Current Events in November 2012

In the world of the Internet, there hasn’t been a more perfect marriage than the one between e-commerce and social networking.

Let’s first take a look at the groom in this marriage, e-commerce.

Since its inception e-commerce has been the answer to a lot of consumers' prayers and it’s grown in popularity right along with the Internet itself.

Much older than its bride, it has been one of the first examples that showcased how companies are able to monetize the web, while also showing the world how the Internet could threaten the sales of physical stores.

E-commerce’s groomsmen were services like electronic money transfers, Internet marketing and online delivery services, which also grew in popularity once consumers starting leaving brick and mortars for online shopping.

Although very successful, e-commerce needed a better half to really maximize its potential, and social networking was the perfect match.

Becoming just as popular as e-commerce, social networking caught everyone’s attention once it was first introduced in the early thousands.

Bridesmaids Facebook & Twitter

Meanwhile, its bridesmaids Facebook and Twitter allowed social networking to become the global form of communication while making the world not only a smaller place but one that’s connected better through shared information.

Of course social networking could have survived just fine on its own, but once it attached itself to e-commerce both services were better able to secure more users and make a lot more money.

What makes the union so perfect is that e-commerce sites needed a social and interactive component in order to maximize sales and social networking sites needed a way to successfully include shopping.

The joyful union between the two services brought about the offspring of several start-ups like Fab.com, TheFancy.com and Lyst.com, which offer the sharing features of Facebook and Twitter with the purchasing options of Amazon or Buy.com.

Fab.com provides consumers with affordable and creative designs attached to a number of different industries like fashion, home furnishings and art, and so far the company has become the fastest growing e-commerce site ever, mainly due to its highly used social networking component.

In almost one year, Fab went from almost 200,000 members to 6 million.

Similar to Pintrest, Fab seduces its users with large and colorful photos and allows them to share various designs that you wouldn’t find in retail stores. Fab also caters to the hipster or outside-of-the-box-type, who would rather buy a vintage purple typewriter rather than a regular laptop.

Products are on the Fab site for short periods of time, and once the product reaches its sales period it goes away completely and another product is featured.

Sense of urgency

The company was smart to create a sense of urgency around buying products, as it adds a-first-come-first-serve aspect to the website.

The social networking parts of the site are pretty cool too, as user’s purchases and “likes” are seen by followers in real time, creating a virtual dialogue among shoppers so they can see what the other person is buying.

It’s similar to going shopping with your friend in that funky part of town that only sells unique items that cater to the unconventional consumer and the ardent collector.

The Fancy.com also effectively uses e-commerce and social networking by allowing users to add items from other online stores to personal timelines, and users can also describe the items for other members, serving almost as a personal reviewer for the site.

This gives other members a clear idea of what makes the product worth buying, so consumers don’t just like an item, they know a lot about it.

And instead of selected items just becoming part of your wish list, they become part of a personal catalogue that others can browse through. And the better your catalogue is the higher ranking you’ll get on the site.

Through these rankings users get promoted to official user titles like Men’s Fashion Director, Women’s Fashion Director, Kids Fashion Director, Pet Whisperer or Art Director.

Basically, The Fancy counts on its users to be the experts when it comes to finding the best items online, and through communicating with other members  products are not only shared, but they’re discussed and reviewed beforehand.

And a few clicks will allow users to buy any product that's selected and they'll be connected directly to the retailer’s website.

In order to add items from other sites users would need to add the “Fancy button” to their web browsers, and the service is also available as a mobile app for Apple and Android devices.

Create a Lyst

Similarly, Lyst.com allows users to discuss fashion items, but it also lets users follow their favorite boutiques, stylist and designers, which helps them keep abreast of new products in the fashion world. Users will also be alerted to various sales and special deals.

Users can create their own “Lyst” and once an item goes on sale, the company shoots you an email to let you know.

Like the other sites mentioned, Lyst.com is all about feedback and keeping members in the loop when it comes to what to buy, where to buy it and when it will go on sale.

Apparently, the fashion website recognizes that the line between the fashion industry and consumers is becoming less visible. And by allowing users to get first dibs on the latest items, it allows people to be part of the fashion dialogue as opposed to just being fans and customers.

Any good social commerce site succesfully feeds a person’s desire to be kept up-to-date on what’s hot and new.

Lyst connects you with fashion experts around the world and once you choose to buy an item you deal directly with that retailer, so shipping prices and delivery times may vary.

Another thing the marriage of e-commerce and social networking did was remove the level of secrecy some consumers used when buying items, namely trendy clothes.

Instead of people wanting to be the first and only person to own something, they rather share it nowadays, and don’t mind if everybody else has the exact same thing.

In addition, people just don’t want to shop anymore- they want to discuss products with other people who share similar interest and taste.

And folks don’t just want to chat about items on social sites, they want a way to buy things, making social and e-commerce sites a match made in digital heaven.

That’s why sites like Facebook have added an e-commerce feature, and sites like Pintrest that only allows you to discover items, have gotten stiff competition from sites that let you purchase.

It’s the idea of taking the shopping experience with your friends and putting it online which is currently the trend.

The marriage between e-commerce and social networking sites has been a blissful one so far, and it doesn’t look like the two are divorcing anytime soon.

There's no doubt that the union is here to stay.

You would think that SUV owners would be diesel-engine fans. After all, the diesel delivers more torque and better gas mileage and is better suited for towing boats and trailers, going off-road and doing other brawny stuff SUVs are made for.

That hasn't been the case in the U.S. but Chrysler is giving it a shot, bringing a diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee to North America next year. The Jeeps will be powered by a 3.0-liter diesel power plant that's quite highly regarded in Europe – and yes, it will be legal in all 50 states.

