Hey there, I hate dealing with credit cards, signing contracts. Need a good simple and reliable Prepaid cell phone. [more inside]
posted by Sentus on Nov 15, 2009 - 12 answers

I need a prepaid cellphone service in NYC that is NOT Virgin Mobile. Looking to pay about $10 a month. Don't need lots of fancy telecom doo-dads. Just need decent reception and reliable service and voicemail. What are my options? How about Verizon? Are they any good? [more inside]
posted by jason's_planet on Nov 4, 2009 - 11 answers

I mailed $20 cash to a British merchant to pay for an item ordered via email. The merchant refused to accept cash insisting payment only via Paypal. I refuse to use Paypal because of two previous bad experiences. The British merchant said they would return my cash but hasn't and no longer replies to my emails. What recourse do I have to get my money back and or file a complaint against the merchant? I'm in the USA.
posted by NorthCoastCafe on Oct 22, 2009 - 30 answers

IANALFilter: What legal rights does having an invoice grant a buyer? [more inside]
posted by Neale on Oct 21, 2009 - 5 answers

Could brake pads wear down from 50% worn to metal against metal after one 12 hour round trip to Yosemite? (See details) [more inside]
posted by stevyb on Sep 1, 2009 - 17 answers

Where can I find detailed sales data on best-selling laptops and PCs? [more inside]
posted by PercussivePaul on Aug 25, 2009 - 1 answer

Kitchen appliances: What remedies do you have when an appliance purchase and installation goes wrong? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Aug 8, 2009 - 3 answers

Telecom has undercharged me for DSL and land line service the past couple months. Is this going to bite me in the butt? If so, when and how severely? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 2, 2009 - 9 answers

How can I work towards more consumer transparency? [more inside]
posted by Vidamond on Jul 10, 2009 - 3 answers

PrepaidCellFilter: Two questions about prepaid cell plans: 1. Can I use a phone I buy off eBay with one of these plans, or is it essential to use the phones provided by the carrier? 2. If I'm mostly interested in texting, which prepaid cell provider would be the best for me? [more inside]
posted by reenum on May 21, 2009 - 10 answers

How to you curb your desire for material goods? [more inside]
posted by Fairchild on May 21, 2009 - 38 answers

Was at Best Buy today. They had the Flip Ultra HD on display - an employee led me right to it when asked. The price card said $150. As I suspected, they'd mixed it up with the Flip Ultra II. Is there anything in California state law that requires them to honor the price shown? I've been in this situation before and I'm never sure if I'm in the right to insist that they honor the price displayed. I thought there were consumer protection laws governing this stuff, to keep the retailers honest and make them care about accuracy, but I don't really know.
posted by scarabic on May 17, 2009 - 13 answers

How can I find the best foam mattress on a limited (<$400) budget? [more inside]
posted by fermion on Feb 13, 2009 - 8 answers

Economics newb asks: how does a consumer-based economy generate wealth? [more inside]
posted by wastelands on Feb 11, 2009 - 17 answers

I have thousands of photographs of the insides of closets, refrigerators, cabinets, medicine chests, etc., all of which have a decent amount of demographic data attached to each photo. It sure seems like this data would be useful to some product research firm, or manufacturer, or product developer. Is it? Do any of those companies ever buy datasets like this?
posted by ericc on Jan 23, 2009 - 3 answers

If retailers are being hit hard with a recession, then why am I not finding bargains? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Nov 14, 2008 - 15 answers

My dad wants to volunteer for a consumer advocacy group in Canada. Anyone know of any good & legitimate ones I could refer him to?
posted by RockCorpse on Oct 21, 2008 - 1 answer

Is the 8 oz. yogurt serving gone for good? [more inside]
posted by longsleeves on Oct 10, 2008 - 15 answers

So how many actual peanuts are there in a Snickers bar? [more inside]
posted by caroljean63 on Oct 2, 2008 - 12 answers

The only difference between regular vodka and super premium vodka is the price. Double shielded, gold plated speaker cables work just as well as cheap ones. What other consumer goods have "premium" versions that are identical to the budget version? [more inside]
posted by andrewzipp on Sep 29, 2008 - 55 answers

Clothes dryer [new] slashed clothing. "Repaired," dryer snags clothes, makes unsettling noise. Visited store 4x; sent registered mail to manufacturer 2x, nothing. Now what? [more inside]
posted by kmennie on Sep 8, 2008 - 8 answers

Is a refund enough? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 - 39 answers

Gatco shaving mirrors - good quality? [more inside]
posted by amtho on Jul 27, 2008 - 7 answers

Are there any other companies/websites that compare to Consumer Reports for information/ratings of consumer products? Before I subscribe to their service I was looking for input as to the quality of the reports they provide. Thanks.
posted by boby on Jul 26, 2008 - 7 answers

I'm looking for a company based in India, cited in a story I heard on NPR sometime in the past week or so, that handles a given number of Joe Consumer research queries per month for a flat fee. [more inside]
posted by blue andrea on Jul 25, 2008 - 6 answers

I recently became involved with a local television station and I'm looking to invest in a "broadcast quality," consumer camcorder. Is there even such a thing? Or should I penny up for something in the prosumer range?
posted by maalsa on Jul 11, 2008 - 13 answers

How do supermarket IOUs work? [more inside]
posted by andrewyakovlev on Jun 2, 2008 - 4 answers

