The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Two dangerous trends for kids: Battery operated cars for toddlers and the princess phenomena for girls

By Rita R. Robison

About five years ago, kids age 5 and under began driving their small battery operated cars around the loop street I live on. It was scary.

Garbage trucks barrel around this neighborhood. I asked one driver why they go so fast. He told me that if they finish their route before 5 p.m., they get to go home. I asked him to slow down for the sake of the kids. I didn’t see any of the garbage trucks going slower.

I think battery operated cars are dangerous for young kids, and parents and grandparents should avoid buying them for children.

Another troubling trend is the princess phenomena for young girls. With so much emphasis on princess movies, toys, dresses, and crowns, girls think about being and becoming princesses. They are getting unrealistic ideas about what lives as women are like.

“This princess mania, many argue, leaves girls all mixed up,” Jessica Bennett writes in The Daily Beast article “Disney Princesses and the Battle for Your Daughter’s Soul.” “While they excel in school and outpace their male peers in science and math, they also obsess about Prince Charming and who has the prettiest dress, learning –from a mix of mass marketing and media – not that girls are strong, smart, or creative, but that each is a little princess of her own, judged by the beauty of her face (and gown).”

Disney alone has 26,000 Disney princess items on the market today, part of a $4 billion-a-year franchise that is the fastest-growing brand the company has ever created, Bennett said.

I’ve been concerned about these two trends for many years. They came together in a news report on The Huffington Post: “Neveah Reynolds, 4, Saves Sister, Kazmirah, 2, From Drowning in Pond.”

It seems Neveah has been fascinated with the neighborhood pond since her dad told her that kissing the pond frogs might turn them into Prince Charming.

The girls were playing "fairy tales," riding along in a Barbie car and looking for Prince Charming. Neveah turned her back, and, when she looked around, her sister had fallen in the pond.

Fortunately, Neveah grabbed a stick and pulled her sister out of the water.

The Huffington Post article ended with: “Now neither of the girls are allowed to play near the pond and must put their quest for Prince Charming on hold.”

In my opinion, battery operated cars for young kids and letting your daughter get hooked on the princess phenomena can have bad results for your children and grandchildren.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How to be successful when filing insurance claims

Companies that insure homes paid about $35 billion in loss claims last year, and auto insurers say they’re alarmed about higher claims costs.

So consumers need to be extra careful to get their due from auto, home, and life policies.

If you have to file a claim on your auto or home policy, or on a loved one’s life insurance, it pays to know the right procedures and how to resolve problems, according to Consumer Reports Money Adviser. Here’s what you need to do:

Auto

When an accident occurs. When a crash involves another person or vehicle, call the police to officially document the incident. If you can, take your own notes at the scene. At a minimum, get the other vehicle’s license-plate information.

You should also get the other driver’s name, address, driver’s license number, insurer’s name and policy number, and vehicle-registration details. Use your cell-phone camera to take photos of the scene from all angles.

When filing the claim. Always call your own insurer right away if a crash involves another person or vehicle. Never agree to skip reporting a crash out of sympathy for an at-fault motorist who promises to pay you out-of-pocket.

If you’re at fault, you might not want to file a report with your insurer if damage is limited to your own vehicle and you expect costs to be within your deductible or slightly more.

You might be pressured to take your car to a shop in the insurer’s direct-repair program or to use cheaper replacement parts instead of original equipment manufacturer parts. You’re under no obligation to accept either.

Home

When the loss occurs. First, make sure your family is safe and that emergency personnel have been called to protect your home. As soon as practical, take pictures of the damage. Then take steps to prevent further damage, such as covering a hole in the roof with a tarp.

Keep receipts for any money you spend to prevent further losses. But don’t repair anything or dispose of ruined property until an adjuster has examined everything.

If you were burglarized, call the police first and your insurance agent later.  If someone trips and falls on your front stairs, see to their medical care first. Again, take detailed notes about what happened and get photos of the scene.

Make sure the adjuster sees everything. Ask for a copy of his or her report and scrutinize it for mistakes. You’re also entitled to a copy of your entire claims file.