Paired with Chrysler's Torqueflite 8-speed automatic transmission, the oil-burning Jeep should turn in mileage comparable to a full-size sedan. But will that be enough to lure American Jeep owners away from the gas pump? Maybe. But then again, maybe not.

Pricing paradox

After all, in diesel-happy Italy, for example, a gallon of gas goes for about US$6. A gallon of diesel is a little less. But in the U.S., with gas hovering mostly on the downhill side of $4, a gallon of diesel will cost you about $1 more.

The lopsided equation is why – besides outdated stereotypes of diesels as smelly and noisy – diesel engines are having a hard time gaining traction in the U.S. Which, in turn, is why diesel prices remain stubbornly high.

It's that old supply-and-demand thing again, although sort of in reverse. Normally, low demand would be expected to result in lower prices. But in this case, refineries just aren't turning out much diesel fuel because they don't see enough demand.

Lower supply, higher price. Isn't economics great?

Jeep is hoping it's helping to start a trend with the Grand Cherokee. Certainly a Wrangler equipped with a brawny diesel would be just the thing for pulling out stumps, walking up the side of hills and churning through the mud. All it takes is a few hundred thousand consumers willing to take the plunge.

With the arrival of the holiday season, consumers are probably spending more time online. They're comparing prices, checking out restaurants, and making purchases. Criminals know this and try to exploit it.

Carrying out a scheme known as “phishing,” they send out spam emails that are designed to trick consumers into clicking links to take them to a site they believe to be a retailer, bank or travel site. In reality they are dummy sites where consumers will be encouraged to enter sensitive information.

More than a simple invasion of privacy, these online scams have turned into a multimillion dollar industry that can wreak havoc on people's finances and sense of personal security.

Don't take the bait

"The idea behind phishing is that an attacker will try to get you to enter your information into a decoy website that looks exactly like the legitimate one you are used to using," said Wesley McGrew, a scientist at Mississippi State University's Center for Cyber Security Research. "The decoy site will allow them to collect your username and password, and once they have that, they can access any personal or financial information you've stored on that account."

McGrew is what's known in computing circles as a "white hat hacker," someone who breaches secure computer systems to identify weaknesses or threats before they can be exploited by criminals. But he says you don't have to be a computer expert to thwart scammers, just a little cautious about what you click.

"If you receive an e-mail directing you to log in to a site, that should be your first warning that you might be going to a phishing site," McGrew said. "It's important to be aware of how you arrive at a website and its always best to be suspicious if anything seems wrong or if your Web browser issues a warning."

Don't reply

McGrew says consumers should never reply to an e-mail that directly asks for username and password information. They should never follow links from an e-mail to log in to a website. Instead, type in the Web address and use the site directly.

Also, before entering login information on a website, be sure that the Web address begins with "https" or that there is a lock icon in the address bar, which means information entered on the site will be encrypted during transmission.

To eliminate any remaining doubt about the legitimacy of a website, McGrew said users can click the lock icon to see the Web page's security information and verify that the site is being operated by the organization it claims. He said contacting the website's support staff is also a good idea to alleviate lingering concerns.

In 2011, Internet crimes netted a loss of more than $4.5 million, according to a report from the national Internet Crime Complaint Center. FBI-related and identity theft scams, which commonly involve phishing, were the most common of the more than 314,000 crimes reported to the center last year.

Thanksgiving, until now perhaps the least-commercialized holiday in the U.S., appears to be sliding toward a major holiday shopping day.

Target and Toys R Us have announced they will open their stores to shoppers Thanksgiving night in a prelude to Black Friday. Toys R Us will open at 8:00 p.m. while Target will open an hour later. They join Walmart and Sears, which made similar announcements last week.

Macy's and Kohl's said they will open their doors for Black Friday shoppers at midnight, as planned.

Previously, stores didn't open for Black Friday any earlier than midnight, lest they encroach on the family-centered holiday. Apparently that is now considered a quaint tradition.

Target says it believes the Thanksgiving night opening will provide an enjoyable after-dinner activity for the whole family. But increasingly retailers have begun to increase competition for Black Friday shoppers, who have declined in number over the last couple of years.

Research has shown that Black Friday might not be the best day to shop for the best bargains, beyond a few “door-buster” specials. And online retailers, such as Amazon.com, have already started offering their Black Friday specials.

Increasingly, the people who shop on Black Friday are those who just enjoy the hustle and bustle of the experience. They may or may not spend money on purchases on that particular day.

While shopping after dinner on Thanksgiving might seem like fun, consumers should remember store employees might not see it the same way. Most will be pulled away from their family festivities early.

Throughout the decade of the 2000s BlueHippo marketed over-priced computers and TV sets to consumers with poor credit using a lay-away plan. Oftentimes the consumers never even received the merchandise.

After numerous actions by consumer agencies, the company is in bankruptcy but the repercussions are still being felt. The state of Texas has just secured a court order requiring the sole shareholder in the now-defunct firm to pay $175,000 in restitution for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Texans who were defrauded by BlueHippo are eligible for reimbursement from the restitution fund established by the State. Presumably, Dianne, of Waller, Tex., will be one of them.

Dianne's experience

“Bought two computers on two occasions,” Dianne wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post in January. “Received one but not the other. Paid in full both times. $1995.48 was the cost of second computer purchased in 2005. I requested my money to be given back and they sent me to a web page.”

Consumers who purchased computers through BlueHippo typically were charged more than $2,000 for an older model PC that could have been purchased at a discount retailer for less than $500. They were required to make weekly payments until they had covered the cost of the computer. Many times, such as in Dianne's case, they never got the computer.

