Current Events in December 2022

If you’re moving someplace and need temporary housing or thinking about renting a home or an apartment where you are, proceed with caution. Rental scams are sweeping the U.S.

The number of rental scams has grown more than 60% in the last year, with victims reporting losses of more than $350 million.

This is not your basic confidence scam either. These bad actors realize that people looking to rent want to move fast, so they surgically design their scams to suck in as many potential victims as they can.

In one recent case, WLS-TV reported that a woman’s home in Aurora Ill. was listed for rent without her knowledge or permission, and led to a throng of “renters” showing up on her front stoop trying to get inside. She said some of those had already paid thousands of dollars to rent her home.

Another couple in Austin Texas was so thrilled that they found the perfect place – one that came with a hard-to-find doggy door for their pooch – they wasted no time in sending the deposit and first month's rent. Unfortunately, the scammers wasted no time in taking that $5,200 check and high-tailing it out of town. 

Unfortunately for Zillow, scammers are using the real estate platform to list fake rental properties. Fortunately, however, Zillow has been very proactive in trying to take down fake listings and warn consumers about what telltale signs they should be looking for.

Ask these five questions before renting any place

Zillow says that there are five questions that anyone looking to rent should ask themselves to try and detect whether a property or seller is for real.

1. Does the monthly rent seem too good to be true?

“One clue to a scam is a rental price that’s too low for the neighborhood. If you see an affordable apartment in your dream location and the rent is way below what others are charging, there may be a problem,” the company warns, adding that first-time renters and long-distance movers are more often than not prime targets because the scammer realizes time is of the essence and pushes things like “rare opportunity.”

To avoid the “too good to be true” scam, research rental prices in the area for the size of the unit and amenities you’re looking for. Zillow also suggests using its Rent Zestimate on the listing as a baseline for what you might expect to pay for the rental. 

“If you’re interested in a listing where the rental price is unexpectedly low, ask the property manager or landlord upfront why the rent is so low for the area, and keep copies of all your communication.”

2. Is this listing for real?

Zillow says that if you see the same listing showing up multiple times, but under a different name, that’s a clue it may be a scam. 

Search listings you’re interested in checking out to see if they appear elsewhere online – Craigslist, local rental websites, etc. 

“If the property is listed on major rental listings sites, make sure the listing contains the same contact information, landlord name, address and other high-level details,” Zillow suggests.

3. How does the rental agent want to be paid?

If a rental agent, landlord or property manager wants to be paid in cash, head for the hills with that money tucked in your pocket. If they ask that the money be wired? Don’t do it. Money order? Don’t do that, either. Using either of these methods is the same as sending cash and you’ll never be able to trace it. 

“Typically the best way to make any type of rental payment is through electronic deposit from your bank account,” Zillow says. “You can set this up with your bank. This way, there’s a clear, easy-to-access record of where your money went. You can also use a credit card (subject to interest) or a paper check (if you still have some). Larger, modern properties often have a website with a resident portal where you pay your rent online.”

4. Are you being asked to provide personal information before viewing the property?

If a property owner says that you need to fill out a bunch of forms before you ever see the place – things like Social Security numbers, date of birth, or even a credit card number for some sort of deposit, you should insist that you see the place in person so you can identify that it actually exists.

If you’re unable to view the rental in person, request an online tour or consider perhaps asking a real estate agent or friend to view it on your behalf.

“If the landlord claims they’re unavailable to show the property, or conditions the showing on you providing sensitive personal information in advance, this may be a red flag,” Zillow said.

5. Virtual tour offered?

If you’re not in the same city where the rental property you’re looking at is, and are forced to do a “virtual tour,” be careful – those pictures may look nice, but they may not be real or the building may not actually be up for rent. 

If you’re searching for rentals remotely and can’t visit an apartment or house yourself, ask someone you trust, such as a friend, agent or a fellow employee if you’re moving for a job offer, to visit in person for you. Zillow suggests using its Rental Walkthrough Checklist to thoroughly vet the rental before you commit to a lease.

