Current Events in October 2022

Travel deals for the remainder of 2022 are starting to percolate. But in some situations, it’s get-’em-while-you-can because the window of opportunity may close quickly. Here’s a compilation of the best offers and suggestions ConsumerAffairs found for anyone thinking about going somewhere.

Is this your last chance to save on airfares?

For holiday travelers, time is ticking! So say the folks at Hopper, the airfare booking app. If you don’t book by October 20, Hopper says airfares could surge as the number of available seats starts to shrink. 

According to Hopper’s Last Chance to Save Report, this holiday season is shaping up to be an expensive one – with Christmas airfares up higher than in the past five years and Thanksgiving prices expected to peak well over $450 at the last minute.

Holiday airfares have dropped in recent weeks. However, these deals won’t last long. Hopper’s experts say mid-October is the sweet spot to book holiday travel – while prices are low and deals are still available to many top destinations. 

How are holiday prices trending? Hopper shared these insights with ConsumerAffairs.

• Thanksgiving: Domestic airfare for Thanksgiving is currently averaging $290 round-trip, in line with 2019 prices but up 24% compared to last year. 
  
  Airfare will rise $10 per day from the end of October through Thanksgiving; peaking at over $450 for last-minute tickets. 
• Christmas: Domestic airfare for Christmas is averaging $430 round-trip this week, up 17% compared to 2019 and 53% higher than last year. 
  
  Flight prices will rise slowly into November, before spiking $10 per day from mid-November until the holiday; peaking at over $580 for last-minute airfare.

Don’t snooze on cruise deals

For travelers who want a break from fall and winter’s impending cold, they could give themselves their own holiday gift with a short 2-, 3-, or 4-night cruise that’s priced to go.

Such is especially true at Royal Caribbean which was recently pushing out $89 per person fares for the first two weeks of November and December. And, by all accounts, time really is of the essence if you want a cruise before 2023 kicks in. 

The key element in finding a hard-to-believe cruise fare is pouncing on it when cruises pass their final payment date, which is 90 days prior to sailing.

“When Royal Caribbean gets past the point of final payment, they get a good sense of how booked (or unbooked) a sailing is and responds accordingly to fill up the rest of the ship,” wrote cruise blogger Matt Hochberg.

When ConsumerAffairs looked at some of Royal Caribbean’s peer cruise lines, others were holding flash sales too, and at hard-to-pass-up rates for the remainder of the year. For example, we saw deep price cuts at Celebrity (save up to 75% + free drinks, and Wi-Fi) and Norwegian ($82 a night with an open bar). 

Airbnb vs. hotels

Given that lodging can consume over 20% of your budget, deciding on a hotel or an Airbnb rental could be a prime factor. Studies by both UpgradedPoints and Price4Limo give the edge to Airbnb.

Airbnb seems to have the U.S. advantage in the UpgradedPoints study and a considerable amount of the foreign advantage in the Price4Limo study. There are a few overseas differences where hotels have a slight advantage in the savings department – primarily in Asia and Australia, but hotels in Dublin and Madrid also have the savings edge for travelers going to Europe. 

The Price4Limo analysts said that renting a whole house can be a particularly good bargain if a family is going on vacation together. One case-in-point they made was San Francisco, where renting an entire house via Airbnb is only 5.4% more expensive than the average San Francisco Airbnb listing (inclusive of entire homes, single rooms, hotel listing, etc). 

Rental car situation improving – and may be a better deal than flying

Time is of the essence in finding a good deal on rental cars, too. Ludwig Schoenack, co-founder of Kyte – a company that hand-delivers rental cars across the U.S. -- including to college campuses – told ConsumerAffairs that most rental car companies have early bird offers customers can take advantage of as soon as they know what their holiday travel plans are.

“Prices usually hike the closer your travel dates are. When it comes to the holidays, it’s best to plan in early fall,” Schoenack said.

One suggestion Schoenack made that travelers might not consider, but could save them some extra dough, is by opting out of the insurance add-on.

