Although this year’s holiday shopping season is a week shorter than usual, you wouldn’t know it from the way stores are moving Black Friday so far forward that some sales will start before the Thanksgiving turkey is even thawed …
Smart Spending
Cruise Industry’s Mysterious ‘Man Overboard’ Problem
It appears as if the number of cruise-ship passengers who jump, fall or otherwise end up in the ocean is regularly underreported. Perhaps four times as many passengers as official reports would lead the public to believe actually …
Groupon’s New ‘Freebies’ Section Is Missing Free Stuff
“Groupon is giving away stuff for free now,” a story in the Chicago Tribune begins. Well, no. There’s nothing free, or particularly special, to be had at the new “Freebies” section launched at the daily deal giant’s site.
The Big Lie About Shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday
Recently released consumer surveys give the impression that roughly half of shoppers will be hitting the malls on Black Friday, and over one-third of Americans will be out at stores on Thanksgiving. Absurd.
The Bad News About $3 Gas
Gas prices had been on the decline so steadily through the fall that it appeared like drivers would be enjoying a Christmas miracle in the form of $3 gasoline by year’s end. Lately, however, it’s looking like this miracle has no …
This Year, Black Friday Basically Starts a Week Early—If Not Sooner
The truth is that this year, Black Friday deals launch much earlier than Black Friday, or even Thanksgiving.
Your Grandma’s Favorite Store Reinvents Itself as Hip, Experimental Retailer
The next hot, buzzworthy retail experience comes from a business best known for … old-fashioned greeting cards?
The Incredibly Simple Guide to Getting Totally Free Flights and Hotels
There is a way to book flights and hotels all over the world without spending your own money. It’s called travel hacking, and it’s something that hardcore travelers around the world do with almost religious like fervor.
Turkey Drought? Bacon Crisis? Don’t Believe the Hype
You’re not going to get stuck eating chicken, ham, or takeout Chinese on Thanksgiving. Despite the calls for panic concerning a turkey shortage, which has conveniently hit the news just in time for Thanksgiving, there are plenty …
‘Tis the Season to Beg, Pressure, and Guilt Retailers to Stop Ruining the Season
In what’s become an annual holiday tradition, Americans are organizing protests and petitions to try and stop retailers from ruining the holidays.
Why Daily Deal Sites Are Giving Up on Daily Deals
Fewer and fewer consumers bother to open the daily deal messages plopped in their e-mail in-boxes, and fewer still follow through and actually bite on the offers. That’s why daily deal giants Groupon and LivingSocial are trying
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How to Ruin Thanksgiving, an Hour-by-Hour Guide for Shoppers
This year, in a shortened, especially desperate season for retailers, stores are giving shoppers reason to desert their families on Thanksgiving before dessert is served.