Current Events in May 2023

For many Americans, Memorial Day Weekend serves as the official kickoff to summer, which usually means gathering your friends and family for a barbecue. 

While costs of all the major essentials continue to creep up, Walmart and Kroger have announced efforts to keep party supplies cost-friendly for consumers this Memorial Day. 

“As families come together in tribute on this day of remembrance, we join our customers in honoring our heroes, and we are here to make their gathering extra special with holiday staples that are affordable, fresh, and delicious,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. 

Walmart’s BBQ sale will get you through July 4

Between now and July 15, Walmart is offering shoppers discounts on everything barbecue-related – and the prices are actually lower than last year. 

Shoppers can get everything they need for a barbecue in one of Walmart’s summer grilling baskets. They include everything – hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, lettuce, tomato, cheese, ketchup, pasta and potato salad, corn on the cob, drinks, chips, dessert, and more. 

The price to serve 12 people comes to $6.15 per person, or a total of $73.76. Whether you’re hosting for Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4, or any weekend in between, there are deals on all the summer barbecue necessities.

If you’re in need of a grill or new briquettes before the start of the summer, Walmart is also offering sales on those: 

• Expert Grill’s 14.5’’ Portable Charcoal Grill: $14.97 ($3 savings)

• Blackstone’s 2-Burner 28” Griddle with Air Fryer: $447 ($50 savings) 

• 12 lbs of Instant Charcoal Briquettes from Expert Grill: $6.97 (Originally $7.88)

• 16 lbs of Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes (two-pack): $17.92 ($2 savings)

All items and sales are available in-store, online, or with curbside or in-store pickup. 

Choose your budget at Kroger  

Ahead of Memorial Day, Kroger is offering three tiers of menus for consumers looking to stock up for their barbecues: the red menu ($5 per person), the white menu ($7.50 per person), and the blue menu ($10 per person). Each menu comes with options for grilling, sides, and snacks, with the option to also add on a s’mores kit for dessert. 

With the red menu, shoppers get Kroger-brand quarter pound burgers and Nathan’s hotdogs, hotdog and hamburger buns, Colby Jack cheese slices, tomato, southwest chopped salad kit, cole slaw, strawberries, and party size cheddar and sour cream potato chips. 

The white menu offers St. Louis-style pork spare ribs, boneless and skinless chicken breast marinated in applewood smoked honey maple BBQ, corn on the cob, sweet kale chopped salad kit, southern-style potato salad, watermelon, party-size wavy potato chips. 

Lastly, the blue menu includes Private Select Angus Beef Boneless flank steak marinated in steak marinade, frozen cooked shrimp and kebabs made with yellow squash, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, sliced baby bella mushrooms, ultimate caesar salad kit, cole slaw, and party size sweet and mesquite BBQ potato chips. 

Kroger is also offering a $9 bundle for a full s’mores kit, plus other deals on barbecue essentials, like propane tanks, sunblock, briquettes, and more. Shoppers can access all of these deals however they choose to shop -- pickup, delivery, or in-store. 

Prices for BBQ items are going up, experts say

According to DataAssembly’s Grocery Price index, which collects and tracks weekly grocery store prices from over 150,000 stores across the country, the cost of hosting a barbecue this summer is going to be more than it has been in recent years – making these store discounts all the more valuable. 

Overall, barbecue goods will cost consumers roughly 9% more than in 2022, with the biggest price hike coming to condiments. Ketchup alone is nearly 30% more expensive than it was a year ago, and mustard and relish aren’t far behind, with the former seeing a 13% price increase, and the latter seeing a 12% price increase since last year. 

In terms of popular grill items, ground beef is marginally down in price since last year (0.4% price decrease), and hotdogs have gone up in price by 3%.

Motorists hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend are likely to find a lot of traffic but gas prices that are easier on the wallet than a year ago.

AAA reports the national average price of regular gas is now $3.56 a gallon. Heading into last Memorial Day weekend the price was a dollar more.

In fact, gas prices have remained fairly stable over the last couple of weeks, in part because of concerns about a possible U.S. default, an event that would likely hasten a recession. Oil prices have actually fallen and demand for fuel has decreased.

“Despite mild weather and a less volatile economic forecast, drivers are not hitting the road and raising gasoline demand to traditional seasonal levels,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “It’s possible this is merely the lull before Memorial Day, but it could be a trend that lingers into summer. Stay tuned.” 