“If you feel you need to do further research on the property, the local assessor’s office or county clerk can provide property records. Verify all names, websites and phone numbers in the listing. If the property manager has a website, read reviews to spot any potential red flags ahead of time,” the company suggests.

Green Monday is only days away and if you’re running behind on holiday gifts, it is – most definitely – the last big sale of the season. 

On top of the best categories to shop and the biggest deals to be had, BlackFriday.com also let ConsumerAffairs in on some new insights about what specials the big retailers have to offer on Green Monday.

Top Green Monday 2022 sales

Here’s the A to Z (well, actually W) on what retailers are putting on sale for their own version of Green Monday:

Amazon: As usual, techy things – especially Alexa-driven ones – lead the way at Amazon on Green Monday, but BlackFriday.com says there are also good prices on home goods and toys. Keep this link handy for Green Monday to find out what Amazon has specifically for that day.

If you want to be an early bird, ConsumerAffairs found a way you might be able to get an advance peek at what Amazon will offer on Monday. At this link, you'll know how long before certain items will go on sale. If you go in on Sunday and start clicking forward on the page list at the bottom until you find out what deals go live 12-24-hours from then, you might be able to find out. Might…

Best Buy: DealNews' Shannon Flynn says that tech will rule the roost at Best Buy, too, and expects deals on everything from Roombas to tablets and 4K TVs.

eBay: Since eBay is the company that came up with Green Monday in the first place, it, too, will have lots of things on sale. Exactly what though hasn’t been divulged, but DealNews says shoppers should expect everything from apparel to electronics. Keep this link handy to find out exactly what on Monday.

Kohl's: More apparel, more accessories, more home goods, and more smart home devices are what’s expected from Kohl’s on Green Monday. Here’s the link that’ll get you to those deals on December 12. The company is also offering free shipping with a minimum purchase and an extra 15% off when someone signs up for e-mail newsletters.

Macy's: Macy’s is already letting the Green Mondays cat out of the bag and has posted its sale items beforehand. When ConsumerAffairs reviewed what Macy’s was offering, it was pretty much everything in the store – men’s apparel, women’s apparel, shoes, home goods, jewelry, handbags, and beauty items (perfume, for example). Many of the prices we saw were slashed by at least 50% and some up to 70%.

Rakuten: Rakuten isn’t a retailer, per se, but it does aggregate deals so consumers can find options from a variety of major retailers and brands all in one place. On its special Green Monday site, ConsumerAffairs found lots of “cash back” offers like 8% back from Nike, not to mention a way to score an iPhone 14 Pro, Apple watch SE, iPad, & Beats Fit Pro free (of course, for a limited time, some exclusions apply, see store for details caveats).

Target: Much like Macy’s, Target is expected to feature tons of deals and discounts on products from just about every department of the store on Green Monday. BlackFriday deal watchers suggest keeping a special eye on the retailer’s special “Deal of the Day” to enjoy even more savings.

Walmart: Walmart is keeping its Green Monday deal cards close to its chest, but BlackFriday’s sales analysts predict that the big winners will be those shopping for toys, tech, and home items. 

Don’t forget about price matching!

When ConsumerAffairs went looking for anything we may have missed, the KrazyCouponLady brought up a nuance that shoppers might be able to use to leverage even more deals -- price matching!

“Use price matching to your advantage during the second Monday in December. If one retailer isn’t running a deal but another is, consider a price match,” she said.

“Many retailers don’t offer a Black Friday price match, but since Green Monday is so far past Black Friday, you might luck out and be able to request a competitor’s price.”

Walmart has been busy this holiday season – new features on its mobile app and website, extended returns and easier deliveries, and sales both before and during Black Friday. 

Now, the retailer has released a new way for shoppers to find discounted items available at Walmart – TrendGetter. For those looking for holiday gifts – home goods, clothes, a pair of shoes, home decor, etc. – you can upload an image to TrendGetter and then receive similar, ready-to-buy items from Walmart. 

“This holiday season, we know our customers are searching for what they love at can’t-miss prices,” said Casey Schlaybaugh, vice president of brand strategy and marketing at Walmart. “Now, whenever you find a product you love, you can easily search for a similar item at Walmart’s everyday low prices and purchase as soon as inspiration strikes.” 

