Current Events in October 2023

When you ask someone about their vacation and they bark back, “Trust me – I will never go there again!” your yikes meter goes off, doesn’t it?

And, now, TheVacationer took the time to study all those “never agains” and chart all the U.S. cities people said they visited and wouldn’t go back even if their life depended on it.

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas might’ve danced in the streets of Detroit in 1964, but 22.50% of those surveyed in TheVacationer’s latest study said they wouldn’t set foot in Motown again. A close second was the Windy City, with 21.71% saying they were anything but blown away.

Rounding out the Top 3 was Atlanta with 18.47%. Add those three together and you’re looking at 162 million visitors going somewhere else.

The worst of the rest

4. New York City, New York — 18.07%

5. Baltimore, Maryland — 17.39%

6. Anaheim, California — 17.19%

7. San Francisco, California — 15.62%

8. Austin, Texas. — 15.42%

9. Miami, Florida — 14.83%

10. Dallas, Texas — 14.34%

11. Jacksonville, Florida — 14.34%

12. Los Angeles, California. — 14.15%

13. Houston, Texas — 13.16%

14. San Jose, California — 11.69%

15. Sacramento, California — 11.49%

16. Tampa, Florida — 11.39%

17. Las Vegas, Nevada — 11.20%

18. Portland, Oregon — 10.81%

19. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — 10.61%

20. Washington, D.C. — 10.61%

21. Milwaukee, Wisconsin — 10.51%

22. San Diego, California. — 10.31%

23. Seattle, Washington. — 10.31%

24. Minneapolis, Minnesota — 10.12%

25. Orlando, Florida — 10.12%

26. Indianapolis, Indiana — 9.82%

27. Boston, Massachusetts — 9.72%

28. New Orleans, Louisiana — 9.33%

29. San Antonio, Texas — 9.14%

30. Charlotte, North Carolina — 8.84%

31. Phoenix, Arizona — 7.76%

32. Nashville, Tennessee — 7.47%

33. Denver, Colorado — 5.70%

34. Honolulu, Hawaii — 4.91%

Hard times for the City by the Bay

One of the surprises, the survey analysts said, was San Francisco. “San Francisco’s reputation has plunged across America,” TheVacationer’s Eric Jones, said. “At least where I live, there seems to constantly be a news story about theft or burglary in San Francisco. San Francisco’s residents are becoming frustrated by the city’s reputation. Despite all of this, San Francisco is not ranked in the top five major U.S. cities Americans avoid traveling to at all costs. San Francisco ranked only in seventh place with 15.62% of people avoiding it.”

On the other hand, Honolulu is the least likely major U.S. city Americans will avoid traveling to at all costs. Only 4.91% of American adults said they would avoid traveling there – nearly five times less than the number of people who said they would avoid going to Detroit.

No matter where you’re going, you won’t be flying these airlines, either!

The Vacationer also asked travelers to name all the airlines they’d avoid flying on at all costs. To be fair, there were also two “None of These” options – one for Americans who said “cost” was the most important factor and the other was for Americans who said flight dates and times were the primary reason.

For convenience purposes, the study’s analysts ranked the airlines Americans avoid flying, starting with the worst or one most often brought up.

1. Spirit Airlines — 21.06%

2. Allegiant Air — 16.36%

3. American Airlines — 14.40%

4. Frontier Airlines — 14.30%

5. Delta Air Lines — 12.63%

6. JetBlue — 12.63%

7. Alaska Airlines — 10.68%

8. Southwest Airlines — 10.28%

9. United Airlines — 7.64%

10. Hawaiian Airlines — 5.48%

None of these because the cost of the flight is most important to me. — 31.73%

None of these because flight dates and times are most important to me. — 16.65%

Future Motion of Santa Cruz, Calif., is recalling 300,000 Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards.

The skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the boards’ limits are exceeded, posing a crash hazard.

The firm has received dozens of reports of incidents involving the electric skateboards, including four deaths between 2019 and 2021, and injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures and ligament damage.

The reported deaths resulted from head trauma and, in at least three of those incidents, the rider was not wearing a helmet.

This recall involves all models of Future Motion Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards, including Onewheel (original), Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X and Onewheel GT.

The model name is on the side of the skateboard. The Onewheel logo is printed on the rail of the skateboards.

The skateboards, manufactured in the U.S., were sold online at www.onewheel.com and other websites and at independent shops nationwide from January 2014, through September 2023, for between $1,050 and $2,200.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Onewheel electric skateboards and download or update the Onewheel app, and use it to update the firmware on their board to include Haptic Buzz alert functionality.

