Current Events in August 2022

Labor Day weekend will be here before you know it. And retailers all over are rolling out end-of-the-season deals on all mattresses, home goods, clothing, outdoor furniture, grills, major appliances, and more.

Thanks to shopping experts at BlackFriday.com and Deal News, ConsumerAffairs has the dish on the best sales, plus buying tips for shoppers to utilize while shopping over the long weekend.

The deal and steals

Here are what Black Friday and Deal News shared with ConsumerAffairs as the best Labor Deals, A-Z.

Article - From now until September 5, you can save up to 50% on more than 400 Article furnishings. This includes patio seating, coffee tables, beds, bookcases, and more.

Casper: Casper has several different promotions running right now. Adjustable bed frames are 50% off, pillows are up to 40% off, sheets are up to 50% off, bedding bundles are 25% off and weighted blankets and other items are on sale too.

Dyson: Dyson is hosting what it says is a major sale for Labor Day. Shoppers can save up to $200 on top models, including vacuums and air purifiers.

eBay: Save up to 78% off big brands during the site's Labor Day sale. Even better, take an extra 15% off select items via code "LABORDAYSAVE". This deal is valid through September 5.

Essentia: Save 25% and receive two free Comfort pillows when you purchase an Essentia organic mattress. This offer is valid through September 5. Additionally, get 25% off your purchase, including organic mattresses, organic pillows, foundations, crib mattresses, and pet beds. Free shipping is also included, and this deal is valid September 6-12.

Home Depot: Home Depot is giving shoppers early access to its Labor Day appliance savings. Shoppers will find top-rated Samsung refrigerators marked down to 32% off their original prices, LG washer dryer sets on sale for 15% off, and GE dishwashers available for 25% off.

Joann: Stock up on craft supplies for less with these Labor Day deals, which include: Up to 50% off select fabrics; 30% off pillow forms, stuffing, batting, and foam; 40% off Cricut accessories; $1.99 Simplicity patterns.

Lowe's: The Lowe’s Labor Day sale runs Aug. 25-Sept. 7, and is full of store and site-wide savings. A few highlights include up to 40% off select outdoor power equipment and up to 50% off select patio furniture. 

Mattress Firm: Shoppers can improve their sleep during the long weekend with savings of up to $700 off on mattresses and bedding accessories through Sept. 6. 

Overstock: Overstock's Labor Day clearance sale includes savings of up to 70% off on patio furniture, coffee tables, rugs, and more.

Pom Pom at Home: Save on hand-loomed products by taking 20% off sitewide via coupon code "LABOR20". This offer is valid September 2-7.

Proof: Take 20% off your purchase via code "WEARWHITE" from 1:59 am ET on August 31 through 1:59 am ET on September 6. Gift cards and bundles are excluded from this offer.

Rockport: Save 30% to 40% on most styles during the Labor Day Sale, which also offers free shipping. This offer is valid August 31-September 6.

Rove Concepts: Score up to 60% off select items during the Labor Day Long Weekend Sale. Plus, members get a 20% discount and 20% back in vouchers that can be used for additional savings. This offer is valid September 2-5.

TUSHY: Purchase two or more of the TUSHY Classic 3.0 and get them for $69 each via coupon code "NINESIX". This offer is valid September 2-6.

What about travel deals?

Travel deals may be a bit scarce over the holiday – not completely gone, just not as good as they have been in the past.

“Many people are hyped to travel after spending the majority of the last two years at home, but that doesn't mean the deals are there,” Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at Deal News, said. “Demand is super high, so there's no real reason for airlines, hotels, and cruise lines to offer any kind of incentive to entice travelers.”

Ramhold said that some of the best offers her team saw last year were in Mexico and the Caribbean, so it might behoove ready-to-go vacationers to search for deals in those two destinations. 

Tips from the pros

While Labor Day sales will have their share of plums, it’s not a one-size-fits-all savings feast. Black Friday’s experts told ConsumerAffairs that when it comes to things like electronics, TVs, and toys, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales might offer more than Labor Day. They also suggested holding off on buying fall clothing and even Halloween decor as there are better prices to come.

