, T-Mobile flashes him.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on November 3, 2009 2:07 PM   35 Comments

    —>  More »

    Government Helped CIT Limp Along Long Enough To Keep From Ruining Christmas
    By Chris Walters on November 3, 2009 12:57 AM   28 Comments

    —>According to SpendMatters, one big reason the government burned through $2.3 billion in TARP funds for CIT even though it was buckling under debt was to try to avoid ruining everybody's Christmas this year.  More »

    What Mobile Platform Do You Use?
    By Ben Popken on November 2, 2009 8:53 PM   119 Comments

    —>Consumerist needs to get on your mobile device so bad it hurts. But first, we need to know which platform you use. Take our poll and tell us!  More »

    Take More Notes, Save Money
    By Chris Walters on November 2, 2009 7:07 PM   65 Comments

    —>Yesterday I grabbed a notebook app for my smartphone and spent a couple of hours organizing the various content folders—ideas for Consumerist, gift lists for Christmas, things to look up later on a computer—so that I could capture information more efficiently. Wait, why s ths n Cnsmrst? Because The Simple Dollar argues that by keeping a notebook and using it all the time (Lifehacker calls it "ubiquitous capture"), you can end up saving money.  More »

    QVC Tricks Thousands Into Overpaying For Wii and Accessories
    By Phil Villarreal on November 2, 2009 2:16 PM   87 Comments

    —>Reader Joe/Mordecai spotted an awful QVC deal on a Wii, a crappy game and some accessories.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on November 2, 2009 2:05 PM   9 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Brooks Brothers: [Apparel] Save at least 15% and up to 25% off All Orders
    • Dickies : [Apparel] 50% Off Everything + Free Shipping w/ Coupon NOV50
    • JC Penney : [Apparel] 20% Off $100 Purchase + One More Coupon CATHKSPC

    • Lands' End: [Clothing & Accessories] Lands' End coupon: $10 off $10 or more
    • 6pm: [Shoes] 45% to 76% off Privo women's shoes at 6pm.com: Deals for $22 + $7 s&h
      More »

    3 Cellphone Apps To Block Texting While Driving
    By Alex Chasick on October 30, 2009 7:30 PM   83 Comments

    —>We've been talking about the dangers of texting while driving for a while, and if you've been paying attention, you know it's no joke: texting is 23 times more distracting than talking on a phone. In spite of this, most people do it anyway. If you just can't help yourself, here are three apps that will limit your ability to text while driving.  More »

    Microsoft Stores To Sell Bloatware-Free PCs
    By Chris Walters on October 30, 2009 6:02 PM   83 Comments

    —>If you hate buying a new PC that's riddled with bloatware, you may want to pay a Microsoft Store a visit on your next computer shopping trip. They plan on selling PCs free of any third-party trial applications, reports OhGizmo.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 30, 2009 1:20 PM   8 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Karmaloop: [Apparel] Karmaloop 80% Off Sale + 20% Coupon or $10 off $10+ or Free Shipping
    • Payless ShoeSource: [Shoes] 50% off entire purchase in store with coupon (Thanks to Marisa!)
    • Adidas : [Apparel] 30% Off Entire Order w/ Coupon SAVE30

    • The Children's Place: [Children's Apparel] The Children's Place sale: Extra 50% off + 15% off coupon
    • Aeropostale: [Men's Apparel] Aeropostale Men's Wool Peacoat for $50 + $7 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 29, 2009 12:25 PM   9 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • ChampionUSA: [Apparel] New ChampionUSA Coupon Code 20% off Storewide (Free Shipping on $75+ Orders)
    • REI Outlet: [Cold Weather Wear] Snow Sports Sale: Up to 50% or more off
    • The North Face: [Men's Apparel] The North Face Men's WindWall 1 Jacket (limited sizes) for $60 + $9 s&h

    • Catherines : [Apparel] $15 Off $25 Purchase w/ Coupon 777001264
    • Lee : [Jeans] 50% Off Entire Order Sale
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 28, 2009 1:27 PM   9 Comments

    —>

      Automobiles
    • Hand Held Items: [Automotive] Performance Auto Parts - up to 30% OFF, plus STACKABLE 12% off Coupon

      • Clothing
    • ShopEcko: [Apparel] New ShopEcko Coupon: $25 off $75 or $50 off $125
    • Aeropostale : [Apparel] Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Hoodies
    • Buy.com : [Backpack] Wilson Youth Backpack - Pink for $6.99 w/ Free shipping

    • Nike: [Clothing & Accessories] NikeStore clearance sale: Up to 65% off + free shipping
    • Pennywise : [Men's Apparel] Isotoner Men's Wool Knit Gloves for $7 + free shipping
      More »

    T-Mobile Launches Unlimited Everything For $79.99 Plan
    By Ben Popken on October 27, 2009 8:08 PM   71 Comments

    —>Codenamed "Project Dark," Tmobile has launched a $79.99 unlimited plan with no annual contract.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 27, 2009 1:19 PM   12 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • American Eagle : [Apparel] 20% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon 23876456
    • Landsend : [Apparel] $10 Off $10 on Regular Priced Items w/ Coupon LandsEnd
    • JC Penney : [Apparel] $10 Off $10.00 Purchase w/ Coupon SWEETS4U

    • 6pm.com: [Shoes] 80%-90% off RSVP Women's Shoes $9.95 each + $6.95 unlimited shipping
    • macys: [Men's Apparel] Up to 50% off men's coats at Macy's: Deals from $25 + $6 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 26, 2009 12:45 PM   39 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Timberland: [Men's Apparel] Timberland Men's Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt for $13 + free shipping
    • Amazon: [Jeans] Men's Sale: Levi's Jeans & Pants from $30 & Free Shipping
    • Lands' End: [Men's Apparel] Lands' End Men's Overstocks: Deals from $4 + free shipping
      More »

    Here's What The New FCC Net Neutrality Rules Mean
    By Chris Walters on October 23, 2009 2:57 PM   132 Comments

    —>Yesterday the FCC announced new, expanded rules enforcing net neutrality, and they've set aside the next 60 days for public debate. Get ready to hear all sorts of creative end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it arguments from opponents like AT&T. We've checked out the official document (pdf) and below we summarize the changes that are open to public discussion for the next two months.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 23, 2009 12:51 PM   22 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • REI Outlet: [Travel & Hike] Top-rated Gregory Reactor Pack $45
    • Jones New York : [Apparel] 30% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon FRIEND6Z
    • Aeropostale : [Apparel] Extra 30% Off All Clearance w/ Coupon FALL30

    • REI: [Clothing & Accessories] Up to 50% off on The North Face: Deals from $10 + free shipping
    • SteveMadden: [Shoes] Steve Madden Fall Favorites Sale: Up to 40% off + free shipping
      More »

    Customer Gets Payless To Compensate Him For Text Message Spam
    By Chris Walters on October 23, 2009 1:53 AM   56 Comments

    —>Peter was pretty frustrated when Payless Shoesource ignored his two opt-out texts and continued to pester him with SMS spam. His complained via email and got taken off their list, but then he decided to see if he could get back the money those texts cost him.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 22, 2009 12:29 PM   2 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Eastbay: [Sporting Goods] 20% off orders $99+ and 30% off orders $199+ w/ coupons, ends 10/22
    • Nike: [Clothing & Accessories] NikeStore clearance sale: Up to 65% off
    • Bluefly: [Clothing & Accessories] Bluefly Clearance Sale: Up to 75% off select items

    • Levi's : [Apparel] 30% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon (Starts October 22nd)
    • Deezteez.com : [T-Shirt] Ask Me About My Zombie Costume T-Shirt for $12.74 w/ Coupon SHOVEL + $4.50 Shipping
    • Calvin Klein: [Clothing] 30% Off Everything from 10/22 to 10/25 with coupon code FF1009, free shipping for orders over $150
      More »

    Deadline To Ditch Your AT&T Smartphone Data Plan Extended To Oct 31
    By Laura Northrup on October 21, 2009 4:17 PM   58 Comments

    —>Do you want to get rid of the data plan for your AT&T smartphone, but missed the September 6th deadline? You now have a second chance. The deadline to drop your plan has been extended until October 31st.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 21, 2009 12:39 PM   33 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Lord and Taylor : [Apparel] 25% Off Entire Order w/ Coupon FRIENDS + Printable
    • PacSun: [Clothing & Accessories] PacSun Fall Sale: Up to 45% off
    • Footlocker: [Sports Gear] Extra 20% off Store-Wide Orders of $79+

    • The Limited : [Apparel] $20 Off $60 or $30 Off $100 Purchase w/ Coupon 292 + Printable
    • BustedTees: [Clothing & Accessories] Busted Tees 24 Hour Sale: 40% off sitewide + extra 10% off
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 20, 2009 1:13 PM   18 Comments

    —>

      Babies
    • Amazon: [Baby] Buy a Britax Blink Stroller & Get $50 off a Britax Convertible Car Seat + free shipping

      • Clothing
    • Armani Exchange: [Apparel] New Armani Exchange Coupon Codes 20% Off $100 + Extra 10% Off + Free Shipping
    • Perry Ellis : [Apparel] 44% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon LUCKY44OFF
    • JewelryUnder100: [Jewelry] Stainless Steel Wedding Band for $3 + $5 s&h, more

    • ShoeSteal: [Shoes] ShoeSteal.com Sale: Up to 90% off + extra 15% off women's shoes (men's too)
    • REI: [Sunglasses] Tifosi Forza GT 2008 Edition Sunglasses $16.93 + free shipping to store
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 19, 2009 1:06 PM   13 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Vans: [Shoes+] 10% off & Free Shipping on All Shoes and Apparel
    • Landsend : [Apparel] Women's Faux Shearling Pull Thru Scarf for $3.99 w/ Coupon OCT20 w/ Free shipping
    • Gap, Old Navy, & Banana Republic: [Apparel] Save 15% to 25% off Store-Wide Orders

    • 6pm.com: [Clothes] 55% Off All Nike Apparel at 6pm.com
    • Lands' End: [Men's Apparel] Lands' End Men's Overstocks: Deals from $4 + free shipping
    • metrostyle: [Women's Apparel] metrostyle women's coats clearance: Up to 72% off + extra $15 off, more

      • Computers and Electronics
    • Nebraska Furniture Mart : [Blu-Ray Player] JVC Blu-Ray Disc Player for $129.99 + Shipping
    • OfficeMax : [Laptop] HP Mini 10.1" Netbook w/ 1GB Memory + 160GB Drive for $279.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Geeks: [Skype Phone] Skype VoIP USB Phone with LCD Display $14

    • NewEgg: [Keyboard/Mouse] Microsoft Laser Desktop 6000 V2 Wireless Keyboard & Mouse $29.99 + free shipping
    • Best Buy: [Laptop] 15.5" Sony VAIO VGN-NW240F/T Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 2.2GHz Laptop w/ Windows 7 for $649.99

      • Entertainment
    • Best Buy: [Movies] Best Buy Popular Blu-Ray Movies under $20 (Watchmen $17.99, Dark Knight $16,99, MORE)

      • Food
    • Jack in the Box : [Restaurant] Free Turkey Bacon Chedder or Deli Sandwich w/ Soda Purchase Event on October 20

      • Halloween
    • Walmart: [Seasonal] Halloween Decorations under $10 + $1 s&h at Walmart
    • ShindigZ : [Costumes] $10 Off $20 Purchase w/ Coupon SZ10H20
    • Sears: [Seasonal] Sears Halloween sale: 40% off costumes + $5 off $50

      • Miscellaneous
    • Amazon: [Tools] Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife $28 Shipped
    • dog.com: [Pets] Eat-N-Store Wood Cabinet Dog Bowl Holder for $10 + $6 s&h, more

      • Travel
    • Southwest Airlines Vacations: [Vacations] Southwest Vacations Deals: Halloween Horror Nights for $169, more
      More »

    Fake Lottery Winner Enrages Burlington Coat Factory Shoppers
    By Laura Northrup on October 17, 2009 5:00 PM   97 Comments

    —>Earlier this week, a lottery winner pulled up her stretch Hummer in front of a Burlington Coat Factory store near Columbus, Ohio. In an Oprah-esque share of largesse, she promised to buy every shopper in the store $500 worth of merchandise. But she turned out to be no fairy godmother. She wasn't even a real lottery winner. When customers discovered the lie, they took their frustration out on the store, trashing it.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 16, 2009 12:53 PM   11 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Brooks Brothers: [Apparel] Brooks Brothers Clearance up to 60% Off + $10 Off $50 + Free Shipping $200+
    • Fashion Bug : [Apparel] 50% Off One Item w/ Coupon 776214207
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: [Apparel] October Sale: Save Up to 30% off Gear & Outerwear

    • SteveMadden: [Clothing & Accessories] Steve Madden Boot Sale: Up to 71% off + free shipping
    • Cabela's: [Men's Apparel] Cabela's Men's Early-Season Nylon Parka for $15 + $6 s&h

      • Computers and Electronics
    • CompUSA: [iPod] Sony S-AIRPLAY AIR-SA20PK Wireless iPod Dock and 2 Speakers / Receivers $189.99 + free shipping
    • Best Buy: [Blu-ray Player] Samsung BDP-P1600 Blu-Ray Player w/ $50 Best Buy Gift Card $179.99 Free Shipping
    • TigerDirect: [HDTV monitor] Samsung Touch of Color T240HD 24-inch LCD Monitor / 1080p HDTV $269.99 + free shipping

    • 6ave.com: [Home Theater] Onkyo TX-SR607 7.2ch Home Theater Receiver (6 HDMI, HDMI Upconversion) $369 Free Shipping
    • Buy.com : [KVM Switch] D-Link 2-Port PS/2 KVM Switch with Audio Support for $14.99 after $10 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: [Headphones] JBuds J2 Premium Hi-Fi Noise Isolating Earphones $14

      • Entertainment
    • iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Freebies: Panelfly, Pixo, Logstr, Bad News Robot, Super Communicator, more

      • Stuff
    • Sky Mall : [Gifts] $10 Off $10 Purchase w/ Coupon RESTEASY
    • Meritline: [Optics] Compact 10x25 Sport Binoculars $7 Shipped
    • ThinkGeek: [Gadgets] ThinkGeek.com coupons: $10 off $30 or more + 2-for-1 EvilTrons

      • Children
    • Happybabyfood.com: [Food] Free Package of Nurture Happy Baby Organic Baby & Kids Meals w/ Coupon - Printable
      More »

    Judge Tells ASCAP No Royalties For Ringtones
    By Chris Walters on October 16, 2009 12:45 AM   53 Comments

    —>One of the weirder strategies by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recently has been to claim that every time a ringtone played, a royalty should be paid. ASCAP sued AT&T earlier this year over the claim, but a federal judge has ruled that your phone ringing does not constitute a public performance.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 15, 2009 12:52 PM   33 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Oakley Vault: [Apparel] Oakley Vault up to 90% Off + Free Shipping $100+
    • ShoeMall: [Dry Feet] Save 20% off Crocs Shoes, Clogs, & Sandals
    • Sierra Trading Post: [Apparel & Sports Gear] Save an Extra 15% to 20% off Store-Wide Orders

    • Victoria's Secret : [Apparel] Free Pink Panty + $10 Off Bra w/ Coupon - Printable
    • Dickies: [Men's Apparel] Dickies Men's Thermal Lined Hooded Fleece Jacket for $12 + free shipping

      • Computers and Electronics
    • Newegg: [Networking] ASUS WL-520GU 802.11b/g Wireless G Router (DD-WRT Support, Print Server USB) $34.99AR Free Shipping
    • Amazon: [TV] Roku Digital Video Player for Netflix, MLB.TV, and Amazon Video on Demand $99.99 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Networks] D-Link 5 Port High Speed Gigabit Switch $20 & Free Shipping

      • Entertainment
    • Best Buy: [iTunes] Apple iTunes $50 Gift Card $40 Free Shipping
    • Musician's Friend : [Music] On-Stage Guitar Stand for $4.99 w/ Coupon FREE w/ Free shipping

      • Food
    • 7-Eleven : [Coffee] Free Hot 12oz. Beverage w/ Coupon - Printable

      • Halloween
    • Amazon: [Halloween] 25% off Disney Store Costumes & Accessories on orders $50+ plus free shipping
    • Walgreens : [Home Dcor] 20% Off Halloween Costumes, Accessories, and Decor w/ Coupon PUMPKIN
    • Walmart: [Seasonal] Star Trek men's deluxe costumes for $12 + $1 s&h, women's from $15

      • Home
    • Amazon: [Cookware] Save an Extra $30 off 10- and 12-Piece KitchenAid Cookware Sets
    • Home Depot: [Bed & Bath] Up to 50% off bath items at Home Depot: Deals from $10 + free shipping

      • Travel
    • JetBlue: [Airfare] JetBlue Sample Sale: 1-way fares from $24
    • Travelocity: [Vacations] Norwegian Cruise Lines 7-Night Mexican Rivera Cruise from $199 / person
      More »

    Walmart Gets Into Cellular Business, Offers Unlimited Plan For $45
    By Chris Walters on October 14, 2009 10:31 PM   83 Comments

    —>Today Walmart announced that it's launching its own wireless service, Straight Talk, on October 18th. The network will piggyback on use TracFone's wireless network. At launch, two pre-paid plans will be offered: a $30 package that includes 1000 minutes, 1000 text messages, and 30MB of data; or a $45 plan that includes unlimited voice, text, and data. 411 calls are free.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 14, 2009 12:56 PM   23 Comments

    —>

      Children
    • Toys R Us : [Toys] 15% Off Any One Lego City Construction Set - Printable
    • Learning Curve : [Toys] Thomas The Tank Train Engine for $1.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Leapfrog: [Toys & Hobbies] LeapFrog Friends & Family Sale: Extra 25% off sitewide

      • Clothing
    • Saks Fifth Avenue : [Apparel] 25% Off Any Order w/ Coupon FRIENDS2
    • MLB: [Apparel Accessories] MLB New Era Batting Practice 39THIRTY Caps for $8 + $5 s&h (updated)

      • Computers and Electronics
    • Newegg: [Wireless Card] Belkin F5D8013 N 802.11n Wireless Notebook PC Card $11.99 Free Shipping
    • Circuit City: [Hard Drive] Hitachi Deskstar 2TB Internal Hard Drive $159.99 Free Shipping
    • SonyStyle: [eBook] Sony Reader PRS-600 Touch Edition $269.99 + free shipping

    • Apple Store: [Music + Apps] Refurb iPod Touch Models from $149 Shipped
    • Geeks: [Video] Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket High Definition Camcorder $85
    • Newegg: [Morning Wake-up] iLuv Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker for iPod $40 Shipped

      • Entertainment
    • 2D Boy: [Games] World of Goo PC version (Windows/Mac/Linux) on sale, pay what you want, normally $20 (via Joystiq and Phil)

      • Food
    • Denny's : [Restaurant] Free Burger + Fries With Purchase of a Burger + Fries and 2 Beverages - Printable

      • Home
    • Walmart: [Home Security] Walmart Honeywell Anti-Theft Safe Roundup (Starting at $52)

      • Other
    • CVS / Pharmacy : [Health] 20% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon oct20
    • Amazon: [Potable Portables] 20% off: Botl Stainless Steel Water Bottles from $12
    • LuggageGuy.com: [Luggage] LuggageGuy.com clearance: Up to 80% off + extra 30% off
      More »

    Verizon Snatches Away Divorced Man's Unlimited Broadband Plan
    By Ben Popken on October 13, 2009 6:33 PM   56 Comments

    —>They say that for people going through a divorce it can feel like you're losing half of yourself. As if it that wasn't bad enough, Verizon Wireless has taken away William's unlimited broadband plan on the account he used to share with his wife.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 13, 2009 11:40 AM   8 Comments

    —>

      Clothing
    • Old Navy : [Apparel] $10 Off $50 Purchase w/ Coupon BG7R1CKRXHGL
    • metrostyle: [Women's Apparel] metrostyle women's coats clearance: Up to 71% off + extra 40% off
    • Sears: [Men's Apparel] Up to 90% off men's apparel at Sears: Deals from $2 + $6 s&h

      •   More »

    Why Retailers Like It When You Subscribe
    By Chris Walters on October 12, 2009 8:47 PM   82 Comments

    —>You know what's great about subscriptions? You forget to cancel them. You also pay more over time than you would if you were forced to buy items individually. Yeah, that's awesome—for companies. The New York Times looks at current research on how consumers think about subscriptions, and why companies want to push them more than ever.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 12, 2009 12:50 PM   38 Comments

    —>

      Computers and Electronics
    • SonyStyle: [PS3] Sony Playstation 3 80GB Console + 2 DualShock Controllers $249.99 + free shipping
    • eCost: [Wireless] Sony Behind the Neck Bluetooth Stereo Headphones $36
    • Amazon : [Monitor] Samsung 24" LCD 1080p HDTV Monitor for $269.99 + $17.55 Shipping
      •   More »

    Reach T-Mobile Executive Customer Relations
    By Ben Popken on October 9, 2009 5:06 PM   19 Comments

    —>If T-mobile's normal channels fail, you can try calling T-Mobile Executive Customer Relations. Here's a contact: Octavio Robertson, 505-341-8059.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 9, 2009 12:58 PM   67 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon : [Candy] $15 Off $39 Purchase of Hershey's Nestle, Mars, and Wonka Candy (Select Varieties)
    • Newegg: [Bluetooth Car Kit] LG MSB-100 Bluetooth Car Kit Speaker $20 Shipped
    • JR.com: [HDTV] Coby TF-TV3217 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV $339.99 + free shipping
    • Amazon: [GPS] Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor $139.99 + free shipping
      More »

    Shop At A Dollar Store, Gamble On Quality
    By Chris Walters on October 8, 2009 7:03 PM   118 Comments

    —>Marlene Alexander will buy pretty much anything, at least once, from her local dollar store. Then depending on how well it holds up, she might write about it to warn others. She's put together a list of some of the biggest dollar store failures she's encountered over the past year.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 8, 2009 12:50 PM   4 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Graveyard Mall : [Gifts] Slot Machine Drink Dispenser for $4.99 w/ Coupon MovingSale09 + $5.98 Shipping
    • JC Penney : [Apparel] $10 Off $50 or $15 Off $75 w/ Coupon MONEY36 + Printable Coupon
    • The Limited : [Apparel] 25% Off Entire Purchase + One more Coupon 300 + Printable Coupon
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 7, 2009 12:55 PM   21 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Automated Cleaning] iRobot Roomba 550 w/ on-board scheduling $179 + free shipping
    • Deep Discount: [Halloween DVDs] Deep Discount Halloween Horror DVD Sale
    • Amazon: [Photo Printer] Canon Selphy CP760 Photo Printer $49 Shipped
    • IKEA: [Food] Get a free small breakfast (value 99) and one cup of coffee (value 99) when you visit a participating IKEA store on Saturday, October 10 - Monday, October 12, 2009. Offer not valid at IKEA Hicksville, IKEA Houston and IKEA Direct. (Thanks to John!)
    • Firehouse Subs: [Food] Coupon for free chips and drink with purchase of medium sandwich (Thanks to Jason!)
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 6, 2009 12:06 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Overstock : [Tent] Knights Tower Children's Tent for $35.09 w/ Coupon 142933 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: [DVD] Friends - The Complete Series (Seasons 1-10) $114.99 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: [WiFi] ZyXEL WiFi Wireless-N Access Point/Bridge only $31 & Free Shipping
    • ULTA : [Cosmetics] $5 Off $10 Purchase + 3 Free Samples w/ Coupon 23126
      More »

    Help Us! Tell Us What You Hate About The Holiday Shopping Season
    By Meg Marco on October 5, 2009 4:59 PM   293 Comments

    —>Attention Shoppers: We're interested in your opinions about the upcoming holiday shopping season. What drives you up the chimney? Is it the music? Black Friday? Rebates? Christmas Creep? Let us know!  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 5, 2009 1:13 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Coldwater Creek : [Apparel] 40% Off Entire Order w/ Coupon WKH6745
    • Amazon: [Blu-ray] LG BD370 Network Blu-ray Player (Netflix/Youtube streaming) $160.60 + free shipping
    • west elm: [Home & Garden] West Elm Sale: Up to 70% off select items
      More »

    Men's Retailer Begs For Customers
    By Chris Walters on October 2, 2009 6:52 PM   36 Comments

    —>Here's a new take on direct mail that we'll call the "painfully honest but kind of sad" approach. George Anderson at RetailWire writes that a local men's retailer sent him the following plea via snail mail.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 2, 2009 12:51 PM   20 Comments

    —>

    • REI Outlet: [Outdoors] Diamondback Sorrento Mountain Bike $250
    • Buy.com: [Automated Cleaning] iRobot Roomba 415 with 2 Virtual Walls $119.99 + free shipping
    • NewEgg: [HDTV] LG 42LH30 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $699.99 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on October 1, 2009 12:51 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Armani Exchange: [Apparel] New Armani Exchange STACKABLE Coupon Codes $25 Off $100, Free Shipping
    • Guaranteach: [Online Tutoring] First month free for first 20 subscribers using code FREEOCT
    • Quiznos : [Restaurant] $1 Off Each Sub Purchased w/ Coupon (Up to 3) w/ Printable Coupon
    • NewEgg: [MP3] Recertified Microsoft Zune 4GB MP3 Player + Free Leather Case & Car Pack $49.99
    • Amazon: [Water Bottle] 20% off Botl BPA-free Stainless Steel Water Bottles through 10/31
    • Amazon: [Xbox] Xbox 360 Elite 120GB + Lego Batman & PURE games (2009 Holiday Bundle) $250 + free shipping
      More »

    Call Drop Rate For iPhones In NYC Is 30%, Says Apple Genius
    By Chris Walters on September 30, 2009 10:37 PM   66 Comments

    —>Hey AT&T, maybe you should offer some sort of congestion pricing on your iPhone plans in places like New York City. We've heard/read all sorts of anecdotal reports on dropped calls before, but today Engadget reported that an Apple Genius said a 30% drop call rate is average for the area. If that's true, it seems like false advertising to charge for a full-time calling plan that you can only use about two-thirds of the time.  More »

    Why Even Bad Online Reviews Can Increase Sales
    By Laura Northrup on September 30, 2009 8:41 PM   62 Comments

    —>We're generally quite critical of companies that try to squelch negative online reviews, astroturf them, or just bribe customers for positive ones. Not only is this behavior bad for consumers, but the experience of one company shows that it's bad for businesses, too.   More »

    LG Looking To Buy Back 5 Phones For $10k Each
    By Chris Walters on September 30, 2009 2:24 PM   66 Comments

    —>If you bought an LG Chocolate phone, compare its serial number to the ones on this site—if it matches then you can sell it back to LG for $10,000. We're not sure if this is just a fancy way to hold a contest, or if those 5 phones accidentally shipped with alien technology inside. Either way, it's a bit more than you'd get through Craigslist. Hurry though; the offer/contest/coverup ends today.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 30, 2009 12:56 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Shop4Tech : [Computer] 17% Off Entire Order w/ Coupon TM17
    • iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] Ping! for iPhone (free text messaging using iPhone's push service)
    • NewEgg: [Monitor/HDTV] Auria EQ2488F 24-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $260 + free shipping
      More »

    JCPenney Tries Out Mobile Coupons In Houston Stores
    By Chris Walters on September 29, 2009 3:56 PM   10 Comments

    —>If you live in the Houston area, you can now use your mobile phone to redeem coupons for JCPenney through a trial-partnership with Cellfire. You have to register with Cellfire in order to receive the promos via SMS or email, and if you register today you'll receive a mysterious "$10 in$tant gift" [sic].  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 29, 2009 12:49 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Shindigz: [Halloween Costumes] New Shindigz Coupon Code 50% Off Halloween Costumes
    • NewEgg: [Camera] FujiFilm Finepix A220 12.2MP Digital Camera - Silver $79.99 + free shipping
    • HandHeldItems: [Men's Apparel] Men's LED Sound Activated Pumpkin T-Shirt for $10 + $6 s&h (see video demo here)
      More »

    Man Goes Into Business Delivering Costco To Overpriced NYC Neighborhoods
    By Meg Marco on September 28, 2009 9:20 PM   117 Comments

    —>Groceries on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan are expensive. How expensive? One guy with a truck has started a business delivering cheaper groceries. One catch, he doesn't own a grocery store. He will go to Costco, where items cost a fraction of their Manhattan prices — and split the savings with you.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 28, 2009 12:44 PM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Wii] Nintendo Wii console w/ Wii Sports game + free $25 Amazon Gift Card for $199.99 free shipping
    • Frys.com : [TV] LG 42" LCD 1080p HDTV for $649 w/ Free shipping
    • REI : [Health] Hart Soft Pack First Aid Kit for $16.93 + $5.99 Shipping
    • Joe's New Balance Outlet: [Men's Apparel] New Balance Men's 8103 Convertible Jacket for $27 + free shipping
    • Amazon: [Magazine] Inc. magazine 1-year subscription or auto-renewal $5 + free shipping
      More »

    AT&T Robocalls Me Again For No Apparent Reason
    By Ben Popken on September 25, 2009 3:00 PM   24 Comments

    —>Wow - just got another robocall from AT&T telling me that it was an important message and that I should call them. Either something is wrong with my account that yesterday's CSR couldn't figure out, or something is wrong with AT&T. Either way, annoying.  More »

    No Palm Pre For Verizon Wireless?
    By Chris Walters on September 25, 2009 2:17 PM   59 Comments

    —>If you've been holding out on a phone upgrade or carrier switch until the Palm Pre comes to Verizon, you may need to give up the dream. The carrier has "reportedly ditched plans to offer the Palm Pre early next year," says PC World. Apparently poor sales of the device at Sprint, combined with Verizon's interest in upcoming Blackberry devices, killed any enthusiasm the carrier once had. Update: The no-Pre rumor may be false, according to these two analysts.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 25, 2009 12:53 PM   12 Comments

    —>

    • Toys R Us: [Seasonal] Jabba the Hutt Adult Inflatable Halloween Costume for $56 + free shipping, more
    • Hanes.com: [Apparel] Save 50% off: Outer Banks Solid Color Men's Polos $9 Each
    • Denny's : [Restaurant] 20% Off Entire Check w/ Printable Coupon
    • Babies R Us : [Apparel] 30% Off Entire Clothing & Shoe Purchase w/ Printable Coupon
      More »

    Tight-Fisted Moms Set Rules On Teen Clothing Purchases
    By consumerist.com on September 24, 2009 3:48 PM   141 Comments

    —>The tight economy has meant fewer jobs for teens, leaving more of them with empty wallets and at the mercy of that heartless arbiter of teen fashion: mom. The Wall Street Journal reports that even stores that specialize in clothes for younger consumers are following the money to its source. Aeropostale's employee handbook states: "Because parents make the final decision, they want to feel valued, and they want to feel good about what they purchase."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 24, 2009 12:59 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Keurig: [Coffee] 2 boxes of K-Cups (regularly $13.95 ea.) for free with coupon code SURVEY09, free shipping (Thanks to John!)
    • ThinkGeek : [Gifts] $10 Off $30 Purchase w/ Coupon Code FLOSSUCCESS09 + One More Coupon
    • Wal-Mart: [Camera Kit] Fuji FinePix A100 10MP Digital Camera & SD Card Kit $89
      More »

    Food Makers Not Passing On Savings From Falling Commodities Prices
    By Ben Popken on September 23, 2009 3:00 PM   58 Comments

    —>The prices of commodities has dropped from their peaks of last year, yet food makers are not reducing consumer prices, reports Marketplace. Now this is rather funny, and familiar.   More »

    When Someone Is Being Rude On An Airplane, Why Don't You Say Something?
    By Meg Marco on September 23, 2009 2:32 PM   331 Comments

    —>The NYT has a "Frequent Flier" column from personal finance adviser to the chronically irresponsible, Larry Winget. In it he describes being the sole person on the plane to say what everyone is thinking.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 23, 2009 11:56 AM   22 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: [Who Can Say] Woot Off! going on today. (Thanks to Eric!)
    • Costume Discounters: [Halloween] Costume Discounters Star Trek Adult Costumes
    • Xbox Marketplace : [Console] $50 Rebate for Xbox 360 Elite Purchase
    • Barnes & Noble: [Subscriptions] Extra $5 off over 100 Magazine Subscriptions
    • Buy.com: [HDTV] Philips 47-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $900 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 22, 2009 12:52 PM   33 Comments

    —>

    • Abt Electronics: [Service Plan] Abt Coupon Code 20% off AppleCare Protection Plans
    • Boston Market : [Restaurant] Two Free Kid's Meals with $6 Adult Purchase
    • Amazon: [Phones] All AT&T Phones for $0.01 with New 2-Year Contracts (Excluding iPhone)
    • Fisher Price : [Toys] $20 Off $100 Purchase (Select Categories) w/ Printable Coupon
      More »

    Reverse Sneaky Fees With These Free Complaint Letters
    By Ben Popken on September 21, 2009 4:00 PM   8 Comments

    —>Want to claim a missing rebate, or reverse sneaky cable, bank, cellphone or hotel fee? These free complaint letter templates posted by Gotcha Capitalism and Red Tape Chronicles author Bob Sullivan are a godsend. It's like Madlibs for money.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 21, 2009 1:00 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Virgin Atlantic: [Travel] Savings on London Flights from $218 Each Way
    • Amazon : [Tools] Skil 18-Volt Cordless 4-Tool Kit for $182.69 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Computer Cases] Antec Mini Skeleton-90 Mini-ITX PC Case for $92 + free shipping
      More »

    Why Do Verizon Smartphones Blow?
    By Ben Popken on September 18, 2009 6:04 PM   97 Comments

    —>WIRED takes a look at why there's no great smartphones on Verizon. The takeaway? Because they can. Having the best network and an exclusive deal with Blackberry seems to be good enough for them. [WIRED] (Photo: Phu Son)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 18, 2009 12:54 PM   18 Comments

    —>

    • US Appliance : [Blu-Ray Player] Samsung Blu-Ray Disc Player with BD Live + Streaming Netflix for $149 w/ Coupon SAM50 w/ Free shipping
    • Gap: [Clothing & Accessories] Gap Summer Sale: Up to 40% off
    • HP: [Laptop] 2.1GHz T6500 Core 2 Duo 17.3-inch laptop (4GB/350GB) with Blu-Ray, TV-Tuner, Printer for $853 + free shipping (coupon NBWD74213)
      More »

    Why Costco Taunts You With High-End Luxury Items
    By Chris Walters on September 18, 2009 1:38 AM   92 Comments

    —>Heather at The Greenest Dollar read How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer earlier this summer, and it made her see Costco in an entirely new way. The point behind all that crazy luxury stuff for sale at Costco isn't just to sell it, she says; it's to prime your brain with feel-good dopamine so that you're far more likely to splurge on the more affordable items deeper in the store.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 16, 2009 12:52 PM   20 Comments

    —>

    • Liz Claiborne: [Apparel] New Liz Claiborne Coupon Codes up to $50 Off + Free Shipping
    • Dairy Queen : [Ice Cream] Buy One Blizzard Get One Free + $1 Off Oreo Cookie Blizzard w/ Printable Coupon
    • BHPhoto: [HDTV] Panasonic Viera TC-P50S1 50-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV $999.95 + free shipping
      More »

    DeadlyDeal Neither Deadly Nor A Deal, Just Lame
    By Chris Walters on September 15, 2009 5:14 PM   84 Comments

    —>Brandon regrets having done business with DeadlyDeal.com earlier this year. He figured he "couldn't go wrong" with his mystery box purchase—"after all, my dealings with Woot.com had all been more than satisfactory so far." But DeadlyDeal is no Woot, friends. Well, except maybe in the creative writing department, because there's no way those DeadlyDeal customer testimonies ("Thanks for my free iPhone!") are legit.  More »

    You Will Not Escape Toys R Us This Christmas
    By consumerist.com on September 15, 2009 1:23 PM   14 Comments

    —>One good thing about the bad economy: There are plenty of empty storefronts in malls across the country, and the owners are more than happy to rent them to short-term tenants during peak seasons. And, this year, you can add Toys R Us to the usual gang of Halloween and Christmas stores that pop up suddenly in your local Simon, and disappear in the night a few weeks later. Jeffrey and his posse are expected to open 80 temporary stores next month, along with new toy sections in 260 Babies R Us shops.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 15, 2009 12:04 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Northern Tool : [Automotive] 31-Piece Roadside Emergency Kit for $5 w/ Coupon 121380 w/ Free shipping
    • Music123: [Performance & Recording] Microphone Sale: Buy One and Get One Free
    • Western Digital : [Software] Free Acronis Disk Cloning Software (Download)
    • Direct2Drive: [PC Games] $5 Sale on games, titles include Civ 4, Sid Meier's Pirates, and Bioshock
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 14, 2009 12:52 PM   5 Comments

    —>

    • TheECA.com: Free 1-Year Membership to the Entertainment Consumers Association w/ coupon GIMAG (regularly $19.99)
    • Amazon: [GPS] Magellan RoadMate 1412 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator $99.99 + free shipping
      More »

    MMS For iPhone Rollout Begins, 2 Weeks Early
    By Laura Northrup on September 12, 2009 8:30 PM   41 Comments

    —>Reports are showing up online that AT&T is beginning a slow rollout of official MMS functionality to seemingly random iPhone users, from Manhattan to Idaho. The official start date is September 25, but it makes sense that the company would implement the change gradually to make sure the network can handle it.   More »

    If The Coupon Doesn't Apply, You Must Not Buy
    By Laura Northrup on September 11, 2009 9:27 PM   121 Comments

    —>Most likely, this has happened to you. You have a great coupon for a restaurant or retailer, and go to use it only to find that for some reason, it's been declined. Maybe it expired. Maybe it doesn't apply to the item you bought. The question is: Do you still make the purchase?  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 11, 2009 1:34 PM   2 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Newegg : [Printer] HP Officejet Pro InkJet Color Printer for $59.99 w/ Coupon EMCLXML22 w/ Free shipping
    • Borders : [Books] 30% Off List Price of One Item w/ Coupon BHB9149B + Printable Coupon
    • Buy.com : [Mouse] HP Wireless Optical Mouse for $15.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 10, 2009 11:49 AM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Skull Candy : [Headphones] 50% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon Sku124LL9021
    • Newegg: [LCD] LG W2242T-BF 22-inch LCD Monitor $150 Shipped
      More »

    Abercrombie & Fitch Fined For Discriminating Against Autistic Shopper
    By consumerist.com on September 9, 2009 4:29 PM   195 Comments

    —>The PR geniuses at Abercrombie & Fitch are in the news again for refusing to let a 14-year old autistic shopper have help trying on clothes. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has fined the company $115,264 for discriminating against a person with a disability.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 9, 2009 12:42 PM   15 Comments

    —>

    • Jet Blue: [Travel] Jet Blue R&R Sale - Fares from $29 each way
    • FTD.com: [Flowers] FTD Good Neighbor Day 2009: Free floral bouquets
    • Apple Store: [iPod Touch] Price drops - 8GB Touch $189, 16GB $249, 32GB $279 shipped
      More »

    Sprint Yanks $100 Credit Offer On Palm Pre, Says Oops
    By Chris Walters on September 9, 2009 2:19 AM   24 Comments

    —>Earlier today, Sprint made news by effectively cutting the price of a Palm Pre to $99 for new Sprint customers, after a $100 credit. Now Sprint is saying it was a publishing error and not a valid offer.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 8, 2009 12:15 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • OfficeDepot: [MP3 Player] Memorex 2GB Clip MP3 Player $20 or 2GB Image + FM Radio + MP3 Player $30
    • Sephora: [Beauty] Sephora Big Beauty Sale: Up to 75% off + three samples for free
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 7, 2009 12:44 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon [DVD] Seinfeld - The Complete Series on DVD $99.99 + free shipping
    • Amazon: [Gaming] Free Game or Accessory with Nintendo DSi or DS Lite
    • Dell : [Printer] Wasabi Wireless Mobile Photo Printer w/ Bluetooth for $29 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Retail Expert Describes What Men Want Out Of A Shopping Experience
    By Chris Walters on September 4, 2009 11:12 PM   157 Comments

    —>Brand specialist Bertrand Pellegrin has published a new book for retailers that says if they want to capture the typical guy's dollar, they need to create more inviting spaces to shop in. The author "points to electronics stores, strip clubs, sports bars and gyms as spots where men feel comfortable socializing and spending money." That may all be (kind of) true, but that's gonna make one hell of a noisy, sleazy, sweaty, drunken place to shop for clothes.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 4, 2009 12:48 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • ShopEcko: [Apparel] Marc Ecko Star Wars Bring In The Storm Troopers Hoodie $19.99
    • Denny's : [Restaurant] Buy One Get One Grand Slam w/ Printable Coupons
    • Amazon: [Free MP3] Receive $1.29 credit applicable to Amazon MP3 store with code FIRSTMIL. (Thanks to Geoffrey!)
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 3, 2009 1:00 PM   2 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • ZipZoomFly : [Keyboard] OCZ Wired Keyboard w/ Programmable Keys for $7.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Boston Market : [Restaurant] 50% Off Family Meal or Market Feast (Starts Sept 5th)
    • Peterbilt : [Automotive] Free Peterbilt Keychain
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 2, 2009 1:00 PM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Coupon Codes] Amazon coupon codes for September
    • Newegg: [Bluetooth Headset] Samsung WEP700 Bluetooth Headset w/ Noise Cancelling $14.99 Free Shipping
    • Amazon: [HDTV, Blu-ray] Samsung LN32B460 32" 720p LCD HDTV + Blu-ray player $500 w/ coupon ($210 off sale prices) + free shipping
    • Dell Home: [Print/Copy/Scan] Dell V105 All-in-one printer $30 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on September 1, 2009 12:45 PM   5 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [HDTV combo] Buy select Samsung 46" or 52" HDTV, get Free Nintendo Wii or Asus 1000HA 10" Netbook, up to $566 savings w/ coupon + free shipping
    • Victoria's Secret : [Apparel] 2 Free VS Undies w/ Any Purchase (In-Store - Printable)
    • SmileBooks: [Photo Book] use coupon code SALE50 for 50% off all photobooks ordered from 9/4/09 to 11:59pm 9/6/09 (Thanks to Jaron!)
      More »

    Tmobile Raising Overage Rates 9/01 - Cancel Without Fee
    By Ben Popken on August 31, 2009 4:46 PM   68 Comments

    —>Tmobile will be raising overage rates September 1st, and customers can use it to cancel without early termination fee.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 31, 2009 1:05 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Smartphone] T-Mobile Blackberry Curve 8900 Phone 1 Cent Shipped
    • Barnes & Noble: [Books] Free Backpack with Book & Media Orders of $100+
    • Dell Home: [Camera] Canon EOS Rebel XSi SLR Digital Camera w/ 18-55mm Lens for $569.00 plus free shipping
    • VisionDirect: [Medical] 8 Boxes of Acuvue Oasys Contact Lenses for $61 after rebate + free shipping
      More »

    FCC Launches Large Scale Investigation Of Cellular Industry
    By Chris Walters on August 28, 2009 6:54 PM   83 Comments

    —>Uh-oh, the FCC is getting serious about doing its job, which probably means more memos like the one Apple posted last week from companies like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Yesterday the FCC announced three "Notices of Inquiry"—all unanimously voted for by a full, bi-partisan commission—that will look at different aspects of the cellular industry.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 28, 2009 12:43 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Lenovo: [Desktop PC] Lenovo C300 All-in-one Desktop 20" LCD 1.6GHz Atom (1GB/160GB) $349 w/ free shipping
    • JR.com: [Headphones] Sennheiser CX300 Stereo Headphones $16.99 Free Shipping
    • Amazon: [Xbox] $100 off Xbox 360 Elite now $299.99 w/ free 12 + 1 month Xbox LIVE subscription ($50 value); $50 off Xbox 360 Pro now $249.99 w/ free game (Halo 3, Fable 2, or Halo Wars)
      More »

    Which Cellphone Company Has The Worst Call Quality In Your Region?
    By Chris Walters on August 28, 2009 3:28 AM   73 Comments

    —>If you want to decide which cellular provider to do business with based on performance, you might be interested in checking out the new "2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study" from J.D. Power and Associates. If you don't have time, just remember that Verizon Wireless offers the most reliable call quality around the country, coming out on top in 4 of the 6 regions.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 27, 2009 12:26 PM   14 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Sony Style : [Game Console] Sony PlayStation Portable (Refurbished) for $99.99 w/ Coupon SONYPSPAMC99 w/ Free shipping
    • JR.com : [Digital Camera] Fuji Film FinePix 10MP Digital Camera for $79.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Shop PBS : [Entertainment] 25% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon THANKS25
      More »

    Is Verizon Randomly Charging You $1.99 Per Line For "Data Usage"?
    By Meg Marco on August 27, 2009 12:25 AM   40 Comments

    —>On August 14, the Cleveland Plain Dealer printed a column by a business writer who described her 6-month-long ordeal with Verizon concerning a mysterious $1.99 charge for "data usage." The paper says that over 400 Plain Dealer readers responded with complaints similar to the one in the column. Now the paper says they have a promise from Verizon to refund these mysterious and erroneous charges.  More »

    Groceries Stores Turning To Single Checkout Lines
    By consumerist.com on August 26, 2009 3:51 PM   271 Comments

    —>Rich, poor, Slimfast or Milky Way, one thing grocery store customers can usually agree on is that they hate waiting in line. Retailers have sought out a number of solutions over the years - from self-checkout terminals to entertaining distractions and ambient fragrances - but, according to the Wall Street Journal, the latest trend is single-line queues.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 26, 2009 12:53 PM   15 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Meritline : [Puzzle] 3D Puzzle Leaning Tower of Pisa for $3.50 w/ coupon MLC400093082550A w/ Free shipping
    • Restaurant.com : [Restaurant] 80% off Gift Certificates w/ Coupon TASTE
      More »

    Coupon Master Spends $4 Weekly To Feed Family Of Six
    By Chris Walters on August 26, 2009 12:05 AM   179 Comments

    —>If you want to learn how to be insanely efficient with coupon clipping and watching for sales, follow Kathy Spencer and learn from the master. WCVB TV in Boston notes that Spencer manages to spend only $4 on average each week to feed her husband, four kids, and four pets. We carefully re-read the pets line to make sure there was no past tense involved, as this would suggest cheating on where the food comes from. But nope, they're still around, so it looks like she really is good with coupons and sales.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 25, 2009 12:54 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Newegg: [Software] Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking V10 Standard Speed Speech Recognition Software $31.99 Free Shipping
    • 6th Ave Electronics: [HDTV] Toshiba 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $637 Shipped
    • Amazon : [Music] Download Video Game and receive $5 MP3 Amazon Credit (Kitten Sanctuary, shown here, is $6.99 to download) *note: you must purchase the game via Amazon's "1-Click ordering" to receive the credit
      More »

    Verizon And Nokia Announce "Constant Reboot" Feature
    By Chris Walters on August 24, 2009 8:06 PM   40 Comments

    —>Ryan's new Nokia Intrigue 7205, which Verizon gave him, doesn't work with the Verizon network: "48 hours ago, the phone began cycling on and off continuously." He's not the only Intrigue owner experiencing this problem on Verizon, although Verizon is following that tired old "it couldn't possibly be our fault so let's make you jump through a dozen useless hoops" protocol. Sadly, a single Google search would give them the quick fix for Ryan and other Intrigue owners.  More »

    Broke Consumers Are Filling Up Carts And Leaving Them
    By Meg Marco on August 24, 2009 6:07 PM   226 Comments

    —>This is a depressing phenomenon, if it's real. According to the Associated Press, consumers are ditching items before they buy them. They've always done this, of course, but now they are supposedly doing it more.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 24, 2009 12:54 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • Wendy's : [Food] $1 Off Twisted Frosty w/ printable coupon (contest registration required)
    • Newegg: [Networking & Camcorder] Cisco SmallBiz 10/100 wired Router (was $420, now $200) & Flip UltraHD camcorder (now $175) together for $199.99 w/ FREE shipping
      More »

    Save Money On Groceries, Save The World ...Er, Wallet
    By Laura Northrup on August 22, 2009 3:30 PM   94 Comments

    —>Our sibling publication ShopSmart has a great article this month on ways to save money at the grocery store. It's available as a PDF download, but here are some of the highlights.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 21, 2009 1:01 PM   13 Comments

    —>

    • Music123: [Making Music] Florea Recital II Violin with Bow and Case $90 Shipped
    • Tiger Direct: [LCD] I-inc 24.6-inch 1080p LCD Flat Panel Monitor $190
    • Dell Home: [Plasma HDTV] Panasonic VIERA TC-P42X1 42 inch Plasma HDTV (720p) $529.99 Free Shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 20, 2009 12:52 PM   5 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Hewlett-Packard : [Monitor] Compaq 21.5" HD Widescreen Monitor for $149.99 w/ Coupon SV2132 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com : [Luggage] Samsonite 5-Piece Luggage Set for $99.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Walmart : [Furniture] Mainstays Entertainment Center for $19 + $7.47 Shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 19, 2009 12:05 PM   20 Comments

    —>

    • US Airways [Air Travel] Free 90 day trial of their Silver Preferred program: free upgrades, baggage fees waived, etc. Promotion ends August 31st, takes up to 14 days to kick in.
    • Various Airlines: [Air Travel] 5 2 New Fall Airfare Sales $39 to $99 Coast To Coast Travel Any Day Of The Week
    • Alamo: [Car Rental] Compact Car For Only $10 A Day Between Aug 25-Sep 21
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 18, 2009 1:04 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Sony Style: [Video Games] Sony PLAYSTATION 3 Factory Refurbished 40GB Model $269.99 Free Ship
    • Target : [Printer] Epson Inkjet All-In-One Printer for $28 + Shipping
    • OfficeMax: [Office Furniture] Cheap furniture; check out the Casey Student Collection desk, hutch, and chair for $56 total + s&h
    • Walmart: [Laptop] Toshiba Satellite 17-inch 2.2GHz Laptop - $348 (add $7.97 for shipping)
    • App Store [iPhone App] SwedeShop shopping helper/budget tool for IKEA, free through end of day today
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 17, 2009 12:51 PM   4 Comments

