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Consumer Affairs

Retail Stores and Shopping

Retailing is a tough business these days. Margins are paper-thin and it's hard to compete with the ever-expanding Wal-Mart. That makes it all the more important for retailers to value their customers and jump through flaming hoops to keep them happy. Doesn't always happen though, as these examples show.


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What's On Your Mind? Target, Sweepstakes, Starbucks Our daily look at consumer reviews

Valentine's Day Spending Expected to Average $126 Money may not buy love but it makes a good down payment

Amazon Strikes Back, Plans to Try Its Hand at Bricks-and-Mortar Retailing Report says online giant will experiment with local boutique-style stores

J.C. Penney Refuses to Fire Ellen DeGeneres Turns aside complaints from anti-gay hate group which demanded her ouster

Victoria's Secret Commercials Draw Complaints Women object their husbands are "practically hypnotized"

Dealing Directly With Florist May Avoid Valentines Glitches Do you really want to trust your love life to a middleman?

How Long Should You Wait For An Order Or Refund? The Federal Trade Commission has a rule for that

J.C. Penney TV Ad Draws Strong Reactions Female consumers find screaming women irritating, annoying and disturbing

Are You An Experiential Shopper? Consumers who buy experiences rather than possessions are happier, study says

J.C. Penney Revamping Prices, Promising Monthly Sales Events James Cash Penney's company gets a new look, new logo, new sales strategy

Macy's Sues Martha Over J.C. Penney Deal Claims it has the exclusive right to sell Martha's stuff

Family Dollar Plans 500 New Stores This Year Customers "buying what they need, not what they want"

What's On Your Mind? Kmart, Netflix, GE Light Bulbs Our daily look at consumer reviews

Kodak Files for Bankruptcy Protection It's the latest victim of the digital transformation

When Products Change, Some Consumers Notice Savvy consumer calls out General Mills on reformulated Whole Grain Cheerios

Consumers Appear Ready to Keep Spending Retailers forecast 3.4% increase in sales this year

Food Lion Kills Off Its Bloom Brand, Closes 126 Stores Latest sign of hard times in the supermarket business

Lender Cuts Credit to Sears/Kmart Vendors Sears Holdings insists it is solvent

What's On Your Mind? Target, Gold's Gym, Flat Rate Van Lines Our daily look at consumer reviews

Gift Card Problems Mar Holidays for Many Nothing foolproof or simple about the ubiquitous gift card

Sears Identifies 79 Stores to be Closed Weak holiday sales contributed to the decision, company says

Are Businesses Overreacting To Rising Shoplifting? In era of heightened security, some consumers may overreact too

Survey: Amazon Rises, Netflix Falls In Customer Satisfaction Netflix paying the price for recent blunders, analysts say

What's On Your Mind? Toys R Us, Bally Total Fitness, Travel Zoo Our daily look at consumer reviews

As Many As 120 Sears, Kmart Stores To Close Retailer reports disappointing holiday sales

What To Do With Unwanted Gift Cards A gift card exchange will pay you a portion of the face value

What's On Your Mind? Kohl's, Payday Nation, Best Buy Our daily look at consumer reviews

Think We're Big Holiday Spenders? Think Again U.S. ranks 20th in holiday spending

Many Happy Returns: Post-Holiday Tips Avoid stress by knowing a store's return policies

Advice For Last-Minute Shoppers There are same great deals, but make sure the gift is safe and appropiate

Online Holiday Sales Up Sharply This Year Last week may have been busiest for online shopping

Last-Minute Shopping Tips Save Time, Trouble & Money A little planning can reduce stress, cut costs and prevent mistakes

PayPal Latest to Invade Groupon's Turf With Daily Deals How big can the daily deal market get?

Retailers Irate Over Amazon Price Comparison App Sen. Snowe calls it "anti-competitive" and an attack on small business

What's On Your Mind? Emeril Cookware, Delta Airlines, Ol' Roy Dog Food Our daily look at consumer reviews

Not Everyone's Spending Money For The Holidays Large group plans no holiday spending this year

Online Spending Up Sharply Over Last Year Cyber Week sets new spending record

What's On Your Mind? Walmart, T-Mobile, Payday Loans Yes Our daily look at consumer reviews

Electronics Drive Early Holiday Sales It seems everyone wants a gadget this year

DNA Barcode Could Soon Reduce 'Seafood Fraud' Technology would positively identify fish species

Pepper Spray, Price Disputes, Sold-Out Items? Must Be Black Friday Walmart takes heat for not having advertised items

Black Friday Gets Underway with Shooting, Pepper-Spray Incidents "Competitive shopping" incident injures 20 Walmart shoppers

When Shopping Online, It's BuyerBeware.com Computer expert says online shoppers should exercise extra care

Shopping Advice: Be Careful Out There Attorneys General weigh in with holiday shopping tips

Five Things To Remember About Gift Cards This year, gift cards come with both pros and cons

How To Make Every Shopping Day 'Black Friday' Don't be shy about asking for discounts, expert suggests