Another BlackFriday.com tip is to use discount codes and coupons. “Make sure you're applying coupon codes and stacking cashback offers on top of retailer's sales for even more savings. Sites like RetailMeNot provide up to 15% cash back at hundreds of top stores like Adidas, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Sephora,” a BlackFriday spokesperson said.

Over at Deal News, Ramhold made note that appliances might be extra good values over Labor Day. She said that if last year is any indication – one where Home Depot slashed appliances by 53% – it might be worth checking out the big box stores this time around.

“Keep an eye out for Best Buy to offer savings on appliances, as well. Last year, it had Labor Day discounts on all the big brands, including Samsung, LG, GE, and Whirlpool, among others,” Ramhold suggested.

Another pro tip came from U.S. News & World Report’s latest inflation shopping habits survey. In its study, it found that thanks to inflation, couponing is once again a hot item. 

“Coupon clubs have gone virtual, with expert advice coming in the form of social media influencers,” U.S. News’ Lauren Naru, said. “Popular coupon advisors like City Coupon Mom, Coupon with Kayla, and CouponingCraz have hundreds of thousands of eager followers interested in money-saving strategies.”

Lastly, a spokesperson for RetailMeNot suggested stacking cashback offers on top of retailer's sales for even bigger savings. They said shoppers will find 15% cash back at hundreds of top stores on their deal-driven site, including Adidas, Best Buy, Home Depot and Sephora.

The Inflation Reduction Act, recently signed into law, contains $85 billion in new funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition to hiring additional agents to perform more audits, the money may be targeted for projects designed to improve the taxpayer experience.

Morris Armstrong, founder and owner of Morris Armstrong EA LLC, says the new funding is supposed to be earmarked for increasing staff and improving technology at the tax collection agency. 

“The IRS loves data, and they need to have people who can understand the data and manipulate it as they examine more complex returns,” Armstrong told ConsumerAffairs. 

He says many of the new hires will be focused on returns from pass-through entities such as trusts, partnerships, and S corporations, especially those affiliated with higher-earning taxpayers. 

“While, personally, I think that the administration is mistaken in saying that those making (under) $400,000 will not be impacted, I do think that the very high earners will face more scrutiny. Audit rates for each segment will increase,” Armstrong said.

Phone calls may get answered

Jeremy Babener, member of the Legal Committee at the National Structured Settlements Trade Association, said the additional money could improve the taxpayer experience. For example, he says phone calls to the agency may have a better chance of being answered. The IRS Taxpayer Advocate has found that currently, the IRS only answers about 10% of the phone calls it receives from taxpayers.

"Many have expressed concern of a wave of new audits, (but) they may be forgetting that the IRS is operating with fewer employees today than in the early 1990s, and a significantly larger population," Babener told us.

Babener says the IRS’s recent reduced funding has probably resulted in more audits of lower and middle-income taxpayers because their returns are less complex. But he says those audits also bring in less money.

Smoother process

Armine Alajian, a CPA and founder of the Alajian Group, tells us the increase in IRS funding should make dealing with the tax agency a smoother process. She says both taxpayers and tax preparers have encountered frustrations because the agency has been short-staffed and underfunded.

“We’ve seen a steep decline in IRS employees over the past few years, so if this increased budget stops this decline, we may see much-needed changes in the taxpayer experience,” Alajian told us. “Because the IRS has been severely underfunded for so long, it’s difficult to say if this infusion of money alone will truly bring the improvements we're looking for."

About $15 million of the new funding has been earmarked for a study of the IRS’s FreeFile system and how to simplify and improve it.

“It’s a big project and there are a lot of hurdles, said Yvonne Cort, tax compliance officer at Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld. “I can’t say whether the program is likely to be put in place. For taxpayers with simple returns, it would be beneficial to have an easy, online way to file.”

Armstrong notes the new law allocates about $5 billion to update the IRS business systems, which he says are out of date. There’s about $3 billion for taxpayer services and about $25 billion for taxpayer support. 