    —>

    • eToys: [School Stuff] Save 25% off Kids Lunch Kits & Backpacks
    • Best Buy: [Laptop] Acer 15.6-inch 1.6GHz AMD Athlon 64 Laptop $279.99 + 15 shipping OR FREE in-store pick-up
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 14, 2009 12:26 PM   2 Comments

    —>

    • Newegg : [Kitchen Appliance] DeLonghi Coffee Maker for $14.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Walgreens : [Photo] 25 Free Photo Prints w/ New Account Sign-Up
    • Babies R Us : [Kids] $5 Off $25 Purchase w/ Coupon 930364 + Printable Coupon
    • Amazon: [Recycled Gaming] Get an Extra $30 Credit on $60+ Video Game Trade-Ins
    • AvatarMovie: [Movies] Chance to win 2 free tickets to 16-minute IMAX preview of James Camerons' movie Avatar. Giveaway happens Monday, August 17th, for screening on August 21st.
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 13, 2009 11:06 AM   4 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Blu-ray] Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray Player + 2 Blu-ray movies + HDMI cable for $250
    • Lands' End: [Men's Apparel] Lands' End Men's Regular Woven Track Jacket for $15 + free shipping, more
    • Newegg: [GPS Directions] TomTom One 130 GPS Navigation System $50
    • Dell : [Blu-Ray Player] Sharp Blu-Ray Disc Player for $129.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Congratulations Americans, We Pay The Most For Cellphone Service
    By Chris Walters on August 12, 2009 4:18 PM   154 Comments

    —>A new survey from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared annual costs around the world for consumers who have cellphones, and the U.S. is in the top three for most expensive. How expensive? DSLReports notes that "on average, the OECD found that Americans pay $635.85 on cell phone service, compared to $131.44 per year in the Netherlands or $137.94 per year in Sweden."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 12, 2009 1:23 PM   11 Comments

    —>

    • "Circuit City": [Projectors] 3M MPro110 LED Pico Projector for $200 + free shipping
    • Kmart: [Console Accessory] Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Play & Charge Kit for $9.99 + $4.95 Shipping
    • Amazon: [Blu-ray Movies] Buy 2, Get 1 Free on Blu-ray, over 300 titles, through August 21st
    • Victoria's Secret : [Apparel] 40% Off One Clearance Item w/ Coupon CLEAR40
      More »

    Ring Ring Hello, I'm Not A Debt Collector!
    By Ben Popken on August 11, 2009 9:45 PM   53 Comments

    —>Nothing says "wow I can't wait to see who is on the other end of the line" like a company that programmed their number to show up on caller ID as "NOT A COLLECTER."  More »

    Target Charges You More For Free Bonus
    By Alex Chasick on August 11, 2009 9:35 PM   39 Comments

    —>Reader Michael sent us this picture of a 16-ounce bottle of Crest whitening rinse and a 32-ounce bottle that says "BONUS 100% MORE FREE." Turns out by "FREE" they mean "$1.15 more."  More »

    How Outlet Malls Fool Shoppers
    By consumerist.com on August 11, 2009 5:16 PM   195 Comments

    —>Alternet is running an excerpt from Ellen Rupel Shell's fascinating new book, Cheap: the High Cost of Discount Culture. The piece handily illustrates Shell's argument that outlet malls are for suckers.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Carey Alexander on August 11, 2009 2:30 PM   20 Comments

    —>  More »

    Quick! Stock Up On Ben & Jerry's Before This Sale Expires!
    By Alex Chasick on August 10, 2009 8:22 PM   37 Comments

    —>We were going to list this in tomorrow's Morning Deals, but decided the bargain was just too good to hold off posting: Harris Teeter has reduced the price on all of its Ben & Jerry's pints, from $3.99 to $3.99.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Carey Alexander on August 10, 2009 2:45 PM   14 Comments

    —>  More »

    Oh Look, Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 7, 2009 3:09 PM   12 Comments

    —>

    • DeepDiscount: [Toys & Hobbies] DeepDiscount.com coupon: 50% off toys, puzzles, and games + free shipping
    • Ties.com: [Apparel Accessories] Ties.com Clearance Sale: Up to 97% off
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 6, 2009 11:44 AM   6 Comments

    —>

    • JC Penney : [Apparel] $10 Off $10 Purchase w/ Coupon GET4BTS
    • Amazon: [Entertainment] Save Up to 60% off Pixar Movies on DVD or Blu-ray
    • Cross: [Office Supplies] Cross Summer Sale: Up to 75% off + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 5, 2009 12:30 PM   2 Comments

    —>

    • ShopEcko: [Apparel] ShopEcko Limited Edition Star Wars Hoodies on Clearance! Starting at $24.99
    • Think Geek : [Gifts] $10 Off $30 Purchase w/ Coupon HACKSURVEY09
    • Tanga: [Magazines] 1-Year Subscription to Motor Trend Magazine for $3
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 4, 2009 12:00 PM   1 Comment

    —>

      More »

    Mom Drags Kid Through Verizon Store On Leash
    By Chris Walters on August 3, 2009 2:12 PM   89 Comments

    —>Dear kid of abusive mom: yes, this is what it feels like for us when we deal with cell phone retailers, too. At least your mom was arrested. Video below.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on August 3, 2009 12:31 PM   1 Comment

    —>

    • Office Max : [Office] 1 Sharpie Markers w/ Printable Coupon
    • Dell Home: Cell Phone] Nokia E63 Cell Phone (Unlocked, Quad-Band GSM, 3G) $149.99 Free Shipping
    • Dell Home: [HDTV] Vizio VO320E 32 inch LCD HDTV (720p) $359.00 Free Shipping
      More »

    Help Friends Conserve Cell Minutes By Changing Your Voicemail Greeting
    By Carey Alexander on August 2, 2009 10:00 PM   30 Comments

    —>David Pogue's continuing crusade against useless voicemail instructions knocked loose an excellent suggestion for anyone willing to re-record their voicemail greeting. Too often the standard voicemail greeting is: "Hi, you've reached so-and-so. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you." Why not make it more useful, something like: "Hi, you've reached so-and-so. Please press star (or whichever command applies to your carrier) to leave a message."  More »

    Walmart To Rate Product Sustainability
    By Carey Alexander on August 1, 2009 2:00 PM   37 Comments

    —>Walmart is developing a universal rating system to help consumers determine which products are truly sustainable. The rating system would scrutinize a product's entire life-cycle by focusing on broad factors, rather than the usual marketing gibberish that extolls isolated virtues. So why is Walmart, of all companies, deciding which products are environmentally sound?   More »

    How Do You Tell Your Kid That The Sales Clerk Is A Big Phoney?
    By Chris Walters on July 31, 2009 4:38 PM   135 Comments

    —>There's a great post over on WiseBread by someone called the Frugal Duchess, about how her 10-year-old kid was schmoozed a little too successfully by a sales clerk at a tween clothing store in the mall.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 31, 2009 12:49 PM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Jack in the Box: [Food] Two Free Tacos Tuesday, August 4th, with coupon (Thanks to Daniel & John!)
    • Gogo Inflight: [Airplane Wi-Fi] Free Wi-Fi access on flights using Gogo Inflight Internet with code 159flt3161 (Thanks to Sydneybound2000!)
    • Forplay: [Sexy Ladyclothes] 40% Off through Saturday with coupon code VLB48 (excludes costumes, sadly)
    • Amazon: [Robot Servant] $200 Off Roomba 550 Vacuum-Cleaning Robot via today's Gold Box Deal
      More »

    Apple Blames Jailbreaking For Recent AT&T Visual Voicemail Outages
    By Chris Walters on July 31, 2009 3:45 AM   77 Comments

    —>Apple's not through with their blitz against jailbreaking, with this newly updated support doc that says, among other things, that the recent Visual Voicemail outages from AT&T were caused by—and happened to—hacked iPhones.  More »

    Skip Annoyingly Long Voicemail Instructions For Every Cellphone Company
    By Ben Popken on July 30, 2009 5:06 PM   123 Comments

    —>Here's the secret codes for skipping long-ass cellphone voicemail intros that cellphone companies don't want you to know about: Just remember "one star pound."  More »

    Save Money by Shopping on Tax Holidays
    By consumerist.com on July 30, 2009 3:17 PM   55 Comments

    —>How would you like to save 4% to 7% on many of your back-to-school purchases? Or maybe you aren't a student but have some fall clothing shopping to do and would like those savings yourself. Or you're been putting off that computer purchase for a few months. Well, with the tax holidays many states are offering, now may be your time to pounce and buy, buy, buy.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 30, 2009 11:54 AM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Geeks.com: [Automotive] Built-In 7" LCD Headrest 2-Pack for $130 + free shipping
    • Newegg: [Memory] A-Data 8GB microSDHC Card with SDHC Adapter $15 Shipped
    • Lands' End: [Clothing & Accessories] Lands' End The Best of Summer Sale: Up to 55% off select items + free shipping
      More »

    If you've got $2600 and a desire to really be remembered after you die, consider buying a personalized, three-dimensional urn modeled after a photograph of your own head. (Or buy the smaller version for $600 and keep candy in it.) [OhGizmo!]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 29, 2009 1:08 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • GuitarHeroStore.com: [Video Game] Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit $79.99 for PS2, $89.99 for Xbox 360
    • Schwan's: [Food] $10 in free food to the first 500,000 new customers who register on August 1st. (Thanks to John!)
    • Home Depot: [Decor] 20 Square-Feet of Shaw Berber Do-It-Yourself Carpet Tiles for $28 + free shipping
      More »

    Look Out For These Ways Money Slips Down The Drain
    By Phil Villarreal on July 28, 2009 1:15 PM   147 Comments

    —>Like water swirling a drain, it's in your money's inert nature to flow away from you. Blogger Fabulously Broke identifies several ways in which people waste funds without realizing what they're doing.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 28, 2009 12:13 PM   24 Comments

    —>

    • Big Fish Games : [Game] Free Prism Game Download
    • Lacoste : [Perfume] Lacoste Perfume Samples (Choice of 3 Perfumes)
    • DailySteals.com: [Gadgets] 007 James Bond Lock Picking Credit Card Kit for $10 + $5 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 27, 2009 12:11 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Graveyard Mall: [Garden] Set of Four Solar Powered Color Changing Shoji LED Lanterns for $14 + $6 s&h
      More »

    Buy Safely Online With Virtual Credit Cards
    By Carey Alexander on July 27, 2009 12:00 AM   46 Comments

    —>Before buying from potentially unscrupulous merchants, call up your credit card company and ask for a virtual credit card number. The disposable numbers expire after a single use, preventing merchants from signing you up for added or recurring charges. Virtual numbers are available to Citi, Discover, PayPal, and Bank of America customers.  More »

    Grocery Shopping Tips From The 1950s
    By Carey Alexander on July 25, 2009 6:00 PM   102 Comments

    —>Society may have come a long way since the 50s, but the grocery shopping tips remain the same. Inside, the wisdom that helped a generation of college-aged mothers conquer the scary supermarket.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 24, 2009 1:04 PM   7 Comments

    —>

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 23, 2009 12:35 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • ConsumerAction: [Booklets] 2009 Consumer Action Handbook (PDF download)
    • Buy.com: [Power] Mobility iGo Universal AC/DC Power Adapter $35 Shipped
    • Newegg: [Camcorder] Flip video UltraHD 2.0" 230K 8GB (120 minutes) Internal Memory Camcorder for $164 w/ coupon FLIP7115
      More »

    Network World Uncovers More Dirt On Zer01
    By Chris Walters on July 23, 2009 12:30 AM   18 Comments

    —>NetworkWorld published its findings on the suspicious histories of the men behind new cellphone company Zer01 just two days ago, but they clearly sent someone behind the scenes scrambling. This afternoon they reported that Zer01's parent company "has stripped its Web site down to only basic information," and that "new details have also come to light suggesting a past connection between two of the involved companies, despite claims to the contrary."  More »

    Customer Visits Verizon CEO's Home, Gives Him A Taste Of No Privacy
    By Chris Walters on July 22, 2009 4:45 PM   78 Comments

    —>John Hargrave of comedy site Zug.com tracked down the personal info of Verizon's CEO, then showed up with a bullhorn to illustrate what a lack of privacy feels like. "Ivan Seidenberg! I'm here on behalf of Verizon customers. PLEASE DO A BETTER JOB PROTECTING YOUR CUSTOMERS' CELL PHONE RECORDS! Everyone has the right to privacy, including you Ivan! When we don't have privacy, then freaks with bullhorns start showing up on our front lawn."  More »

    Is ZER01 Mobile A Legit Cellphone Service?
    By Chris Walters on July 22, 2009 4:18 PM   40 Comments

    —>ZER01 is a new cellular service launching soon that promises unlimited calling and unlimited, fast data connectivity for $70 a month. There's another unique twist: you can sell the service to your friends for $10 monthly credits. That's right, it's a multi-level marketing mobile virtual network operator—an MLM MVNO. NetworkWorld smelled something fishy, so they researched the companies behind the offering and found that there's a lot of sketchy looking stuff. We put the highlights of their investigation into a chart.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 22, 2009 11:54 AM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Home Depot: [Home Goods] Home Depot 25-50% off Patio Furniture + Free Shipping
    • Gretsch Store: [Music] Free Gretsch 125th Anniversary Guitar Poster + 10% Off Coupon
    • Various: [Storage] Five 1TB External Hard Drives Under $100
    • Woot: [???] Woot-off currently in progress
      More »

    What Do You Want In A Consumerist iPhone App?
    By Ben Popken on July 21, 2009 1:56 PM   200 Comments

    —>We're working on an iPhone app for The Consumerist, along with finally getting a mobile version, mobile.consumerist.com, for the site. Our first iPhone app will be extremely basic. This 1.0 will have iPhone-optimized version of the latest posts, and you'll have a few drill-down categories to choose from (top stories, features, personal finance.... something else? You tell us). That's about it. You will not be able to make comments. 1.5 will have comments. 2.0 will be a from the ground up rewrite with all the bells and whistles. So, questions: What categories should be in the 1.0? What dream features do you want to see in the 2.0? Leave your thoughts in the comments.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 21, 2009 11:55 AM   8 Comments

    —>

    • Toys R Us: [Toys] Fisher-Price Power Wheels Kawasaki Boy's Sport Quad for $59.99 + Shipping
    • Amazon: [Grocery] Up To 40% Off Groceries w/ Coupon BCKSCLO9
    • American Eagle Outfitters: [Clothing & Accessories] American Eagle Outfitters Clearance Sale: Jeans from $15 + $7 s&h
      More »

    Walmart Doesn't Want 7-Year-Old's Birthday Money
    By Chris Walters on July 20, 2009 5:47 PM   118 Comments

    —>The parents of a seven-year-old took him to Walmart this weekend to spend his saved birthday and allowance money on a pretty awesome looking swimming pool & slide combo. They'd checked online first to make sure the item was in stock—and Walmart said it was, at three different locations in fact.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 20, 2009 12:34 PM   0 Comments

    —>

    • Buy.com: [Micro Exploration] Carson Optical MM-640 USB Digital Microscope $35 Shipped
    • Buy.com: [Flashlight] Smith & Wesson LED Aluminum Flashlight Blue for $7.24 w/ Free shipping
    • BustedTees: [Clothing & Accessories] Busted Tees Mega Sale: Shirts for $7 + $6 s&h
      More »

    Verizon Limits Handset Exclusivity To 6 Months
    By Ben Popken on July 17, 2009 6:08 PM   40 Comments

    —>Verizon announced it will limit handset exclusivity deals to 6 months, a bow to pleas by small wireless carriers, and in advance of possible Department of Justice action on its inquiries on the one-carrier deals for the iPhone, Pre and LG Voyager. In its announcement, Verizon noted 24 rural carriers had asked it to limit these anti-competitive deals. Yes, apparently there are that many small carriers still left.  More »

    Retailers Ready To Rebel Against Credit Card Fees
    By Meg Marco on July 17, 2009 3:27 PM   209 Comments

    —>You've all seen the $10 minimum signs at Mom & Pop stores, and while these stores aren't supposed to be placing this type of restriction on their customers (it's a violation of their agreement with the credit card companies) it's important to understand why the signs are there in the first place. Fees.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 17, 2009 11:55 AM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Froobi: [Tools And Hardware] 7-LED Adjustable Head Lamp for free + $4 s&h
    • BackCountryOutlet.com: [Outdoor Apparel] The North Face Fleece Jackets Under $50
    • Buy.com: [Gear Hauling] Wenger SwissGear Julien Laptop Backpack $30 Shipped
    • The Body Shop: [Beauty] The Body Shop Final Sale: Up to 90% off select items
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 16, 2009 12:04 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Eddie Bauer: [Travel] Gear Up Sale: Up to $40 off Duffel Bags & Luggage
    • Months of Pregnancy: [Tools] Free Measuring Tape
    • Cruisin USA: [Retro Shirts] 50% Everything until August 15th with code GUTTER (Thanks to Chris!)
      More »

    Jewel-Osco Resorts To Sarcasm
    By Meg Marco on July 15, 2009 4:46 PM   87 Comments

    —>We know times are tough for retailers as well as consumers, but Chicago chain Jewel-Osco seems to be resorting to sarcasm instead of discounts.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 15, 2009 11:49 AM   18 Comments

    —>

    • NewEgg: [Game] Dark Sector Xbox 360 Game for $7.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Best Buy: [TV] Panasonic 42" HDTV 1080p + Xbox 360 60GB System for $899.98 + Shipping
    • Budget Rent A Car: [Car Rentals] Budget Rent A Car: Up to 50% off rentals
    • Southwest Airlines Vacations: [Vacations] Southwest Airlines Vacation Offers: 2-for-1 vacations to Las Vegas, Disneyworld, more
      More »

    Are Dollar Stores Really That Cheap?
    By Chris Walters on July 14, 2009 5:37 PM   98 Comments

    —>Kim McGrigg at Blogging for Change took a look at the dollar stores in her neighborhood and found that it can take some work to make sure you're actually saving money. In fact, on a couple of items she actually paid a fraction more than what she would have at a superstore like Walmart. This matches what Consumer Reports' shopping mag, ShopSmart, discovered in their recent "Dollar Mania" report (free PDF download).  More »

    Cancel iPhone Without Venturing Outside
    By Ben Popken on July 14, 2009 5:11 PM   73 Comments

    —>I cancelled an iPhone within the 30 days buyer's remorse period recently and learned something interesting. Before AT&T will let people who bought their iPhones from Apple cancel service, they want you to return the phone first. They also want proof it was returned. They also want you to print out this proof and take it physically to an AT&T store and show it to them. Returning the phone, I have no problem with. But trekking out to a store to show someone in person a printout of an email?Madness.  More »

    Best tweet of the day: "my bank was just held up- with me in it. HSBC 34 and 8. also my whole trackball is GONE!!! im locked in the bank still." [Gothamist] (Thanks to John!)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 14, 2009 11:35 AM   27 Comments

    —>

    • Weinerschnitzel: [Hot Dogs] Free Original Chili Dog or Small Cone today only from 5-8pm at participating Weinerschnitzels (Thanks to Tanya!)
    • Chefs Catalog: [Kitchen & Home] Chefs Catalog up to 90% Off Sale + Free Shipping $49+
    • Reebok: [Sports] Clearance Shoes & Apparel Up to 50% or More off
    • Buy.com: [LCD] Asus 23.6-inch Triple Input LCD $170 & Free Shipping
      More »

    Bas Rutten Does Not Like Cell Phone Contracts
    By Chris Walters on July 13, 2009 7:18 PM   21 Comments

    —>Here's a funny commercial starring Bas Rutten for some prepaid cellphone company. You probably shouldn't try this with your own cellphone company, but that doesn't mean you can't be thinking like Bas while disputing that ETF.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 13, 2009 11:36 AM   13 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Entertainment] Sci-Fi DVD & Blu-ray Sale: Up to 56% off Movie & TV Series
    • Walmart: [Clothing & Accessories] Walmart Clearance Sale: Apparel items from $1 + $1 s&h
    • New Egg: [Headphones] Sennheiser Clip-On Sport Earphones for $19.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 10, 2009 12:51 PM   28 Comments

    —>

    • Smith Micro: [Software] Free Anime Studio 5 for Mac or PC (Download) Update: we've confirmed with Smith Micro, this is truly free and not a trial, and it doesn't require a credit card.
    • Midtown Comics: [Books] 30% Off Back Issues of Marvel and Action Comics w/ Coupon bizarro
    • Diadora: [Sports] 50% Off Entire Sports Equipment Purchase w/ Coupon SUMMER2009
    • Amazon: [HD] Save up to 60% off DVD & Blu-ray Disc Boxed Sets
      More »

    T-Mobile's Backdoor Exclusivity Prevents You From Using Old Phone With AT&T
    By Alex Chasick on July 9, 2009 7:19 PM   64 Comments

    —>Reader Greg accidentally ran his iPhone through the washing machine. Whoops. Luckily, he still had his old BlackBerry from his days with T-Mobile, so he swapped in his AT&T SIM card to the BlackBerry and fired it up. Unfortunately, his BlackBerry was still locked by T-Mobile, and they didn't feel like helping a former customer.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 9, 2009 1:22 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Lane Bryant: [Apparel] $25 Off $75 Purchase w/ Coupon 025009972
    • Walmart: [Health] Free Nivea Body Wash for Men (Sample)
    • Dell: [Blu-Ray Player] Sharp Aquos Blu-Ray Player for $139.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 8, 2009 11:25 AM   29 Comments

    —>

    • OvernightPrints: [Printing] Free 5x5 Photo Book or $10 off any other product through July 19th with coupon code ONPFREEFIVE
    • Dairy Queen: [Ice Cream] $1 Off DQ Blizzard Printable
    • Shutterfly: [Photo Prints] Save 10% to 30% off 4x6 Digital Photo Prints
    • Buy.com: [Light] Energizer Hard Case Rugged LED Flash Light $8 Shipped
      More »

    The Federal Government Has Had Enough With Cell Phone Exclusivity
    By Laura Northrup on July 7, 2009 11:55 PM   215 Comments

    —>Annoyed by cell phone exclusivity deals? The federal government may agree with you. The FCC and Department of Justice are both looking into the issue, concerned about limitations on consumer choice and good old-fashioned competition.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 7, 2009 12:44 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • National Geographic: [Education & Entertainment] Summer Sale: Save up to 70% off Books, DVDs, & More
    • Meritline: [Toys] Double Tank Water Gun for $1.99 w/ Coupon MLC40037050P w/ Free shipping
    • Toys R Us: [Game] 15% Off One Video Game w/ Coupon (In-Store) Printable
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 6, 2009 12:08 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Super Media Store: [Electricity Monitor] Kill A Watt P4400 $18.99, free shipping on orders over $25.
    • Babies R Us: [Baby Care] Graco Glider Stroller for $50.99 w/ Coupon 928555 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Toys] Walter the Farting Dog 8" Plush Doll for $8.02 + $2.85 Shipping
    • Amazon: [Hard Drive] 1 TB Seagate External Hard Drive $99 + free shipping
      More »

    Everyone Knows How To Handle A Stolen Checkbook Except For Verizon
    By Chris Walters on July 3, 2009 8:26 PM   39 Comments

    —>Yesterday I was musing that Time Warner Cable was passing the cost of customer care off to other businesses, by requiring customers to take half-days or full days off of work just to wait for a cable repairman. Today I think I stumbled upon another hidden economic impact of bad customer service: it's responsible for generating a lot of the "free" content online. The next time you're reading an IMDB entry about "Damages" or "Big Love" for example, you can thank Verizon's collection of angry, confused, and possibly insane employees, and all the idle time they create for a customer who has to deal with them.  More »

    Here's another free game for iPhone/iPod Touch owners to pass the time this weekend: Wild West Pinball. If you're a Blackberry owner, Bplay has a 30% off sale going on right now—enter JULY in the code box at checkout. [IntoMobile]  More »

    ASCAP Wants Royalties On Ringtones
    By Chris Walters on July 3, 2009 1:37 PM   41 Comments

    —>Not content to let the RIAA get all the recent publicity for stupid lawsuits, ASCAP has sued AT&T over sales of ringtones, saying each time a ringtone plays it's a public performance and royalties should be paid. Luckily (?) for consumers, ASCAP wants AT&T, not individuals, to pay—although we wonder what they'll say when you take a track from your own library and make a ringtone out of it.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on July 3, 2009 1:03 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • Banana Republic: [Apparel] New Banana Republic Coupon Code Extra 15% Off Sale + Free Shipping $100+
    • Nabisco World: [Grocery] $55 in Kraft Coupons and Free Calendar with sign-up
      More »

    Can Billy Mays Move Product From Beyond The Grave?
    By Laura Northrup on July 2, 2009 7:17 PM   119 Comments

    —>Next week, direct-response marketing juggernaut Telebrands will roll out a new ad campaign for Jupiter Jack, a tiny gadget intended to turn your car radio into a giant cell phone speakerphone. The star of the spot is recently deceased pitchman Billy Mays.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Carey Alexander on July 2, 2009 10:30 AM   12 Comments

    —>

    • Woot!: Mr. Clean AutoDry Carwash System
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Carey Alexander on July 1, 2009 3:00 PM   3 Comments

    —>

    • Woot!: Carlisle 3 Piece Luggage Set
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Carey Alexander on June 30, 2009 1:35 PM   1 Comment

    —>

    • Woot!: Corona Clipper Fusion Handheld Multi-Tool 2 Pack
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Carey Alexander on June 29, 2009 1:15 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Woot!: iRobot Roomba 530 Robotic Vacuum with Virtual Wall
      Highlights From Buxr
    • The Popcorn Factory: [Food] $25 Off $50 Purchase + Two More Couponstu13
    • New Egg: [Shaver] Panasonic Men's Pro-Curve Wet/Dry Shaver for $8.99 after $10 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • New Egg: [Phone] Vtech Cordless Phone Answering Machine System with 3 Headsets for $29.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Verizon C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg Reveals The Telecom's Future
    By Carey Alexander on June 27, 2009 12:00 PM   17 Comments

    —>The future of Verizon lies in bundled apps and global domination, according to C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg. Verizon's head honcho appeared last week on Charlie Rose to chat about a range of things, including FiOs, the decision to build a CDMA network, and the future of your cellphone service. If nothing else, it's nice to put a calm, seemingly rational face to the grotesque anti-consumer corporate monster that we all loathe. Hit the jump for the full interview.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 26, 2009 2:38 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Music] Free Patriotic Music Sampler
    • Jamba Juice: [Restaurant] Buy One Get One Smoothie Free w/ Printable Coupon
    • Sears: [Bed & Bath] Sears Mattress Sale: 50% off + extra 10% off select mattresses
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 25, 2009 1:53 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Glidden: [Paint] Free quart of paint in color of your choice.
    • Dell: [Cell Phone] Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Unlocked Smartphone for $219.99 w/ coupon ?LF$X89SNT9T4X after $50 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Boscovs: [Luggage] Trifecta 8-Piece Luggage Set for $30 + $19 $40 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 24, 2009 2:59 PM   4 Comments

    —>

    • Glidden: [Paint] Starting tomorrow, free quart of paint in color of your choice.
      More »

    Man Uses New Tracking Feature To Hunt For Stolen iPhone
    By Chris Walters on June 24, 2009 1:10 AM   135 Comments

    —>On Saturday, Kevin lost his iPhone in a bar in Chicago, and by lost we mean someone grabbed it within seconds of him leaving the bar, but no one had seen a thing when he ran back in to ask about it. Since he had the Find My iPhone service activated on it, and his friend had a Sprint 3G dongle on his laptop, they decided to see whether they could track it down. AT&T and Sprint: working together to fight crime!  More »

    If you've been a prompt-paying T-Mobile customer for 22 months or more, you can still sign up for their "Loyalty Unlimited" offering—$50/mo for unlimited calling—through the end of this month. [IntoMobile]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 23, 2009 1:31 PM   20 Comments

    —>

    • Woot!: Woot off now in progress.
    • Amazon: [DVD Player] Toshiba HD 1080p Upscaling DVD Player $63 Shipped
    • Newegg: [Blu-Ray Drive] LITE-ON Internal 4X Blu-ray DVD Drive for $69.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 22, 2009 11:55 AM   5 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Borders: [Coffee] Free 12 oz Cup of Coffee w/ Coupon
    • Buy.com: [MP3 Player] Dane-Elec Meizu 2GB Multimedia Device for $23.50 after $15 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • ZipZoomFly: [Mouse] Kingwin Laser Mouse for $9.99 after $10 rebate w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Why The Fashion Industry Can't Make Clothes That Fit Actual People
    By Laura Northrup on June 19, 2009 7:28 PM   233 Comments

    —>Another week, another article about brick-and-mortar stores phasing out their plus-sized clothing lines. (Edit: And here's another!) For those who missed it, Tatiana the Anonymous Model over at Jezebel posted an interesting essay on the economics of women's fashion, comparing pattern development issues designers face when developing both petite and plus sizes.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 19, 2009 3:14 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Eastern Mountain Sports: [Camping] Save Up to 30% off Summer Sports & Outdoor Gear
    • Amazon: [iPod] Get a Free $25 Gift Card with Purchase of Current Generation iPod Touch Models
    • WilsonsLeather: [Clothing & Accessories] Wilsons Leather Clearance Sale: Up to 75% off + extra 25% off one item
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 18, 2009 12:03 PM   12 Comments

    —>

    • Skechers: [Apparel] 50% Off Apparel Purchase w/ Coupon APPAREL50
    • Dell: [Console] Nintendo DS Lite Console (3 Colors) for $110.49 w/ Coupon 65G7RQ11J?M2LH w/ Free shipping
    • Walmart: [Babies & Kids] Walmart Infant and Toddler Apparel: Deals from $1! + $1 s&h
      More »

    Too Bad You Missed The -6571% Off Sale
    By Laura Northrup on June 18, 2009 2:28 AM   35 Comments

    —>Check out the fantastic Deal of the Day that reader C found at rugsale.com. An error put a rug's original price at $1.50 (as opposed to probably $150) meaning that it's on sale for only -6571% off.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 17, 2009 11:55 AM   7 Comments

    —>

      Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: [Hair] Wahl Comb 'n Cut Grooming Kit $10 + free shipping, requires PayPal (otherwise $15)
    • Jo-Ann: [Crafts] 50% off 1 regular priced item, online only, with coupon code EFD171
    • Borders: [Books] 6-in-1 printable "super coupon"
      More »

    AT&T Forcing iPhone Pre-Paid Customers Into Two-Year Contracts
    By Chris Walters on June 16, 2009 3:08 PM   66 Comments

    "This is a recommendation," the technical support person told me. "If you decide not to go, it's okay but we're informing customers that service will not be up to par."  More »

    Are Cellphone Exclusivity Deals Bad For Consumers?
    By Chris Walters on June 16, 2009 12:44 PM   70 Comments

    —>Yesterday, four U.S. Senators sent a letter to FCC acting chairman Michael Copps requesting an investigation into whether exclusivity deals between handset makers and national carriers are ultimately good for consumers, and they plan to hold a hearing on the issue on Wednesday, June 16th. They join a growing number of people and organizations, including the Rural Cellular Association (RCA), who say exclusivity deals benefit no one but the carriers and manufacturers.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 16, 2009 12:08 PM   1 Comment

    —>

    • Best Buy: [DVDs] DVD Movie 2-Packs for $5 + $2 s&h
    • Walmart: [Grocery] Free Sample of Great Value Cereal Bars
    • AT&T Internet: [Computer Services] AT&T Wayport Wi-Fi Access for free for AT&T DSL subscribers
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 15, 2009 3:18 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • BuyCostumes: [Seasonal] BuyCostumes.com coupon: Extra 50% off clearance items
    • AMC Theatres: [Food] Free Large Popcorn w/ Drink Purchase Coupon
    • Eddie Bauer: [Gifts] Save Up to 40% off Men's Gifts for Father's Day
    • Target: [Men's Grooming] Norelco Men's 7310 Cordless Razor for $28 + free shipping
      More »

    AT&T Isn't Going To Reduce iPhone Data Plans
    By Chris Walters on June 12, 2009 9:12 PM   99 Comments

    —>For a while now, there have been rumors and speculation that AT&T was considering reducing its data plan by $10 per month in an attempt to be more competitive with other carriers. Today AT&T officially put the kibosh on that scuttlebutt, which is how I write once the cocktail hour kicks in on Friday. Says an AT&T spokesman, "We've been very happy with our pricing."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 12, 2009 3:27 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Game] Call of Duty 4 Xbox Game for $29.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Boston Market: [Restaurant] $3 Off $6 Purchase Coupon
    • SteveMadden: [Shoes] Steve Madden Sale: Up to 67% off + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 11, 2009 3:24 PM   17 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Blu-Ray] Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Skynet Edition) Blu-Ray for $14.99 + Shipping
    • Staples: [Monitor] eMachines 19-inch Dual Input LCD Flat Panel Monitor $100 Shipped
    • Sandals & Beaches Resorts: [Hotels] Sandals Resorts: Up to 65% off 3-night stays, more
      More »

    Sprint Employee Changes Customer's Name To "Pain In The A$$"?
    By Chris Walters on June 10, 2009 8:12 PM   56 Comments

    —>Update: Some of our readers who are Sprint customers say they don't think the screenshots are legit. We asked Sprint for an opinion, and they responded, "We had noticed the post on sprintusers.com earlier today and are tracking down the answer. I'll get back to you asap." We'll post further updates when they arrive.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 10, 2009 12:50 PM   12 Comments
      More »

    Think The iPhone 3G S Costs Too Much? Don't Buy It
    By Chris Walters on June 9, 2009 1:48 PM   126 Comments

    —>Apple fans around the country are foaming at the mouths over the jacked-up pricing AT&T has announced for the upgraded iPhone. AT&T apparently can't afford to subsidize the phones for existing customers, because if you currently have an iPhone and more than 6 months left on your contract, you'll have to pay $417-$517 for the newer model (that includes an $18 "upgrade" fee).  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 9, 2009 1:05 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Gamestop: [Video Games] HOT!!! Guitar Hero World Tour or Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundles (PS3, Xbox 360) for $79.79 Free Shipping
    • Amazon: [Magazine] Popular Science (1 Year Subscription) for $5
    • 1-800 Contacts: [Lenses] Save an Extra $10 off Contact Lens Orders
      More »

    Hey, Don't Freak Out Or Anything But Your Cellphone Might Be Spying On You
    By Meg Marco on June 8, 2009 1:30 PM   59 Comments

    —>Newsweek has an article that you should not read if you're especially paranoid. Why? Because it says that according to a security consultant — the percentage of US cellphones that have been tapped with spyware could be as high as 3%.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 8, 2009 12:24 PM   1 Comment

    —>

    • Sears: [Apparel] Spend $50 On Pants or Jeans and Get $50 Sears Reward Cash
    • OldNavy: [Men's Apparel] Old Navy: Up to 50% off men's items
    • OfficeDepot: [PC Laptop] Toshiba Intel Dual Core 2.16GHz 15" Laptop for $395 + free shipping
      More »

    Well Hello There, New Bar Codes
    By Carey Alexander on June 8, 2009 12:00 AM   85 Comments

    —>Snazzy new bar codes are starting to adorn our fruit and vegetables to stop blurry-eyed cashiers from ringing up organic produce as the cheaper-priced regular stuff. They're called GS1 DataBars, and they're already appearing in select supermarkets to help consumers move faster through checkout lines.  More »

    Would You Buy An iPhone That Fell In Urine?
    By Alex Chasick on June 5, 2009 8:17 PM   85 Comments

    —>Our ex-stepbrothers at Gizmodo found a craigslist ad for a barely used iPhone, selling for significantly below list price. There's just one problem.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 5, 2009 11:00 AM   11 Comments

    —>

    • Home Depot: [Decor] Home Depot: Up to 60% off lighting
    • MacMall: [40" - 42" LCD TVs] Vizio 1080p Widescreen HDTV Roundup: 42" for $600 + $18 s&h, more
    • New Egg: [Game] Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Wii Game for $19.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 4, 2009 11:45 AM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Krispy Kreme: [Doughnuts] Free Doughnut (Starts June 5th)
    • Meijer: [Camera] Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Digital Camera $100
    • Newegg: [Home Theater] Rosewill Three Port HDMI Switch $35 Shipped
      More »

    Put All Your Rewards Cards On Your iPhone With CardStar
    By Ben Popken on June 4, 2009 10:04 AM   44 Comments

    —>If you're sick of grocery store rewards cards clogging up your wallet, and you love whipping out your iPhone in public, have we've got an app for you. CardStar lets you punch in all your reward cards into your iPhone. At checkout, just click the CardStar icon, select the merchant from your saved list, and show the screen. They can scan the barcode right from the image. Usually $.99, the app is currently free for a limited time. A handy way for iPhone users to reduce clutter and fumbling for rewards cards when shopping.  More »

    AT&T Wireless Customer? Turn Off Phone Purchasing Power To Prevent Unauthorized Charges
    By Chris Walters on June 3, 2009 6:07 PM   39 Comments

    —>If you're managing cellphones for a family or your parents, or let's say hypothetically you have a boyfriend who says he reads Consumerist but really he doesn't or else he would have known better, you'll probably run into stupid subscription and content fees from time to time. You know how people are when it comes to fake "free" offers.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 3, 2009 11:55 AM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Men's Wearhouse: [Apparel] Buy one Suit and Get One Free
    • Orbitz: [Travel] Save Up to 50% on Summer Sale Vacation Destinations
      More »

    Amazon Releases June '09 Coupon Codes
    By Ben Popken on June 2, 2009 3:13 PM   24 Comments

    —>Amazon.com has released the latest batch of special coupon codes and Probargainhunter has the roundup. This month, they seem to all be for groceries.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 2, 2009 11:29 AM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Dell: [Smartphone] Nokia 5800 Unlocked Smartphone for $228 after $60 instant savings, 10% coupon code discount, and $50 MIR
    • Amazon.com: [TV Antennas & Receivers] Zinwell Digital-to-Analog HDTV Converter Box for $0 after DTV coupon + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on June 1, 2009 11:30 AM   17 Comments

    —>

    • Galileoscope : [Astronomy] Telescope 17x-50x 50mm for $15 + $9 Shipping
    • Riesling: [Tote] Free Reusable Tote Bag (while supplies last)
    • Bargain Outfitters: [Pillows] 4-Pack of Down Feather Pillows for $19.97 w/ Coupon BF282 + $1 Shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 29, 2009 12:57 PM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Skull Candy: [Headphones] 50% Off Select Headphones and Earbuds
    • Newegg: [PC Video Games] Newegg $10 PC Video Game Sale
    • Borders: [Coffee] Free Small Coffee + Five More Coupons
      More »

    Here Are 30 Money Saving Twitterers To Follow
    By Chris Walters on May 29, 2009 2:08 AM   10 Comments

    —>Savings.com has put together a list of 30 of the most followed people on Twitter who offer tips on good deals. Of course, savings.com readers have already started adding alternates in the comments below the list. Feel free to make your own suggestions after the jump.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 28, 2009 1:36 PM   19 Comments

    —>

    • Southwest Airlines Vacations: [Travel] New Southwest Airlines Vacations Coupon Codes (Las Vegas Specials & More)
    • Walmart: [TV] Sanyo 42" LCD HDTV with for $628 + Shipping
    • Burt's Bees: [Freebies] 1000 free lip balm coupons given away each day between 9-12 ET(Thanks to Saberpilot!)
    • Wakeside: [Clothing] 50% off one item with coupon code 09DUDS (Thanks to Tim!)
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 27, 2009 12:19 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • Musician's Friend: [Musical Instruments] MusiciansFriend.com Warehouse Clearance Blowout: Up to 96% off
    • Buy.com: [Antivirus] Norton AntiVirus 2009 3 User Pack $31 Shipped
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 26, 2009 2:07 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Newegg.com: [MP3 Player] SanDisk Sansa View 16GB MP3 Player (Refurb) $69.99 Free Shipping
    • Dell: [Monitor] 20" HD Flat-Panel LCD Monitor for $109 w/ Free shipping
    • Home Depot: [Tools And Hardware] Home Depot Father's Day Sale: 12-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver for $5 + $7 s&h, more
      More »

    Expensive Purchases Are Like Peacock Feathers, Except They Don't Work
    By Chris Walters on May 25, 2009 1:22 PM   64 Comments

    —>Geoffrey Miller, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of New Mexico, says marketers are trying too hard to find a working model of why people spend money the way they do. It really comes down to the human equivalent of "cost signaling" in the animal world—a sort of "peacock feather" display that's supposed to tell peers and prospective mates how smart or sophisticated we are. The only problem is, other people never fall for it.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 25, 2009 11:42 AM   1 Comment

    —>

    • Marvel Shop: [Comics] 15% off everything through midnight Monday, May 25th
    • EMS: [Clothing] Up to 30% off Apparel, Shoes & Gear
    • Best Buy: [HD Camcorder] Insignia 5-megapixel 720p HD Camcorder for $99 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 22, 2009 2:34 PM   5 Comments

    —>

    • Invisible Shield: [Electronics Protection] Zagg Invisible Shield Coupon Code 50% off Storewide (Protect Your Portable Electronics Discreetly)
    • Lane Bryant: [Apparel] 50% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon L0520A
    • Amazon: [Blackberry] T-Mobile Blackberry Curve 8900 Phone 1 Cent Shipped (w/new activation)
      More »

    Woman Says T-Mobile Sent Her Kiddie Porn Instead Of Ringtone
    By Chris Walters on May 21, 2009 5:50 PM   60 Comments

    —>A T-Mobile customer in Oregon purchased a Modest Mouse ringtone from T-Mobile, but she says what was sent to her phone instead was a pornographic picture of what appeared to be a child. Everyone can calm down, though—T-Mobile assured her that they wouldn't charge her for it.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 21, 2009 2:31 PM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Wendy's: [Restaurant] Buy One Get One Free Frosty Coupon
    • GoGamer: [Video Games] GoGamer 48hr Madness Sale (Prince of Persia $17.99, End Wars $12.90, Sacred 2 $39.90)
    • MacMall: [Digital Camera] Olympus Stylus 1040 10MP Camera + 1GB Card $100
      More »

    Sprint Customer Receives Fake-Looking Phone Bill
    By Chris Walters on May 21, 2009 2:38 AM   79 Comments

    —>Update: Lloyd, a Sprint "Customer Experience" Manager, wrote in to let us know that the bill below is indeed legitimate:
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 20, 2009 2:08 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • Dell Home: [Cell Phone] Nokia E63 Cell Phone (Unlocked, Quad-Band GSM, 3G) $149.99AR Free Shipping
    • Newegg: [LCD] Asus VW161D 15.6-inch LCD Monitor $70 Shipped
    • Walgreens: [Drugstore] $5 off in store purchase of $25 or more. Also $5 off online photo gift orders of $15 or more.
      More »

    Details On U.S. Cellular's Battery Swap Program
    By Chris Walters on May 19, 2009 10:04 PM   45 Comments

    —> We asked U.S. Cellular to provide us more details of how their battery swap program works. Basically, it's not meant to provide a one-off swap of an old battery for a new one; instead, the program is designed so that you can use it repeatedly to refresh your phone's power if you're caught away from an outlet and running low on juice.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 19, 2009 12:15 PM   4 Comments

    —>

    • Dell: [Video Games] Sony PSP Slim for $145 w/ Coupon 65G7RQ11J?M2LH w/ Free shipping
    • BestBuy: [iTunes MP3s] $30 Apple iTunes Gift Cards (3 x $10) $25 w/ Free Shipping & No Tax
    • Sears: [Tools And Hardware] Weatherbeater Epoxy Garage Floor Coating for $30 + pickup

      More »

    Do Not Fall Into Target's Evil Sunscreen Trap!
    By Meg Marco on May 18, 2009 4:48 PM   50 Comments

    —>Eagle-eyed reader Kt noticed that Target is charging $9.99 for both the 3 oz and the 6 oz size of Coppertone's NutraShield sunscreen.  More »

    In A Tight Spot, A Prepaid Phone Can Replace A Broken One
    By Meg Marco on May 18, 2009 4:10 PM   94 Comments

    —>Reader Brandi's expensive T-Mobile Dash broke after only 7 months, leaving her phoneless and sad. The T-Mobile store was unhelpful — as she'd already used her phone discount to buy the now-broken Dash. What to do?  More »

    If you own a G1 phone from T-Mobile, Google has added a special barcode scanning feature to its Product Search page just for you. Yeah, you've already got other barcode scanning apps, but this one integrates with Google's search functionality so you can scan and see product search results in Google immediately. [Phandroid]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 18, 2009 1:48 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Champion USA: [Sportswear] Shorts on Sale from $9 per Pair
    • Eye Buy Direct: [Eye Glasses] Techbargains Exclusive 30% off Coupon Code (Eye Glasses Starting At $5.60)
      More »

    US Cellular Offering Free Battery Replacements To Customers
    By Chris Walters on May 15, 2009 7:34 PM   7 Comments

    —>If you bought your cellphone from US Cellular in the past 18 months, as of this week you can get your phone's battery replaced for free. We've contacted US Cellular to ask them to answer a couple of questions, namely whether the replacement battery is brand new and whether a customer can swap more than once. If they get back to us, we'll post an update. In the meantime, if you're a customer of theirs and your phone's battery is dying, just stop by any US Cellular store to make the exchange.  More »

    In Which A TV Reporter Pretends To Be A Total Cellphone Jackass
    By Meg Marco on May 15, 2009 7:16 PM   38 Comments

    —>While it is certainly not breaking news that people act like total jackasses when they're on their cellphones, we nevertheless felt compelled to bring to you the following clip of WGN's Pat Tomasulo acting like said jackasses on the streets of Chicago.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 15, 2009 2:30 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Meritline: [Flashlight] 3 in 1 Interchangeable Transformative Robot LED Flashlight/Nightlight for $6 + free shipping
    • Levi's: [Clothing] Friends and Family Event - 40% Off your Purchase
    • Arby's: [Food] Free Wednesday Offers all summer. Call ahead, participation varies.
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 14, 2009 11:33 AM   25 Comments

    —>

    • Dannon: [Grocery] Up To $12 Refund On Activa Yogurt (Activa Challenge)
    • Newegg: [Cell Phones] Unlocked LG Shine KP220 Bluetooth Camera Phone for $70 + free shipping
    • Graveyard Mall: [Office Supplies] Six Lbs. of Pens (about 318 pens) for $14 + $6 s&h
      More »

    RadioShack Electronics Trade-In Program Not The Fastest Way To Get Cash
    By Chris Walters on May 14, 2009 2:03 AM   27 Comments

    —>A Dallas Morning News blogger decided to test out RadioShack's new trade-in program, where you mail them your unwanted cellphone, for example, and they mail you a gift card, which you can then turn around and use to buy 7,000 house brand AAA batteries. As you might expect, RadioShack didn't offer him as much money for his Blackberry Storm as he saw them going for on eBay, but the real problem came from the missed deadlines and delays in getting his gift card: what they said would take one week ended up taking 5 1/2 weeks, and might have taken longer had he not emailed them.  More »

    If You Visit Venezuela, Please Bring Us Back A Penisphone
    By Chris Walters on May 13, 2009 4:20 PM   33 Comments

    —>That rascal Hugo Chavez! First he uses a photo op with President Obama to hawk his new a book, and now he's on Venezuelan TV urging his citizens to buy a new Vergatario cellphone. For those not up on Spanish slang, that's equivalent to buying a Dickarama here in the states.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 13, 2009 1:50 PM   16 Comments

    —>

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 12, 2009 2:39 PM   49 Comments

    —>

    • Schwetty Balls: [Sports] $10 Off $20 Coupon w/ E-Mail Sign Up
    • Geeks: [Digital Camera] Kodak EasyShare MX1063 10.3MP Digital Camera $80
    • Buy.com: [Video Games] Buy 2 Get 1 FREE on $19.99 Xbox 360 Platinum Hits Games
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 11, 2009 12:20 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Newegg: [Headphones] Save 50% off: Maxell DHP-II Headphones $25 Shipped
    • JC Penney: [Apparel] 40% Off Original Price Plus 10% Extra Off Sale Price Online w/ Coupon 5SAVESU
    • Finish Line: [Shoes] adidas Men's Original Pro Conference Tennis Shoes for $20 + $8 s&h
      More »

    Verizon Loses The Broken Phone You Returned, Suspends Your Service
    By Carey Alexander on May 10, 2009 6:00 PM   78 Comments

    —>Luis dropped his busted LG EnV in the mail at the end of last year and tracked its progress as FedEx delivered the package to Verizon. Verizon, apparently unfamiliar with tracking numbers, doesn't believe that Luis ever returned the phone, and insists that they're owed a $320 replacement fee. Luis disputed the charge, but rather than investigate his claim, Verizon decided it would be easier to suspend his service. Now they want Luis—a customer of seven years who pays over $350 across six phone lines each month—to pay another $15 to reconnect the service they should never have disconnected in the first place. He writes:  More »

    Congressman Mike Doyle Is Pretty Much Done With These Auto Warranty Calls
    By Alex Chasick on May 8, 2009 4:35 PM   50 Comments

    —>Our favorite congressman, Mike Doyle (D-PA), is also fed up with the robocalls telling him his car warranty is about to expire. For those keeping track, that's two elected officials that these robocalllers have illegally called recently. If the internet doesn't take them out first, hopefully our public servants will. Thanks, Kenneth!  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 8, 2009 12:10 PM   27 Comments

    —>

    • Mars: [Candy] "Free Chocolate Friday" every Friday through September 25th: coupons for one full-sized Mars candy bar for the first 250,000 visitors each Friday morning
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: [Apparel] Eastern Mountain Sports - Biggest Sale of the Year 20%-40% off Entire Store
    • JC Penney: [Apparel] St. John's Bay Loose-Fit Pleated Pants for $4.99 w/ Coupon MOMSGR8 + Shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 7, 2009 2:21 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Red Octane: [Guitar Hero Wii] Three Guitar Hero Games (Metallica, World Tour, Aerosmith) + Drum Kit for Nintendo Wii $119.99 Free Shipping
    • Drugstore.com: [Health] Bayer Diabetes Monitors, Free after $25.99 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Cosi: [Restaurant] Buy One Get One Free Breakfast w/ Coupon (Starts May 8th)
      More »