Consumers Feeling Glum as Holiday Season Opens Survey finds 37% of consumers say they are worse off than last year

Retailers Hoping To Connect With Consumers This Holiday Season Retail consultants advise stores to return to old-fashioned service

What to Watch Out For This Holiday Shopping Season Hidden fees, high shipping charges, return policies are all potential trouble spots

What's On Your Mind? iPhone, Providian Bank Our daily look at consumer reviews

Tablets Top Shoppers Lists This Season They also are tops on gift lists, not coincidentally

Consumer Reviews And Stats Benefit Consumers And Retailers, Study Finds Negative observational behavior doesn't dampen sales

What's On Your Mind? Budget Blinds, Regions Bank, ADT, Speedy Cash Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? Sears, LA Weight Loss Centers, Kitchenaid Our daily look at consumer reviews

Reconsidering Black Friday: Is It Really Worth It? As Black Friday gets longer, demands on consumers - and employees - increase

Massachusetts Fines Starbucks For Undisclosed Fee On Coffee Consumers paid fee when they bought less than one-pound

Schumer: Layaway Fees Rival Even the Highest Credit Card Rates NY Senator wants retailers to prominently disclose "sky-high" fees

hhgregg Sets Thanksgiving Midnight Opening Retailers moving Black Friday up to Thursday night

Walmart Moves Black Friday Up a Few Hours Selected items will go on sale at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night

Starbucks Juiced Up Over Its Latest Acquisition Maybe there's a reason the word "coffee" was dropped from the logo?

Black Friday Becoming Black Midnight Big retailers opening at midnight to get a jump on Black Friday

What's On Your Mind? Ashley Furniture, Sirius, Debt Relief Network, Bunn Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? Office Depot, Marriott, Wired Plastic Our daily look at consumer reviews

Are Automatic Renewals A Deceptive Practice? Question appears to have been asked, and answered, in 2006

Amazon Unveils Kindle Lending Library A perk for Amazon Prime members may help sell Kindles, Amazon hopes

What's On Your Mind? Target, First Mortgage West, LG Our daily look at consumer reviews

Google Poses New Threat to Groupon Search giant "bundles" daily deals from smaller sites

Consumers Complain Of Slow Service At PlanetRX But they note there is no delay in charging their credit cards

Consumers Don't Read Food Labels As Much As They Think Label's position on package may influence how many people read it

Seafood Fraud Found in Boston DNA tests confirms 1 in 5 fish samples were mislabeled

What's On Your Mind? BMG Music Club, Government Grant Scam, Whirlpool, Samsung Our daily look at consumer reviews

Lowes Closing 20 Stores, Cutting Nearly 2,000 Jobs Sagging housing market takes its toll on home center chain

Penny Auction Deals May Not Be So Sweet Consumer Reports find many bidders spend big bucks, leave empty-handed

Gap Closing 200 North American Stores Continues to shift emphasis overseas

Walmart Shutters Its Marketside Stores Massive chain's first experiment with smaller stores judged a flop

Web Start-Up Delivers Handmade Goods Subscribers won't know what they're getting until it arrives

Reebok To Pay $25 Million To Settle Deceptive Ad Charges Claimed its shoes toned legs and butt just by walking

California Will Charge Online Sales Tax Measure is intended to pave the way for Congressional action

Expert: Consumers Should Negotiate More On Price In soft economy, more things are negotiable

Consumers' Top Turn-Off? Rudeness Uncivil behavior quietly sabotages bottom line, researchers find

Pennsylvania Snags SAS Group for Internet/Infomercial Complaints Company's "free" products weren't free and shipping charges were excessive, state charges

What's On Your Mind? Just Flowers, Progressive Insurance, Chantix Our daily look at consumer reviews

Michaels Pays $1.8 Million To Settle Deceptive Marketing Charges New York

What's On Your Mind? Old Spice, Tracfone, Advertising Checking Bureau, Payless Our daily look at consumer reviews

Target's Missoni Roll-Out Crashes Website Partnership with Italian designer draws overwhelming traffic

Best Buy's Customers Love It But Don't Come Around Much Any More Amazon and big-box discounters biting into Best Buy's sales

What's On Your Mind? VistaPrint, T-Mobile, Paula Deen Cookware, Nationwide Our daily look at consumer reviews

Walmart Revives Layaway, Just in Time for Christmas Other discounters have been eating Walmart's Christmas cookies

What's On Your Mind? Best Buy, Wells Fargo, Maytag Our daily look at consumer reviews

Why Isn't That Product Recalled? Recall process requires both consumer and business input

Mississippi Steps Up Efforts Against Counterfeit Products Establishes intellectual property crimes center

What's On Your Mind? Just Flowers, T-Mobile, Pampers Our daily look at consumer reviews

Stonebridge Joins Vertrue in Iowa's Dog House State charges "buying clubs" use deceptive sales tactics

Target Prepares to Launch Revamped Website New site said to more closely resemble the in-store experience

Smucker Cuts Price Of Packaged Coffee Price cuts average six percent

Feds Consider New Rules On Advertising Unavailable Products Grocery rule could be expanded to include other retailers

Parents Hoping to Rein in Back-to-School Spending More generic brands likely to be in school backpacks this year

What's On Your Mind? Bank of America, Virginia Fast Auto Loans, IRS Our daily look at consumer reviews

oBaz Takes Group Buying to the Next Level - Group Haggling Want something? Get your friends together and go for it

Men Becoming Coupon-Conscious, Study Finds Male shoppers' appetite for coupons driven by technology

What's On Your Mind? Just Flowers, Capital One, Old Republic Home Warranty Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? Target, Monroe Power, Premier Bank Card Our daily look at consumer reviews

Post Office Eyes 3,700 Locations For Closing Could be just the first shoe to drop, however

Borders Book Stores May Start Closing Friday Forty-year run ends with liquidation when no buyer emerges

The View From The Other Side Of The Counter Why sales associates are sometimes rude

Connecticut Questions Groupon About Expiration Dates Is a Groupon a coupon or a gift card? There's a big difference

Are Companies Cashing In On Breast Cancer? Researchers accuse some firms of 'pinkwashing'

Don't Pay For Coupons You Can Get Free Marketers offer 'free trial' that can end up costing big bucks

Google Offers May Deal Groupon a Bad Hand Search giant prepares to invade the daily deals market

Cheap Imports Not So Cheap Anymore Rising prices of Chinese imports contribute to inflationary pressures

Marketing Experts Ask 'How Long Can Groupon Last?' Consumers should enjoy the discounts while they can

Walmart Express Makes Its Debut Smaller stores go after dollar stores, convenience outlets

Five Bad Ideas for Father's Day There are lots of things Dad will like. Here are some he won't.

Groupon Expands Location-Based Deals to Five More Cities Boston, LA, Phoenix, Seattle, DC can now access same-day-only deals

Borders May Close 51 More Stores Lenders putting heat on bankrupt chain

Groupon Gets Into Grocery Coupon Business New process uses supermarket loyalty cards to deliver daily deals

A Happy Consumer May Start With A Happy Employee A rude employee may be a red flag

Abusive Online Eyeglasses Merchant Enters Guilty Plea Used consumers negative comments to game the search engine results

What's On Your Mind? Paula Deen Cookware, Vizio,Unwanted Texts Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? DishNetwork, Target, Sirius XM Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? JustFlowers, Disney Cruises, GE Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? Sony, Mr. Coffee, Verizon, Vistaprint Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? Price Tags, T-Mobile, Facebook, Sirius XM Our daily rundown of consumer reviews

Consumer Drops Taco Bell Lawsuit Over Meat Claims Company says it was right all along

What's On Your Mind? Shopper Discounts, Collect Calls, Empire Today Our daily look at consumer reviews

What's On Your Mind? Rite Aid, Samsung, Sirius XM Our daily look at consumer reviews

How To Avoid Buyer's Remorse Researching a purchase provides peace of mind, researcher says

Consumers Continue To Voice Frustration With Maytag Some consumers want their old appliances back

What's On Your Mind? Mattresses, Scams, Blue Hippo Our daily rundown of consumer complaints

Walgreens Moves Online With Drugstore.com Purchase A sign of drug store consolidation?

Amazon Cuts Illinois Loose, Prepares to Take On California Online giant gives no quarter in its opposition to collecting sales tax

Walmart Plans 'Pick Up Today' Service for Online Shoppers Items will be available for pick-up in as little as four hours

Amway Agrees to Redeem 'Expired' Gift Cards Class action lawsuit argued that expiration dates are illegal

Bing Launches a Daily Deals Section 200,000 offers in 14,000 cities and towns, Bing claims

New York Times Thinks It Can Take on Groupon Times plans TimesLimited, an "upscale" daily deals program

Class Action Challeges Webloyalty Negative Option Scheme Customers conned into paying $12 a month for nothing, suit charges

Borders Closings Creating a Bargain Bonanza - But It Still Pays to be Careful It's easy to get carried away at close-out sales. Here are a few tips for the crafty consumer

Groupon-Style Lawsuit Hits LivingSocial Daily deal sites violate consumer laws by selling gift certificates with short expiration dates, suits charge

Complete List of Borders Bookstores to be Closed Company plans to close one third of its stores as part of bankruptcy filing

Booming Online Economy Tempting to Taxing Authorities Local jurisdictions losing sales tax receipts as e-commerce grows

Maryland Settles With Far-Off Florist Local means local, state says

Borders Books Files Bankruptcy, Closes Stores Giant bookseller hopes to reorganize under Chapter 11

The Tour Is Over For "Guitar Hero" Fans Game company announced it will cease production on the popular franchise

Whole Foods Providing More Data About Meat New label system will describe how animals were raised

Play It Safe Buying Packers' Merchandise Online The annual post-Super Bowl buy frenzy is filled with opportunities -- for scammers

West Virginia Sues DirectBuy Over Sales Tactics Charges discount club with coercion and deception

New Jersey Drapes Shop Faces Fraud Charges Consumers say they paid for blinds but received nothing

Super Bowl Ads: Are They Worth It? Expert on commercials says sponsors probably aren't getting their money's worth

Class Action Takes on Groupon Says site's coupons contain illegal expiration date

Walmart Shifts Emphasis From Chic to Cheap As dollar stores eat into its market share, giant discounter returns to its roots

Finding a Moderate Level of "Extreme Couponing" You don't have to buy 200 boxes of pasta to get big savings

Study: By Three Years Old, Kids Know They Like Fat, Salt, Sugar Researchers urge parents to not wait to introduce their toddlers to healthy foods

JCPenney Catalog Becoming A Thing of the Past Catalog shutdown is among steps the retailer is taking streamline operations

Google Goes After Groupon Search giant prepares to test Google Offers

Walmart Plans Major Healthy Changes For Stores, Consumers The mega-chain hopes to make healthy foods cheaper, easier to find by 2015

California Halts Online Cosmetic Price Controls Officials say controls violate state law

Starbucks Supersizes the Venti, Unveils the Trenta New York Baristas, meanwhile, say they've formed a union

Shoppers Still Frugal and More Connected When They Shop They buy what they need, search for items on sale and use technology along the way

December's Online Retail Sales Up 12 Percent Consumers express preference for buying online

Despite Customer Outrage, Starbucks' New Logo May Be Better For Business Study finds the new, rounder logo could appeal more to Asian and Indian consumers

More Products Are Getting Smaller Consumer Reports says manufacturers are downsizing packaging, but charging the same price

Most Consumers Play It Safe With Color Study finds most consumers opt for a few colors even when a wide range is offered

Borders Can't Afford to Pay Publishers for Books Are bookstores going the way of the drive-in movie theater?

Kindle Top Selling Amazon.com Product Ever Popular e-reader drove sales for the online retailer

Don't Let Package Snatchers Spoil the Season Consumer Reports offers some tips to help make sure your package arrives safely

DVR-Enabled Commercial Skipping Shows No Change in Buying Habits Study finds DVR owners may actually be more likely to pay attention to ads

Consumers Switch To Generic Brands For Major Savings Study finds opting for retailers' brands over name brands saves a third off grocery bills

The 12 Online Scams of Christmas Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the holiday shopping madness

Toxic Levels of Lead in Many Thrift, Antique, and Resale Items Researchers find very high levels of lead in toys, household items, and antique doors

Stores Have Profitable Black Friday But Not All Shoppers Leave Happy Post-Black Friday complaints becoming a tradition

Don't Get Zapped While Shopping Online 'Cyber Monday' brings a host of pitfalls, but you can avoid them

Gift Card Sales On The Rise, Thanks To New Regulations With new consumer-protection rules in place, gift cards could bring in $91 billion this season

Consumer Reports Lists Ten Best Black Friday Electronics Deals Magazine says good deals abound, but it takes some skillful shopping to sniff them out

'Pay For Play' Scandal Engulfs Better Business Bureau Los Angeles chapter allegedly gave "A" rating to non-existent business that paid its dues

Why Breaking Up With A Brand Hurts So Much New study finds consumers act like scorned lovers when a company they love betrays them

Report Shows Prices Rising At Wal-Mart Fed chairman may not see inflation, but consumers are beginning to

Effort, Unrealistic Expectations Why Black Friday Shoppers Get Crazy Study finds shoppers misbehave when sales don't go like they think they should

Free Shipping Latest Weapon In Price-Cutting Wars Shipping costs often wipe out any savings from discounts and now on-line sites are addressing this issue

Spotting BPA-Free Receipt Paper Just Got Easier Wisconsin paper company hopes to set themselves apart with red fibers

Toy Story: Price War Erupts as Retailers Vie for Holiday Sales Retailers hoping toy sales will redeem a dismal season

My iPad, My Self: Why Consumers Get So Attached To Certain Products Brand attachment causes consumers to overspend, engage in difficult behaviors, and suffer separation anxiety

Ever Wonder How Those Factory Outlets Work? Why are they always so far out of the way?

Online Retailers Fined for Failing to Post EnergyGuide Information for Appliances Three firms will pay more than $400,000 in total penalties; two other sellers facing stiff fines as well

For Some Retailers, Black Friday Starts Next Week For consumers, no need to brave the crowds the day after Thanksgiving

Consumers To Cut Back On Holiday Spending, But Not As Much As In Recession Years Consumer Reports poll finds shoppers will focus on bargain-hunting and getting the most for their money

Walmart.com Moves In On Groupon Giant retailer launches CrowdSaver, which unlocks discounts once enough customers opt in

Heinz Stole Idea for Squeezable Condiment Packet, Suit Claims Michigan plaintiff says he presented idea to company in 2008

When Restaurants Buy Local, Patrons Don't Mind Paying For It Consumers willing to pay a little extra for restaurant meals made with local ingredients

New Tests Could Phase Out Starbucks Cards The coffee chain expands mobile phone payment option to New Yorkers

Wal-Mart Settles Charges It Sold Expired Drugs, Formula New Jersey charged stores sold expired infant formula and non-prescription medication

Starbucks Tells Baristas to Slow Down New drink-making policies might make getting that pre-work latte a little frustrating

Holiday Shopping Season Is Prime Time for Scammers Smishing, teeny tiny charges, counterfeit electronics among the new scams

The GAP Takes Their New Logo and Goes Home The iconic, "blue box" logo wins in a contest possibly nobody really cares about

Christmas in October? Target Jump-Starts Holiday Shopping With 5% Discounts Neiman Marcus downsizes its Christmas car; this year it's a Chevy

Macy's Employee Sold $900,000 Worth of Stolen Goods on eBay California man pleads guilty to stealing merchandise, selling it on the Internet

Is It Worth the Extra Money?Consumer Reports latest taste tests find some store brands at least as good as national brands.

American Apparel Faces Trouble On Multiple Fronts Company fends off lawsuits as stock plunges and feds launch investigation.

Survey Finds Most Consumers Oppose A VAT National sales tax could affect the level of spending on a broad range of goods, consumers say.

Back-To-School Shopping Requires Vigilance at the Check-Out Counter Students and parents should make sure they pay the advertised price.

Sears, Staples, T-Mobile Agree to Come Clean on Rebate Fees Massachusetts presses companies to be more upfront about charges associated with rebate cards.

Suit Says NJ Wal-Mart Had Unwritten 'No Spanish' Policy Complaint seeks damages for six Hispanic former employees.

State Seeks Unpaid Sales Taxes On Amazon.com Purchases Case could impact consumers who make online purchases.

Coupon Clipping Back In Style Coupon use skyrocketed as economy went into free fall.

Consumers Continue To Fall Into The Rebate Trap Rebates consistently produce consumer complaints.

Frustrated Shoppers Can't Find Deep Discounts Wal-Mart tops list of 2009 retail winners.

Savvy Young Shoppers Study Holiday Gift Prices Some prices went up on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, ConsumerAffairs.com survey finds.

Six Holiday Shopping 'Gotchas' To AvoidConsumer Reports Money Adviser points out the pitfalls.

Price-Comparison Web Sites Accused of Fraud Texas charges sites secretly accepted cash for high ratings.

Hidden Fees Top Most-Annoying List Robo-answered calls close behind in Consumer Reports survey of consumer flash points.

Walmart Gets a Black Eye on Black Friday Shoppers find advertised items sold out before sale begins.

Does It Really Pay To Go Shopping On Black Friday? Many 'bargains' turn out not to be such bargains.

Black Friday Tax Holidays Shoppers in two states will get some tax savings along with their early holiday shopping bargains.

Consumer Reports Takes on Pushy Retail Practices New campaign unveils survey of top holiday shoppping turnoffs.

2009 Gift Card Study Results Results of Bankrate's annual Gift Card Study, covering 29 retailers and major credit cards.

10 Dollar-Store Duds Comparison shopping will help you know deals from duds at a dollar store.

Judge OKs Price-Fixing Suit Against Babies "R" Us Class action charges company squashed cost-cutting by competitors.

Systemax Buys Circuit City Name, Web Site No retail locations planned but name will survive online.

Big & Tall, Middle Eastern Style Saudis a source of more than oil for some U.S. consumers.

9 Secrets to Online Bargain Hunting The Internet can be a great place to find bargains. Ramp up your shopping skills to save even more.

Video: 10 Dollar-Store Duds Comparison shopping and unit pricing will help you find deals and duds at the dollar store.

Video: Shopping by Phone New tool for bargain hunters -- software turns your phone into a price checker.

Best Times to Shop For Bargains Instead of trawling stores all the time, shop at the right time to get the best deals.

Save Money on Reconditioned Items Big-name retailers offer great deals on reconditioned goods, many of them barely out of the box.

Video: 10 Dollar-Store Duds Comparison shopping and unit pricing will help you find deals and duds at the dollar store.

Home Depot to Close Expo Chain Company plans to cut 7,000 jobs as sales slump.

Put the Brakes on Holiday Spending Tips for reining in holiday expenses without losing your holiday spirit.

Tips for Online Coupon Clipping Coupons can help you save up to 30 percent off your shopping bill.

Know Your Needs to Choose the Right Laptop Not all laptops are alike, a veteran reviewer notes.

Saving With Online Coupons Today, you don't have to accept what's in the paper every week. There are plenty of online coupons that are a click away.

Wal-Mart Worker Killed In Black Friday Stampede Pregnant woman injured in bargain-hunters' frenzy.

Tips for Saving on Black Friday Experts recommend tips for getting the most bang for your buck on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Target Misses Price Target, Backs Out of Sale Britax car seats mispriced on Target site, store refuses to complete sales.

Budget Holiday Shopping Without Being a "Scrooge" Tips for gift-buying without breaking the bank.

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California Prods CVS to Stop Selling Expired Products Chain also agrees to improve customer privacy protection.

Sharper Image Closing All Stores Company challenged Consumer Reports and lost.

Retailers Respond to High Gas Prices with Discounts, Promotions Kroger launches nationwide fuel discount program.

Retailers Gloss Over Diversions of Professional Hair Care Products Target doesn't cooperate with industry crackdown efforts.

Ionic Breeze Suit Drives Sharper Image into Bankruptcy Ionic Breeze lawsuits foul the retailer's air.

Dell Closes Sales Kiosks Kiosks didn't fit into new retail strategy.

De Beers Settles Class Action Suit Consumers, diamond merchants to split $297 million.

Complicated Return Policies Mean More Unhappy Returns Shoppers may face surprises at the returns counter.

Gift Cards Should Be Used Quickly Unused cards may lose value; some may even expire.

TJX Settles with Banks over Data Breach Nearly 100 million consumers may have been affected.

Fur Flies over 'Mislabeled' Fur Humane Society calls out retailers over phony faux fur.

Gift Cards Include Hidden Costs Report picks best & worst of this year's batch.

Attorneys General Oppose TJX Data Breach Settlement Special sale said to help stores more than victims.

Senior-Friendly Holiday Gift Gadgets Everybody likes gadgets, even your grandparents.

Black Friday Ads Target Wal-Mart 70% of Wal-Mart stock comes from China, ads claim.

Think Twice Before Buying an Extended Warranty Service contracts depend on the retailer's whims.

Santa's Feeling Pinched This Year Consumers say they'll shop later, many will spend less.

Court Upholds Gift Card Rules Mall operator challenged Connecticut's ban on gift card dormancy fees.

Macy's Customers Get New Citicards--Like It Or Not Citibank flipped store cards into true credit cards.

Wal-Mart Era Is Over, Wall Street Journal Declares Drab stores, politically incorrect image can't compete with Internet and hipper rivals.

Wal-Mart's Security Practices Questioned California woman loses $1,400 in check-cashing scheme.

Supreme Court Okays Price Fixing The manufacturer's suggested retail price is no longer just a suggestion.

Wal-Mart Plans Its Own Debit Card Blocked from opening its own bank, retail giant turns to prepaid cash cards.

Wal-Mart To Sell Dell Computers It's Dell's latest attempt to get sales back on track.

Connecticut Sues Best Buy State charges stores with deceiving, overcharging customers.

New York Sues Dell on Consumer Fraud Charges Suit accuses Dell of false advertising, bait and switch, failure to provide promised services.

Wireless Hackers Suspected In TJ Maxx Breach Investigators think "drive-by" hackers snatched customer data from stores.

Businesses Back Off RFID Consumer backlash discourages spy chip promoters.

Wal-Mart Gives Up Bank Plans Pressure from Congress, consumers was creating a distraction, giant retailer says.

Congressman Challenges Wal-Mart Banking Plans Says retail giant is moving ahead despite freeze by FDIC and objections of consumer groups.

Sales Pitches Turn Off Consumers, Study Finds Deceptive advertising also leaves a lasting negative impression.

Data Thieves Hit Stop & Shop Crooks tamper with card readers, swipe PIN numbers.

TJX Sued for Loss of Consumer Data Banks report wave of fraudulent transactions following data breach.

Data Breach Hits Canada's Club Monaco High-end retailer learned of possible data theft last year but didn't tell anyone.

Sunday Times Reports Widespread Shill Bidding on eBay Investigation finds individuals and companies use shills to drive up bids.

Hackers Hit T.J.Maxx, Marshalls Customer data stolen in major security breach.

Retailers Fret Over "Swipeless" Credit Cards They fear fees on "micro" sales will wipe out profits.

Gift Cards Becoming Currency For Criminals The cards are a handy way for crooks to launder money.

A First: Consumer Gets Restitution for Martha Stewart Table Sears Canada pays up but in the U.S., Kmart and Martha keep their purse zipped shut.

Gift Cards an $8 Billion Gift to Retailers Ten percent of cards' value is never redeemed, fattening retailers' tills.

Holiday Shoppers Running Up Debt Poll finds 23% of shoppers won't pay off holiday spending binge til March or later.

Bad Gift Better Than Gift Card, Says Philosopher Even the wrong gift says, "I tried."

Chase Bank, Triligent, Settle Negative Option Fraud Charges Companies must pay restitution, provide renewal notices to consumers.

December 19 is This Year's Drop-Dead Shipping Deadline Last-minute shoppers beware!

Toys R Us Warranty Guaranteed to Disappoint Holiday shoppers would do well to look carefully at what's covered by the extended warranty ... and, more importantly, what's not.

Police Kill Unarmed Teen at Detroit Discount Store Victim was accused of violating National Wholesale Liquidators' ban on unaccompanied teens.

Dangerous Toys Still on Store Shelves Parents can't trust government to protect their children.

Generation Gap Contributes To Customer Service Woes Gen-Y workers not likely to be in tune with Boomer standards of behavior, researchers warn.

Extended Warranties a Waste of Money Retailers expect to sell $1.6 billion worth of extended warranties this holiday season, even though the warranties are largely unnecessary.

Christmas Returns to Wal-Mart Giant retailer won't avoid the word "Christmas" this year.

New Jersey Sues Rite Aid for Consumer Fraud Drug store chain sold expired merchandise, priced items inaccurately, state charges.

Walgreen's Settles Michigan Item-Pricing Suit $550,000 fine is state's second-biggest.

New York Fines CVS for Sweepstakes Violations Second time company has run afoul of NY sweepstakes rules.

Ruling Against Target May Open Other Web Sites to the Blind Judge holds Web site is a "gateway" to Target's bricks-and-mortar stores.

Panasonic Offers Replacement Lamps for Some LCD TVs Class actioin settlement provides relief for some Panasonic owners.

Wal-Mart Ending Its Layaway Program Kmart says it has no plans to follow suit.

Chase Trashes Tapes Containing Circuit City Customers' Data Missing tapes contained personal data on 2.6 million consumers.

Connecticut Angered by Simon Mall's End Run Around Gift Card Rules Retailers hide behind federal banking laws to gouge consumers.

MasterCard Offers Concessions In Interchange Fee Battle No. 2 credit card offers to publish full schedule of fees merchants pay.

Back-to-School Spending Strains Family Budgets Most families will spend at least $200 per child on supplies, clothing and electronics.

The Penny's End Is Near Economists say scrapping the penny would have little effect on consumer prices.

Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Settle with Connecticut on Pricing Violations Inspectors found violations of unit pricing and item pricing regulations at stores throughout the state.

Congress May End Wal-Mart's Banking Dreams House bill would stop big retailers from running their own banks.

Arizona Charges Wal-Mart, AutoZone with Consumer Fraud Stores consistently fail to correct pricing errors, state charges.

Brooklyn Camera Store Generates Complaints Nationwide WawaDigital uses bare-knuckle "bait and hook" tactics to upsell customers seeking bargain-basement prices.

Vertrue's "Negative Option" Sales Attract Scrutiny Fast-growing company lures consumers into buying services without realizing it.

Home Depot, Monogram Credit Card Bank To Pay Connecticut $672,000 "No interest, no payment" offers weren't what they seemed.

Michigan Fines Wal-Mart $1.5 Million for Item Pricing Violations Largest fine in Michigan history punishes Wal-Mart for "massive" violations of state law.

Online Fraud Rates Drop to Near In-Person Rates Survey finds online merchants making progress in preventing fraud.

Sears Not Amused by Martha Stewart's Deal with Macy's Sears chairman leaves little doubt Martha's days are numbered.

Outlet Malls: Good Quality, Not the Greatest PricesConsumer Reports finds shoppers may over-estimate their savings at outlet malls.

Class Actions Target Blue Hippo "Funding company" sells over-priced goods at usurious rates, suit charges.

Federated Stores Agree to End Fake Sales Chain settles charges filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

Michigan Challenges Wal-Mart on Item Pricing Some stores properly display prices on only 20 percent of items, state charges.

Ohio Sues 'Cashable Voucher' Promoters Scheme defrauds both consumers and merchants, state charges.

Congress Studies Gift Card Abuses Consumers irate over fees, restrictions and lack of fraud protection.

Iowa Sues To Reclaim Rebate Money Consumers should get their rebates no matter what, state charges.

Mean Girls Work At Victoria's Secret Consumers complain of rude, snippy post-holiday behavior.

Taking the Mystery Out of Mystery Shopping It sounds too good to be true -- getting paid to go shopping. There's a reason for that.

Senator Warns Consumers Of Rebate Traps Schumer wants FTC to standardize rebate procedures.

Rain Checks May Extend Holiday Bargains If You Ask Only grocery stores are required to offer rain checks but others may do so if asked.

Beware of Zero Percent Financing Holiday shoppers beware! No-interest deals can become very costly very quickly.

NYC Fines Retailers for Return & Restocking Fee Violations Policies must be fully disclosed before the sale, city reminds retailers.

DSW Settles FTC Charges Hackers got shoe stores' data on 1.4 million customers.

Retailers' Return Policies Getting Tougher Stores using databases to track consumers' return records.

Watch Out for Hidden Toy Hazards Trouble in Toyland: Consumers group finds toxic chemicals, strangulation hazards, other dangers.

Connecticut Probes Wal-Mart Pricing Studies indicate check-out price too often doesn't match posted price.

Is Black Friday Going Green? Holiday shoppers may rely less on credit and debit cards this year.

Nordstrom, Wal-Mart Top Customer Service Rankings L.L. Bean tops direct merchants rankings, Wegmans #1 in grocery sector.

Consumer Reports Unveils Annual Holiday Guide Guide features shopping tips as well as e-Ratings, unbiased evaluations of online shopping sites.

