PlanetFeedback's ShopperCast

Auld Acquaintance be Forgot- and Old Spending Habbits!

It finally happened- the holidays are almost over!  Just when we thought we might be sick if we even glanced in the direction of another pumpkin pie, when we thought we might not actually make it through a crowd of angry lines waiting for Santa, and when it seemed we would be buried in a perpetual pile of fake snow- it happened- Christmas came and went!

Woohoo!  But what now?  Its a mere day before New Year's Eve, the very adult holiday that contrasts Christmas like Halloween pumpkins contrast the Easter Bunny!  We stay up until midnight, sing songs we can hardly pronounce the words to, and we make resolutions that will be forgotten long before Superbowl season.  But with the economy still steadily declining, it might not be a bad idea to make a few reasonable resolutions to help cut costs- without cutting the fun out of your life.

Entertainment
With hit high-budget movies like "Twilight" topping the box office, it leaves us wondering why we still need to shell-out $10.25 for our kids to see a movie-and that's before a $5.00 soda, $5.00 popcorn, and gobs and gobs of candy- priced manically high as well.  Entertainment books are a great way to find family savings.  They save money not only at restaurants, but include discount movie passes and vouchers for snacks at the theater too.  One of the most popular, simply named, The Entertainment Book offers vouchers for $6.00 movies as well as vouchers for up to $3.00 off your movie snacks!  Throw a can of coke in your bag (movie patrons are once again allowed to bring their own concessions into movie theaters) and your kids are ready to lust after teenage vampires for a mere $9.00.

Groceries
Not all of us are willing to live under $1.00 a day- but getting back to basics can help us do so.  Blog, Divine Caroline, has listed 20 of the healthiest foods that can cost us less than a buck.  Topping the list are oats, eggs, kale, and potatoes-wait-we can lump two resolutions into one?  Sure beats McDonald's dollar menu!

Cell Phones
Now is a great time to look at your cell phone plan and decide whether or not you really need all the features you are paying for.  Review your old bills and see how many minutes you use and how many text messages you send each month.  If you are using way less than what you are paying for, try downgrading to the next level.  Even if you end up going over by a few minutes, you may be saving more than you would by purchasing a larger package.  Know several people who use your carrier?  For around $7.00 a month you can subscribe to a mobile-to-mobile plan that may help you cut down on the amount of minutes you use and help you get down to the next tier plan.

Contributed by Alicia Butler

Sue You!

Well now that all the merriment and holiday-making is over, it's time to get back to real life.  And, unfortunately, for many couples and families, that means d-i-v-o-r-c-e.  People generally don't want to split with a spouse right before the holidays, so the marriage limps along through the end of December.  Statistically, a large percentage of couples of separate and/or file for divorce in January.  Our marriage did just that.

But who can afford a lawyer in this economy? 

Lawyers cost money.  Not only been there and done that, but it's also our livelihood.  Lawyers want retainers.  $1,000 right up front - and only if you're lucky.  Some attorney retainers are much higher than that.  And after that retainer is exhausted (as it invariably will) you will pay by the hour ~ sometimes up to $300 or $400 an hour.

Tough to pay this bill under the best of circumstances.  Add with holiday bills coming due and people worrying about whether they're going to  have a job in the New Year... yikes.

So more people are doing their divorces on they're own (and often at their own peril).  There are all sorts of legal pitfalls that await the unwary... especially if the other side is represented by counsel.  You could be waiving valuable rights that you don't even know you have. 

Our suggestion is a practical one.  If at all possible, ask about mediation. It's much cheaper and a mediator is a lawyer and can help the parties come to an amicable agreement on property division and child custody matters.  (Hint - amicable usual equals cheaper.)  Our other idea is to draft your documents yourself but, prior to filing, to hire an attorney (through referrals from friends or a referral agency) for a few hours to review them and to consult with to be sure you haven't overlooked anything major. 

Good luck.

--Contributed by Deb

A Green Christma$

So we got our newspaper the other day.... and it was filled with ads for post-holiday sales.  Already.  Whew.  Starting first thing on Friday morning. 

