What was your best and worst consumer experience 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 help with tree trimming

In my backyard, I have a mulberry tree that’s too close to my house. I tried to keep it pruned back so I could enjoy the mulberries. However, I couldn’t keep up with it. If I didn’t prune the tree twice a year or more, it would grow so big it was difficult for me to saw down the big, thick branches. In addition, last year the tree didn’t have many berries.

I asked a friend who’s handy with a chain saw to cut it down. He also trimmed some evergreen branches that were hanging over my roof in the front yard.

My worst: Receiving a cut on a plastic package

Several years ago, my daughter gave me a great present – a label maker. It will come in handy to put labels on my 50 notebooks of photos – plus the additional 50 or more I’ll be making.

Since I’m converting my photo room into a guest room, I have stacks of notebooks on my dining room table and several chairs. I got out my label maker to label the notebooks before I put them back on the shelves. I started to get the device out of the heavy plastic package I’d cut open on three sides.

Unfortunately, I cut myself. I understand manufacturers want to display their products by hanging them on pegs. However, it’s so frustrating that the plastic packages are so hard to open. This one even caused an injury.