Copy everything you give the adjuster and ask for a receipt. If he or she advises you to start repairs, get that in writing so promises and permissions can be accurately passed on if your case is transferred to another person. 

Life

When the loss occurs. An insurer might delay or deny payment to beneficiaries if the policyholder died within two years after buying the policy. No matter how long a policy was held, however, if no one files a claim, insurers historically haven’t done much to find the beneficiaries. 

When filing a claim. Send the insurer a claim form for each beneficiary and a certified copy of the policyholder’s death certificate.

To find out if a deceased family member had a life-insurance policy, check his or her files for the policy itself or billing statements; search bank statements for canceled checks to a life insurer; or contact the employee-benefits office of previous employers or unions.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Toyota Tacomas for airbags that may not deploy and Camrys, Venzas for defective lamp switches

By Rita R. Robison

Toyota is recalling nearly 500,000 Tacoma trucks, manufactured from Sept. 14, 2004, through Aug. 29, 2008.

Over time, steering wheel vibration may damage the spiral cable assembly that powers the driver’s air bag module, Toyota said in a statement on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website. If damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the air bag may become deactivated.

In a crash, the driver’s side air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury to consumers.

Toyota also is recalling about 70,500 Camry sedans made during the 2009 model year and about 116,000 Venza crossovers made during the 2009 through 2011 model years, to replace their stop lamp switches.

During installation of the switch on one of the North American assembly lines, silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch and caused an increase in electrical resistance, Toyota said.

This could cause warning lights to illuminate, keep the vehicle from starting, or prevent it from shifting out of "park," the automaker said.

Toyota will notify owners in both of the recalls, and dealers will replace the defective parts, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in early April 2012. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 for information.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What interests you on Presidents’ Day? Finding bargains, traveling, or celebrating America?

By Rita R. Robison

It’s a strange custom. The holiday to honor two great presidents and the history of our country is becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

However, if you want to shop rather than contemplate history, President’s Day sales do offer consumers great deals on cars, furniture, clothing, suits, handbags, and white goods. Prices on some items, such clothing, are better than Black Friday. For cars, it’s the biggest sale of the year.

To keep from making “sale fever” mistakes, follow these tips:

• Make a list of what you’re looking for.
• Compare prices. Check the Internet for what’s up in sale prices before you hit the mall.
• Start early so you can get the sale items in your size before they’re gone.
• Use apps that scan bar codes to see what others are selling the item for.
• Look for coupons on sites such as RetailMeNot before you go.
• Check social media sites, especially Facebook, because companies may be advertising their sales there first.
• Look for travel deals. You can still get big savings and there’s lots to do in historical cities such as Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

If you want to do some serious thinking about Presidents’ Day, see “Presidents’ Day Is a Time to Help America Move Foreword.”

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Super Bowl 2012: More violent, sexist ads

By Rita R. Robison

Ads during Sunday’s Super Bowl cost $3.5 million for a 30-second spot, up from last year's $2.7 million.

Although the 2012 offerings seemed to have fewer ads where people were slapped or knocked down, the display again was marred by violent images.

Do advertisers and public relations firms think it’s acceptable to show ads depicting violence and sexism, where people head butted and bikini-clad women are shown because mostly men watch football?

Here are my awards for the worst ads airing during this year’s Super Bowl:

Unnecessary violence:

Dannon thinks it will sell yogurt by having a woman head butt a man, knocking him to the floor, after he won’t share the container of yogurt. In a Doritos ad, a man suspects his dog of killing and burying the family cat. The dog gives him a bag of Doritos to keep it quiet. The Voice stars think by fighting, breaking things, blasting out a wall, and having Betty White say a few words, you’ll watch their TV show. A sexy woman slaps a man, speaks in Spanish, whispers in his ear, dabs foam from a latte on a his lips, then it all melts away into the first time sensations of buying a Fiat 500.

Silliest:

Cars.com showed us a man so confident about researching cars on Cars.com that he’s grown an appendage with his head on it that comes out of his back. It’s his “confidence,” singing happily about the car in a high voice. Coke’s polar bear ads, one featuring a bear trying to keep the Coke away from the other bears, seemed silly. You have the best minds in the country working on these ads. Couldn’t they have come up with something meaningful? I also thought the Chevy Sonic ad was silly, with a car skydiving and bungee jumping. Bud Light focused on the silly again this year, with a dog fetching beer from the refrigerator and other places, attracting women along the way.

Instead of violent Snickers ads showing Betty White being tackled in a backyard football game during or Roseanne Barr being downed by a huge log, Mars made a big deal this year about introducing a new M&M with a chocolate colored shell, Ms. Brown. A partygoer accused her of being naked, and Mr. Red whipped off his shell.

Most sexist:  

Teleflora may have hit an all time low with a sexy woman getting dressed, then saying through red-pursed lips, “Give and you shall receive.” Go Daddy.com takes two guys to the “cloud” populated with scantily clad women. The McLendon Hardware offering shows a father giving advice to his son before his wedding. It sounds like it’s going to be sexual information about what he should learn to do to please his wife, but instead it’s about getting good tools. In “A Dream Car for Life,” Kia uses a scantily clad flag girl and fills the stands bikini clad women. H&M spent 30 seconds slowly moving over David Beckham’s tattooed body, and briefly, his briefs.

Most irritating:

GE’s offered several ads to pump up the company’s image. If GE was going to spend that kind of money, they should have thought of something interesting.

Unfortunately, the Super Bowl featured ad after ad for violent movies, which along with the violent ads and player clashes, added to the overemphasis on violence. Among the movies advertised were “John Carter,” “Star Wars – Episode 1 in 3-D,” “The Avengers,” “G.I. Joe,” and “Act of Valor.”

For more information on the best and worse Super Bowl ads, see The Wall Street Journal’s “Super Bowl Ads 2012.” To vote for your favorite ads, go to NBC Sports Network’s “Super Bowl Admeter.”

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: E-Z-GO golf cars, shuttle vehicles, and off-road utility vehicles due to crash hazard

By Rita R. Robison

E-Z-GO, a Textron Company, is recalling about 21,900 TXT golf cars, Cushman shuttle vehicles, and Bad Boy off-road utility vehicles

The threaded end of the rack rod ball joint can break and the ball joint may become displaced, causing the driver to lose steering control. Thus, a crash could occur.

E-Z-GO is aware of 71 reports of the ball joint breaking, 13 of which resulted in the ball joint displacing, the firm and the U.S. Consumer Product Commission said in a joint statement. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled vehicles are gas- and electric-powered, four-wheeled vehicles with bench seats for the driver and passengers.

The brand and model names are printed on the side and front panels of the vehicles. Serial numbers are printed on a plate or label located on the exterior of the vehicle below the driver’s seat. Click here to see the model numbers involved in the recall.

Manufactured in the United States, the vehicles were sold at E-Z-GO and Bad Boy dealers nationwide from February 2011 through July 2011 for between $6,650 and $10,650.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact E-Z-GO or an authorized dealer for a free repair, the company and commission advise. E-Z-GO and E-Z-GO dealers are contacting known owners.

For additional information, contact E-Z-GO toll-free at 800-774-3946 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s website at www.ezgo.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting a refund from IKEA

 

Since I’m having company this summer, I ordered a day bed and three mattresses. I’ll use two of the mattresses on trundle beds, if they ever are in stock again at IKEA.

I paid $59 to have the order delivered to my house. When we put the bed together, we noticed right away that no slats were included.

When I called IKEA, the sales reprehensive said I could order the slats for $20 and have them shipped by UPS for $8.

While I was relieved I wouldn’t have to pay $59 again, I didn’t want to shell out the $8 fee either. I spoke to customer service. She said she’d check on my request to cancel the delivery fee. She called back and said the $8 fee would be refunded. And, she added, she had spoken with the person who had taken my order, and reminded her to let customers know what comes with an item and what needs to be ordered separately.

My worst: Low-quality customer service from my mechanic

For years, I’ve received good service from my mechanic, unusual I know. However, this week the auto repair shop failed me.

