The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Paying less for ink jet cartridges is this week’s best consumer experience, while cashing a check at Walmart is upsetting

By Rita R. Robison

This week, I had so many good and bad consumer experiences, it’s difficult to choose what to write about. Here are two among many:

My best consumer experience: A good price on ink jet cartridges

Usually, I buy my Canon ink jet cartridges at Office Depot. The black-and-white cartridge costs $22; the color cartridge $27. I wait until I get a coupon for $10 off on a purchase of $50 or more to buy them.

At Costco, I found a package with two black-and-white and one color cartridge for $17 each. A big savings.

My worst consumer experience: A check transaction at Walmart

Due to Walmart’s land use and employee practices, I don’t shop there often. However, a Walmart has opened next to Costco where I shop occasionally.

When I went to get the one thing I buy at Walmart, getting a check cashed was a big hassle. The cashier asked to see my driver’s license. That’s not common at a retail store. I don’t want to have that information stored in Walmart’s computer. Hacking happens too often, in my opinion.

I asked the cashier if Walmart kept my driver’s license number on file. He wasn’t clear in his answer, so I asked to see the manager.

She didn’t know for sure, so she asked the assistant manager who she said knew more about computers. The manager said that not every customer is asked for the driver’s license number. If I shop at Walmart, frequently I might not be asked to show it.

The manager said my driver’s license number isn’t stored in Walmart’s computer. That every 24 or 48 hours, my number gets erased. However, if that’s correct, then what are they comparing my number to if nothing is stored in their computer system.

I’m not sure I received the correct answer about how Walmart’s check cashing system works. If I go in the future, I’ll use my credit card or pay cash.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Facts and figures about dads for Father’s Day 2012

By Rita R. Robison

On Father's Day, it’s always fun to look at how much consumers will be spending on their dads and who American dads are.

Father’s Day spending

Gift givers are planning to spend more than ever this Father's Day, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

The average person will spend about $117 on dad's gifts this year, up 10 percent from $106 last year. The increased spending is closing the gap between its biggest competitor: Mother's Day – consumers planned to spend an average of $152 on the holiday.

Total spending for Father's Day is expected to reach $12.7 billion.

More people this year will treat dad to a special outing, such as golfing, eating out, or heading to a sporting event – $2.3 billion vs. $2.0 billion in 2011. They’ll also buy electronic gift items – $1.7 billion vs. $1.3 billion last year – and apparel – $1.7 billion vs. $1.4 billion in 2011. Others will purchase gift cards, $1.7 billion; sporting goods, $641 million; and books or music, $645 million.

Four in 10 consumers said they would shop at department stores while nearly three in 10 indicated they would shop online.

More than one-quarter of those who own a tablet said they would use their tablet to make a Father's Day purchase. More than half of tablet owners indicated they would use their tablet to research products and compare prices, redeem coupons, and look up retailers' information such as store hours and location.

About one-quarter of smartphone owners will use their smartphone to research gift ideas and compare prices, while one in 10 will purchase a Father's Day gift using their smartphone.

American fathers

The U.S. Census Bureau offers these statistics on the nation's fathers:

Number of fathers

 70.1 million

Number of fathers across the nation.

24.7 million

Number of fathers who were part of married-couple families with children younger than 18 in 2011.

• 21 percent were raising three or more children younger than 18 in married-couple family households only.

• 3 percent lived in someone else's home.

1.7 million

Number of single fathers in 2011; 15 percent of single parents were men.

• 10 percent were raising three or more children younger than 18.

• About 45 percent were divorced, 31 percent were never married, 19 percent were separated, and 5 percent were widowed.

• 38 percent had an annual family income of $50,000 or more.

Stay-at-home dads

176,000

Estimated number of stay-at-home dads in 2011. These married fathers with children younger than 15 have remained out of the labor force for at least one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home. These fathers cared for about 332,000 children.

17%

In spring 2010, the percentage of preschoolers regularly cared for by their father during their mother's working hours.

A good price on push pins but computer glasses that don’t work are this week’s best and worse consumer experiences

By Rita R. Robison

I was able to get a bargain on a small item, pushpins. However, satisfaction with a more expensive consumer item, computer glasses, hasn’t been achieved yet.