“Insurance is an important step and a product of one's own risk appetite, but make sure you’re not duplicating coverage if you are covered already. This is a common mistake that travelers make,” he added.

One thing that many consumers might not weigh out is renting a car or hopping on an airplane to use as their vacation mode of transportation.

“Flights are best when you’re traveling to a city where you don’t need a car upon arrival – but more often than not, a car on the ground can help make travel more seamless, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the landscape, even in dense cities,” Schoenack said. 

He made another point about travelers who like to explore. Cars come in especially handy because they provide flexibility during a trip, like if someone wants to stop at a certain park or attraction between their starting point and destination.

A car rental might also have a plus for college students who Mom and Dad want home for the holidays. For example, students who go to school in the Boston area and want to travel to Sarasota where the family is gathering for Thanksgiving are faced with airfare that’s nearly $300 more the two days before Thanksgiving Thursday.

Comparatively, renting a car could be a much better deal especially if there are a couple of other students who are headed in the same direction and willing to split the cost. 

The growing value of the US dollar vs. the Euro

Since 2002, the U.S. dollar hasn’t performed well against the euro, but it’s got the euro beat, albeit slightly, for now.

At publication, a dollar was worth $1.03 against the euro – essentially an incredibly easy way to calculate tit for tat, dollar vs.euro.

“With the strong dollar to the euro exchange, Americans will see a nearly 15% discount on purchases compared to the same time last year,” said ThePointsGuy’s Melissa Klurman. 

“That means once you arrive in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, or any other city in the 19-country European Union, you’ll be able to make purchases without running conversion charts in your head or worrying about the built-in markup on everything.”

Fly “anywhere” and save big

There's a little-known Google Flights feature that is a mighty tool for people who are looking for a great deal to go just somewhere where they may have never been.

In Google Flights' "Explore" mode, you can pick your choice of departure city and when you’d like to go (i.e. a 1-week trip in the next 6 months), then let Google Flights do its thing and find you ultra-low fares as you scroll from one continent to another.

For example, flying out of Nashville to go “somewhere/anywhere” in the next six months, there were roundtrip fares to Lisbon for $536, London for $675, Maui for $475, and Seattle for $175.

Moving west, ConsumerAffairs discovered that people in Denver can go to Machu Picchu for $577, Miami for $77, Paris for $544, and Sydney for $1,022 – with that trip down under half the price it would be if you were going the first of November.

Remember: a deal isn't always a deal

As you hunt down travel deals, keep in mind that there are hidden fees and fine print that may come out to bite you at the end of the process. 

Airlines: The White House is on the case about fee transparency with airlines, but nothing has officially changed yet. Until every single fare is mandated to be clear as a bell, make sure you understand what fares are refundable, what you'll pay for seats, bags, position in the boarding line, etc.

Hotels and vacation rentals: Hotels may try to slap on "resort fees" so when you're booking online, scour each page you click on because, as Forbes found out in a recent perspective on how Expedia worked hotel fees, prices you see upfront might not be the price you pay at the end. Another smart move if you see a good room rate, is to call the hotel and ask if there will be any fees added when you check out.

One recent concern that arose was from travelers who voiced their displeasure with Airbnb policies that prevented them from canceling their reservations in Florida during Hurricane Ian, so take some extra time to pore through all of both Airbnb's and Vrbo's policies on situations like that so you don't get surprised.

To its credit, an Airbnb spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs that the company's site now has a search filter specifically for listings with flexible cancellation policies. "Guests who booked listings with these types of policies can cancel via that policy and get a full refund," the spokesperson said.

Car rentals: Rentalcars.com warns that rental car companies are notorious for hard sells and pulling tricks. Make sure you fully understand how all of those -- fuel policies, mileage limits, insurance -- will impact your billfold.

The bottom line?

The bottom line is that a "deal" isn't always a "deal." Yes, it's a pain, but read the fine print, look for text that's smaller than other text on a page and in a lighter color, make calls, use a service's online chat system, whatever you can do to make sure you fully understand all that's going to be charged to your credit card.