But demand could accelerate into the weekend. In its holiday forecast, AAA said it expects 42.3 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend. That would be a 7% increase over last year and the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000.

Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, has already noted gas price hikes in a handful of states, including Michigan, Ohio and the Chicago area.

Inching up before Memorial Day

“We'll likely see the national average price of gasoline inching up just in time for Memorial Day,” DeHaan wrote on Twitter. “We projected $3.53/gal, could be that or a penny or two higher. Most of the country will see #gasprices inching up between now and the holiday.”

Weekend travelers driving through Mississippi will find the nation’s lowest gas prices, with a statewide average of $2.98 a gallon. Driving across Texas won’t break the bank either with the average gas price $3.08 a gallon.

Consumers who drive through California will feel the most pain at the pump. The statewide average gas price is $4.80 a gallon. Idaho is not far behind with an average gas price of $4.77 a gallon.

As summer travel begins this Friday – Memorial Day weekend – and continues through Labor Day, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing airport security checkpoints nationwide to screen high volumes of passengers.

About 2.6 million passengers are expected to be screened on Friday, May 26, the busiest day of the long weekend.

Many of those passengers may not have flown in a while and the TSA suggests they get caught up on all the changes. Even those who have flown in the last few months may be in for a couple of nuances as well.

Here’s what the agency shared with ConsumerAffairs:

Update on TSA PreCheck

Any parent or guardian already enrolled in TSAPrecheck can now accompany teens aged 13-17 to a TSA PreCheck screening when the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the teen's boarding pass. Children 12 and under may accompany an enrolled parent or guardian without restriction at any time.

“Passengers can help as well by being prepared, by having their identification ready when they begin screening and checking to make sure they aren’t bringing firearms, oversized liquids or any other prohibited item into the checkpoint,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “One person’s actions can delay screening for everyone else.”

Are you who you say you are?

TSA is deploying new technology solutions nationwide to modernize airport checkpoints, enhance security effectiveness, and improve the passenger experience. Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) units now verify a passenger's identification credentials, flight details, and pre-screening status, such as TSA PreCheck, without a boarding pass. With CAT, passengers only need to provide their acceptable photo identification to the officer. 

But, heads up – TSA officers may perform additional passenger verification if they think it’s needed.

If anyone is worried about their images being scanned, the agency said that those travelers may opt out in favor of an alternative identity verification process without losing their place in line. 

More scrutiny of carry-ons

TSA recently installed new state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) units nationwide, which the agency says greatly improves scanning and threat detection capabilities for carry-on bags. 

The upside is that the new CT units give TSA officers the ability to review a 3-D image of passengers’ bags while reducing the need to physically search the contents of those bags. That means that travelers screened in security lanes with CT units no longer have to remove their 3-1-1 liquids or laptops, but they must place every carry-on item, including bags, into a bin for screening. 

Pack an empty bag

The TSA says that it’s been monitoring what trends are happening at U.S. airports and recommends that travelers start with a completely empty bag and take a minute to know what items can be carried on before they go. 

“When airline passengers begin packing for travel with an empty bag, they are less likely to be stopped at the security checkpoint for having prohibited items. Prior to packing that empty bag, check TSA’s What Can I Bring? tool to know what is prohibited,” the agency noted. 

Guns’ll getcha!

One huge concern is the number of firearms that passengers have tried to get through security checkpoints in the last few months. TSA officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023 – more than 93% of them loaded. 

If you try to get a firearm through security, you will get stopped, maybe fined, and the government will confiscate your gun and you won't get it back.

And that fine isn’t cheap, either. Trying to bring a loaded firearm or unloaded firearm with accessible ammunition in a carry-on could cost you $3,000 - $10,700, plus a criminal referral. Unloaded firearms carry a potential fine of  $1,500 - $5,370 + criminal referral for anyone who tries to bring one through a TSA checkpoint. 

For anyone who wants to travel with a firearm, the rule is simple: “You may still travel with a firearm – it just must be properly packed in your checked baggage and you must declare it to the airline,” Pekoske said. 