My best consumer experience: A good price on pushpins

Just as I got a couple of blocks from my house to hang up posters for my class “How to Create a Blog," I realized I was about of pushpins.

I stopped at the neighborhood convenience store to see if they had any. To my surprise, they did. The cost was $2 for 30. Although that was pricy, I bought them. Going to another store would be time consuming, and I wanted to get the posters hung up before the community college staff began locking up some of the buildings for the evening.

When I got to the Student Union, the bookstore was still open.

When I couldn’t find the pushpins, I was told they were in the sale bins outside the front door.

The price? Fifty cents for 100. I bought six packages.

That should keep me going for a while.

My worst consumer experience: Computer glasses that don’t work

Since I’ve developed constant and sharp on the right side of my neck from tilting my head up when I’m working at the computer, I thought I’d finally get a pair of computer glasses.

At my annual eye exam, I asked for the prescription. I had the glasses made at Costco.

However, they don’t work. I still have to tilt my head up to read the screen. The pain is a bit worse than when I wear my regular glasses.

I called the eye doctor’s office and the receptionist said I needed to find out if the glasses were made correctly before I could get an appointment.

I had the glasses checked, and they were made according to the prescription. Tomorrow, I’m going back to the eye doctor to see what the problem is.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Insurance companies can manipulate computer systems to underpay injury claims from all consumers, report shows

By Rita R. Robison

The computerized claims’ systems used by most of the nation’s largest insurance companies can be easily adjusted to make broad-scale “lowball” claims’ payments to injured consumers that are less than what they should receive under their insurance policies. 

Those are the findings of a report released by the Consumer Federation of America.   The main author of the report was a longtime insurance executive.

The report, “Low Ball:  An Insider’s Look at How Insurers Can Manipulate Computerized Systems to Broadly Underpay Injury Claims,” describes the use of Colossus and similar software products by insurance companies. It provides information on how these programs are set up, “tuned” to reach particular claims’ payment monetary goals, and adjusted over time. 

“When CSC and its competitors talk publicly about computer-based claims’ systems, they stress that the programs allow insurers to more consistently evaluate bodily injury claims,” Mark Romano, the federation’s claims project director, said in a statement. 

“Consistency is a legitimate goal, but these companies tell a different story behind closed doors,” Romano. “Software marketing representatives acknowledge that the real reason insurance companies are willing to invest millions in these systems is that they can dial down claims’ payments to thousands of consumers at a time, regardless of whether these payouts are fair.”

The report also identifies techniques that insurers can use to directly and indirectly produce “lowball” claims, such as:

• Requiring insurance adjusters without medical training to second-guess medical professionals by altering injury determinations.

• Encouraging adjusters to downplay or ignore the likelihood that injured consumers will need future medical treatment or will be permanently impaired.

• Encouraging adjusters to determine that drivers are partly at-fault for the auto accident that injured them.

The federation recommends state insurance regulators better protect consumers from insurers that manipulate Colossus and similar systems to reduce claims’ payouts by:

• Regulating all companies that sell claims’ adjustment software products, such as CSC.

• Examining and monitoring the use of computerized claims’ assessment systems by major insurers.

• Requiring insurers to notify consumers in writing that a computerized claims’ assessment was used to process their claim and to provide a copy of the report generated by the system.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Expansion of Lenovo desktop computer recall due to fire hazard

By Rita R. Robison

M70z

Lenovo is recalling about 13,000 ThinkCentre M70z and M90z desktop computers. About 50,500 were previously recalled in March of 2012.

A defect in an internal component in the power supply can overheat and pose a fire hazard, the firm and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

Lenovo has received reports of one fire incident and one smoke incident in the United States. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled all-in-one desktop computers, or PCs, are flat-panel monitors with the PC integrated into the monitor housing itself. The power supplies are also inside the monitor or PC housing.

The computer chassis has a matte black finish with the brand name "ThinkCentre" in the lower left hand corner of the monitor front. The recalled desktop model numbers, M90z and M70z, along with the serial number and manufacturing date code can be found on a label on the underside of the unit.

M90z

Consumers will need to check the serial number on their computer with Lenovo to determine if it’s subject to this recall.

Manufactured in Mexico, the computers were sold: online at Lenovo's websites, by telephone, and by direct sales through Lenovo authorized distributors nationwide from May 2010 through March 2012. The cost was about $500 for the M70z model and $800 for the M90z model.