And keep a record of emails, chats, receipts, and whatever documentation you can lay your hands on because if there's ever a question, you'll have some proof to support your claim.

If you’re struggling to pay bills amid rising inflation, you have plenty of company. A new LendingTree survey found an increasing number of consumers are late paying at least some bills.

In fact, 32% of Americans said they have paid a bill late in the past six months and 61% of them said it’s because they didn’t have enough money to cover the costs. Sixty-four percent of women were in that camp as opposed to 57% of men.

Utility bills were the most likely to go unpaid, or paid late. Close behind were credit card bills and the internet or cable bill.

All in all, 40% of Americans said they’re less able to afford their bills than a year ago, not surprising since inflation really took off in early 2022. Overall, 62% of Americans struggle to pay at least one bill.

Consumers are feeling the pain

When ConsumerAffairs analyzed recent consumer reviews, it was clear that inflation is a growing concern. For all types of companies, 82 reviews  since the beginning of June mentioned the word “inflation.”

Tonda, of Winston Salem, N.C., told us her Allstate Insurance bill went from $170 a month to $236 in 18 months. When she called to ask why, she didn’t like the answer.

“He had the nerve to say ‘inflation went up.’ I have never heard anything like that from any insurance company I have ever dealt with,” Tonda wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. 

Actually, a lot of insurance customers have been getting that same message lately. When the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported August’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) it showed that car insurance rates jumped 1.3% from July to August.

‘Shrinking margin for error’

“Life is getting more expensive by the day and it’s shrinking Americans’ already tiny financial margin for error down to zero,” said LendingTree’s chief credit analyst Matt Schulz. “Unless they’ve been able to increase their income, millions of Americans have had to make sacrifices because of inflation to pay the bills. Perhaps the worst part is that inflation likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. That means that short-term quick fixes won’t cut it.”

In August, rent appeared to be the biggest contributor to inflation as home purchase prices eased. New and used car prices were down somewhat but rising interest rates have sent monthly payments into record territory.

With improvements in the supply chain recently food prices aren’t going up as much. Globally, the United Nations reports food inflation has actually declined over the last six months. Experts, however, don’t expect them to fall anytime soon.

We’ll get the next gauge on inflation when the government releases the September CPI later this week.

The holiday shopping season has officially kicked off, and major retailers have begun hosting big savings events this month. Target hosted its two-day Deal Day event from October 6-8, Walmart will be holding its Rollback and More sales event through October 13, and Kohl’s will host a 2-Day Deal Dash through October 12. 

Amazon is also participating in the early holiday shopping festivities with its Prime Early Access Sale on October 11-12. As Prime members consider their holiday shopping lists, preparation is key for the company’s second Prime Day event of the year. 

While Amazon plans to announce new deals over the course of the two-day sale, below are some of the items that are being highlighted as part of the discount event, as well as some tips for consumers to make the most of the Prime Early Access Sale. 

What’s on sale? 

Thousands of items will be on sale during this Prime event, including some of the biggest brands of the holiday season – Peloton, Casper, Ninja, Calvin Klein, and more. Here are some of the best deals consumers can score during the two-day Amazon sale. 

Home Goods: 

• Ninja Air Fryer with 2 Baskets: $199.99 (originally $249.99)

• Calphalon 10-piece Pots and Pans Set: $100 (originally $150) 

• Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker: $49.99 (originally $100)

• Toshiba Countertop Microwave Oven: $134.99 (originally $164.99) 

• REFSAVER Fridge Storage Containers: $20 (originally $35) 

Amazon Devices: 

• Echo Dot with Clock (4th Generation): $35 (originally $60) 

• Fire TV Cube: $60 (originally $120) 

• Kindle Paperwhite: $100 (originally $140) 

• Amazon Halo View: $45 (originally $80) 

• Kindle Oasis: $180 (originally $250) 

TVs: 

• Insignia 32” Smart HD Fire TV: $99.99 (originally $179.99) 

• TCL 50” 5-Series 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR Roku Smart TV: $429.99 (originally $699.99)