“However, there is $46 billion allocated towards enforcement and it is this number that is making people think that they are in trouble,” Armstrong said. “In my opinion, the IRS does a good job of collecting taxes and that funds the government. They should be funded adequately.”

With rents going up as fast as home prices, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and six states have sued an online apartment rental platform, accusing it of exploiting mostly low and moderate-income consumers seeking affordable housing.

Specifically, the suit claims Roomster, along with owners John Shriber and Roman Zaks, duped people looking for affordable housing by purchasing fake reviews and charging for phony listings. The complaint charges Roomster has collected millions of dollars from mostly low-income and student prospective renters who need reliable housing.

In a separate complaint, the FTC and the states charged an individual with selling Roomster tens of thousands of fake reviews, requiring him to pay $100,000 and to cooperate in the FTC’s case against Roomster.

“Roomster polluted the online marketplace with fake reviews and phony listings, making it even harder for people to find affordable rental housing,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Along with our state partners, we aim to hold Roomster and its top executives accountable and return money to hardworking renters.”

Joining the FTC in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of New York, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

‘Fake reviews and other misrepresentations’

“The complaint filed today alleges these defendants deceived consumers looking for affordable housing options by filling the internet with fake reviews and other misrepresentations,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. “The alleged deceptive acts siphoned tens of millions of dollars from mostly lower-income people seeking a rental property.”

In a statement to the media, a Roomster spokesperson said the accusations contained in the suit have no merit and "represent another example of the FTC's overreach."

Roomster, based in New York, operates a website and mobile apps where users pay a fee to access living arrangement listings, including rental properties, room rentals, sublets, and roommate requests. 

The government’s complaint hinges on the accusation that the company relies on fake reviews to draw paying customers to its website. 

While consumers often have complaints about banks and other financial services companies, a recent poll of consumers suggests discrimination is not very high on the list of grievances.

The poll, conducted for the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), found that only 16% of respondents reported perceived bias or discrimination in dealings with financial institutions. Those reporting discrimination most often cited age bias, as well as their lack of assets. Others attributed the reason for bias to their identity or personal circumstances.

“While the high-level results of this survey are positive, the percentage who report feeling ostracized by the financial services sector represents millions of U.S. adults who are unable to participate fairly in the economic system because of their gender, age, race, or some other reason tied to socio-economic circumstances,” said Billy Hensley, president and CEO of NEFE. 

‘Unbanked’

When people feel discrimination they are less likely to avail themselves of a financial institution’s services. That can lead to a group of consumers who have no banking relationship, known as “unbanked.”

Aaron Schumm, CEO and Founder at Vestwell, says there are several institutional and societal factors that might cause a person to be unbanked, especially African Americans.

“In just retirement alone, we can see that only 44% of Black Americans have retirement savings accounts, compared to 65% of white Americans, according to the Federal Reserve 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances,” Schumm told ConsumerAffairs.

Schumm says businesses have a big role to play in improving employees’ financial future, not only by offering retirement savings plans but also with financial education. He cites the 2021 PwC Employee Financial Wellness Survey that concluded that “employers can further support inclusion by making sure that any financial advice or education offered through the workplace is explicitly paired with thoughtful services, products, and opportunities."

The emergence of fintech firms

The unbanked population swelled in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis when many banks unilaterally closed customers’ bank accounts if they were perceived to be a risk. Many of the experts we consulted say emerging fintech firms, as well as online banks, provided relief.

“One of the leading reasons that folks don't have a bank account is because they believe that the fees are too high,” said Richard Gardner, CEO at Modulus, a fintech firm. “Financial technologies can help those who are unbanked, particularly in lowering fees. As technology continues to infiltrate the financial sector, look for continued lower costs, as well as new ways to make banking more convenience driven.”

Erik Poch, managing director of Digital at Ria Money Transfer, believes technology overcomes many barriers that discourage consumers from interacting with the financial services industry. He notes that mobile wallets can take the place of a bank account, making it easy to save money and pay bills. But he says for people not ready to embrace technology, feelings of discrimination can persist.