One guess this is to appeal to people who want to stock up on their holiday goodies for next year ~ if you're thinking about going with an artificial Christmas tree next year, maybe it's a good idea to get one after Christmas and stick in your attic.  It's going to be significantly cheaper now than it is next November.  Or maybe Santa didn't bring you your heart's desire, you can go out and grab it at a good price.

Retailers are reportedly very depressed with how this shopping season ended.  Tis the season for the savvy shopper.

Kohl's has an after Christmas clearance that's 60-70% off... supposedly.  We don't think this is 60-70% off what you'd pay TODAY for the same item.  But it's still going to get people in the door.  And if you got a Kohl's gift card from your honey this year, you can make your money go a lot farther by buying things at their after Christmas sale.  It's been so cold here in the East, we're marginally tempted to go buy a pair of fuzzy gloves.  Perhapas we'll order them online. 

What are we at ShopperCast East doing the day after Christmas?  As little as possible.  It's been a very busy season for us and we just now finished getting ready for THE BIG DAY tomorrow.  The tape has just been barely been stuck on our last gift.  And dinner is just ready to be started. 

Merry Christmas to all....!  We wish you all the blessings of the season.

--Contributed by Deb

Top 5 Consumer Products of 2008

As 2008 comes to a close, and the new year steadily approaches, we take a look back at the good, the better, and well, frankly, the best consumer products of the year.  What took off, and what should be left behind, in hopes it won't follow us into the year 2009?

Let's start with the obvious; the IPhone.  In the past ten years, Apple, creator of the Macintosh computer, blazed back into action, wooing not only graphic designers, and the technologically savvy, with first, the IPod, and the the IPhone.   The IPod soon became the best-selling MP3 player on the market, firing far past any competitor at ludicrous speed.  Then, in 2007, Apple released its most consumer-cool product yet, the IPhone.   Apple estimates they will have sold 45 million IPhones by 2009.

Every year its something different.  In the 1980's it was Cabbage Patch Kids.  A few years ago, the XBox.  This year, the product parents are lining up for, is the Nintendo Wii.  Nintendo, very similarly to Apple, has reclaimed its power-house status as the producer of the hottest new toy on the market- only this one is for kids and adults.  Nintendo reinvented their image and the way kids play video games by creating the first console that parents can feel good about sitting their children in front of- simply because players use their own bodies to manipulate the characters on the screen, thus taking away the idea that video games will melt your kids' minds and turn them into obese couch potatoes.

It seems like eons ago if we wanted to watch a DVD we would have to trek all the way to the local video store, or heaven forbid- even Blockbuster to rent the latest Paulie Shore movie.  Thankfully, Netflix saved us from DVD mogul, Blockbuster, late fees, and even the need to leave our apartments.   Now, with over 20 million customers, Netflix delivers hundreds of titles all over the world creating the planet's largest online DVD database.

Now that we can watch movies online, and order them through the internet, it only seems reasonable we should be able to watch TV online, too.  After Hulu.com was launched this year, hundreds of viewers were able to log on and watch dozens of television programs at the drop of a hat.

And, if we should ever decide to leave the house, Kayak.com has offered us not only discount airfare, but a search engine that will find the best us price online.  Cheap airfare and no customer service representatives to deal with?  Sign us up!

-Contributed by Alicia M. Butler

The Home Stretch

If you haven't finished (or started) your holiday shopping, we're down to three days to go.  It has been a tough holiday season for retailers.  The International Council of Shopping Centers is predicting the worst shopping season since 1969.  Ouch.  That's longer than some of us have been alive.

Thus some retailers are getting creative.  More than a dozen Macy's will stay open 24 hours a day between now and Christmas... we guess to lure customers who don't have anything better to do at 3:30 a.m. than to go in and buy a cashmere sweater. 

Other stores are slashing prices.  40% off gold earrings, again at Macy's.  40% off items at the Disney Store.  All in an effort to get you to hit the malls.