Haptic Buzz is a tactile and audible warning system that provides the rider with a buzzing sensation and sound when nearing the limits of the board or when in low battery or error states.

The firmware update for the Onewheel GT will be available within one week, with the firmware update for the Pint X, Pint, and XR launching within six weeks.

Consumers with the Original Onewheel or Onewheel+ model should visit https://recall.onewheel.com to arrange for a pro-rated refund in the form of a store credit upon confirmation of disposal of the product.

Consumers may contact Future Motion at (800) 283-7943 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, or online at https://recall.onewheel.com for more information.

Having a hard time getting an appointment to see the vet these days? You’re not alone.

But when the pandemic spurred an epidemic of welcome mats for pets, we didn’t do a very good job asking who was going to take care of those pets’ health. Nowadays, getting into a vet clinic takes luck.

The shortage of veterinarians is close to a mind-boggling deficit of 20,000 plus, but there may be an answer: “virtual” vet services.

Yes, the same “telehealth” services that humans are starting to warm up to are making it easier for pet parents to get quicker answers – and possibly less expensive vet bills. And there are lots of companies that are gearing up to serve the market. More than $250 million in equity investments have been made for companies like AirVet and TeleVet to prove their worth.

What do pet owners need to know to join the pet telehealth revolution? ConsumerAffairs is ready with those basics.

How do you know if your situation would benefit from virtual care? 

Pet telehealth isn’t a one-size-fits-all type thing. The ASPCA suggests that before you start searching for a vet who does telehealth, you ask yourself these questions: 

• Have you ever had a pet become ill in the middle of the night or during the weekend when most general veterinary clinics are closed?

• Is your pet afraid of the vet’s office? Is transportation to the vet clinic stressful for your pet? Does your pet become anxious or potentially aggressive at a clinic?

• Do you have a pet who is tricky to transport, such as a horse or a large dog?

• Do you face other barriers to accessing veterinary care for your pet, like mobility issues, scheduling challenges, or transportation difficulties?

• Do you live in an area where veterinary care is difficult to obtain?

• Has it been hard to get an appointment to see a vet?

• Do you struggle to afford the cost of veterinary care for your pet?

• Would it be helpful for you or your pet to have online access to your veterinarian to get prescriptions for your pet’s routine medications—like flea and tick prevention—without having to visit the clinic each time?

• If you have a senior or terminally ill pet, do you wish you could connect with a veterinarian online who specializes in end-of-life/hospice care—one who could help prevent or ease your pet’s suffering or help you determine when it’s time to say goodbye?

Answering yes to any of these questions is a sign that virtual vet visits could benefit both you and your pet. However, it’s also important to note that answering “yes” doesn’t mean you should always seek out virtual vet services for your pet.  

What does pet telehealth cost?

Pet owners know that any trip to the vet doesn’t come without a fairly large price tag. So, what does it cost to have your pet evaluated virtually? 

The short answer: it depends on what kind of service and provider you choose. 

Certain companies provide free telehealth services, like Chewy. Any pet owner can log onto Chewy and access the Chat feature for free; for Autoship Chewy customers, video calls are also free, and they run non-Autoship customers $20.

Similarly, Blue Buffalo Buddies has an app that pet owners can download and use for free. They don’t connect with virtual vets – only other pet owners who you can chat with and ask questions about your pets. 

Many virtual vet providers have monthly or yearly subscription programs. Some of these options include: 

• Pawp: $99/year + $19/month for the emergency fund

• Dutch: $132/year or $35/month with no commitment

• AskVet: $10/month 

• Fuzzy: $25/month 

• Whisker Docs: $130/year or $17/month; $40 for an instant call or $5 for email support 

How do you find a reputable telehealth vet?

Considering many of the legalities surrounding virtual vet care, pet owners may first want to consult the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 

In order to receive any kind of formal diagnosis or even a prescription for your pet, the virtual provider you’re seeing must have a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with your pet.  In many states, this is only possible if that vet has seen and examined your pet in person prior to their virtual meeting.

The AVMA says that the one exception to this rule would be if a virtual vet provided guidance to a pet owner on bringing their pet in for emergency care. 

For pet owners who may be considering different telehealth options for their pet, this is an important point to keep in mind. Any virtual provider trying to bypass these requirements isn’t a reputable option for your pet. 

What kinds of things can a virtual vet examine for?