How it works

The goal of TrendGetter is to make it easier for shoppers to find gifts they’re looking for – at low prices. Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram and see a sweater for your niece, or a YouTube video has the latest game for your son, TrendGetter was designed to help bridge the gap between a social media post and a gift under the tree. 

To use it, shoppers either take or upload a photo to the TrendGetter platform. Based on the image, Walmart utilizes Google Vision technology to generate a similar – or identical – item available for purchase at a low price. Then, shoppers can quickly order it, secure a pick-up, or see if it’s available for in-store purchase in their local Walmart store. 

Walmart recommends that shoppers keep their images as simple as possible when uploading them to TrendGetter. Make the item the primary focus of the image – without any background distractions. Avoid dark lighting and steer clear of shadows -- that can ensure that you get your best product match. 

Shoppers should also feel confident using TrendGetter from a privacy perspective. Images are used strictly to search through product catalogs, and after the item is either purchased or the user closes out of TrendGetter, Walmart says the image will be deleted. 

TrendGetter is available here. 

Booked your Christmas or New Year’s flights, yet? Get ready to pay dearly. Scott Keyes at Scott’s Cheap Flights says Christmas is the most expensive time to travel. 

“It’s no secret that winter holidays aren’t a cheap time to travel, but December 18 through January 7 is probably the single most expensive three-week period of the entire year,” he told ConsumerAffairs.

“On occasion, there are cheap flights during this stretch, but the best deals—like $252 roundtrip to the Bahamas over Christmas—were available six months ago, not for last-minute purchase.”

Examples? Sure – here’s some that Keyes gave ConsumerAffairs and some we found on our own at Google Flights. Note: these prices were valid at the time of this article being published, but since airfares are based on inventory, things could change quickly.

Seattle to Honolulu: Dec 23-30: $1,078...Jan 16-23: $198

Atlanta to New York City (NYC): Dec 23-30: $271… Jan 15-22: $88

Los Angeles to Boston: Dec 22-29: $889...Jan 11-18: $138

Nashville to Paris: Dec 20-28: $1,913…Jan 18-24: $608

Cincinnati to Phoenix: Dec 22-29: $398…Jan 18-25: $138

NYC to Dublin: Dec 21-28: $1,660...Jan 9-16: $406

Charlotte to San Francisco: Dec 21-28: $399…Jan 17-24: $145

Houston to Cancún: Dec 27-Jan 3: $852...Jan 17-24: $191

Early 2023 will be a lot cheaper

If the price of airfare is a deal breaker, you might want to think about going early in the new year. Just like candy going on sale right after Halloween, Keyes said the same holds true with flights every year after Christmas and New Year, making January and February the cheapest months of the year.

“What makes winter so strange and delightful is the swing—virtually overnight on January 8 or so—from the most expensive three-week period to the two absolute cheapest months of the entire year,” he said, pointing out that pushing your trip back from Christmas time to mid-January could save you as much as 80%.

Another plus for going in early 2023 is that there are significantly more last-minute options.

“Cheap last-minute Christmas flights are oxymoronic. Cheap last-minute January flights are not just real, they’re spectacular,” Keyes said. “And they’re abundant right now. In fact, for procrastinators, there’s probably no better time all year to get a cheap late ticket than for travel in January or February.”

ParentsTogether, a national parent-led organization that helps highlight some of the biggest parenting issues, has released its first Dangerous Tech Toys List just in time for the holidays. 

With many popular gifts this holiday season requiring an internet connection, this also increases the risk of digital privacy concerns – especially among some of the youngest kids. As this list makes clear, even gifts you may not consider toys or don’t think of as dangerous come with cybersecurity risks. 

“This guide isn’t a ‘what not to buy list,’” the organization writes. “No toy or device that connects to the internet can be made completely safe because tech companies haven’t designed their products with children’s safety in mind. Instead, our goal is to help parents learn what dangers might be associated with certain toys and how to keep kids of all ages safer while they play.” 

Breaking down the risks by age

ParentsTogether broke down the list by different age groups, and which internet or Bluetooth-connected gifts might come with privacy risks. 

