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Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Cell Phone Directly from a Wireless Provider
Handsets are often way cheaper when purchased at big-box retailers like Wal-Mart or Best Buy, or from online giant Amazon.
Online User Reviews: Use Them to Buy Wisely, Vent, and Get Free Stuff
User reviews on sites like Yelp, CitySearch, and Amazon have changed the way consumers decide what to buy, what to read, where to eat, where to get their hair done, and so on. Before trying a place or product out, you can read about the experiences of dozens, sometimes hundreds of other consumers. While the information doesn’t always …
The $14.99 e-Book Backlash
Angry readers are showing that a price will be paid by publishers that try to charge more than $9.99 per e-book. Online guerrilla saboteurs are leaving one-star ratings and awful reviews, apparently as acts of vengeance.
Avoiding “America’s Biggest Rip-offs”
CNNMoney put together a list of “America’s Biggest Rip-offs,” which include things like text messages (marked up 6500% with some cell plans), college textbooks (which cost the average student $900 a year), and popcorn at the movies (no surprise here, they charge nine times what it costs to make it). But for every rip-off, there’s usually …
Is Blu-ray Technology Worth Paying a Premium For?
The marketplace seems to be saying absolutely not. A couple years ago, Blu-ray players cost like $1,000. Until very recently, Blu-ray DVDs cost $40 and up. But after pathetic sales trickled in, Blu-ray players have been knocked down to under $100, and new DVDs go for under $10.
It Was an Awful Year for the Economy. But a Great One for the Consumer?
The most obvious upside to being a consumer this year was that you felt wanted, and you felt appreciated. In a bad year for business, retailers were very, very happy to have yours. You felt the love—though sure, they only “love” you for your money. It wouldn’t be the first time somebody was happy to be in a relationship with a gold digger.
Glyde: An eBay that’s ‘Easy Enough for My Mom to Use’
Simon Rothman, a former eBay executive, discusses his new venture called Glyde. It’s an online marketplace that aims to make life easy for buyers and sellers alike by automatically formatting listings and setting prices. Sellers don’t have to upload images, and they’re even given pre-stamped, pre-addressed packages, so that all they have …
And the Best Website for Shoppers Is …
Amazon vs. eBay vs. Wal-Mart: A WSJ and SmartMoney columnist who usually writes about investing pits the three giant shopping sites against each other in a price-comparison cage match—and also chimes in with insight on which are worth investing in.
It’s a Deal: 25 Days of Free MP3 Holiday Song Downloads
Starting today, December 1, Amazon is giving away one free holiday song download per day. The first free song is “Joy to the World,” by Casting Crowns.
Holiday Season Multi-tasking: Shopping Online—and in the Store—Simultaneously
Welcome to Black Friday 3.0: With smartphone in hand, you can stroll through a store’s aisles while browsing the deals and comparing prices at dozens of other stores.