How should I contest the big bad phone company? More inside. [more inside]
posted by 4Lnqvv on May 14, 2008 - 4 answers

Unresponsive domain registrar -- HELP! [more inside]
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord on Feb 13, 2008 - 14 answers

What are some retail credit card accounts (ie Macy's Card) that deliver good freebies, coupons, discounts or other promos for members? [more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur on Jan 13, 2008 - 13 answers

Please recommend current-market analog cassette decks with superior signal/noise ratios. [more inside]
posted by mykescipark on Dec 12, 2007 - 4 answers

Global consumer spending/expenditure data, beyond government stats [more inside]
posted by Marzipan on Dec 10, 2007 - 2 answers

Is there a online repository for ongoing consumer contests? [more inside]
posted by hypersloth on Nov 21, 2007 - 3 answers

I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time in France (Paris and Bordeaux and Lyon) over the next 6 weeks. What's the cheapest way to get mobile internet (3G or wifi)? [more inside]
posted by ascullion on Aug 22, 2007 - 4 answers

We found an unauthorized charge of about $1,000 on our Visa statement -- from seven months ago (groan). What's our best plan for recovering these funds? [more inside]
posted by diastematic on Mar 9, 2007 - 12 answers

What should I do about an over-eager or clumsy loss-prevention officer? [more inside]
posted by rhizome on Mar 1, 2007 - 39 answers

A relative of mine just bought a new car in Massachusetts and was blatantly robbed with bogus dealership fees. Example: $500 "registration fee" and of course the deluxe "extended warranty". Unfortunately the deal is done and it appears each bogus fee is perfectly legal in Mass and there's no "cooling off period". Is there is any recourse to persuade the dealer to reconsider these fees?
posted by StarForce5 on Feb 2, 2007 - 13 answers

ConsumerFilter: Does a retailer in California really have a right to null and void a published coupon before it's expiration date? [more inside]
posted by sammich on Jan 22, 2007 - 17 answers

Help me find a new digital camera that uses xD media cards. [more inside]
posted by Loto on Jan 6, 2007 - 13 answers

PS3 filter; you knew it was inevitable. How can I get my hands on a Ps3 tonight or tomorrow? I'm in Phoenix, Arizona and I'm not about to go drop $2k to get one off of Ebay. [more inside]
posted by Bageena on Nov 16, 2006 - 13 answers

I accidentally dropped my 5th-gen iPod on the floor, and now it doesn't work. I checked the serial number of the unit on Apple's service site, and it tells me that I only have 7 days left on my 1-year limited warranty. What should I do? [more inside]
posted by melorama on Nov 4, 2006 - 20 answers

What do I have to buy to have everything Peyton Manning says I should? [more inside]
posted by airguitar on Oct 21, 2006 - 13 answers

How can one tell the production history of a microwave oven? I bought a GE JES1656SJ at Best Buy today. Got it for a good price. Went home, Googled the model number. Very few hits. Nothing at epinions or consumerreview. Not sold at amazon. On the GE website itself, I found its page (with some effort). On this page it said "Sold Only at Lowe's" (the chain hardware/appliance stores). The fact that I bought this elsewhere notwithstanding, is there anyway to find out if this is an old/defective/dangerous/unpopular model? Is it unusual to produce specific models for certain outlets? The oven is still in the box pending the results of my investigation. Thanks.
posted by the sobsister on Jun 25, 2006 - 7 answers

How sinister is a pre-employment "investigative consumer report" that includes interviews with acquaintances? What do those interviews involve exactly? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 27, 2006 - 14 answers

If I have a good mattress and a frame that supports it, do I really need a boxspring? [more inside]
posted by kenoshakid on Apr 1, 2006 - 21 answers

WidgetsFilter. What government (US) resource will tell me how many unique widgets are available for sale each year? [more inside]
posted by pants on Mar 29, 2006 - 4 answers

[UK] Buying a new car from a dealership - do I have to pay "document fees"? [more inside]
posted by coach_mcguirk on Mar 22, 2006 - 14 answers

So, I admit it, I browse ebay a lot and I'm also not averse to surfing the many teleshopping channels. Now in my travels I often see things which look like they are too good to be true - especially on the TV. You know the sort of thing - the drill which has a lifetime guarantee and will drill through concrete or steel etc. or the juicer that takes the whole fruit without cutting it up or the makeup that can make you look 10 years younger. Anyway it got me thinking that there must be some web site somewhere where I can get reviews of these kind of "wonder-products"! Most of the review sites I've found are pretty poor in my opinion - so few products are actually reviewed and I've yet to find any that look at eBay or Teleshopping products. Of course if anyone has any genuine wonder-products they have got this way then feel free to post a short review here as well!
posted by empedia on Mar 21, 2006 - 6 answers

14-year Apple veteran -- Where to go to change the world? [more inside]
posted by tkolar on Mar 20, 2006 - 13 answers

I subscribe to the Boston Globe newspaper, which recently accidentally distributed credit card and bank routing info printouts with newspaper bundles. I am angry about this carelessness and want to respond somehow, but I selfishly really enjoy the paper and do not want to cancel my subscription. What are other good ways of responding? Sharp-tongued letters (to whom?), etc?
posted by cadge on Feb 10, 2006 - 10 answers