Preschool Kids: 

• eKids Paw Patrol Walkie Talkies

• The Singing Machine Kids Karaoke Machine

Elementary Kids: 

• Amazon Fire HD Kids Pro Edition

• KidKraft Amazon Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen & Market 

• VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam

Teens: 

• Meta Quest VR Headset

• Hidrate Spark PRO Smart Water Bottle

• HiMirror Slide Smart Face Mirror with LED Light, Skin Analyzer, and Video and Music Streaming

All Ages: 

• YouTube Premium Subscription

• Any Internet-Connected Device – Tablets, Smartphones, Computers, Smartwatches

What are the biggest risks?

While each gift comes with its own set of privacy risks, there was some overlap among many of the biggest concerns. 

Another big risk with many of these gifts is related to predators or hackers. When they’re connected to unsecured WiFi networks, or stay connected to Bluetooth when not in use, they can become vulnerable to hackers. This can be dangerous when kids are playing with these toys by themselves and can’t spot red flags that can compromise their safety and well-being. 

With other items, ParentsTogether worries about mental health impacts. For example, the YouTube Premium subscription makes it all too easy for kids to get sucked into excessive screen time, while the Smart Mirror mimics social media filters, which can affect kids’ body images. 

While there is no way to escape gifts that connect to the internet or Bluetooth, understanding the risks and knowing how to combat them as much as possible, is the best course of action. Information on these popular gifts can help parents keep their kids safe – while also having fun – this holiday season. 

Read ParentsTogether’s full list of dangerous tech toys here. 

Now that consumers aren’t as nervous about shopping in-store as they were during the pandemic, are retailers pulling back on curbside options? It depends on the retailer.

Target and Walmart are still committed to offering curbside pickup as an option to shoppers. In fact, Target just added curbside delivery for Starbucks Café beverages and food in 240 locations – adding a food component to curbside delivery.

However, curbside delivery is dropping precipitously at other retailers. A recent report found that the offering of curbside pickup dropped from 34% in 2021 to 25% in 2022. And while some retailers are continuing to offer the service as a holiday shopping perk, it’s possible that the number offering it could drop further after the first of the year.

It may make customer service sense, but not necessarily economic sense

Even though customer service is king, the pluses and minuses of curbside delivery depend on several factors. For some customers, it’s a no-brainer, but for retailers who have to set up special holding sections and people to take orders to the cars, it can be a burden. 

It’s also a buzzkill for retailers who count on foot traffic perusing their aisles and maybe doing some added impulse shopping. 

Then, there’s the issue of returns. Not being able to go in-store and look at the products in person could increase the chance of returns and with returns now costing 21% of the value of the order, curbside may not be the best choice. 

“During the pandemic, employees were available to run items out to customers’ cars. Today, the situation is the opposite. Brands are struggling to hire and retain associates, meaning there is rarely enough staff to ensure the curbside process runs smoothly,” Rick Berger, president of NewStore, told ConsumerAffairs.

What are customers missing not shopping in-store?

In terms of experience, is there anything shoppers miss by not going in-store? Berger thinks there is.

“Curbside isn’t ideal when shoppers are looking to purchase higher-price, specialty items. Brick-and-mortar offers a much better experience in these scenarios because shoppers can touch and try out products before they buy,” he said. Walmart was probably thinking the same thing when it recently rolled out its in-store Netflix "experience."

The other plus Berger sees is that at the same time, shoppers can consult with store employees. Something you can’t get from someone who’s delivering an order and putting it in your backseat.

“Associates aren’t just there to bag up items and take shoppers’ money. They are product and brand experts,” he said.

As an example, he used skiing equipment – a product category that shoppers rely on the expertise of their store guides to help them find the right board, bindings, or boots for them.

“Many factors go into this decision, such as skill level, age, body type, riding conditions, and more,” he said, things where personal and professional insights can benefit a shopper.

As another example, Berger said his company’s researchers found that 72% of the brands they looked at in the luxury segment – such as jewelry – don’t offer curbside pickup because it simply takes away from a curated in-store experience certain retailers pride themselves on. 