Just as I drove by the shop Tuesday afternoon, a light, which I thought was the oil light, came on. I stopped at the mini-mart next door. I went in to see if they could take a look at it. Unfortunately, they were booked up. One of the staff came out to check the oil. It was on the full line and wasn’t dirty. He said said not to worry about it. Sometimes the lights just come on for no reason.

Reassured, I went home. Before I drove in the garage, I noticed a spot of something on the garage floor. I wiped it up and discovered it was oil.

I called Wednesday morning to see if I could get an appointment. One was scheduled. The mechanics found a plug from the last oil change hadn’t been inserted correctly, which caused the leak. After I paid for the oil change and got in my car, I noticed the warning light was still on. I called the shop on my cell phone and two guys came out. They said it wasn’t the oil warning light; it was the check engine light. The mechanic said I should bring my car in Thursday to have it looked at.

I brought my car in again. I was stressed because I had a big event scheduled for Friday. I saw the woman who drives the van, so I didn’t think I’d have to wait very long to get a ride home. However, I discovered she left me.

Irritated, I complained that if the mechanic had investigated the day before why the check engine light was on, I wouldn’t have had to make another trip. Before I could add that the guy who said on Tuesday that the warning light wasn’t a problem, he blasted me about my "attitude."

I decided not to get into an argument with him, but I’d write a letter to the owner of the shop.

Normally, I’m able to handle these types of glitches consumers experience as they go about their day-to-day transactions. However, the shop had two opportunities to tell me the check engine light is something that needs to be investigated.

The problem? My catalytic converted needs a repair. I’ll need to get it fixed soon. 

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Fact or fiction? Eight myths about your car

By Lou Carlozo, Guest Blogger
Green Dad Columnist for dealnews

The Kelley Blue Book folks have just named their Top 10 Green Cars for the 2011 calendar year, a seeming boon for drivers seeking eco-friendly automotive alternatives. But if you’re anything like me, you might think it’s not easy being green, especially when the path to environmental friendliness runs straight through your wallet like a Hummer on steroids.

A bare-bones 2012 Ford Focus – No. 10 on the Kelley list – runs $16,270. And that’s cheap compared to the fourth-ranked Lexus CT 200h, weighing in at $29,120, also without options. Ugh. To add insult to injury, any new car depreciates the second you drive it off the lot.

So for those of us who don’t have five figures to spend on a gleaming set of wheels, take heart: The greenest car may well be the one you already have, provided you take steps to make it more fuel-efficient and environmentally sound. This is especially so because you're going need those five figures to pay for skyrocketing gasoline this summer. In this post, Green Dad sorts the myths from facts when it comes to making your machine run in harmony with the planet.

Fact: Driving slower saves you gas.

Like millions of Americans, I listen to the "Car Talk" guys on National Public Radio mostly because they make me laugh. But they also dispense great auto advice, and they stress that slowing down makes a big difference: For every 1,000 miles you drive (figuring gas at $2.50 a gallon and 25 MPG fuel efficiency), you’ll save as much as $15 driving 10 mph slower. Of course, with gas nearly double that price now, the savings should double as well. Something to think about if you’re a speed demon.

Myth: Replacing the air filter on your car improves mileage.

Every time I go for a quickie oil change, the tech comes out with an air filter that looks like dirt, which shames me into coughing up to replace it. But if your motivation is better gas mileage, consider skipping the change. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that an air filter change will mostly help your acceleration, not your mileage – though if you drive an older car with a carbureted engine, it may improve fuel economy 2 percent to 6percent.

Fact: Stepping on the brakes wastes gas.

This one also comes courtesy of Click and Clack on "Car Talk." "Every time you use the brakes, you’re wasting the ‘acceleration’ you’ve already used.” Instead of moving your car, that energy is being transformed into steaming hot brake pads, they say. Instead, learn to anticipate stops, and gently accelerate your car from a standing stop.

Myth: Gas-saving additives can improve fuel economy by 20 percent or more.

What’s the difference between motor oil and snake oil? Not much, if you’re weighing the claims of slick entrepreneurs who know the timing’s right for selling you magical gas-saving potions. To be sure, some long-standing products with modest claims (such as STP Gas Treatment) have vigorous supporters, but they only claim to boost mileage about 10 percent. But as the Federal Trade Commission warns, "The Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated or tested more than 100 alleged gas-saving devices and has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage. In fact, some ‘gas-saving’ products may damage a car’s engine or cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions.”