In 2022, there were over 1.1 million reports of identity theft received through the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) IdentityTheft.gov website. Security experts say the risk of this type of fraud increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The threat had been building for over a decade. It steadily increased as fraudsters got their hands on more personally identifiable information (PII), allowing them to open credit accounts in unsuspecting consumers’ names.

Sara Seguin, principal advisor for Fraud & Identity Risk at Alloy, a cybersecurity firm, says the growing use of technology across the financial services industry, in the years before the pandemic, set the stage for explosive growth.

“What has happened over the course of the last 10 years is digital has become more prevalent and data is being used in so many different ways, like signing up for rewards,” Seguin told ConsumerAffairs. “So you’re giving more information even when you’re checking out. That data is being exposed and stolen through multiple data breaches.”

Phishing schemes

You may have no control over data breaches but scammers are getting your PII in other ways, through digital contacts utilizing phishing schemes. And when the pandemic hit, that method took off.

“When the pandemic occurred, a lot of firms were forced, if they didn’t already have it set up, to operate through a digital environment,” she said.

That sped up the process of putting new technologies in place faster than they would have otherwise. Sometimes, the end result was not what it would have been had it been left to a natural evolution.

Law Helie, general manager of the Consumer Banking product line at nCino, a firm providing cloud banking services, says the pandemic presented other challenges. It unleashed fraudsters’ creativity as they devised ways to fool consumers. 

Hey, we’re your bank

Using text messages they began contacting people, claiming to be from their bank, trying to trick them into providing account login information so they could take over accounts.

“Customers who in the past might have gone into their local branch or had some personal interaction were no longer doing that,” Helie told us. “They were ‘trusting’ that this email is real.”

Technology tools to authenticate text messages can help. But knowing what to look for can also help you avoid these traps. For example, Helie points out that if an email that is supposedly from your bank asks for personal information it should already have, that’s a big red flag.

“I get them every once in a while, they look convincing, I just know better,” he said.

Identity thieves have always been out there. But Seguin and Helie say the removal of face-to-face interaction with banks and other industries that store data has compounded the problem.

“Because you have to trust the technology and so many institutions are moving so quickly to try to plug those gaps, some of the end-user parts sort of fell through the cracks,“ Law said.

“It’s really exposed how easy it is to commit fraud,” Seguin added.

Montana has officially become the first state to completely ban TikTok for everyone in the state. It may be the first, but it’s not likely to be the last.

As of April 2023, the app has been banned for use by federal employees and banned for use by state employees in 34 states.

But students and Gen Z’er are looking at a far greater squeeze. Major colleges and universities like the University of Florida, University of Wisconsin, University of Texas, University of Georgia and others have cut off access to TikTok for hundreds of thousands of students. And a recent survey found that most people over the age of 23 want the app out of everyone’s life, basically challenging the younger generation's obsession with TikTok and its value in their lives.

The tech giants’ smoke-and-mirrors act

Any parent who’s tried to wean their child off the high they get from any dopamine-driven app knows that if or when the walls of TikTok keep tumbling down, they’re going to be dealing with a ton of bummed-out kids.

Titania Jordan is the chief parenting officer at Bark Technologies, a company that offers content monitoring for parents so their children can still get their internet fix without getting addicted to an app or website. Jordan told ConsumerAffairs that while Montana’s effort is a good start, it’s not going to remedy the situation.

“What the platform really needs to do, along with other platforms such as Snapchat, is open their APIs (Application Programming Interface) to allow third-party monitoring systems to get in there and do the job of helping to protect kids from digital dangers the right way,” she said – those dangers being cyberbullying, online predation, suicidal ideation, self-harm, violent content, and disordered eating. 

But she thinks the larger problem is going to be all the smoke and mirrors from these tech giants who “say” they’re putting in their own safety systems. 

“They’re not," she said. "Tech companies need checks and balances, much like any organization with too much power, to ensure they are truly putting in the right protective measures to help kids stay safer on their platforms, not just protect and further their own financial interests.”

How can parents safely monitor their child’s phone and social media use?

With summer around the corner, Jordan encourages parents to set borderlines, set screen time limits, model positive behavior, learn how to use the parental controls on the apps and devices their kids use – and a seemingly forgotten parental skill – spend some time with their kids outside, among other things like boundaries and contracts.

