Monopoly power hurts consumers in so many ways every day. It’s good news that states and the federal government are bringing more antitrust actions. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Monday that Google unlawfully leverages its dominance in the online search and related text advertising markets through exclusionary contracts, harming consumers and advertisers. Read more →
August marks the beginning of the end of summer, as well as a new school year for many people. Because of that, it may not seem like a good time for shopping anything other than pencils, notebooks, and backpacks. However, August has much more than back to school deals and... Read more →
What’s surveillance pricing? It’s when a company looks at information about you and sets the price of an item or service you want to buy based on that information. The FTC issued orders to eight companies offering surveillance pricing. It wants to know about the possible impacts these practices have on privacy, competition, and consumer protection. Read more →
California often has among the most beneficial laws for consumers. On July 1, these four bills will become law in the state: Capping security deposits -- Until now, landlords have been allowed to require a security deposit equal to as much as three months’ rent. Instead of landlords being allowed to require a security deposit equal to as much as three months’ rent. Read more →
As with most holidays, you’ll find worthwhile deals around July Fourth. Sales have already begun, so start comparing prices. As always, you’ll avoid “marked way up and marked way down” if you check out prices. July Fourth sales usually continue until about a week after the holiday. Here are some items that are likely to be marked down: Read more →
Today, I hope you’re having a great celebration with your mom or are remembering her if she is no longer with us. My mom, Ruth L. Slingsby, photo at left, was a hard-working, supportive mom. I miss her every day. She passed away in 2005 at the age of 89. Here are some facts and figures for Mother’s Day 2024: Read more →
When trying to get a product fixed, you might have had a big problem. The Federal Trade Commission wants to hear what happened if you recently tried to get a product repaired. The FTC has set up a link for warranty or repair stories. It’s interested in learning about experiences across a range of products – from cars, kitchen appliances, and cell phones to grills and generators. Read more →
April may not seem like a big month for shopping, but you’ll find a lot of categories that have good deals. Some of them are practical, so if you want fun and frivolous items, you may have to do more research. Here are suggestions from DealNews.com on what to buy and not buy in April: For Cookware, you’re likely to see deals in April. Read more →
Recently, when I looked at my Comcast bill, it said my monthly bill would be going up $22.60 a month. I was upset. My bill already is high. I pay about $200 for TV, internet, and landline. For years, I had argue with Comcast every couple of years when my contract expired. I had the bundle: $33 for TV, $33 for internet, and $33 for the landline. Read more →
Although many people are tired of shopping after the holidays and the bank account may be low, sales in January are worth taking a look at. DealNews.com suggests: Holiday leftovers -- Holiday chocolates, decorations, holiday decor, and clothing are possibilities for savings. Small kitchen appliances -- Expect to see savings on a variety of small appliances. Read more →