Wal-Mart Pushing Extended Warranties on Electronics Discount chain craves high-profit margins of largely worthless warranties on high-end electronics gear.

Circuit City Settles Advertising Complaints with New Jersey "Zero percent interest" and other claims challenged.

Hard to Escape from Negative Option Marketing Simple Escapes morphs into Vertrue, enrolling millions in programs many claim they never heard of.

Credit Card Companies Rocked By New Merchant Lawsuits Chain drug and convenience stores the latest to challenge transaction fees.

Merchants Sue Credit Card Issuers Seeking Lower Fees High fees imposed on smaller merchants are a "hidden tax" on consumers, suit charges.

Digital Camera Buyers Give Kodak, Sony High Marks J.D. Power finds digital camera buyers consumers happier than in previous studies.

Surveys Often Not What They Seem By mail, phone, Internet and in person, consumers victimized by phony surveys promising free gifts and cash rewards.

Alternatives to Loyalty Cards Stores largely mum about their privacy policies.

Loyalty Cards: Reward or Threat? Retailers use loyalty cards to build huge databases. Who's minding the store?

Store Brands Offer Competitive Quality, Study Finds Buying store brands doesn't mean getting poor quality, study finds.

Avon Calls on China Cosmetics giant wins government approval for direct marketing test.

Safeway Tries Lifestyle Theme Gives up on price competition, hopes to move upscale with new emphasis on quality and "shopping experience."

NY Mattress Retailer Agrees to End Fake Sales Metro Mattress agrees to stop such claims as "Greatest Offer Ever."

Simon Mall Group Settles Gift Card Lawsuit State challenged fees on gift cards.

NY Sues Simon Malls For Gift Card Fees Monthly fees violate newly-amended state law.

Macy's Agrees to Stop Ethnic Profiling Investigation finds Latinos and Blacks most likely to be followed, stopped, handcuffed.

Friedman's Files for Bankruptcy Jewelry chain faces lawsuits in three states for allegedly duping consumers into buying insurance.

Ohio Sues OfficeMax Stores failed to honor rebates and failed to provide rainchecks when sale items were not in stock, suit charges.

Wal-Mart to Pay $14.5 Million for California Gun Law Violations Violations include selling firearms to felons and ammunition to minors.

After-Christmas Return Policies Get Stricter Some retailers getting touch on "serial returners," other tightening rules, shortening time allowed.

Florida, Tennessee Sue Friedman's Jewelers 19 states conducting investigations into alleged deceptive insurance sales.

Spitzer: Drop That Gun New York charges toy distributors with selling toy guns that too closely resemble the real thing.

Survey Finds Customer Service Lacking Online customers generally more satisfied than those who shop in person.

States Challenge Mall Gift Cards Massachusetts, Connecticut sue Simon Mall Group.

Staples Offers Electronic Rebate Redemption New system is coordinated with stores' returns database.

NY Furniture Store Abused Military Customers Retailer used illegal tactics, garnished pay of soldiers serving in Iraq.

Online Mattress Retailers Settle NY Suit Affordable Mattress Direct, Quality Sleep Systems Agree to Reforms & Refunds

Spitzer vs. Jos. A. Bank Men's clothier agrees to reform its advertising practices, settling a lawsuit with New York.

Kirby Sweeps Up West Virginia Credit Reports The company's finance arm smudged purchasers' credit ratings.

Ohio Sues Best Buy Buckeye consumers in revolt over service, rebate and warranty problems.

Massachusetts Sues Companies Selling Weapons Online Bay State fighting back against Web sales of weapons, cigarettes, liquor and other state-regulated items.

Illinois Passes Law to Clean Up Gift Card Abuses Hidden fees or charges not permitted.

George Foreman Grill Settlement Helps Non-Profits $8 million antitrust judgment distributed to charities nationwide.

Walgreens to Pay $1.6 Million for Item Pricing Violations Latest pricing class action in Massachusetts.

Wal-Mart Settles Consumer Class Action for $7 Million Massachusetts man also sued Home Depot for not compling with the state's item-pricing regulations.

Wal-Mart Will Decline Some MasterCards Consumers will have to key in PIN to use MasterCard debit cards.

Girls Still Going Wild Best Buy, other major retailers, selling DVDs that prosecutors say include underage girls.

Wal-Mart Tries to Buff Its Image Sex discrimination suit, community resistance to new stores causing sleepless nights in Bentonville.

Sears Sells Its Credit-Card Business Citigroup will take over 25 million Sears Card and Sears MasterCard accounts.

Wal-Mart Bans Discrimination Against Gays Giant retailer is one of the last Fortune 500 companies to formally ban anti-gay actions.

Staples Fined $850,000 for Lying to Its Web Customers About Delivery "Real-time" inventory and "one-day delivery" claims false, FTC charges.

Wal-Mart Fined $750,000 for Exercise Equipment Safety Defects Despite customer injuries in stores, Wal-Mart did not report problems with gliders.

Sears Extends Pay & Benefits for Reservists Full-time employees protected for up to two years.

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