“Parental controls can block inappropriate content, help protect kids from communicating with strangers – or worse – predators, teach our kids limits and boundaries, help establish schedules for homework, chores, or bedtime, and mostly, help set them up for success to be responsible digital citizens,” Jordan said.

Put yourself in their shoes

Another suggestion – from Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD – is for parents to take the initiative to see for themselves just what their kids are being fed on the apps and sites they’re using.

“The best way to monitor media that kids use is to experience the media yourself,” she said. “Test apps and play games before your kids use them. View and play apps and games together. And watch what they watch so you can talk about what they see on their screens. You know your kids best, so you're the best judge of what they can handle.”

Jordan offered another plus that can help parents navigate their way through this. There are more than 300,000 parents, caregivers, educators, and mental health professionals in the Parenting in a Tech World Facebook Group where they can post questions specific to their family situation. "But, also find a group of support to remind them that we’re all in this together," she said.

There’s a wave of consumers who are buying Android-powered TV “set-top boxes” – devices that allow them to upgrade their existing "dumb" TV to become more like a “smart” TV. The box allows them to watch all the streaming services that are available like Netflix and Hulu and take advantage of Google's new 800+ channel app.

And the price makes sense, too. Typically for less than $50, you’re set up to watch hundreds of channels that your old VHF/UHF TV just can't handle. What you probably don’t desire, though, is the venomous digital bite that can make you wish you'd never bought the darn thing.

“However, rather than delivering extra channels, some of these boxes are delivering malware on demand,” Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity advisor at NordVPN, told ConsumerAffairs. “As well as harvesting users’ personal data this software, once enabled, means the box can also connect with a wider network of bots and be used by cybercriminals to gain revenue by mining cryptocurrency or clicking on ads.”

“Worryingly, our research indicates that a quarter of Americans do not take any protective measures when using one of these Internet of Things (IoT) devices,” 

Not even the FBI can stop this

Warmenhoven said that people need to be aware of the dangers involved when buying these boxes from untrustworthy sources. As more people buy the devices the problem could grow. 

Try as it may, even efforts by the FBI to crack down on data marketplaces have not been entirely successful, as it has pushed these cybercriminals underground.

“Android TV boxes may be the next entry point to find your personal details and sell them on the Dark Web,” Warmenhoven said.

What boxes to stay away from and how to protect yourself

NordVPN said certain Android boxes should be approached with caution. It said some devices found to contain malware were being sold on Amazon and made by the China-based companies Allwinner and RockChip.

According to TechCrunch some of the specific models found to have malware preinstalled were the AllWinner T95Max, RockChip X12 Plus, and RockChip X88 Pro 10. 

If you’ve bought one of these products or if you want to protect your network from the risks posed by an Internet of Things device, a Nord spokesperson suggested installing a VPN on your router. Another plus of installing a VPN on your router is that it would also protect IoT devices that don't support VPN coverage on their own, such as a Ring Doorbell. Here is a guide on NordVPN's blog.

Another way of avoiding the risk of a "bad box" would be to make sure you get Android TV with the official Google operating system, which powers set-top boxes, dongles and some smart TVs. The certified Android TV set-top boxes should come with other Google apps like Google Assistant installed. According to USA Today’s reviewers, those include Google Chromecast (3rd Generation), Roku Express 4K+, and Roku Ultra 4802R.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, CVS Health has chosen this time to help customers consider their mental health and the treatments and resources that are available to them.  

Through Project Health, its free, community-based health screening program, CVS Health will offer free mental health screenings at all of its community events. 

“Our events now serve more communities than ever, tapping into our CVS Pharmacy footprint and a vast network of local organizations to host our mobile units and help ensure transportation is not a barrier to receiving health services,” said Sheryl Burke, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility. “We’re also broadening our services to include mental health screenings as we continue to see a need for accessible mental health care across the country.” 

Expanding access to physical and mental health care

Currently, Project Health offers free physical health screenings and other resources, including blood pressure, glucose, smoking cessation counseling, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, diabetes resources, individual health access plans, and professional consultations. 

At these community events, consumers don’t need to pay and they don’t need to have health insurance. These resources can help detect serious health conditions that can have long-term consequences on consumers’ overall wellness. 

Project Health will now also include mental health screenings in its repertoire. Health professionals will be able to have patients complete questionnaires and other assessments to assess their mood, anxiety, and depression. Then, nurse practitioners will be available to answer questions or recommend the next steps for further mental health resources. 

