When a Retailer Asks, ‘Can I Have Your ZIP Code?’ Just Say No
Most of us have, at some point, been asked for our address, ZIP code, phone number or e-mail address while buying something. What’s the deal with that?
Articles from Contributor
Why Golden Corral’s Gross-Out Video Won’t Scare Off Customers
The phrase “public relations nightmare” gets thrown around often. But the truth is that viral videos showing disgusting things happening at chain restaurants don’t really put a dent in sales.
Nickeled, Dimed, and Dollared to Death: Fee-Laden Payroll Cards Forced On Low-Wage Workers
A recent lawsuit and reports from regulators and consumer advocates suggest that some of the most abusive fees are being forced on those least able to protect themselves
Mobile Banking? There’s an App for That — and Often a Sizable Fee Too
Banking with your smartphone? There’s an app for that. But some customers are finding there’s a fee for it as well.
Why Saving Money and Cutting Debt Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Consumer savings are up, and credit card debt is down. But experts say the economic current is running against us, so even those who think they are swimming are probably just treading water.
How the DOMA Ruling Will Affect Gay Couples’ Finances
Yesterday’s historic Supreme Court rulings will have a ripple effect on the lives and futures of gay couples, especially when it comes to their personal finances. The Court’s decision on the Defense of Marriage Act means that people who marry and live in states with legalized same-sex marriage will have that union recognized by the
…
Do-It-Yourself Checkout: Love It or Hate It, Barcode Scanning Is In Your Future
Less than two weeks apart, Costco and Sam’s Club both talked about letting customers check themselves out without a cashier. The weird thing is these two rival warehouse clubs have come to opposite conclusions about the technology: Sam’s Club is doubling down on it while Costco is eliminating it.
5 Ways Companies Win by Giving Stuff Away
Consumers love freebies. But the companies handing out complimentary donuts, comic books, ice cream, pancakes, and Slurpees love giveaways even more. On the surface, freebies look like obvious money losers. But when handled wisely, giveaways are all but guaranteed to boost sales.
Last week, Procter & Gamble hosted an enormous giveaway …
5 Summer Travel Scams to Avoid
With the summer comes peak season for scammers coming up with new ways to empty tourists’ wallets — increasingly, by getting their hands on travelers’ personal financial information. Here are five tricks to be on the lookout …
4 Reasons Excessive Overdraft Fees Just Won’t Go Away
Despite regulatory reform aimed at reining in checking account overdraft fees, the penalty is still a cash cow for banks — to the tune of about $31 billion a year. That’s down from $37 billion in 2009, but a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau makes clear the number ought to be far lower. Why? Because customers who …
Big Brother Is Watching You Swipe: The NSA’s Credit Card Data Grab
The National Security Agency isn’t just snooping into phone and online communications. It also appears to be keeping a close eye on credit card transactions. Why? And what can they see?
The Straight Poop on Dollar Shave Club’s Wet Wipes For Guys
The Dollar Shave Club guys are back, and this time they’re knocking on the back door. “I’m talking about poop,” CEO Michael Dubin announces in another self-consciously edgy (not to say “cheeky”) YouTube video shilling his company’s newest product: wet wipes for grown men.
In the blogosphere, the question of whether or not adults …