“In both cases above, shoppers are making significant, long-term investments that require the personalization that can only happen from an in-person shopping experience. It all comes down to the brand and the products it sells,” he added.

For those looking to simplify their streaming services, the latest news from Prime Video and HBO Max is certainly going to be exciting. 

Amazon has announced that HBO Max will once again be available through Prime Video. After the two streamers took a hiatus in 2021, the companies have worked together to provide a simpler streaming experience for customers. 

Currently, Prime subscribers can purchase the ad-free version of HBO Max for $14.99 per month. This comes with access to 15,000 hours of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and docu-series that are exclusive to HBO Max. 

For current Prime subscribers, having the Prime Video app will grant you access to content from HBO Max – no additional downloads or apps are necessary. While the subscription costs extra, it can be canceled at any time. 

“We strive to offer customers the best and widest selection of premium content available for their everyday viewing experience,” said Cem Sibay, vice president of Prime Video. “It’s been a truly milestone year for Prime Video, and we are humbled by the viewer engagement and critics’ response to our marquee releases. Now with the addition of HBO Max again, customers can easily add this subscription and enjoy even more award-winning and fan-favorite entertainment on Prime Video.” 

“Our common goal is to delight customers with great content and continue to collaborate so we can best serve our subscribers,” said J.B. Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. 

Prime is expanding its reach

In addition to HBO Max, Prime Video expanded this year to include Thursday Night Football. The partnership between Amazon and the NFL has been so successful that the groups announced the first ever Black Friday game to be streamed on Prime Video in 2023. 

At the five-week mark of the season, Thursday Night Football games were averaging 11 million viewers each week on Prime Video. This was up nearly 50% from the 2021 season – prior to the agreement between Amazon and the NFL. 

Parents and caregivers are being warned not to use the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo Corporation.

An evaluation of the devices by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found they can deflate during use or storage. As a result, the child occupant may slide out of the product into the water, leading to serious injury or death.

A a six-month old infant died by drowning in 2020 in Maine after slipping through an Otteroo infant flotation ring.

In a separate incident in New York in 2020, a three-month old infant was seriously injured.

Several devices pose concern

At issue are the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings sold nationwide since January 2014, and discontinued models of infant flotation rings: the Version 1, sold from 2014 to 2015, and the Version 2, sold from 2015 to 2018.

According to CPSC, there have been 68 incidents where infants slipped through the head opening of the flotation ring and required immediate rescue.

CPSC is urging consumers not to buy the Otteroo infant flotation rings, and advises those who own one to stop using it and dispose of it immediately.

Additionally, consumers should NOT resell or donate the Otteroo infant flotation rings to avoid putting other infants in danger by the hazard.

Pushback from Otteroo

Otteroo has taken issue with the CPSC warning.

It claims the neck floats come with thorough safety instructions and warnings which -- if followed -- will ensure safe use.

Otteroo also says the warnings make it clear that neck floats are meant to be used under close and constant adult supervision.

And it contends there are inconsistencies and limited evidence concerning whether the neck floats were directly responsible.

The firm has refused to agree to CPSC’s request for an acceptable recall.

Identity theft will be an even larger menace to consumers next year as scammers shift tactics and focus on specific demographics. That’s the conclusion of the Identity Theft Resource Center’s (ITRC) 2023 predictions.

“In 2022, consumers doubled down on instant payment and transfer apps,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of ITRC. “The velocity of social media account takeovers increased by more than 1,000% in a year due to people falling for phishing attacks and identity-based scams.”

The organization’s research shows 27% of individuals and 87% of businesses lost revenue from a social media account takeover. There was a large increase in identity fraud-related crimes where cybercriminals impersonated someone to open credit accounts using stolen personal information to bypass security features. 

‘Shift in tactics’

“These trends point towards shifts in tactics moving forward,” Velasquez said. “We expect to see identity crimes affect generations differently, depending on how people interact with the digital world, as well as a rise in scams targeting specific ethnic groups.”

One predicted change is how romance scams operate. In the past, scammers would pretend to be in love with someone they met online to persuade them to give them money. But ITRC says that scam is evolving, with criminals shifting toward platonic relationships in order to gain the trust of their victims.