Mental health resources

For those looking for mental health resources in perhaps a more discreet manner, Project Health has an online platform that can be helpful. 

There are mental health awareness guides for parents and caregivers, LGTBQ+ youth and adults, and young adults, as well as resources for substance abuse, suicide prevention, depression screenings, finding a therapist, and more. 

With rising household debt some economists are worried that consumers are being forced to cut spending to make ends meet. 

Disappointing earnings reported by Home Depot suggest they are cutting back on home remodeling projects. A strong earnings report by Walmart this week suggests some consumers are “trading down” to save money.

A new Gallup Poll shows Americans are increasingly concerned about the economy. The survey found 55% of consumers described their financial situation as only "fair."

Stacy Elmore, co-founder of The Luxury Pergola, a home improvements company, is also seeing signs of consumer stress.

“What we are seeing is a massive retraction in consumer spending,” Elmore told ConsumerAffairs. “We are seeing a rise of ‘buy now, pay later’ options, and even places that focus on DIY where you ideally save money, like Home Depot, are suffering. I think consumers are strapped for money in this economy and rising interest rates certainly aren't helping.”

Half-full glass

Natalie Kotlyar, national leader of BDO’s Retail and Consumer Products Practice, has a “the glass is half-full” perspective. She took comfort in April’s retail sales numbers.

“April’s retail sales numbers speak to the resiliency of the economy,” she told us. “Consumers are also prioritizing travel and experiences, like dining out. Although inflation remains high, there are positive signs it’s starting to ease which is good news for the consumer.”

But Nari Viswanathan, senior director of Product Segment Marketing - Supply Chain at Coupa, a spending efficiency platform, says consumers are still struggling with higher gasoline and food costs, though some prices have begun to fall in recent weeks.

“Although the supply chain is more resilient and dynamic after major disruptions over the past few years, suppliers are still struggling with shipping and delivery costs due to inflation,” Viswanathan said. “These increased supply chain costs from retailers are being passed on to consumers. And as a result, consumers are trading down to generic vs. brand-name products, affecting their spending habits. Consumers may also switch from organic to regular produce at the grocery store.”

Where to cut back

Viswanathan cites a previous Coupa study showing that 93% of retailers worried about a recession affecting consumer spending and that trend appears to be playing out. Consumers may be loyal to brands they favor, but prices and economic uncertainty have a higher influence on their purchasing decisions.

Where else can consumers struggling with inflation make changes? Elmore says this is the time to focus on basic needs.

“Most consumers are going to have to cut back on any discretionary spending they can,” she said. “This isn't the time for bathroom and kitchen remodels, but rather fixing anything that may be broken.”

But Elmore also sees a bifurcation in the economy. People who are well off, with plenty of disposable income, may continue to buy, while anyone below that line will be tightening their belt.

It’s summer – concert season – and your favorite band of all time is out on the road, their first time on the road in a decade. You search the web for a good deal on tickets and land on a site that’s got just the seats you want for a price that seems more than fair.

Then, you luck upon seats you like better, so you call the phone number where you got the tickets and ask to change your seats.

“No problem. We’ll just need to get a $300 refundable processing fee to get everything done properly,” the ticket rep says. Hmm…

This was a real life situation that happened to a ConsumerAffairs reviewer -- Christine, of Denham Springs, La., who was somehow lured to a rogue ticket scammer impersonating someone from Ticketmaster. But the scoundrel didn’t want her to pay with a credit card. No, he wanted gift cards, a dead giveaway that a scam was underway.

Ticket scams and fake tickets are an everyday occurrence and getting worse.  A new report from U.S. PIRG Education Fund –  Fake tickets, real heartbreak: Tips for fans to spot scams – demonstrates the heartbreak that eager concertgoers are winding up with when they buy tickets through secondary ticketsellers and online forums such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. 

“Desperate music and sports fans can fall for scams involving tickets because they want to go so much that they make bad decisions they wouldn’t normally make,” said Teresa Murray, Consumer Watchdog at U.S.PIRG Education Fund.