But what if malls aren't your thing?  Online retailers are more than happy to help you out with last minute deals and free shipping offers.  Some of the bargains we found: 

Old Navy is offering online shoppers up to 60 percent off;

Online jeweler BlueNile.com is sending "Daily Gem" e-mails to customers alerting them to new specials each day;

Shoe store Zappos.com, clothing retailer J.Crew and others are blasting e-mails to shoppers about free shipping, including free two-day service at bag retailer Timbuk2;

BlueFly.com, is cutting its fee for expedited shipping.

Some are even guaranteeing delivery on Christmas Eve as long as you order by December 23.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

--Contributed by Deb

Music To Our Ears

The RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) has changed its tune; much to the relief of a whole bunch of music loving consumers.

They've decided to quit suing their customers.  This long reviled practice involved tracking down folks who illegally downloaded music and threatening them with a lawsuit if they didnt stop the practice and give them a chunk of money for their transgressions.  Those who didnt comply promptly found themselves in front of a judge, defending themselves against piracy charges.

This has caused a huge outcry on the part of just about everyone outside the RIAA.  The primary source of outrage stems from the concept of suing your own customers for conduct which may or may not be beneficial to the RIAA.  Still, despite all clamor, the RIAA tended to prevail in these cases and those who found themselves on the receiving end of a RIAA lawsuit justifiably quaked in their boots.

Now, there's been a change of heart.  For reasons unknown to anyone except for the inner circle, the RIAA will no longer sue folks for supposed music piracy.  Instead, they will work with ISPs to have them attempt to police the illegal downloading through methods which aren't quite yet clear.  It sounds like the worst that can happen to a pirater is to get dumped by their ISP.

So, there may still be consequences to downloading music without paying for it however it's nice to see the big hammer put away in favor of a small ballpeen.

An Expanded Whopper

Yesterday, one of our roving reporterettes wrote a wonderful piece about Burger King's new fragrance, Eau De Meat Flame.

It may seem weird to folks that a fast food restaurant company would venture into such territory especially when it involves something as unusual as the smell of cooked meat.  Jones Soda is famous for offering strange and exotic flavors however those are extensions of their natural product line.  Burger King is actually creating a completely different product whose only connection to its core offerings is the fact it smells like what they sell on a daily basis.

Combined with Burger King's recently savaged Whopper Virgins  campaign and previous Subservient Chicken ads and you'd probably be forgiven if you were wondering what in the world those marketing execs at Burger King are smoking and why can't they share some of it with the rest of us?

There's actually a strategy behind all of this - a method to the madness, if you will.

Home of the Whopper?

Just what do you get for that man who has everything?  Is he one of those backyard warriors a la Bobby Flay who spends lots of time and energy building the perfect smoker and selecting the premium wood chips.  The guy who can debate the merits of both charcoal and gas grills.  The one who knows what combination of spices makes the perfect rub for either a burger or a steak.

Consider the newest fragrance called Flame... and it's created by none other than Burger King.  Oh yes they did.  It's promoted as a combination the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat.  It's priced at, amazingly enough, only $3.99 a can for this body spray.  Shocker. 

The website showcases romance... bubble bath, roaring fire, waterfalls, beaches, roses... until you get to the picture of a mostly naked creepy King on a bear-skinned rug.  Hang on while we get ourselves up off the floor. 

Our part-time job on the weekends is at a veterinary clinic and we have images in our head of how dogs and cats would react to a man who smells of flame-broiled meat.  We imagine he'd be verrrrrry popular with our domesticated critters.

Maybe not so much with the female of his own species.  Speaking only for ourselves here, there's nothing better than a good smellin' man.  And while we don't mind treating 'em like meat, we don't necessarily want them to smell like it. 

Still.. it's a novel idea.  Who know which fast food joints are going to follow suit... Maybe Papa Johns  could make a spray that has hints of garlic butter.  We might buy that for the man on our list.  Yummmm.

