Months after the infamous “poop cruise,” in which Carnival Triumph passengers were stranded at sea for five days without working toilets, Carnival Cruise Lines is still struggling to convince travelers to come back aboard its ships. Perhaps rock-bottom pricing and a new cruise passenger bill of rights will help the cause. But the fire …
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‘Big Gas Savings’: Kmart’s Funny Followup to the Viral ‘Ship My Pants’ Ad
The all-purpose discount retailer appears to have struck viral goofy gold yet again, with an online ad promoting “big gas savings.”
Drive for Free? Deals on Electric Cars Keep on Coming
For many consumers, electric-vehicle ownership has been a nonstarter for purely financial reasons. The math indicated that the money one saved in gas from an EV was usually outweighed by the car’s high initial price. But the math …
The Consumer Psychology Behind Warby Parker’s $95 Pricing for Eyeglasses
One obvious selling point for Warby Parker customers is price: The vast majority of eyeglasses sell for a reasonable (and curiously uniform) rate of $95. Perhaps what’s most remarkable of all is that the price of Warby Parker glasses was almost set at $50 cheaper.
How ‘Extreme Couponing’ Is Ruining Coupons
It always seemed mind-bogglingly difficult to achieve the kinds of savings portrayed on the TLC show “Extreme Couponing.” Thanks to tougher supermarket policies and the proliferation of less valuable coupons, extreme savings …
Theme Park Inflation: Universal Orlando Becomes First to Cross $90 Admission Mark
Each year around Memorial Day, some theme park—likely in central Florida—jacks up ticket prices by a few bucks, prompting the competition to follow suit with their own price hikes. This year, like last, it’s Universal Studios Orlando leading the charge.
Car Sharing: Future Looks Bright, Even With Some Cloudy Legal Issues
There’s just no stopping the sharing. Despite recent legal challenges to certain “peer to peer” car-sharing services, the range of sharing options keeps on expanding, making it easier and easier for consumers to skip taxis, traditional car rentals — and car ownership in general.
The Hot New Online Retail Strategy: Pushing More In-Store Purchases
You’d think that when retailers enhance their online shopping options, the goal would be increased online sales. Not so with Target, Gap and Rite Aid — which are adding new online tools with the hopes of boosting in-store sales.
Forget ‘Buy American’? U.S. Retailers Push an ‘Imports Work’ Campaign
Wanna support American workers? Buy imports. So says a new report, which claims that a cheap, robust imports marketplace not only helps American workers and families, but local farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses as well.
BlackRock’s Fink: Put it All in Stocks
Among other controversial ideas, BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink said long-term bonds had become so risky that young people should be 100% in stocks.
Video: Sorry eBay — Turns Out Some Small Businesses Support the Marketplace Fairness Act
Online giant eBay is leading the charge against legislation that would require sales tax to be collected on Internet sales. The mandate would be an unfair burden on small businesses, eBay says. And yet who are among the bill’s strongest supporters? Yep, small businesses.
Mandatory Savings Accounts Are Coming Your Way
As the retirement savings crisis deepens, the call for forced savings grows louder. We are headed for something like Australia’s “superannuation” model–with the possibility of one big change: employee contributions.