Violated state law

“The BlueHippo firms violated state law when it took Texans’ money and refused to deliver the computers or equipment customers purchased,” said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. “The state’s investigation also showed that BlueHippo unlawfully refused to honor refund requests and withdrew payments from customers’ bank accounts without their permission. Today’s court order requires the defendants to pay $175,000 in restitution so that Texans who were defrauded by BlueHippo can seek reimbursement for financial losses they suffered because of the defendants’ unlawful conduct.”

In addition to ordering restitution, the court issued a permanent injunction prohibiting owner Joseph Rensin or his businesses from attempting to collect approximately $2.3 million in debts that Texans incurred because of their dealings with BlueHippo. The court also barred Rensin and his businesses from reporting Texas customers’ nonpayment of the debt to any of the nation’s credit reporting agencies.

Texas consumers who feel they were defrauded by BlueHippo have 90 days to file a claim using this form.

It's not just the old folks who tend to nod off while behind the wheel.

A recent survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that young people are more likely to drive drowsy. Specifically, one in seven licensed drivers ages 16-24 admitted to having fallen asleep at least once while driving in the past year , compared with one in ten of all licensed drivers who said so.

A recent National Sleep Foundation poll found that teens and adults in their twenties reported less sleep satisfaction and roughly one in five rated as "sleepy" on a standard clinical assessment tool that determines whether sleepiness impairs daily activities.

"Young Americans are sleepy, and this affects their health and safety," says David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. "It's important to get the word out that it's dangerous to drive drowsy. This could save thousands of lives."

Dangers of drowsiness

In recognition of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, (November 12-18), the two groups are teaming up to educate drivers about sleep safety. A recent survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that young people are more likely to drive drowsy.

Using an analysis of previous data, the AAA Foundation estimates that about one in six deadly crashes involves a drowsy driver. The National Sleep Foundation's 2011 Sleep in America poll found that among those who drove, about one-half (52%) indicated that they have driven drowsy, with more than one-third (37%) doing so in the past month.

Sleepiness can impair drivers by causing slower reaction times, vision impairment, lapses in judgment and delays in processing information. In fact, studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit in all states. It is also possible to fall into a 3-4 second microsleep without realizing it.

Drowsy driving warning signs

The following warning signs indicate that it's time to stop driving and find a safe place to pull over and address your condition:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
• Difficulty keeping reveries or daydreams at bay
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
• Inability to clearly remember the last few miles driven
• Missing exits or traffic signs
• Yawning repeatedly
• Feeling restless, irritable, or aggressive.

An ounce of prevention

Here's what you can do to prevent a fall-asleep crash:

• Get a good night's sleep before you hit the road. You'll want to be alert for the drive, so be sure to get adequate sleep (seven to nine hours) the night before you go.
• Don't be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to maximize the holiday weekend by driving at night or without stopping for breaks. It's better to allow the time to drive alert and arrive alive.
• Use the buddy system. Just as you should not swim alone, avoid driving alone for long distances. A buddy who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue.
• Take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours. Do something to refresh yourself like getting a snack, switching drivers, or going for a run.
• Take a nap -- find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap, if you think you might fall asleep. Be cautious about excessive drowsiness after waking up.
• Avoid alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness as a side-effect.
• Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep.
• Consume caffeine. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hour

MoneyGram International has admitted it criminally aided and abetted wire fraud and failed to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program

The global money services firm has agreed to forfeit $100 million and enter into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Justice Department

According to court documents, MoneyGram was involved in mass marketing and consumer fraud phishing schemes, perpetrated by corrupt MoneyGram agents and others, that defrauded tens of thousands of victims in the United States. MoneyGram also failed to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act.

The Justice Department will return the forfeited funds to the victims of the fraud scheme through its Victim Asset Recovery Program.

“MoneyGram’s broken corporate culture led the company to privilege profits over everything else,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “MoneyGram knowingly turned a blind eye to scam artists and money launderers who used the company to perpetrate fraudulent schemes targeting the elderly and other vulnerable victims. In addition to forfeiting $100 million, which will be used to compensate victims, MoneyGram must for the next five years retain a corporate monitor who will report regularly to the Justice Department.”

Enhanced compliance ordered

As part of the DPA, MoneyGram has agreed to enhanced compliance obligations and structural changes to prevent a repeat of the charged conduct, including:

Creation of an independent compliance and ethics committee of the board of directors with direct oversight of the chief compliance officer and the compliance program;

Adoption of a worldwide anti-fraud and anti-money laundering standard to ensure all MoneyGram agents throughout the world will, at a minimum, be required to adhere to U.S. anti-fraud and anti-money laundering standards;

Adoption of a bonus system which rates all executives on success in meeting compliance obligations, with failure making the executive ineligible for any bonus for that year; and

Adoption of enhanced due diligence for agents deemed to be high risk or operating in a high-risk area.

The fraud scheme

According to court documents, starting in 2004 and continuing until 2009, MoneyGram violated U.S. law by processing thousands of transactions for MoneyGram agents known to be involved in an international scheme to defraud members of the U.S. public. MoneyGram profited from the scheme by collecting fees and other revenues on the fraudulent transactions.

The scams -- which generally targeted the elderly and other vulnerable groups -- included posing as victims’ relatives in urgent need of money and falsely promising victims large cash prizes, various high-ticket items for sale over the Internet at deeply discounted prices or employment opportunities as “secret shoppers.” In each case, the perpetrators required the victims to send them funds through MoneyGram’s money transfer system.

Tolerating misconduct

Despite thousands of complaints by customers who were victims of fraud, MoneyGram failed to terminate agents that it knew were involved in scams. As early as 2003, MoneyGram’s fraud department would identify specific MoneyGram agents believed to be involved in fraud schemes and recommended termination of those agents to senior management.

These termination recommendations were rarely accepted because they were not approved by executives in the sales department and, as a result, fraudulent activity grew from 1,575 reported instances of fraud by customers in the United States and Canada in 2004 to 19,614 reported instances in 2008. Cumulatively, from 2004 through 2009, MoneyGram customers reported instances of fraud totaling at least $100 million.

Ineffective anti-money laundering program

MoneyGram’s involvement in this international fraud scheme resulted from a systematic, pervasive, and willful failure to meet its anti-money laundering (AML) obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), a set of laws and regulations enacted by Congress to strengthen the U.S. financial system’s protections against criminal money laundering activity through financial institutions, including money services businesses like MoneyGram.

Court documents show that MoneyGram failed to meet its AML obligations by, among other things, failing to:

• Implement policies or procedures governing the termination of agents involved in fraud and/or money laundering;
• Implement policies or procedures to file the required Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when victims reported fraud to MoneyGram on transactions over $2,000;
• File SARs on agents MoneyGram knew were involved in the fraud;
• Conduct effective AML audits of its agents and outlets;
• Conduct adequate due diligence on prospective and existing MoneyGram Agents by verifying that a legitimate business existed; and
• Sufficiently resource and staff its AML program.

MoneyGram’s BSA failures spanned five years, and resulted, among other things, from the failure of its fraud and AML compliance functions to share information and from its regularly resolving disagreements between its sales and fraud departments in the sales department’s favor.

One notable such disagreement occurred in April 2007, when, at a meeting attended by senior MoneyGram executives, the fraud department recommended that 32 specific Canadian agents that were characterized as “the worst of the worst” in terms of fraud be immediately closed.

The sales department disagreed with the fraud department’s recommendation, and these outlets were not closed; instead, MoneyGram continued to process transactions from the 32 outlets despite continued complaints of fraud.

As part of the clean-up in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, crews have had to remove thousands of automobiles destroyed by the storm's wind and flood waters. Aside from the impact on insurance companies, the carnage has implications for the automotive market as well.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) projects prices of used cars, up to eight years old, will go up between 0.5 and 1.5 percent between now and the end of the year.

"The loss of used-vehicle supply and the increase in replacement demand after Hurricane Sandy will have the greatest impact on used-vehicle prices in December," said Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst with the NADA Used Car Guide.

Where will they come from?

The car lease transfer Website Swapalease.com projects that when the clean-up is complete, more than the 600,000 vehicles -- that's the number lost in Hurricane Katrina -- will need to be replaced. With already tight supplies threatening to drive prices higher, where will affordable replacement vehicles come from?

The Website says vehicles from Florida, Texas and Ohio may represent the largest number of affordable units that make their way into New York and New Jersey. Swapalease.com studied vehicle transfer patterns since January and identified those three states as representing the most frequent origination of leases transferred into New York or New Jersey.

In fact,18.5 percent of all vehicles transferred into New York have come from Florida so far in 2012. Other states feeding into New York and New Jersey on a smaller scale have included North Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota and Alabama.

While driving up used car prices, Hurricane Sandy may also drive year-end new car sales. Those who lost vehicles in the storm may decide to buy or lease a new car, particularly if the vehicle they lost was nearing he end of its useful life.

Five steps to replacing a vehicle

For storm victims in the market for a new car, here are five things that may smooth the process of getting a new set of wheels:

1. Make it easy for your insurance company to handle your claim. The automotive website Edmunds.com has a tool to generate an appraisal of your car to present to your insurance company, whose claims adjusters may be too busy to get to you anytime soon. Also, indicate to your insurer what it will take for you to replace your car.
2. Decide whether you will buy a new or used car as a replacement vehicle. There are pros and cons to each choice, especially given that many dealerships suffered great losses during the storm. New car buyers will likely find favorable credit conditions with interest rates at near-all-time-lows. Those in the market for a used car may want to hold off if they can. Remember, used car prices are likely to climb for a few months.
3. If you choose to buy a new car, check with the automakers of interest to determine if you are eligible for one of the many incentives available to storm victims. Good national incentives may also be available.
4. If you need to buy a new car quickly, work the phone and the Web to find the right car for you. Be sure to ask for an "out-the-door" price that includes all taxes and fees. To save even more time, you can also ask the dealership to deliver a new car to your home or office.
5. If want to buy a used car, make sure that it was not one of the many damaged by flooding. Look for discolored carpet, dirt build-ups and unusual odors. Also make sure to run a vehicle history report on the car to make sure there was never a flood or salvage title placed on the car.

Today, it seems a lot of companies are going the sustainable living route.

We recently reported that IKEA is making huge efforts to conduct business in a green way and now another global company is following suit.

Now, UPS has announced that it's beginning a new initiative called UPS Carbon Neutral, allowing customers to replace the amount of carbon it takes for packages to be delivered, by supporting an existing emissions reduction project that’s going on someplace in the world.

Customers have the option of joining the program by paying a little more on each package delivery, and UPS says it will match that extra amount and put it towards one of the several carbon reduction projects the company is linked to.

Some of the projects include the La Pradera Landfill gas project in Colombia, or Garcia River Forestry in the United States. Other ongoing carbon reduction projects customers can donate to include Cholburi Wastewater Biogas-to-Energy in Thailand and the Fujian Landfill Gas project in China.

Get customers involved

Just about every major company has announced it will conduct business in a greener and more sustainable fashion, but instead of companies simply attaching their brands to green initiatives, they want customers to be heavily involved too.

What’s also popular among many companies today is trying to replace the energy, water and other natural resources they use while conducting business.

Companies generate more revenue through these green initiatives by not only appealing to the person who is trying to live greener--which is arguably your average consumer nowadays--they also increase revenue through the very advertising of their green initiative.

Even though certain marketing campaigns focus on social responsibility, the overall brand is still being kept in the public’s consciousness, which can only help sales.

UPS says it will use a third party company by the name of Société Générale de Surveillance that verifies the legitimacy of carbon reduction projects. The delivery company also makes sure projects are certified by The CarbonNeutral Company.

Since the idea of carbon reduction became a part of the national conversation when it comes to the environment, UPS has been trying to counterbalance the amount of carbon it uses each day to make its deliveries.

Both UPS and FedEx have a pretty decent stronghold on the package delivering industry and due to the company’s sheer size and amount of business, it has a lot of offsetting to do in order to make up for the amount of carbon it uses.

Things still get lost

One would think between the success of UPS and the company’s global customer base it would be able to anger customers a little less by not losing their packages.

“I own a business and have had a business account with UPS for about four years now,” wrote Genny of Orlando, Fla., in a ConsumerAffairs posting.

“I have to say that when it comes to UPS losing the packages, they can trick you into not paying you for their claims. UPS had lost my first package of signs I sent (I make signs) and I ended up making the signs again for the client because my client was very unhappy.

“UPS took my second package I sent and claimed it as the lost one. They also made some kind of scam and linked both tracking numbers to the same case number. I lost money and they are not willing to take responsibility. So be really careful when it comes to them losing your boxes,” Genny warns.

We sent an email to UPS for a statement about lost shipments and what customers should do to recover them, and received the following statement:

If a package is not delivered, UPS can help by performing a search to locate the package. If the package cannot be found, the shipper can file a claim up to the declared value of the package contents.

Back to green

But enough of complaints. Let's get back to the sustainability program. The cost per package to donate will be a flat rate since the amount of carbon UPS uses varies between destination, origin and the type of transport the shipment undergoes, which would make calculations rather difficult.

Customers can also choose to participate in the carbon program whenever they use UPS for delivery or they can sign a contract so all of their packages will include the extra donation charge automatically.

Either way, those customers trying to live more sustainable will be happy, UPS will probably appear more responsible in the public eye and more importantly it provides another avenue for those who want to contribute to environmental causes.

However it would be nice if UPS didn’t lose your darn shipment.

Hurricane Sandy destroyed billions of dollars in property when it hit New York and New Jersey late last month. It also claimed memories, damaging or destroying thousands of family photographs.

But researchers at the University of Delaware (UD) say there is hope for reclaiming some of those photos that, at first glance, appear damaged beyond repair. Debra Hess Norris, professor and chair of the Department of Art Conservation at UD, says whatever you do, don't throw them away.

Norris, who is an expert on photograph preservation, and her colleagues and students at UD are triaging to provide the public with advice and resources for salvaging storm-damaged photographs. You can take advantage of their expertise by emailing your questions to art-conservation@udel.edu with the subject line “Save My Photograph.” The UD team will provide recommendations for treatment, as well as contact information for professional conservators if requested.

Providing some hope

“It’s about giving people who have had to deal with so much some hope and guidance for saving photographs that are precious to them,” Norris said. “In many cases, water-damaged photographs can be saved.”

Norris offers this advice:

• Don’t dispose of your photographs even if they have dirt on them or have become distorted from being in water.
• Allow the photographs to air dry. Place them on screens or paper towels to allow the air to circulate around them. Do not use a hair drier or other direct source of heat, as this can lead to further damage.
• If photographs are in plastic sleeves, remove them from the sleeves to dry.
• If the photographs are stuck together, allow them to air dry. Conservators can later do their best to disassociate them while minimizing damage.
• Document everything -- snap a photograph of the damaged photos with your cell phone or other camera.

UD’s Department of Art Conservation has trained some of the U.S.' top photo restoration experts. The program’s alumni work in museums and private practice throughout the world.

Diamondback Bicycles, of Kent, WA, is recalling about 40 2013 Diamondback Steilacoom RCX bicycles.

The bikes assembled with incorrect headset parts could cause the steerer tube to fail, causing the rider to lose control and fall or crash. No incidents or injuries have been reported

Bicycles included in the recall are the 2013 Diamondback Steilacoom RCX, which are black in color and sold in various sizes ranging from 50-cm to 59-cm. "RCX" is printed on the top tube of the bicycle. The bicycle is for use on or off-road.

The bikes, manufactured in China, were sold online through Promotive.com and 3point5.com, as well as through authorized Diamondback retailers nationwide from August 2012 through September 2012 for between $900 and $1100.

Consumers should stop riding their bicycles and take them to an authorized Diamondback dealer for inspection. Bicycles found to have the incorrect headset parts will have the fork replaced and assembled with the correct headset parts at no charge.

Consumers may contact Diamondback Bicycles at (800) 222-5527 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Since taking over as CEO at JC Penney, Ron Johnson has made it his stated goal to transform the stodgy retailer into the next big thing. The transformation began in January with edgy commercials and a new pricing structure that did away with sales and coupons.

So how's that working out?

It's fair to say it has yet to catch fire. JC Penney reported its third-quarter results today, showing a 26 percent decline in sales. Wall Street was prepared for a decline of 18 percent.

Third-quarter results

The company lost $123 million, or 56 cents a share in the July through September period. The loss was much bigger excluding one-time items. Revenue totaled $2.93 billion, but the Street was expecting $3.27 billion. If Wall Street was surprised by the showing, many long-time Penney's customers, and former customers who have railed against the changes these last 10 months, weren't.

"I have been buying jeans from JC Penney for as long as I can remember. I've been getting bombarded by emails for months now saying how great the new JC Penney is. My daughter and I went to get some jeans last night and were shocked at an empty-looking store," Christopher, of Hernado, Miss., wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "I was even more shocked about the tiny selection of clothes there was to purchase. The jean selection was the worst. JC Penney has lost a customer for good. Whoever decided to do the revamp should be fired."

Barbara, of Mechanicsville, Md., who also describes herself as a long-time Penney's customer, was turned off by the changes in her local store.

"I received an email from the new CEO about all the good things that were coming," she wrote to ConsumerAffairs. "This week, I went back to the store in California, Md., to again look for clothes for my husband. There was even less than a few months ago. When I looked for underwear for him, I found that same package of boxer shorts and no more new ones. I talked to a sales person and was told that she thought the company was targeting a younger customer base. Well, JC Penney, you should be a company for all ages. I will not come again to shop."

New concept

Johnson makes no secret that Penney's is looking for new customers who are attracted to his concept of transforming Penney's stores into a collection of small boutiques under one roof. In a statement, he says Penney's is "a tale of two companies."

"By far the largest part of our store is the old jcp, which continues to struggle and experience significant challenges as evidenced by our third quarter results," Johnson said. "However, the new jcp, centered around the shop concept, is gaining traction with customers every day and is surpassing our own expectations in terms of sales productivity which continues to give us confidence in our long-term business model."

During the quarter, Penney's opened shops under the Levi's , Izod, Liz Claiborne, The Original Arizona Jean Co., and jcp brands. The company also opened 38 Sephora inside jcpenney stores, bringing the total to 386. Yet the shops remain a small part of overall sales.

Johnson said he's confident that, given enough time, the shops concept will catch on and Penney's will attract a new set of customers who will return the company to profitability.

Gasoline prices fell for another week as the price of fuel returned to levels of a year ago. Fuel remains in short supply and more expensive, however, in areas hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.

The national average price of self-serve regular today is $3.456 per gallon, compared with $3.496 last Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Survey. That's nearly 36 cents lower than a month ago but only two cents higher than the price a year ago.

The average price of diesel fuel today is $4.011 per gallon, versus $4.044 a week ago.

Back to normal?

After rising in the early fall weeks, gasoline prices are only now returning to normal levels. The Energy Information Administration forecast calls for retail gasoline prices to continue falling through the end of the year.

Oil prices have contracted in recent days as traders have worried that Congress and the president will not be able to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff," sending the U.S. economy into recession.

Big drop in California

Among the states California experienced the largest price change again this week. The statewide average fell another 15 cents a gallon and is no longer above the $4 a gallon mark. Prices in Ohio, meanwhile, rose an average eight cents a gallon.

Prices were also sharply higher this week in New York and New Jersey, two states where Hurricane Sandy has created supply shortages. This week's average price rose nine cents a gallon in New Jersey and five cents in New York.

The states with the most expensive gas prices this week are:

• Hawaii ($4.235)
• Alaska ($4.066)
• New York ($3.988)
• California ($3.896)
• Connecticut ($3.872)
• Idaho ($3.745)
• Utah ($3.729)
• Vermont ($3.723)
• Nevada ($3.707)
• Massachusetts ($3.662)

The states with the lowest gas prices this week are:

• South Carolina ($3.122)
• Missouri ($3.138)
• Oklahoma ($3.192)
• Tennessee ($3.197)
• Arkansas ($3.219)
• Texas ($3.223)
• Mississippi ($3.236)
• Alabama ($3.241)
• Georgia($3.258)
• Kansas ($3.262)

Getting off the ground and on your way to your destination is getting better.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report, airlines reported no tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights or more than four hours on international flights in September.

The larger U.S. airlines have been required to file complete reports on their long tarmac delays for domestic flights since October 2008. Under a new rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports.

Also beginning Aug. 23, 2011, carriers operating international flights may not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane. There is a separate three-hour limit on tarmac delays involving domestic flights, which went into effect in April 2010.

Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic and international flights are allowed only for safety, security, or air traffic control-related reasons. Severe weather could cause or exacerbate such situations.

On-time performance

The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 83.3 percent in September -- down from September 2011’s 83.9 percent mark, but up from August 2012’s 79.1 percent.

Cancellations

The reporting carriers canceled 0.8 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in September, the same as the rate posted in September 2011, but down from August 2012’s cancellation rate of 1.3 percent.

Chronically delayed flights

At the end of September, there were 24 flights that were chronically delayed -- more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time -- for three consecutive months. There were an additional 14 flights that were chronically delayed for two consecutive months. There were no chronically delayed flights for four consecutive months or more.

Causes of flight delays

In September, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 4.98 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared with 5.26 percent in August; 5.72 percent by late-arriving aircraft, versus 7.68 percent in August; 4.65 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared with 5.79 percent in August; 0.34 percent by extreme weather, as opposed to 0.53 percent in August; and 0.03 percent for security reasons, compared with 0.04 percent in August.

Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by the Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.

Data collected by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In September, 27.66 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, compared with September 2011, when 36.15 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and August when 32.95 percent of late flights were delayed by weather.

Mishandled baggage

The U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.7 reports per 1,000 passengers in September, compared with September 2011’s rate of 2.8 and August 2012’s rate of 3.4. For the first nine months of this year, the carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.06 reports per 1,000 passengers, versus the 3.51 rate recorded during the first nine months of 2011.

Bumping

The report also includes reports of involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, for the third quarter and first nine months of this year. Carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.98 per 10,000 passengers for the quarter, up from the 0.71 rate for the third quarter of 2011. For the first nine months of this year, the carriers had a bumping rate of 0.98 per 10,000 passengers, up from the rate of 0.77 posted during the first nine months of 2011.

Incidents involving pets

In September, carriers reported two incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air. There were three reports filed in September 2011 and the five reports filed in August 2012. September’s incidents involved one pet death and one pet injury.

Complaints about airline service

In September, there were 1,075 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 10.5 percent from the 973 complaints filed in September 2011, but down 43.0 percent from the 1,886 received in August 2012. For the first nine months of this year, there were 12,145 consumer complaints, up 33.5 percent from the total of 9,096 filed during the first nine months of 2011.

Complaints about treatment of disabled passengers

The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in September against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. There were 73 disability-related complaints in September, compared with 54 complaints filed in September 2011 and equal to the total received in August 2012. For the first nine months of this year, there were 590 disability-related complaints, up 27.7 percent from the total of 462 filed during the first nine months of 2011.

Complaints about discrimination

In September, DOT received seven complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability -- such as race, religion, national origin or sex -- down nine from the total recorded in September 2011 two from the number recorded in August 2012. For the first nine months of this year, the Department received 82 complaints about discrimination, down 15.5 percent from the total of 97 filed during the first nine months of 2011.

Consumers may file their complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the Web.

You think talking to a son or daughter about sex is hard? Try discussing the subject of being overweight.

On the other hand, a new study suggests it might be more effective if parents addressed the subject without words. Instead, creating a healthful home environment, modeling healthful behaviors, and providing encouragement and support to adolescents for positive behavior changes may be more effective than communicating with adolescents about weight-related topics.

It's an issue in many U.S. households. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 28 percent of adolescents are overweight. Overweight and obese adolescents have an increased risk for physical ailments, including type 2 diabetes and negative psychosocial consequences stemming from the stigma associated with being overweight. Doctors believe the right development of parental intervention could be part of the solution.

Loss for words

Weight issues, it turns out, are hard to talk about. The University of Minnesota research team that conducted the study posed two questions: what issues do parents of overweight adolescents face? And what advice do they have for other parents? Twenty-seven adolescents and their parents were surveyed to determine factors contributing to successful weight loss among adolescents.

The investigators found that the issues raised by parents included difficulties encountered in effectively communicating with their adolescent about weight-related topics, perceived inability to control the adolescent's decisions about eating and physical activity, concern for the adolescent's physical and mental well-being, and feelings of personal responsibility for the adolescent's weight issues.

Parental advice for helping overweight adolescents included having a healthful home environment, modeling healthful behaviors, and providing encouragement and support to adolescents for positive behavior changes.

Parents play important role

"Parents have an important role in helping their children and adolescents to adopt healthful behaviors and it can be challenging to know how to involve parents in interventions for adolescents because of issues related to developing autonomy and increasing independence," said Shira Feldman, a registered dietitian and researcher.

Feldman says parents of overweight and obese adolescents often find themselves in a dilemma. On one hand, parents may be concerned about their adolescent's health, the psychosocial stigmas and the negative physical consequences associated with being overweight or obese. On the other hand, parents also recognize their adolescent's need for autonomy. As a result, parents may struggle with what to say or do to best help their adolescent manage his or her weight.

Actions speak louder than words

"In terms of 'talking' about adopting more healthful eating and physical activity behaviors, it is important for parents to remember that their adolescent could have a negative emotional response, for example sad or angry, when questioned about their weight," Feldman said.

So the best way to speak on the subject may be with actions. Encourage you child to take part in organized or informal sports. Plan family activities that include exercise, such as a weekly bowling outing or weekend nature hikes.

At meal time, try to serve healthy, high fiber foods that are filling and result in less between-meal snacking.

Amazon.com says it is opening an online wine shop, and a pretty big one at that. The online retailer says Amazon Wine will offer customers more than a thousand wines crafted by wineries around the country.

Besides wine the new store will offer shopping tools to help customers explore different kinds of wines and recommended food pairings and total case production.

“Whether it’s helping customers find a favorite varietal, shop for holiday pairings or expand their cellar with a special hand-crafted bottle, we’re excited to provide the right tools and information needed to guide them to the perfect wine,” said Peter Faricy, Vice President, Amazon Marketplace. “We’re thrilled for wineries around the country to share their great collections of wines with our customers through the Amazon Wine Store.”

Where they ship

Customers can now ship up to six bottles of their favorite wine for $9.99, but only if you live in certain states. At launch, shipping is available to California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Amazon says the store will feature a wide selection of wines from both large and small wineries. Vineyards have flourished in the U.S. in recent years but many small operations have difficulty reaching customers outside their immediate geographic area. Amazon Wine could be a way for them to reach a wider audience.

“People love to explore wine, but it is rare to have detailed information and opinions located all in one place,” said Tom Hedges of Hedges Family Estate, Red Mountain, Wash winery. “What Amazon has done with their new wine store is take the experience of hundreds of tasting rooms and put them online. We could not be more excited by the possibilities of growing our business and reaching new customers.”

Provides a tasting room alternative

Eden Canyon Vineyards of Creston, Calif., does not have a tasting room so relies on word of mouth to reach new customers. Owner Elaine Blackaby says Amazon Wine fills a need.

"Now we are so excited to finally bring a tasting room experience online, where we can tell our story and share details about our wines that we’ve never been able to," Blackaby said. "Amazon Wine is truly a game changer for the small winery that is off the beaten path!”

When it comes to children and their health, there have been many national discussions about the high amounts of sugar kids are ingesting and how it leads to problems of obesity and other potential ailments.

But not much focus has been given to children and their daily intake of salt, which experts say is as problematic as sugar for younger people.