--Contributed by Deb

The World Wide Web Cometh

It seems unanimous; Just as chivalry, emo music, and disco fashions are dead, so is customer service. While retail sales are steadily dropping, retailers are cutting back on good, quality, customer service driven employees, and are forced to hire their slightly less skilled (and seemingly more bitter) counterparts.  The part that really stinks, is if we stop shopping at Walmart, our only other option is to shop at a similar store, with similar service that doesn't make us feel too much better.  And while we aren't shedding any tears over corporate moguls such as Circuit City filing for chapter 11, we worry; what will happen to customer service at Best Buy now that their long-time rival has finally taken the fatal hit?  If there is one circumstance any consumer fears, it is a monopoly.

However, the small beacon of light, shining at the end of our long, dark, retail tunnel may be closer than we think.  In the midst of all our in-store customer service nightmares, the internet may be the knight to slay the dragon.  While writing letters and sending emails may not scare corporations into better customer service and policy changes, posting your views on the internet may actually help.  If a consumer has a bad experience at Sears and emails their complaint, Sears thinks, "how great is the loss of one customer?"  But with new internet platforms, allowing consumers to post their letters of dissatisfaction on websites designed to inform other customers what issues to look out for, corporations may be losing more than just one customer, they may be losing whoever reads these complain letters.

Planetfeedback.com
Planetfeedback.com creates a forum for customers to talk about their poor experiences, as well as good experiences.  They can send customer complain letters for posting, comment on what others have written and retailers also have a chance to reach out to the public as well. 

Getsatisfaction.com
Getsatisfaction.com is very similar to Planet Feedback.  The vendors seem to have a large presence on the website, however, and some companies (such as Comcast) who have a bad rap have used this website to reach out to the public to clear their name and fix customer service issues they believe have gotten out of control.

FTC Complaint Assistant
Who better than Uncle Sam to help us exercise our right of freedom of speech?

Better Business Bureau
Old faithful- The Better Business Bureau has made things easier by accepting consumer complaints through their online system.

Amazon
Who better to turn to than the internet icon that has taken over shopping as we know it?  Amazon uses a rating system (similar to Ebay) for vendors on their website.  Can't resolve a situation with the vendor?  Amazon will immediately refund both your shipping and the price of the item you purchased.  Just explain the situation, let them know you tried to contact the vendor, and presto!  The money is back in your account.  All that, and you didn't even have to leave the house!  Now that's what we at Shoppercast call customer service.

Contributed by Alicia Butler

What's Up with UPS?

What can brown do to for you?  That's the question a number of UPS customers have recently been asking on PlanetFeedback.

Debra K. purchased a 50 inch plasma television and had it delivered via UPS.  Not only was there a failure to deliver it timely, when it was delivered the UPS driver and his helper had trouble bringing it up the stairs and it was banged against the stair rails.  The result was a dented and ripped screen.  Adding insult to injury, she got the run-around from UPS when she complained ~ and now Debra K. vows never to use UPS again.

Deborah L. had a box of Christmas presents seemingly delivered (she received delivery confirmation online and via email) , but her recipient said UPS had not been there that day at all and there was no box at the house.  Several phone calls later, UPS said the driver had made a mistake and the items were still on the truck.  Now Deborah L. is questioning whether the driver was trying to pull a fast one and wants an explanation from UPS. 

John L. describes a wild and chaotic scene at a local UPS facility when he came in to pick up a package.  Long lines, total disorganization and, as the icing on the cake, a frosty and nasty clerk who seemed to be unhappy with her job and who kept people waiting in line for almost 3 hours to pick up their packages.  Three hours to pick up a box...  Who has time for that?

So what is going on?  With DHL ceasing it's domestic operations on January 30, 2009, there's certainly going to be less competition for the delivery giant, however that could also mean that there's about to be a glut of people who can do the same job as some of these UPS employees.  In this economy, jobs are hard to come by, so the last thing you want to do is be careless, or sneaky, or rude, when you can so easily be replaced.

And today is supposed to be the busiest shipping day of the year, so who knows what more we're going to see in the coming days.  Let's hope it goes smoothly for all.

--Contributed by Deb