Myth: New "low-resistance" tires significantly improve gas mileage.

Unless you’re driving bald or severely under-inflated tires, the hype about low-rolling resistance tires adds up to minimal gas savings. As this story by USA Today reports, various brands of these newfangled tires create gas savings of only 1 percent to 3 percent, even if rolling resistance is cut by 25 percent or more. Whether that saves wear and tear on your car is another story, but the mileage improvements won’t even pay for a spare tire over the course of 10 tanks of gas.

Fact: You can realize dramatic mileage improvement by replacing your oxygen sensor.

This falls under the category of tuning up your car; always a good idea if you want to see gas mileage gains in the 4 percent range. As a function of any proper tune-up, ask your mechanic to look at the oxygen sensor; if it’s not working properly, a simple repair to this part – commonly costing between $50 and $120 – could boost your mileage by as much as 40 percent, the U.S. Department of Energy states. Note that if you make this fix, it may take a few weeks for you to realize the improved mileage as your engine’s fuel-air ratio adjusts.

Myth: Topping off the gas tank is a good idea.

I know, I know: You’ve finally found the one pump between here and Logansport, Ind., that has affordable gas, so why not squeeze every last drop into your tank? While that sounds sensible at first blush, here’s the problem: Gas expands in warmer weather, which means topped off gas will likely wind up spilling out your tank. As if you needed more incentive, check out this warning from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: "Topping off the gas tank can result in your paying for gasoline that is fed back into the station’s tanks because your gas tank is full." So unless you’re in the mood to pay the folks at Exxon or BP a little more for your fuel, stop topping off your tank.

Myth: High-octane gasoline improves your mileage.

I’m amazed to see that countless drivers still fall for this marketing gimmick, despite abundant evidence that high-octane gas is a waste of money. Props to the folks at Bankrate.com for pointing this out, along with other gas-saving tips you can read here. Bottom line: Unless your car specifically requires premium, skip it and go for low-octane fuel.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Toyota Tundra trucks due to faulty drive shaft component

Flickr photo: Soul Rider.222

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. is recalling about 51,000 2011 Tundra trucks to inspect the rear drive shaft.

The rear drive shaft in a few of the vehicles may include a component, a slip yoke, which could break due to improper casting. 

Toyota received a report of one drive shaft slip yoke that failed, with no accidents or injuries associated with it.

Owners of Tundra trucks will receive a letter telling them about the recall starting this month. Toyota will also post the information on its website.

Toyota dealers will inspect the trucks to identify a specific "production lot" number located on the rear drive shaft. They’ll determine if the rear drive shaft needs to be replaced.

The inspection will take about 10 minutes. If the rear drive shaft needs to be replaced, the repair will take more time. Vehicle owners won’t have to pay for the inspection or replacement.

Information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 800-331-4331. A frequently asked questions web page also is available.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting the money from the settlement of my roof lawsuit

I’ve written many times about my failed metal shingle roof; how difficult it was to take the manufacturer and contractor to court, how it cost so much money, the stress involved in doing the arbitration myself, and the joy of winning, only to have the contractor’s attorney file for a new trial.

Now it’s over. I’ve settled with the contractor and manufacturer. I’ve received my payments. Although I like the look of my metal shingle roof, it’s not suitable for rainy, Pacific Northwest weather. I’m going to get a standing seam metal roof, the flat metal panels you see on some commercial buildings.

What a consumer experience. I’ll be talking and writing about it for years.

My worst: Getting the wrong license tab

I received a notice in the mail from the county auditor that my yearly auto license tabs were due. Being really busy, I promptly mailed in my check so the payment wouldn’t slip through the cracks.

My current tab has an “A” on it for April. The one I received in the mail has an “M” on it for March.

I wonder how that error was made? Now, still busy, I have to go to the auditor’s office and try to get the error straightened out.

I’ve been buying tabs for years and never had this problem.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist