No one present at next week’s swearing-in ceremony of Barack Obama as president is supposed to pay a dime to attend the event. But some attendees may be paying thousands of dollars for the privilege.
Odd Spending
NHL Lockout Is Over! Guess Who’s Happier than Fans or Players?
All along during the NHL lockout, fans have felt like they’ve been held hostage by both sides of the negotiations. But that’s nothing compared with businesses that rely on NHL game-day crowds — which have been laying off …
Why Shoppers Just Can’t Resist Clearance Sales
It’s prime time for consumers to buy things they shouldn’t, even at 75% off.
Guys and Dollars: How Groceries, Barbies, Fashion and More Are Being Marketed to Men
Word has gotten out that men do more of the household shopping nowadays. Accordingly, we’re being asked to shop in “man aisles” in supermarkets, and we’re even being subjected to an awful new made-up term: “mansumer.”
10 Big Retail Trends from the 2012 Holiday Shopping Season
What did the 2012 holidays teach us about the current state of shoppers—and, of course, the places where they shop?
Top Grinchiest Stories of the 2012 Holiday Season
Given the number of recent Grinch-like thefts and other Grinch-like actions that have ruined Christmas for some, it looks like there are indeed people whose hearts are two sizes too small. Here’s a roundup of this season’s …
Truly Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Options for Deal Hunters – Or the Merely Desperate
Don’t feel down that it’s December 24 and you still have shopping to do. There are plenty of quick and easy options to consider—and you may even be rewarded for waiting so long.
Why Free Shipping Is Almost Universal — And Why You Should Be Wary of It
If you didn’t notice it, yesterday was celebrated in some quarters as Free Shipping Day. It does seem odd, though, to focus on a single day for free shipping when throughout the entire season free shipping has not really been …
McDonald’s for Christmas? Burger Chain Asks Franchisees to Make It Business As Usual
A Big Mac probably isn’t your idea of Christmas dinner, but McDonald’s is asking its franchisees to stay open on Christmas Day — a day when even Wal-Mart, which caught flack for opening on Thanksgiving evening this year, closes its doors.
Apple Fans Lash Back at Idea That There’s an ‘Apple Tax’
Are the fanboys who wait outside Apple stores for hours to buy new iPhones and iPads basically slaves? Are the hundreds of dollars some families spend year in, year out on new Apple products tantamount to a tax?
10 Cool Holiday Gifts You Can Make with a 3-D Printer
From a ring that serves as a beer opener to a Ryan Gosling figurine, 3D printers are churning out some odd gifts for this holiday season.
For Online Shoppers, It’s the Most Wonderful Frustrating Time of the Year
Take a look at the e-commerce sales totals from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and it’s clear: Consumers are embracing online shopping like never before.