The three types of ticket scams

Murray said PIRG researchers see three primary types of scams:

1. Counterfeit paper or electronic tickets
2. Scammers who have legitimate tickets and then sell the same tickets to multiple buyers
3. Con artists who build out counterfeit websites that mimic known companies such as StubHub, VividSeats, or Ticketmaster, then advertise tickets supposedly for sale on those sites. But they really don't want your money -- they'd much prefer to get your credit card or debit card information so they can be on their merry way ringing up charges in your good name. As an example of how a scammer could create a lookalike website is by buying the domain name TlCKETMASTER.COM (Did you notice that URL contains a lower-case L and not an I?)

Tips to prevent being ripped off

Rule #1: Keep your tickets to yourself.

Murray says that music fans who snag tickets for concerts, big sports matches, or other events should never post photos of their tickets online to show the world their fortune because cyber thieves could steal the barcodes on those tickets or the info necessary to go to the event themselves or create counterfeit tickets. If you need proof, the FBI has a couple of stories to share, too.

Rule #2: No Zelle, no Venmo, etc.

Unless you know the person you’re sending money to, never pay for tickets with a person-to-person service such as Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, etc. Don’t do wire transfers either. If someone is trying to scam you, you’ll never get your money back if you use one of these services.

Rule #3: Use a credit card, not a debit card when buying tickets. 

“You have far greater protections with a credit card under the Fair Credit Billing Act if you do buy counterfeit tickets or your payment information is used fraudulently,” Murray said. “It won’t help you get to the concert or game but at least you should get your money back. And you never want to use a debit card anyway, because it exposes your bank account.”

Rule #4: Research the seller. 

If a ticket disaster master has a name for their so-called company, search for negative reviews about the company online. Do a search for the name of the seller or email address or phone number and the word “scam” “fraud” or “counterfeit.” Also, make sure the site is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB).

And if you don’t find any negative reviews, ask the rep where the company is located and go to that state’s Secretary of State website and look the company up to see if it’s for real or not.

Should you use ticket resellers instead? You could, but ConsumerAffairs reviewers haven’t shown much mercy for these companies when it comes to customer service or business practices – everything from “misleading 100% buyer guarantees,” tickets that never arrived, and ticket prices that somehow “magically increased.”

A complete rundown of ticket sellers put together by the ConsumerAffairs research team is available here.

Is a burger on your menu for Memorial Day Weekend? 

If it’s not, you may want to consider making a trip to Wendy’s. The fast food chain will offer junior bacon cheeseburgers for just $0.01 from May 26 - June 1. 

As part of National Hamburger Month and National Hamburger Day (which is May 28), customers can secure a burger for $0.01 – without purchasing anything else – on the Wendy’s app. While the promotion runs for seven days, customers can only claim the one-cent burger one time throughout the week. 

May is full of discounts

In addition to the $0.01 burgers, Wendy’s is hosting other big discounts throughout the month of May: 

• Buy one hamburger get one for $1 on the Wendy’s app 

• $2 off any breakfast combo on the Wendy’s app

• $2 off any premium combo on the Wendy’s app 

• Free soft drink with any purchase on the Wendy’s app (May 29 - June 4)

Upgrading mobile orders 

In addition to month-long deals, Wendy’s also announced that it's working with Pipedream, a hyperlogistics company, to take the next steps on an autonomous delivery system for mobile orders. 

Ultimately, the long-term goal is to have a fleet of robot systems that delivers mobile orders from the kitchen of Wendy’s restaurants directly to cars waiting in the parking lot in seconds. The system operates underground and will work to eliminate the wait times on mobile pickup orders. 

“We know that serving orders quickly and accurately leads to increased customer satisfaction,” said Deepak Ajmani, U.S. chief operations officer at Wendy’s. “Pipedream’s Instant Pickup system has the potential to unlock greater mobile order speed of service and accuracy, enabling us to consistently deliver hot and fresh Wendy’s products to our fans.” 

With this system, customers can stay inside their cars and employees can stay at their job posts. It makes picking up food easier and faster for customers and employees and streamlines the whole process. Wendy’s plans to start rolling out this new technology later this year. 

This news comes not long after the fast food chain announced it will be working with Google to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to the drive-thru. Starting in June, Wendy’s will begin pilot testing to have AI help answer questions and handle made-to-order requests. 

Coupled together, the two new advancements are shaping up to change our typical fast food experience. 

