Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 23-12-2010
Yes, there are people still Christmas shopping.
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Filed Under (Consumer Reports) by Admin on 22-12-2010
Last weekend was the last shopping weekend before Christmas yet 17 percent of those we asked had not bought a single gift. Not one. For anybody. That's according to the latest poll from the Consumer Reports National Research Center. No wonder so many shoppers resort to buying gifts wherever they happen to beat drugstores (39 percent), supermarkets (34 percent ), convenience stores (13 percent), street vendors (9 percent), airports (4 percent) and vending machines (1 percent). Yes you read that right, vending machines. So don't snicker if someone gives you a Snickers. At least it's more than the IOUs that some non-shoppers admit giving.
The grab-and-go shopper is a sucker for those "As seen on TV" come-ons situated by the checkout. We grabbed a few ourselves and put them through testing in Consumer Reports' labs. And truth be told, some aren't bad although others make the vending machine gift seem like a good choice.
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Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 22-12-2010
Filed Under (Consumer Reports) by Admin on 22-12-2010
For that certain someone setting up a first apartment, theyre pots and pans. But for anybody who loves to tear out magazine recipes and putter about the kitchen, theyre cookware, and either way they make a much-appreciated Christmas gift. Nonstick pans are easier to clean and remain the most popular type. Uncoated are best for browning and braising, so if you choose nonstick, you may want to add an uncoated pan. Most sets are made of aluminum or stainless steel. And while cookware isnt cheap, here are three nonstick sets for $200 or less that scored very good overall in our tests.
Good: Calphalon Kitchen Essentials, $150
This 8-piece set is made of hard anodized aluminum; the lids are glass. Theyre dishwasher safe and come with a 10-year warranty. In most of our testscooking evenness, ease of cleaning, handle-comfort and safetythis set scored very good. Food release and handle sturdiness is mediocre. Youll find this cookware at Target.
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Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 22-12-2010
Best Buy is making it a little cheaper for people to make returns.
The electronics retailer said it will no longer charge restocking fees for returned merchandise. Special orders are the only exception. The new policy went into effect Dec. 18, just in time for when people return gifts they don’t like after Christmas.
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