    T-Mobile Provides iPhone Support Despite Not Offering iPhone
    By Alex Chasick on May 7, 2009 1:03 AM   71 Comments

    —>When a system update caused service failures and bugs in T-Mobile customers' unlocked iPhones, the users emailed T-Mobile to alert them to the issue. Even though T-Mobile doesn't offer the iPhone, they fixed the bugs and gave the users a service credit for the inconvenience.  More »

    Here's a list of cheap Mother's Day gift ideas, like decorating flip-flops with rhinestones (it's a deliberately cheap let-the-kids-help project), newsprint roses made by some girls club, and some sort of photo book through Facebook that's free for the first 10,000 orders. [ABC News]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 6, 2009 11:30 AM   17 Comments

    —>

    • Newegg: [Video Games] Nintendo Wii games from $10 + free shipping. Okami (pictured) is $16.99
    • Walmart: [TV] Olevia 37" LCD HDTV for $498 + $39.97 Shipping
    • Amazon: [Granola Bars] Save Extra $15 off Nature Valley Granola Products
      More »

    Woman Dies In Walmart Parking Lot, Discovered Two Days Later
    By Chris Walters on May 5, 2009 5:21 PM   91 Comments

    —>Imagine dying in your vehicle in the parking lot of a 24-hour Walmart. How would anyone know? The couple who discovered Patricia Glasscock's body yesterday thought she was sleeping, which is probably what anyone who passed by thought.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 5, 2009 11:30 AM   7 Comments

    —>

      Mother's Day Ideas Edition
    • Walmart: [Cleanliness] Cottonelle Toilet Paper Sample
    • 1-800-Flowers: [Flowers] Special Mother's Day Flowers for $30
    • Victoria's Secret: [Awkward] Victoria's Secret: $15 off $100, $30 off $150 or $75 off $250 purchase
    • ProFlowers.com: [Flowers] Mom's Reward Bouquet with chocolates, vase for $40 + $10 s&h
    • Shnoop.com: [Watch] Invicta Women's Wild Flower 46 Diamonds Watch for $78 + $7 s&h
    • Sears: [Clothing] Women's Polo Shirt Roundup: Classic Elements Sleeveless Pique for $8 + $6 s&h, more
    • Godiva: [Chocolates] Godiva Chocolate Covered Sale: Up to 50% off select chocolates
      More »

    8Coupons.com Lets You Send Local Coupons To Your Phone
    By Chris Walters on May 5, 2009 12:54 AM   9 Comments

    —>Online coupons still haven't caught on, really, but 8coupons.com may be worth checking out if you want to give it a try in your own city. Instead of implementing some high-concept location aware thing, they let you browse the site for coupons that interest you. When you find one, you send it to your phone via text message. Obviously, if you hold your phone number dear to your heart, don't bother; if you're the brave type who doesn't mind risking the personal data exposure, you might want to give it a shot.  More »

    Reach Executive Customer Service For Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T
    By Ben Popken on May 4, 2009 11:52 PM   35 Comments

    —>Say you got a problem with your cellphone company and you want it solved, pronto. You've already called regular customer service and they're either unable or unwilling to help you, or you're just sick of waiting on hold. You've got things to do! That's where executive customer service comes in handy. Just about every big company has a pack of these people who can basically walk on water within the company and get any problem solved. The key is reaching them. Naturally, you won't find them in an overseas call center at the end of the 1-800 number. Rather, they're attached to the corporate headquarters executive offices. Don't worry, we did the hard part for you. Here's up-to-date phone numbers for the executive customer service departments for Sprint, Verizon, T-mobile, and AT&T:  More »

    Online IQ Test Is Really A Stupid Mobile Phone Download Scam
    By Laura Northrup on May 4, 2009 10:47 PM   89 Comments

    —>An innocent-looking IQ test on Facebook is really a test of your privacy savvy. And ability to read tiny, tiny print.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 4, 2009 2:39 PM   13 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Grocery] Amazon coupon codes for May 2009
    • NewEgg: [Kitchen Appliance] Tatung 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker for $19.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Rite Aid: [Pharmacy] $5 off $25 In-Store Coupon
      More »

    T-Mobile is running a "flip your pearl" promotion right now, where you can trade in your old Blackberry for at least $75 (or another phone for $50) when you buy and activate a new Blackberry from them. Your trade-in phone will have to meet certain conditions for the offer to apply. [FlipYourPearl via IntoMobile]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on May 1, 2009 1:31 PM   12 Comments

    —>

    • Nashbar: [Bicycling] Nashbar AT LEAST 72% Off Sale
    • Caress: [Cosmetics] Free Skinwear Soap Sample
    • Degree: [Cosmetics] Free Women's Fine Fragrance Sample
      More »

    Tips For Buying A Suit Online
    By Chris Walters on April 30, 2009 2:41 PM   21 Comments

    —>You can save a lot of money if you buy your next suit online, but you can also end up with an ill-fitting suit that makes you look like an idiot. Dealnews spoke with a fashion writer for AskMen.com and put together a short list of tips on how to make it worth your while.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 30, 2009 11:30 AM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Hallmark: [Personalized Gifts] Free Card for Mom w/ Coupon CARD4MOM w/ Free shipping
    • MacMall: [Laptop] Apple MacBook Air Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz 13.3in Laptop (Only 3lbs & .76in Thick) $999.99AR
    • Dell: [Desktop Computer] Dell 19" LCD Monitor for $99.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Here Are Some Of The Companies Behind The Car Warranty Robocalls
    By Chris Walters on April 29, 2009 11:15 PM   56 Comments

    —>Verizon continues its recent campaign of turning robocallers into charitable contributions, this time by settling a lawsuit against two of the companies behind those awful car warranty calls. Last time it was for $25,000; this time it's for $50,000, all of which is being donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation, which Wireless Week describes as "a nonprofit devoted to empowering survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 29, 2009 1:42 PM   4 Comments

    —>

    • Whites Premium: [Pets] Free Sample of Dog Food
    • Gap: [Apparel] 20% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon FRIEND
      More »

    Letter To T-Mobile Executives Results In Fees Waived, Charges Reversed
    By Chris Walters on April 28, 2009 4:32 PM   23 Comments

    —>Chris was surprised to find that T-Mobile didn't cancel his account as promised a few months ago. What's worse, the note on his account that mentioned his cancellation request was missing, and nobody at customer service would help him. Chri works for a "very large consumer electronics company" that he won't name (we're pretty sure it's Apple) and thinks customer service is important, so he gave up on the CSR angle and instead came to our site to find contact info for T-Mobile executives. One EECB later, Chris is free from T-Mobile and the ETF they tried to apply.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 28, 2009 1:47 PM   21 Comments

    —>

    • Mighty Dog: [Pet Food] Free Customized Dog Tag and Toy w/ Coupon CITIZEN222
    • Jo Ann: [Crafts] 50% Off One Regular Priced Item Online w/ Coupon TTF120
    • Costco: [Office] Office Scissors for $0.88 w/ Free shipping ($0.04 Extra for non-members)
    • Restaurant.com: [Food] 80% Off Restaurant Certificates w/ Coupon lucky

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 27, 2009 12:23 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • Head & Shoulders: [Freebie] Free Shampoo Sample (registration required)
    • JCPenney: [Department Store] $10 off purchase $10 or more w/ coupon MOMSGR8
    • Amazon: [Headphones] JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Earphones from $10

      More »

    Consumer Reports Offers Tips For Saving On Pet Food
    By Alex Chasick on April 24, 2009 6:06 PM   186 Comments

    —>The Consumer Reports Health Blog has some good suggestions for pet owners who might not have quite as much money to spend on their animals as they used to.  More »

    Make Sure You Secure Your Smartphone
    By Chris Walters on April 24, 2009 3:15 PM   41 Comments

    —>Do you own an iPhone, G1, Blackberry, Windows or Nokia smartphone? Fancy phones are a nice target for thieves, and unfortunately they're often packed with sensitive information that can be too easily accessed and exploited. Why not take the time this weekend to make sure it's secure?  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 24, 2009 12:11 PM   17 Comments

    —>

    • El Pollo Loco: [Free Food] Free Chicken Meal on April 28th, dine in or carry out only, at participating restaurtants
    • Schick: [Free Razor] Quattro Titanium Trimmer Free Sample
    • Fujitsu PC: [Notebooks] Save Extra $100 off Lifebook Notebook & Tablet PCs
    • TigerDirect: [Cellphone] Unlocked Nokia 9300 Bluetooth Smartphone for $150 + $2 s&h

      More »

    If you have an iPhone or a G1, Google has just announced a new version of their Product Search specially formatted for those phones. Here's a video demonstrating how the mobile version looks and functions. [Google Mobile Blog via IntoMobile]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 23, 2009 1:05 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Red 2 Blu: [Upgrade Program] Mail in your Warner Bros. HD-DVD cover art for NEW WB Blu-Ray Discs ($4.95 per DVD title)
    • Buy.com: [Camera] Casio Exilim EX-Z85 9MP Digital Camera for $99.99 w/ Free shipping
    • REI Outlet: [Portable H2O] Laken Hit Lined Aluminum Water Bottle $12
    • Atlassian: [Enterprise Software] $5 Sale on 5-user licenses for bug tracker and enterprise wiki software.

      More »

    Meritline Using Misleading "Free HDMI" Cable To Sell Digital TV Converter With No HDMI Output?
    By Chris Walters on April 22, 2009 11:11 PM   46 Comments

    —>Matthew emailed us with an interesting link to a Meritline offer that he says is making the rounds on deal sites. The Airlink digital-to-analog converter box is a fairly generic offer, but Meritline is offering a free HDMI cable with it. The only problem is, there's no place on the box to use the cable. If you just see "free HDMI cable" and don't read the specs closely, you'll be in for a rotten surprise when the box arrives. But hey, free cable.  More »

    "New" Phone Bought Off EBay Turns Out To Be Used, Porny
    By Chris Walters on April 22, 2009 6:00 PM   93 Comments

    —>Lillian bought what she thought was a new phone from an eBay seller with a lot of great feedback. The longer she has it, though, the more evidence she finds that it's probably not new. Sometimes buying electronics off of eBay is like slowly peeling an onion.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 22, 2009 11:58 AM   48 Comments

    —>Special Earth Day Edition

    • Seventh Generation: [Cleaning Supplies] $1 and $2 off printable coupon for Seventh Generation products (requires registration)
    • Peet's Coffee: [Free Coffee] Free medium drink w/ purchase of a reusable product
    • Reynolds Recycled: [Free Foil] Free Roll Of Recycled Foil Wrap
    • Walgreens: [Shopping Bag] FREE Earth Day Shopping Bag w/ in-store coupon and purchase
    • Solar Rating: [Home] FREE Solar Rating for your House on Earth Day Apr 22nd
    • Earthbound Farm: [Shopping Bag] Take a pledge and receive free reusable shopping tote

      More »

    Take Your Tmobile Complaints To The Tippity-Top
    By Ben Popken on April 21, 2009 1:26 PM   51 Comments

    —>Here's a big sexy pile of escalated T-mobile contact info in case you have an intractable complaint that regular customer service can't or won't help out with. Besides the senior management and internal reporting division, It includes a way to figure out how to dial a whole mess of executive customer service reps, as well as which specific government bodies to file complaints with the situation warrant.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 21, 2009 12:55 PM   12 Comments

    —>

    • Ben & Jerry's: Free cone day
    • Lenovo: [Notebooks] You Pay What We Pay Sale: Extra 20% off Select IdeaPad & ThinkPad Notebook PCs
    • Shop4Tech: Nintendo Wii Remote Charger Stand with batteries for $18 + free shipping
    • T.G.I. Firday's: Penny appetizers with beverage purchase at the bar through April 30th. Free affinity program membership required.
    • TCBY: Free Frozen Yogurt Cone or Cup for Moms on Mother's Day - May 10th

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 20, 2009 11:52 AM   11 Comments

    —>

    • Tiger Direct: [Internet Tablet] Nokia N810 Internet Tablet $227 Shipped
    • Buy.com: [GPS Subscription] Navigon Lifetime Traffic Service Activation Card for $20 + free shipping
    • Gillette: [Freebie] Gillette is giving away 500 Fusion Razors every day through May 16th. Registration required to participate in givewaway.

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 17, 2009 12:20 PM   31 Comments

    —>

    • Buy.com: [MP3 Player] Sansa Clip MP3 Player 1GB (Refurbished) for $14.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: [Mobile Phone] Verizon LG Dare VX9700 Smartphone 1 Cent Shipped
    • llbean: [Clothes] L.L.Bean Men's Polo Shirts for $15 + free shipping

      More »

    All the outrage over Sling Media's iPhone app—which would have only worked with the latest Slingbox models—may have been moot. Boy Genius Report says they've received a tip that AT&T asked Apple to kill the app due to concerns about potential bandwidth drain. Update: JosephFinn points out that the tip is likely fake, as the IP address came from a prison. [IntoMobile]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 16, 2009 1:22 PM   11 Comments

    —>

    • Select hotels in Palm Beach: [Hotels] $19.09 sale, pay one night get 2nd night for $19.09 through December 2009
    • Walmart: [Video Games] Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit (Xbox 360) for $99.74 + $9.97 Shipping
    • BuyDig.com: [DVD Player] Toshiba 1080p HD-Upscaled DVD Player $79 Shipped
    • TekServe: [External HD Storage] G-Tech 500GB external hard drive for $129 + shipping, or buy in store

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 15, 2009 1:38 PM   24 Comments
    • Kenneth Cole: Today only, 40% off everything, no coupon/promo codes needed
    • TGI Fridays: Today only, Tax Break discount with $5-$10 Bonus Bites
    • Walgreens: Through April 20th, 15% OFF Online Orders w/ coupon TAXED
    • Taco Del Mar: Today only, free taco.
    • HydroMassage: Today only, free massage (call ahead to schedule an appointment)
    • Pittsburgh Pirates: Today only, $1 seats, $1 hot dogs, $1 12-ounce soda and $1 popcorn
    • MaggieMoos: Today only, free single scoop ice cream at participating stores (which means call first)
    • Cinnabon: Today from 5 to 8pm, free Bites (mini cinnamon rolls); they're also having an online tax essay contest where the winner receives a $100 gift certificate

    Thanks to MainStreet for several of the tips! Check out "Free Stuff: Tax Day Is Snacks Day" [MainStreet.com]  More »

    Virgin Mobile Offers To Pay Your Phone Bill For 3 Months If You Get Laid Off
    By Chris Walters on April 14, 2009 9:31 PM   13 Comments

    —>Starting tomorrow, Virgin Mobile will offer all customers who sign up for $30 or more post-paid plans coverage under their free Pink Slip program, which means if you get laid off and can provide proof, they'll pay your cellphone bill for three months, and you won't have to put a Skype number on your resume.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 14, 2009 12:04 PM   18 Comments

    —>

    • BestBuy: [Movies] $4.99 DVD Sale
    • Amazon: [Home Electronics] Free $40 Gift Certificate with Philips Sonicare and Norelco Orders
    • Newegg: [Video Games] Final Fantasy XI for Xbox 360 for $10 + free shipping

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 13, 2009 11:45 AM   19 Comments

    —>

    • NewEgg: [Video Game] MotorStorm Playstation3 Game SONY for $16.99 w/ Free shipping
    • BJ's Wholesale Club: [Memberships] Free 60-Day Shopping Pass via printable coupon
    • Buy.com: [Headphones] Kensington Stereo Bluetooth Headset $23 + free shipping

      More »

    Let Supermarkets Help You Save Money
    By Carey Alexander on April 12, 2009 6:00 PM   116 Comments

    —>Consumer Reports is gearing up to release their supermarket ratings, but the preliminary results show that supermarkets are trying to help consumers by extending sales and rewarding loyalty. Inside, six ways to save a few bucks next time you fill up your shopping cart.  More »

    Probably At 4 Cookies The Real Savings Kicks In
    By Chris Walters on April 10, 2009 9:19 PM   38 Comments

    —>Edward found this sign at a Subway shop in NYC. We appreciate that they're doing the addition for us.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 10, 2009 1:25 PM   13 Comments
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: [Netbook] HP Mini 10.1-inch Intel Atom Netbook PC $280 Shipped
    • Reebok: [Shoes] Save Extra 20% off Sale Shoes and Apparel
    • Barnes & Noble: [Magazine] Save Extra $5 off Magazine Subscriptions
      More »

    Teenager Tries To Bankrupt Family By Sending $4,756.25 In Text Messages
    By Meg Marco on April 9, 2009 2:59 PM   253 Comments

    —>Here's an idea, don't use your phone to send 300 texts a day at school. Not only will your parents not get a bill for $4,756.25, you won't go from As and Bs to Fs and you also won't get your phone smashed with a hammer.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 9, 2009 2:32 PM   10 Comments

    —>

    • NewEgg: [Kitchen] West Bend SHTO100 Toaster Oven for $19.99 w/ coupon EMCLRLV27 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: [Babyfood] Save Extra $20 off Tastybaby Organic Babyfood
    • Dell Small Business: [Monitors] Dell G2410 24" 1080p LED-Backlit Widescreen LCD Display for $233 + free shipping
    • KitchenAid: [Kitchen] KitchenAid closeout on mixers and other appliances
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 8, 2009 12:00 PM   15 Comments

    —>

    • Ralph Lauren: [Clothing] 30% purchase through April 14th with coupon code RLSP2009
    • Simple and Delicious: [Ketchup!] Free 24-oz Bottle of Hunt's Ketchup w/ Coupon + $10 Coupon Book (free registration required)
    • Geeks: [Camera+] Polaroid 8MP Camera with Free 7-inch LCD Photo Frame & 2GB Secure Digital Card $150
      More »

    Rumor: AT&T To Start Forcing iPhone Data Plan On iPhone 3G Owners Who Aren't Using One
    By Chris Walters on April 8, 2009 1:12 AM   112 Comments

    —>The iPhone blog says that AT&T is going to start contacting iPhone owners who aren't using an official iPhone data plan and force them to sign up for one. The crackdown supposedly starts tomorrow in the Atlanta and Austin markets, and expands nationwide by the end of the month.  More »

    Senators Introduce Bill To Ban Text Message Spam
    By Chris Walters on April 7, 2009 8:33 PM   55 Comments

    —>Senators Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Bill Nelson, D-Florida, have introduced the m-SPAM Act, which would update the CAN-SPAM law to include text message spam. "The m-SPAM Act would explicitly bar marketers from sending text messages to any mobile number in the national Do-Not-Call registry maintained by the FTC," reports InternetNews.   More »

    Macy's Makes Fun Of Coupons With Its Latest Coupon
    By Chris Walters on April 7, 2009 7:18 PM   82 Comments

    —>Did you know the asterisk in the Macy*s logo is actually part of a clever branding campaign to associate the brand with fine print? It must be true, because no other department store has such a love of fine print on coupons—and such an apparent hatred of actual coupons. Their latest masterpiece in exclusions won't cover electronics, wigs, mattresses, shoes, watches, about a million clothing brands, and more. What does it cover? Probably a shoehorn from the Notions for Men department.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 7, 2009 2:06 PM   12 Comments
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: [Drive] Fantom GreenDrive II 1TB Dual Input USB & eSATA External Drive $100 & Free Shipping
    • CellPhoneShop: [Mobile Accessories] Save Extra 10% - 20% off Mobile Cables and other Gear Orders with Coupons
    • Newegg: [GPS] Refurbished Garmin nuvi 200 GPS Navigator $90 Shipped
      More »

    5 Big Retail Mark-Ups To Watch Out For
    By Chris Walters on April 7, 2009 12:48 AM   188 Comments

    —>The Lansing State Journal has put together a list of 5 marked-up retail categories to be aware of when you're making purchasing decisions, most of which you hopefully already know. If you can't find wholesale sources or DIY replacements, then at least make sure you do a lot of comparison shopping to get the best deal.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 6, 2009 1:12 PM   17 Comments

    —>

    • Orangejulius.com: [Smoothie] Buy 1 Get 1 Free Julius Premium Fuit Smoothie (printable coupon)
    • Bluefly: [Fashion] New Customers Save $30 off First Order
    • Buy.com: [Charger] Aluratek Universal Cellular Charging Kit for $10 + free shipping
      More »

    Save Money By Not Touching Stuff In The Store
    By Ben Popken on April 3, 2009 10:44 PM   40 Comments

    —>Think you're already a savvy shopper and smart saver? Well here's a way to spend even less: don't touch. A new study shows that if you touch stuff when you're shopping, it increases your sense of ownership and makes you more willing to pay more for it. Here's how the study came to that conclusion:  More »

    The $1,821.97 Blackberry Bill
    By Ben Popken on April 3, 2009 8:34 PM   105 Comments

    —>Maybe things are different in your house but in PJ's it's rather disconcerting to receive a bill for $1,821.91 for the wife's Blackberry. U.S. Cellular says that she used 150mb of data and now must pay the price. PJ's wife has no idea what she might have done that would've been that large, and US Cellular can't tell her either. They just want their monies.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 3, 2009 12:56 PM   17 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon.com: [Groceries] Grocery coupon codes for April
    • Surplus Computers: Western Digital 3.5" 80GB IDE Hard Drive for $16 + $8 s&h, more
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 2, 2009 1:01 PM   23 Comments

    —>

    • Sam's Club: [Free Samples] Free GLAD ForceFlex Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags Sample
    • B&H Photo: [Camcorder] Sony DVD710 Hybrid Camcorder $230 Shipped
    • OfficeMax: [Paper Shredder] OfficeMax 8-Sheet Diamond-Cut Shredder for $20 + $8 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on April 1, 2009 12:57 PM   23 Comments
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Hanes.com: [Tees] Save 25% off Men's & Boy's Shirts & More
    • Buy.com: [LCD] Acer X193Wb 19-inch LCD Monitor $100 Shipped
    • Lucky Brand Jeans: [Clothing] Friends & Family Sale: 30% off Clothing & Accessories with Coupon
      More »

    Why Is Nokia Charging Customers More Than The Invoice Amount?
    By Chris Walters on March 31, 2009 10:56 PM   25 Comments

    —>Nokia has already had a few problems rolling out its new touchscreen 5800 XpressMusic phone, including earpieces that go bad in humid weather and firmmware that wouldn't work on certain big-city 3G networks on the US model, but now they're screwing around with something serious: customers' money.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 31, 2009 1:23 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • CVS Pharmacy: [Drugstore] 20% off everything online w/ coupon spring20
    • Newegg: [Portable Video] Flip Video MinoHD HD Video Camcorder $209 Shipped
    • JR: [Water Filter] Brita On-Tap Replacement Filter for $15 + $5 s&h
      More »

    AT&T Supervisor Takes Back Refund Offer Because You Dared To Question Her
    By Chris Walters on March 31, 2009 1:03 AM   145 Comments

    —>Claire was told the wrong thing by an AT&T Wireless rep regarding international long distance, but when she called back to sort things out, she came up against the Nurse Ratched of the AT&T call center—a woman who refused to give in, or offer any help at all. In fact, when Claire finally admitted defeat and said she'd accept the credit that had been offered to her, the supervisor refused. Apparently Claire only had one chance to accept that and since she said no, it was off the table.  More »

    The website freeshipping.org has launched a new blog named "Go Frugal," aimed at helping consumers find ways to save money. [Go Frugal]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 30, 2009 12:08 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • Quaker Oats: [Freebies] Free True Delights Granola Bar Sample
    • REI: [Cycles] K2 Easy Street Bike for $300 + $74 s&h, more
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 27, 2009 1:05 PM   37 Comments

    —>

    • Borders: 40% off One Item at Borders (Printable In-Store Coupon)
    • Turbo Tax: [Tax Filing] Free Federal E-Filing on All Returns + Free 1040EZ
    • T-mobile: T-Mobile: Free $25 refill card with select prepaid phones + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 26, 2009 12:30 PM   19 Comments

    —>

    • Boscov's: [Tableware] Lynns Valentina 109-piece Fine Porcelain Dinnerware Set. for $49.99 + Shipping
    • Geeks: [Cameras] Kodak 9.2MP Digital Camera + Tripod, Case & 4GB Card $75
    • Lenovo ThinkPad | ThinkCentre: [Computers] Lenovo IdeaCentre Dual Core 2GHz All-in-One 22" Desktop PC for $630 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 25, 2009 11:36 AM   18 Comments

    —>

    • NewEgg: [Cameras] Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8.0 with free MPDOLICA 4GB SD Memory Card & Small Case bundle for $149.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Southwest: [Flights] Spring Sale: Airfares from $49 each way
    • T-mobile: [Phones] Nokia 1208 Prepaid Cell Phone with $25 refill for T-Mobile for $20 + free shipping
      •   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 24, 2009 11:36 AM   22 Comments

    —>

    • Buy.com: [Portable Hard Drives] 320 GB Western Digital My Passport for $79.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Tradepub.com: [Trade Mags] Free Business & Professional Magazine Subscriptions
    • Newegg: [Monitors] ASUS 26" Widescreen LCD Display for $310 after $30 rebate + free shipping
      More »

    AT&T Might Charge You For "Free" Mobile-To-Mobile Calls Unless You Notice
    By Chris Walters on March 24, 2009 12:05 AM   38 Comments

    —>Jeff canceled one of the two lines on his AT&T Mobility family plan, and on his next bill he noticed the remaining line had been charged for mobile-to-mobile calls on the AT&T network—even though those minutes are supposed to be free.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 23, 2009 1:01 PM   10 Comments
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Walmart: [Vacuums] Dirt Devil Rechargeable Broom Vacuum for $25 + $1 s&h
    • GoldenGadgets: [Cables] Retractable Ethernet Cable for 89 cents + $2 s&h
    • Newegg: [Peripherals] Thermaltake BlacX eSATA / USB 2.0 Docking Station for $35 + free shipping
      •   More »

    This Verizon Discount Applies To All Plans... Except The One Advertised
    By Carey Alexander on March 21, 2009 4:15 AM   24 Comments

    —>Reader Ben says: "This reminds me of the days when Henry Ford used to tell Model T buyers that they could have their car in any color they wanted, as long as it was black. With Verizon, you can have a discount on any plan you want, as long as it's not the unlimited one."  More »

    Blog Gets Some Stupid Capcom Credit Card Fees Removed
    By Ben Popken on March 20, 2009 11:26 PM   18 Comments

    —>It turns out that Chun-Li, of Street Fighter fame, does not want to charge you so many onerous fees on your Capcom credit card that attack over and over on your neck like that stupid bitch, Blanka. Just some of them.  More »

    iPhone To Be Sold Contract Free, But Costs A Fortune And Still Ties You To AT&T
    By Chris Walters on March 20, 2009 7:51 PM   35 Comments

    —>AT&T has announced that starting next week, it will sell the iPhone 3G to current AT&T customers sans 2-year contract, possibly in an attempt to move inventory. Unfortunately, the conditions of the sale are such that it's not worth it unless you're determined to own a brand new, out-of-warranty (i.e. jailbroken) iPhone 3G that you intend to use on another network. (Note: our readers point out that even that route is far cheaper if you buy with contract and pay the ETF.) Otherwise, you'll still be locked to AT&T and you'll still have to buy the more expensive smartphone data plan, which doesn't include text messaging. For no-contract bragging rights, you'll have to pay $600 or $700 depending on the model.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 20, 2009 12:55 PM   21 Comments
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Spring Hill Nursery: [Plants] Get $20 Worth Of FREE Plants + $7.95 Shipping
    • Buy.com: [MP3 Players] Ematic 4GB Video MP3 Player with 2.4" Screen, 2MP Camera and Video Recorder for $48.89 w/ Free shipping
    • Timberland: [Clothing] 30% off w/ coupon outdoor
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [DVD] Save up to 47% off on Recent Movie Hits on DVD
    • Abe's of Maine: [Camera] Sony DSC-H10 8.1MP Camera $217 Shipped
    • Amazon: [Dessert] Extra $10 off Kraft Jell-O and Other Desserts
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • REI: [Clothing] The North Face Men's SDS Quarter-Zip Fleece Pullover (large sizes) for $38 + $6 s&h
    • Sony Style: [Cameras] How to buy a Sony alpha DSLR-A200K Digital SLR Camera for $217 + free shipping (continued from yesterday)
    • HandHeldItems: [iPhone Accessories] HHI iPhone 1050mAh Extended Battery Holster for $30 + $6 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on March 19, 2009 12:21 PM   30 Comments

    —>

    • NewEgg: [Games] Enemy Territory: Quake Wars PC for $5.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Sony Style: [Cameras] Sony alpha DSLR for $217 + free shipping (must sign up for Sony Visa Card)
    • GapBody: [Swimwear] Save 30% off Women's Swimwear

    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon: [Camcorder] Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 30-Minutes (White) + free $20 Create It Reward for $59.99 w/ coupon 67P7PZO3 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: [Romantic Partytime] Hershey's Red Kiss Dessert Fondue Maker for $5.43 + Shipping
    • Puma: [Shoes] 25% off sitewide w/ coupon CC28
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Overstock: [Coats] DKNY Women's Cashmere Blend Wool Pea Coat for $90 + $3 s&h
    • Amazon: [TVs] Samsung 40" 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $800 + free shipping
    • HandHeldItems: [Video Game Accessories] Motorola X205 Gaming Headset for Xbox 360 for $14 + $10 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: [Backpack] Save $50: High Sierra Torrent Hydration Backpack $40
    • Geeks: [Camcorder] JVC Everio 30GB Hard Drive Digital Camcorder $250
    • OfficeMax: [USB Drive] SimpleTech 1TB USB 2.0 Hard Drive $100 Shipped
      More »

    MotorMouths - One Car Review Site To Rule Them All
    By Ben Popken on March 18, 2009 8:56 PM   7 Comments

    —>MotorMouths is a new car review site, but they don't review cars. They review car reviews. They look at each critics' review and assign a score based on what the critic is saying about the car, and then also supply an average score for each car. Only critics with cred are used. Sorta like RottenTomatoes for movies, or Metascore for videogames. A handy way to help round out a new car search. For more on how they work, check here, and read here for info about how their scoring matrix works.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 18, 2009 12:03 PM   18 Comments

    • ampm: [Burger] Free cheeseburger today, 11am-1pm
    • Walgreens: [Diapers] 672 Diapers for $45 shipped
    • Epocrates: [Software] Free Epocrates Essentials for Medical Students
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Altrec: [Boots] Rocket Dog Women's Slope Boot for $29.99 + $7.25 Shipping
    • Nautica: [Clothes] Sale up to 75% off + free shipping (no minimum) + 15% off extra w/ coupon NAUBHSV1501
    • Dell: [Digital Camera] Kodak EasyShare M763 Blue 7.2 MP 3X Zoom for $49.99 w/ coupon 46PS59J6STVMLC + $4.99 Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • OfficeMax: [HDTV] AOC Envision 26-inch LCD HDTV $300 Shipped
    • Old Navy: [Dresses] Save on Women's Spring Dresses from $15 Each
    • Buy.com: [Portable Drive] WD Elements 640GB USB External Hard Drive $68 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Finish Line: [Shoes] New Balance Men's 700 Running Shoes for $25 + free shipping
    • Backcountry: [Jacket] The North Face Women's Apex Bionic Jacket for $90 + $9 s&h
    • Newegg: [PC] MSI Wind Atom 1.6GHz Barebones Mini PC for $130 after rebate + $11 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 17, 2009 1:04 PM   14 Comments

    —>

    • Threadless: [Tshirts] $5 shirt sale. Limited sizes, selections.
    • Creative: [Video Cam] VADO HD pocket video camera for $129.99 (reg $229.99) with free s/h after coupon code VADOHDFRIENDS
    • Amazon: [Razors] 36 Gillette Mach3 Cartridges for $45
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: [Heater] DeLonghi MCH710T Multi-Position Ceramic Heater for $31.03 w/ Free shipping
    • ACMoore: [Crafts] 50% Off One Regular Priced Item (Printable Coupon)
    • Walmart: [Cutlery] Farberware 23-Piece Cutlery and Kitchen Tool Set for $22.97 + Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Geeks: [Digital Camera] Refurbished Kodak EasyShare CD1013 10.3MP Digital Camera $90
    • Sears.com: [Blu-ray] Refurbished Magnavox HD Blu-ray Disc Player $140
    • Newegg: [PC] Full-Sized Netbook Alternative: Toshiba 15.4-inch Notebook PC $400 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • TigerDirect: [Laptop[Refurbished IBM ThinkPad Pentium M 1.6GHz 14" Laptop for $300 + $2 s&h
    • OfficeMax: [Digital Cam] Kodak V1273 12.4MP 3x Zoom Digital Camera for $130 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: [Mouse] Creative Fatal1ty 2020 Laser Mouse for $13 + $5 s&h
      More »

    Give Robocallers A Silent Ringtone And A Funny Name
    By Ben Popken on March 16, 2009 10:41 PM   91 Comments

    —>You know those car warranty robocallers calling your cellphone? Of course you do, you hate them. This how reader Eyebrow McGee deals with them, and gets to have a little laugh at the same time:  More »

    Gazaro Rates Gadget Sales Based On Historical Price Data
    By Chris Walters on March 16, 2009 3:25 PM   5 Comments

    —>If you're shopping around for a TV, computer, camera, or other consumer electronics gadget, you may want to add Gazaro to your online toolbox. The service, which is free but requires registration, tracks items that are listed on sale, then rates the sale price by comparing it to the item's pricing history. It's an easy way to quickly scan a list of current sales and see which ones are actually good deals. We like it, but there are still some areas that could be improved.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 16, 2009 12:26 PM   23 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Plates] 12 10-inch Clear Dinner Plates for $2.99
    • Staples: [Paper] 11 Reams of Printing Paper (96 bright 24lb) for Free or better after coupons and rebates (in-store only)
    • Woot: [Camcorder] Recertified Pure Digital Flip Ultra Series F260 Camcorder for $79.99
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Krispy Kreme: [Donut] Free Glazed Doughnut with sign-up
    • Amazon: [Laptop] 2go Classmate E09XPH 9-Inch Laptop (Bone/Grey) for $205.12 w/ Free shipping
    • Microsoft: [Software] Office Ultimate 2007: Deal for Students (Download) for $59.95
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Headphones] Sony MDR-V150 Monitor Series Headphones $15
    • Lenovo: [Tablet] ThinkPad X61 Core 2 Duo Tablet PC $649 Shipped
    • Newegg: [GPS] Navigon 2100 GPS Navigation System $90 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: [Video Game] Geometry Wars: Galaxies for Wii for $10 + $5 s&h
    • Newegg: [Speaker] Polk Audio VM10 Titanium Loudspeaker for $130 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: [Watch] Citizen Men's Eco-Drive Black Leather Watch for $90 + free shipping
      More »

    Combine Coupons Codes For Extra Savings "... did you know you can use more than one code at a time? I didn't, until Borders practically begged me to. I was buying two books on their site when I saw this message on the checkout page: "You may apply more than one promotion code to your order." Who knew?" [ShopSmart]  More »

    Magic Pricematching Fairy Visits Costco
    By Ben Popken on March 13, 2009 4:53 PM   67 Comments

    —>Reader Lyn is happy to report that he is not suffering any buyer's regret. A week after buying a big ol' 52" Sony Bravia LCD TV from Costco for $1950, one of "my wife's and I's once-in-ten-years type deals," he saw the same one sitting in the TV section for $200 less.   More »

    Sprint Lies To FCC About Ripping Off Consumer Reporter
    By Ben Popken on March 13, 2009 3:22 PM   52 Comments

    —>Dan Hesse should be ashamed. Ripping off a consumer reporter and then lying to the FCC about it? Bad idea. Here's what Sprint did to The Red Tape Chronicles reporter Bob Sullivan...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 13, 2009 1:23 PM   25 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: [Diapers] 80 Huggies Newborn Diapers for $15.72
    • Sony Card: [Rebates] Get a $200 credit after $349 purchase
    • Campbell's: [Gardening] Free Tomato Seeds
    Highlights From Buxr
    • JCPenney: Cooks Pair of Santoku Knives for $9.99 w/ coupon BUDDING + Shipping
    • JR.com: Nikon D40 refurbished for $349 w/ Free shipping
    • Livemetallica.com: Download Metallica concert tracks for free!
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: [Messenger] Save 54% off: Timbuk2 Metro Messenger Bag $25
    • Shop Adidas: [Sports Gear] Save up to 50% off Outlet Apparel and Shoes
    • Barnes & Noble: [DVDs] DVD Triple Packs from $11 Each
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Dell Small Business: Dell Vostro 1310 Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz 13" Laptop with XP Pro for $599 + free shipping
    • Newegg: Major League Baseball 2K9 for PS3 for $47 + free shipping
    • Dell Home: Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400 DDR2 Desktop RAM Kit for $10 after rebate + $5 s&h
      More »

    Bank of America has launched a new cash-back reward program called "Add it Up," where money is deposited in your bank account when you shop from partner retailers. For example, they offer 1% cash back on every dollar spent at Newegg, and 5% for every dollar spent at CompUSA. [Dallas Morning News]  More »

    This Pringles Super Stack Size Traps The Math Illiterate
    By Chris Walters on March 12, 2009 11:44 PM   55 Comments

    —>The Super Stack can of Pringles on the right looks super big and super packed full of chips. It only has 12% more snack inside, though, while it costs 25% more of your money. Luckily, if you're not handy with division or don't have a calculator or phone with you, just look at the price per pound on the tags below. And never trust packaging!  More »

    Kid Racks Up 14,528 Text Messages On Parent's Plan
    By Ben Popken on March 12, 2009 6:42 PM   154 Comments

    —>She must have calluses on her thumbs. Teenager Reina Hardesty racked up 14,528 text messages on her parent's AT&T bill last month. She say's she basically just texting back and forth with four of her friends all day long. Thanks goodness for unlimited text-messaging plans, otherwise it would have cost $2,905.60. Guess for a teenage text insurance policy, $30 is worth it. Reina's parents have since set a limit of no texting after dinner. Good luck enforcing that.  More »

    Gourmet Grocery Recession Meal Deal For $99.99
    By Ben Popken on March 12, 2009 5:00 PM   64 Comments

    —>Gourmet Grocery Online has the Recession Meal Deal for $99.99 (down from $139.99) w/ free shipping. Contains 4 (7 oz.) Flat Iron Steaks, 4 (5 oz.) Broccoli & Cauliflower Roasted Garlic Oil, 4 (3 oz.) Oven Roasted Chicken Breasts, 2 (5 oz.) Broccoli & Cauliflower Roasted Garlic Oil, 2 (12 oz.) Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, 8 (3 oz.) Italian Sausage, Penne Pasta with Marinara & Parmesan Cheese. The recession is forcing even brands that style themselves as luxury are forced to cut prices and position themselves as "value," even if it only means slightly less of a rip.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 12, 2009 1:25 PM   30 Comments

    —>

    • Chase: [Money] $200 for depositing $500 in a business checking account
    • Crackberry: [Blackberry Codes] Unlock your T-Mobile, AT&T, or Rogers Blackberry for free
    • Enterprise: [Rentals] $9.99 weekend rentals (not valid at airports, in NYC, 100 mile/day limit)
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: Rockwell Shop Series RC3435KL 7-1/4 inch 14 Amp Laser Circular Saw for $39.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Michaels: 40% off Printable coupon
    • O'Reilly: Buy 2 Books, Get the 3rd FREE w/ coupon OPC10
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Blackberry] T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900 $50 & Free Shipping
    • Apple Store: [iPods] Save an Extra $20 to $30 off Refurbished iPod nano 8GB & 16GB Models
    • Creative Labs: [Desktop Speakers] GigaWorks T20 Two Way Stereo Speakers $60
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Music123: Converse Kids Chuck Taylor All Star Hi-Tops for $17 + free shipping
    • Boscovs: Circulon 3-Quart Covered Saucepot for $30 + $8 s&h, more
    • dealsclick: Belkin Tunebase FM for iPod and iPhone for $15 + $5 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 11, 2009 12:31 PM   8 Comments

    —>

    • JCPenney: [Blanket] Plush Electric Throw/Blanket for $10, Orig.89.99 Size: 50x62
    • illyusa: [Espresso Maker] Illy X8 Expresso Machine for $165 Shipped with coupon code EX8150C39
    • Newegg: [PC Parts] AMD AGENA 9600 Quad Core for $85 w/free shipping after coupon code AMD3615
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Boston Market: [Food] $3 off $6 purchase printable coupon
    • Lane Bryant: [Clothes] $25 off $75+, $50 off $150+, $75 off $225+ w/ online coupon 050006311
    • Buy.com: [Router] ZyXEL Wireless-G Router w/ USB Wireless Adapter for $21.99 after $10 rebate w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Blu-ray] Save 50% or More off: HD Movies on Blu-ray Disc from $14
    • Newegg: [Headphones] Sennheiser CXL400 Earbud Headphones $16 Shipped
    • Buy.com: [HRM Watch] Reebok Precision XT Heart Rate Monitor $30 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Newegg: [Speakers] Polk Audio Monitor 30 Two-Way Bookshelf Speakers for $80 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Laptop] Refurbished HP Pavilion dv7 AMD Dual Core 2.1GHz 17" Laptop for $600 + free shipping
    • Apple Store: [Laptops] 18 refurbished Apple MacBook Pro Intel Laptops from $1,499 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    How To Make Sure You're Not Paying $3.02 Per Minute For Cellular Service
    By Ben Popken on March 10, 2009 1:31 PM   70 Comments

    —>As we noted yesterday, the average cellphone user is paying at least fifty cents to one dollar per minute because they're only using 32% of their minutes. To make sure you're on the plan with the best value, services like BillShrink and MyValidas can help you analyze your cellphone bill and see which plan you should switch to based on your actual minutes used.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 10, 2009 12:21 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Gap: [Clothes] 30% off at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic (Printable Coupon - Multi Use)
    • Auntie Anne's: [Pretzel] Buy one pretzel, get 2nd free (printable coupon)
    • OfficeMax: [Digital Camera] Kodak M753 7 Megapixel 3x Zoom Copper Digital Camera for $69.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Office Depot: [PC] Toshiba 15.4-inch Notebook $400 & Free Shipping
    • Buy.com: [LCD] Samsung 21.5-inch Widescreen Dual Input HD Resolution LCD $169 & Free Shipping
    • Mwave: [Handheld] HP Jornada 728 Handheld PC with Dock $100
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: [Clothes] Chaps Men's Shirts for $11 + $5 s&h
    • eforcity: [Gadget Case] SportBand w/ case for $4 + free shipping
    • TigerDirect: [Monitor] I-INC IS-220DPB 22" Widescreen LCD Display for $150 + $2 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Target Employee Incompetence Freezes Nearly $800 Of Customer's Money
    By Chris Walters on March 10, 2009 12:21 AM   154 Comments

    —>Erica, who writes Philadelphia Weekly's Style blog, went to Target this past Saturday to purchase some new tank tops. She and her boyfriend filled their cart with a lot of other stuff too—"Ready to stimulate the economy?" she joked to him on their way to the register—and they agreed to split the cost equally. Now when I worked retail, that was an infrequent but not impossible task. When you ask a Target cashier to do that, get ready to have your debit card debited twice for the full amount of the bill, and then told two days later that the voided transactions will take 72 hours to clear.  More »

    Toys R Us Bathroom Stall Falls On Child Safety Advocate
    By Chris Walters on March 9, 2009 6:35 PM   115 Comments

    —>In 2006, Jennifer—the co-founder of popular parenting/consumer advocacy site Z Recommends—took her two-and-a-half-year-old to the bathroom at the local Toys R Us store. What she didn't know was that this particular store featured the awesome striking power of the Action Toilet Stall with Collapsible Mom Trap! As she closed the door, the entire partition fell over on top of her and her daughter. Jennifer managed to protect her daughter from harm, but in the two years since the event, she's developed chronic pain from the accident—and the response from Toys R Us has been "don't call us, we'll call you."  More »

    Are You Actually Paying More Than $3 A Minute To Use Your Cellphone?
    By Meg Marco on March 9, 2009 4:21 PM   93 Comments

    —>The LA Times brings up an interesting point. You may think you are getting each cellphone minute for about $0.10... but are you really? Or are you paying for more minutes than you use?  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 9, 2009 1:17 PM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Seattle's Best: [Coffee] Buy a medium or large mocha or latte, great one free (Printable Coupon)
    • Buy.com: [SD Card] Kingston 2GB microSD Secure Digital Card for $4.81 w/ Free shipping
    • Blair.com: [Iron ]Toastmaster Iron for $8.99 after coupon YVF w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • TiVo.com: [DVR] Save $100: High Definition TiVo HD DVR $200 Shipped
    • Guitar Center: [Instruments] Green Tag Sale: 50% & More off Music Gear
    • Expedia: [Travel] Free Night's Stay with Hotel Bookings
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • mwave: [PC Part] ASUS M3A78 Socket AM2+ ATX Motherboard for AMD for $78 + $9 s&h
    • Newegg: [Sound System] Pioneer 864W 5.1-Channel Home Theater System for $180 + free shipping
    • BestBuy: [Laptop] Toshiba Satellite AMD Dual Core 2.1GHz 13" Laptop for $585 + $25 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 6, 2009 1:59 PM   18 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Steam: [Video Game] Unreal Tournament 3 Free Weekend
    • PacSun: [Jeans] BUY 1 Pair of Jeans GET 1 Pair FREE + Extra 15% off Entire Order w/ coupon wel15em08
    • Baskin-Robbins: [Ice Cream] Buy one Sundae, get one free coupon
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Best Buy: [Notebook] Acer Aspire 14.1-inch Dual Core Notebook PC $400
    • Eastbay: [Sports] Extra 20% to 30% off Sports Apparel, Shoes, & Gear
    • Buy.com: [GPS] Sanyo NVM-4370 GPS Nav System with Bluetooth $100 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: [Bed Accessory] Sleep Studio ViscO2 Active 3" Mattress Topper for $68 + free shipping
    • Boscovs: [Art Supplies] 101-Piece Art Set for $9.99 + $10 s&h
    • Amazon.com: [Glare Filter] Fellowes Premium Liteview Glare Filter for $30 + free shipping
      More »

    Visa And Capcom Announce Street Fighter Hyper Fee Edition Card
    By Alex Chasick on March 5, 2009 11:07 PM   57 Comments

    —>Video game maker Capcom has partnered with Visa to offer a pre-paid debit card with so many fees that it will shrink your wallet from an E. Honda to a Dhalsim. The hurricane kick of fees, inside.  More »

    Who The Hell Are These People Calling My Cellphone About A Car Warranty?
    By Meg Marco on March 5, 2009 8:47 PM   262 Comments

    —>We've been getting a lot of emails from people saying that a company is using a robocaller to call their cellphones and pretend that their car warranty is expiring. Too bad that some of these readers don't even have a car. Has happened to you? Do you know who is behind it?  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 5, 2009 2:00 PM   26 Comments

    —>

    • Skis.com: [Winter clothes] 50% off everything North Face
    • Ann Taylor Loft: [Sweater] Petite Scoopneck Cable Sweater for $14.99
    • Amazon: [Video Game] Fallout 3 for PS3 for $34.98 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Fedex Kinkos: [Printing] FREE 25 Resumes Printed on High Quality Paper
    • Amazon: [DVD] The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection for $24.99 + Shipping
    • AT&T Wireless: [Cellphone] Nokia 2610 GoPhone (Refurbished) for $9.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Old Navy: [Clothing] Apparel Basics up to 50%+ off
    • Newegg: [DVD] Philips HD Upscaling DivX DVD Player $50 Shipped
    • Meritline: [Lights] LED Bicycle Headlight & Tail Light Kit $5 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • MacMall: [Computer] New Apple Mac mini Core 2 Duo 2GHz Desktops from $569 + $0 s&h after rebates
    • Shop4Tech: [Gadget] iTheater Wireless Video Eyewear for $101 + free shipping
    • JR: [Laptop] Toshiba Satellite Sempron 2GHz 15" Laptop for $400 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Citibank Launches iPhone Version Of Mobile App
    By Chris Walters on March 4, 2009 6:37 PM   21 Comments

    —>Okay, all you iPhone dorks, Citi's just released an easy way for you to keep track of your account balances while you're running around pinching things bigger and smaller with your heavily patented gestures. Don't worry, ugly phone owners, they've got other mobile versions too.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 4, 2009 1:40 PM   19 Comments
  • Kohls: [Shoes] Mootsies Tootsies Matty Slip-On Shoes for $16 + $1 s&h
  • TigerDirect: [HDTV] Refurbished Vizio 37" 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $500 + $35 s&h
  • DeepDiscount: [DVD] Leap Frog DVD Roundup: Deals from $7 each + free shipping
    • Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Recent Recalls
    By Ben Popken on March 3, 2009 6:25 PM   22 Comments
    Alpargatas children's flip flops - lead  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 3, 2009 1:46 PM   11 Comments
  • Buy.com: [Cellphone Charger] Iqua Vizor Solar Powered Cellphone Recharger Car Kit for $49.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Creative Labs: [MP3 Player] Refurbished 2GB Zen Portable Media Player $39
    • Mwave: [LCD Monitor] Asus VW198T 19-inch Dual Input LCD Monitor $116
    • Newegg: [All-in-One] Canon Pixma MX300 All-In-One Printer $65 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • AT&T Wireless: [iPhone] Refurbished iPhone 3G 8GB for $99 + free shipping, 16GB for $199
    • Dell Home: [2.1 Speakers] Harman Kardon Soundsticks II for $105 + free shipping
    • Surplus Computers: [Hard Drives] Refurbished IDE Hard Drive Roundup: Maxtor 40GB for $13 + $11 s&h, more
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    T-Mobile Customers Can Take Advantage Of Cheaper Plans Starting Today
    By Chris Walters on March 2, 2009 8:19 PM   41 Comments