• LG 55” C1 OLED Smart TV: $1,296.99 (originally $1,499.99) 

• Samsung 65” Class QLED Q70A Smart TV: $947.99 (originally $1,399.99) 

• Samsung 85” QN90B Class Neo HDR Smart TV: $2,997.99 (originally $4,497.99) 

Technology: 

• Apple AirPods 2: $90 (originally $169) 

• Fitbit Luxe: $87 (originally $140) 

• iRobot Roomba J7 Plus: $599 (originally $799.99) 

• Apple Watch SE (2020): $189 (originally $279) 

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: $179.99 (originally $229.99) 

Toys: 

• Lego Ideas Seinfeld Building Kit: $64 (originally $80) 

• TeeTurtle Reversible Plushies: $11 (originally $15) 

• Playmobil Knight Rider K.I.T.T.: $68 (originally $90) 

• Discovery Kids Gemstone Dig STEM Science Kit: $12.97 (originally $19.99)

• Nerf Modulus Recon MKIII Blaster: $28 (originally $34) 

How to make the most of the sale

To make sure you check off every family member or friend on your gift list during the Prime Early Access Sale, Prime members can set up personalized notifications for deals on specific items. You can set up these alerts on the Amazon website or app based on items you’ve recently searched for or looked at. During the sale, you’ll start to receive notifications as the items are discounted. 

Shoppers can also take advantage of Amazon’s holiday toy list and home gift guide. Both lists are broken down into different categories to help guide consumers to find the perfect gifts. 

After an initial trial period, California lawmakers have expanded the use of digital license plates, allowing them on all cars and trucks in the state. They’ve been allowed on a small number of private vehicles for the last four years.

Digital plates take the place of the metal license plates that have been in use for over 100 years. Transportation officials say they hold some advantages for both consumers and law enforcement.

Reviver, the company that sells the devices, says digital plates are customizable, and trackable, and make renewing the license an easier process.

They can help law enforcement because they can be controlled remotely. According to the company, the plates can be quickly updated for Amber Alerts and can even be programmed to change the numbers to read “I’m stolen.”

Three other states allow them

Michigan and Arizona also allow digital plates on private vehicles and Texas recently approved their use on commercial trucks. With the California legislature’s approval, use of the digital plates could expand from the initial 750,000 cars and trucks to 40 million.

Reviver believes the technology could quickly spread to other states, including 10 states that are currently studying their use.

“Californians are known to be early adopters of emerging innovative technologies,” said Neville Boston, Reviver’s co-founder and chief strategy officer. “We welcome new opportunities to automate and integrate as many parts of our lives as possible, enabling us to streamline mundane tasks and stay connected. Our cars are no exception.” 

Subscription fee

The digital plate for private vehicles is known as the RPlate. It offers two device options enabling vehicle owners to connect their vehicle with a suite of services including in-app registration renewal, visual personalization, vehicle location services, and security features such as easily reporting a vehicle as stolen. 

The RPlate battery-powered version, which is available to all consumers, is a self-installed model with a replaceable five-year battery available at $19.95/month. The RPlate hard-wired version is currently only offered to commercial businesses and features a hard-wired, professionally installed model with integrated telematics features and a backlit display, at $24.95/month. 

Both versions have a monochromatic HD display that can display your customized license plate if your registration is up to date or an "invalid" sign if out of date, making it easier for police to spot out-of-date registrations.

Bundle up, America – it could be a stormy winter on the way, but there’ll be lots of utility scams to keep you warm.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the game’s essentially the same for a scammer's 2022-2023 winter season, but this time around, there could be a few new wrinkles to throw your BS detector off a bit. 

There’ll still be old-school scammers calling you up to say, “Hey, you’re behind on your bill. Unless you pay right today, your gas and electric service will be turned off,” and asking you to buy gift cards or wire money to prevent it.

This year, though, there are three relatively new twists that consumers are likely to face from utility scammers, including these: 

Hi, I’m from YourTown Gas & Electric! Twist number one is when someone who says they’re with the local utility company appears on your doorstep. They look official, so you’re all ears.