Before you know it, May 2023 will be in the history books, but for shopaholics, there’s plenty left in the way of deals that only May has.

ConsumerAffairs’ ace in the hole, DealNews.com, said that there are seven “best things” still left to buy in May, and several things shoppers should avoid at all costs.

Best Things to Buy in May

Big appliances: Finally ready to boot that avocado green refrigerator? Julie Ramhold, Consumer Analyst with DealNews.com told ConsumerAffairs that all major appliances – washers, dryers, even entire kitchen suites – are currently going for as much as 60% off at some retailers. And, if you play your cards right, you might save more over the Memorial Day weekend.

Her picks for discounts of 35% and up are AJ Madison and US Appliance, and if you’re a Costco member, she says the warehouse club could knock up to $1,000 off.

She said that if there's a particular brand you're interested in, check with the manufacturer directly, too. For example, last year LG offered 10% off four-piece kitchen appliance packages, plus up to $982 off. And Samsung took up to $700 off single washers and dryers, or up to $1,400 off pairs of the items.

Small appliances: May actually has both ends of the appliance spectrum covered. Amazon has been known to offer discounts of up to 25% off, and department stores like Kohl's could have selected small appliances for $20 each or less again this year.

Speaking of Amazon, don’t forget ConsumerAffairs insights into the store’s refurbished sales and warehouse items. For example, one of the home appliances we found at a hard-to-believe price was the Shark UR2500SR AI Ultra Robot Vacuum – regularly $449.99 but refurbished at $199.99.

Sleep tight(er): “Another item worth shopping for in May — especially during Memorial Day sales — is mattresses,” Ramhold said. “Online retailers like GhostBed will probably take 30% to 40% off again this year, but other stores will join the action, too. Last year, Mattress Firm cut up to 50% off select mattresses and related items, while Saatva offered up to $450 off and US-Mattress knocked up to $1,000 off. Basically, if you need a new bed, May is a prime time to shop for one and get it for less.”

The sales and products you should avoid

From tracking major sales days over the years, Ramhold says that every category has its own monthly bucket and some months it’s not worth just wasting your time trying to find the deal of the century.

• Electronics

• Patio furniture

• Grills

• Pool items

It doesn’t mean those categories aren’t worth shopping for. It’s just that they typically offer modest discounts compared to other categories.

Memorial Day specials worth waiting for

We’re still a week away from Memorial Day and Ramhold suggests that shoppers make a shopping list ahead of the holiday because the sales over the 3-day weekend are going to be prolific, so the best thing you can do is put together a shopping list ahead of time.

“Knowing what you're looking for will make it easier to streamline your efforts, whether you shop online or in-store, and if you check prices while you're putting together the shopping list, then you'll also be able to tell at-a-glance whether the Memorial Day sale on something makes it worth it or if it's best to wait a bit longer.

But if you plan on going shopping over the Memorial Day weekend, you’re not going to be alone. After all, pandemic fever is over and who doesn’t love an in-store sale as much as a shopper with a high-limit credit card?

And because of that, some retailers are only letting a set number of shoppers in at a time so their store isn’t stampeded, so plan accordingly.

“Consider hitting the sales early and take a look online first - you may be able to save yourself a headache by shopping online and picking up in person,” Ramhold suggests.

Think outside the (big) box

"Think outside the box. Major retailers will likely have some kind of Memorial Day sale, but it's worth looking at your favorite indie stores as well. Even if they don't brand them as Memorial Day sales, they may still offer significant discounts during a time when many other retailers will also be having savings events.

Her best inside tip for shoppers hoping to strike gold over Memorial Day is to sign up for emails now so your inbox gets pinged the moment a sale is announced. She suggests also following those retailers on social media.

The cost of putting a roof over your head continues to rise, whether you buy or rent. But lately, more people are embracing the renting lifestyle because the monthly cost of owning is much higher than it once was, thanks to higher mortgage rates.

But just like buying a home, the cost of renting one can vary widely depending on where you live. A new ConsumerAffairs study found that the best places to rent are in the Midwest. The worst places to rent are mostly on the east and west coasts.

Specifically, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa are the best states for renters. California, Massachusetts and Nevada are the worst states for renters.

The highest median rent is in Hawaii, at $1,774 a month. The lowest median rent can be found in West Virginia, at $770.