    —>The rumor was true—T-Mobile has started offering cheaper unlimited voice plans to existing customers. Matthew wrote to us, "The TMO loyalty plans are showing up on the site as of today...we just moved to the Unlimited Loyalty Family Plan at $89.99, which is $10 cheaper than the 2000 minute Family Plan we'd been on."  More »

    Circuit City Basically Totally Done By March 8th
    By Ben Popken on March 2, 2009 7:10 PM   47 Comments

    —>Looks like March 8th will be the last day on earth for many Circuit City stores. A reader saw a sign in a liquidated Circuit City that said the final day would be March 8th. Also, an insider saw a memo that indicated the "bulk" of the stores, 500 or so, would be closed on March 8th. The memo said stores are closing so early because "sales are ahead of schedule." At this point in the liquidation cycle, "It looks like whatever hasn't been picked through is starting to be actually decent prices" writes reader Will. "I scored an XM radio unit for 85 vs. about 110-130 on the net, and a Harmony One remote for 125 vs. 170 on the net." However, he noted, "TV prices were still not cheaper than the internet." So, it's now safe to shop at Circuit City, just make sure to bring your internet price-checking devices.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on March 2, 2009 1:02 PM   5 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • OfficeMax: [Digital Camera] Olympus FE-20 Digital Camera 8MP Black for $69.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Sixth Avenue: [Headphones] Sennheiser CX300-B Headphones for $17.10 w/ coupon AFL5 w/ Free shipping
    • Sixth Avenue: [Headphones] 30% off Skullcandy headphones w/ coupon AFLCANDY
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [DVDs] Two for $10 DVD Sale
    • Dell Home: [Netbook] Extra $50 off Inspiron Mini 12 Intel Atom Netbook PC
    • Geeks: [Camcorder] Refurbished VuPoint Multifunction Digital Camcorder for $40 with Coupon
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Staples: [Desk] TechniMobili Mahogany L-Desk for $200 + free shipping
    • Overstock.com: [Flatware] Oneida Azalea 45-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set for $44 + $3 s&h
    • Abt Electronics: [HDTV] Samsung 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $499 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Smart Television Alliance Asks "Feature Films For Families" To Stop Using Its Name
    By Chris Walters on February 27, 2009 7:10 PM   13 Comments

    —>Feature Films For Families—the company that's been phone-spamming random people over the past few weeks—follows no man's law! The nonprofit Smart Television Alliance, which works to educate parents on how to improve the television experience for kids*, discovered that the company was using its name without permission.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 27, 2009 1:26 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • JCPenney: [Toys] Disney Pirate Ship for $29.99 + $7.49 Shipping
    • Amazon: [DVD] Monty Python's Life of Brian Blu-Ray for $11.99 + Shipping
    • Famous Footwear: [Shoes] 30% off entire purchase w/ coupon FRIENDS21
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Tools] 50% or More off Victorinox Swiss Army Knives & Tools
    • Pfaltzgraff: [Diningware] Save 20% off Flatware, Cookware, & Accessory
    • Jos. A. Bank: [Apparel] Save Extra 50% off All Clearance Men's Clothing
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Dell Home: [Netbook] Dell Inspiron Mini 9 UMPC for $99 or $149 with select PC purchases at Dell Home
    • Amazon.com: [Car Audio] Pioneer DEH-P5000UB In-Dash CD/MP3 Car Audio Receiver for $120 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: [Keyboards] Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Keyboard for $118 after rebate + free shipping
      More »

    Great idea from reader CumaeanSybil: "One thing I've been doing lately: every time I buy something on sale, I take the difference from regular price and put it in savings. It keeps me motivated to seek out sale prices and coupons, because I like seeing that account grow."  More »

    Verizon Wireless Sues "Velveteen Rabbit" Telemarketers
    By Chris Walters on February 26, 2009 6:42 PM   66 Comments

    —>Hooray for Verizon Wireless! Wait, what? The cellular carrier has just filed a lawsuit against Feature Films For Families for illegally telemarketing. Specifically, they're accusing the company of using an auto-dialer to cold call hundreds of thousands of Verizon Wireless customers earlier this month, which is illegal according to NJ state laws (where the suit was filed) and the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 26, 2009 1:27 PM   19 Comments
  • Musician's Friend: [Music] Yamaha GigMaker Guitar Pack $150 Shipped
  • Gap: [Apparel] Buy One Pair of Pants and get Second Pair at 50% off
  • Barnes & Noble: [Books] Children's Classics Sale: Get 3 Books for $10
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • Dell Small Business: [HDTV] Sharp AQUOS 32" 1080p LCD HDTV w/ built-in Blu-ray for $499 + free shipping (updated)
    • Dell Home: [PC] Dell Inspiron 530n Intel Dual Core 2.5GHz Desktop w/ 19" LCD for $428 + $35 s&h, more
    • mwave: [Netbook] Refurbished ASUS Eee PC 900A Intel Atom 1.6GHz 9" Netbook for $180 + $10 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Verizon Wireless Accused Of Wrongly Billing NY Customers State Tax
    By Chris Walters on February 25, 2009 10:45 PM   15 Comments

    —>A class action lawsuit has been filed against Verizon Wireless accusing it of passing directly to customers a "metropolitan commuter transportation district" tax that the company was actually supposed to pay. Albert Levy, who filed the lawsuit, points out that Sprint has never charged the tax to customers. Verizon Wireless calls the accusation "silly," and says they're billing it correctly. Perhaps not surprisingly, the actual wording of the tax law leaves the matter up in the air.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 25, 2009 1:39 PM   31 Comments

    —>

    • LA Police Gear: [Pants] 5.11 covert Tactical khaki pants (8 pockets, 4 of them hidden) and leather belt for $29.99
    • Carolyn New York: [Nail Polish] 10 bottles of nailpolish for $12.50
    • Arby's: [Food} Free RoastBurger Sandwich w/any drink purchase
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Nike: [Sports] Sale up to 75% off clearance items + extra 25% off w/ coupon NSCLEAR25
    • Buy.com: [GPS] Omnitech 4.3" Portable GPS w/Text to Speech, 3D View, 16878 for $69.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Victoria's Secret: [Women's Wear] New Coupons: $15 off $100, $30 off $150, and $75 off $250 w/ coupon GETVS
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg: [Vinyl to PC] Ion iPTUSB Turntable and Vinyl Archive System $85 Shipped
    • HP Home: [Netbook] Price Drop: Mini 1010NR Netbook with Windows XP $300
    • Gap: [Clothing] Save 30% off New Spring Styles with Coupon
      • Highlights From Dealnews
      • 1&1 Internet: [Hosting] Web Hosting Service Roundup: 1and1.com from $4/month, more
      • Musician's Friend: [Disco Lights] Chauvet Vue II LED Moonflower DMX Lighting Effect for $70 + $8 s&h
      • Amazon.com: [Speakers] Alesis M1 Active 620 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers for $199/pair + $8 s&h
      Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    3 Steps To Protect Yourself When Making Major Electronics Purchases
    By Meg Marco on February 24, 2009 6:51 PM   94 Comments

    —>Stores like Best Buy like to take advantage of your natural fear that a piece of electronic equipment that you just spent a bunch of money on is going to break. And, let's face it, it might — but that's no reason to rely on an expensive extended warranty from the retailer.   More »

    Grocery Growth Ray To Hit Ketchup, Chips
    By Ben Popken on February 24, 2009 2:23 PM   57 Comments

    —>A grocery growth ray is set to hit a popular condiment and several kinds of baked corn with names ending "tos." To push the brands as being good values, Heinz will be selling slightly larger ketchup bottles, and Frito-Lay is adding 20% to Tostitos, Fritos, Cheetos and Doritos - without raising the price. Unlike the grocery shrink ray, you can bet this change will be loudly trumpeted on the package.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 24, 2009 1:58 PM   17 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Kashi.com: [Food] Get a free frozen entre
    • Puma: [Apparel] 25% with NO MINIMUM (EVEN FOR SALE ITEMS) w/ coupon CAT25
    • JCPenney: [Knives] Pair of Cooks Santoku Knives for $9.99 w/ coupon REWARD + $5.95 Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: [Tent] Save 50%: MSR Fling Backpacking Tent $125
    • Amazon: [Learning Toys] Save up to 50% off Electronic Toys for Kids
    • Backcountry: [Outdoors] Clearance Sale: Up to 70% off Clothing & Gear
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • AT&T Wireless: [iPhone] Refurbished iPhone 3G 8GB for $99 + free shipping, 16GB for $199
    • Amazon.com: [Headphones] Sennheiser MX55 Twist-To-Fit Earphones for $15 + $6 s&h
    • Buy.com: [Walkie-Talkies] Midland LXT-340VP3 20-Mile GMRS 2-Way Radios for $29 + free shipping
      More »

    Buy In Bulk With Friends From Warehouse Clubs
    By Ben Popken on February 23, 2009 6:15 PM   84 Comments

    —>You can save big on groceries by forming a little warehous club buying collective with your friends:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 23, 2009 1:31 PM   7 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Amazon: [Magazine] Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine for $7 w/ Free shipping
    • OfficeMax: [Laptop] Sony VAIO NR Series 15.4" Notebook PC - REFURBISHED for $399.49 w/ Free shipping
    • Ace Hardware: [Home Improvement] 20% Off Everything in Your Bag Event! (begins Saturday, one-day only)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Palm: [Phones & PDAs] Save $100 off All Orders of $299+ including Phone Models
    • Banana Republic: [Clothes] Save 20% off Any Order of $100+ Store-Wide
    • Gap: [Clothes] Save 30% off Select Maternity Dresses
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Newegg: [Audio] Polk Audio 10" 50W Powered Subwoofer for $100 + free shipping
    • OfficeDepot: [PC] HP Pavilion a6700f AMD Quad Core 1.8GHz Desktop for $500 after rebate + free shipping
    • Newegg: [Audio] Altec Lansing FX2020 Expressionist Classic Speakers for $70 + free shipping
      More »

    I think I figured out why Sprint CEO is always walking around New York, looking in diners, and taking taxis. He's looking for his lost customers. The black and white is because he's sad.  More »

    Verizon Math: $0 Off Equals A 25% Discount!
    By Carey Alexander on February 21, 2009 9:00 PM   41 Comments

    —>Sigh, someone get a school counselor. It's two years later and Verizon still hasn't mastered this whole counting thing. The telecom now believes that selling a $29.99 charger for $29.99 somehow equals a 25% discount. It doesn't. It equals no discount. Verizon's board should try this with C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg's salary. Pay him the same, but tell him he's getting a 25% raise for his exemplary counting skills. (Thanks to Justin!)  More »

    Save Money by Spending Money
    By Ben Popken on February 20, 2009 4:45 PM   114 Comments

    —>With the economy in the dumper, saving money is back in style. Simply comparing the number of "how to save money on (fill in the blank)" articles this year versus a couple years ago, our informal research shows the relationship at 234,000 to 1. Ok, so we made that up. But it does seem like savings tips are all the rage these days. Unfortunately, the key is finding new money saving ideas...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 20, 2009 3:09 PM   5 Comments
  • Home Depot: [Home Improvement] $5 off $50 w/ coupon code SAVINGS111
  • Deal Extreme: [Bikes] Motion Activated Flashing RGB LED Wheel Lights for Bikes and Cars (2-Pack) for $3.25 w/ Free shipping
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Videocam] Flip Video Ultra 30 Digital Camcorder $80 Shipped
    • Amazon: [Shoes] Save Extra $25 off New Balance Shoe Orders
    • Jos. A. Bank: [Suits] Save on Clearance Men's Current Season Apparel
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • BuyDig: [HDTV] Toshiba 37" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $599 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Gadgets] P3 P5080 Telephone Recorder for $30 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Peripheral] IOGear MiniView 2-Port USB KVM Switch for $30 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Rumor: T-Mobile Will Offer New 'Loyalty Plans' For Existing Customers In March
    By Chris Walters on February 20, 2009 1:47 AM   48 Comments

    —>IntoMobile says that there's a leaked screenshot going around that suggests new pricing due March 1st from T-Mobile. Among the new plans: $50/month for unlimited anytime minutes, and family plans starting at $90/month with additional lines at $40/month. There's also a rumored $135 credit if you add a line and move a number over from another carrier. Is it true? We'll know in about a week.  More »

    Sprint Loses Another 1.1 Million Customers
    By Meg Marco on February 19, 2009 8:46 PM   139 Comments

    —>Wondering why Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has time to wander around NYC telling people about Sprint products? Well, it's apparently come to that. Sprint has lost another 1.1 million customers.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 19, 2009 7:13 AM   8 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Dell: [PCs] 20% off Inspiron Laptops $899+ w/ coupon 57BVVHT00GJ6FN
    • Redoctane.com: [Video Game] Guitar Hero World Tour Complete Band Kit for PS3/Wii/Xbox360 for $139.99 w/ coupon SAVE30 w/ Free shipping
    • Dell: [Monitor] ViewSonic VA1926W 19IN WIDESCREEN LCD for $99.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Groceries] Save Extra $25 off Unilever Grocery & Home Orders
    • NeweggMall: [Watches] Extra 10% off Watches with Coupon
    • Office Depot: [Notebook] Toshiba Satellite 15.4-inch Dual Core Notebook PC $500 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon.com: [Tools] Milwaukee 1-11/16" x 3" Rail and Stile Router Bit for $30 + free shipping
    • : [PCs] Sunbeam Acrylic ATX Media Center HTPC Case for $50 after rebate + $10 s&h
    • Buy.com: [Netbook] 2.3-lb. Acer Aspire One Intel Atom 1.6GHz 8.9" Netbook for $259 + free shipping
      More »

    Canon PowerShot SD770IS 10MP For $159.99 (30% Off)
    By Ben Popken on February 19, 2009 5:49 AM   11 Comments

    —>Spotted a good price on a Canon PowerShot SD770IS 10MP at Amazon for $159.99 - 30% off list price. [Amazon]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 18, 2009 2:32 PM   15 Comments
  • Old Navy: [Clothes] 30% off one item w/ coupon GET30OFF
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Lenovo: [PCs] 48 Hour Sale: Save up to 20% off ThinkPad & IdeaPad Notebook PCs
    • New York & Co.: [Lady Clothes] Buy One Get One at 50% off Everything Store-Wide
    • Newegg: [Software] Save $50: Autodesk SketchBook 2009 Pro Software $44 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • HandHeldItems: [Flashlight] Illuminator Ultra-Bright LED Wind-Up Flashlight for $5 + $3 s&h
    • Newegg: [PS3 Game] Motorstorm 2: Pacific Rift for PS3 for $38 + free shipping
    • T-mobile: [Cellphone] Nokia 1208 Prepaid Cell Phone with $25 refill for T-Mobile for $20 + free shipping
      More »

    Woot-Off Going On Now
    By Ben Popken on February 18, 2009 6:42 AM   44 Comments

    —>Woot is having another one of their neato Woot-Off sales right now. This is when they go through a bunch of merchandise and just keep wooting off one thing after another instead of their usual one per day setup. Plus there's two flashing emergency lights, which always makes things more exciting, I find. [Woot]  More »

    Amex: "We're Gonna Text Message Your Cellphone And You're Gonna Pay For It"
    By Meg Marco on February 17, 2009 3:22 PM   74 Comments

    Several readers have pointed out that American Express has made some changes to its contract "in response to the challenging environment" — the most offensive of which seems to be a new clause that gives them the right to call — or text message — any phone you use to contact them including cellphones, for the purposes of offering you American Express products and services.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 17, 2009 12:51 PM   18 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Amazon: [DVD] The Godfather (I, II, and III) Coppola Restoration on Blu-ray for $58.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Netbook] MSI Wind Netbook Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB, 120GB HDD, 10'' LCD, Wi-Fi, Webcam, Windows XP (White) for $294.95 w/ Free shipping
    • KitchenAid.com: [Kitchen Stuff] 30% off sitewide Coupon Code w/ coupon REBCC30
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Dealnews
    • Meritline: [Laptop Sleeve] Reversible Neoprene 12" Laptop Sleeve for $8 + free shipping
    • GoDaddy: [Domain Names] GoDaddy.com coupon: $1 domains
    • OfficeDepot: [Monitor] Acer 22" Widescreen LCD Display for $150 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 16, 2009 2:27 PM   8 Comments
  • HP: [Electronics] Presidents' Day Sale with up to 50% off
  • Dell: [HDTV] Sharp AQUOS 37" LC37D64U 1080p LCD HDTV for $699 w/ Free shipping
  • Dell: [Gadget] Linksys DMA 2100 Media Center Extender (Extend your video & photos to a TV) for $69.99 w/ coupon T$HTGVWRMFVKTH + $4.99 Shipping
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Dell Home: [Netbook] One-Day Sale: Inspiron Mini 9 Netbook $199
    • Music 123: [Musical Instruments] Save $30 to $75 off Instruments and Accessories with Coupon
    • Eddie Bauer: [Apparel] Save up to $40 on Most Clothing and Other Orders with Coupon
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • GoldenGadgets: [iPod Case] Apple iPod nano Snap-On Crystal Case for 90 cents + $2 s&h
    • Musician's Friend: [Disco Lights] Chauvet Vue II LED Moonflower DMX Lighting Effect for $70 + $8 s&h
    • Creative Labs: [Keyboard] Creative Spectre Gamer Keyboard for $20 + free shipping
      More »

    Missing iPhone Back In Reader's Hands
    By Ben Popken on February 14, 2009 4:19 PM   36 Comments
    Got the iPhone back now and went to the AT&T store and now activating it via iTunes. Phone seems to be working just the pictures in the camera roll were deleted along with recent calls.   More »

    Missing iPhone Mystery Solved By Consumerist Readers In 55 Minutes
    By Chris Walters on February 13, 2009 11:20 PM   78 Comments

    —>Wow, that was impressive! In less than one hour after we posted about Dino's dad's lost iPhone, Consumerist readers were able to locate his Facebook and Hi5 accounts, track down his name and home address, and even get him to respond via email—something Dino and his dad weren't able to do yesterday. Dino just wrote us and said "Michael Smith/Emerson" contacted him and promised to return the phone tomorrow.
    Update: the phone has been returned!  More »

    AT&T Employee Misleads Customer, And Now He's Trapped In A 2-Year Contract
    By Chris Walters on February 13, 2009 8:49 PM   61 Comments

    —>A little over a month ago, Mark gave up on his GoPhone SIM, went into an AT&T store with his iPhone 2G in hand, and signed up for a new two year, post-paid plan. The sales rep promised Mark that his corporate discount would apply, and instead of a contract presented just a receipt. Now AT&T is saying there's no corporate discount on an iPhone purchase—even though he didn't buy an iPhone, just the service plan—and that he can't cancel now without paying an ETF because it's past the 30 day mark.  More »

    3 Ways To Cut Baby Costs Without Feeling Like A Terrible Parent
    By Meg Marco on February 13, 2009 4:44 PM   170 Comments

    —>Our sister publication Consumer Reports knows that you'd like to trim your baby budget without risking the safety of said baby, so they've put together 3 tips that will help you do just that.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 13, 2009 3:31 PM   2 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Fastmac: [DVD/CD Drive] External Slimline USB 2.0 Bluray Drive for $99.95 + $7.75 Shipping
    • ShopEcko: [Clothes] take extra 40% off clearance w/ coupon FAB40
    • UWantSavings: [Memorabilia] Super Bowl XLIII Program — Limited Edition Hologram for $9.95 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Portable Storage] Toshiba 320GB USB External Hard Drive $78 Shipped
    • B&H Photo: [Camcorder] Panasonic PV-GS90 Mini DV Camcorder $199 Shipped
    • Ross Simons: [Jewelry] Save 20% off Plus a Bonus 5% off All Orders with Coupon
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Newegg: [HDTV] LG 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $540 + free shipping
    • CompUSA: [Laptop] Lenovo 3000 N500 Celeron 2GHz 15" Widescreen Laptop for $400 + $2 s&h
    • iCraveit: [Headset] Jabra BT5010 Bluetooth Headset for $20 + $7 s&h
      More »

    Dairy Queen's Recession Friendly Sweet Deal Menu Costs More
    By Chris Walters on February 12, 2009 5:11 PM   76 Comments

    —>Starting next month, you might see TV spots advertising Dairy Queen's new "Sweet Deal" menu, which is supposed to be a value-priced alternative to their regular menu. They're already rolling it out, and at least one item on the menu will actually cost you about 8% more than it used to.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 12, 2009 4:15 PM   9 Comments
  • Old Navy: [Clothing] Up to 40% off Kids & Baby Clothing
  • Buy.com: [Flash Drive] Kingston 16GB DataTraveler 120 USB Drive $31 Shipped
  • Amazon: [Digital Camera] Canon SD770IS 10MP Digital Camera $160 Shipped
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • PC Connection: [HDTV] Westinghouse 40" 720p LCD HDTV for $600 + free shipping
    • Apple Store: [Laptop] Refurbished Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz 13" Laptop for $849 + free shipping
    • Cell Hut: [Cellphone] Unlocked LG KE970 Shine Cell Phone for $135 + free shipping
      More »

    Sprint Helps You Deal With Your Deadbeat Brother
    By Meg Marco on February 11, 2009 5:37 PM   59 Comments

    —>Reader B. probably shouldn't have used her credit to help her less-than-creditworthy brother get a cellphone, but this story has a happy ending thanks to some helpful customer service from Sprint.   More »

    Late Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on February 11, 2009 4:26 PM   6 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • NewEgg: [Gaming] NBA Street: Homecourt Xbox 360 Game EA for $9.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Appliances] P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor for $29.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Dockers: [Apparel] Additional 50% off sale
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on February 10, 2009 3:14 PM   6 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Overstock: [Cellphones] LG KG320 Chocolate Bar GSM Unlocked Cell Phone for $89.99 w/ coupon 134877 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Gadgets] PHILIPS Bendable Gooseneck Web Cam for $11.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Toys R Us: [Toys & Games] Cranium Cadoo 2 Board Game for $7.98 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Buy.com: [Audio] Anycom HCC-500 Bluetooth Speakerphone for $58 + free shipping
    • TigerDirect: [HDTV] Refurbished Sharp 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $380 + $41 s&h
    • Amazon.com: [Shoes] adidas Men's Terrex Low Gore-Tex M Hiking Shoes from $37 + free shipping (select sizes only, sadly)
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Free Subscription Offer From Stonyfield Farm Will Cost You Money
    By Chris Walters on February 10, 2009 12:38 AM   33 Comments

    —>Someone needs to explain to Stonyfield Farm that free usually means that you don't have to pay any money for the item in question. Especially in a case like this, where you're already having to send in multiple proofs of purchase to prove you've "earned" the "free" item. What you find when you peel back the foil lid is some fine print that explains you also have to pay $2 for this free offer. SLR, who sent in this tip, adds, "I wrote to them via their web site asking what part of free don't they understand, but received no reply."  More »

    How A Sale Works At Target
    By Meg Marco on February 9, 2009 3:45 PM   80 Comments

    —>Finally, an example of a business plan in which Phase 3 is definitely, "Profit!"  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 9, 2009 2:50 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Amazon: [XBOX] Intercooler TS for Xbox 360 for $19.99 + Shipping
    • ZipZoomFly: [Laptop] MSI U120-001US 10" Notebook for $329.99 w/ Free shipping
    • 1-800-Flowers: [Flowers] Sign up to newsletter for free $20 Savings Pass
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Barnes & Noble: [DVD] 40% off A&E, Biography, & History Channel DVDs
    • Lenovo: [Notebooks] Save an Extra 15% off 15-inch IdeaPad & ThinkPad Notebook PCs
    • Amazon: [Lighting] Save $25 off Verilux Natural Spectrum Lamps & Lights
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: [Gadget] Sling Media SlingCatcher Digital Media Receiver for $166 + free shipping
    • Abt Electronics: [HDTV] Samsung 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $528 + free shipping
    • Newegg: [Headset] Nokia BH-801 Bluetooth Headset for $16 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 6, 2009 12:35 PM   12 Comments
  • Amazon: [Headphones] Sennheiser CX300 Earbud Headphones $28 Shipped
  • Geeks: [HDTV] Vizio VO22LFHDTV 22-inch LCD HDTV $260 with coupon
  • Amazon: [Watches] Valentine's Day Sale: Up to 60% & More off Watches
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • Meritline: [Clock] Four-Sided Rotatable Magic Alarm Clock for $4 + free shipping
    • TigerDirect: [Computer Parts] Biostar / AMD Dual Core 2.2GHz Barebones Kit for $140 + free s&h w/$150
    • Graveyard Mall: [Yard] Kichler Olde Brick Bird Feeder and Garden Light for $70 + $16 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    My iPhone Got Jacked At Gunpoint - Help!
    By Ben Popken on February 5, 2009 4:17 PM   165 Comments

    —>Reader Dan says he was walking home last night and got robbed at gunpoint, losing his iPhone, which he only got five days ago, in the process. He asks, "Any tips from you or readers? Can it be tracked using the onboard gps? This STINKS!"   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 5, 2009 2:16 PM   13 Comments

    —>Highlights From Buxr

    • Chuck E. Cheese: [Tokens] Get extra 40 tokens with the purchase of 60 tokens
    • Nike: [Sportswear] Clearance sale + 20% off coupon code:CLEAR2009 and free shipping w/ code:TRYAGAIN9
    • NewEgg: [Razor] Panasonic ES4815S Pro-Curve Compact Men's Shaver with Double Blades for $19.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Target.com: [Furniture] Free Shipping + 15% off Select Furniture Orders
    • Target.com: [Furniture] Free Shipping + 15% off Select Furniture Orders
    • Buy.com: [Camcorder] Pure Digital Flip Ultra F260W Camcorder $90 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Meritline: [Health] Dental Mirror for $5 + free shipping
    • Dell Home: [Desktop] Dell Inspiron 530n Intel Dual Core 2.5GHz Desktop w/ 17" LCD for $428 + $35 s&h
    • Meritline: [Novelty Flashlight] Interchangeable Transformative Robot LED Flashlight for $8 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Cellphone Recycler Says 99% Of Phones Still Contain Personal Data
    By Chris Walters on February 5, 2009 1:57 AM   62 Comments
    Regenersis studied a random sample of 2000 handsets processed during the first week in December and found that 99% of handsets received contained some sort of personal data, including: contacts, SMS messages, pictures, music, videos, calendar entries, emails, notes, mailing lists and to do lists. In some cases, extremely sensitive information was contained, including bank details, addresses, and confidential emails.  More »

    3 iPhone Class Action Lawsuits Filed In The Past Week
    By Chris Walters on February 4, 2009 4:19 PM   80 Comments

    —>The number of people gunning for some Apple/AT&T cash keeps increasing, with three new class action lawsuits filed over the past 8 days alone. In all three suits, the primary complaint is the same: that AT&T Mobility's 3G network isn't robust enough to deliver the type of experience promised by iPhone marketing.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 4, 2009 2:21 PM   10 Comments
  • Dell Home: [PCs] Save 20% off Inspiron Desktop PCs with Coupon
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • Newegg: [Subwoofer] Polk Audio 10" 50W Powered Subwoofer for $100 + free shipping
    • Newegg: [Speakers] Logitech LS11 Multimedia Speaker System for $11 after rebate + $8 s&h
    • T-mobile: [Cellphone] Nokia 2760 Bluetooth Camera Phone for T-Mobile with $25 prepaid card for $90 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Your Brain Thinks 300 Cents Is Bigger Than $3
    By Ben Popken on February 4, 2009 12:13 AM   45 Comments

    —>Perhaps you can use this new study to trick yourself into curbing your spending. Researchers found your brain interprets the difference between increasing from 3 cents 300 cents as being bigger than going from 3 cents to $3. So if you're trying to talk yourself out of buying something that's $200, visualize it it for a second as costing 20,000 pennies.  More »

    As The Recession Deepens, The Mall Of America Says It's Doing Fine
    By Meg Marco on February 3, 2009 3:57 PM   41 Comments

    —>The New York Times says there are about 1,500 malls in the US and many of them are in trouble. They're being converted to office buildings or closing their doors for good. And yet, Minnesota's Mall of America is allegedly doing fine.  More »

    Sprint Rebate Line Expedites Rebates
    By consumerist.com on February 3, 2009 3:36 PM   15 Comments

    —>Having trouble redeeming rebates for your Sprint phone? Keep getting denied for seemingly no good reason? Try calling the Sprint rebate line at 800-477-4127. Reader Emily wrote, "I have tried on several different occasions to get rebates on my phone. Seems as though you have to call the Sprint Rebate line and have them resubmit the rebate for you. I have had to do 4 separate rebates this way." (Photo: hyku)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 3, 2009 2:20 PM   30 Comments

    —>Highlights From Buxr

    • Denny's: [Food] Free Grand Slam Breakfast (Today Only 2/3/09)
    • Sixth Avenue: [DVD Player] Philips DVP3982 DVD Player With 1080p HDMI Upconversion for $46.50 after coupon:AFL5 w/ Free shipping
    • Boscov's: [Dinnerware] Lighthouse 16 Piece Dinnerware Set for $9.99 + $19 Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: [Car Seats] Save up to 20% or more off Top-Rated Britax Car Seats
    • Nike: [Sunglasses] Save 20% off All Sport & Casual Sunglasses Orders
    • Creative Labs: [MP3 Player] Zen Mozaic 16GB MP3 Player $100 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • JR: [HDTV] Sony BRAVIA 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $550 + free shipping
    • T-mobile: [Cellphone] Nokia 1680 Camera Phone for T-Mobile with $25 prepaid card for $50 + free shipping
    • HP Home & Home Office Store: [Desktop] HP Pavilion Elite m9500t Core 2 Quad 2.5GHz Desktop PC for $610 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Amazon Releases February '09 Coupon Codes
    By Ben Popken on February 3, 2009 5:28 AM   14 Comments

    —>Amazon.com has released the latest batch of special coupon codes and Probargainhunter has the roundup.  More »

    Reader Saves $89.76 On Verizon Fees By Changing "Primary Area Of Use"
    By Ben Popken on February 2, 2009 10:00 PM   51 Comments

    —>One of our readers was able to save $89.76/year in surcharges on his Verizon bill by changing his primary area of use to NJ from NY.  More »

    Walmart: And By "Save Even More" We Mean "We've Raised Prices"
    By Meg Marco on February 2, 2009 5:48 PM   28 Comments

    —>  More »

    Text message phishing scam hits U.S. Cellular customers in Des Moines. [WHOTV.com] (Thanks to David!)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on February 2, 2009 1:33 PM   10 Comments
  • Fujitsu PC: [Tablet PC] Save Extra $500 off: Lifebook T4215 Tablet PC $999 Shipped with Coupon
  • Amazon: [Food & Drink] Grocery Sale: Save Extra 40% off 480+ Grocery Items
  • New York & Co.: [Clothes] Save 50% off Women's Pants + $20 Off Any Purchase
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • Meritline: [Headphones] Sonic Stereo Headphones with mic for $8 + free shipping
    • BestBuy: Insignia 720p HD Camcorder for $100 + $9 s&h
    • BestBuy: Samsung 26" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $450 + $18 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Oregon To Consider Predatory Towing Ban After Meals-On-Wheels Is Almost Towed During Delivery
    By Carey Alexander on February 1, 2009 7:35 PM   161 Comments

    —>Remember Andrew? His car was towed from Starbucks while he was inside sipping a latte. He isn't alone. In mid-August, a predatory tow-truck driver set up shop outside a retirement community and waited for local meals-on-wheels driver Marie Phillippi to leave her car. As she made her deliveries, the tow-truck driver latched on and prepared to tow. He was stopped only when a retiree ran out and splayed herself across the car's hood until the Marie could return. The tow-truck driver's actions were entirely legal under Oregon law, although that may soon change...  More »

    Target: Buy In Bulk, Get Screwed
    By Meg Marco on January 30, 2009 2:59 PM   53 Comments

    —>Reader Justin was shopping at Target when he noticed some interesting pricing going on in the cotton swab aisle. Remember, the bigger package isn't always going to save you money.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 30, 2009 1:42 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • NewEgg: [Memory] CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory for $4.99 after $45 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: [Fax] Lexmark X6675 Professional Wireless All-in-One with Fax for $91.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Foot Locker: [30% off] Friends & Family Printable Coupon, Take 30% OFF In Store
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg: [HDTV] AOC Envision 32-inch LCD HDTV $400 Shipped
    • Buy.com: [Digital Camera] Pentax Optio A40 12MP Digital Camera $120 Shipped
    • Travelocity: [Vacations] Silver Lining Sale: Save up to 50% off Hotel Stays
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Apple Store: [Laptop] Refurbished Unibody Apple MacBook 13" Laptops from $1,099 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: [Dinnerware] Block Duet Green 16-Piece Dinnerware Set for $72 + free shipping
    • Directron: [Desktop] ASUS AMD Socket AM2 Barebones Desktop PC for $160 + $13 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Subway Launches Text Message Ordering In NYC
    By Chris Walters on January 29, 2009 11:19 PM   32 Comments

    —>Subway has launched a pilot program called SubwayNow where New York City residents (Manhattan only at the moment, it looks like) can register to place pick-up orders via text message. According to IntoMobile, after registering with your address and providing payment info, which they keep on file, you set up a list of sandwich orders that are saved as a personal menu. When you're ready to use the service, you text "menu" to the Subway shortcode, and Subway sends back your pre-set menu. Then you text back the menu item you want, and Subway responds with a pick-up time.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 29, 2009 2:35 PM   5 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Hardees: [BOGO] Buy 1 Get 1 Free - Little thickburger (Printable Coupon)
    • QVC: [Coupon] $10 Store Credit for New Customers
    • NewEgg: [GPS] GARMIN nvi 250 3.5" On the Road GPS Navigation for $115 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • SmartBargains: [Sheets & Towels] Sale: Up to 77% off Sheets, Towels, & More
    • Musician's Friend: [Guitar] Rogue Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $70
    • Jos A Bank: [Menswear] Save Extra 25% off All Men's Clearance Clothing
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • AT&T Wireless: [Cellphone] Refurbished AT&T Prepaid Cell Phones: Nokia 2610 with $25 airtime for $30, more
    • RedOctane: [Video Game] Guitar Hero Controllers from $9 + $6 s&h
    • Amazon.com: [Cooling Pad] Aeolus Laptop Cooling Pad for $15 after rebate + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Here are 11 fruits and vegetables that typically have low amounts of pesticides. Now we just need to find a recipe for asparagus pineapple onion salad. [The Daily Green]  More »

    Panasonic Solves Gadget Problem Sent Through Generic Email Address!
    By Ben Popken on January 28, 2009 6:25 PM   21 Comments

    —>Emailing a company about a product problem via their front-facing email address usually has about as much effect as wishing your way out of debt (just don't tell the producers of The Secret). But Steve emailed Panasonic and instead of getting nothing or a generic response back, he actually ended up sending a series of emails back and forth with a product engineer who solved his consumer conundrum. Amazing! Here's his story.  More »

    The Circuit City Liquidation Has The Worst Laptop Deal Of All Time
    By Meg Marco on January 28, 2009 5:40 PM   69 Comments

    —>Reader TJ says he's found the worst laptop deal of all time, and it's at a Circuit City liquidation sale in Florida.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 28, 2009 3:43 PM   13 Comments

    —>

    Highlights From Buxr
    • [Coffee] Panera Bread: Free Coffee at Panera Bread Today Only
    • [Camera] Adorama: Refurbished Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera Body for $299.95 w/ Free shipping
    • [Book] UbuntuPocketGuide.com: FREE Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference Download
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • [Laptop] Staples: HP Mini 1010NR Atom Netbook PC $300 Shipped
    • [Headphones] Buy.com: Plantronics Pulsar 260 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones $30 Shipped
    • [Bike Computer] REI Outlet: Extra 20% off: Serfas SI4 Bike Computer $16
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • [HDTV] B&H Photo Video: Samsung 40" 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $815 + free shipping
    • [Memory Card] Buy.com: Kingston 8GB microSDHC Card for $18 + free shipping
    • [Mouse] Amazon.com: Microsoft Bluetooth Laptop Mouse 5000 for $30 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Helpful Information For Those About To Impulse Buy A TV For The Superbowl
    By Meg Marco on January 27, 2009 8:50 PM   104 Comments

    —>We know you just can't handle the thought of watching the magnificent Arizona Cardinals in standard def, so before you run out and buy the biggest TV at the store — here is some information from Consumer Reports that will help you be set up and ready to go by the time your Larry-Fitzgerald-jersey-wearing friends show up.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 27, 2009 2:18 PM   9 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Meritline: [Scale] Home-Use Tempered Glass Weight Scale with Large LCD Digital Display for $19 after coupon:M24805135POFF w/ Free shipping
    • Best Buy: [DVD] Free DVD When You Buy TaxCut
    • Aeropostale: [Jeans] Trade in old jeans and get an additional 25 % off a new pair
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: [Monitor] Samsung SyncMaster 19-inch Widescreen LCD $110 & Free Shipping
    • Best Buy: [HDTV] Price Drop: Dynex 37-inch LCD HDTV $500
    • REI Outlet: [Sale] Save an Extra 20% off Entire Order Store Wide
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Cell Hut: [Cellphone] Unlocked NEC E132 Bluetooth Camera Phone for $50 + free shipping
    • Newegg: [Laptop] HP Pavilion dv4 AMD Dual Core 2.1GHz 14" Laptop for $550 after rebate + $17 s&h
    • Pacific Geek: [Desktop] Refurbished Dell GX280 Pentium 4 2.8GHz Desktop PC for $99 + $5 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 26, 2009 1:04 PM   28 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Recertified Philips 42 1080p LCD HDTV for $649.99 + $5 shipping
    • Jamba Juice: Oatmeal Cup for $1 /w Coupon Until 01/31/09
    • Amazon: Up to 74% off Nautica Women's Sleepwear
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Canon USA: 150 sheets of Canon Glossy 4 x 6 Photo Paper for $6.25 + Shipping
    • H&R Block: TaxCut Premium Federal + State + e-file for $24.97
    • NewEgg: A-Data 16GB SD Memory Card (SDHC) for $24.45 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Sony Style: Save 50% off: Sony NV-U74T GPS Navigator $150 Shipped
    • Ice.com: Valentine's Day Sale: 20% off Jewelry + Free Shipping
    • B&H Photo: Archos 605 30GB Wi-Fi Media Player $200 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Kenneth Cole New York Men's Down Coat for $55 + free shipping
    • GoldenGadgets: AA Emergency Cell Phone Charger for $4 + $2 s&h
    • Amazon.com: HD DVD movie sale at Amazon.com, titles for $6 + $3 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Rumor confirmed: AT&T has indeed dropped the price of its unlimited data and messaging plan by $5—the new cost is $30/mo, and $10/mo to add a second phone under their shared family plan. Unless you plan on texting more than 200 messages a month, however, it's not worth it (you can get unlimited data + 200 messages for $20). [Engadget Mobile]  More »

    Impoverished Consumers Overwhelm British Site That Sells Expired Food
    By Carey Alexander on January 24, 2009 10:45 PM   68 Comments

    —>Impoverished and hungry Britons can't get enough of Approved Food, a site that sells expired but still edible food for up to half off. Even after shutting down for two days to grapple with a ten-fold rise in traffic, the site warns that they still have to process 12 days worth of backorders. But can't expired food give you salmonella or herpes, you ask? Nope! FDA regulations don't require most foods to carry expiration dates, and selling expired food isn't a violation of federal law.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 23, 2009 1:56 PM   34 Comments

    —>

    • AMC: $30 to see all six movies nominated for "Best Picture"
    • Finish Line: up to 80% off shoes
    • Japanesemaple.net: Three 2 foot Japanese Maples for $25 shipped (scroll to page bottom)
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Big Lots: 20% OFF on Your Entire Purchase (print)
    • Victoria's Secret: Take 20% OFF Your Entire Purchase In-Store
    • Walmart: Sanyo 50" Class Plasma HDTV with Digital Tuner, DP50747 for $828 + Shipping (Free Ship to Store)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Shoes.com: Extra 20% off Already Discounted Sale Shoes with Coupon
    • Dell Home: Inspiron Mini 9 Netbook PC $99 After Rebate with Mobile Broadband Subscription
    • REI Outlet: Timbuk2 Metro Bag $35 & Classic Messenger $63
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • DeepDiscount: Set of 12 Unbreakable Shot Glasses for $9 + free shipping
    • Dell Home: Sharp 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $469 + free shipping
    • HP Home & Home Office Store: HP Pavilion s3700z AMD Dual Core 2.7GHz Desktop PC w/ Blu-ray for $620 + $29 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 22, 2009 1:16 PM   13 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: The Wire: The Complete Series for $82
    • 1saleaday: Firefly kids' cellphone for $4.99, just pop in a SIM card
    • OpticsPlanet: Canon PowerShot SD790 IS Silver Digital Camera for $109.99 Shipped After Rebate
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon: D-Link DPR-1260 RangeBooster G Multifunction Print Server for $39.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Brylane Home: Brylane Home: Free 8-pc Salad set with any purchase with coupon:BHSALAD4U
    • Overstock: Two-pack of Cordless Tealight Tranquility Fountains for $19.99 + $2.95 Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • 6th Ave: Save Extra 30% off Skullcandy Headphones
    • Newegg: Xerox Phaser 6180N Color Laser Printer $200 Shipped
    • Amazon: Canon PowerShot A470 7.1MP Camera $83 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Blair: Scandia Woods Men's Corduroy Pants for $6 + free shipping, more
    • CompUSA: Refurbished HP TouchSmart IQ504 Core 2 Duo 2GHz All-in-One 22" Desktop PC for $900 + $5 s&h
    • Sears: Cosco Scenera Car Set for $34.99
    • Walmart: Walmart Baby Gear Roundup: Cosco Scenera Car Set for $50 + $1 s&h
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Circuit City: Long Lines For Few Bargains
    By Meg Marco on January 21, 2009 4:15 PM   102 Comments

    —>Consumer Reports took a look at the so-called deals that people are flocking to at Circuit City — and again found that prices are higher than they would have been had the store not been liquidated. Judging by the photos of enormous crowds that are showing up in our Flickr pool — people still think that liquidation sales are bargains.  More »

    9 Tips For A Designer Wardrobe At Secondhand Prices
    By Meg Marco on January 21, 2009 4:00 PM   76 Comments

    —>ShopSmart, a shopping magazine published by the same folks who publish Consumer Reports, and now, of course, Consumerist, have collected a bunch of tips for outfitting yourself in fabulous designer clothes — from secondhand stores. Don't scoff, it's possible. ShopSmart says they found a trendy Prada skirt and a classic Ralph Lauren jacket and pants at Immortal Uncommon Resale in Philly, and a cute necklace at Beacon's Closet in Brooklyn.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 21, 2009 1:57 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: Do Not Enter tape 300 ft roll for $4.18, Caution roll. 1000 ft for $7.23
    • Great Clips: $6.99 haircuts at participating locations
    • Southwest Airlines: 50% Off Fares To/From Seattle
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Walmart: Weslo Cadence G40 Treadmill for $277 + Shipping (Free Ship to Store)
    • Dell: Dell Vostro Mini Tower Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB,250GB,Vists + 22" Monitor for $409 + $35 Shipping
    • BestBuy: Panasonic - 46" 1080p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV - TH-46PZ80U for $999.99 + Shipping (free in-store pickup)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Turbo Tax Deluxe Federal & State + eFile $40 Shipped
    • Amazon: Leatherman Kick & Micra 2 Multi-Tool Kit $29 Shipped
    • OfficeMax: Kodak V1273 12MP Digital Camera $150 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • DeepDiscount: Burnout Paradise for PS3 for $19 + free shipping
    • JR: Unlocked Motorola V191 Cell Phone for $45 + $7 s&h
    • Buy.com: JVC HA-RX700 Stereo Headphones for $35 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Sprint Clears Up 'Unlimited Messaging' Confusion
    By Chris Walters on January 20, 2009 11:24 PM   42 Comments

    —>We got an email today from a Sprint representative addressing the confusion over just what "unlimited" means in their unlimited messaging package. If you recall, Erica says Sprint told her she would still be billed per message when sending pics or video, which runs contrary to the offer she signed up for. Now Sprint has officially responded that unlimited means no additional charges, and they're investigating the matter. Below is their statement.  More »

    The inauguration is over so you may now commence sending pix, texts and phonecalls using your cellular telephone devices.  More »

    Please, No Pix Or Calls Until After The Inauguration
    By Ben Popken on January 20, 2009 4:44 PM   93 Comments

    So as to avoid the warned-of network outages and delays, The president of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association would like all patriotic citizens to "do their part in decreasing network demand by texting instead of placing voice calls, and holding off on cell phone pictures or video until after the events are over." [Washington Post]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 20, 2009 1:09 PM   15 Comments

    —>

    • Central Parking System: $15 coupon to park for 6 hours in Manhattan
    • Amazon: Free: So Indie It Hurts: Roir Rocks Volume One" album download for free
    • Wilsons Leather: Kenneth Cole Messenger Bag for $49.99, down from $200
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Shop4Tech: Cobra microTALK PR 190-2 10-Mile Two-way Radio for $27.16 after coupon:PB15 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: Hoover U5507-900 Elite Auto-Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner for $71.97 w/ Free shipping
    • Sears: Craftsman 83 pc. Insert Bit Set for $16.49 + Shipping (Free in-store pickup)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • TiVo.com: Save 10% off Series2 Dual Tuner or $50 off High Definition TiVo HD DVRs + Free Shipping
    • Meritline: Voice Key Telephone Adapter for Skype $20 Shipped (turns USB jack into standard phone line)
    • OfficeMax: AOC 2217V 22-inch LCD Monitor $150 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Buy.com: Q-see Indoor Camera with Night Vision for $41 + free shipping
    • Apple Store: Refurbished Unibody Apple MacBook 13" Laptops from $1,099 + free shipping
    • Shop4Tech: Personal Alcohol Detector for $15 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Amazon.com "White Glove Delivery" Will Open Box, Place Gently On Table
    By Alex Jarvis on January 19, 2009 10:00 PM   128 Comments

    —>Amazon's "White Glove Delivery" seems primarily aimed to combat the sordid state of big-box retail; hand-delivering products, mostly televisions, into your home. However, if you follow their logic, I am not sure it exactly pans out.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on January 19, 2009 3:15 PM   17 Comments

    —>

    • Newegg: MSI Wind Nettop Barebone Lightweight Desktop PC $130
    • Abe's of Maine: Nikon 10MP Camera + 4GB Card $170 Shipped
      More »

    Sprint's 'Unlimited' Messaging Package Charges You Per Message
    By Chris Walters on January 17, 2009 12:31 AM   108 Comments

    —>Sprint offers an "Everything Messaging Family" package that promises "unlimited nationwide, text, picture and video messaging to anyone on any network." The catch? Unlimited seems to mean "you have the capability to send messages, but you'll still have to pay for each message you send." Erica has called in twice to clear up the mistake, but the CSRs are telling her it's not a mistake. Oh. Well then, is it a lie?  More »

    Macy's now admits that it was an in-house software glitch that caused them to charge in-store debit card users twice on the Saturday before Christmas. [StorefrontBacktalk] (Thanks to Evan!)  More »

    Why We Lust For Products
    By Ben Popken on January 16, 2009 3:33 PM   14 Comments

    —>Why do we get hot and heavy to acquire certain physical objects? Very Evolved has an explanation of product lust, in two parts: dopamine, and reinforcement.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 16, 2009 1:48 PM   16 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Amazon: SwissGear Computer Backpack for $27.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Meritline: Mini Flexible Tripod for Digital Cameras for $6.75 w/ Free shipping
    • Apple: Free iPhone and iPod Touch Apps
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Banana Republic: Save 15% to 25% off Apparel and More with Coupon
    • Tiger Direct: LG DN798 1080p HD Upconverting DVD Player $50
    • Amazon: Current Gen iPod nano 16GB MP3 Player $175 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • LA Computer Company: Used Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz 13" Laptop for $549 + $17 s&h
    • Walmart: Xbox 360 Live 12-Month Gold Card + bonus month for $30 + $3 s&h
    • CompactAppliance: EdgeStar 12-Lb. Built-In Ice Maker for $349 + free shipping
    Morning Deals are purely a service for the readers, Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 15, 2009 2:53 PM   14 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Amazon: Pentax Whitetails Unlimited 10x50 Binoculars for $25.89 w/ Free shipping
    • The Limited: 40% off sitwide with coupon code 759
    • Apple: Refurbished iPod nano 4GB for $79 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Canon Pixma mini320 Inkjet Photo Printer $70 Shipped
    • Amazon: Toshiba REGZA 40RV525U LCD HDTV $700 Shipped
    • Amazon: Save up to 30% off New or 90% off Used College Textbooks + Free Shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews  More »

    AT&T's 'American Idol' Text Message Stunt Backfires
    By Chris Walters on January 15, 2009 1:49 AM   97 Comments

    —>AT&T spammed a "'significant number' of its 75 million customers" yesterday with text messages advertising the premiere of American Idol. AT&T also pissed off a significant number of its 75 million customers in the process, and the company's justification for the blitz isn't exactly making AT&T sound smart when it comes to understanding what qualifies as spam.  More »

    Reminder: Text Messaging Can Be Used For Scams, Too
    By Chris Walters on January 14, 2009 5:54 PM   42 Comments

    —>This story from Jessica is a good reminder that scammers don't care about the technology, they care about about fooling you. That means they'll use whatever method is available—in this case, SMS.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 14, 2009 2:16 PM   38 Comments
    Highlights From BuxrWalmart: Rachael Ray Nutrish... More »

    Update: Tmobile: Pay $25.65 To Talk To Us About How We Overcharged You For $25.65
    By Ben Popken on January 13, 2009 11:18 PM   22 Comments

    —>So one of our readers posted that Tmobile complaint video (Tmobile: Pay $25.65 To Talk To Us About How We Overcharged You For $25.65) in the official Tmobile forums, where it was promptly deleted by the forum moderators because the video contains cursing. That's not the special part, the special part is that the forum mod contacted the poster and admitted that what lundyncanada is experiencing is an error and they're going to try to reach out to her and solve her problem. So for those of you who ragged on her for expressing her frustration and said that cursing doesn't get you anywhere, you were wrong. Here's Benny's post and the messages the mod sent in reply:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 13, 2009 3:51 PM   6 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Surplus Computers: Sandisk 4GB Sansa Clip USB MP3 WMA Player (Silver Refurb) for $42.99 w/ Free shipping
    • B&H Photo Video: Lexar 2GB Professional 133x CompactFlash Card for free after $30 rebate + Shipping
    • Dell: Dell E2009W 20" Flat Panel Widescreen Monitor for $149 after coupon:7WK9PG007RQBM7 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Mwave: Nextar XPJ Multimedia VGA Projector $150 Shipped
    • Newegg: iRiver LPlayer 8GB MP3 Media Player $70 Shipped
    • Amazon: 40% off: Navigon 2200T GPS Navigator $150 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Joe's Sports: adidas FMF Copa Backpack for $15 + $6 s&h
    • DicksSportingGoods: Polaris Men's RMK 26" Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike for $216 + free shipping
    • Newegg: Axion 7" Dual Widescreen Portable DVD Player for $130 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 12, 2009 2:15 PM   44 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Kodak Easyshare 8.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Zoom for $109.99
    • Buy.com: Xbox 360 Live 13 Month Subscription Card for $29.99 Shipped
    • Amazon: Refurbished Magellan Maestro 4000 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator for $94.29 (down from $299.99)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save up to 40% off Men's & Women's Fitness Watches
    • Orbitz: Winter Sale: Up to 50% off Sunny Destination Hotels
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: Save up to 50% off Winter Jackets & Other Outerwear
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Meritline: Meritline AAA Alkaline Battery 24-Pack for $6 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Wacom Intuos3 Professional 4x6" Graphics Tablet for $138 after rebate + free shipping
    • GoldenGadgets: 19-LED Performance Headlight for $4 + $2 s&h
      More »

    Chinese Dairy Companies Apologize For Melamine Scandal Via Text Message
    By Chris Walters on January 9, 2009 9:34 PM   25 Comments

    —>Twenty-two dairy companies sent out a text message to millions of Chinese consumers last week to apologize for selling tainted milk products. According to the BBC, it read, "We are deeply sorry for the harm caused to the children and the society. We sincerely apologise for that and we beg your forgiveness."   More »

    Long-Running Buy Two And Save Deal At Target Offers Savings Of -$1.51
    By Alex Chasick on January 9, 2009 7:46 PM   41 Comments

    —>Kevin sent us this picture of a non-sale at Target with the following explanation: "I took the attached picture back in October and noticed today that their pricing still makes no sense (I brought this up to customer service back in October and was told that they will have a manager take a look at it)."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 9, 2009 3:24 PM   26 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Stanley 20 Piece Socket Set for $7.99
    • Tanga: Cobra microTALK PR-3500DX GMRS/FRS 10 Mile Two-Way Radios - 2 Pack for $16.99
    • Amazon: 45.3 lbs of Gatorade for $89.99
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Facebook: Free Burger King Whopper for defriending 10 friends
    • Firestone: Free Jump at the Pump (tire inflation, tread inspection, air filter check and alignment check)
    • JCPenney: Jump n Go inflatable Bouncer for $149 + Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Quicken.com: $20 off Quicken Software or use Free Online Version
    • OneCall: ProMaster 8x21 Compact Binoculars $40 Shipped
    • Tiger Direct: Refurb Samsung Blu-ray Disc Player $170
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • American Express: True Earnings Card from Costco and American Express: $25 credit + up to 3% cash back
    • Newegg: Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition for $75 + free shipping
    • Toys R Us: Guitar Hero: World Tour Band Kit for Xbox 360 or PS3 for $140 + free shipping
      More »

    Best Buy's Holiday Discounts Failed To Impress
    By Meg Marco on January 9, 2009 2:38 PM   62 Comments

    —>Best Buy's same store sales were down 6.5% as their discounts failed to convince you to buy, says Bloomberg.   More »

    Get $90 Or $35 In The Sprint Early Termination Fee Settlement
    By Ben Popken on January 9, 2009 1:00 AM   34 Comments

    —>A proposed settlement has been reached in the class action lawsuit against Sprint over early termination fees (ETF). It seems to basically apply to anyone who has had a time-based contact with Sprint that had an etf clause it i.e. most Sprint wireless customers. You get $90 if you were charged an ETF and can provide proof, and $35 if you didn't cancel a contract for fear of getting charged an ETF. You can file at www.sprintetfsettlement.com, and get a more in-depth and explainer of the terms over at Top Class Actions.  More »

    Reach Sprint's Retention Department
    By Ben Popken on January 8, 2009 10:42 PM   25 Comments

    —>Retentions, the place where you threaten to cancel because service sucks and they throw goodies and freebies and discounts at you to get you stick around, the place where dreams come true. Here's two numbers to directly reach Sprint's Retentions Department: 800-235-1185, 888-211-4727. (Photo: SlapAyoda)  More »

    Save Money Shopping Online By Deleting Your Cookies
    By Ben Popken on January 8, 2009 9:59 PM   51 Comments

    —>Familiarity breeds contempt, and nowhere is that made more explicit than when shopping online. By deleting your cookies and returning to internet stores you've previously bought at, you may find yourself getting discounts usually reserved to lure in first time buyers.  More »

    No Store Was Spared The Holiday Bloodbath, Not Even Walmart
    By Meg Marco on January 8, 2009 4:09 PM   85 Comments

    —>Walmart missed its same store sales estimates (considered the most important barometer for the health of a retail operation) for December — leaving analysts "shocked and disappointed."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 8, 2009 3:05 PM   40 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Reebok Precision Trainer XT Heart Rate Monitor with Chest Strap for $19.99
    • Sprint: 15% Discount, works for everyone except for SERO plans
    • Cabela's: CVA Accura 209 Rifle Blued/Black for $269.99, down from $349.99 (other gun clearance deals here
    Highlights From BuxrHighlights From Dealhack
    • B&H Photo: Sanyo XGA LCD Projector for $400 Shipped
    • Buy.com: Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7 Port Hub $15 & Free Shipping
    • Cructchfield: Sony Nav-U NV-U44 GPS Navigation System $80
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Walmart: Walmart Boys' Apparel: Deals from $2! + $1 s&h
    • Dell Home: Dell Inspiron 530s Celeron 2.2GHz Desktop PC for $299 + $35 s&h
    • Cell Hut: Unlocked Samsung F250 Cell Phone in Green for $120 + free shipping
      More »

    Tmobile: Pay $25.65 To Talk To Us About How We Overcharged You For $25.65
    By Ben Popken on January 7, 2009 8:49 PM   77 Comments

    —>In a contemporary version of the safe that's locked by the key inside it, lundyncanada's YouTube [NSFW, cursing] shows and us how Tmobile won't let her speak to customer service until she pays the $25.65. What does she need to talk to them about? How they're overcharged her by $25.65. Video inside...  More »

    Get An Employer Discount With Any Cellphone Company
    By Ben Popken on January 7, 2009 7:43 PM   78 Comments

    —>Save money on your cellphone bill by checking out to see if you can get an employer discount! Here's the necessary info for every major cellphone provider:  More »

    Pre-Paid Cellphones Aren't Just For Losers Anymore!
    By Meg Marco on January 7, 2009 5:29 PM   185 Comments

    —>Hey, did you know that people who don't use their cellphone very often can save money by switching to a pre-paid cellphone plan? They're not just for people who can't get regular cellphones anymore! In fact, many smart, frugal people avoid contact hassles and save money by getting a pre-paid phone.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 7, 2009 2:39 PM   26 Comments
  • B&H Photo: Canon FS-100 Flash Memory Camcorder $285 Shipped
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • ZipZoomFly: OCZ NIA Neural Impulse Actuator for $97 after rebate + $9 s&h
    • Cell Hut: Unlocked Motorola L6 Cell Phone in Silver for $60 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: DVD / Blu-ray movie roundup: Deals from $11 + $3 s&h
      More »

    "Free" SlyDial Service Sneaks Ads Into Your Voicemail Inbox
    By Chris Walters on January 7, 2009 12:53 AM   22 Comments

    —>SlyDial lets you jump straight to voicemail to leave a message. You can pay a fee for the service, or agree to listen to an ad first before leaving a message. Glenn gave the service a trial run and it seemed to work as promised—he listened to an ad and then left a message. Today, however, the company "slydialed" him and left a second ad in his voicemail box. That's certainly sly, but sounds to us like an abuse of the service as they've described it. You might want to avoid using them until we find out more about why they're spamming previous customers, or check back on Glenn's blog to see what develops.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 6, 2009 1:20 PM   25 Comments

    —>

    • TurboTax: Various deals and discounts on TurboTax 2008 (i.e. free, up to 35% off)
    • Liz Claiborne: How to get 80% off
    • Amazon: 70% off skate shoes
    Highlights From Buxr
    • eCost: Fujifilm 7.1 Megapixel Finepix Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom for $86 + Shipping
    • The Limited: $20 OFF $60 and $30 OFF $100 w/ coupon:842 and 20% OFF Anything w/ coupon:851(print+online)
    • Staples: Manilo Black Leather Manager's Chair for $39.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Best Buy: Dynex DX-LCD26 26-inch LCD HDTV $300
    • Buy.com: Sanyo Xacti 8MP Waterproof Camcorder $185 Shipped
    • Newegg: Logitech Optical Trackball Marble Mouse $20 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • AT&T Wireless: Refurbished Sony Ericsson W350 Prepaid Phone for AT&T for $70 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Samsung 26" 1080p Widescreen HDTV Display for $476 + free shipping
    • Newegg: NBA Ballers: Chosen One for PS3 for $10 + free shipping, more
      More »

    Get Your Tmobile Employer Discount
    By Ben Popken on January 6, 2009 2:31 AM   37 Comments

    —>Wanna save on your Tmobile bill? Ask your company's partnership rep if they have an employer discount available. Then you can call Tmobile Corporate Migrations at 877-453-8824 and claim your discount. In fact, if you Google that number, you can find the names of a number of companies and organizations that give their members Tmobile discounts. Perhaps you belong to one of them. (Thanks to Romeo!) (Photo: Ed Yourdon)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on January 5, 2009 1:15 PM   20 Comments

    —>

    • Catherines: Buy 2 plus-size bras get 1 free PLUS $10 off $25 with coupon code 776996258
    • Belk: Columbia Men's Sportswear Bugaboo Parka Coat for $57 (down from $230)
    • Harry & David: Tower of Treats Collection for $12.71
    Highlights From Buxr
    • IHOP: Free Pancakes on Feb. 24th
    • Sears: Sharp 42" LCD 1080p TV + Sharp Blu Ray Player for $999.99 + Shipping
    • Deal Extreme: Pregnancy Test Papers (10-Pack) for $1.88 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg Mall: Save Up to 80% off ESQ by Movado Watches
    • Amazon: Top 50 Bestselling 2008 MP3 Albums $5 Each
    • Old Navy: Online Only Clearance: Save up to 75% off Apparel
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • BestBuy: Dell XPS M1330 Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz 13" Widescreen Laptop for $900 + $25 s&h
    • Circuit City: LG 22" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV Display for $300 + free shipping
    • Geeks.com: Refurbished VuPoint Multifunction Digtal Camcorder for $50 + $9 s&h
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on January 2, 2009 2:02 PM   21 Comments

    —>

    • Teva Women's Shay Slip-ons for $16
    • Amazon: Save up to 70% or More off: LED Flashlights from $5
    • App Store Free MetaSquares Puzzle Game for iPhone and iPod Touch
    • 6ave: Shure SE110 Sound-Isolating Earphones for $63 + free shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on December 31, 2008 1:41 PM   17 Comments

    —>

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on December 30, 2008 3:06 PM   28 Comments

    —>

    • NewEgg: Nextar Q3 3.5" GPS Navigation for $59.99 with free shipping
    • Geeks: Unlocked Motorola Quad-Band GSM Mobile Phone $30
      More »

    According to Bloomberg, retailers expect to close 73,000 stores in the first half of 2009, because no one bought enough Christmas presents. Thanks, Marc!  More »

    NYT: Text Messaging "Virtually No Cost" to Carriers
    By Alex Jarvis on December 29, 2008 10:00 PM   108 Comments

    —>Hear the scorn of a million parents cry out in righteous anger: despite recently increasing basic text messaging rates from ten cents to twenty across the board, NYT reveals that Carriers pay roughly nothing.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Chris Walters on December 29, 2008 2:35 PM   37 Comments

    —>

    • Valve: Doom II or Ultimate Doom for PC downloads, $1 each
    • Amazon: EyeClops BioniCam magnifying toy for $17.99 (78% off)
      More »

    These Gap Pants Are On Sale For Ten Dollars More Than The Original Price
    By Alex Chasick on December 27, 2008 4:30 PM   24 Comments

    —>Reader Ryan caught his local Gap offering a great deal on some snazzy pants: only ten dollars more than the original price!  More »

    The Chicago Tribune is reporting that yesterday's post-Christmas sales were lackluster for retailers. We don't know about the rest of you, but we were way too full of eggnog and cookies to actually get up and go shopping.  More »

    Every other retailer in existence may have had an awful holiday season, but Amazon says it was its "best ever." [MarketWatch]  More »

    Fry's Price Matches, But Only If You Pay "Overnight Shipping" For Item In Your Hand
    By Chris Walters on December 27, 2008 1:05 AM   88 Comments

    —>This Fry's in Texas apparently wants you to pay for them to replace their inventory. Or they think their customers are idiots. Maybe both?  More »

    Last-Minute Shoppers Unable To Save Christmas For Retailers
    By Meg Marco on December 24, 2008 5:35 PM   45 Comments

    —>The AP says that while last-minute shoppers are still out there looking for bargains — the holiday season was over long ago for retailers.  More »

    Now That Gas Prices Are Lower, You Have Money To Buy Stuff, Save
    By Meg Marco on December 24, 2008 4:59 PM   46 Comments

    —>Even though real incomes are dropping and people are worrying about their jobs — a drop in gas prices has lead to a push in retail spending, says the New York Times.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 24, 2008 2:43 PM   26 Comments

    —>

      More »

    Retailers Beg Government To Create Tax-Free Shopping Holidays To Save Them
    By Chris Walters on December 24, 2008 4:27 AM   72 Comments

    —>The National Retail Federation has asked President-elect Obama to declare three tax-free shopping holidays next year.  More »

    WISdomestics Blames Competitors For Its Own Misleading Vibrator Copy
    By Chris Walters on December 23, 2008 9:10 PM   104 Comments

    —>Jen ordered a product on Amazon, but what arrived in the shipment was significantly less than what was promised.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 23, 2008 2:40 PM   106 Comments

    —>

    • TheWatchery: Movado Luno Mens' Watch $299 (Was $995) w/ free shipping, $269 for PayPal checkouts
    • CVS: $20 off $50, Mastercard required
    • Cabela's: Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm Compact for $360 (down from $549.99)
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 22, 2008 1:05 PM   15 Comments

    —>

    • TigerDirect: Playstation 3 80GB for $212 shipped after Sony credit card/live credit
    • Best Buy: The Wire: The Complete Series for $89.99
    • Amazon: Fleece Jacket Adult Black 1/2 Zip for $8.99
      •   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 19, 2008 10:18 AM   9 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    Highlights From Dealhack
    • ShoeMall: Save Extra 20% off & Free Shipping on Most Items
    • Amazon: Save up to 70% or More off Family & Party Games
    • Mwave: KDS K-92BW 19-inch WS LCD Flat Panel Monitor $100
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • DeepDiscount: Khun Phan Escape wooden puzzle game for $3 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition for Xbox 360 for $30 + free shipping, more
    • Pacific Geek: Used Dell Latitude D420 Core Duo 1.2GHz 12" Laptop for $315 + $5 s&h
    Highlights From Dealnews
    America's "Cheapest Family" Wants To Teach You To Live "Debt-Free"
    By Meg Marco on December 18, 2008 9:11 PM   162 Comments

    —>Meet Steve and Annette Economides. They are raising a family of 7 in Arizona on an annual income of about $44,000.   More »

    Every Christmas Target Execs Fight Over Auto-Printing Guest Receipts
    By Ben Popken on December 18, 2008 3:45 PM   68 Comments

    —>Regarding this story, turns out, every year at this time, Target has an internal clash of the titans over whether or not to automatically print guest receipts, according to a former employee.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 18, 2008 1:45 PM   22 Comments
  • Dell Small Business: Dell Vostro 1510 Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz 15" Laptop for $499 + free shipping
  • Buy.com: CEO-ready Uniden DECT 6.0 3-Handset Expandable Cordless Phone for $53 + free shipping
  • Zales: Zales Jewelry Roundup: Men's Stainless Steel Cuff Links for $22 + $6 s&h, more
    •   More »

    Shopping Online Kills Ponies
    By Ben Popken on December 18, 2008 2:00 AM   69 Comments
    The campaign, titled Give Your Community a Lift Shop Locally for Your Gifts! aims to remind shoppers that local retailers provide local jobs and support community-based civic and charitable organizations. Many consumers shop online and avoid paying sales tax, and while this may appear to consumers as a way of saving a few dollars, in the end it may cost them more if local tax revenue is eroded and municipalities are forced to cut back on services, said Michael P. Kercheval, ICSCs president and CEO.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 17, 2008 3:11 PM   11 Comments

    —>

      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 16, 2008 12:54 PM   33 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: Arrested Development Complete Series for $29
    • Fannie May: 1lb Assorted Chocolate and One Chocolate Rose for $10.24 shipped w/ coupon code 10324
    • Amazon: Klipsch Groove PM20 2.0 Speaker System for $59.99 Shipped
      More »

    What's New For 2008 Return Policies
    By Ben Popken on December 15, 2008 10:55 PM   20 Comments

    —>Some retailers are tightening their returning policies this year, while others are loosening them. ConsumerWorld tells you who's naughty and nice this year.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 15, 2008 12:35 PM   5 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: 1,000's of shoes 80-90% off
    • Newegg: 96 Wii Games Priced Under $20.00 + free shipping
    • Amazon: Clue board game for $4.99
      •   More »

    Barbie Vs Bratz: Barbie Wins! Court Stops Production Of Bratz Merchandise
    By Meg Marco on December 13, 2008 12:44 AM   179 Comments

    —>This may well be the last holiday season for Bratz dolls, as a federal judge ordered their manufacturer to cease production and stop selling the popular dolls.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 12, 2008 1:22 PM   22 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: Amazon Prime for $59 (reg. $79)
    • Newegg: ESET NOD32 Antivirus Home Edition for $10 with free shipping, use promotion code: EMCBCBBBH
    • Amazon: Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera for $28.99 Shipped (choose pink or blue)
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 11, 2008 3:33 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Adidas: 30% off Entire Order w/ coupon code:SHARE
    • Office Depot: Global Trolley Duffel Set a for $7.18 after coupon code:61411388 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: Tomy I-SOBOT Robot for $79.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg: Corsair Voyager Drives: 8GB $9 & 16GB $17 with Free Shipping
    • Starbucks: Save 20% off Coffee & Equipment Orders
    • Mwave: MSI FD100 Bluetooth Hands Free Car Kit $10
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • RedOctane: Guitar Hero World Tour 2-Player Wireless Bundles from $65 + free shipping
    • Toys R Us: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles for Wii for $20 + $4 shipping
    • AT&T Wireless: Refurbished Sony Ericsson W350 Prepaid Phone for AT&T for $60 + free shipping
      More »

    Amazon.com Emails Recommendation Ruins Christmas Surprise
    By Ben Popken on December 10, 2008 4:15 PM   134 Comments

    —>Rob is mad because Amazon, in the figurative sense, delivered his wife's secret Christmas gift in a see-through glass box:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 10, 2008 2:31 PM   16 Comments
  • ShoeMall: Save 20% off Athletic Shoes & Women's Handbags
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • ExperCom: Refurbished Apple MacBook Pro Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz 15" Laptop for $899 + $16 s&h
    • InkGrabber: HP-Compatible Inkjet Cartridge 6-Pack for $65 + free shipping
    • Dell Small Business: Dell Vostro 2510 Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz 15" Laptop for $601 + free shipping (updated)
      •   More »

    Scams 101: Do Not Buy Things From The Internet Using A Wire Transfer!
    By Meg Marco on December 9, 2008 5:44 PM   66 Comments

    —>The BBB has given us a heads up about a new scam that targets holiday shoppers — pop-up internet electronics stores that only accept payments via wire transfer.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 9, 2008 2:02 PM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • NewEgg: Kodak EasyShare C813 Silver 8.2MP LCD 3X Optical Zoom + FREE 2GB SD card & case kit for $71.99 after coupon code:CAMERA1210P w/ Free shipping
    • Shop4Tech: 1GB Silver MP3 + video player by Matrix for $9.95 after coupon code:HH15 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: Nikon Coolpix S610 10MP Digital Camera,4x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom for $165.93 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save Up to 40% off Leatherman Multitools
    • 1-800 Contacts: Save up to $80 + Extra $5 off Contact Lenses with Coupon
    • TiVo.com: Recertified High Def TiVo HD DVR $180 Shipped + Discounted Service
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Sony Style: Sony VAIO CS Core 2 Duo 2GHz 14" Widescreen Laptop for $750 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Nerf N-Strike Bundle for Wii for $50 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Bushnell 10x28 Explorer Waterproof Binoculars for $28 + free shipping
      More »

    Woot-Off At Midnight Tonight?
    By Ben Popken on December 9, 2008 2:38 AM   34 Comments

    —>UPDATE: Yes, Virginia, there is a Woot-off.  More »

    Circuit City Liquidator Doubles List Price Before Taking 50% Off?
    By Meg Marco on December 9, 2008 12:29 AM   74 Comments

    —>Reader Michael's fiance experienced first hand what we've been warning you about when it comes to liquidations. Liquidators are notorious for raising prices before "discounting" them, so make sure you know what the real list price is before you try to get a deal a closing Circuit City store.  More »

    Free Shipping Day Is December 18th
    By Ben Popken on December 8, 2008 6:18 PM   31 Comments

    —>Check out the 18 and counting online retailers at freeshippingday.com for stores that will give you free shipping and guarantee delivery by Christmas if you shop there on Thursday, December 18th. The retailers include Amazon, Zappos, Dell, Target, Macy's and other big names, with perhaps more joining before the 18th. Nothing like getting rewarded for waiting until the last minute.  More »

    Being Forced To Buy Wii Bundles Makes You Very Angry
    By Meg Marco on December 8, 2008 4:27 PM   129 Comments

    —>You know what makes you angry? Wii bundles. Here's the situation. You go to the store to buy a Wii. You ask if they have any in stock. They do. You decide to buy the Wii — only to find out that they won't sell you the Wii without forcing you to buy a bunch of other stuff. You become very angry. You write to us.  More »

    The Return of Layaway
    By Ben Popken on December 8, 2008 2:32 PM   74 Comments

    —>Layaway is back this year. What's that? It's where you buy an item at a store, but don't pay for it completely right away. The store puts the purchase item aside for you. You then make regular payments and once they add up to the full price tag, you get your item. Imagine that, saving up and only buying something once you can afford to pay for it in cash. Layaway plans used to be more popular but were overtaken by the ease and instant gratification of credit cards. Unlike credit cards, you don't pay any interest, although sometimes there is a base fee. Now that credit lines are being cut and thrift is the new black, layaway is making a comeback. Kmart is featuring it in their Christmas ads, and Oprah talked about it on her show recently.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 5, 2008 11:06 AM   32 Comments
  • Amazon.com: Planet Earth: Complete BBC Series on HD DVD for $20 + $3 s&h
  • Amazon.com: DVD and Blu-ray Disc Roundup: Sicko for $4 + $3 s&h, more
  • Cell Hut: Unlocked Cell Phone Roundup: NEC E132 for $56 + free shipping, more
    •   More »

    Neighborhoods Propose Printing Their Own Currency To Encourage Local Shopping
    By Meg Marco on December 4, 2008 7:14 PM   336 Comments

    —>Two neighborhoods in Milwaukee are considering printing their own currency, which could be bought with U.S. dollars, but would be only accepted at local businesses, in order to encourage people to shop at home instead of Walmart.   More »

    Try Consumer Reports' Website For Free And Increase Your Shopping Abilities
    By Meg Marco on December 4, 2008 3:29 PM   32 Comments

    —>Consumer Reports has set up some cute mall kiosks in the Boston Area so that shoppers can research products while they are shopping, but if you can't get to Boston you can still give the website a try.  More »

    PrettySinful Pledges To Stop Calling Children's Clothes "Sexy"
    By Ben Popken on December 4, 2008 1:55 PM   86 Comments

    —>Yesterday we told you about PrettySinful, a clothing maker on Amazon that was marketing its tween girl tights as being "sexy." Tipster Jasmine also sent a complaint to PrettySinful. A customer service rep responded and pledged that they'll be removing the word "sexy" from all their children's clothes descriptions.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 4, 2008 1:44 PM   8 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Footaction: 30% OFF Friends & Family Event (print+online w/ coupon code: EMFF8CAP)
    • BestBuy: Samsung L210 10.2-Megapixel Digital Camera (Black) + Free 2GB Memory Card for $112.49 w/ Free shipping
    • PetSmart: Save $10 off your order of $60+ online w/ coupon code: DECPERKS
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Shoes.com: Save 20% off Men's Shoes Orders Store-Wide with Coupon
    • Buy.com: Seagate FreeAgent 1.5TB USB 2.0 Drive $160 Shipped
    • B&H Photo: Panasonic TH-42PZ80U 42-inch HDTV $895 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Walmart: George Foreman Next Grilleration Grill for $30 + $12 s&h
    • 6ave: Klipsch CS500 170W 2.1-Channel DVD Home Theater System for $498 + free shipping
    • Overstock: Kenneth Cole Reaction Men's Take Note Oxford for $57 + $1 s&h
      More »

    No Tween Girl Clothes Are "Sexy"
    By Ben Popken on December 3, 2008 1:25 PM   151 Comments

    —>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, accompanied by a picture of a prepubescent girl. Perhaps the picture is in error because the rest of the clothier's offerings are along the lines of crotchless bodystockings and various "do-me" adult party costumes. In any event, it's gross and should be fixed.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 3, 2008 12:10 PM   32 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Lyon by Washburn Electric Guitar with 5 Watt Amp and Instructional DVD for $89.99
    • LineDrive.com: Under Armour up to 50% off at with free shipping
    • Amazon: 18 Pack of Horizon 8oz Milk for $14.30
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Dell Home: Sony PS3 80GB for $322.99 w/ coupon code: CTV2$2HX963145 & TP5NV0VMFJ9BCZ w/ Free shipping
    • Lowe's: Black & Decker 109-Piece Drilling & Screwdriving Set for $9.97 + Shipping
    • Hewlett Packard: HP Pavilion dv5t Notebook, Pentium Dual-Core 2.0GHz, 15.4", 4GB, 320GB Wi-Fi + Printer for $549.99 after coupon code: SV2132 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Aerobed Twin Bed in a Minute II Inflatable $40 Shipped
    • HobbyTron: Buy 2 Intelli Heli Mini Helicopters Get One Free
    • Amazon: Save Extra $10 off Omron Scales & Health Monitors
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Buy.com: Uniden FRS / GMRS 2-Way Radio 2-Pack for $29 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Romancing the Stone with Jewel of the Nile on Blu-ray for $30 + free shipping
      More »

    Ben Popken On NBC Nightly News This Thursday
    By Ben Popken on December 2, 2008 9:24 PM   22 Comments

    —>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!  More »

    "Holistic Margin Management": What General Mills Calls Grocery Shrink Ray
    By Ben Popken on December 2, 2008 7:39 PM   33 Comments

    —>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 at shrinking packages: customers are more likely to notice a change in the height rather than the width of a box. But does anyone really care?   More »

    Sears Is Rather Generous With The Term "Sale!"
    By Meg Marco on December 2, 2008 1:26 PM   55 Comments
    I went to a local Sears to return some parts (don't get me started) and the attached [photo] amused me.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 2, 2008 11:26 AM   28 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Philips Plug and Play USB Webcam with Microphone 2 Pack for $12.99
    • Lowe's: Dog Kennel for $15
    • FinishLine: Crocs Toddler Endeavor Sandal Shoe for $4.98
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon: OCZ OCZ2G8004GK DDR2 800MHz 4 GB Gold Edition Kit for $4.99 after two $20 rebates w/ Free shipping
    • Victoria's Secret: 20% OFF your Entire Order w/ coupon code: GET20
    • Ralph Lauren: 30% off any purchase + Free Shipping w/ coupon code: GIFT2008
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Best Buy: Polaroid POGO Mobile Photo Printer now $80
    • Amazon: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8GB MP3 Player $70 Shipped
    • Borders.com: Save 40% off All DVD Box Sets
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Newegg: Rosewill 8-Bay RAID Storage System with WD 1TB Hard Drive for $349 + $22 s&h
    • Meritline: GT 4 Pro Racing Wheel for Nintendo Wii for $7 + free shipping
    • Newegg: Rosewill 45-Piece Computer Toolkit for $10 + free shipping
      More »

    Black Friday Sugar Rush Won't Last For Retailers
    By Ben Popken on December 1, 2008 7:35 PM   34 Comments

    —>While Black Friday revenues were up from last year, retailers are just getting a quick high. The crash starts tomorrow.  More »

    Free Shipping Today At Thinkgeek
    By Ben Popken on December 1, 2008 2:45 PM   18 Comments

    —>Free shipping at Think Geek with coupon code CYBERMONDAY. Gawd, is "Cyber Monday" an obnoxious/perverted-sounding name or what? [ThinkGeek] (Thanks to Geoffrey!)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on December 1, 2008 1:45 PM   9 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • iNetVideo: Transformers - Two-Disc Special Edition (HD DVD) + More HD's at a Low Price for $1 + $2.95 Shipping
    • New York & Company: 30% off all online purchases w/ coupon code:FROSTED + Buy one get one 75% off Mix and Match
    • Frys.com: Compaq 15.4" Widescreen Laptop w/ Dual-Core Processor + 2GB RAM for $399.99 $549.99 after $30 rebate + Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Nike Store: Save 30% off Apparel, Shoes & Sports Gear
    • Sierra Trading Post: Extra 15% off Clothing, Gear, & Footwear with Coupon
    • Amazon: Up to 70% & off Top-Rated Melissa & Doug Toys
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Overstock: iRobot Looj Gutter-Cleaning Robots from $81 + free shipping
    • Target: Jump 'n Go Obstacle Course Bouncer for $180 + free shipping
    • Adorama: Sharp AQUOS 37" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $700 + free shipping
      More »

    Wal-Mart Employee Trampled To Death As Mob Tears Doors Off Hinges
    By Meg Marco on November 28, 2008 10:28 PM   362 Comments

    —>The New York Times is reporting that a temporary employee of a suburban New York Walmart was trampled to death when a throng of shoppers tore down the front doors of the store and surged inside.   More »

    Aliph Quickly Replaces Melted Jawbone
    By Ben Popken on November 26, 2008 4:34 PM   25 Comments

    —>Marc is happy to report that Aliph really came through for him after he complained about Jawbone smoking and melting after he plugged it into his computer:  More »

    Hyuandai Accent Cheapest Car In Amerca
    By Ben Popken on November 26, 2008 4:12 PM   68 Comments

    —>At $9,970, the Hyundai Accent is once again the cheapest new car in America, beating out the Versa by $20. [Kicking Tires] (Photo: MSVG)  More »

    Holiday Gifts That Won't Break The Bank
    By Ben Popken on November 26, 2008 4:01 PM   48 Comments

    —>As we've all been hearing lately, the sputtering economy is bound to put a damper on gift giving this holiday season. If you're belt-tightening with the rest of us but would still like to give presents to those special people in your life, there are several alternatives for consideration. For instance:  More »

    Charts: Mac Black Friday, MacMall Or BestBuy?
    By Ben Popken on November 26, 2008 3:54 PM   10 Comments

    —>There's some nice discounts this Black Friday on the usually deal-proof Macs, but who's got the better price? MacMall, or BestBuy? Going through the full discount list is a pain, so MacRumors has put together a handy comparison chart of the prices on the current models for you. The biggest difference is in the MacBook pros, which MacMall has at $200 off vs BestBuy's $100.   More »

    EECB / BBB Complaint Solves $500 Dispute With TMobile
    By Meg Marco on November 26, 2008 3:23 PM   9 Comments

    —>Bill says that an EECB (executive email carpet bomb) follow up to a BBB complaint solved his $500 billing dispute with TMobile, and he couldn't be happier.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 26, 2008 2:54 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • GoDaddy: $1.19 Domain Name 1 Year Registration w/ coupon code: 99DOMAIN
    • Wilsons Leather: 40% off one item + Free shipping w/ coupon: WIL40offFS
    • Sony Style: up to $500 off Sony VAIO laptops + free shipping w/ various coupons.
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • MacMall: MacBook Air from $1150 + Free Software & Printer
    • BRIO: Save up to 50% off BRIO Wood Toy Trains and Railway Sets
    • Geeks: Protron PD-DVR100 DVD+RW Video Recorder $50
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Newegg: Manhunt 2 for Wii for $20 + free shipping
    • Blair: Gruen Men's Quartz Watch for $17 + $1 s&h
    • 6ave: Samsung 37" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $649 + free shipping
      More »

    If you're a Black Friday newbie, you might want to check out this shopping guide from Consumer Reports. It has links to the best Black Friday information sites, as well as tips for grabbing the best deals. [Consumer Reports]  More »

    Apple Stores Will Now Price Match Authorized Retailers
    By Meg Marco on November 25, 2008 9:39 PM   24 Comments

    —>Apple Insider says Apple stores will be price matching other authorized retailers. The policy isn't new — but it's never been emphasized before and the Apple bloggers seem surprised that it exists.  More »

    My Jawbone Melted
    By Ben Popken on November 25, 2008 1:43 PM   78 Comments

    —>UPDATE: Aliph Quicly Replaces Melted Jawbone  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 25, 2008 11:25 AM   18 Comments
  • Amazon: Free Mp3 download of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's song "Night Enchanted"
  • Nike: Swoosh Men's Training T-Shirt for $8 + free shipping w/ coupon codes "NOVCLEAR" and "GIVENIKE"
    • Highlights From Buxr
    • Ecrater.com: Friends The Complete Series Seasons 1-10 DVD Box Set NEW!! for $74.99 w/ Free shipping
    • NewEgg: Verbatim 4.7GB 16X DVD-R 100 Packs Cake Box Disc for $18.99 w/ Free shipping
    • NewEgg: Canon PowerShot A590 IS Black 8.0 MP Digital Camera for $96.99 after coupon code: CAMERA118+ Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Puma: 20% off Shoes & Clothing Store-Wide + Free Shipping
    • Buy.com: Memorex 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player $150 Shipped
    • Toshiba Direct: Save 20% off Customizable Satellite Notebook PCs
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon: EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles for $50 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: GE Thomson 5.8GHz Dual-Handset Cordless Phone System for $32 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: Soyo Azura Series 22" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $270 + free shipping
      More »

    Best Buy Really Does Not Want To Let You Buy The Advertised Special
    By Meg Marco on November 24, 2008 8:17 PM   219 Comments

    —>Reader John writes in with a story about "upselling" at Best Buy. He saw a TomTom GPS unit for $99.99 on sale at Best Buy, so he headed over to the store to pick one up. What follows is his account of how much trouble it was to actually buy the item. We think we counted 9 times that John had to tell various and sundry Best Buy employees that, yes, he was sure that he didn't want to buy a slightly more expensive model of the same device.   More »

    Play Black Friday Bingo
    By Ben Popken on November 24, 2008 8:00 PM   51 Comments

    —>Here's your official Consumerist Black Friday Bingo Card, inspired by "28 Bad Things That Will Happen On Black Friday." I added a few of my own as well. Full-size inside. I made it using the free bingo card maker at teach-nology.com.  More »

    28 Bad Things That Will Happen On Black Friday
    By Ben Popken on November 24, 2008 7:21 PM   137 Comments

    —>A Fry's electronic worker has posted his predictions for 28 bad things that happen inside stores this Black Friday. There's things on there like registers being down, full-on face-punching between customers, and customers and employees getting away with shoplifting. It's not just for Fry's, I imagine these things will be happening in stores across America, assuming people have any money left to go Black Friday shopping this year. Maybe you can make the 28 things inside into a Bingo Card and play against your friends...  More »

    PC Magazine offers a slideshow of the top 10 Black Friday sites, for those of you who still have money to burn on doorbusters. [PC Magazine]  More »

    Gift Cards From Ailing Retailers Can Be Boobie Prizes
    By Ben Popken on November 24, 2008 5:23 PM   90 Comments

    —>When Sharper Image went under (oh no, where will we find a new vibrating massage pinball machine for dad?), people lost about $60 million locked up in gift cards, reports NYT. If you're holding a gift card, you're technically an unsecured creditor. If they go bankrupt..  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 24, 2008 3:40 PM   25 Comments

    —>

    • Dr. Pepper: Free 20oz of Dr. Pepper until 6pm Nov 24 2008 (if site is overloaded, call 1-888-DRPEPPER)
    • Woot: Pentax Optio V20 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 3 LCD for $109.99
    • Slickdeals: "Deals I found this weekend"
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Best Buy: Samsung PN50A400 - 50" Class 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV for $797.99 + Shipping
    • Amazon: Samsung WEP-301 Bluetooth Headset Includes 6 Designer Skins (Silver) for $4.99 after $20 rebate + Shipping
    • National Geographic: 20% Off Sitewide Coupon: 08A20
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Vann's: Toshiba 1080p HD Upconverting DVD Player $57 Shipped
    • Lucky Brand Jeans: Buy Pair of Jeans & Get 50% off Next Item
    • Expedia: Book a Flight Now & Get $200 for a Spring Vacation
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Walmart: Nintendo DS Games: 2 for $20 + $4 s&h
    • Circuit City: Toshiba 320GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $110 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Folding Princess Castle for $58 + free shipping, more
      More »

    Your PS3s Are Stuck In The UK And You Have To Buy Four More
    By Ben Popken on November 21, 2008 11:17 PM   95 Comments

    —>Mea culpa. It sounded like a good idea, but the "people-powered" comparison shopping site we wrote about, beatmyprice.com, got one of our readers scammed when she used it in a non-savvy fashion. Rebecca ordered a PS3 from the sketchy-as-hell looking "omexelectronics.biz" for $260. After she ordered it with her Discover Card, she got an email telling her to complete the transaction via Western Union instead. She did so. Big mistake.  More »

    Reach TracFone Executive Customer Service
    By Ben Popken on November 21, 2008 9:25 PM   35 Comments

    —>TracFone is a pre-paid wireless cellphone company that people enjoy for its low cost and hate for its customer service. The problem comes from their globally outsourced and non-integrated call centers. Problems don't get solved. Emails go unreturned. Problems get stuck in infinitely recursive loops. Here's a typical story from reader Susan, "I asked them to escalate this to a supervisor. Three days later, I get a response saying that they have investigated the problem and I should call their support line. When I called the support line, they had no details of any prior communication and no way to resolve the problem. So I am back at step one. " Luckily for you, she found the numbers to escalate complaints up to the corporate level and got it solved: 1-800-876-5753 or 1-800-339-9345.  More »

    Does A Store Have To Price Match Their Website?
    By Meg Marco on November 21, 2008 4:57 PM   118 Comments

    —>Here's a question we get a lot. Are stores required to price match their own website?  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 21, 2008 2:51 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Star Wars Vault: 30 Years of Treasures From the Lucasfilm Archives for $24.99
    • Bargain Outfitters: 2 Women's Reebok Jackets $15.96 Shipped
    • Megabus: $0 FREE Bus Tickets Across Northeast & Midwest
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Dirt Cheap Shirt: Black Friday T-Shirt for $9.99 + Shipping (says "Black Friday: Shop Till You Drop! (Or Get Trampled)
    • Sears: Craftsman 53 pc. Mechanics Tool Set for $23.99 + $7.50 Shipping
    • Boscov's: Panasonic 42" Class (41.6" Diagonal) Widescreen VIERA Plasma 720p HDTV for $599.97 + $49.99 Shipping
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Dealnews
    • BestBuy: Refurbished Gateway AMD Quad Core 2.2GHz Desktop PC for $550 + $2 s&h
    • Dell Home: Creative ZEN X-Fi 8GB Portable MP3 / MP4 Player for $120 + free shipping
    • DeepDiscount: The Matrix Collection on DVD for $8 + free shipping
      More »

    Need gift ideas? Curbly user ModHomeEcTeacher has put together a list of 45 different holiday gift guides from around the web. [Curbly]  More »

    If you have an account with Mint, and you've enabled mobile alerts, you can now text "Bal" or "Balance" to 696-468 (MyMint) and receive a summary of all of your accounts. [Mint]  More »

    This Is Not A Good Method For Transporting Shopping Carts
    By Meg Marco on November 20, 2008 5:00 PM   88 Comments

    —>If you were thinking of loading a semi with tons of shopping carts, make sure you view the following video before you attempt it — just in case you've missed a small detail.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 19, 2008 3:43 PM   13 Comments
  • REI Outlet: Mountainsmith Notebook Messenger Bag $25
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Casio Men's Edifice Thermometer Watch for $52 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Klipsch Groove PM20 2.0 Speaker System for $60 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: The Orange Box for Xbox 360 or PS3 for $20 + free s&h w/$25
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 18, 2008 4:23 PM   6 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Zales.com: Save up to 25% w/ coupon code:LOVEROCKS2008
    • PC Connection: ViewSonic Optiquest Q2201wb 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor for $149.95 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Aeropostale: Friends and Family 30% Off In Store or online w/ code: FRIENDS08
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Apple Store: Save an Extra $200 to $250 off 20 and 24-inch iMacs
    • Orbitz: This week: Save 20% off Hotel Bookings Worldwide
    • Abe's: Nikon Coolpix L18 8MP Camera $100 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Buy.com: Argus Bean 5MP Clip-On Digital Camera for $43 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: ASUS Triton 78 120mm Gaming CPU Cooler for $50 after rebate + free shipping
    • HandHeldItems: Hornet 3 Mini R/C Helicopter with Christmas stocking for $18 + $10 s&h
      More »

    Reader Saves $230 On Cable And Phone Bills By Rocking The Cancellation Threat
    By Ben Popken on November 18, 2008 1:53 AM   39 Comments

    —>Here's how Stephanie saved $230 on her cable and phone bills after following the tips in "3 Ways To Lower Your Out Of Control Cable, Internet And Phone Bills"  More »

    Escape Sprint ETF-Free Over Administrative Fee Increase
    By Ben Popken on November 17, 2008 7:12 PM   75 Comments

    —>Want to break your Sprint cellphone contract without paying an early termination fee? On January 1, 2009, Sprint will increase the Administrative fee to $.99 per line. Because this is what is known as a "materially adverse change of contract," and because of the basic contractual principle that you can't change someone's contract without their explicit permission (not the tacit, "opt-out" kind), you can use it to argue that the fee renders your contract void and you can end service without a termination fee. You do have to be willing to argue without giving up with a number of different Sprint employees first, like Matt did...  More »

    GAP Sells Bikes For Holidays. We Don't Know Why.
    By Ben Popken on November 17, 2008 6:14 PM   61 Comments

    —>GAP has a new promo for the holidays. They're selling bikes, covered in an argyle pattern. We can only speculate as to dear God why. Perhaps it's so shoppers can flee from the fashion fiasco that is their retail chain even faster.  More »

    Price-Check Your Black Friday "Deals"
    By Ben Popken on November 17, 2008 5:42 PM   56 Comments

    —>I'm really interested to see what happens with "Black Friday," the hectic shopping day after Thanksgiving where retailers traditionally mark down their products for Christmas deal-seekers, this year. As the shark has been so thoroughly jumped on this shopping spree, the deals have gotten worse and the retail trickery more tricky, so can a consumer still make out?   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 17, 2008 1:28 PM   0 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Toys R Us: 15% Off Any One Toy Item (printable)
    • Victoria's Secret: Take 30% Off Any Clothing Item and More w/ coupon code:GET30
    • Deep Discount: Lethal Weapon 1-4 Widescreen DVD Series for $8.84 after coupon code:ddaf w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Shoes.com: Save 20% off Athletic Shoes & 10% off Most Others with Coupons
    • Ice.com: Save 20% off Most Items + Get Free Shipping
    • Amazon: Save $350: AT&T Blackberry Bold Smartphone $150 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Netaya: Diamond Circle Pendant for $25 + free shipping
    • BestBuy: Sony VAIO Core 2 Duo 2GHz 15" Widescreen Laptop for $650 + $20 s&h
    • 6ave.com: Panasonic VIERA 42" 720p Widescreen Plasma HDTV for $693 + free shipping
      More »

    Consumerist's Morning Deals Help Man Live Good Life For Less
    By Ben Popken on November 14, 2008 9:18 PM   23 Comments

    —>Daniel read our post about a couple learning how to get their credit card rates lowered from The Consumerist and "realized I have a lot to thank the Consumerist for as well," he says. "At the moment I am wearing an Italian suit I bought for $99 at amazon.com and next weekend I will be staying at the luxurious Hay-Adams five-star hotel in Washington, DC, for a mere $20 a night. Both of those deals were posted in your morning deals round-up." Consumerist: saving you money on stuff you already have AND stuff you have yet to have. We're your recession buddy!  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 14, 2008 2:20 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Valve: For $99, get EVERY single Valve game (including Left 4 Dead - save $134.82 - if you already have some of the games, you can gift them to your friends through Steam
    • Finish Line: Up to 75% Off Clearance + 20% off via coupon code 20PERCENT: Men's Shoes From $16, Women's Shoes From $20
    • Amazon: James Bond Ultimate Collector's DVD Set for $89.95 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: DeLonghi 1500-Watt Utility Heater for $18.50 w/ Free shipping
    • Ralph Lauren: 15% Off Printable Coupon
    • Aeropostale: Take 30% Off Clearance Items w/ Coupon Code: WKDCLEAR
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Dealnews
    • CompUSA: APC UPA9 Universal Power Adapter for $40 + $8 s&h
    • DeepDiscount: LEGO Star Wars: Complete Saga for Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, DS for $19 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Unlisted Men's Rest My Case Moc Toe Oxford for $18 + $5 s&h
      More »

    HEY EVERYBODY! Click here to see what you're getting for Christmas.  More »

    Consumer 101: 3 Ways To Lower Your Out Of Control Cable, Internet And Phone Bills
    By Meg Marco on November 13, 2008 5:18 PM   75 Comments

    —>How much to spend on cable, internet and telephone is something nobody had to worry about only a few generations ago. Today, the Pew Research Center says that after housing, cable and satellite TV service was most frequently cited as a regular household expense (78%), followed by cell phones (74%) and internet service (65%). By contrast, just four-in-ten adults (42%) say they make a car payment. If you're looking for a way to cut the amount of money you spend on these "information age" expenses, we've got three of them to choose from.  More »

    Find The Lowest Price With BeatMyPrice.com
    By Ben Popken on November 13, 2008 4:10 PM   8 Comments
    BeatMyPrice is a new great price-comparison site launched by the makers of retailmenot and bugmenot. Just type in the product name, the website where you found it, the price, and check if it can be found elsewhere, using both searchbots and the results entered by other users. If your price is the best one, then it becomes the new best price for that product. Nifty idea, and a very easy to use interface. The one thing is that you'll probably want to check the lowest price retailers you find with resellerratings.com to check out their reputations first before finalizing your purchase. Inside, a video from the site founder to see the new tool in action:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 13, 2008 2:52 PM   15 Comments
  • Apple Store: Five refurbished Apple MacBook Intel 13" Laptops from $849 + free shipping
  • Buy.com: HDTV Roundup: ViewSonic 37" LCD HDTV for $519 + free shipping, more
  • InkGrabber: HP-Compatible Laser Toner Cartridge 2-Pack for $64 + free shipping
    •   More »

    Class Action Lawsuit: Victoria's Secret Bras Causing Skin Rashes?
    By Meg Marco on November 12, 2008 9:42 PM   58 Comments

    —>Discover Magazine has an interesting blog post about some consumers who were complaining that Victoria's Secret bras were giving them painful rashes. When their lawyers bought similar bras and had them tested — they were found to contain formaldehyde.  More »

    Best Buy To Employees: Survive The Meltdown By Making Customer Service A Priority
    By Meg Marco on November 12, 2008 4:49 PM   129 Comments

    —>Today Best Buy announced that it was officially freaking out about the current financial meltdown: "In 42 years of retailing, we've never seen such difficult times for the consumer," Brian Dunn, president and chief operating officer of Best Buy, said in a statement. "People are making dramatic changes in how much they spend, and we're not immune from those forces." A Best Buy employee forwarded us an email that went out to all associates this morning — stressing that a renewed commitment to customer service was the way forward during these troubled times.   More »

    Tide: Mystery Of Different Loads For Different Scents Solved!
    By Ben Popken on November 12, 2008 3:38 PM   50 Comments

    —>Reader Zack was curious why three different kinds of Tide detergent on the shelf had the same price and same volume, but the label said they delivered different amounts of loads. Consumer Reports investigated, and they have the answer.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 12, 2008 1:58 PM   9 Comments

    —>

    • Lenovo: Price drop on all inventory (type lenovo.com/cpp in your browser, use code 704919)
    • Kate Spade: Private Sale, up to 60% off (email-registration required)
    • Amazon: Family Guy - The Complete Collection (Stewie Head Packaging) for $59.99 shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Nike: Take 20% Off Already Reduced Clearance Prices w/ coupon code: NOVCLEAR
    • onSale: Westinghouse LVM-37W3SE 37 1080p LCD HDTV for $529 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping after rebate
    • NewEgg: Brother PT-1010 Label Printer for $9.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Buy.com: Starbrite Hi-Gloss 4" x 6" Photo Paper 20-Sheet 5-Pack for $6 + free shipping
    • Newegg: Acer Aspire AMD Dual Core 2.8GHz Desktop with 22" LCD for $580 + $30 s&h
    • ExperCom: Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz 13" Laptop, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD for $1,919 + $10 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Old Navy: Save up to 50% off Adults and Kids Outerwear
    • Wine.com: Save an Extra $10 off Wine & Gift Orders of $50+
    • Hanes.com: Save 15% off All Orders
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 11, 2008 2:21 PM   22 Comments
  • Shop4Tech: 17% off Sitewide w/ coupon code: CM17
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Vann's: Toshiba 7-inch Portable DVD Player $120 Shipped
    • Buy.com: Cavalry 1TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive $125 Shipped
    • Amazon: Canon SD1100IS 8MP Camera $159 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Circuit City: Element EOD4 3-Way Indoor / Outdoor Speakers for $25 + free shipping
    • macys: Alfani Men's Daytona Center Seam Moc Toe Loafers for $35 + $10 s&h
    • Dell Home: Xbox 360 System Holiday Bundle Roundup: Arcade for $169 + free shipping, more
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 10, 2008 2:15 PM   22 Comments

    —>

    • IKEA: JOKKMOKK table /w 4 Chairs for $59 (regular $129), Tuesday 10/11/08 only.
    • Nutro: Free 5lb Nutro Dog food & 4lb Nutro Cat food
    • Wilson's Leather: 40% Off Sitewide + 50% Off Clearance + Free Shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Lord and Taylor: 20% off any purchase (printable)
    • Diapers.com: $10 off $49 or more w/ coupon code: MARY6466 + FREE Shipping
    • NewEgg: Polk Audio Monitor 50 Single Two-Way Floorstanding Loudspeaker Cherry for $99.99 w/ Free shipping
      • Highlights From Dealnews
      • BestBuy: LG 37" Widescreen LCD HDTV for $700 + free shipping
      • Amazon.com: Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa for PC for $1 + $5 s&h
      • BestBuy: Kung Fu Panda/Secrets of the Furious Five w/ panda statue for $16 + $2 s&h
      Highlights From Dealhack
      • REI Outlet: Princeton Tec Aurora LED Headlamp $15
      • Dell Business: Dell Vostro A860 15.6-inch Notebook PC from $399
      • Jos. A. Bank: Buy One Get One Free Sale Including Suits, Sportcoats, and More
        More »

    Recession Watch: Walmart Up, Target Down
    By Meg Marco on November 7, 2008 5:25 PM   72 Comments

    —>Walmart is winning the big box retail war it seems. They reported same-store October sales were up 2.4 percent versus October 2007. Target, however, lagged behind, with same store sales dropping 4.8%.  More »

    40% Off At Ecko, Today Only
    By Ben Popken on November 7, 2008 3:35 PM   19 Comments

    —>ShopEcko: 40%-off entire store, today and online only.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 7, 2008 2:06 PM   84 Comments

    —>

    • Free Obama Yes We Did Sticker designed by Shephard Fairey (may need to hit refresh a few times)
    • Newegg: Asus P5Q Pro ATX Motherboard + OCZ 2GB Dual Memory Kit for $85.98 Shipped After Rebate
    • DisneyWorld: Buy 4 nights, get 3 nights free at select Disney Value and Deluxe Villa Resorts
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • B&H Photo Video: Sony BRAVIA M-Series 32" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $595 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Toro Electric Power Shovel Show Thrower for $109 + free shipping
    • Cellular Accessory: CellularAccessory.com roundup: Cell phone accessories from $5 + $2 s&h
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Buxr
    • Macys: 20% off $100 w/ coupon code:TEXTGIFT
    • Gap.com: EXTRA 25% off w/ coupon code: EXTRA25
    • Walmart: Free Sample of Glad Storage Bags
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 6, 2008 2:09 PM   8 Comments

    • Buy.com: Nokia 500 4.3" Auto Navigation GPS for $99.99 Shipped
    • T.G.I. Friday's: Buy One Entree, Get One Free
    • Newegg: Corsair 8GB USB Drive for $9.99 Shipped After Rebate
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Chadwicks: 40% off one item with coupon code: CH18567
    • Brylane.com: 40% off One item w/ coupon code: BHOFF40
    • PC Micro Store: Coupon Codes: 20% Off Your Whole Order w/ coupon code: 20%SuperTue And More
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Buy.com: Refurbished Gateway AMD Dual Core 2GHz 14" Laptop for $500 + free shipping
    • AT&T Internet: AT&T High Speed Internet Basic for $15/month + Wi-Fi access
    • InvisibleShield: ZAGG invisibleSHIELD Full Body Protection for MacBook for $44 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Puma.com: Save 20% off All Footwear & Apparel + Free Shipping with Coupon
    • REI Outlet: Save up to 50% off Clearance Sunglasses & Optics
    • Brooks Brothers: Save at Least 15% off Everything Store-Wide
      More »

    2008 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
    By Ben Popken on November 5, 2008 5:25 PM   15 Comments

    —>Want to make sure your present makes it in time for that special holiday moment? Check out Dealhack's list of over 130 retailers and their shipping deadlines. By the way, deadlines for sending mail to military post offices are coming up very soon. If you've got something heavy, you should probably order it by this Friday, November 7th. Lighter stuff, by November 28. Checked the list and don't get caught like I did one year, having to write a humorous fable to explain why all my presents would be showing up the week after Christmas.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 5, 2008 1:43 PM   7 Comments

    —>

    • KB Toys: 20% off entire order, even sale items, 11/9 5-6pm, in-store only
    • Woot: Dremel Duo Kit 7.2v 2-Tool Kit with Stylus and Driver for $59.99
    • Overstock.com: How to get 20% off at Overstock.com using Microsoft Live search
    • Amazon: Robert Pattinson: Eternally Yours for $4.99. Includes over eight pages of hunky full-color glossy photos! Swoon!
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Walmart: Free sample of Orville Redenbacher's Natural Lime & Salt Gourmet Popping Corn
    • Adorama: Lexar 4 GB Professional 300x UDMA Compact Flash Memory Card for $4.95 after $70 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: Kensington RDS FM Transmitter/Car Charger for iPod for $15.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • 1-800-Flowers: Save 15% off Seasonal Flowers & Plant Orders with Coupon
    • Best Buy: Kodak C913 9.2MP Digital Camera $100 Shipped
    • Amazon: Polaroid POGO Mobile Photo Printer $100 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Three pairs of Dickies Men's Double Knee Work Pants for $16 after rebate + free shipping
    • Dell Small Business: Dell Vostro 200 ST Intel Dual Core 2.2GHz Slim Desktop PC with 19" LCD for $399 + $30 s&h
    • Meritline: Emergency Portable Universal Phone Charger for $7 + free shipping
      More »

    Black Friday Is Getting Silly: Best Buy To Hold Essay Contest
    By Meg Marco on November 4, 2008 7:22 PM   81 Comments

    —>Retailers are scared this year, what with the whole economy coming crashing down around their ears and all, and the Black Friday marketing frenzy should be crazier than ever this year. Best Buy is even holding an essay contest. The topic? Why Black Friday shopping is an "important family ritual." Yes, seriously.   More »

    44% Off At Kenneth Cole Today
    By Ben Popken on November 4, 2008 3:03 PM   16 Comments

    —>Kenneth Cole: 44% off online, or print this coupon and use in-store. Today only. (Thanks to Steve!)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 4, 2008 1:25 PM   21 Comments
  • Pfaltzgraff: Save up to 50% off Cutlery + Dinnerware Discounts
  • REI Outlet: Victorinox Trek Computer Messenger Bag $45
    •   More »

    TVs Will Be Cheap, But Will Anyone Buy Them?
    By Meg Marco on November 3, 2008 6:19 PM   108 Comments

    —>Everyone seems to agree— this year will be the year of the cheap big-screen tv. The only question remains... will anyone buy them?  More »

    Consumerist Neighborhood eBay Garage Sale
    By Ben Popken on November 3, 2008 3:30 PM   52 Comments

    —>

    Want to make some cash and get rid of some old stuff? We've got room on the virtual folding table for you to add your eBay auctions. Just list them in the comments on this post- a great way to clean out the closets and make some extra cash to pay down bills or build up savings. We'll get this started with a few items of our own (all start at $.01). Add your in the comments.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on November 3, 2008 1:52 PM   8 Comments

    • Woot: Pentax Optio M50 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom for $89.99
    • Best Buy: How to buy the $265 HP TK-53 15.4" laptop and other cheap laptops
    • GNC: Stamina 36" Folding Trampoline for $7.97 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Mountain Gear: Save up to 75% off Apparel, Footwear & More
    • Old Navy: Save Big: $10 and Under Deals on Kids & Adults Clothing
    • Gap: Save 30% off Women's Outerwear
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Starbucks: FREE Tall Coffee on Election Day
    • Office Depot: Save $15 on a ButterBall turkey with $100 purchase with coupon code:58226915
    • Big Lots: Polaroid 4011-TLXB 40" LCD HDTV after coupon code: BL20PTASC for $439.99 + $50 Shipping
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 31, 2008 2:03 PM   8 Comments

    • BigLots: Philips 9" Portable DVD/iPod Entertainment System for $49 (in-store only)
    • Amazon: Chicago Cutlery 12 Piece Knife Set for $31.62 Shipped
    • Wine.Woot: Andretti Winery Chardonnay - Six Pack for $39.99
      More »

    Leaks: Details On Sprint's New Decreasing ETF
    By Ben Popken on October 30, 2008 12:38 PM   30 Comments

    —>More details have emerged about Sprint's new decreasing-monthly ETF, thanks to a page from the Sprint customer service manual that fell into NeoWin's hands. Basically the ETF on a 2-year contract is $200 after the first 30 days and until month 20, then it starts decreasing by $10 at month 19, until it gets to month 5 where it holds at $50. However, they say it's their policy to waive it if there's less than 30 days left. Once again, the decreasing-ETF will only apply to new contracts signed after November 2, 2008. Full scan of the internal document, inside...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 30, 2008 12:06 PM   16 Comments

    • ArtsCow: Custom Dog Tags for $0.99 Shipped
    • Amazon: 70% off men's & women's running shoes
    • FYE/Sam Goody: New 20GB Xbox 360 Premium Consoles for $150 After $100 mail-in-rebate for signing up for VISA check card. In-store only
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 29, 2008 1:27 PM   10 Comments

    • Carabella: 40%off Jackets, 30% off clearance items & Total order
    • Walmart: Tmobile G1 for $148.88, savings of $31.11
    • Go Gamer: Far Cry 2 for PC for $32.90 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • American Eagle Outfitters: 20% Off Printable Coupon
    • Borders: 25% Off the List Price of One Item at Borders w/ coupon code: SLE5413W
    • Shoebuy: Crocs Sale $10 off + Free shipping both ways w/ coupon code: EMLMENSHOESALE
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • AT&T Internet: AT&T Triple Pack: Internet, voice, and TV or wireless for $99/mo. + $150 cash back
    • Amazon.com: Microsoft Xbox 360 Wired Controller for $30 + free shipping
    • American Eagle Outfitters: American Eagle Men's AE Graphic Oxford Shirt for $20 + $6 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Gap: Buy One Pair of Pants and Get Second for 50% off
    • Compact Appliance: Save Extra 15% off Compact Refrigerators with Coupon
    • Newegg: Patriot 64GB 2.5-inch SATA Solid State Drive $155 & Free Shipping
      More »

    "Black Friday" Starting At Halloween This Year
    By Ben Popken on October 28, 2008 1:50 PM   51 Comments

    —>"Black Friday" is traditionally known as the day after Thanksgiving where retailers drastically cut their prices and offered crazy door prizes to pack the Christmas shoppers in, but this year, it's going to be earlier than ever before. Dealnews reports that now it's no longer just a day, it's a season, and it's starting at Halloween. Dealnews expects Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon to start offering Black Friday-esque sales early on gadgets like LCD TVs, Blu-ray players, and GPS devices. This is officially the creepiest of all Christmas Creeps.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 28, 2008 12:19 PM   6 Comments

    Highlights From Dealnews

    • Apple Store: Five refurbished Apple Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo Desktops from $999 + free shipping
    • Newegg: Corion Digital Lifestyles 42" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $600 + free shipping
    • Surplus Computers: Refurbished 2.5" 20GB IDE Hard Drives for $20 + $7 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save 20% or More off Auto-Setting Atomic Watches
    • REI Outlet: Brunton Lite-Tech Binoculars & Gerber Knife Combo $35
    • Geeks: Up to 50% or More off Barebones Rack Mount Servers with Coupon
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Deep Discount: ANY 3 SNL BEST OF VIDEOS for $15 after coupon code: B3CHLIONS0810 w/ Free shipping
    • Shop4Tech: Samsung WEP301 Bluetooth Headset for $8.18 after 17% off coupon code: LB17 and $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Deep Discount: ANY 3 SNL BEST OF VIDEOS for $15 after coupon code: B3CHLIONS0810 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    How To Get Free Shipping And 15% Off At J. Crew
    By Ben Popken on October 27, 2008 6:00 PM   24 Comments

    —>An ebullient J. Crew call center worker emailed me to gush about how great his employer was. My eyes glazed over how special it was that the cashmere sweaters being from the Lorno Piana mill and such, but there were two nuggets that will save you money if you like J.Crew clothes: 1) At the online store, coupon code "JUSTASK" always gets you free shipping (update: apparently the new code for this is ""ROCKCENTER" 2) Teachers and students always get 15% off. Call and use you your .edu address, or show your school ID in-store.  More »

    Sprint To Start Discounting ETFs Monthly
    By Ben Popken on October 27, 2008 1:00 PM   15 Comments

    —>Sprint is expected to soon start making the early termination fee (ETF) decline every month, possibly as early as November 2nd. Previously, whether you canceled service 1 day into or one day before the end of your service contract, you would get a $200 fee. That fee is supposed to reimburse the company for the cost of providing you a cellphone at reduced cost. The change is expected to be only good for new subscribers and is not retroactive, so, sorry Charlie if you were hoping to go get an iPhone.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 27, 2008 11:43 AM   5 Comments

    • Lacoste: 25% off with coupon code FF102008 (expires tomorrow)
    • Kohl's: Vera Wang's Hi Cut Briefs for $3.60
    • Buy: Logitech Z Cinema Advanced Sound System for $129.99 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: Timex Ironman Heart Rate Monitor Watch $55
    • eToys: Save 20% off Crayola Crayons, Markers, and More
    • Amazon: Save up to 70% or More off Power & Hand Tools
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Lifestyles Condoms: Free Sample Condom
    • AMC Theaters: Free Small Popcorn With Any Size Fountain Drink (printable)
    • Office Depot: Compaq Presario CQ50 210US 15.4" Widescreen Notebook Computer for $399.99 after $30 and $100 rebate (in-store only)
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lens for $60 + $8 s&h
    • 6ave.com: Panasonic VIERA 42" 1080p Widescreen Plasma HDTV for $855 + free shipping
    • GoldenGadgets: CJ 1W Pocket LED Flashlight for $4 + $2 s&h
      More »

    Free Disposable Zero Registration Email Boxes At Makemetheking
    By Ben Popken on October 24, 2008 9:39 PM   41 Comments

    —>Looking for a free, easy-to-use, anonymous and disposable email address? Check out makemetheking. Just enter the prefix on the front screen and email sent to that shows up about 2 minutes after it was sent. You can also delete and respond to messages. No password or registration are required, so obviously don't use it for love letters or CIA secrets, but it's perfect for anything that needs your email and you don't want to give them your real one.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 24, 2008 1:21 PM   9 Comments

    • Woot: Energy C-100 Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) for $109.99
    • Amazon: Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife for $19.99
    • T-Mobile: Nokia 1208 Prepaid phone with Free $25 Refill Card $19.99
      • Highlights From Dealnews
      • Ann Taylor: Ann Taylor Women's Stretch Wool Double-Breasted Coat for $60 + $6 s&h, more
      • Buy.com: Motorola Cable Signal Booster for $38 + free shipping
      • Expedia.com: Last minute travel deals from Expedia: Cruises from $99, more
      Highlights From Buxr
      • Start Sampling: Free Colgate Total Advance Toothpaste Sample
      • Hot Topic: 50% Off On Halloween costumes
      • NewEgg: OCZ SLI-Ready 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Desktop Memory for $11.99 after $25 rebate w/ Free shipping
      Highlights From Dealhack
      • Buy.com: Linksys EG005W Gigabit 5 Port Switch $32 Shipped
      • Amazon: Save $10 off Power, Balance, Odwalla, & Other Bars
      • Mwave: KDS 22-inch Widescreen Dual Input LCD Display $170
        More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 23, 2008 1:18 PM   15 Comments

    Highlights From Dealnews

    • NewportNews.com: Newport News Women's Panties and Swimwear for $1 + $7 s&h
    • Yugster: Bluetooth Headset Roundup: Jabra BT 2040 for $10 + $5 s&h, more (updated)
    • Overstock: Gucci Women's GUCCISUN Shield Sunglasses for $92 + $3 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: 20% to 30% or More off Packs, Tents, Backpacks, & Camping Gear
    • Newegg: Philips GoGear 2GB MP3 Player $20 Shipped
    • Amazon: Buy Two and Get Third Blu-Ray Movie Free
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Macys: Printable coupon 20% or 15% off
    • Pacific Geek: Optiplex GX60 2.4 GHz (Refurbished) for $99.99 + $19.99 Shipping
    • Buy.com: AOC 2219S1 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor for $166.99 w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Walmart: 6 "Disturbing Behaviors" Exhibited By Consumers
    By Meg Marco on October 22, 2008 7:33 PM   155 Comments

    —>9 of 10 American families shop at Walmart at least once a year, says USAToday, which puts the retailer in an excellent position to tell us something about consumer behavior. So, what has Walmart been observing? "Disturbing behavior."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 22, 2008 3:40 PM   10 Comments
  • OldNavy: Old Navy Men's Tees from $2 each + $7 s&h
  • Buy.com: Q-See Professional Dome Color Security Video Camera for $44 + free shipping
  • AirTran: AirTran Unforgettable November Fares: 1-way flights from $49
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Genius G-Pen 4.5x6-inch Graphics Tablet $32 Shipped
    • Amazon: Save on 20 Bestselling HDTVs Priced at $499 or Less
    • Tiger Direct: Panasonic 5.1 Home Theater System $220
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 21, 2008 12:04 PM   16 Comments

    —>

    • Taco Bell: If anyone steals a base during the World Series, get a free taco
    • Amazon: Video Game Deals for $49.99 and below - DS, Xbox360, PS3, PSP, Wii, PC Games - GOW2, COD5, Resistance 2, MK vs. DC, The Sims 3 + More
    • UrbanOutfitters: Fall Sale + take extra 25% off with coupon code luckybreaks8
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Dell Home: Cannon PowerShot SD1100 8.0 MP 3X Zoom Digital Camera for $136.47 w/ coupon code: VW$1MFXPSDC6M5 and R$LL47$9ZSQG3S w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: Jensen Stereo 3-Speed Turntable with AM/FM Receiver + 2 Built-in Speakers for $38.99 w/ Free shipping
    • NewEgg: OCZ RALLY2 8GB High Performance Dual Channel Flash Drive for $11.99 after $12 rebate w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Dealnews
    • Sierra Trading Post: Ralph Lauren Men's Sale: Wool Cashmere Coat for $97 + $11 s&h, more
    • Amazon.com: Amazon: Extra 20% off select Invicta watches
    • 6pm.com: Skechers shoes from $12 + $7 s&h
    (Photo: Morton Fox)  More »

    Oil Prices May Go Down, But Don't Expect Your Grocery Bill To Shrink
    By Meg Marco on October 20, 2008 2:59 PM   61 Comments

    —>Now that the price of oil has dropped — you should expect some of those skyrocketing grocery bills you've been paying to drop, right? Yeah... probably not.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 20, 2008 1:28 PM   24 Comments

    Highlights From Dealnews

    • Sears: Craftsman 22-Piece Craftsman Drill Bit Set for $10 + $6 s&h, more
    • Bargain Outfitters: Dunham Men's Moc-Toe Casual or Slip-On Shoes for $20 + $6 s&h
    • Costco.com: Loaded ZT Affinity Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz Desktop PC from $600 + free shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Linens 'n Things: Liquidation Sale all items upto 30% off
    • Amazon: Fergie's The Dutchess- 13 Songs for $1.99
    • NewEgg: ASUS VB171D Black 17" 5ms LCD Monitor for $99.99 after $15 rebate and coupon code: LCD101715 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • New York & Co.: Buy One & Get 2nd at 50% off Women's Fashions & Accessories
    • Amazon: Pentax Whitetails 10x50 Binoculars $39 Shipped
    • Shoes.com: Save 15% off Entire Order Store-Wide with Coupon
      More »

    Why You Should Never Order Anything From Sears.com
    By Chris Walters on October 17, 2008 7:08 PM   129 Comments

    —>Mike sent us two stories of back-to-back merchandise fiascos with orders he placed on Sears.com for in-store pickup. What's worse, the problems can't just be blamed on a lone rotten employee, or attributed to bad luck—several Sears stores were involved. Our verdict: there's something seriously messed up with the Sears fulfillment chain, and it's not worth your time or energy to bother with it. But you knew that already, right?  More »

    10 Things That Are Going Right For Consumers
    By Meg Marco on October 17, 2008 3:32 PM   69 Comments

    —>Kiplinger's is more optimistic than we are, so they had the cheerful idea to put together a list of 10 things that are going right for consumers — despite the financial apocalypse. Hooray!  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 17, 2008 1:07 PM   21 Comments

    Highlights From Dealnews

    • : Open a National City checking account, get $150
    • Omaha Steaks: Omaha Steaks The Ultimate Assortment for $50 + $15 s&h
    • Amazon.com: Hitachi Quick Change 20-Piece Drilling and Driving Set for $10 + $6 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Westinghouse 37-inch HDTV-ready Monitor $600 Shipped
    • Staples: Lexmark X7675 Color Flatbed All-in-One $80 off
    • Amazon: Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder $174 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: Kingston ValueRAM 2GB DDR2 Memory Module for $18.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Sears: Skyway Polaris 5 Luggage Piece Set (Green or Black) for $99.99 + Shipping
    • Airborne: Free sample of Airborne original Zesty Orange
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 16, 2008 12:43 PM   5 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • Ralph Lauren: 25% off w/ coupon code: OCT8264+ free shipping
    • Buy.com: Nightmare on Elm Street Collection 7-Movie Pack (Platinum Series) for $25.96 w/ Free shipping
    • Micro Center: Brother HL 4040-CN Color Laser Printer for $49.99 after $150 rebate + Shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Clearance: 3rd Gen iPod nanos from $118 Shipped
    • eToys: Save 30% off Halloween Costumes + Free Shipping
    • Circuit City: Compaq Presario Dual Core Notebook PC $430 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Columbia Sportswear Men's Shoes from $23 + free s&h w/$25 (updated)
    • Amazon.com: Amazon.com Toy Round-up: Psychic Basketball for $4 + $5 s&h, more
    • Lenovo ThinkPad | ThinkCentre: Lenovo IdeaPad S10 Atom 1.6GHz 10" Ultra-Mobile PC Laptop for $399 + $20 s&h
      More »

    Back-To-School Season Was Abject Failure For Retailers
    By Meg Marco on October 15, 2008 4:23 PM   76 Comments

    —>The Back-To-School season is usually the best season for retailers aside from the holidays, but not this year. Retail spending was down for the third consecutive month as shoppers stayed away from stores and ignored bargains.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 15, 2008 1:01 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack

    • Vann's: Panasonic FX33 8.1 Megapixel Digital Camera $135 Shipped
    • Geeks: Western Digital Media Center 160GB External Drive $48 with Coupon
    • Staples: Philips 4GB Portable MP3 Media Player $60 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Microsoft: Free 512MB Memory Card For XBOX 360 Core Owners
    • Express: Friends And Family 20% Off Printable Coupon
    • Overstock: Multi-purpose 130-piece Ratchet Set for $12.99 w/ Free shipping after coupon: 123908
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Geeks.com: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz Barebones Geek Kit for $340 + $32 s&h
    • BuyDig.com: Toshiba REGZA 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTVs from $939 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Marvel Men's Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, and X-Men T-Shirts for $6 + $5 s&h
      More »

    What Turns A Shopping Crowd Into A Mob Frenzy?
    By Ben Popken on October 14, 2008 8:40 PM   62 Comments

    —>If you've ever seen that video where all those customers stampede into Walmart, knocking people over and even knocking one woman's weave off, you may have wondered what causes people to go bezerk like that. I'm reading Among The Thugs by Bill Buford, reporting on English soccer hooligans first-hand, and this passage gives insight:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 14, 2008 12:17 PM   25 Comments

    —>

    • Quicken: Quicken Online is now free.
    • Woot: Gorgonz Behind the Head Fleece Ear Warmer 2 Pack
    • Circuit City: Lenovo IdeaPad 14.1" Laptop: Core 2 Duo T5800, 250GB HDD, 3GB DDR2, DVD/CDR, Face Verification Security, Webcam/Mic, Vista Premium + FAR Printer/Copy/Scanner, Router, Software $579
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Kohls.com: Dockers Men's Flat-Front Iconic Pants for $14 + $1 s&h
    • Surplus Computers: Refurbished IBM Pentium 4 Desktop PCs from $100 + $25 s&h
    • Jelly Belly: Jelly Belly Belly Flops Jelly Bean 2-lb. Bag for $9 + $8 s&h, 5 bags for $27
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Openoffice.org: Release 3.0 Officially Available for Free Download
    • Circuit City: Compaq Presario CQ50-130US Intel Dual Core 2GHz 15" Widescreen Laptop for $429.99 after $30 and $150 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Batteries.com: 15% OFF Coupon Code: SPOOKY08
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Fall Clearance: Save 25% to 50%+ off Watches
    • Staples: New Version: Peachtree Pro Accounting 2009 Free After Rebate & Free Shipping
    • Buy.com: Fantom GreenDrive 1TB Low Power USB Drive $120 & Free Shipping
      More »

    Wireless Carriers Tell Senate: "Text Messaging Rates Have Dropped, And Your Queries Have Led To Lawsuits Against Us!"
    By Chris Walters on October 14, 2008 1:04 AM   83 Comments

    —>The national wireless carriers have responded to the Senate's request for information on why its text-messaging fees have doubled over the past three years. Their collective response: they haven't gotten more expensive, they've gotten cheaper—and your public suspicion of our business practices has led to lots of class action lawsuits!   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 13, 2008 1:15 PM   11 Comments

    • Woot: Sony VAIO Core 2 Duo 17" Notebook with HDMI for $699.99
    • Amazon: Toy Sale W/ Stackable Promos: 60% Off Select Hasbro Games, B1G1 Free Star Wars Clone Wars Lightsabers, 3 Select Action Figures $10, Free Toy w/ $50 and $75 + More
    • 6thave.com: Shure Earphones for 30% Off + Free Shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Circuit City: Skullcandy Ink'd In-Ear Stereo Headphones for $10 + $1 s&h, more (updated)
    • Adorama: Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 III Wide Angle Telephoto Lens for $55 + $5 s&h
    • Newegg: DeLonghi HS15F Safeheat Convection Heater for $50 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI: Ending Today: 20% off Any One Item & Other Savings
    • Newegg: Olympus FE-360 8MP Digital Camera $115 Shipped
    • Cooking.com: Save 37% or More off Wusthof Gourmet Cutlery
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Ann Taylor: $50 off $100 Online Coupon Code: 91900015
    • Overstock: Tag Springfield 5-piece Navy Luggage Set for $62.99 after coupon code: 129380 w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: Magefesa Tuscany Green (Gold) Enamel On Steel 7 Inch, 9 Inch & 11 Inch Fry Pan Set (3 Piece) for $18.76 + Shipping
      More »

    People Think Coupon Users Are Cheapskates, Unless You're Hot
    By Ben Popken on October 10, 2008 3:42 PM   148 Comments

    —>If you use coupons in a store, your fellow shoppers are probably negatively judging you as being cheap, according to a new study. The stigma extends to those around the coupon redeemer as well. However, if you're hot, you get a reprieve. The study had people watch consumers cash coupons, and then interviewed the participants afterward for their reaction. The stigma is lessened if you don't know the person using the coupon, the coupon is of high value, if they're in a different line, and if the coupon-user is a hottie. Researchers proposed that the reason for the coupon-hating is "the modern consumer tends to prize status and luxury over thrift."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 10, 2008 1:03 PM   25 Comments

    —>

    • Diesel: Limited-edition pair of jeans for $50 starting at 10:30am eastern, free shipping on everything else with coupon code XXXSold out.
    • Lowes: Waterfall & Fountains 75% off from Lowes
    • Amazon: Adidas Men's Jackets for $15+ (70% off)
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Diesel Men's shoes from $30 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: Bluetooth Headset Roundup: Motorola H555 for $15 + $7 s&h, more
    • Target: Isaac Mizrahi for Target Dresses from $9 + $5 s&h
    Highlights From Buxr
    • onSale: Westinghouse LVM-37W3SE 37 1080p LCD HDTV for $549 w/ Free shipping after rebate.
    • Circuit City: %10 OFF when you select in-store pickup and apply coupon code: C9A74ZKAHP
    • Deal Extreme: Noise Isolation Earbuds For iPod for $1.99 w/ Free shipping (use coupon code: BULKRATE for bulk orders)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg: Refurbished Magellan 3200 GPS Navigator $80 Shipped
    • Dell Home: Guitar Hero Aerosmith Bundle for PS3 or Xbox 360 $60 with Coupon
    • Amazon: Price Drop: Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-Ray Player $230 Shipped
      More »

    Get A New Sprint Line, Get Free Companion Airfare Ticket
    By Ben Popken on October 9, 2008 9:05 PM   6 Comments

    —>Just found an extra deal for today from Sprint: Get a new Sprint phone line and get a free airline companion ticket, up to a $500 value. Get two tickets, up to a $1,000 value, with activation of a BlackBerry on a BlackBerry Plan or a Simply Everything Plan.  More »

    AT&T Says Your Jesus Phone Can Be In Three Places At Once, So Pay Up
    By Chris Walters on October 9, 2008 7:06 PM   55 Comments

    —>Wow, those iPhones really are amazing. Chris' iPhone can make a call from Nicaragua the same time it's incurring a data roaming charge in Mexico—all without leaving Chris' side in the U.S. Some skeptics will probably just say there's a problem with AT&T's records, or the phone's SIM card was cloned or something, but AT&T believes. That's why they want Chris to pay that bill each month it keeps happening.  More »

    5 Expenses To Cut Right Now If You're In Debt
    By Meg Marco on October 9, 2008 6:19 PM   61 Comments

    —>Let's say that like so many storied former-investment-banking-giants, you, the average consumer, have found yourself over-leveraged (wink, wink) and are looking to clean up your act before the whole thing falls down around you like the house of cards it is. Well, since you can't increase revenue at will, you'll have to decrease your costs. Where should you start? Here are 5 expenses that you can cut right now — so you can take the extra cash and throw it at your debt.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 9, 2008 12:28 PM   7 Comments
  • Buy.com: ASUS 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Built in 1.3mp Web Cam for $161.99 after $40 rebate w/ Free shipping
  • Dealsclick.com: The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Special Extended Edition) for $3.49 + $4.99 Shipping
    •   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 8, 2008 3:00 PM   29 Comments

    —>

    • Diesel: $50 jeans online on 10/10/08
    • Buy.com: Creative Xdock Wireless Music System for $49.99 Shipped
    • Sierra Snowboard: 75% Off Sale: Mens & Women's Hoodies $12+, Socks $4+, Beanie Hats & Headbands $4+ with Free Shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines Sale: 1-way tickets from $7
    • Sears: Structure Men's Long Sleeve Solid Textured Dress Shirt for $10 + $6 s&h
    • Newegg: Creative EP-630 Noise-Isolating Earphones for $17 + free shipping
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Buxr
    • NewEgg: Brother PT-1010 Label Printer for $9.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: Sandisk Sansa m250 Digital Audio Player 2GB w/FM & Voice Recording (refurb) for $14.99 w/ Free shipping
    • The Limited Printable Coupon for $20 off a $60 or $30 off a $100 purchase
      More »

    Confessions Of A Shopaholic Makes Irresponsible Debting Look Fun And Hilarious
    By Ben Popken on October 7, 2008 1:18 PM   43 Comments

    —>Jerry Bruckheimer turns the lens of his celluloid cyclops away from exploding airplanes to exploding credit card debt in an adaptation of Confessions of a Shopaholic. There's a scene in the trailer where our heroine has frozen her credit card in a block of ice (see "Stop Spending By Freezing Your Credit Card In Ice") and, stricken by a frenzy, she chops and hacks at it and uses a blowdryer to free it. Sort of amusing, although most people I've read about who freeze their credit card usually don't ever crack them open. Full trailer inside.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 7, 2008 11:39 AM   18 Comments

    —>

    • Microsoft: Free for Students, Windows Server 2008 OS
    • Big Lots: printable 20% off coupon good until 10/11/08
    • ALDO: Sunglasses from $2.98 shipped with coupon code VIPCLUB. Seems you might have to join their email list.
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • BookCloseouts.com: BookCloseouts.com $1 Book Sale: Nearly 1,000 titles for $1 + $3 s&h
    • Buy.com: Harman Kardon Drive + Play iPod control system for $19 + free shipping
    • Abt Electronics: Pioneer DEHP3000IB Car Audio Player for $114 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Old Navy: Save up to 50% off Select Clothing + Free Shipping with Coupon
    • Mountain Gear: Fall Sale: Save to 70% off Outdoor Apparel, Footwear & More
    • Office Depot: Loaded HP Notebook PC $600 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon: Spend $50 in Toys and Get One Toy Free
    • ZipZoomFly: HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 0A35155 1TB SATA 7200 RPM 32MB Hard Drive for $89.99 after $30 rebate + Shipping
    • Armani Exchange: 75% off Sale + 15% Coupon w/ coupon code: CATAP4328 or Free Shipping w/ coupon code: INSIDER08
      More »

    New Amazon Coupon Codes For October
    By Ben Popken on October 7, 2008 2:51 AM   12 Comments

    —>32 new Amazon coupon codes for October. Notable: 25% off K-cups, 20% off Silk Soymilk and 15% off Amy's Organic Soups. Mmm, I loves me some Amy's soups, especially that no-chicken noodle.  More »

    Ringtone Scam Class Action Settlement Announced
    By Ben Popken on October 7, 2008 2:28 AM   20 Comments

    —>We've known how "free" ringtones and other "free" cellphone content comeons are often lures to get you signed up on a hidden monthly subscription, and now there's a class action lawsuit settlement to punish MobileMessenger, one of their purveyors. The settlement covers customers from every cellphone provider who bought content from January 1, 2005 to August 13, 2008. If you paid for your kids cellphone plan during that time, chances are they ordered some. You can check your bills for any the "short codes" (listed inside) or call 1-800-416-6129. The deadline for filing a claim is January 30, 2009. More information about Gray v. Mobile Messenger at cellphonedownloads.class-action-admin.com.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 6, 2008 1:38 PM   21 Comments

    —>

    • inumbr: Free self expiring phone number
    • Astroglide: X Premium Lubricant free sample
    • Circuit City: PNY 2GB USB 2.0 Portable Drive for $1.99 After Rebate
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI: Save 20% off Any Item Coupon & Other Fall Sale Discounts on Clothing & Gear
    • Turbo Tax Online: Free Federal Tax Prep & eFile for Extension Filers
    • Amazon: Samsung L200 10.2MP Digital Camera $109 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Lands' End: Lands' End Men's Jeans for $15 + free shipping
    • BestBuy: Acer Aspire Intel Dual Core 2GHz 16" Widescreen Laptop for $400 + $20 s&h
    • GoldenGadgets: 23-LED Performance Headlight for $6 + $2 s&h
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Cesar.com: Free Cesar Canine Cuisine
    • NewEgg: AOC 2216SW Black 21.6" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor for $159.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Wilsons Leather: 20" Expandable Upright for $23.99 after coupon code: 3104 w/ free shipping
      More »

    Cellphone Extras Aggregator Mobile Messenger Agrees To Pay Out Triple Damages
    By Carey Alexander on October 5, 2008 7:00 PM   45 Comments

    —>If you or your teen racked up surprise monthly fees from Mobile Messenger after texting a random code to a strange number because the tv told you to, then you may be eligible for a refund, if not triple damages.  More »

    Toyota: Bad Economy, Bad Car Sales, Cheap Financing
    By Meg Marco on October 3, 2008 6:53 PM   73 Comments

    —>Toyota, long resistant to the sort of interest-free financing deals that their domestic counterparts survive on, is offering 0% interest financing on 11 of their vehicles, including Corolla and Camry, the Tundra full-size pickup truck, Matrix; RAV4, Highlander, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner and Sequoia SUVs; Sienna minivan; and Tacoma pickup truck.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 3, 2008 3:24 PM   6 Comments

    —>

    • Woot: Prevention Ultima Upper-Arm Blood Pressure Monitor for $29.99
    • Sam's Club: Free lactaid sample
    • ShopAdidas: 1000 products up to 40% off
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: Fantom 1TB G-Force Hard Drive with a Dual Interface (eSATA & USB 2.0), 7200RPM, 16MB for $119.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: Canon PC170 Analog Laser Copier for $66.99 w/ Free shipping
    • PetSmart: $5 Off $25,$10 Off $40,$15 Off $50 Printable
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Circuit City: RCA Small Wonder Digital Camcorder $80 Shipped
    • Newegg: Rosewill 45 Piece Computer Tool Kit $20 Shipped
    • Abt Electronics: Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-Ray Player $263 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Surplus Computers: Refurbished Dell Pentium 4 Desktop PCs from $85 + $25 s&h
    • Sears: Henckels Cutlery Everedge Plus 3-Piece Knife Starter Set for $6 + $6 s&h
    • Overstock: Men's watch deals: Swiss Legend Black dial for $60 + $3 s&h, more (updated)
      More »

    Best Buy has apparently launched a new "woman-friendly" store where the "Home Theater" section is marked "Family Room" and there is a "lower sink for children in the bathroom, lotion near the paper towels, and a private room for new mothers, with carpeting, a rocking chair, free diapers and softer lighting." [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 2, 2008 1:27 PM   42 Comments

    —>

    • Equifax: Free FICO credit score for first 10,000 people. Absolutely free, no credit card required, this is your actual FICO score.
    • Microsoft: 30% Off eBay Buy It Now Items with CashBack Program
    • 4seasonswine: 6 Bottles of Wine for $40 (Including Shipping & Tax) plus 2 Free Gifts (just cancel the membership if you don't want it afterwards
    Highlights From Buxr
    • PetSmart : $10 off $40 w/ coupon code: OCTSAVE
    • ZipZoomFly: Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA II Hard Drive for $119.99 + $7.85 Shipping
    • NewEgg: SCEPTRE 46" 1080p LCD HDTV for $999 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • priceline.com: Priceline.com: Select AirTran flights from $59, more
    • Apple Store: Refurbished Apple iPod MP3 Players: iPod nano 4GB from $79 + free shipping, more
    • Vanns.com: Klipsch Synergy Series Speakers and Subwoofers from $80 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save 20% to 60% off Microsoft Mice, Keyboards, & Webcams
    • Best Buy: Westinghouse 19-inch Dual Input LCD Monitor $160
    • Circuit City: Acer 16-inch Core 2 Duo Notebook $700 Shipped
      More »

    Dear New Circuit City CEO: Here's How To Fix Your Stores
    By Meg Marco on October 1, 2008 4:13 PM   68 Comments

    —>Yesterday, we asked you to tell us how Circuit City's new CEO should fix his stores. It's been a troubled few years for Circuit City. Before the former CEO resigned last week, he'd embarked on an expensive and drastic "turn around" plan that, well, let's be honest — failed.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on October 1, 2008 2:15 PM   12 Comments

    —>

    • Amazon: HD-DVD Sale/Clearance (some of the movies are actually good!)
    • Walmart: $2.00 Fruit of the Loom Cotton Stretch Awesome No-Wire Tee-Shirt Bra
    • Sams Club: Free Theraflu Severe Cold & Cough Sample
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Buy.com: Philips 32PFL3403D/27 - 32" Widescreen 720p LCD HDTV for $499.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Buy.com: ViewSonic Q19wb Black 19'' 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor for $139.99 w/ Free shipping (No Rebates!)
    • King Size: Trunk Organizers (2) for $3.98 + $5.99 Shipping /w coupon code: ksrafapr
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Nike.com: Up to 70% off Clearance Footwear & Apparel + Free Shipping on All Orders with Coupon
    • Circuit City: LG 32LG10 32-inch LCD HDTV $630 Shipped
    • Office Depot: Gateway M-6827 Core 2 Duo Notebook PC $500 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 30, 2008 1:42 PM   12 Comments

    Highlights From Buxr

    • NewEgg: OCZ RALLY2 8GB High Performance Dual Channel Flash Drive for $11.99 after $12 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Amazon: Pyrex Smart Essentials 4-Quart 3-Piece Healthy Roaster Set for $13.50 + Shipping
    • Amazon: Boss Audio BV8.5GA Flip-Down 8.5-Inch Monitor with Built-In DVD Player for $193.49 (discount appears in cart) w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • 6pm.com: adidas shoes from $9 + $7 s&h
    • Plaintronics: Plantronics Clearance Sale: Headsets from $5 + $8 s&h
    • Sears: Craftsman Engraving Pen for $25 + $6 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Office Depot: AOC Envision 22-inch Widescreen LCD $180 & Free Shipping
    • Vann's: Panasonic Lumix LZ7 7.2MP Camera $120 Shipped
    • Amazon: Panasonic VDRD50 DVD Camcorder $287 Shipped
      More »

    Food Makers Want To Sell You Cheap Food For Big Profits
    By Meg Marco on September 29, 2008 5:42 PM   78 Comments

    —>Gone are the days of pushing "premium" food offerings, says the Wall Street Journal— big food manufacturers like Kraft and Campbell are going to be pushing "cheap" foods like tomato soup and cheese singles — foods which are thought of as "easy on the wallet" but are still hugely profitable for the manufacturers.   More »

    Merry September! Christmas Is In Full Swing At Rite Aid!
    By Meg Marco on September 29, 2008 2:54 PM   30 Comments

    —>Halloween is about a month away, but it's too late to start thinking about that now. You've got Christmas crap to buy!  More »

    Shaw's Wants You To Shop More With Their Wheeled Baskets
    By Chris Walters on September 29, 2008 2:49 PM   57 Comments

    —>Shaw's has wised up to the trick of using a basket instead of a shopping cart to physically limit your grocery purchases, and they've come up with a creative workaround: convertible baskets that you can drag behind you on wheels when they become too heavy to carry.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 29, 2008 1:22 PM   16 Comments

    • Adorama: SanDisk sale , Extreme III CF + SDHC. 8GB CF $6.67, 16GB CF $15, 4GB SDHC $13, 8GB SDHC $17
    • Amazon: Outback Hammock Chair $35.40 Shipped
    • Circuit City: Samsung S860 8.1MP Camera + Epson R280 Printer for $89.98 Shipped After Rebate
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Seagate FreeAgent 1TB USB 2.0 Drive $145 Shipped
    • Office Depot: Envision 26-inch LCD HDTV $400 Shipped
    • Music123: Today: Save 15% off Most Instruments & Gear Store-Wide
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • eCOST.com: Clover 2.4Ghz Wireless Video Camera Security System for $64 + $11 s&h
    • Bargain Outfitters: Carhartt Men's Sandstone Dearborn Jacket for $45 + $8 s&h
    • Abt Electronics: Panasonic Expandable DECT 6.0 2-Handset Bluetooth Cordless Phone System for $87 + free shipping
      More »

    Confirmed: Christmas Is Creeping
    By Carey Alexander on September 28, 2008 2:45 PM   53 Comments

    —>The Chicago Tribune confirms that Christmas is creeping up earlier this year as skittish retailers try to stay ahead of the ever-crescendoing non-recession. Walgreens, Kohls, and Home Depot were all singled out for defying the calendar, but blame also belongs with consumers who fuel seasonal ignorance with their buying choices.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 26, 2008 2:47 PM   1 Comment

    Highlights From Dealhack

    • Sony Style: Refurbished Sony Vaio FZ240E Notebook PC $765 with Coupon
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: Save 30%+ off Garmin, Magellan, & Highgear Electronics
    • Geeks: Loaded HP ProLiant DL380 G3 Dual Xeon 2.8GHz Server $480
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Walgreens: $5 off $20 printable coupon
    • Shop4Tech: Samsung WEP301 Bluetooth Headset for $10 after 15% off coupon code: PS15 and $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Foot Locker Champs & Footaction 30% friends and family printable coupon
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Target: Target Toy Clearance: Hasbro Mission Paintball 2 for $8 + $5 s&h, more
    • Buy.com: JVC 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System for $33 + free shipping
    • Sears: HDTV Roundup: Refurbished ViewSonic 26" LCD for $350 + $26 s&h, more
      More »

    Walmart's 2 For $5 Hot Dog Deal Is A Trap!
    By Meg Marco on September 25, 2008 2:35 PM   54 Comments

    —> Reader Albert says he took this photo at his local Walmart in Olathe, Kansas. As you can see, Walmart has set a trap for people who love hot dogs and hate math.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 25, 2008 12:51 PM   12 Comments

    • Dell: Buy 2 monitors or printers, get 1 free
    • Woot: Breville 15-Bar Die-Cast Espresso & Cappuccino Maker for $149.99
    • Newegg: Sennheisser PXC150 Noise Cancellation Headphones for $18 Shipped After Rebate
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Best Buy: Samsung 50" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV + Samsung Home Theater System with Upconvert DVD Player for $978 + $34 Shipping
    • Conde Nast: Free sample of Bertolli pasta sauce
    • Buy.com: Otto OT-3 - Wireless MP3 Headset Player for $14.99 w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Circuit City: Nintendo Wii Fit for $90 + $10 s&h, more (updated)
    • Walmart: Walmart HDTV Roundup: Vizio, Sanyo, more from $257 + $9 s&h
    • Graveyard Mall: Faucets and showerheads from $30 + $6 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: Save $50: $50 off Alps Mountaineering Synergy 40 Backpack $30
    • Amazon: Cuisinart DLC-10S ProPro Food Processor $100 Shipped
    • Orbitz: Big City Sale: Up to 50% Off Hotel & Flight Packages
      More »

    Timberland Offering Up To $150 To Recipients Of Its Text Message Spam
    By Chris Walters on September 24, 2008 8:51 PM   11 Comments
    Under the terms of a preliminary settlement agreement, [Timberland and e-commerce company GSI] will pay $7 million into a cash fund to reimburse those who received the messages, according to KamberEdelson LLC, one of the law firms that helped bring the suit.  More »

    Verizon Announces Monthly Plans With No Early Termination Fees
    By Meg Marco on September 24, 2008 4:29 PM   34 Comments

    —>Facing increased pressure from consumers and lawmakers alike, Verizon has announced that they will begin offering monthly cellphone plans with no early termination fees. Consumers wishing to take advantage of the plans will be required to pay full price for a phone, or provide their own phone, as Verizon will not be subsidizing the cost of handsets.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 24, 2008 1:19 PM   9 Comments

    • Buy.com: Altec Lansing SnugFit Earphones for $46.77 Shipped
    • Cold Stone Creamery: Thursday night, free 3 oz. serving of Jack or Emily's Creation
    • Club Pogo UK: Get 10,000 Pogo (a casual game site) Tokens, which can be used to enter drawings with cash prizes
  • Woot: Woot-off continues
    • Highlights From Dealnews
    • Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines Sale: 1-way tickets from $9
    • Amazon.com: Timex Men's Watches for $30 + free shipping
    • Geeks.com: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz Barebones Geek Kit for $340 + $25 s&hHighlights From Buxr
      • Shop4Tech: 15% off sitewide coupon code: PS15
      • Target: 10% Off Coupon code: I8AUPGZ7 No Minimum
      • Meritline: PQI i221 4GB USB Flash Drive for $9.99 w/ Free shipping
      Highlights From Dealhack
      • Amazon: HP 2133 Mini-Note Ultraportable PC now only $404
      • REI Outlet: Save $96: Brunton Lite-Tech 8 x 42 Binoculars $64
      • Linens 'N Things: Save 20% off All Oneida Flatware & Dinnerware
        More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 23, 2008 1:12 PM   12 Comments

    • Woot: It's a woot-off!
    • Circuit City: Samsung ML1630 Monochrome Laser Printer for $99.99 Shipped
    • Amazon: Sony Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller for $40.96 Shipped
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • BackCountryOutlet: The North Face Men's Trilithium Triclimate Jacket for $92 + free shipping
    • Skype: Skype.com: Unlimited calling from $3 per month
    • Amazon.com: Unlocked Samsung I321N Smartphone for $150 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Staples: Envision 22-inch WS Dual Input LCD $173 Shipped
    • Newegg: Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 Suite for up to 3 PCs $95 Shipped
    • Buy.com: G-Force Dual Interface 500GB USB & eSATA Drive $70 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Teva.com: Men's Basalt Slide TEVA for $19.90 w/ free shipping with coupon code: ShipFall08
    • Caribou Coffee: 20% off coupon with no minimum. Apply coupon code: FALLSALE
    • Staples: Samsung ML-2510 Laser Printer for $49.98 after $50 rebate and $20 instant savings w/ Free shipping
      More »

    Find Over 800 Free Shipping Coupons At Freeshipping.org
    By Ben Popken on September 22, 2008 7:15 PM   8 Comments

    —>There's nothing like free shipping to make an online deal really sweet, and freeshipping.org is a place to find free shipping coupons and discount codes to do just that. The free site sports a clean and readable interface, search alphabetically by store name, product category, expiring or new coupons for over 800 stores, including Amazon.com, Target, Newegg. Most of the free shipping comes with stipulations. They're not always straight up free shipping coupons, sometimes it's more of a statement of store policy, like how many places will offer free shipping if you order online and pick up in-store, or free shipping on gift-card orders. So you'll have to do some digging and you won't always find one that will work for you, but still, bookmark-worthy.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 22, 2008 1:33 PM   2 Comments

    • Home Depot: Items for a penny, B&M YMMV
    • Amazon: Six Feet Under - The Complete Series for $109.97 Shipped
    • Burger King: 3 free kids meals for mailing in Kids Club registration
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: Save $57: Baladeo Multi-Tool Pro with Gift Box $38
    • Amazon: The Beatles Anthology DVD Miniseries $48 Shipped
    • Geeks: Memorex External 20x DVD Burner with LightScribe $27
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Sears: Craftsman 6.5 Ft. Lbs. Gross Torque Gas Snow Thrower for $279.88 + Shipping
    • Geeks: Kodak V1003 10MP 3x Optical/4x Digital Zoom Camera (Refurbished) for $89.50 + Shipping
    • Staples: Navigon 2100 Portable 3.5" GPS W/ Text-To-Speech for $99.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
      •   More »

    Is Walmart Price-Gouging Hurricane Victims?
    By Carey Alexander on September 20, 2008 10:00 PM   61 Comments

    —>A Walmart insider tells us that the price of cellphone chargers nearly doubled on orders from Walmart HQ in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Before the hurricane, chargers cost from $10-$15, but afterwards, they rose to a uniform $19.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 19, 2008 2:12 PM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack

    • Backcountry.com: Extra 25% off Backcountry Apparel with Coupon
    • Buy.com: Westinghouse 37-inch 1080p HDTV-Ready LCD $600 Shipped
    • Amazon: VMware Fusion Virtualization Software for Mac $40 & Free Upgrade to Version 2
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: Adult Swim DVDs for $10 + $3 s&h
    • Circuit City: Sony VAIO Intel Dual Core 1.86GHz 15" Widescreen Laptop in Pink for $530 + free shipping
    • BackCountryOutlet: The North Face Men's Denali Fleece Jacket for $82 + free shipping
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Disney World: Free One Day Pass to Walt Disney World Visitors on their Birthdays (in 2009)
    • Walmart: Sentry Fire-Safe Security Chest for $19.96 + Shipping
    • 9lives.com: FREE 9 Lives 3.5lb Bag of Cat Food
      More »

    MisterJalopy over at BoingBoing has put together a rough outline of a cheat sheet when shopping for eggs, based on an article in yesterday's New York Times on how to interpret egg carton labeling. [BoingBoing]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 18, 2008 12:38 PM   10 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Nokia 5610 XpressMusic T-Mobile Phone -$50 After Rebate
    • Buy.com: Save $98: Slacker Portable 4GB Internet Radio $152 Shipped
    • Best Buy: Dynex 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $770
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Circuit City: Acer AC713S 17" CRT Monitor for $14.96 (in-store pick up only)
    • NewEgg: OCZ Core Series 2.5" 64GB SATA II Internal Solid state disk (SSD) for $99 after $70 rebate + $6.99 Shipping
    • NewEgg: Kingston 8GB Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC) Flash Card for $18.99 after $5 rebate w/ Free shipping
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • JCPenney.com: JCPenney Wednesday Deals: Luggage, sheets, furniture, more from $4 + $6 s&h
    • Nike.com: New Apple iPod nano 8GB MP3 Player for $119 + free shipping
    • Amazon.com: Amazon.com Kenneth Cole Men's Shoe Sale: Ur The Best Slip-on for $29 + free shipping
      More »

    Verizon Wireless Going Contract-Free Next Week?
    By Chris Walters on September 18, 2008 2:32 AM   20 Comments

    —>If the website Boy Genius Report is correct, next week Verizon Wireless will start offering contract-free, month-to-month service. Pretty much everyone will be eligible for it, but of course you'll have to pay full price for a phone or bring your own, there'll be an activation fee that can't be waived, and if you take advantage of any special offers that require a contract, you'll have to switch over to a contract agreement. It's supposed to start on September 21st.   More »

    Guess What Kids? You Ain't Getting $@%* For Christmas
    By Meg Marco on September 17, 2008 8:11 PM   38 Comments

    —>A new Reuters polls says that shoppers will be cutting back on gift-buying this holiday season due to, you know, being broke. The poll found that there are six times as many shoppers planning to cut back than there are consumers who are planning to spend more than last year. The pollster in charge called these results "staggeringly bad."   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 17, 2008 1:07 PM   20 Comments

    • MagicJack: $39.95 for VoIp first year, $19.95 a year after that
    • Amazon: Health & Grooming Products Manager's Specials
    • Kashi: Free cookie
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Beach Camera: Sandisk 8 GB Ultra II SDHC HD Memory Card for $19.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Ralph Lauren: 30% Off No minimum Coupon Code RLFA2008
    • goHardDrive.com: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM Hard Drive for $128.95 w/ Free shipping after Coupon Code 10WD10EACS
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Amazon.com: 80 Duracell Ultra AA Alkaline Batteries for $30 + free shipping
    • Graveyard Mall: Maxim 32-Piece Wooden Train Set for $10 + $6 s&h
    • Buy.com: Midland 26-Mile GMRS 2-Way Radios for $45 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Vaio CR410E 14.1-inch Notebook PC $813 Shipped
    • OfficeMax: Lexmark All-in-One Printer with Auto Document Feeder $70 Shipped
    • Vann's: Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray Player $288 Shipped
      More »

    Flipswap Cell Phone Buyback Doesn't Work As Advertised
    By Chris Walters on September 16, 2008 11:28 PM   31 Comments

    —>A Consumerist reader tried to trade in some old cellphones via Flipswap, and it did not go well. Actually, it pretty much didn't go at all—he may as well have dropped them off at a Goodwill.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 16, 2008 12:15 PM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Dealnews

    • Graveyard Mall: Wooden Roll-top Desk Organizer for $9 + $6 s&h
    • Amazon.com: Columbia Sportswear Men's Shoes from $19 + $5 s&h
    • Amazon.com: Green Mountain K-Cup 50-Packs for $9 + $6 s&h
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Circuit City: Element FLX3711B 37-inch LCD HDTV $600
    • American Express: Up to 5% Cash Back on Purchases with SimplyCash Business Card
    • Geeks: Refurbished Dual AMD Opteron Rack Mount Servers from $200
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Hewlett Packard: $500 off $1399 HP Pavilion Notebooks w/ code NB0915
    • Frys.com: Western Digital GreenPower 500GB Serial ATA/300 Hard Drive for $69.99 + shipping
    • Edmund Scientific: $25 Off $50 or more w/ coupon code ES25
      More »

    Woman Donates Cellphone To Charity, But It Ends Up On Ebay With Personal Info Intact
    By Chris Walters on September 15, 2008 1:45 PM   34 Comments

    —>People! Always wipe your cell phone before you sell it, give it away, or trade it in. Do not assume or expect that someone else will do this for you! This was just one of the mistakes that led to Rachel Swanson being called by strangers several weeks after she thought she donated her old phone to charity. But the store that handled the donation, and the company responsible for actually processing the donated phones, screwed up their parts, too. Here's how it was supposed to have work, and what you should always do before donating your phone to any organization.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 15, 2008 1:20 PM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack

    • Abt Electronics: Sony Cybershot S750 7.2MP Digital Camera $129 Shipped
    • Office Depot: HP AMD Dual Core Widescreen Notebook $550 & Free Shipping
    • B&H Photo: Panasonic Viera 42-inch Plasma HDTV $830 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon: J.A. Henckels 8 Piece Stylus Block Set for $49.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Walmart: Eastsport Mesh Backpack for $9.88 + $0.97 Shipping
    • Timberland: 30% Off Coupon w/ coupon code: FALLEVENT4
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Geeks.com: Four Wireless Day / Night Color Security Cameras with receiver for $130 + $11 s&h
    • Newegg: Creative ZEN X-Fi 8GB Portable MP3 / MP4 Player for $112 + free shipping
    • Buy.com: Refurbished SanDisk Sansa MP3 Players from $22 + free shipping
      More »

    For The Best Prices, Buy TVs Online
    By Carey Alexander on September 13, 2008 4:00 PM   48 Comments

    —>Call it the welcome side of Christmas Creep; manufacturers are discounting LCD and plasma TVs ahead of the traditional year-end holiday sale cluster mess, but you won't find the best deals in retail stores.  More »

    $50 Import Charge For eBay Items From USA To Canada?
    By Ben Popken on September 13, 2008 2:21 AM   108 Comments

    Inquiring readers named Kurt want to know: If a buyer from Canada buys something from someone in America on eBay, pays for it, including shipping, and then it shows up with a $50 C.O.D. charge for imports and customs, is that kosher? Discuss...  More »

    Supermarkets Begin To Shrink
    By Chris Walters on September 12, 2008 10:29 PM   48 Comments

    —>The New York Times reports that several supermarket and retail chains, including Safeway, Walmart, and Whole Foods, are beginning to experiment with much smaller store sizes that emphasize things like cafes, prepared meals, and produce. The idea is to emphasize speed over choice, and was apparently triggered by UK competitor Tesco, which has launched over 70 small-format supermarkets in Nevada, Arizona, and Southern California over the past year. Of course, the stores also require less shelf space for products than they did a year ago.  More »

    Get Fistfuls Of Coupons At Ultimatecoupons.com
    By Ben Popken on September 12, 2008 9:33 PM   14 Comments

    —>Want a crapload of coupons? Check out Ultimatecoupons.com. They've got tons. You can navigate by topic or retailer or manufacturer and see if there's some discounts available. Some of them are printable and some are online-only. The site design is underwhelming, but functional. What else is there to say? It's coupons, you know what to do with them.  More »

    FTC: Protect Gift Card Holders When Companies Go Bankrupt
    By Ben Popken on September 12, 2008 5:57 PM   39 Comments

    —>Consumers Union (CU) filed a petition with the FTC Thursday to protect consumer gift card holders more when retailers go bankrupt. For as long as the stores remain open, CU wants companies to have to hold gift card funds in a secure trust, unless bankruptcy courts say otherwise. Currently...  More »

    Sprint Keeps Sending Mysterious Security-Related Text Messages, But Doesn't Know Why
    By Chris Walters on September 12, 2008 4:26 PM   27 Comments

    —>Chelsea wants to know why she keeps receiving these cryptic text messages from 9099. The messages alternate between telling her new phantom services have been added to her account, and sending her an account PIN and security answer. We thought it was someone trying to gain access to her account, but the PIN and security answer aren't hers, and the services never show up on her bill.  More »

    Join The Verizon ETF Class Action
    By Ben Popken on September 12, 2008 3:34 PM   51 Comments

    —>Wanna get in on the Verizon Early Termination Fee class action settlement? I did and went to verizonETFsettlement.com just like the postcard told me. Basically, if you were a Verizon Wireless customer from July 23, 1999 to August 10, 2008, and you were either charged an ETF, whether you paid it or not, you could be eligible for a piece of a $21 million pie (after the attorneys get their fees first), just file a claim form by October 14. In typical fashion, I tried filing a claim but the site keeps timing out. Something to bookmark and check in on later and hope they fixed it. Even when you think you're giving Verizon its comeuppance, somehow you get screwed over. UPDATE: The website seems to be fixed now. By the way, at the end you will have to print out and mail in forms. They want you to attach documentation of your ETF. If you don't have documentation, you can still make a claim but you will get a lesser amount.  More »

    Zappos Continues Awesomeness
    By Ben Popken on September 12, 2008 3:06 PM   72 Comments

    —>Zappos online shoe store, famed for its amazing customer service, has done it again.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 12, 2008 1:39 PM   9 Comments

    Highlights From Dealnews

    • Lenovo ThinkPad | ThinkCentre: Lenovo ThinkPad R500 Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz 15" Widescreen Laptop for $636 + $20 s&h
    • OldNavy: Old Navy men's and women's jeans from $8 + $7 s&h
    • Amazon.com: How to buy 360 AA batteries for $22 after rebate + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • TiVo.com: $120 off Refurb Model or Free 3 Months Service with New TiVo HD DVRs
    • Sierra Trading Post: Free Shipping on top of Deep Discounts
    • Buy.com: Genius G-Pen F610 6x10-inch Graphics Tablet $69 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Aeropostale: Back to School Sale - Up to 50% off + 20% off w/ coupon code 20BTS
    • NewEgg: OCZ Platinum Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Desktop Memory for $46.99 after $30 rebate w/ Free shipping
    • Walgreens: printable coupon for $10 Off Friday and Saturday Only
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 11, 2008 1:05 PM   3 Comments

    • Apple: Refurbished iPod touches on sale, 8GB for $180, 16GB for $240, 32GB for $320
    • Amazon: Rewards points upgrade for existing Amazon.com Visa holders
    • Apple: Free Select iTunes TV Shows in HD (requires iTunes 8
    Highlights From Dealnews
    • Travelocity: United Airlines Sale: Round-trip flights from $108
    • Amazon.com: Amazon.com Men's Watch Deals: Timex, Marc Ecko, more from $40 + free shipping
    • Sears: Seven7 Women's Jeans for $18 + $6 s&h, more
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Budget Truck Rental: $50 Gift card when paying w/American Express
    • Reverie: T-Shirt Sale: Buy 1 TEE get 1 free TEE
    • BestBuy: Westinghouse 42" 1080p LCD HDTV and portable DVD Player for $749.99 + shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Drugstore.com: New Customers: Save $5 or $10 off First Order
    • Vann's: Panasonic FZ28 10.2MP Digital Camera $340 Shipped
    • Amazon: Get Savings of up to 75% off Bargain Books
      More »

    Tide: Different Loads For Different Scents?
    By Ben Popken on September 11, 2008 2:42 AM   72 Comments

    —>UPDATE: Tide: Mystery Of Different Loads For Different Scents Solved!  More »

    Readers' Favorite 3rd Party Online Wishlists
    By Ben Popken on September 11, 2008 1:40 AM   16 Comments

    A number of readers chimed in on the Best Buy-branded wishlist browser add-on post with the alternatives they prefer instead. They were: 1) Amazon's Universal Wishlist, 2) Del.icio.us, 3) Wishlist.com, 4) Wishlistr.com. Got any others? As far as what most Consumerist's thought of the Best Buy add-on, commenter dragonfire81 probably captured it best...  More »

    Congress Asks Wireless Carriers To Justify Text Message Rate Increases
    By Chris Walters on September 10, 2008 5:54 PM   124 Comments
    The similar price increases, coming at similar times, Kohl said, "is hardly consistent with the vigorous price competition we hope to see in a competitive marketplace."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 10, 2008 12:49 PM   11 Comments

    • 6PM.com: DC Brand Shoes $20 + S/H, all sizes/styles, 856 to choose from
    • Nicorette: free pack of Nicorette White Ice Mint (warning, site is slow)
    • Circuit City: Panasonic SH-FX85 Wireless Multi-Room Speaker Kit for $44.96, requires in-store pickup
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Hewlett Packard: $400 Off $999 or more for Desktop Purchase w/ coupon code: DT1158 (Good for 2250 uses)
    • NewEgg: Targus Notebook Wireless Optical Mouse for $8.99 w/ Free shipping after $20 off coupon code: EMCAKAKAK
    • Buy.com: Av Lab Solar Backpack Charger for $29.99 w/ Free shipping after rebate
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Best Buy: Toshiba Satellite Dual Core Notebook PC $500
    • Geeks.com: Canon Pixma iP6210D Color Inkjet Photo Printer $35 with Coupon
    • Musicnotes.com: 20% or 30% off Guitar Guru Interactive Lessons with Coupons
      More »

    Quicken Beam Checks Your Balances On Your Cellphone
    By Ben Popken on September 9, 2008 4:25 PM   43 Comments

    —>Sick of overdrafts? Don't feel like juggling your bank balance in your head? Quickenbeam from Intuit is a new free service, in beta, that lets you check your account balances, no matter what bank you have, from your cellphone.  More »

    Halo 3 Limited Edition Xbox 360 For $199.99
    By Ben Popken on September 8, 2008 4:38 PM   33 Comments

    —>Hot Topic seems to be selling Halo 3 Limited Edition Xbox 360 for $199.99, a price cut of $200. An insider tells us that select Hot Topic stores will have them on sale starting tomorrow, but I also spotted them on HotTopic.com. One of the guys at Kotaku says he bought one in-store this morning. I had no idea that Hot Topic even had video game systems, I guess they really do have the complete catalog to fill out your cool and alternative lifestyle.  More »

    Verizon Junk Mail Advertises Phone Sex Hotline
    By Ben Popken on September 8, 2008 11:45 AM   23 Comments

    —>The phone number in this Verizon mailer connects to "an exciting new way to go live with hot horny girls." Can you hear me now, big boy?  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 8, 2008 11:06 AM   2 Comments

    • Banana Republic: 30% off today only with coupon code HAPPY30 or printable coupon
    • Sears: Free Masterlock with printable coupon
    • MusiciansFriend: AKG Handheld Condenser Microphone for $100 + free shipping. Today only.
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Timbuk2: Save up to 60% off Messenger Bags, Backpacks, & More
    • New York & Co.: Extra 20% off Store-Wide Women's Apparel
    • Office Depot: Viewsonic N3235w 32-inch LCD HDTV $470 & Free Shipping
        • Highlights From Buxr
        • Staples: Samsung CLP-300 Color Laser Printer for $69.98 w/ Free shipping
        • Staples: Mio DigiWalker C230 Portable GPS for $99.99 w/ Free shipping
        • Amazon: Bill Cosby Himself (Comedy Album) - MP3 Download for $1.99
          More »

    55% Off Groceries At Amazon
    By Ben Popken on September 5, 2008 8:30 PM   14 Comments

    —>Amazon is having a grocery clearance sale, 55% off regular price with coupon code CLRNCFTY. [Amazon]  More »

    Safeway IDs Everyone In Your Party When You Buy Beer
    By Chris Walters on September 5, 2008 7:50 PM   272 Comments

    —>Daniel went to his local Safeway with his brother to buy some beer. Daniel had his ID, but his brother didn't—but that's okay, because Daniel was the one buying the beer. The cashier, however, felt otherwise, and wouldn't complete the transaction without carding both of them. The store manager told him "the policy is, at the discretion of the clerk, to check the ID of every person present."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 5, 2008 3:33 PM   4 Comments

    • Woot: Refurbished Apple iPod 30GB Video for $129.99
    • Macy's: J.A. Henckels Four Star 7-Piece Cutlery Set + $0 s&h w/$125
    • Amazon: Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset for $19.99
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Design Within Reach: Free Shipping on Everything & All Orders
    • Amazon: Garmin nuvi 200 3.5-inch Portable GPS $160 Shipped
    • Buy.com: Soyo 22-inch Widescreen Dual Input LCD $180 Shipped
    Highlights From Buxr
    • Amazon: Denmark 60 Piece Prep, Cook and Serve Set $69.30 w/ Free Shipping
    • Dell Home: Seagate 500 GB Serial ATA Barracuda 7200.11 Internal Hard Drive for $62.99 + $5 Shipping
    • The Limited: The Limited Printable Coupon: $30 off $100 or $20 off $60
      More »

    This Wendy's Frosty is even more delicious than the one we posted about yesterday. Dear Wendy's managers, at least mark through the word "more" if you're going to list the total price. (Thanks to Chris!)  More »

    The $19,370 ATT Phone Bill
    By Ben Popken on September 4, 2008 9:34 PM   64 Comments

    —>You really got to be careful when using cellphones or wireless data plans internationally, otherwise you'll end up racking up $19,370 on your AT&T AirCard like this American kid did in Canada. It would be nice if they made some kind of warning system that said hey, you're spending several hundred times what you normally do, are you sure you want to continue, but then again, it would also be nice if a cupcake appeared on my desk right now.  More »

    Save On Back-To-School With Google Checkout
    By Ben Popken on September 4, 2008 5:23 PM   1 Comment

    —>Google has a special back to school promotion where you can get $10 off $60 and $5 off $30 discounts at a bunch of different online stores when you use their Google Checkout payment service. Official Site [via ProBargainhunter]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 4, 2008 11:37 AM   11 Comments
  • HobbyLobby.com: 40% Off Hobby Lobby Printable Coupon (expires Sept 6)
    •   More »

    This Frosty Must Be Delicious
    By Chris Walters on September 3, 2008 7:50 PM   57 Comments

    —>Consumerist reader David saw this awesome special in his local Wendy's restaurant. We wonder what kind of special magic goes into a Frosty to warrant a $5.99 price increase. Bacon grease? Extra HFCS? A no-spit guarantee? A short song and dance from the cashier? Or maybe they spend the extra money on "how to label signs properly" classes for the staff.  More »

    Amazon Closes Accounts En Masse
    By Ben Popken on September 3, 2008 6:15 PM   62 Comments

    —>Slickdeal forums members are complaining about a mass-closing of Amazon accounts. The reasons cited vary from having too high a percentage of returns, shipping to too many different addresses, and having too many different Amazon accounts. Guess they're trying to tighten their bottom line and prevent loopholes from being exploited, but the net may have been cast too wide; some of the adversely affected users say the action was unfair and unwarranted. Couple this with the online retailer dropping the post price guarantee at basically the same time and you have to wonder if the boys in the Amazon backroom spent Labor Day Weekend earning their Six Sigma certificates.  More »

    Amazon Ends Post-Order Price Guarantee
    By Ben Popken on September 3, 2008 5:33 PM   40 Comments

    —>Amazon ended its post order price guarantee this Monday, according to an email a reader and deal forum members received from the online retailer.   More »

    AT&T's Arbitration Clause Strips Consumers Of Their Rights
    By Meg Marco on September 3, 2008 3:57 PM   19 Comments

    —>We just love the word unconscionable. You know who doesn't love it? AT&T. Their mandatory binding arbitration clause was ruled unconscionable by the state Supreme Court of Washington, after AT&T tried to prevent a consumer who believed he was being systematically overcharged from filing a class action lawsuit.  More »

    ATT Data Network Down, Complain For Credits
    By Ben Popken on September 3, 2008 3:38 PM   37 Comments

    —>AT&T wireless is experiencing some kind of data outage in the Northeast, and if you call up and complain, you can get a $10-$20 credit (YMMV), Gizmodo reports. Let us know in the comments if you're an AT&T user experiencing data outages, where you're located, and if you have any luck snagging credits. If calling 611 from your phone doesn't work for ya, here is a variety of contact information to try.  More »

    "The Computer" At AT&T Is All Powerful And Humans Have Lost Control!
    By Meg Marco on September 3, 2008 2:19 PM   50 Comments

    —>Attention citizens: A machine known only as "the computer" has taken control of AT&T. The humans are powerless to control it — or even to negotiate with it. If it decides that you should be triple billed for phone numbers you don't need or use, there's nothing AT&T can do. Gather your children and all the salmonella-free peanut butter you own and report to your basement. Dunk your cellphones, DVRs, Apples and XBOXes into cold water before they rise up and destroy you like they're destroying reader Patrick.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 3, 2008 1:18 PM   7 Comments

    • Amazon: 37 new coupon codes for September 2008
    • Google: Get Chrome for free, Google's new super-minimal browser (still in beta, read review at Lifehacker)
    • Apple: Seven refurbished Apple Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo Desktops from $949 each + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg: Nikon Coolpix P60 8.1MP Camera $150 Shipped
    • Amazon: Save Extra $20 off Kellogg's, Keebler & other Grocery Products
    • 1-800 Contacts: Save $20 to $80 + Bonus $5 off Contact Lenses with Coupon
    Highlights From BargainistHighlights From Buxr
    • Amazon.com: Get three DVDs for $10 when you add all three to your Shopping Cart
    • Golden Gadgets: 2 Pack of 9 LED Aluminum Pocket water resistant Flashlight for $3.99 + Shipping ($2.02)
    • Newegg.com: A-DATA 16GB Flash Drive WHITE for $24.99 after $15 rebate!
      More »

    Quickest Measure Of Gustav's Negative Economic Impact: Woots Per Capita
    By Ben Popken on September 3, 2008 12:48 AM   30 Comments

    —>UPDATE: Prompted by this post, Woot did their own post analyzing their internal data much more thoroughly.  More »

    Teddy Bear Cellphone
    By Ben Popken on September 2, 2008 11:55 PM   13 Comments

    —>I am secretly coveting this stuffed teddy bear that is also a cellphone. It's called Kuma Phone. Price: $500. Conspicuous consumption has never been cuter. [Cscout Japan]  More »

    AT&T: Being Robbed At Knifepoint Will Not Help You Qualify For The Cheaper iPhone
    By Meg Marco on September 2, 2008 2:05 PM   92 Comments

    —>Reader Anthony was robbed at knifepoint by a jerk with a 10" blade, but his real complaint is that he feels that AT&T is robbing him again. After he filed a police report and told AT&T that his new iPhone had been stolen, they told him that since he already bought an iPhone he no longer qualified for the subsidized price of $199.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on September 2, 2008 10:54 AM   6 Comments

    • Amazon: PG Tips Tea Bags 50% off
    • Boscovs: Bandana Bed-In-A-Bag for $20 + $10 s&h
    • Woot: Kingston 2GB MicroSD Card with Adapter 2 Pack for $6.49
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Best Buy: Sharp 32-inch 32SB24U LCD HDTV $580
    • Buy: Canon A590 IS 8MP Digital Camera $134 Shipped
    • Circuit City: Compaq AMD Dual Core 15.4-inch Notebook $500 & Free Shipping
      More »

    Invest In A New Freezer And Start Buying In Bulk
    By Carey Alexander on August 31, 2008 1:00 PM   34 Comments

    —>Freezer sales are heating up as thrifty consumers spend cash now so they can realize savings later by buying in bulk.  More »

    Washington Upholds ATT Customer's Right To Class Action
    By Ben Popken on August 29, 2008 5:42 PM   27 Comments

    —>In another step towards the impending demise of mandatory binding arbitration, a customer's right to file a class-action lawsuit against AT&T Wireless was upheld by Washington Supreme Court yesterday.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 29, 2008 1:00 PM   21 Comments

    • Lenovo: Employee Pricing on ThinkPad and IdeaPad Notebooks, up to 42% off (login with passcode 536686)
    • Woot: Sandisk Clip 2GB MP3 Player for $19.99
    • Newegg: ESET NOD32 Antivirus Home Edition v3 for $14.99 (Best antivirus around, won't slow down your computer)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Kingston 4GB USB 2.0 Portable Flash Drive $14 Shipped
    • Hanes.com: Save 15% off Complete Order on All Clothing
    • Vann's: Sony FX820 Portable 8-inch DVD Player $150 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 28, 2008 12:28 PM   15 Comments

    • Newegg: Wii Fit with Balance Board, We Ski, and Hori Wii mat for $149.99
    • Apple: Buy a Mac, get an iPod touch for free after rebate
    • IKEA: Labor Day Sale, up to 50% off (in-store only)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: Labor Day Sale Save up to 70% off
    • Amazon: Up to 50%+ off High Sierra Backpacks & Messenger Bags
    • Geeks: Kodak EasyShare V1003 10MP Digital Camera $90
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 27, 2008 1:07 PM   4 Comments
    Woot: Soundcast Audiocast Wireless Audio System... More »

    Just in case you weren't already sure that "Rent To Own" was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad deal... Read this. [ABC News]  More »

    Verizon: 'You've Earned A New Phone' (Just Not From Us)
    By Chris Walters on August 26, 2008 1:52 PM   28 Comments

    —>Is this Verizon promotional email being over-enthusiastic with its subject line, or is it actually misleading? A phrase like "you've earned a new ___" doesn't usually get followed up with, "Just pay us anywhere between $100-$200 for it," unless it comes from a scam vacation offer. Or Verizon. As Bryan notes in his email to us, "The subject line must mean something like when you tell Verizon, 'You've earned my suspicion and contempt.'"  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 26, 2008 9:25 AM   11 Comments

    • Threadless: All shirts $12
    • Amazon: Tonka Sand Force Dump Truck & Loader $4-$5 each, squirting trucks $6 & up
    • Steep And Cheap: Black Diamond Momentum AL Climbing Harness for $22 Sold out, but they have other deals on outdoor gear.
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Tiger Direct: Refurb NEC VT590 XGA LCD Projector $400
    • Brooks Brothers: Summer Clearance: Save up to 60% off Men's & Women's Fashion
    • Buy.com: Fantom GreenDrive 1TB Low Power USB Drive $150 & Free Shipping
      More »

    Expect Fewer Deals At Home Depot, Lowe's
    By Meg Marco on August 25, 2008 3:59 PM   29 Comments

    —>Home Depot and Lowe's are starting to realize that the surging housing market — which had fueled their own sales for the last few years — is really and truly over and it may not be coming back for a good long while. What does this mean for their customers? An emphasis on lower prices every day — and fewer promotions.
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 25, 2008 11:59 AM   11 Comments
  • Target: 12 pack Coke products for 25 cents YMMV
  • Office Depot: Acer Extensa AMD Dual Core 1.9GHz 14" Widescreen Laptop for $430 after rebate + free shipping
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI: Labor Day Clearance: Save up to 30% off Clothing & Gear
    • Meritline: PQI 8GB SDHC Card now $25 Shipped & Other Discount
    • Buy.com: Dynex DX-LCD32 32-inch LCD HDTV $480 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist

    "Condom!" is a free ringtone for your phone. It's being promoted in India as part of a campaign to normalize condom use, but there's no reason you can't put it on your own phone to impress and amaze fellow diners, bus riders, church goers, etc. It's also catchy! [Crave]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 22, 2008 1:58 PM   4 Comments
    Highlights From Bargainist:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 21, 2008 1:28 PM   2 Comments
  • ShoeMall: Save 20% off Shoes & Free Shipping Store-Wide
  • Apple Store: New Price Drops: up to $1000 off Refurb MacBook Pros & iMacs
  • Amazon: Save Extra $10 off Omron Scales & Health Monitors
  • Moo.com: Save 20% off Business Cards & 15% off Postcards
  • HP Snapfish: 15% off Custom Photo Books + 30 Free Prints
  • Textbooks.com: Savings, Guaranteed Buyback & Free Shipping
    •   More »

    Afternoon Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 20, 2008 5:31 PM   7 Comments
  • Performance Bike: 10% off Orders Coupon + Additional Clearance Item Savings
  • Geeks: Asus Eee PC 4G 701 Ultra Portable Notebook $300
  • Dell Home: Save 15% off Electronics & Accessories Store-Wide with Coupon
  • Circuit City: Element 32-inch LCD HDTV $500 Shipped
  • Buy.com: Iomega 500GB USB 2.0 External Drive $90 Shipped
    •   More »

    Couple Can't Get Rid Of Cellphones No Matter What They Do
    By Chris Walters on August 19, 2008 9:45 PM   65 Comments
    The sales rep did his song and dance and insisted that I test out the phone service for 2 weeks. I said no a few times but he wouldnt hear it. Well, he gave me 2 phones and 2 phone numbers. No credit check, no money whatsoever. I walked out of the store with 2 free phones and some paper work.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 19, 2008 12:59 PM   5 Comments
  • Radio Shack: Save Extra 15% off + Free Shipping on All Orders of $75+
  • Dell Business: Vostro 1000 15.4-inch Widescreen Notebook PCs from $399
  • Amazon: AT&T LG Vu Touchscreen Mobile Phone $20 Shipped
  • Staples: Samsung CLP-315 Color Laser Printer $150 & Free Shipping
    •   More »

    Personal Finance Roundup
    By Meg Marco on August 18, 2008 6:22 PM   12 Comments

    —>Using Your Health Savings Account as a "Super Roth" Investment Vehicle [Free Money Finance] "If you can afford to delay using your HSA funds and instead leave them invested, your payoff in retirement will be substantial."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 18, 2008 1:47 PM   8 Comments
  • Staples: Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator $70 & Free Shipping
  • Target.com: Save 15% off and Free Shipping on Select Furniture
  • Amazon: Save Extra 40% off Grocery Outlet Items with Coupon
  • K'NEX: Free Bonus Model Kit with K'NEX Building Set Toy Orders
    •   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 15, 2008 1:55 PM   0 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack:

    • Dell Home: Save 20% or $250 off Inspiron Core 2 Duo Desktop PCs
    • Wall Street Journal: 75% off plus 4 Free Weeks on Wall Street Journal Subscriptions
    • Expedia: Save 50% off Hotel Bookings + up to Free $75 Gas Card
    • Amazon: Save to 45% off Single Serve & Drip Coffee Makers
    • Dell Home: Save 20% or 30% off Inspiron Notebook PCs
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 14, 2008 2:26 PM   0 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack:

    • Newegg: Corsair 4GB Flash Survivor Ultra Rugged USB 2.0 Drive $15 & Free Shipping
    • Gap: Save 25% or More off Women's & Men's Jeans
    • Mac Connection: Apple MacBooks $120 or More off plus Free VMware Fusion Software
    • Amazon: Buy Three Books, DVDs, Music & More and Get Fourth Free
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 13, 2008 1:39 PM   12 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack:

    Best Buy will start selling the iPhone on September 7th, making it the only retailer other than Apple and AT&T to offer the device. [Associated Press]  More »

    Are We Nearing The End Of Credit Card Consumerism?
    By Meg Marco on August 12, 2008 7:55 PM   108 Comments

    —>Is it possible? Can this country's insatiable appetite for consumer goods be slowing down? No! Surely not! US News & World Report's Alpha Consumer, Kimberly Palmer took a look at consumer demand and its relationship to cheap credit.  More »

    Target's "Buy Two And Save" Speedstick Deodorant Deal Stinks
    By Meg Marco on August 12, 2008 2:55 PM   30 Comments

    —>This is now our third, (yes, our third) post about "buy two and save" or "special value" deodorant two packs at Walmart and Target. This lovely example comes from Tucson, AZ.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 12, 2008 1:54 PM   4 Comments
  • Eddie Bauer: Summer Clearance: Save up to 70% off Men's & Women's Clothing
    •   More »

    Whole Foods Seeks To Define Its Prices As Bargains
    By Alex Chasick on August 11, 2008 3:48 PM   52 Comments

    —>As the economy sours, premium stores like Whole Foods are struggling to keep customers, reports the New York Times. To remain competitive, the pricey natural grocery store is offering guided tours to customers who want to cut costs but can't stand to set foot in Winn Dixie.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Meg Marco on August 11, 2008 1:43 PM   0 Comments
  • Office Depot: Acer Extensa AMD Dual Core Notebook $400 & Free Shipping
    •   More »

    Sprint Says It Lost Some Of Those 2.8 Million Customers On Purpose
    By Meg Marco on August 8, 2008 2:36 PM   101 Comments

    —>By all accounts, Sprint has hit an iceberg and is leaking customers like the Titanic, but new CEO Dan Hesse says that they lost some of those customers on purpose because they were just crappy customers. As strange as this sounds, it does match up with what we've been hearing from (former) Sprint customers.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 8, 2008 1:01 PM   8 Comments

    • Woot: Reebok Precision Trainer XT Heart Rate Monitor with Chest Strap for $19.99
    • Circuit City: California Only - all items tax-free Aug 9-10
    • Commerce Bank: Kids can earn $10 by reading ten books
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Seagate 500GB USB 2.0 Drive $89 Shipped
    • B&H Photo: Sharp 1024x768 DLP Multimedia Projector $519 Shipped
    • Shop Adidas: Back to School Sale: Save 20% off Apparel & Shoes
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 7, 2008 1:25 PM   4 Comments

    • Woot: Compaq 6820s 2GHz 17 Widescreen Notebook for $529.99
    • Great Day Of Play: Free one-day paintball pass (supposedly good for any field, the site is sponsored by paintball equipment manufacturers)
    • Amazon: Logitech diNovo Edge for $84.99 after rebate
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Apple Store: Save $400 off Refurb 20-inch 2.4GHz iMac
    • B&H Photo: Dane-Elec Meizu M6 4GB Portable Media Player $50
    • Newegg: BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone $85
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 6, 2008 12:00 PM   13 Comments

    • Starbucks: $2 Grande iced drinks after 2pm with morning purchase
    • Tanga: Wireless Infrared Presenter with Laser Pointer for $9.99
    • Amazon: Men's Dress Shirts from $9 + free shipping - Izod, Geoffrey Beene, Arrow, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein (selling out fast)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Target.com: 15% off & Free Shipping on Lawn & Garden and Outdoor Furniture
    • Best Buy: Westinghouse 19-inch WS Dual Input LCD $140
    • eToys: Summer Clearance: Save up to 50% off Hundreds of Toys & Games
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Walgreens: Free film roll developing coupon
    • Levi's: Up to 50% off summer favorites
    • Zales: $50 off $200 purchase coupon + extra 20% off clearance
      More »

    For all six of you Americans out there who use a Symbian phone, SymbianGear is offering one free app per day for 10 days. You've already missed days 1 & 2, but they've got 7 more to go if you're interested. (Today is Texas Holdem). [SymbianGear via Symbian-Guru.com]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 5, 2008 12:51 PM   14 Comments

    • Iams: Free Iams Premium Protection Dog or Cat Food if you give them your address
    • Iomega: 3.5" External USB 2.0 Hard Drive shipped for $55.66(250 GB) Or $64.16 (320 GB)
    • Newegg: Sennheiser CX300B 3.5mm Connector Canal Headphone (Black) $10 after rebates
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Sierra Trading Post: Extra 10% off Clothing, Footwear, & Gear
    • Amazon: Summer Sale: 25% or More off Kitchen Small Appliances
    • Dell Home: Save 20% to 30% off Inspiron Notebook PCs
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Torrid: $10 off select Birkenstock
    • Toys "R" Us: BOGO $20 off all Wii games
    • PayPal: Back to school savings @ Foot Locker, Guess, Tiger Direct, more
      More »

    Do Not Be Fooled By Safeway's 2 for $7 Milk Trick
    By Meg Marco on August 5, 2008 12:40 PM   50 Comments
    While shopping at Safeway today I noticed something odd about the "O" Organics Milk. After I listened to a mom tell her daughter she buys "whatever is on sale" I went to purchase my own milk and realized that's not such a good plan. A half gallon was on sale for 2 for $7. Or if your a savvy shopper you could buy a gallon for $6.59. The Safeway website confirms it.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 4, 2008 1:54 PM   6 Comments

    • Amazon: 3 months of Amazon Prime free with $100 worth of textbooks in cart (No actual purchase necessary)
    • Froobi: Refurbished SanDisk Sansa e270 6GB MP3 Media Player w/ FM/Voice Recorder for $55.95
    • Amazon: "Narrow Stairs" by Death Cab For Cutie, $5 DRM-free MP3 album
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI: Summer Sale: Up to 40% or More off Apparel, Footwear, & Gear
    • Staples: Envision 22-inch Widescreen Dual Input LCD $200 Shipped
    • Design Within Reach: Save 15% off Upholstered Furniture & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Headsets.com: Free Bluetooth headset if you get cited driving while on phone (a promotion that incentivizes breaking the law, um ok)
    • Yves Rocher: 50% off select beauty products
    • Busted Tees: After Christmas in July Sale: Select shirts $10
      More »

    Save On School Supplies With Sales Tax Holidays
    By Carey Alexander on August 3, 2008 6:00 PM   27 Comments

    —>School supplies in eight states are tax-free this weekend thanks to sales tax holidays. Hurry though, because the savings expire at the end of the day, unless you live in Washington D.C., where the savings last through August 10. The full list, inside...  More »

    Those Damn Europeans Are Taking Over New York
    By Carey Alexander on August 3, 2008 4:00 AM   82 Comments

    —>Have you seen them? The Europeans? They're everywhere! In our fancy bistros, on line at the Apple store, spending their fancy-pantzy valuable Euros while we suffer through this intolerable non-recession. The patriots at the New York Times finally sounded the warning call over this European "invasion" that's transforming New York into the "Walmart of hip."  More »

    Video Tutorial For Escaping Cellphone Without ETF
    By Ben Popken on August 1, 2008 6:02 PM   36 Comments
    Who needs a bunch of words to tell you how to get out of your cellphone contract without early termination fee when a nice boy will tell you how do to it? You just sit back, grab some popcorn, and watch Ely Rosentock's video tutorial. 9 minutes later, you'll know how to break your cellphone contract without ETF, or moving to California. Video inside...
    Get 75% Off Your ATT ETF By Switching To Pay-As-You-Go
    By Ben Popken on August 1, 2008 5:20 PM   19 Comments

    —>If arguing for completely getting out of your AT&T early-termination-fee isn't your thing, you can try doing what Felix did and get 75% off it.   More »

    7 Ways To Save On Groceries Without Using Coupons
    By Meg Marco on August 1, 2008 3:27 PM   96 Comments

    —>Are you a coupon clipper? No? Lots of people like saving money, but don't really buy the sort of products that have coupons, or don't have time to waste searching and clipping. These tips are for you.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on August 1, 2008 1:39 PM   8 Comments

    • Fandango: Free movie ticket just by entering an AmEx customer service phone number (signs you up for email newsletter, so use a throwaway email address, it will say the promotion has ended but they're sending you a free movie ticket via email)
    • DELL: Xbox 360 Elite bundle with Forza Motorsport 2, Marvel Ultimate Alliance Gold Edition, and faceplate for $399
    • Staples: 400GB HDD for $45 after rebate
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Vann's: Canon Digital Rebel XT SLR & 28-90mm $430 Shipped
    • Buy.com: Sharp Aquos 37-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $800 Shipped
    • TiVo.com: TiVo DVRs: Series2 Dual Tuner $50 Shipped & TiVo HD $180 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Sprint Makes Customer Wait 6 Hours For Chat
    By Chris Walters on July 31, 2008 4:05 PM   40 Comments

    —>Adam had a question on his billeither about the $9.68 adjustment in his favor, or the $102,861.30 they say he still owes, we're not sureso he decided to take advantage of their online chat. He writes, "Conveniently, they have a link that says 'Questions about your bill?' When you click it, it brings you to a live agent. This is a picture of our session."  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 31, 2008 1:17 PM   8 Comments
  • Shoplet.com: Up to 60% off back to school supplies
    •   More »

    J.Crew Apologizes For Bad Website, But That's All They Do
    By Chris Walters on July 30, 2008 10:47 PM   43 Comments

    —>A dozen readers (and probably a couple of PR flacks) must have forwarded us J.Crew's email today, in which the CEO and president of the company extend a mutual apology for the non-workingness of their "enhanced" website and call center. Oddly, the email simply asks customers to "bear with us" but doesn't offer any discount or sale. Well, maybe they figured driving more traffic to a broken site would only make things worse.  More »

    You Must Hurry, These TV Stands Will Go Fast
    By Chris Walters on July 30, 2008 10:15 PM   35 Comments

    —>Walmart.com doesn't just sell phantom coolers. They also have awesome deals like this priced-to-move TV stand. We guess when you already have low low prices, there's not much room for extra discounts. (Thanks to Adam!)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 30, 2008 1:33 PM   11 Comments

    • Amazon: Cell Phone Flask for $13.95
    • Woot: The woot-off continues apace.
    • Amazon: 25-65% off Nine West Element 9 Large Shopper bags
    • BlogWorldExpo: 20% off with coupon code CONSMRVIP
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • OfficeMax: Soyo 20-inch WS Dual Input LCD $150 Shipped
    • Carbonite: Unlimited Online Data Backup & Free 15 Day Trial
    • Amazon: Save 50% or More off Sports & Outdoor Gear
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Tmobile Introduces Month To Month Contracts
    By Ben Popken on July 30, 2008 1:12 PM   51 Comments

    —>Hate long-term cellphone contracts? Starting August 6th, Tmobile will be the first national carrier to offer month-to-month plans, straight up.  More »

    Poor Reception? "Go To The Hilltop" Sprint Tells Customer
    By Ben Popken on July 29, 2008 9:22 PM   48 Comments

    —>"Go outside, or to hilltop to make calls from your cell phone. Sprint does not guarantee call quality in buildings or homes," a Sprint customer service rep told reader Nathan shortly before he canceled service. Sprint had told a long series of lies with various reasons and solutions that never materialized for why Nathan and his family couldn't get any reception in their home. After wrangling for many months, Nathan told them to stuff it.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 29, 2008 12:25 PM   14 Comments

    • Amazon: Lego sale. 50% off 8 Different Items
    • Walgreens: 6 Sharpies for $2 (in-store only)
    • eforcity: iPod/iPhone charging cable for $7.99 (down from $43.99)
    • DealExtreme: iPod/iPhone charging cable for $3.46
    • Woot: It's a woot-off!
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Best Buy: Dynex DX-LCD32 32-inch LCD HDTV $490
    • Tiger Direct: Unlocked Motorola RAZR V3 GSM Cell Phone $100
    • Buy.com: Kodak Z1285 12 Megapixel Digital Camera $90 Shipped
      More »

    Subway Says Get Off Your Phone Or Go To The Back Of The Line
    By Meg Marco on July 28, 2008 8:45 PM   272 Comments

    —> Sean says he approves of the this sign that he saw at an Idaho Subway location today, but his wife wasn't a fan...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 28, 2008 1:48 PM   3 Comments

    • Woot: Neuton CE 5.2 Battery-Powered Lawn Mower for $299.99
    • Tommy Hilfiger: Men's Dress Shirts from $15 + $5 s&h
    • SteamPowered.com: download BioShock for PC available for $14.99
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Office Depot: TI-83 Plus Graphing Programing Calculator $75 & Free Shipping
    • Amazon: Save up to 55% off Quicken Financial Software
    • Best Buy: Hannspree 22-inch Dual Input LCD Monitor $200
      More »

    Sorry Telcos, Landlines Are Now A Luxury Expense
    By Chris Walters on July 28, 2008 1:20 PM   97 Comments
    But in this first real slowdown of the wireless age, consumers seem to be saying that home-based telephones are expendable luxuries, like Starbucks lattes or Coach handbags. And it makes sense. Confronted with high inflation, soaring energy costs, and stagnant wages, millions of households are facing choices about which monthly bills to pay and which commitments to maintain. And if it comes down to one or the other, the mobile or the home-based land line, it's clear which is a necessity and which is an option.  More »

    10 Practical Tips To Keep Your Cellphone From Killing You
    By Carey Alexander on July 27, 2008 4:00 AM   79 Comments

    —>Have you heard, cellphones are deadly. Science told us so this week when Dr. Ronald B. Herberman of the esteemed University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute realized that cellphones emit death rays that fry your brain and turn you into a baby-eating Communist, or give you cancer or whatever. Dr. Despair isn't a downer though! Inside, 10 practical ways to keep your precious little brain safe from those ubiquitous chirping cancer slabs...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 25, 2008 3:08 PM   13 Comments

    • Woot: Refurbished Emerson 32" LCD HDTV for $399.99
    • KFC: Buy 1, Get 1 Free "Vegetarian" Sandwich
    • Amazon: MP3 albums for $5 - Nirvana, Kanye West, Dane Cook, Art Blakely & The Jazz Messengers, Sufjan Stevens
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Bargainist
    • Amazon: Black & Decker 18" 6.5 Amp Electric Mower $147 shipped
    • American Eagle: 15% off purchases coupon
    • Cooking.com: Up to 50% off Henckels Four Star Cutlery
      More »

    Sweatshop In Queens Produced Clothes For Macy's, the Gap, Banana Republic, Urban Apparel, and Victoria's Secret
    By Chris Walters on July 24, 2008 2:48 PM   83 Comments

    —>New York state labor officials are bringing one of their largest cases ever against Jin Shun, a clothing factory in Queens, New York that employed Chinese immigrants. Inspectors say the company

    • cheated its workers out of more than $5 million in pay;
    • instructed workers to lie to state inspectors;
    • required 6 and 7-day workweeks, sometimes for up to 120 days at a time;
    • didn't pay overtime or minimum wage;
    • kept two sets of timecards to fake-out inspectors.
    Macy's says they're "very concerned" about the case and are investigating it, the Gap says they're cooperating with authorities, and Victoria's Secret says they have a "zero tolerance policy" for factories that are unwilling to work with them to achieve complianceall of which makes us wonder whether any of these companies ever investigated the factory personally. (It's not like it was in some remote part of China.)  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 23, 2008 2:42 PM   1 Comment

    • Woot: Refurbished LG 22 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor for $199.99
    • Amazon: Try Amazon Prime for 1 month free, get $10 off your next Amazon order
    • Amazon: Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers $10.24 after rebate
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • J&R Music: Sony XDR-F1HD HD Radio $50 & Free Shipping
    • Buy.com: Cavalry 500GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive $80 Shipped
    • Compact Appliance: Now Save 19% off Air Conditioners & Get Free Shipping with Stacked Coupon Discounts
      More »

    If your phone uses the Symbian S60 operating system (most Nokia phones, and a few from Samsung), you can purchase QuickOffice Premiere 5.0 for $1.00 for today only. The software, which lets you edit Microsoft Office 2007 files, usually costs around $70. [Quickoffice via All About Symbian]  More »

    Tmobile Adds Flimsy Restrictions For ETF-Free Cancelers
    By Ben Popken on July 22, 2008 9:11 PM   46 Comments

    —>Tmobile is trying to impose certain new restrictions on people trying to cancel their contract without early termination fee (ETF) over the recent text message rate increase. Based on an email between a reader and Tmobile's executive customer service team, to qualify for ETF-free cancellation a customer:  More »

    Reach Verizon Wireless West Coast Executive Customer Service
    By Ben Popken on July 22, 2008 4:06 PM   1 Comment

    —>866-673-9561 is the number to reach Verizon Wireless executive customer service on the West Coast. Only use it when normal routes of customer service have repeatedly failed, be nice, be able to condense your story in about 2 sentences, and don't forget these tips for dealing with executive customer service.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 22, 2008 9:25 AM   8 Comments

    • CircuitCity: Samsung 50" DLP Rear Projection HDTV for $999 (down from $1699)
    • ApprovedGasMasks.com: Read this guide before buying a surplus gas mask. Many on the market are defective.
    • OfficeDepot: TI-83 for $24.99, TI-84 for $44.99 after rebate
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Circuit City: Compaq Intel Dual Core 15.4-inch Notebook $450 & Free Shipping
    • Buy.com: Panasonic Noise Canceling Headphones $75 Shipped
    • Best Buy: Disney-Released Movies on DVD $6 Shipped
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 21, 2008 12:49 PM   7 Comments

    • Macy's: Trick to get 99-cent shipping on any order
    • Buy.com: EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E for $119.99 after rebate.
    • Staples: Deluxe Trolley Duffle for $6.99
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: First Gen Jawbone Bluetooth Headset in Black or Grey $60 Shipped
    • Office Depot: Acer 22-inch Widescreen Dual Input LCD Monitor $180 & Free Shipping
    • Target.com: Save 15% off plus Free Shipping on Select Furniture
      More »

    Good News: Compulsive Buying Is A Treatable Illness
    By Carey Alexander on July 19, 2008 7:40 PM   28 Comments

    —>Can't stop shopping? You're not alone. According to the L.A. Times, one in twenty Americans buy compulsively, a destructive yet treatable economy-propping impulse control disorder.  More »

    3 Ways To Spend Less While Shopping
    By Carey Alexander on July 19, 2008 4:30 AM   31 Comments

    —>Shopping is a war and you are outgunned. Stores attack your desire for self-restraint with armies of psychologists, marketers, and "brand gurus." Defend yourself from overspending with three easy and effective tips from Alpha Consumer...  More »

    Target's Degree Deodorant Pricing Scheme Rewards Those Who Pay Attention
    By Meg Marco on July 18, 2008 5:33 PM   44 Comments

    —> Gavin wants to know what's up with Target's deodorant pricing.  More »

    Contact Tmobile Executive Customer Service
    By Ben Popken on July 18, 2008 2:46 PM   6 Comments
    1-877-290-6323 ext. 341-8025.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 18, 2008 1:17 PM   22 Comments

    • Office Depot: Black Vinyl High-backed chair for $7.99 plus shipping or pick up in store (down from $169.99)
    • ThinkGeek: Wi-Fi Detecting Watch for $9.99 + ~$8 s&h
    • Borders: 40% off one item online with coupon code BC4777* (must have only one item in cart for it to work)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • National Geographic: Save an Extra 10% off Store-Wide
    • Moo.com: New Customers Save 15% off All Custom Printed Cards with Coupon
    • Chefs: Summer Sale: Save up to 75% off Kitchen Gear
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Amazon: Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera $150
    • Linens 'n Things: Black & Decker small appliances $14 AR & coupon
    • Eddie Bauer: $20 off all backbacks + free carabiner clip
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 17, 2008 2:08 PM   33 Comments

    • Jamba Juice: Buy On Get One Free (BOGO) good until 7/30
    • Woot: Pinnacle Video Transfer for iPod, PSP, or USB Storage Device for $79.99
    • Starbucks: Free 12oz beverage of your choice YMMV [via Fatwallet]
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 16, 2008 9:41 AM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Three HD Movies on Blu-Ray for the Price of Two
    • Buy.com: Navigon 5100 GPS with Fee-Free Live Traffic Data $150 Shipped
    • Dell Business: Dual Core PowerEdge Servers from $249
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Orbitz: Great American Sale: Save up to 30%
    • Old Navy: Up to 50% off clearance
    • Target: Save $50-$100 on best-selling favorites
      More »

    Reader Refuses To Give Driver's License With Credit Card Purchase
    By Ben Popken on July 15, 2008 12:55 PM   106 Comments

    —>Reader Brandon is obviously familiar with number 3 in the 10 Things You Might Not Know About Your Credit Card post, holding firm in the face of a retailer who wanted Brandon to give his driver's license when he bought something with a credit card:  More »

    3 Ways To Beat The Grocery Shrink Ray
    By Ben Popken on July 15, 2008 11:48 AM   47 Comments

    —>Is your supermarket the victim of The Grocery Shrink Ray, the force that is shrinking how much product you get while keeping the price the same? Here are three antidotes:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 15, 2008 10:36 AM   3 Comments
  • Vitamin Shoppe: 2 Tubs of Muscle Milk For $35 after coupon $5 filler
  • HP: 4.6-lb. HP Pavilion tx2500z AMD Dual Core 2GHz 12" Touchscreen Tablet Laptop for $699
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Overstock: Save an Extra 15% off Jewelry and Watches
    • Amazon: Waterproof Olympus Stylus 770SW 7.1MP Camera $200 Shipped
    • American Express: Up to 40,000 First Year Membership Rewards Points with new Business Gold Rewards Card
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Amazon: $10 off $50 purchase using Bill Me Later coupon
    • REI.com: 15% off any 1 item
    • JetBlue: Friends & Family Sale: Save $15
      More »

    That Sure Is An Expensive Phone Ya Got There, Mr. Hobo
    By Chris Walters on July 14, 2008 5:25 PM   42 Comments

    —>Fine, fine, the iPhone is decent and all that, but here's a funny clip from "The Soup" that puts the lie to that whole "It's so much cheaper!" hype. And if you're not an iPhone owner and need even more reason to feel good about that, check out Wisebread's rant against people who stand in line for gadgets.  More »

    J.Crew's New Website Does Everything Except Fulfill Orders Properly
    By Chris Walters on July 14, 2008 5:12 PM   30 Comments

    —>Kimberly, a frequent J.Crew online customer, placed an order on June 30th for five items from their newly revamped website. In the past, writes Kim, "it usually takes 2 days at the latest for me to receive any shipment that is not backordered." This time it's been 2 weeks, and not only has nothing arrived, but the UPS tracking number they've assigned her order is invalid (it doesn't even follow the UPS numbering style). The unhelpful J.Crew customer service rep told Kim that they had her correct address and to wait 10 days before calling back. In the meantime, one of the items has already been returned and refunded to Kim's credit cardalthough about $200 worth of merchandise has still been shipped to some as yet undiscovered location.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 14, 2008 11:52 AM   26 Comments

    • Wet Seal: G-String Clearance Sale - $1.99 each (many colors to choose from), + free shipping with code: 1107WLCE
    • Office Depot: HP M2727NF AIO LaserJet Printer - FREE AR/Price Match
    • Amazon: The Oregon Trail for PC / Mac for $3.85 + $4.70 shipping and handling
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Apple Store: Price Drop: 1.8GHz MacBook Air with SSD Down $500 to $2598
    • Amazon: Price Drop: Xbox 360 with 20GB Drive $300 Shipped
    • Geeks: Twinhan 7240 USB 2.0 HDTV Tuner for PC $25 with Coupon
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Timberland: Sale: Up to 50% off + extra 10% off + free shipping coupon
    • Geoff & Drew's: 25% off purchases & free shipping coupons
    • Crazy 8: 15% off entire purchase coupon
      More »

    20 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Groceries Without Spending An Extra Cent
    By Carey Alexander on July 13, 2008 9:00 PM   72 Comments

    —>Americans throw away a quarter of our food uneaten, which translates into serious wasted cash over time. The Guardian compiled an excellent list of ways to shop smarter so you end up buying what you need, and eating what you buy.  More »

    Reach ATT Wireless Executive Customer Service
    By Ben Popken on July 12, 2008 2:11 PM   10 Comments
    Western States: 800-498-1912  More »

    Buying An iPhone 3G Was Surprisingly Easy. Activating It Was Not.
    By Alex Chasick on July 11, 2008 6:07 PM   48 Comments

    —>As Consumerist's resident Apple fanboy, I spent the last few hours standing outside an AT&T store waiting to buy the iPhone 3G, then waiting for it to activate in iTunes. Here's what went down.  More »

    Don't Live Near A Big City? Here's Something You Should Know Before Upgrading Your iPhone
    By Meg Marco on July 11, 2008 3:42 PM   24 Comments

    —>The new iPhone is 3G—but AT&T's 3G network isn't exactly "nationwide," so you might want to check the coverage map to make sure that there's a 3G network in your area.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 11, 2008 10:41 AM   9 Comments

    • Kohl's: 80-90% Clearance Sale
    • Disney Outlet: Kid's costumes up to 80% off, plus extra 20% off code
    • Amazon: Dr. Martens Men's 1914 Cherry Red Size 14 Boots $38
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Tiger Direct: UTStarcom GSM708 Unlocked GSM Phone $20
    • Butterfly Photo: Canon Rebel XSi 12MP DSLR & Lens $790 Shipped
    • Expedia: Save 30% off Hotels, Cars, Cruises & Other Travel
      More »

    Want The New iPhone? Here's How To Escape Your Current Cellphone Contract ETF-Free
    By Alex Chasick on July 10, 2008 10:14 PM   68 Comments

    —>As the second coming of the Jesusphone 3G draws near, we wanted to remind customers of other wireless carriers that there are ways to escape your existing cellphone contract free of early termination fees, and trade your piddling Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile bills for hundreds of pages of gloriously itemized AT&T charges. Or just switch carriers.  More »

    Verizon Settles Early Termination Fee Lawsuit For $21 Million
    By Ben Popken on July 10, 2008 12:34 PM   6 Comments

    —>Verizon has agreed to pay $21 million in a California class action lawsuit brought over early termination fees. The plaintiffs alleged that the fees violated California state laws. Next case: Sprint, which Californians are suing for the same reason.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 10, 2008 12:11 PM   10 Comments

    • Girl Talk: Girls Talk's new album "Feed The Animals." Pay what you want to pay.
    • MGM Grand: $69/night + $25 Restaurant Credit
    • Amazon: "The Complete Led Zeppelin" MP3 Album download for $9.99. 165 tracks.
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Endless.com: Save up to 40% or More off Shoes & Handbags
    • TiVo.com: New Savings: TiVo HD DVR now $180 Shipped
    • Amazon: Canon SD850 IS 8MP Digital Camera $230 Shipped
      More »

    Save Money by Taking a State Tax Holiday
    By Ben Popken on July 9, 2008 6:39 PM   48 Comments

    —>In an effort to spur retail sales, many states offer sales-tax holidays each summer — periods of time where sales tax is temporarily suspended on certain products. This year the slumping economy has some states enhancing their efforts by extending the holiday dates and broadening the list of eligible products. Smart Money lists each state sponsoring a sales-tax holiday as well as the applicable dates and details of each offer. It also suggests a few helpful hints for making the most of a sales-tax holiday as follows:  More »

    Broke Consumers Turn To Deep Discount Stores Like Aldi
    By Meg Marco on July 9, 2008 3:22 PM   118 Comments

    —>You may be broke, but Aldi isn't! As consumers cut back, more of them are shopping at deep discount stores like Aldi. The German-owned grocer usually doesn't advertise, but the economic slowdown is helping business, and Aldi is investing in a few commercials.  More »

    Do Not Be Lured Into Target's 2 For $4 Heinz Ketchup Trap
    By Meg Marco on July 9, 2008 2:54 PM   74 Comments

    —>Andrew writes in to let us know that he's started to look more carefully at prices when shopping at Target... and so far it's saved him $0.61 on ketchup...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 9, 2008 12:41 PM   3 Comments

    • Amazon: 80lb Crossbow Pistol - Hunting - $19.99 (Reg. $59.99)
    • Shirt.Woot: Funny/cool movie snack shirt for $10
    • B&H Photo: Drobo DRO4DU10 4-bay, USB2.0 Robotic Storage Array for $350 (down from $500+)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Performance Bike: Save an Extra 10% off Bikes & Gear with Coupon
    • Mwave: OCZ Mini-Kart Micro-Sized 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Free AR
    • Buy.com: Save $100: Pentax Optio Z10 8MP Digital Camera $140 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Eforcity Bribes User To Remove Negative Amazon Feedback
    By Ben Popken on July 8, 2008 9:32 PM   59 Comments

    —>Sarah bought some car chargers from Eforcity through Amazon, and was disappointed to find that the charger plug doesn't stay in the phone unless you hold it in. She said as much in her Amazon feedback. In response, Eforcity said they would be happy to give her a refund, as long as she deleted her negative feedback. In other words, a bribe for self-censorship. Eforcity's email, inside...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 8, 2008 10:38 AM   0 Comments

    • Amazon: Leatherman Genus Gardening & Landscaping Multitool for $67 + free shipping
    • Woot: Vornado Zippi Fan 2 Pack for $15.99
    • SoftSurroundings: Bellissima Blanket for $19.99, down from $118
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Bargainist  More »

    Publix Helpfully Suggests That You Shop At Winn-Dixie
    By Meg Marco on July 7, 2008 2:59 PM   50 Comments

    —>Kevin was shopping at the Publix in Birmingham, AL when he spotted this helpful sign.  More »

    Leaks: Need ID And Social To Buy iPhone 3G?
    By Ben Popken on July 7, 2008 2:31 PM   52 Comments

    —>An Apple store insider has leaked to us what they say will be some limitations and barriers on buying the iPhone Apple and AT&T stores will apply to the new iPhone 3g that goes on sale this Friday:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 7, 2008 12:27 PM   4 Comments

    • Woot: Refurbished Navigon 2100 Portable 3.5 GPS with Text to Speech for $89.99
    • OnSale.com: ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf Celeron M 800MHz 7" Widescreen Laptop from $295 + free shipping
    • Gamestop: Crysis Warhead for PC Pre-Order for $29.99 Shipped (free shipping with coupon code SAVER)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save up to 50% or More off Blockbuster & Indie Movie DVDs
    • Meritline: 4GB SDHC Card $15 Shipped & 8GB SDHC Card $30 Shipped
    • Geeks.com: Pioneer Dual Layer DVD Burner with Free Extras $40
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Don't Maintain A Negative Balance With Sprint Or They Will Disconnect Your Service
    By Carey Alexander on July 5, 2008 11:15 PM   51 Comments

    —>Sprint disconnected Bill's service for "exceeding his account spending limit," even though his account had a -$50 balance and he was signed up for Sprint's Simply Everything unlimited plan. Sprint quickly reactivated Bill's phone after he pointed this out, but warned that his service "will probably shut back off in a couple of days."  More »

    15 Easy Ways To Save Money At The Supermarket
    By Carey Alexander on July 5, 2008 5:30 PM   86 Comments

    —>Saving money at the supermarket has never been more important or difficult thanks to the tag team threat of inflation and the Grocery Shrink Ray. Get Rich Slowly published 15 money-saving tips to help you hold onto your hard-earned cash.  More »

    With The New iPhone On The Horizon, Now Is The Time To Threaten Your Cellphone Company
    By Meg Marco on July 3, 2008 3:26 PM   79 Comments

    —>With the debut of that new super iPhone thing only a few short days away, now is the time to threaten your current cellphone company. What's that? You have no intention of switching cellphone companies for the iPhone? Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon's retention reps don't know that. Do they?  More »

    Save Money By Bartering
    By Ben Popken on July 3, 2008 2:49 PM   71 Comments

    —>As we've noted, the tough economic times are forcing many people to look for creative ways to save money. The Wall Street Journal reports on one age-old method that's gaining popularity:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 3, 2008 11:56 AM   13 Comments

    • G2Buy: Diablo II and Expansion pack for $4.91
    • Amazon: "The Best Of Talking Heads" MP3 Album download for $3.99
    • Woot: Refurbished Sling Media Slingbox AV for $69.99
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Newegg: Kodak EasyShare Z710 7.1MP Digital Camera $140
    • Discovery Store: Save up to 75% off Series & Show DVDs
    • New York & Co.: July 4th Sale: Save up to 70% off Women's Apparel & Accessories
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 2, 2008 11:03 AM   0 Comments

    • Woot: Refurbished Sony Vaio Dual Core Widescreen Notebook for $499.99
    • Amazon: Firefly The Complete Series DVD Boxset for $16.99
    • Spirit Air: Fares starting at $1.11
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Apple Store: Save up to $399 off Refurb MacBook Air Portables
    • Shoes.com: Save an Extra 20% off Sale & Clearance Shoes
    • Buy.com: SanDisk Cruzer 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive $10 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Batteries.com: 25% off alkalines, 15% off others coupons
    • JCPenney: 30-60% off + free shipping on $49 order
    • Zales: Clearance jewelry up to 70% off + extra 30% off
      More »

    Stop Making Fun Of Me: Confessions Of An Early iPhone Adopter
    By Alex Chasick on July 2, 2008 12:56 AM   92 Comments

    —>Those of us who bought iPhones when they came out haven't been very popular over the last year. We've been viewed as impulse-buying fanboys who got suckered into paying to beta-test an incomplete product on an inferior network. Then Steve Jobs sold us out. Now our co-workers won't stop making fun of us. I bought my iPhone on June 29th, I still love it, and I can't wait to buy a new one next week. Inside, my reasons why.  More »

    This Furniture Store Uses Creative Math
    By Chris Walters on July 1, 2008 9:06 PM   54 Comments

    —>Wow, look at this nice five-piece bedroom set. Only $599! Not bad, especially when the description says it's normally $1800. Five different piecesthat would fill a bedroom with a lot of cheap class! Now let's put the fine print filter on it:
      More »

    Grocery Shrink Ray Hits Arizona Ice Tea?
    By Ben Popken on July 1, 2008 7:10 PM   40 Comments

    —>It looks like the fell Grocery Shrink Ray may have hit cans of Arizona Ice Tea, reducing the size of their 12 oz cans to 11.5 oz cans. We couldn't find any definite pictures of 12oz Arizona Ice Tea cans, but we did find them being sold on this website in 12 oz cans. What happens to a product when the shrink ray hits it? I imagine it goes eek! eek! eek! and the last eek is an octave higher than the first.  More »

    Help! AT&T Wants A $750 Deposit, But I Really Want An iPhone!
    By Meg Marco on July 1, 2008 1:33 PM   134 Comments

    —>Dana's divorce left her with crappy credit and now AT&T wants a $750 deposit! She's wondering if anyone has any advice for avoiding such a large deposit...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on July 1, 2008 1:02 PM   7 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Vann's: Panasonic Lumix FX33 8.1MP Digital Camera $150 ShippedREI: Save 20% to 30% off During Summer Sale now
    • Amazon: Free iPod nano or Touch with Netgear Gigabit Smart Switches
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 30, 2008 10:23 AM   5 Comments

    • Shoebuy: 20% off with coupon code EMLJULYFOURTH08
    • Rite Aid: Special Deals (Cheap, Free after Rebate, or Make $)
    • Amazon: Deals on Vittles Vaults pet food containers, like the 30 lb pet food Vittles Vault II for $5.84 (down from $22.99)
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Dell Home: Buy one Dell XPS 420 desktop or M1530 notebook and another of either two systems for 50% off.
    • Puma.com: Save an Extra 20% off All Shoes & Apparel Orders with Coupon
    • Geeks.com: Motion M1300 12.1-inch Tablet PC $340 with Coupon
      More »

    Graph: Which Cellphone Company Has The Best Early Termination Fee Policy?
    By Meg Marco on June 27, 2008 7:05 PM   44 Comments

    —>Discounting or pro-rating the early termination fees that cellphone companies love to tack on to their contracts is becoming more common, so we thought we'd make some graphs that show the strengths and weaknesses of the different policies. As you can see, T-Mobile 2-year ETF doesn't make any discounts until fairly late in the contract period and their ETF of $200 is higher than either of the other two companies that offer discounts. (Sprint does not pro-rate or discount its ETF.) T-Mobile's ETF does, however, reach a point where their discounts are steeper than Verizon and AT&T's pro-rating.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 27, 2008 10:19 AM   7 Comments

    • PerryEllis.com: Up to 80% off + extra 50% off coupon
    • Puma: Men's Drift Cat Shoes for $31.50 + $8 s&h (down from $80)
    • Home Depot: $5 off 1 / $20 off 5 Gallons Behr Paint
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Dell Outlet: Save an Extra 20% off Refurbished Latitude XT Tablet PCs
    • eBags: Save up to 50% off Tumi Bags, Brief Cases & Luggage
    • Buy.com: Garmin nuvi 200 Portable GPS with 3.5-inch LCD $160 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Puma: 20% off purchases coupon
    • DSW Shoes: Summer Sale: Up to 70% off
    • Vespa: Free $5 Subway card w/Vespa test drive
      More »

    Chrysler announces WiFi-enabled cars: "We want to make the radio itself a WiFi port," a spokesperson said. The service will require a subscription to a wireless phone carrier. [Washington Post]  More »

    How To Cancel T-Mobile Without ETF
    By Ben Popken on June 26, 2008 4:25 PM   69 Comments

    —>Want to get out of your T-mobile cellphone contract without paying a $200 early termination fee? Now you can. T-mobile is raising its text message rates August 29th to 20 cents per message. This counts as what is known as a "materially adverse change of contract." Under standard contract law, if one party changes the terms of the agreement in a way that financially harms the other party, then the contract is void. If the contract is void, so is any stipulation that you be charged a fee for breaking it (especially as technically they broke it first). You will have much better success arguing its a materially adverse change of contract if you are not currently in an unlimited text message plan. You don't have to wait until August to escape, members of the Slickdeals forums are already reporting success escaping without penalty. Stay tuned to The Consumerist for more information and tips on using this money-saving tactic.  More »

    Afternoon Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 26, 2008 4:12 PM   10 Comments

    • Au Bon Pain: Free iced coffee today from 2pm onwards.
    • Woot: Refurbished Gateway AMD Phenom 9600 Quad Core Media Center with 1TB Hard Drive and Blu-ray for $649.99
    • Amazon: Morrissey Greatest Hits MP3 Album download for $4
    • Chick-Fil-A: Cow Appreciation Day 7/11 Free Meal with Cow attire
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Old Navy: Up to 50% off: Summer Apparel on Sale Store-Wide
    • MacMall: MacBooks from $1005 + Free Parallels 3, Printer, and Shipping
    • Geeks.com: Sale: Save up to 90% off Computers & Electronics
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Sears Is Now Officially Too Incompetent To Even Take Your Money
    By Meg Marco on June 23, 2008 6:48 PM   108 Comments

    —>Gregg wants us to know that Sears has just hung up on one of the last people in America who hasn't totally given up on them. He's spent quite a lot of time lately trying to give them $1500 for a lawn tractor, but they just couldn't figure out how to complete the transaction. Yes, Sears has finally gotten to the point that they can't take your money even if you want to give it to them.  More »

    T-Mobile Introduces Declining Early Termination Fees
    By Ben Popken on June 23, 2008 6:31 PM   33 Comments

    —>Tmobile just announced that they will let early termination fees decline over the course of a contract. Previously, you had to pay the full monty whether canceled on the first day, or last day, of your contract. This chart shows you how the new fee breaks down over time:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 23, 2008 11:27 AM   3 Comments

    • Amazon: 120 bags of chips for $25. Add two different 60 pack units and use coupon code CHIPDSCT
    • Jetblue: 10% Off with coupon code OCTJET2
    • Shirt.Woot: Random tshirts for $6.66
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Office Depot: Envision 19-inch LCD with DVI & SVGA $150 & Free Shipping
    • Geeks.com: Kodak C613 6.2MP Compact Digital Cameras only $56 with Coupon
    • Mwave: Vox 500GB USB 2.0 & eSATA Hard Drive $80
      More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 20, 2008 12:57 PM   7 Comments

    • Zipcar: Free ZipCar Membership + $150 Driving Credit + loaded public transit pass
    • Woot: They're still wooting off like it ain't no thang.
    • Meritline: 1W LED Adjustable Head Lamp for $6.40 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Genius G-Pen 4 x 5.5-inch Graphics Tablet $35 Shipped
    • Lenovo: ThinkCentre A55 Desktop PCs from $199 after $322 Instant Savings
    • J&R Music: Belkin TuneStudio iPod Mixer & Recorder $188 Shipped
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Consumerist Editor Ben Popken (hey, that's me!) talks about the grocery shrink ray today at 5:30 PM Eastern on WTVT-TV FOX 13 in Florida.  More »

    RESOLVED: Circuit City 24 Minute Guarantee Means Whatever Rob, The Supervisor, Says It Means
    By Meg Marco on June 19, 2008 5:12 PM   40 Comments

    —>Dustin wrote back to let us know that Circuit City corporate had contacted him about his difficulty with their "24 minute guarantee." It seems that the general manger of the store had misunderstood the guarantee completely. Apologies were given and gift cards were received.   More »

    3 Questions To Ask Yourself When Thinking Of Replacing Your Old Car
    By Meg Marco on June 19, 2008 3:23 PM   63 Comments

    —>Reader Brenden says:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 19, 2008 1:18 PM   5 Comments

    • Woot: It's a Woot-off!
    • ShopEcko.com: Up to 70% off select men's apparel
    • Buy.com: SlingBox PRO HDTV Broadcaster for $179.99 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • ShoeMall: Save 25% off All Shoes & Free Shipping Store-Wide
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: Save 20% off Any One Item & 15% off Your Next Two
    • Amazon: Save One-Third or More Off Hand-Held Multi-tools
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Is It Legal To Sell Expired Food?
    By Ben Popken on June 18, 2008 3:14 PM   46 Comments

    —>Is it ok for stores to sell food that's expired? It depends. It is illegal for stores to sell food past its "Use By" date. However, stores are allowed to sell food after it has passed the "Best Until" "Best Before" "Sell By" or "Display Until" dates stamped on the sides of packages. As the name suggests, it just might not be its best, in terms of flavor, consistency, or texture. Still, why get the old stuff when you can get the fresh for the same price? Always check the expiration dates on food packages to make sure you're getting the best value for your dollar.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 18, 2008 1:30 PM   3 Comments

    • Woot: Invicta Speedway II Stainless Steel Chronograph for $89.99Amazon: Musique: Vol. 1 1993-2005 by Daft Punk MP3 Album downloads for $2.99eforcity: HDMI M / M Cable, 6 FT / 2M for $1.99 + free shipping, after coupon
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • NY & Co: Summer Sale: Deep Discounts on Women's Apparel
    • Nike.com: Up to 65% off Clearance Footwear & Clothing
    • Buy.com: Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse $30 & Free Shipping
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Woman Sues Victoria's Secret Because Of Thong Injury
    By Jay Slatkin on June 18, 2008 12:47 PM   164 Comments

    —>Macrida Patterson, age 52, is suing Victoria's Secret, claiming that because of a design problem, a decorative metallic piece affixed to her thong became airborne and struck her in the eye as she was attempting to put on the garment, according to The Smoking Gun. The thong is called a "low-rise v-string" from their "Sexy Little Thing" line (pictured left). The injury has supposedly caused damage to her cornea, causing her to miss work and "will be affecting her the rest of her life." Details, inside...  More »

    Grocery Shrink Ray Hits Garden Salsa Sun Chips
    By Ben Popken on June 17, 2008 10:06 PM   36 Comments

    —>These Sun Chips have shrunk from 11.5 oz to 10.5 oz and are still being sold at the same price. "Not even healthy foods that normally are already sold in smaller portions are safe," says tipster MasonTwo who spotted these on the shelves at Walmart. CNN says the products most vulnerable to the Grocery Shrink Ray are paper towels, potato chips, sticks of gum, toilet paper, detergent and candy bars. Hey, look at the bright side, maybe the Grocery Shrink Ray is just what we need to fight the obesity crisis.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 17, 2008 2:26 PM   8 Comments

    • Barnes & Noble: 75% off select board games + extra 25% off
    • Diapers.com: $10 off $50 for new customers plus Free Shipping
    • eBay: 35% cash back from eBay purchase using Microsoft Live Search
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Kensington FM Transmitter for iPod Nano $15 Shipped
    • Butterfly Photo: Canon Rebel XTi DSLR + 18-55mm Lens Kit only $585 Shipped with Coupon
    • Tiger Direct: Save $70: ViewSonic 2200 Lumen DLP Video Projector $430
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    The New iPhone May Save You Money—If You Don't Buy One
    By Chris Walters on June 16, 2008 3:48 PM   68 Comments

    —>If you're thinking about getting that new 3G iPhone, you might want to hold off a few more months and see what happens with the other carriers. BusinessWeek has an article about how AT&T's aggressive subsidizing of the iPhone will have a negative impact on handset makers and carriers, because it's going to force them to increase subsidies and reduce service fees. Translation: good times for the consumer bold enough to stay off the iPhone train.  More »

    The $26,000 "My Dior" Cellphone
    By Ben Popken on June 16, 2008 2:24 PM   62 Comments

    —>For the idiot who has everything comes the latest in unbridled extravagance: fashion house Christian Dior is set this month to launch of line of luxury cellphones costing a ridiculous amount of money. The phone will come in two versions, a "basic" one for $5,000, and a "Lady Dior" one for $26,000. The latter's pricetag is justified by 640 stones and 3,251 carats of Swarovski crystals embedded in a crocodile skin sheath. Both models will feature touchscreens, integrated media player, bluetooth, blah blah blah, but they do have one actual innovation. The phone comes with a "My Dior," a USB key-sized version of the main cellphone that communicates with the mothership cellphone via Bluetooth and clips to the outside of a bag. Christian Dior says this way you don't have to go digging through your purse to find your phone. We think it would also come in handy if you don't have time to set up a full security perimeter every time you want to make a call.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 16, 2008 12:39 PM   2 Comments
    Amazon: Rock Band Special Edition for Playstation... More »

    Amazon Customer Service Phone Numbers
    By Ben Popken on June 13, 2008 9:10 PM   22 Comments

    —>Slightly buried on Amazon's page and, at one time, not even published on their site, Amazon.com's customer service phone numbers:  More »

    The 10 Most And 10 Least Radiation Emitting Cellphones
    By Jay Slatkin on June 13, 2008 2:05 PM   42 Comments

    —>CNET has complied a list of which cell phones, used in America, emit the most radiation. Conversely, they also have a list of phones that emit the least radiation. The publication of these lists does not imply there is a risk to using cell phones. According to the FDA, there is not enough information to say conclusively whether cellphones are safe or unsafe, however, you may be curious to see how your phone stacks up. The lists focuses on the specific absorption rate, or "SAR" of each cellphone. The lists, inside...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 13, 2008 1:36 PM   0 Comments

    • Amazon: Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones for $72.99 (down from $149.99)
    • GraveyardMall: PaperMate Plasma Ball Point Pen
    • Amazon: $10 off $25 Grocery Clearance Event
    Highlights From Dealhack
  • Wall Street Journal: 8 Free Weeks and 75% off Wall Street Journal Print & Online Subscriptions
  • Dell Home: Save $225 to $350 off Inspiron Notebook PCs
  • Buy.com: Acoustic Research Noise Isolating Headphones $20 Shipped
    • Highlights From Bargainist
  • Barneys New York: Sale: Up to 50% off or more
  • Buy.com: Logitech QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks Webcam $10 AR
  • Timberland: Summer Sale: Up to 40% off + extra 15% off coupon
    •   More »

    How Sellers Manipulate You With Decoy Pricing
    By Ben Popken on June 12, 2008 10:03 PM   81 Comments

    —>Sometimes numbers lie. Assuming you have no innate preference towards either of the two colors, it might be hard to choose between a red Civic and a blue Civic. If instead you have a choice between a red Civic, a blue Civic, and a red Civic without air conditioning, the choice becomes much easier. Dan Ariely in his book Predictably Irrational says his research shows that most people would choose the red Civic with air conditioning over both the other cars. Details inside.  More »

    In Early Termination Fee Hearing, FCC Chief Regurgitates Wireless Industry Proposals
    By Ben Popken on June 12, 2008 5:57 PM   69 Comments

    —>The FCC held hearings today to discuss early termination fees (ETF) for wireless carriers, the ~$175 charged if a customer exits contract before the contract is up. FCC Chairman Kevin "Golden Child" Martin's proposals largely mirrored those offered by the carriers themselves last month. Here's what he said today:  More »

    Mommy Needs A New Pair Of Stimulus Shoes
    By Ben Popken on June 12, 2008 5:05 PM   56 Comments

    —>Upgrade: Travel Better blogger Mark Ashley sends in this ad he spotted at the Oak Hollow Mall in High Point North Carolina, exhorting shoppers to use their stimulus payments in a selfish splurge on depreciating assets.  More »

    Sprint Doesn't Charge US Government Early Termination Fees
    By Ben Popken on June 12, 2008 2:16 PM   45 Comments

    Sprint doesn't charge Uncle Sam an early termination fee if he decides to get out of his cellphone contract early. Why? USAToday reports:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 12, 2008 1:39 PM   2 Comments

    • Buy.com: Samsung WEP410 Bluetooth Cell Phone Headset for $4.99 Shipped After Rebate
    • Tanga: Altec Lansing IMMINI stereo for iPod for $19.99
    • Staples: $25 off $75 Coupon
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Eastern Mountain Sports: Save 30% off Backpacks, Tents, & Sleeping Bags
    • Buy.com: VMware Fusion: Run Windows or Linux on Macs $32 & Free Shipping
    • Target: Save Extra 15% off + Free Shipping on Most Furniture
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Target: Buy 2 And Save! Sort of!
    By Meg Marco on June 11, 2008 3:50 PM   53 Comments

    —>Reader D says:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 11, 2008 10:57 AM   3 Comments
  • Amazon: Samsung YP-P2JAB 4GB Media Player with touchscreen for $133 + free shippingTicketmaster: LA Dodgers Tickets - up to 60% off on June 21 and June 24
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Lenovo: Save up to 35% off ThinkPad Notebook & Tablet PCs with Coupon
    • Buy.com: McAfee VirusScan Plus 2008 only $10 Shipped
    • Creative Labs: Through Thursday: Electronics & Computer Accessory Clearance
    Highlights From Bargainist
    • Ralph Lauren: Summer Sale: Up to 60% off + free shipping coupon
    • iRobot.com: 20% off home robots purchase
    • TCBY: Free cup or cone for Dad on Father's Day
      More »

    The Gap Is Shrinking!
    By Meg Marco on June 10, 2008 10:42 PM   79 Comments
    Gap's CEO Glenn Murphy said Tuesday says he plans to close some stores and shrink others in an effort to turn things around at the slumping retailer.   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 10, 2008 10:17 AM   8 Comments

    • Buy.com: Creative GigaWorks T40 Speakers for $88.99 after rebate, $79.99 after using Google Checkout for first time
    • Overstock.com: Motorola H700 Bluetooth Wireless Headset for $39.99 (down from $129.99)
    • Delta: Get a 20% mileage bonus on AMEX Membership Rewards points transferred between June 10 and July 31, 2008
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Staples: Envision 22-inch Widescreen Dual Input LCD with DVI/HDCP & SVGA $200 Shipped
    • Buy.com: Fantom 320GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive $60 & Free Shipping
    • Amazon: Sony Bravia DVD 5.1 Home Theater $250 Shipped
      More »

    Wal-Mart is cutting down its inventory (fewer clothing styles) and remodeling its older stores (lower shelves and clearer signage) to spur more shopping. [Reuters]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 9, 2008 12:21 PM   0 Comments

    • Office Depot: HP Deskjet F4180 Color Flatbed All-In-One for $39.99 (down from $79.99)
    • ISGM: Free Classical Music Downloads
    • Google Checkout: $10 off $60 when you use Google Checkout to pay at these online stores
    Highlights From Dealhack
  • Travelocity: $50 or $75 off for Booking with MasterCard
  • Old Navy: Save up to 40% off Men's Summer Shirts, Shorts, and Pants
  • Compact Appliance: 10% off Window & Portable AC Units
    •   More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 6, 2008 12:21 PM   10 Comments

    • Woot: Polaroid T730 Compact 7MP Digital Camera for $74.99
    • Fry's: Harman Kardon AVR-146 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver for $172.43 + $9 s&h
    • Amazon: Denali 150-Piece Homeowner's Drill & Drive Bit Accessory Kit for $29.99 + free shipping
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • REI Outlet: Save an Extra 20% off Any One Item Store-Wide
    • Amazon: Black & Decker Cordless Tools at least 50% off & Including a Free Spare Battery for a limited time
    • Buy.com: Cavalry 500GB USB Drive $80 Shipped + SDHC Savings
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Save Money By Being Your Own Butcher
    By Ben Popken on June 5, 2008 7:27 PM   80 Comments

    —>CheapStingyBargains says that rather than relying on a butcher, it can be cheaper just to buy a whole piece of meat and cut it up yourself:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 5, 2008 1:06 PM   19 Comments

    • McDonald's: 49 cent Hamburger / 59 cent Cheeseburgers, limit 10.
    • Woot: Razer Barracuda AC-1 Sound Card for $49.99
    • Newegg: Ideazon MERC Stealth Illuminated Gaming USB Keyboard for $63
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save up to $190 off Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air Notebooks
    • Musician's Friend: Washburn Acoustic Guitar $130 Shipped
    • Barnes and Noble: Buy Two B&N Classics Book Titles & Third is Free
    Highlights From Bargainist  More »

    Verizon Close To Buying Alltel For $27 Billion
    By Meg Marco on June 4, 2008 9:31 PM   52 Comments

    —>CNBC is reporting that Verizon Wireless is deeply involved in talks to buy rural cellphone giant Alltel Wireless for an estimated $27 billion. Alltel was recently taken private TPG and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.  More »

    ATT Settles Class Action Over Fraudulent Ringtone Charges
    By Ben Popken on June 4, 2008 2:53 PM   7 Comments

    —>Thanks to AT&T settling a recent class-action, the era of third-party scammers cramming consumers with fraudulent subscriptions to ringtone, hookup text and other stupid content services may soon be over. AT&T Customers can claim refunds for wrongful charges from up to 3 of their bills between 1/1/04 and 5/30/08. The lawyers will get $4.3 million. AT&T will now require subscriptions to 3rd party-services with recurring fees to be confirmed by responding to a text message. 3rd party services will also have to send a monthly reminder with unsubscribe info. The firm has filed similar suits against Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Claim forms and more info at thirdpartycontentrefund.com.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 4, 2008 7:51 AM   11 Comments

    • Microsoft: Technet Subscription Student Discount is Back - $99/yr
    • Woot: Soundcast Audiocast Wireless Audio System for $59.99
    • Sears: $75 gas card plus $10 Sears gift card when you spend $100 on Dockers in-store June 7-15 (press release)
    • Southwest: $15 off business-select fares
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Buy.com: Creative Xdock Wireless iPod Music System $50 Shipped
    • Amazon: Samsung WEP 410 Bluetooth Wireless Headset $13 & Free Shipping
    • Footlocker: Save 25% off Shoes & Other Gear Store-Wide
    If Wells Fargo Calls To Offer You An Equity Loan On Your Car... Say No.
    By Meg Marco on June 3, 2008 4:26 PM   82 Comments
    Over on the Credit Slips blog, Elizabeth Warren posted an email from a bankruptcy lawyer who was stunned at the horrible deal one of her clients got from Wells Fargo on an equity loan on a car.   More »

    Reach US Cellular Executives
    By Ben Popken on June 3, 2008 2:03 PM   20 Comments
    E-Mail: john.rooney@uscellular.com   More »

    AT&T Agrees To Refund Unauthorized Third-Party Charges On Cellphone Bills
    By Chris Walters on June 3, 2008 12:52 PM   9 Comments

    —>AT&T Mobility has agreed to offer refunds to customers who were charged for third-party services like ringtones, although if you were frequently a victim of this you'll quickly exhaust your refund quota: "Customers will able to claim refunds for spurious charges that appeared on up to three of their monthly bills between Jan. 1, 2004, and May 30, 2008." AT&T should be sending out a notification to its customers "soon," but you can already download a refund request.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 3, 2008 11:48 AM   7 Comments

    • REI-OUTLET.com: Hydration packs and backpacks 68% off
    • Threadless: Summer tshirt sale, many shirts for just $10
    • Woot: Nike Sport Kit Carrying Case for MP3 Players 2 Pack for $0.99
    Highlights From Dealhack
  • Buy.com: Garmin StreetPilot c340 Mobile GPS Nav $145 Shipped
  • Tiger Direct: Viewsonic 1024x768 DLP Projector + Free Extra Spare Bulb $580
  • Buy.com: TrendNet 54/108Mbps Super-G Wireless Router $10 & Free Shipping
    •   More »

    Updated: Reach T-mobile Executive Customer Service
    By Ben Popken on June 2, 2008 5:03 PM   3 Comments

    —>Here is a new number to reach T-mobile Executive Customer Service:  More »

    Trapster: A Cellphone Social Network To Fight Speed Traps
    By Jay Slatkin on June 2, 2008 1:31 PM   87 Comments

    —>Each year, Americans spend billions (yes, we said billions) of dollars on traffic tickets. Launched in April, a new service called Trapster aims to help keep some of that money in your pocket by alerting you to nearby speed traps through your cell phone or PDA. According to CNN, Trapster incorporates a live database with your mobile device's GPS or WiFi capability to alert you to nearby police speed traps as well as radar and red-light cameras. Details and demonstration video, inside.....  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on June 2, 2008 1:03 PM   7 Comments

    • Firestone: $18.99 Oil Change with free tire rotation
    • T-mobile: Nokia 2610 Prepaid Free after rebate
    • Amazon: Led Zeppelin Mothership MP3 album download for $4.99
    Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Bargainist
    • Dell Outlet: 15% off refurbished Inspiron 530 desktops
    • Amazon: Summer Blu-ray Blowout: Save up to 50%
    • Cooking.com: Pre-Summer Sale: Save up to 65%
      More »

    5 Things You Should Never Say While Cellphone Shopping
    By Meg Marco on June 2, 2008 12:31 PM   59 Comments

    —>We get a lot of questions and complaints about the cellphone shopping process, so we thought we'd put together a list of 5 things consumers say to cellphone sales reps that they really should just keep to themselves. Enjoy.  More »

    Dell Reduces Instant Discount By $200 Somewhere Between Shopping Cart And Order Confirmation
    By Chris Walters on May 30, 2008 5:27 PM   54 Comments

    Before we get to the typical bad-company shenanigansin this case, Dell's $599 discount mysteriously shrank to $400 between when he placed it in his shopping cart and when he reached the confirmation screenwe want to share this bit of ridiculousness. Dell's CSR Vanessa gives us the scoop on Dell's sophisticated order fulfillment system:  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 30, 2008 12:01 PM   4 Comments

    • GraveyardMall: The Fresh Box: Automatic Vacuum Seal Food Storage and Marinater for $7.99
    • Walgreens: Printable $10 off $30 Coupon - 5/30/08 only
    • Lowe's: Free Tools by mail when you purchase $50 in Gift Cards
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Skechers: $15 off Footware & Apparel Orders with Coupon
    • Philips Outlet: Philips DVD, DivX, & iPod Theater System $120 Shipped
    • Amazon: Save an Extra $10 off Victorinox Swiss Army Knives
      More »

    As Food Costs Rise, People Are Buying More Ramen and...Spam?
    By Meg Marco on May 29, 2008 6:19 PM   133 Comments

    —>The Associated Press is saying that rising food costs are driving people to buy more Spam, despite the fact that the Spam itself is more expensive. Are you really doing this?  More »

    Sam's Click 'n' Pull Is Lame 'n' Broken
    By Chris Walters on May 29, 2008 5:32 PM   42 Comments

    —>Will in Georgia thought he'd try to take advantage of the Click 'n' Pull program offered by Sam's Clubyou make your shopping list ahead of time (the "click" part) and the store pulls it all for you and calls you when it's ready to pick up. Based on Will's experiences so far, the program isn't quite ready for Georgians.  More »

    Get 5% (Or More) Off Anything Anything At Amazon
    By Ben Popken on May 29, 2008 5:11 PM   13 Comments

    —>ProBargainHunter tells us how to snag 5-15% in extra savings on Amazon by tweaking the "Quick Picks" function.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 29, 2008 12:08 PM   7 Comments

    • Sharp: AQUOS Special Savings up to 50% off (NJ,IL, CA pickup only)
    • Amazon: Leatherman Skeletool CX Multitool for $64 + free shipping
    • Woot: Razer Diamondback 3G Gaming Mouse for $24.99
    Highlights From Dealhack
    • Discovery Store: Free Two Bonus DVD Sets with Planet Earth 5-Disc Set
    • B&H Photo: Canon Mini DV Digital Camcorder only $149 Shipped
    • Skype: Save an Extra One-Third off Unlimited Calling Plans
      More »

    The Supreme Court rejected T-Mobile's appeal in 3 cases yesterday, which means an earlier federal ruling that says states "can refuse to enforce arbitration clauses if they include bans on class actions" will stand. Now T-Mobile has to go back to state courts to deal with the class action lawsuits against it. [Associated Press]  More »

    Updated: Reach Verizon Wireless Executive Customer Service
    By Ben Popken on May 28, 2008 4:24 PM   10 Comments

    —>Here are a several direct lines for Verizon Wireless executive customer service reps, good for when lower level customer service reps and their supervisors fail you. These are the folks imbued with godly powers to fix customer service problems at all levels. It's like playing Super Mario Brothers using Game Shark.  More »

    BBB Works Against Sprint
    By Ben Popken on May 28, 2008 12:23 PM   12 Comments

    Some people think the BBB doesn't work. They do, but only if the company cares about keeping a clean record. See when you look up a company in the BBB database it shows you how many complaints have been filed against the company, how many were answered, how many did the consumer report as being satisfactorily resolved, etc. So if you have a valid complaint, file it with the BBB, and the company cares about its BBB record, you have a decent chance of getting a solution. You might not believe it, but it turns out Sprint is one of those companies. Here's Kevin's story of how the BBB got his erroneous text message charges refunded and let him leave contract early without early termination fee...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 28, 2008 12:08 PM   7 Comments
      More »

    Borders Launches A Website With A "Magic Shelf"
    By Meg Marco on May 27, 2008 2:20 PM   23 Comments

    —>Borders has finally decided to launch its own website (previously, its online business had been handled by Amazon.com). CEO George Jones says:  More »

    ATT Begins Reducing ETF Charges Month By Month
    By Ben Popken on May 27, 2008 1:57 PM   22 Comments

    —>AT&T has started having early termination fees go down each month for new contracts (old customers are still screwed). The $175 fee for canceling AT&T service before the end of your two-year contract will go down $5 every month. This means that even by month 23 out of the total 24 you will still pay a $60 fee. While the other providers have announced their intention to do the same, Verizon and AT&T are the only companies to actually have ETFs go down over the course of the contract. This should not be confused with "pro-rating," however, as the fee is not being divided proportionally. If it was, the fee would go down $7.30 each month and by month 23 you would only pay a $7.30 penalty.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 27, 2008 12:21 PM   10 Comments
  • Home Depot: Buy One Get One Shrub reusable coupon
  • White Castle: 27 cent sliders today only from 2-3:27 pm
  • Kohl's: Dockers True Chino Pants for $13.99
    • Highlights From Dealhack
    • Amazon: Save up to 50% off Two Hundred DVD Titles
    • Geeks: Altec Lansing Surround Sound Speaker System $40
    • Apple Store: Save $200 off Refurb 1.6GHz Apple MacBook Air
      More »

    Have HotSpot @Home On T-Mobile? Here's A Way To Save $10 Per Month
    By Chris Walters on May 23, 2008 5:11 PM   19 Comments

    —>Jacob writes:  More »

    After a successful pilot program, Macy's is putting fancy Japanese-style vending machines in 400 of its stores. They'll sell things like iPods and cameras. Looks like Macy's will have to add another list of things excluded from its not-very-valuable coupons. [Reuters]  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 23, 2008 12:24 PM   7 Comments
  • Learning Curve: Thomas The Tank Engine for $2.99 shipped
    • Highlights From DealhackHighlights From Bargainist
    • Amazon: $10 off $29 order of Folgers, Millstone, & Pringles products
    • H&M: Friends & Family Event: 20% off $60 purchases coupon
    • Hasbro Toy Shop: Memorial Day Sale: Up to 50% off select toys & games
      More »

    To Avoid Billions In Lawsuits, Cellphone Companies Propose Tepid Early Termination Fee Reform
    By Ben Popken on May 22, 2008 1:43 PM   39 Comments

    —>  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 22, 2008 5:36 AM   9 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 21, 2008 7:40 AM   4 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack  More »

    Bring A Magnet When You Go Grill Shopping And Other Tips From Consumer Reports
    By Meg Marco on May 20, 2008 6:59 PM   73 Comments

    —>Consumer Reports has some tips for those of you who are grill shopping this week. Our favorite? Bring a magnet! CR says some grills are made of crappy stainless steel that magnets will stick to.  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 20, 2008 11:48 AM   0 Comments
    SlickDeals: Nintendo WII Fit: List of Store... More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 19, 2008 1:24 PM   6 Comments
    Amazon: Toy Clearance 50-70% offDealnews: Credit... More »

    Meet Crissy, The High Priestess Of Coupon Clippers
    By Jay Slatkin on May 16, 2008 12:50 PM   204 Comments

    —>Crissy Thompson (pictured left) is among the coupon clipping elite. 11Alive News followed her around one day to learn some of her secrets. At a local Publix, Crissy managed to get two-thirds off her grocery bill and at CVS picked up $140 worth of goods for $5. Often, she spends only $10 a week on groceries and that's with 3 kids and a husband. Check out some of her techniques and her favorite coupon web sites, inside...  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 16, 2008 12:42 PM   6 Comments
    NoFear: Spy Sunglasses for ~90% off, take $5 off... More »

    This Online Pet Store Has Rabies
    By Chris Walters on May 15, 2008 9:00 PM   120 Comments

    —>  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 15, 2008 7:25 AM   17 Comments

    Highlights From Dealhack  More »

    Morning Deals
    By Ben Popken on May 14, 2008 12:52 PM   2 Comments
    EagleBit: Refurbished Western Digital My Book... More »

    This Virgin Mobile FAQ Is Honest, But Not Very Helpful
    By Meg Marco on May 14, 2008 12:20 PM   35 Comments

    —>Reader Aiden was considering buying a Virgin Mobile phone, but he had some questions about their Studio V program. (It allows you to make wallpapers and ringtones and sell them for $0.10 in airtime credit to other Virgin Mobile users.) The FAQ he found was honest, but not very helpful.  More »

    Passenger Cited For Refusing To Get Off His Cellphone On Southwest Flight
    By Meg Marco on May 13, 2008 7:59 PM   97 Comments

    —>A gentlemen who ignored flight attendants requests that he get off his cellphone was met by police when the flight landed at Dallas' Love Field. Joe David Jones, 50, of Austin was ticketed for disorderly conduct, says the Associated Press.   More »