Consumers should immediately stop using the computers, unplug the power supply, and contact the firm to determine if their computer is included in the recall and to schedule an appointment for a free replacement of the power supply.

Because additional systems and manufacturing dates have been added to the recall, even those customers who contacted Lenovo regarding the March 2012 recall should contact Lenovo again to verify if their system is part of this expanded program.

For additional information, contact Lenovo at 855-248-2194 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.lenovo.com/aiopsurecall.

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

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Banks, telecoms, electronics, retailers among companies requiring forced arbitration

If your bank, cell phone provider, employer, or other company that you conduct business with violated your rights or cheated you, would you want to be able to take them to court?

Many companies are now using fine print to stop consumers from taking legal action, according to Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group.

Below is Public Citizen’s listing of some of the largest corporations that have placed “forced arbitration” clauses in their terms of service. Forced arbitration blocks consumers and employees from holding companies accountable in court because they must take their claims to private, secretive tribunals that often favor the companies, the consumer group said in a statement.

Telecommunications: DirectTV, Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Sprint, T-Mobile, Clearwire, Time Warner Cable, Tacfone.

Consumer banking and credit: Wells Fargo, US Bank, Regions Banks, BB&T, Discover, PNC Bank, Chase.

Student loans: Sallie Mae, Citibank, Chase, Discover.

Consumer electronics: Sony, Dell, Gateway, Electronic Arts, XBox Live.

Nursing homes: Candansk, Covenant Dove, Driftwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Kindred Nursing Center, Manor Care of Florida, OP Winter Haven, SA-PG Sun City Center, Triad Health Management of Georgia.

Home builders: D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes, Centex Corp., Lennar, KB Home, Hovnanian Enterprises, NVR (Ryan), The Ryland Group, Beazer Homes.

Gift cards: Starbucks, Pep Boys, Gold’s Gym, Ticketmaster, Crocs, In-N-Out Burger, Red Mango, Patagonia, Discover.

Ecommerce and entertainment: amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Netflix, Hulu.

Employment: Hooters of America, Forever 21, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus Group, Macy’s West Stores, Yahoo! Inc.

Miscellaneous: New Leaf Academy, Orkin.

Public Citizen asks consumers to add more companies that are taking away their rights with forced arbitration by sending an e-mail to action@citizen.org.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop computers due to fire hazard

By Rita R. Robison

About 50,500 Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z desktop computers are being recalled by Lenovo.

A defect in an internal component in the power supply can overheat and pose a fire hazard, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement. Lenovo received reports of one fire incident and one smoke incident in the U.S. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled all-in-one desktop computers, or PCs, are flat-panel monitors with the PC integrated into the monitor housing itself. The power supplies are also inside the monitor or PC housing.

The computer chassis has a matte black finish with the brand name "ThinkCentre" in the lower left hand corner of the monitor front. The recalled desktop model numbers are M90z and M70z along with the serial number and manufacturing date code can be found on a label on the underside of the unit.

Only some of the M70z and M90z computers built in this time period are affected. Consumers will need to check the serial number on their computer with Lenovo to determine if it’s subject to this recall.

Manufactured in Mexico, the computers were sold online at Lenovo’s websites, by telephone, and by direct sales through Lenovo authorized distributors nationwide from May 2010 through January 2012. The cost was about $500 for the M70z model and $800 for the M90z model.

Consumers should immediately stop using the computers, unplug the power supply, and contact the Lenovo to determine if your computer is included in the recall and to schedule an appointment for a free replacement of the power supply, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Lenovo toll-free at 855-248-2194 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.lenovo.com/aiopsurecall.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Getting my Mac to work is this week’s best consumer experience, while paying extra for a 3D movie disappoints

By Rita R. Robison

I was lucky to get my Mac working again. However, I wasn’t pleased about paying more for a 3D movie.

My best consumer experience: Figuring how to get my Mac running again

When I turned on my Mac Thursday morning, neither my mouse nor keyboard would work. Since I couldn’t Google for ideas or type anything in, I took the mouse and keyboard over to Best Buy.