The lists

Here are the 10 best states for renters, ranked in order:

1. North Dakota

2. South Dakota

3. Iowa

4. Kansas

5. Alabama

6. Minnesota

7. Indiana

8. Wisconsin

9. Missouri

10. Oklahoma

Here are the 10 worst states for renters, ranked in order:

1. California

2. Massachusetts

3. Nevada

4. Hawaii

5. New York

6. Louisiana

7. Florida

8. Connecticut

9. Alaska 

10. New Jersey

Rents have gone up just about everywhere over the last couple of years but the 10 best states all have something going for them - a relatively low cost of living. They all have a lower percentage of household income going toward rent. Not only is the rent less, but utility bills are also typically lower in these states.

North Dakota offers the lowest rent-to-income ratio in the U.S. The state’s median overall rent is $853, which accounts for about a quarter (25.1%) of residents’ monthly household income. The state has one of the lowest unemployment rates (2.1%), which is good for its residents’ job security.

Not so great

On the flip side, California has some definite drawbacks when it comes to affordable housing.

“One is that landlords can charge more since there is a great demand,” Joy Aumann, founder of LuxurySoCalRealty, told us. “The price of developing new housing is rising, and tenants are forced to pay these fees. There is simply not enough housing in some locations due to a housing shortage.”

Other states on the “worst list” have similar issues. In Massachusetts, demand for apartments exceeds supply so there are fewer vacancies. When you find one, it costs more.

In Nevada, the high cost of rent is coupled with higher-than-average electric bills. Not only is the rate higher but residents tend to use a lot of electricity to keep cool in the desert heat.

True sports fans might subscribe to cable TV simply to get ESPN programming. But what if it were available as a streaming option?

In an exclusive report, the Wall Street Journal says that’s about to happen. Quoting people “familiar with the matter,” the Journal reports the Disney-owned channel is laying the groundwork to offer its “flagship” channel to viewers as a streaming subscription. 

The network also owns other sports channels, including ESPN 2. It’s not immediately clear if any of those other channels would be included.

If you are a current cable TV subscriber it doesn’t mean ESPN would disappear from your package. The Journal says the company would continue to offer ESPN to cable companies that want to continue carrying it.

What it means for sports fans, however, is that they would not be required to pay for cable TV if all they wanted was sports programming provided by ESPN. The content would be available through any smart TV with a subscription.

According to the Journal, there is no timeline for implementing this change. But the sources cited by the Journal said the move from an exclusive cable-TV platform to the internet was “inevitable.”

ESPN’s current subscription offering is limited to ESPN+, which debuted in 2018. It’s a streaming service with some live programming that includes some golf, Major League Baseball, hockey and scripted and unscripted programming.

If you fly Southwest Airlines a lot and have been enjoying the airline’s option to pay a little extra to board sooner, your pocketbook will be enjoying that feature a little less the next time you fly.

In an internal memo shared with View from the Wing, Southwest’s Upgraded Boarding -- which used to cap out at $50 -- will now cost between $30 and $80 depending on the length and popularity of each flight. And those dollar figures can change at any time, too.

“The airline gave employees talking points that are… somewhat suspect,” View from the Wing’s Gary Leff wrote. “They claim to be doing [this] to ‘protect the value’ that Upgraded Boarding ‘offers to our customers’ as the feature ‘becomes more popular on specific routes.’ But this makes no sense at all.”

Southwest's side of the story

Southwest sees it differently, though. “This is another way we’re different. Other airlines charge you fees for things you need or have to have. This is a service that has a value that some customers are willing to purchase. When they do, it helps us keep fares low for everyone,” the company’s memo said.

When Leff asked the airline for a direct response, their official statement was this:

“Upgraded Boarding is one of Southwest’s most popular ancillary products, allowing customers the option to buy an upgraded boarding position in Group A1-A15 (when available). We’ve shared with our employees that Upgraded Boarding now will be offered in a variable range of $30 to $80. Upgraded Boarding price points will work the same as they do today whereby prices can vary based on the length and popularity of each flight. Price points within the new range are subject to change at any time, as they do today. We hope our customers continue to enjoy this product.”

The only people escaping this change are those who hold one of Southwest’s premium co-brand cards from Chase. They’ll still be able to do their free four-times-a-year boarding upgrades without paying or being charged extra.