Dr. Amanda Flanagan, the owner and medical director of GoodVets clinic in the Chicago area,  told ConsumerAffairs what is – and what isn’t – possible by telehealth.

Possible via telehealth: “Veterinarians can conduct remote consultations for various issues, including behavioral concerns, discussing minor or externally visible symptoms, and reviewing previous medical history and treatment, or following up after recent surgery or treatment,” she said. “Telehealth is also a convenient way to discuss lab results and recommendations for further care without sacrificing face-to-face interaction.”

 Require in-person visit: Flanagan said that just like a human doctor, any consultation for a new pet patient, whether wellness or sick, requires an in-person examination with a doctor in order to utilize telehealth in the future. “Establishing the doctor-patient-client relationship in person is as important in veterinary medicine as it is in any field of human medicine. For established patients, procedures such as vaccines and routine labs, or cases where we know a diagnostic will need to be done to get the information necessary to identify and treat the condition, like ear infections or UTIs, are not appropriate for telehealth consultation,” she said.

“My personal preference is to recommend an in-person exam for any condition with more than one symptom, or if the symptoms could be due to a worsening previously diagnosed chronic disease, such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease,” Flanagan said.

Locking yourself out of your house or your car is not only annoying but highly stressful. In most of these instances, you look for a locksmith.

But fees charged for these services can vary widely with some locksmiths making false promises and charging exorbitant fees. Who says? Other locksmiths, that’s who.

Chris Straus, a locksmith with Great Valley Lockshop in Eastern Pennsylvania, writes on his company’s website that there are signs to look for. An unethical locksmith, he says, will offer prices that are too good to be true.

They may also demand cash for their services, be late in showing up or be unable to resolve the consumer’s problem.

Charlie Seller, owner of Highland Lock & Key in Louisville, Ky.,  has even worked with a local TV station to expose bad actors in the industry. He says in many cases a locksmith will quote a customer a low price over the phone, only to demand a much larger payment before the work begins.

“When calling a locksmith you have never worked with, ask what the final price will be,” Seller told ConsumerAffairs. “Also, ask for a breakdown of the charges. Is there an hourly rate?”

Seller said he charges $95 for a service call, which includes the first hour of work. He told us that he has heard from customers who were told by a locksmith it would cost $49 to open a locked vehicle, but then were charged over $100 after the service technician arrived.

Fertile ground for scammers

Straus warns that scammers have begun posing as locksmiths, charging huge fees but providing no service. Often they create websites that appear to belong to a real locksmith company.

“Unfortunately, this type of commercial identity theft is becoming more common,” Straus writes. “It’s unpleasant and potentially dangerous for customers, but it also ruins the reputation of real businesses.”

Both Staus and Seller suggest that when searching for a locksmith you should look past the sponsored ads in Google Search and consult multiple sources for reviews.

Shimano North America Bicycle of Irvine, Calif., is recalling about 760,000 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech II Road Cranksets sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The recalled bonded crank parts can separate and break, posing a crash hazard.

The firm has received more than 4,500 reports of incidents of cranksets separating, and six reported injuries -- including bone fractures, joint displacement and lacerations.

This recall involves Shimano Ultegra FC-6800, Dura-Ace FC-9000, Ultegra FC-R8000, Dura-Ace FC-R9100 and FC-R9100P 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech Road Cranksets manufactured prior to July 2019 sold individually and on bicycles sold by other manufacturers such as Trek and Specialized.

A crankset is the component of the bicycle that the chain and pedals attach to for pedaling.

The recalled models have printed ‘Ultegra’ or Dura Ace’ logos on the arm and are pre-July 2019 production with the following two-letter production code on backside of the crank arm where the pedals are attached:

KF, KG, KH, KI, KJ, KK, KL, LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LI, LJ, LK, LL, MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MI, MJ, MK, ML, NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NI, NJ, NK, NL, OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OI, OJ, OK, OL, PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PI, PJ, PK, PL, QA, QB, QC, QD, QE, QF, QG, QH, QI, QJ, QK, QL, RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, and RF.

The cranksets, manufactured in Japan, were sold at bicycle stores nationwide from January 2012, through August 2023, for between $270 and $1,500.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cranksets and contact an authorized Shimano dealer to schedule a free crankset inspection.

Only consumers whose cranksets show signs of bonding separation or delamination during the inspection will be provided a free replacement crankset and installation.

Consumers may contact Shimano toll-free at (844-) 776-0315 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday or online at https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/customer-services.html for more information.