“The challenge is that lots of people are not ready to give up cash so, for now, to be truly inclusive you need to have a strong physical presence so that a transaction can be initiated using either cash or digital and offer both options for a payout as well,” Poch said. 

Poch says the shift to a cash-free world is happening, but the first step is “putting access to financial services within everyone’s reach.”

The Better Business Bureau is warning parents of a new scam connected to streaming local school sports games. With many high schools across the country transitioning to streaming games to make them more accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are tuning in to watch their kids, grandkids, friends, and family members play. 

While this should be a way for friends and family to show their support and team spirit, it also has become a new avenue for scammers. The risks are coming primarily through Twitter, where schools may post links to stream sports games.

Scammers will post fake links to streaming services that will ask people to provide sensitive information – like Social Security numbers and credit card information – to watch the game. 

It’s easy for potential victims to start clicking through these fake streaming links, as many of them will tag the names of the schools. However, the links never lead to the games, and consumers are forced to pay before they realize they won’t be able to reach a streaming site. On top of that, any information provided on these sites can be compromised and used for future scams. 

How to steer clear of these scams

With back-to-school season underway and the fall sports season kicking off, it’s important for everyone to be vigilant in the face of these scams. The Better Business Bureau urges consumers to be mindful when streaming any games online. 

The best way to avoid these scams is to check with your specific school on whether or not the games will be streamed and what the best way is to access the stream. Twitter accounts that have low follower accounts or only post links to streaming sites are also red flags to look out for.

Taking a few extra minutes to research the site before clicking through may be time-consuming, but ultimately worth it to protect consumers’ identities and personal information. 

Consumers can monitor active scams and report scams through the Better Business Bureau here. 

When the Federal Reserve issues its annual "Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households” report it always measures how many households have enough cash on hand to meet an emergency $400 expense.

But these days, very few emergency expenses cost just $400. LendingClub Corporation, in partnership with PYMNTS.com, has issued its own state of American households report and finds the Fed’s calculations are seriously out of date.

The report found that 46% of U.S. consumers have faced at least one unexpected expense in the last 90 days, with 56% of those emergency expenses costing more than $400. In fact, consumers' average emergency expense was more than triple that -- approximately $1,400.

"The need to update the $400 emergency expense benchmark is evident in this report," said Anuj Nayar, LendingClub's financial health officer. "Inflation in the last year, let alone the last decade, has made it much more difficult for consumers to save while staying on top of their expenses.”

The report confirmed recent findings that well over half of U.S. households live paycheck-to-paycheck. By spending everything they make, even upper-income households are saving little to nothing each month.

‘Difficult road ahead’

“Not only are consumers saving less every month, but they are likely to encounter an emergency expense, if not multiple, putting them at a greater risk for increased financial hardship,” Nayar said. “This fact paves a financially difficult road ahead for consumers."

After quizzing consumers about their unexpected bills, the researchers found very few expenses were under $400. Emergency expenses in 2021 averaged around $1,400 with high-income households and those actually saving money each month reporting even high unexpected expenses.

“With rising inflation and the increased cost of emergency expenses, the Federal Reserve's indicator of financial distress for over a decade is losing relevance,” the researchers write.   

High-income households might have more assets to draw upon to meet an unexpected bill. Middle to lower-income households are less likely to have that option, having to resort to credit cards or other high-interest loans.

It's cute, cuddly -- and may be dangerous.

That's why Huffy Corporation of Miamisburg, Ohio, is recalling 28,550 Blue's Clues Foot to Floor ride-on toys.

The toy can tip forward when a young child is riding it, posing a fall and injury hazard.

The company says it's received 19 reports of children falling forward while they were riding the toy, resulting in 18 facial injuries.

This recall involves Blue's Clues foot to floor ride-on toys made with plush light blue fabric with spots in the shape of the cartoon dog character, Blue’s Clues.

The ride-on toy, with four wheels and handlebars tucked behind the dog’s ears is intended for toddlers 1-1/2 to 3 years old.

The model number is 55061 with the date codes of 15221,15921, 19921, 21021, 22321, 23721, 26821, 28821 or 29421.

The date code and model number are on the label located under the body of the product near the sound unit and battery door.

This isn't the first time a Huffy-manufactured ride-on toy has been recalled.

In late 2020 the firm recalled 3,150 Torex 24V ride-on toy UTVs following reports of 18 incidents of the toy moving unexpectedly.

There were no injuries reported in connection with that recall.

The ride-on toys, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide and online at www.walmart.com from August 2021, through July 2022, for about $40.

What to do

Consumers should immediately take the recalled ride-on toy away from children and stop using it.

Contact the firm for a free kit with instructions to install a new stop bar on the ride-on toy.

Consumers may contact Huffy Corporation at (800) 872-2453 from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, by email at service@huffy.com, or online to www.huffybikes.com/recalls for more information.

For Americans with international travel plans on their calendars, getting an up-to-date passport has taken longer than usual as of late. Processing times have stalled significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with consumers waiting anywhere from eight to 11 weeks to receive an updated passport. 

In an effort to reduce the wait time the U.S. State Department released a pilot program earlier this month that would get the ball rolling with online passport renewals. The agency was looking for 25,000 volunteers to test out this new program, and while new spots are set to open in September, the plan is to have the program fully rolled out by 2023. 

Currently, the program is expected to process passports in a similar timeline to in-person renewals. Consumers who are testing it out should still expect to wait between eight and 11 weeks for their new passports – or five to seven weeks for expedited processing. However, over time, the program is intended to cut costs, simplify the renewal process, and get travelers new passports faster. 

Similarly, the price tag associated with renewing passports online isn’t expected to change from the current fees. Passport renewals cost $130 for the book, $30 for the passport card, and $160 for both. 

Eligibility for the pilot program

In the State Department’s call for volunteers, there was a 10-item checklist people needed to go through to ensure that they were eligible for online renewal. This included: 

• Having a valid passport for 10 years and being at least 25 years old

• Current passports can be expired, but they must have been issued less than 15 years ago but at least nine years 

• Renewers can’t be in the process of changing their name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth 

• International travel is scheduled at least five weeks out 

• The application is for a regular tourist passport

• Applicants live in the U.S. – not foreign countries, or those with Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office addresses

• The current passport is in good condition – not lost, stolen, or destroyed 

• Payment for the new passport can be made with credit/debit card or automated clearing house payment transferring funds from your account

• A digital passport photo can be uploaded to the site

• The current passport will be invalidated once the online application is submitted 

These guidelines are likely to remain in place when the program reopens to volunteers in September. Consumers interested in renewing their passport online should check the State Department’s website for updates. 

Just about every car-buyer is taking fuel economy into consideration. That’s why sales – and prices – of electric and fuel-efficient vehicles are rising.

But the cost of insuring the vehicle is an important, but often overlooked consideration. After all, fuel prices rise and fall. Insurance premiums usually just move in one direction – up.

CarInsurance.com, an online source of insurance information, has analyzed car insurance rates for all cars in all 50 states. It found there is a wide variation between the costliest vehicles to insure and the cheapest.

Insurance for the priciest cars ranges from $4,000 to more than $5,000 per year on average, while rates for the cheapest cars to insure run around $1,300 per year. Lots of other factors can make the rate higher or lower but those numbers are about average.

According to the analysis, the Subaru Forrester Wilderness is the most cost-effective when it comes to finding an insurance policy. The average premium is $1,353 per year, or almost $112 a month.

With a combined city/highway 29 MPG, the Forrester also saves at the gas pump. With its low cost of insurance, the Subaru Forester has been a multiple recipient of the Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own title.

Insurance companies like small engines

The Hyundai Venue SE is second on the list, with an average annual insurance cost of $1,360, or just over $113 a month. Its super low starting MSRP of $19,000 certainly helps keep insurance costs low as does its smallish 1.6L DPI 4-cylinder engine ⁠that puts out only 121 HP.

“The Hyundai is not particularly powerful. The power-to-weight ratio is such that an experienced driver should be able to handle the car in a variety of situations,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.

The Honda CR-V LX also has a low annual insurance premium, placing third on the list. The average annual premium is $1,366, or nearly $114 a month.

In fourth place is the Mazda CX-30 S. Its average annual insurance premium is $1,379, or nearly $115 a month.

Rounding out the top five is the Toyota CH-R XLE. It’s average annual premium is $1,384, just over $115 a month.

Compare those rates with the annual cost of insuring a Maserati Quattroporte, which if you can afford, then insurance premiums might not be a consideration. Still, CarInsurance.com estimates it costs $5,176 a year, or $431 a month to insure.

T-Mobile will use SpaceX’s Starlink satellites to expand cellular coverage, connecting consumers’ phones with satellites orbiting the earth.

The wireless provider announced an agreement with the Elon Musk-owned company – the first of the major cellular providers to offer service from space. 

You may have seen ads from most of the cellular providers, coloring in the areas where they have coverage. While there is a lot of color on most of those coverage maps, there are some white spaces – gaps in the coverage. Melissa, a T-Mobile customer in Onstead, Mich., says she lives in one of those gaps.

“We have 5 phones connected to the T-Mobile network,” Melissa wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “When we are home not one phone gets network service. We can only use our calender, alarm clock, and camera on our phones.”

T-Mobile says there are plenty of cellphone users who have Melissa’s problem. Despite powerful LTE and 5G wireless networks, the company says well over half a million square miles of the U.S., in addition to vast stretches of ocean, are untouched by cell signals from any provider.

That should be changing, albeit slowly, at T-Mobile. The company said it will offer plans that will include satellite coverage, along with the current plans that only use cell towers. 

Most users won’t need a new phone

The satellite networks will use T-Mobile's mid-band spectrum. Because of that, most consumers who sign up for the expanded coverage won’t have to buy a new phone. The new satellite plan will start with texting services in a beta test early next year.

“We’ve always thought differently about what it means to keep customers connected, and that’s why we’re working with the best to deliver coverage above and beyond anything customers have ever seen before,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “More than just a groundbreaking alliance, this represents two industry-shaking innovators challenging the old ways of doing things to create something entirely new that will further connect customers and scare competitors.”

Musk said the agreement will benefit consumers while improving safety and security, noting that it “means there are no dead zones anywhere in the world for your cell phone.” 

T-Mobile’s announcement did not contain any information about what the new satellite coverage will cost.

Car buyers may be going through the same emotions as home buyers – frustrated by fewer choices but encountering higher prices.

Cox Automotive reports U.S. new vehicle sales in August will likely show that the substantially slower pace of new-vehicle sales that started a year ago continues as there has been little change to new car inventories. The report predicts August's new car sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 13.3 million, only slightly higher than last year’s 13.1 million level.

While the sales volume is expected to slow from July’s rate, prices don’t seem to have slowed that much. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported new vehicle prices in July were 0.6% higher than in June and were up 10.4% over July 2021.

But not all vehicle prices are climbing at the same rate. In both the new and used car markets, prices of fuel-efficient cars – especially electric vehicles – are growing faster than other categories.

EV prices are up 54.3%

An analysis by iSeeCars shows electric car prices saw an increase of 54.3% in July over the same month last year while gas-powered cars were up just 10.1%. The company analyzed the prices of over 13.8 million one to five-year-old used cars sold between January and July 2021 and 2022 to determine the price growth of electric cars compared to conventional fuel vehicles.

“Until recently, mainstream electric vehicles typically depreciated rapidly due to improvements in battery technology and a lack of demand in the secondary market,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “However, soaring gas prices, improvements in public charging infrastructure, and a lack of inventory for new EVs have led to soaring demand for used electric vehicles.”

New EVs aren’t exactly cheap, either. Industry sources show the average electric car price in the U.S. rose to $66,000 in June – a more than 13% increase year over 2021. Despite the rising sticker price, consumers apparently have not been deterred.

