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Not in My Cart
by Jon Brooks
Thu, December 13, 2007, 3:00 am PST

Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, has launched a webpage devoted entirely to the issue of product safety and the most recent recalls for lack thereof. Here are a few facts we learned from the site:

  • 80% of all toys sold in the U.S. are now manufactured in China.
  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission inspects less than 1% of imported goods.
  • The FDA inspects about 1% of imported food.
We've all read about the consequences of this lack of oversight. Toys painted with lead, toothpaste shot through with poison, food that's tainted—it's enough to distract you from the low, low sticker price. Or a least inspire you to check for the latest recalls and share your own consumer horror stories. The site's blog keeps you up-to-date with what's happening in the fight for greater consumer protection through legislation. So get the lead out! Take action now.

 

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Filed under: Shopping, Consumer Advocacy

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Filthy Wal-Mart: A Photo Essay
by Marty Gabel
Mon, January 29, 2007, 3:00 am PST

Always low prices. That was Sam Walton's mantra when he opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962. We're not sure what maxim should be applied to this particular store in Taylors, South Carolina, though. "Upon entering around 8:30 p.m., I was completely blown away by how disgusting this entire store was," writes our intrepid shopper. So he grabbed his camera just to prove it, and a photo essay was born—complete with viewers' acerbic comments, naturally. Relish the fabulous decaying peach. Swoon over the mysterious crunchy things on the floor. Enjoy the strange juxtaposition of random shopping items. Savor the half-eaten apples on sale. Witness the mystery substance leaking onto the shelves. And finally, of course, revel in the pure irony of it all. Today's Pick proves that your local superstore may be hiding more secrets than you think. Keep flicking through all 119 images of devastation and thank heavens you didn't shop here that day.
Visit Filthy Wal-Mart: A Photo Essay

Filed under: Shopping, Business, Consumer Advocacy, Flickr

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Good Stuff?
by Jill Robinson
Tue, August 01, 2006, 3:00 am PDT

It's hard out here for a consumer. Faced with endless options for the latest and coolest, we can be overwhelmed just by the selection, even before considering the impact our choices have on the planet. The Worldwatch Institute has helped simplify what seems like a staggering task. If you've been meaning to make the change to energy-conserving light bulbs or safe household cleansers, this is the perfect excuse to sit down and scan through the topics that concern you most. From chocolate to seafood, cell phones to computers, paper to gold jewelry—every category provides information on the stuff's environmental and social blowback. Don't know fair trade from green procurement? The glossary will make it all crystal-water clear. Think you already know it all? Take the quiz and see. And if you're ready to be a whole new kind of consumer, memorize the consumption manifesto. Being responsible isn't so hard after all.
Visit Good Stuff?

Filed under: Shopping, Consumer Advocacy, Yahoo! Picks for Good, Green Living

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The IVR Cheat Sheet by Paul English
by Jon Brooks
Tue, December 27, 2005, 3:00 am PST

Hello. Welcome to Yahoo! Picks. This entry in the Picks series features The IVR ("Interactive Voice Response") Cheat Sheet, a simple list of the keypad numbers you have to press in order to reach an actual human being when you call the customer service line of different companies and government agencies. For the main list, click 1. If you would like further information about the cheat sheet, click 2. To submit an update to the cheat sheet, click 3. For a FAQ, click 4. To view companies with great customer service, click 5. To visit, for no apparent reason, Yahoo! Argentina, click 6. Or to end this Yahoo! Pick, click 7 . Thank you for visiting Yahoo! Picks. Good-bye.
Visit The IVR Cheat Sheet by Paul English

Filed under: Business, Consumer Advocacy

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The Impulsive Buy
Tue, May 10, 2005, 3:00 am PDT

Are you intrigued by products touting themselves as "new and improved"? Can you resist the latest twist on an old favorite? If you want to curb your own crazy shopping tendencies, check out the reviews on The Impulsive Buy. Does Dentyne Fire gum really improve your love life? If not, perhaps a wave of the Clorox Toilet Wand will heighten your appeal. (Please note, the wand does not have actual magical powers.) VH1's nostalgia shows inspire the use of an iTunes gift card, which leads to impulsive downloads of Vanilla Ice and Right Said Fred. In a world where everything has been super-sized, it's refreshing to see that White Castle cheeseburgers retain their tiny, square shape. You may even get a chance to vote on which product will get reviewed. Such is the case in the Squeeze Between the Cheese. What will win? Stop by the checkout aisle to find out.
Visit The Impulsive Buy

Filed under: Shopping, Consumer Advocacy

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