What's On Your Mind? Target, Sweepstakes, Starbucks

Relationships can be complicated, and sometimes they complicate consumer transactions. William, of Merritt Island, Fla., contacted us about his purchase of a Kindle e-reader at Target in December for his son to give to his girlfriend for Christmas. Alas, the couple broke up just before the holidays so the Kindle sat in its box, unopened.

“We were told by the salesperson in electronics we had 90 days to return,” William told ConsumerAffairs.com. “We attempted to return the Kindle, unopened on February 4th. They stated they could not accept the return because if was over 45 days. They stated we had to return by February 2, 2012. I called everyone to file a complaint to no avail.”

Unfortunately, William got some bad information from the salesman. According to Target's website, most items can be returned within 90 days. However, there are a few exceptions, and unfortunately, they include e-readers.

Sales pitch

It's never a good idea to answer surveys or sign up for sweepstakes online. Rosetta, of Abington, Va., is learning that the hard way.

“I am getting daily reports that 1830 is a possible winner on my computer, but it shows that not only is that is my number, but 1830 is assigned to other people too,” Rosetta said. “I feel that this is wrong. I have been registering daily online and have been getting phone calls from salesmen wanting to sell me stuff on the cell phone. Sad that I never see any actual winners and your name is only being put on a selling list for all kinds of stuff and this isn't being made clear when you first go on."

Well, let's make it clear now. When you sign up to play these kinds of sweepstakes, you are paying with your privacy and your contact information. And believe us, you will be contacted.

Coffee stains

Robert, of Denver, Colo., likes Starbucks' coffee. But he has a problem.

“I notice that the cups, more often than not, tend to leak at the seam when the lid is in place,” Robert said. “I have plenty of ruined shirts and a big dry-cleaning bill to prove it.”

Robert should make sure that he hasn't placed two lids, stuck together, on his coffee cup. That, indeed, will cause a leak. Meanwhile, we'll stay on the lookout for more reports of leaky Starbucks cups.