A guy on the Geek Squad got the mouse working and said it looked like I’d dropped the keyboard, damaging the area around the switch. I told him to try to pry the bent part up, because if the keyboard was ruined, he couldn’t ruin it any further. He was able to make the repair.

I went to the library to write my blogs in case I couldn’t get my Mac to work.

Sure enough, despite the fact that the geek at Best Buy said the mouse and keyboard were working, I couldn’t get them to operate.

All along, I thought that something might be wrong with my Bluetooth. After stewing around for a while, I unplugged my computer. When it came back on, it said there was a problem with the Bluetooth. I held down the switch on the keyboard and both the keyboard and the mouse started operating.

I was relieved. I got my Mac back and didn’t have to pay a lot of money.

My worst experience: Paying extra to see a 3D movie

This weekend, I’m on a movie marathon to the Academy Award nominated movies so I can write about them before the big day.

One of the movies I saw Friday was “Hugo.” It was a good movie, but I had to pay $4.50 extra to see it in 3D. Disappointing. I didn’t really think 3D added that much to the movie.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Finding cheaper printer cartridges is this week’s best consumer experience, while a credit union error disappoints

By Rita R. Robison

Doing price comparisons on printer cartridges paid off this week. However, I found an error made by one of the credit unions I belong to.

My best consumer experience: Paying less for printer cartridges at Costco

While I was at Costco shopping, I checked out the price for the Canon ink jet cartridges I use. The warehouse store offers a package of three – two black ink and one colored – for about $50, around $17 each.

I usually buy my ink cartridges from Office Depot. I wait until I get coupons: $10 off is you spend more than $50 or $20 off if you spend $75. That cuts the price of the cartridges, about $25 each, but not as much as the Costco price. I’ve also purchased the cartridges at Target, also priced about $25 each.

My worse consumer experience: A credit union mistake

When I received my latest credit union statement, I didn’t see a reduction in my home equity loan for my January payment.

I called the credit union to see what happened. I thought the mail department might have made another mistake and send the payment to the wrong place again.

However, I remembered that I’d gone into the credit union to make the payment. The customer representative who helped me said the teller had placed the payment in my money market account instead of applying to my home equity loan.

This experience shows that it’s always a good idea to review your financial statements for errors.

Later, I was pleased to receive a note from a credit union employee, written on a yellow sticky, apologizing for the error. She’s attached it to my receipt.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What do women want for Valentine’s Day?

By Rita R. Robison

This year, the Consumer Electronics Association is saying women want electronics for Valentine’s Day. However, a blog article I read said that said women don’t want electronics – that men buy them for their female loved one because they’ve been nagging them to learn the device and “gifting” the item will get them to use it.

Today, RetailMeNot.com, a coupon site, sent me information on its Valentine’s Day Survey, which found that men don’t seem to be in tune with the wants and desires of their significant other this holiday. The greatest disconnect being men who plan to purchase their partner either candy or a romantic night out on the town. 

The survey showed that 33 percent of men intended to buy their significant other candy, with only 20 percent of women actually wanting this for Valentine’s Day – a 13-point gap. A similar disparity existed for men planning to take their partner out for a romantic night on the town, such as dinner and a movie – 38 percent of men said that they would do it this year, with only 25 percent of women wanting a night out. 

While men are overcompensating with gifts of candy and dinner reservations, they are falling short in terms of buying jewelry. The survey shows 21 percent of women preferred gifts of jewelry, while only 16 percent of male respondents said they intended to purchase jewelry for Valentine’s Day.

On flowers, 32 percent of men intended to purchase flowers for Valentine’s Day for their significant other, while 27 percent of women want flowers.

For cards, 38 percent of men said they intend to buy a Valentine’s Day card, and 36 percent of women said they wanted a card for the holiday.

Not unexpectedly, 12 percent of respondents to the survey reported that they “do not have a significant other” for Valentine’s Day.

I think a discussion about what you want to do and receive on Valentine’s Day makes sense, especially in these tight money times. See my article, “What Does Valentine’s Day Mean to You?” for suggestions on thinking through your Valentine’s Day spending if you’re having financial problems.

The sluggish economy is still a factor in consumer’s gift-giving plans, according to the RetailMeNot survey. Nearly a fourth of consumers said that they don’t intend to spend any money this Valentine’s Day on their significant other, and more than 50 percent intend to spend $100 or less.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist