The Honda Fit EV gets the equivalent of 118 mpg, a rating that leads all electric cars widely available to the public. Drivers who lease an electrified version of the award-winning Fit may be even more intrigued with another …
Smart Spending
America’s Grouchiest, Dirtiest Family Restaurants
Few diners head to Friendly’s or Waffle House expecting top-of-the-line cuisine, service or ambience. The results of a new survey indicate that these chains seem to live up to their expectations.
Don’t Like the Car’s Price? Wait an Hour
This is the kind of negotiating that a car buyer could get used to. Through Monday, eBay is selling at least 10 new cars per day in a very unique way: The asking price for each vehicle starts at MSRP—and then drops by $500 every hour until somebody buys.
The Stubborn Consumers Who Just Aren’t Buying Cars
At first glance, June 2012 appears to be shaping up as a fairly big month for auto sales. Industry experts estimate that 1.2 million new cars will be sold by the end of June, a rise of 18% compared to last June, and the most cars …
9 Ways to Beat the Hotel Rates Shown at Orbitz
Reactions have been mixed to the Wall Street Journal’s story revealing that, in some cases, Orbitz shows Mac users higher-priced hotel results than those displayed to people searching with PCs. The practice seems to unfairly …
Wine Drinkers Will Pay More for Bottles with Hard-to-Pronounce Names
What’s in a name? One study shows that in terms of wine, the name on the label can have a big impact on how much drinkers enjoy the taste—as well as how much they’re willing to pay. Wine enthusiasts report higher levels in both …
Why Everyone Should Be Shopping Online—While in Actual Stores
“Showrooming,” the practice in which consumers check out merchandise in a physical store and then buy it at a cheaper price online, is the bane of brick-and-mortar retailers everywhere. It’s got to be extra insulting when …
Want to Stop Drivers from Speeding? Pay Them
There already are obvious financial incentives to obey the speed limit: Speeding can result in costly tickets, as well as even more costly auto insurance surcharges. But what if the incentive system was reversed and drivers were …
Have Consumers Maxed Out on TV Purchases?
TV fatigue has appeared to have set in. No, not in terms of TV viewing, which even with the rise of cord cutting and increased use of the Internet for entertainment, seems to be as strong as ever. But in terms of new TV …
The Recent Evolution of How We Get Tipsy
A generation ago, a stocked liquor cabinet and a fridge filled with mass-produced beer were standards in the American home, and restaurants and bars served alcohol at a reasonable markup. In recent years, though, wine and craft …
$3 Gas, Here We Come
Gas prices, once all but guaranteed to hit record highs this summer, are now forecast to keep retreating well into autumn. At the current pace, by Thanksgiving if not sooner the national average should dip under $3 per …
Is a Quick-Service Pizza Joint Really the Most Satisfying Chain Restaurant Experience?
American consumers are apparently very satisfied with national pizza chains. The highest score in a new customer satisfaction survey was awarded to Papa John’s, while one of its low-cost pizza rivals, Little Caesar, also had one …