If you’ve been checking out EVs, you aren’t alone

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reported this week that its survey of both mobile and desktop users found strong interest in EVs, as well as other fuel-efficient vehicles. It also found many consumers were checking out less-popular sedans with less-expensive sticker prices.

With an expected slowdown in vehicle sales this month, the approaching Labor Day weekend – traditionally a time for big auto sales events – might offer more opportunities for consumers ready to purchase a car or truck.

“Relative to pre-pandemic times we’re still well down on new and used car supplies,” Brauer told ConsumerAffairs. “However, there’s been some pressure relief on inventory in recent months and we’ll likely see more Labor Day sales activity than we’ve seen in the past two years.”

America’s love for drive-thrus took off during the pandemic, handling on average about 90% of a store’s sales. And, even now after dining rooms have reopened, 75% of U.S. fast food diners are still going the drive-thru route. That number is significant enough that traditional dine-in and carryout brands like Applebee’s, Jimmy John’s, and Shake Shack are jumping into the drive-thru game. 

But if you’ve visited a fast food restaurant lately, you’ve probably noticed that things aren’t quite as “fast” as they used to be. Getting your walk-in order is taking longer than it has in the past – and drive-thru lines and times are getting longer, too. 

SeeLevel HX’s latest drive-thru study found that the average time it took someone to get in and out of a drive-thru in 2021 was almost 6.5 minutes, about a half-minute longer than in 2020. 

As far as specific restaurants go, Taco Bell had the shortest drive-thru wait times clocking in at four minutes and 28 seconds in QSR’s latest drive-thru study. Taco Bell’s Yum! Brands sibling KFC was a close second at four minutes and 32 seconds.

Among the slow pokes, Chick-fil-A had the unenviable number one position of being the slowest with a nine-minute wait time. Starbucks was the second slowest at close to seven minutes.

Changes in the works

Fast food chains are working feverishly to make drive-thrus more efficient. Some, like Taco Bell, Rally’s, and Checkers are adding extra lanes.

Wendy’s, however, is going all in. It's adding a dedicated pick-up window and parking for delivery-drivers which will move them out of the drive-thru line. The chain is also putting in mobile parking and shelving so customers can select a pick-up time when placing their mobile order and when they get to the store, park in a dedicated mobile order parking spot, and grab their meal off shelving dedicated to mobile order pick-ups.

To meet the need for speed, restaurants will likely be taking a cue from their customers, as well. Topping that list is more automation – something 70% of drive-thru customers say they want would like to see increased. 

But exactly what do they want automated? Presto, a food industry technology company says the three things topping diners’ automation wish list are A.I. voice assistants, personalized menus, and smartphone apps.

The #1 thing consumers can do to save time at fast food restaurants

If you think you’re wasting time in drive-thru lanes, you’re probably right. Until chains get their act together with their drive-thru efficiencies, the time saver ConsumerAffairs could find industry watchers suggesting most often was ordering via a mobile app. Not only can it substantially cut waiting time, but there are tons of deals that are in-app only.

What fast food apps are the best? According to The Takeout, the Top five are:

McDonald’s: Free deals like free large Fries with any purchase and $3 off any purchase of $15 or more.

Wendy’s: Special app-only offers like free any size soft drink with purchase and $2 off any Breakfast Combo.

Burger King: New app users may get a free Whopper, Croissan-wich, or Original Chicken Sandwich with any purchase of at least $3.

Chick-fil-A: Outside of individual meal deals, by using the Chick-fil-A mobile app you can order Sweet Tea, lemonade, and Sunjoy by the gallon, as well as Chick-fil-A Original, Garden Herb Ranch, Polynesian, Honey Mustard, and Barbecue dipping sauce in 8-oz. plastic bottles.

Taco Bell: “In a unique move, Taco Bell has made some of its most popular items available only through online ordering,” The Takeout said – Quesarito, Black Bean Quesarito, Black Bean Chalupa, and the $5 Cravings Box.