But, then, they tell you that you need to repair or replace utility-related equipment, or perhaps perform an upgrade that can save you money on your bill. Oh, yeah, the imposter tells you that you have to pay on the spot. 

Scam! 

We’re sorry, but you overpaid and we want to make things right. Or, someone presumably from the local utility company calls you up and says, “We made a mistake on your bill and you overpaid last month’s charges. We can return the overpayment to your bank account, but we need to verify your account and need to confirm personal information to process your refund.”

Stop. That’s another scam!

We’ll need you to pay the difference in Bitcoin. The third twist comes out of the hot new scam twist of sending consumers text messages. "The scam goes like this: you get a call or text from someone pretending to be your utility company,” Gema de las Heras, Consumer Information Specialist, FTC, said.

“The caller or text says you owe money (which is a lie). The scammers then send you a text—sometimes including your utility company’s logo— with a QR code and tell you to scan it at a Bitcoin ATM to make a payment or your service will be disconnected. 

Stop! Yep, another scam.

Stop right there

If anyone calls you – or shows up on your doorstep – and says they’re from the local utility company, you should stop right there and hang up the phone or slam the door. 

The next move if you’re unsure about your account or equipment situation, is to contact your energy provider’s customer service department. They’ll be able to look everything up and verify what the situation really is.

These scams could hit people in Florida particularly hard. So far this year, the FTC says it's received more than 19,000 reports of imposter scams from Floridians -- nearly triple any other state. And with many people having parents living in the Sunshine State, alerting them to these possible scams could be very helpful.

If you’re having trouble paying your utility bill, there’s help available. One option the FTC suggests is the Low Income Home Assistance Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Just click that link to find out if you qualify.

Now that there are fears the economy is headed for a worsening recession, a scam from the Great Recession has resurfaced. Falling victim to it is extremely costly.

It has various names but it has one extreme result – victims end up signing over the deed to their home to a criminal. Once they do it, there is no way to recover.

During the Great Recession more than a decade ago, millions of Americans were in the midst of foreclosure and desperate to keep their homes. It led to scammers contacting distressed homeowners and offering a plan to help them avoid foreclosure.

The caller isn’t a foreclosure specialist. They have simply taken advantage of the local government’s database of property in foreclosure.

The schemes vary. The scammer might offer to help modify the mortgage to make the payments more affordable. Another variation has the homeowner signing over the deed to the property to a trusted relative who is not on the mortgage.

What the schemes have in common is the requirement that the homeowner sign several legal documents – one of which will transfer ownership of the property. Once the deed is filed, the homeowner will find they are now trespassing and can be evicted.

Can be combined with identity theft

As we reported in 2008, the early form of the scam often combined mortgage fraud with identity theft. If the criminal could steal the homeowner’s identity, the property could be transferred without the real owner being aware or having any contact with the scammer.

At the time, the FBI described it as a complicated crime that had several twists and variations. In most cases, though, it had a central theme.

• Con artists pick out a house to steal;
• They steal that homeowner's identity. They get their names and personal information -- and then make fake social security cards, driver's licenses, or other forms of identification;
• Con artists go to an office supply store and buy forms to transfer property;
• They forge the homeowner's signature on those documents and file them with the appropriate governmental office usually the county recorder of deeds office;
• Once those papers are filed, the deed to the house transfers to the con artists. And the home belongs to them. 

Homeowners should remain vigilant

So far, foreclosure starts remain well below the number in 2008, but if the Federal Reserve continues to tighten interest rates it is likely unemployment will rise and with it, foreclosures.

There are some simple ways to avoid becoming a victim of this scam. For starters, be very leery of anyone who contacts you with what seems to be a simple solution to your problem.

If the “foreclosure specialist” gets aggressive, or uses high-pressure tactics to get you to accept their offer, you’re dealing with a scammer so break off any communication.

Above all, don’t sign anything. No matter what the scammer tells you, never sign over the deed to your home to a stranger.

What fast food restaurants meet consumer expectations the best when it comes to drive-thrus? The findings of Intouch Insight Ltd.’s 22nd Annual Drive-Thru Study might surprise you.

