As it turns out, snooping federal agencies probably have nothing on private data collectors and aggregators. Their focus isn’t national security; it’s creating a profile of your likes, dislikes and behaviors to figure out ways to sell you stuff.
smartphones
Rideshare Battle Shifts to L.A.: City Tells Uber, Lyft, SideCar to Stop Picking Up Riders
Sharing may seem harmless—a helpful, good thing for society, even. But for months, “sharing economy” businesses like Airbnb, FlightCar, and Lyft have come under legal fire in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Austin. This week, ridesharing companies, which match nonprofessional drivers up with paying passengers, received …
Beyond Showrooming: 3 Quirky Ways Smartphones Are Changing How We Shop
When shoppers met the smartphone, they quickly learned that the device was ideal for shopping around — while shopping in person. They could do things like check Kelley Blue Book prices at car dealerships, or see if a dress in a …
Weird Money: 9 Odd Factoids from Recent Consumer Surveys and Studies
Ever wonder which alcohol brands are most popular … among consumers who are too young to buy alcohol? Is daylight savings harmless, or does it cost us hundreds of millions of dollars annually? And most pressing of all, which celebrity do you wish was your insurance agent?
The $19-Per-Month Smartphone Is Actually Getting Decent Reviews
First introduced in 2011, Republic Wireless is a North Carolina-based service that promises a smartphone with unlimited Internet, voice, and texting for an absurdly inexpensive $19 per month. Most astounding of all: The phone seems to work.
5 Top Trends for 2013 Super Bowl Commercials
The cost of advertising in the Super Bowl is rising, running an average of $4 million for a 30-second spot—up from $3.5 million last year and just $42,000 back in 1967. To justify the expense, advertisers aim to present fans with something more than just another entertaining but ultimately forgettable commercial.
‘Hot’ New Gadgets Anybody? No Thanks, We’re Good
Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas promises to unveil all sorts of gadgets that’ll not only make our lives better—but that we simply won’t be able to live without. Instead, what we get is stuff like the $99 “smart” fork.
Consumer Fatigue: Shopping Has Never Been Easier—Or as Mentally Exhausting
Hey shoppers, are you feeling overwhelmed? Burned out? Thoroughly confused? You’re not alone.
The One Big Asterisk in Retailer Price-Matching Guarantees
Toys R Us, Walmart, Best Buy, and other stores have recently announced their latest guarantees to match prices offered by competing retailers this holiday season. These guarantees sound terrific for consumers, and at first …
What’s in Store for Holiday Shopping 2012?
Where will you be shopping during the upcoming holidays? What, when, and how are you likely to check off the items on your shopping list? The predictions of retail analysts are in.
Groceries or Mobile Phone? Plenty of Consumers Spend More on the Latter
Based on all the excitement over Apple’s new iPhone 5, there’s no denying plenty of consumers just can’t get enough of their gadgets. But do some people care more about their mobile phones than they do about food—you know, the …
Could ‘Showrooming’ Actually Be Good for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers?
Stores hate it when shoppers scope out merchandise in person, only to whip out a smartphone, shop around, and ultimately make the purchase elsewhere. Yet could this practice, known as “showrooming,” wind up helping retailers, …