“We think identity criminals could look to exploit the technology gap between people who adopt new passwordless logins and those who don’t,” Velasquez said. “We will also watch to see how much information is included in data breach notices in 2023. A lack of information on compromises leaves people and businesses vulnerable to identity crimes.”

Other trends

Other emerging identity theft trends in 2023 could include:

• Scams targeting specific ethnic groups or immigrants with limited English proficiency will increase.

• Identity crimes and fraud will continue to affect generations differently. Payment and contact methods vary depending on age and how each individual interacts with the digital world.

• The increased popularity of payment apps among scammers will prompt action by Congress or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to crack down on the misuse of these apps.

• The number of data breach notices that reveal less information about a compromise will continue to grow, putting more people and businesses at risk.

ITRC is not optimistic that legislators will act to give consumers the protection they need. It says there is plenty of evidence that data breaches are giving scammers the information they need to craft more effective phishing pitches and account takeover fraud. Despite that, the group predicts Congress will fail to pass a comprehensive privacy and data security law in 2023.

If the pandemic was extra kind to a consumer segment, it had to be the food takeout category. A recent Gloria Food’s study found that 86% of Americans do takeout at least once a month – a metric that has forced restaurant operators to prove that their food will be just as fresh and taste just as good when it reaches someone’s doorsteps than it would if those customers were eating in.

Market research firm Datassential polled consumers as to what chains were meeting that mark. Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN) reported that half of this year’s winners made their first appearance in the rankings. 

“More than two and a half years into the pandemic, off-premises options remain vital to restaurant chains’ success,” NRN said, emphasizing that the chefs at those chains have had to get creative to create menu items that a customer can easily pick up and take home without losing quality.

Here’s the top 10, along with the percentage of respondents that rated the chain “best in class” or “above average” on quality of takeout food:

10 (a tie): Jimmy John’s, McAlister’s, MOD Pizza, Jason’s Deli, and Krispy Kreme: 70%

9: Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizzas: 71%

8: Culver’s: 72%

7: Maggiano’s Little Italy: 73%

6: Jet’s Pizza: 73%

5: In-N-Out Burger: 74%

4: Firehouse Subs: 74%

3: Jersey Mike’s: 75%

1. (a tie): Papa Murphy’s and Chick-fil-A: 77%

Robokiller, a spam call and text blocker, has released new data on the number of spam texts consumers across the country received during the month of November -- and it's a lot! 

The company learned that spam texts skyrocketed 160% from October to November. In October, consumers received 18 billion spam texts for the entire month. In November, that figure jumped to 47 billion spam texts – which translates to about 173 spam texts for every person in the country. 

It was also a huge jump in the number of spam texts between last year and this year. In December 2021, Robokiller reported under 5 billion spam texts across the country. 

Experts are pointing fingers towards the biggest shopping holidays in November – both Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Many stores rely on text messages to customers to help bring in more sales, and delivery services like FedEx, UPS, or Amazon, send customers text messages to update them on their orders. 

Though these strategies are effective at their intended goal, they can also lead to a number of scams and spam messages. The Robokiller report found that fake delivery text updates increased by 156% between October and November. 

Breaking down the numbers

Robokiller found that over 1.5 billion spam texts were sent out each day for the month of November. The weekends were the most popular, with over 2.3 billion spam texts sent out during each weekend of the month. Overall, there were nearly 1.1 billion spam texts sent out each minute of November. 

The report also picked out which states received the most spam texts during the month of November. Here are the top 10: California (6.9 billion), Georgia (6.8 billion), New York (5.6 billion), Illinois (4.2 billion), Virginia (4 billion), Washington (2.7 billion), Texas (2.4 billion), Florida (2.3 billion), New Jersey (1.6 billion), and Pennsylvania (1.3 billion). 

Identifying and avoiding spam messages

Robokiller and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued guidance on how consumers can spot spam texts and what to do to avoid them. 

For starters, any legitimate business or retailer will need your permission before sending you a text message. If you haven’t provided your phone number or opted in to receive text messages, then it’s most likely a scam. 

These messages often contain urgent notices to make payments, participate in a sale, or provide personal information through a URL – that often doesn’t look like a legitimate link. If the message contains typos or other grammatical errors, these are other signs that it’s coming from a sketchy source. 

If you receive any messages like this, the biggest piece of advice is to not respond. Don’t click on any links, don’t provide any personal information, and don’t engage with the message in any way. 

Experts urge consumers to block the phone number, report it to their phone carrier or the FTC, and mark the number as spam. Spam texts can be reported by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM), or directly in the Messages app on Android or Apple devices. 

Because most shoppers are creatures of habit, both Amazon and Amazon experts say there are things consumers may be missing that could make life easier.

As you’re scurrying to try and make holiday gift giving as seamless as possible, here are seven tips that ConsumerAffairs found that could come in handy if the clock is running out or you’re all out of ideas as to what to buy your friends and family.

Maximize the use of “gift lists.” Rather than guess what your grandkids want or call your friend’s partner to find out what they’ve been wishing for, Amazon suggests either searching for your loved ones’ Amazon Wish Lists (aka gift lists) or suggest they make one.

These lists also make it simple for gift recipients to keep track of who purchased which gifts. And if someone wants to return or exchange a gift, a Gift List gives them a 90-day window to do that. 

Amazon expert Arishekar N says the most important use of having a list on Amazon is that you can share it with others, and in a special wish list guide, shares the 1-2-3 steps on how to do that

Use Amazon’s search feature to refine your options. But, if grandma or your BFF doesn’t have a wish list, Amazon’s search engine is smart enough to give insightful answers to queries that a shopper might use.

To see it in action, just type in “gifts for … (whoever you’re shopping for, e.g., grandma or a whiskey lover)” In the main search bar. Once you get those, you can narrow your options down further.

Use the Amazon Assistant browser extension to find even more deals. Amazon Assistant is a fairly easy-to-install extension for all the major web browsers (e.g., Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge). 

“With it, you can watch for product comparisons that save time and money, access shortcuts to popular Amazon hubs right in your browser, and get notified when deals that you're watching go live with desktop notifications,” reminds PocketLint’s Maggie Tillman. “It also lets you get information about orders and deliveries.”

Amazon’s gift wrappers may be better than yours. Not everyone was born to be a great gift wrapper or has the time to do it, especially when gift exchange time come. Amazon offers a gift bag wrapping service with a notecard that could take care of that. 

When ConsumerAffairs looked at the added cost for things like headphones and packing cubes, the added cost for gift wrapping was in the $3.50-$4.99 ballpark.

Look for the digital coupon codes. “One of the biggest ways to save money on Amazon is also one of the easiest. The retailer has a tendency to offer digital coupon codes on thousands of products. At times, the coupon will apply automatically during checkout,” said Tom’s Guide’s Louis Ramirez . 

Ramirez says the trick is to look for a tiny radio box layered below the Amazon price, the Prime “free returns” logo, and next to the orange “Coupon” banner. 

“Click the box and the coupon will be automatically applied at checkout. It’s such an easy trick, but it’s also very easy to overlook,” he said.

Consider “Amazon Family” for new families. Amazon Family doesn’t get much attention, but it’s perfect for new, Prime families. Not only does it have deals on your standard fare parenting items and household necessities, but it also holds regular sales on baby products and can come up with some ideas for age-based product recommendations.

Plus, if you use Amazon Family for your diaper subscription, you’ll get 20% off. 

Digital gifts

Consider a digital gift. If you’re really up against the clock, think about what “digital” items your giftee is into. On top of the traditional gift cards – which Amazon has in every shape, color, and brand – think a little further outside the digital box.

And if they’re someone you’d splurge more than $100 on, an Amazon Prime membership might go a long way because Prime has more than just delivery pluses. It has free gaming, free music, free reading of some Kindle books, and of course, movies via Prime video. Note: Some books are available only through the Kindle Unlimited program.

Watch the Amazon "shopping channel." If you traditionally go to HSN or QVC for product sales, have you ever considered Amazon’s platform that does the exact same thing?

Not only do the retailer’s presenters give you the complete background and some show-and-tell about the products they’re demoing, but as far as ConsumerAffairs could find out, everything they show is also on sale – with some at big discounts for shoppers who buy them by a certain time.

With holiday shopping going on for a few months now, the affordability of holiday gifts has been on a lot of consumers’ minds. Inflation has changed the way many people are shopping this holiday season, and now, having alternative payment methods have made it easier for consumers to get the gifts they’re most looking for and paying for them down the road. 

‘Buy now pay later’ (BNPL) has become an increasingly popular option – especially this holiday season – as it allows shoppers to make purchases on the spot with a small down payment, and then break up the rest of the cost into smaller monthly installments. The payments are also interest-free if you complete them in the allotted time. 

Having the option to make bigger purchases without the worry of being able to pay for it all upfront may have been helpful to consumers. However, some experts worry about the financial implications involved with choosing BNPL. 

Holiday shopping trends

Cardify shared results from a recent study it conducted that polled over 2,000 BNPL users about their plans for the holiday season. 

While BNPL wasn’t the top choice for buying holiday gifts, it did come in at number three, with over 45% saying they’d choose this payment method this season. Debit cards were the top choice (65.7%), followed by credit cards (54.6%). Just 31.5% of survey respondents said that they’d use cash to pay for gifts this holiday season. 

About 40% of people said they’d use BNPL for 50%-99% of their holiday shopping, while just under 9% said they’d use it for all of their holiday shopping. The majority – over 51% – said they’d use the service for more of their holiday shopping this year than they did last year; just 10.1% said they’d be using BNPL less this year than they did last year. 

The survey also found that BNPL shoppers were more likely to report spending more money this holiday season in general. Regardless of payment method, nearly 20% of frequent BNPL users said they’d spend more than $1,000 during the holidays; comparatively, 16.1% of non-BNPL users said they’d be spending that much this holiday season. 

Shopping smart this holiday season 

Business Insider offered tips for consumers interested in shopping with BNPL to ensure smart shopping practices and reduce the likelihood of accruing burdensome debt. 

BNPL shoppers should be mindful of interest rates, know the late fees, and know if they’ll be able to make payments down the road. While completing payments in the scheduled time usually eliminates interest rates, pushing payments beyond the four or six-week pay period can be costly.

Similarly, many BNPL services don’t charge late fees, but missing payments can be detrimental to your credit score. 

GO Banking Rates offered some alternatives to BNPL for shoppers this holiday season: 

• Apply for a credit card with 0% APR

• Use cashback to help fund holiday shopping

• Keep a schedule of some of the biggest sales of the season to make sure you’re buying at the lowest possible price 

The holiday season is costly, and BNPL can be an effective way to make bigger purchases, so long as consumers also understand the potential financial risks and don't get over-extended. 

The fast food industry has another shortage but it's not something most American fast-food devotees have encountered before – lettuce. 

What began with pandemic-led supply chain issues, lettuce production was recently dampened by a warm front and widespread crop disease in California’s Salinas Valley – the “Salad Bowl of the World.” Close to 40% of the recent lettuce crop was wiped out, pushing the price of the leafy green up nearly 20% higher than it was a year ago.

And the trickle-down impact is forcing some restaurants to alter their menus and prices on certain items to compensate for the loss.

According to various news reports, Subway, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell have been sent scrambling to make sure consumers understand what’s going on and doing what they can in adjusting prices or removing certain menu items to keep things in check.

'Remaining flexible'

A Panera spokesperson told Insider that the chain is "remaining flexible" with recipes and working with suppliers to meet its lettuce needs.

Chick-fil-A took to its app to say that "Due to global supply chain challenges, we may be temporarily out of lettuce. Some menu items may be unavailable or prepared differently."

Taco Bell also sent out warnings via its app as a matter of caution in case its fans found their tacos a little shy on the greenery side of things.

“Some restaurants are switching to alternatives for their wedge salads and salad-based bowls. Others are asking customers to pay a surcharge to help cover costs,” RestaurantBusiness’ Lisa Jennings, said.

But, there’s possibly some good news sooner rather than later. If cold weather continues across the country, the situation could right itself and return everything to normal in the next few months.