According to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children in the U.S. are consuming 1,000 milligrams of salt over the suggested daily amount. American adults happen to be in the exact same category.

From 2003 to 2008 the CDC studied 6,200 children between the ages of 8 and 18, and asked them to document what they ate each day. The researchers found about 15 percent of the children either already had high blood pressure or were in danger of becoming high blood pressure patients.

The children who were overweight in the test had a 300% greater chance of developing hypertension due to their heavy salt intake.

Some health experts believe that more focus needs to be placed on kids consuming high amounts of salt, as many food brands, companies, and children’s eateries have been making foods and beverages with less sugar but with the same amounts of sodium.

Same intake level as adults

The researchers also said that children’s salt intake is equal to what adults ingest, and ultimately it will cause the same health ailments.

“Many youth consume not only the same amount of salt as adults, but they also consume the same amount of calories as adults, so it would stand to reason the two groups consume the same types and amounts of processed foods,” said Kurt Eggerbrecht, a public health officer in Wisconsin in a published interview.

“They [kids] also have increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Just like obese adults they can experience breathing problems, such as sleep apnea, and asthma. Even at a young age there can be joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort. Over consumption and lack of exercise is a growing problem that has occurred within the past 30 years for a variety of reasons,” he said.

If you think about it, salty snacks are just as ubiquitous as sugary snacks, maybe even more so.

Chips & pretzels

As schools, communities and entire cities have either cut down or banned certain sugary products, salty foods like chips and pretzels have snuck through the back door of the public’s consciousness and remains under the radar of conversation between parents, schools and health officials.

Sadly this has caused more kids and young adults to develop high blood pressure although many times it isn’t properly diagnosed.

In a separate study, researchers found young adults have a much greater chance of not being diagnosed with high blood pressure when going for routine checkups compared to older adults.

Scientists gathered over 13,000 participants of both genders aged 18 and older to gauge if those with hypertension were correctly diagnosed over a four-year period.

Researchers discovered that 67 percent of younger adults aged 18 to 24 who were potential hypertension cases where undiagnosed, compared to 54 percent of patients aged 60 and older who didn’t receive the right medical conclusion from their doctor.

In addition, 65 percent of adults aged 25 to 31 who were borderline hypertension cases were also undiagnosed, compared to 59 percent of those aged 32 to 39, and some say the focus on young adults and their salt consumption as well as their potential of developing hypertension needs to be reexamined by those in the medical community.

“We know that once high blood pressure is diagnosed and young adults receive the treatment they need, they can achieve pretty high control rates,” said lead study author Dr. Heather Johnson of the University Of Wisconsin School Of Medicine in a statement.

For both children and younger adults Johnson says health experts have to “guide both patient and provider to make elevated blood pressure one of the key things to focus on during the visit.”

According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Amercians, three quarters of the salt people consume come from processed foods and restaurant meals.

In addition, experts suggest that parents should have their children checked for high blood pressure every year year by the time the child is 3-years old.

Verizon Wireless today announced customers in counties of the New York Metro Area and New Jersey impacted by Hurricane Sandy will receive credit for voice and text overage charges. The voice and text credits will be automatically applied to accounts for usage between Oct. 29 and Nov. 16.

Customers in the following counties in New York Metro Area and New Jersey will be credited for voice and text overage charges between Oct. 29 and Nov. 16:

New Jersey

• Atlantic County
• Bergen County
• Burlington County
• Camden County
• Cape May County
• Cumberland County
• Essex County
• Gloucester County
• Hudson County
• Hunterdon County
• Mercer County
• Middlesex County
• Monmouth County
• Morris County
• Ocean County
• Passaic County
• Salem County
• Somerset County
• Sussex County
• Warren County
• Union County

New York

• Bronx County
• Kings County
• Nassau County
• New York County
• Putnam County
• Queens County
• Richmond County
• Rockland County
• Suffolk County
• Westchester County

Customers in the impacted areas who have questions about credits to their accounts should contact Customer Service at 1-800-922-0204, Contact Us, or on Twitter through www.twitter.com/vzwsupport.

If you show up at Walmart early on Black Friday, you may have missed it. The largest retailer in the U.S. says it will open its doors at 8:00 p.m. Thanksgiving night, Nov. 22.

The store will open for three limited-time sales events Thanksgiving night offering a number of special sales and promotions. The first sales event is at 8:00 p.m. The second is at 10:00 p.m. The last is at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23.

"We know it's frustrating for customers to shop on Black Friday and not get the items they want," said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S. "This year, for the first time ever, customers that shop during Walmart's one-hour event will be guaranteed to have three of the most popular items under their tree at a great low price."

More wish list items

And the company says it's taking steps to make sure popular "wish list" items, like the iPad 2, are available during the one-hour event on Thanksgiving.

A common Black Friday complaint is that the low-priced item that draws the crowd is not available in large quantities. It sells out before the consumer can get one. Walmart has responded with what it calls its one-hour guarantee.

"Due to the large quantity of product already secured, Walmart guarantees that customers who are inside the store and in the queue line between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on November 22 can purchase the following electronics at special low prices," Walmart announced in a press release.

Those guaranteed items are:

• Apple iPad 2 16GB with Wi-Fi – $399 plus get a $75 Walmart Gift Card
• Emerson 32" 720p LCD TV – $148
• LG Blu-ray Player – $38

If any of these items happen to sell out before 11 p.m. local time, Walmart says it will offer a Guarantee Card for the item which must be paid for by midnight and registered online. The product will then be shipped to the store where it was purchased for the customer to pick up before Christmas.

The 8:00 p.m. Thanksgiving opening is the earliest ever for Walmart.