Retailers have been promoting back-to-school deals since, well, since before many kids were even out of school. But the annoyance of endless seasonal promotions is only one reason to hold off a little while longer on back-to-school purchases.
Smart Spending
Fast Fine Casual Food? The Continued Blurring of Chain Restaurant Categories
When a prototypical fast food chain like KFC pushes into the realm of “fast casual,” what do terms like “fast food” and “casual dining” mean nowadays?
For Movie Industry, an Epic Summer for Blockbuster Flops
Hollywood is discovering that it’s not smart to release a bunch of $100 million movies at the same time.
Falling Electric Car Prices Are Saving — Or Destroying — the EV Market
Ford is the latest automaker to drop prices on its electric cars, slicing $4,000 off the 2014 Focus EV. The move will undoubtedly succeed in getting more drivers to take a second look at the car. But how long can Ford—and other automakers slashing EV prices—keep on losing money with each electric car sold?
Gas Prices Forecast to Soar During Peak Summer Vacation Period
Analysts are saying that it will soon cost nearly 10% more to fill up your gas tank. And wouldn’t you know it: The predicted spike in gas prices will coincide with the vacations of millions of Americans.
The Awfulness of Airlines Is an Opening for Trains and Buses
New train and bus services are loaded with features you almost find on airplanes nowadays, including free Wi-Fi, power outlets, party lounges—and even complimentary checked baggage.
A Disloyalty Movement? Supermarkets and Customers Drop Loyalty Card Programs
7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day: This Year With Bigger Slurpees!
It’s July 11, or 7/11, the day each year that a certain convenience store chain celebrates as 7-Eleven Day. That’s the official name anyway. Most customers know July 11 simply as Free Slurpee Day.
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.
Back to School Sales Already? Kids Get Ugly Reminder School Isn’t Too Far Off
It’s not your imagination. Stores really are pumping up back to school deals earlier than ever, even at the risk of putting shoppers—kids especially—in a foul mood.
Women at the Auto Repair Shop: Better at Haggling, Yet More Likely to Get Ripped Off
According to a new study, it’s good and bad to be a woman when dealing with auto mechanics: It’s bad because you’re more likely to get above-market price quotes for the job at hand, but good because you’re more likely than a man to negotiate a better price.
Supersizing Strikes Back: Homes and TVs Get Bigger, Sales of Yachts, RVs, Trucks Rise
After years of downsizing and making do, American consumers are going big once again.