After setting up data collection at over 1,500 drive-thru mystery shops across the country, measurements were taken on everything from the average time it takes to get in and out to the friendliness of the restaurant workers consumers interact with.

The good news is that fast food restaurants seem to have gotten their post-pandemic act together again when it comes to speed. The average total time in the drive-thru line is nearly 10 seconds faster compared to last year. 

Meanwhile, most chains continue to struggle to staff the inside dining area, resulting in slower service. The restaurant industry as a whole is still down 750,000 jobs from pre-pandemic levels as of May, according to the National Restaurant Association.

The bad news is that friendliness continues to go south. Perceived friendliness is down 7% from 2019, currently sitting at 72% –  a factor the analysts say is costing restaurants over $180,000 in losses annually per store.

“We’ve all heard that a smile goes a long way, and in quick service that certainly rings true. While it stands to logic that happier associates lead to better customer experiences, the true financial and operational impact of unfriendly service is staggering,” said Laura Livers, Head of Strategic Growth at Intouch Insight. 

“With friendliness having declined in the industry, brands that can crack the code on employee satisfaction and training will be able to drive better customer service with diner experience, order accuracy, and speed.”

Who’s first and who’s worst?

Breaking down the results by category, the winners and losers include:

Average Total Time: Dividing the total time by the average number of cars in line, KFC won at a smidge over five minutes. Chick-fil-A came in last at over 8 minutes. If McDonald’s takes the study results to heart, it’s possible things could pick up there by the time the next study comes around, but in the meantime, it’s taking an average of nearly 7 minutes for a customer to get in and out of the drive-thru.

Order Accuracy: Arby’s and McDonald’s (tied for first) with 89%. Trailing everyone else is Wendy’s at 79%. 

Satisfaction of Service: Chick-fil-A and Carl’s Jr. get the prize here, tying for first. Tying for third place were Arby’s, Dunkin’, and Hardee’s.

Friendliness: As far as please-and-thank-you are concerned, the customers surveyed liked four of the five Satisfaction leaders the best: Chick-fil-A, Hardee’s, Arby’s, and Carl’s Jr. 

Food Quality: Time and friendliness don’t matter much if the food’s not any good and Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell worked the hardest on this aspect and tied for first place. Tied for third were Arby’s, Dunkin,’ and Wendy’s.

Apps are changing things for fast-food chains

The number one thing consumers are finding they can do to save time at fast food restaurants is ordering using the chain's app. Not only can apps cut waiting time significantly, but there are tons of deals that are in-app only.

"Apps of fast food brands are growing much more than their industry peers through a combination of running more 'food for download' promotions and current economic conditions, where consumers expect lower prices compared with other meal options," Adam Blacker, the VP of Insights at Apptopia said in an email to ConsumerAffairs.

That factor hasn't been lost on McDonald's or Chick-fil-A for sure. McDonald's sits in first place and Chick-fil-A is up three notches to 5th among food apps on Apptopia's iPhone charts.

Combined, both of those chains are putting the squeeze on DoorDash and UberEats. And the slowdown of food delivery apps could continue. Apptopia said that installs have fallen for that segment for two consecutive quarters and are down 11.6% year-over-year.

"Food delivery is typically more expensive than ordering ahead from a brand's app because of the delivery fees, tipping, and many times the individual menu items are priced higher," Blacker wrote.

Two new reports from automotive data company Edmunds show just what new car buyers are up against these days. Not only are prices near record highs, but so are monthly payments, thanks to rising interest rates.

"High prices and rising interest rates are dealing consumers a one-two punch by catapulting monthly payments into a new realm," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of Insights. "With new vehicle purchases, automaker subsidies offer a bit of relief, but even those are far less generous than before. Consumers heading into the car market may be aware of high prices but also need to brace themselves for a different experience in the F&I office."

Edmunds reports the average annual percentage rate (APR) on new financed vehicles in the third quarter of 2022 climbed to 5.7%, the highest rate since the third quarter of 2019.

