One way that Walmart keeps prices low is with minimal staffing levels in stores. But shoppers and workers alike are complaining that Walmart is understaffed, and the results include annoyingly long checkout lines and shelves that …
Smart Spending
The Latest Chicken Wing Crisis: Too Much Meat on the Bone
Despite the alarmist headlines that surfaced around the time of the Super Bowl, there is no real shortage of chicken wings in the marketplace. But sellers are facing an odd wing problem lately: The chickens they come from are …
Despite the Rosy Reports, Very Few People Go to the Movies Frequently Nowadays
Are you a frequent moviegoer? That’s the term the Motion Picture Association of America gives to someone who sees at least one movie per month in the theater. And the association’s report says that across the board for all age …
Southwest Airlines: We’re Not Really About Cheap Flights Anymore
The U.S.’s biggest “low fare” airline appears to be experiencing an identity crisis. In Southwest’s new ad campaign, there’s no silly humor and no mention of “bags fly free” or cheap flight prices. The message is that this is a …
Car Buying, Reenvisioned: More Like Shopping for Apple Gadgets, Ice Cream, or a Date
Imagine if buying a car was more like online matchmaking and less like, well, the miserable, stressful modern-day experience of buying a car.
As Craft Beer Gets Bigger, Will It Become More Like Big Beer? Or Perhaps Wine?
After another year of huge growth, it’s clear that craft beer is big business—perhaps too big, or at least too snobby.
In the Wake of Ugly Incidents at Sea, the Cruise Industry Is in Hot Water
When one cruise ship experiences problems at sea, it’s categorized as an isolated incident. What happens when several ships operated by the same company run into high-profile trouble?
How Google Is Horning In on Car Dealership Sales
Usually, to get a price quote from a car dealership, you must disclose your phone number and an e-mail address—an act that comes with the risk of being hounded by car salesmen. A new car-shopping tool being tested by Google changes how the game is played.
Madness for Sale: Businesses Go for a Piece of NCAA ‘March Madness’ Basketball Tournament
There’s just no stopping the madness. From Hooters restaurants to businesses selling books for homeschooled children to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, everyone seems to be pursuing a marketing tie-in to March Madness, a.k.a. the NCAA basketball tournament.
The Bigger Box Store: Home Improvement Stores That Are Double the Size of Home Depot
The average grocery store in the U.S. measures under 50,000 square feet. Home Depots average about 100,000 square feet, and the typical Costco or Walmart Supercenter—generally considered the biggest of all big box …
Why the Better Business Bureau Should Give Itself a Bad Grade
Last week, the Better Business Bureau announced that it had officially expelled one of its local affiliates, the BBB of Southland, which served the greater Los Angeles area.
Why We’re So Irrational When It Comes to Tax Refunds
Think about it: A tax refund is just that — a refund of your own hard-earned money. It’s not a gift or a stroke of good fortune. The problem is that most people don’t look at tax refunds this way.