At the same time, the average auto loan for new cars and trucks hit an all-time record high in the third quarter, rising to $41,347. That compares to $40,602 in the previous quarter and $38,315 in the third quarter of 2021.

Jaw-dropping payments

That makes for some jaw-dropping monthly car payments. Edmunds estimates that 14.3% of consumers who financed a new vehicle purchase in the third quarter of this year agreed to a monthly payment of $1,000 or more. That’s the highest level that Edmunds has on record.

The percentage is even greater for consumers purchasing an electric vehicle (EV). Edmunds says 26% of EV buyers are driving away with a monthly payment over $1,000.

For car buyers, there are only two ways to get a lower monthly payment. Put down more cash or select a less expensive vehicle. Despite worrisome macroeconomic conditions, Caldwell says consumers have been less inclined to spend less.

"Ongoing inventory shortages are partly to blame, but this trend is also a reflection of consumer preferences,” she said. “In the past decade, we've seen Americans embrace a bigger-is-better mindset by gravitating toward larger vehicles with more creature comforts, technology-heavy features, and more recently, electrified powertrains — but that all comes with added cost. Rising interest rates combined with higher prices has sent monthly payments soaring to new heights."

Thrifting just got even easier. 

Goodwill has announced that shoppers will now be able to look through its inventory from the comfort of their own homes with the launch of GoodwillFinds.com, an online shopping platform run by the organization.  

The site went live this week, starting out with 100,000 donations available for online purchase, though that figure is expected to grow exponentially. Right now, shoppers can get just about anything – men’s, women’s, and kids’ clothing, jewelry, books, toys, electronics, home goods, and more.

Making donations will remain an in-store activity but the new website lets shoppers browse through different categories looking for second-hand goods. 

“Our new social enterprise makes it easier for the conscious consumer to shop sustainably online, while heightening the thrifting experience they’ve come to love at Goodwill,” said Matthew Kaness, CEO of Goodwill Finds. 

Greater access to thrifting

With the new website, the organization hopes to make it easier for consumers to go thrift shopping. While there are currently 3,300 Goodwill locations across the country, online shopping will make it easier for shoppers to make purchases that are good for the environment and their wallets. 

The stock for the online store will come from in-person donations. Then, when items are purchased, shoppers will have different options for shipping depending on where they live and where their item was donated.

Items will be shipped from either local warehouses or directly from the store where the item was donated, and shipping costs will vary depending on location and each individual order. 

Consumers may feel good about shopping from GoodwillFinds, as the purchase benefits the community and the environment – and typically comes with a lower price tag. As the new website reads: “Your purchases directly fund job training, community development, and support services in our local communities that help make opportunities become realities.” 

If you have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in your home, better check the brand. If it’s a HECOPRO, a federal safety agency says you should replace it.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says tests have shown that this particular brand of CO detector failed to provide an alert when exposed to pre-determined concentrations of carbon monoxide at 400 ppm. That violates federal safety standards.

If a consumer installs a CO detector that does not alert to the presence of carbon monoxide, and carbon monoxide enters the home, the consumer will not be warned of the presence of this harmful gas, making injury or death very likely.

More than 150 people in the United States die every year from accidental, non-fire-related CO poisoning associated with consumer products.

CO can be produced from many sources, from a fireplace to a space heater. CO detectors emit a loud alarm – much like a smoke detector – when it detects dangerous CO levels.

As yet, no recall

So far, there is no recall of the product.

The HECOPRO CO detectors are made of white plastic and measure approximately of 4.1 x 1.8 x 4.1 inches. The devices feature a digital display on the front.

The CO detectors in question were sold on Amazon.com under ASIN B07T66J7KJ for between $9 and $13.

The CPSC warns consumers they should not purchase these devices or sell them secondhand. Consumers should replace the detectors and dispose of the defective ones.

The agency recommends that consumers install working CO detectors on each level of their homes and outside separate sleeping areas. CO alarms should be battery operated or have battery backup. Consumers should also test CO alarms frequently and make sure batteries are working.