May 28, 2008

If there are toddlers nearby, be especially careful backing out of drive ways.

Right after WISC-TV in Madison warned about toddlers being killed and injured by cars when drivers are backing out of drive ways, it happened again in Wisconsin. A 15-month-old girl was killed Thursday (May 29)in Rock County. Last Sunday, a 13-month-old girl was killed in a Whitewater church parking lot.

Don't get stuck with a disposable HDTV

Fasten your safety belt if you bought one of those better buys and it needs repair.

Kicking the tires on Chrysler's new gas gimmick

Wall Street Journal

Let's Refuel America is a terrific marketing maneuver by Chrysler. But consumers need to check it out carefully before signing up.

Can a steamer replace your iron?

I think this article maybe directed to the older generation because from what I observe wrinkled clothing is in with many young people.

May 4, 2008




Pictures of these scary looking dustmites are sometimes shown to consumers by questionable vacuum cleaner salespeople trying to sell machines priced a thousand dollars higher than most good vacuums.

The latest medical information on dust mites suggests that vacuums don't help: Getting rid of dust mites—worthwhile?

By the way, some salespeople have also used AIDS to frighten people into buying vacuums. When AIDS became a known problem, consumers were told that the vacuums were air filtration systems that would protect families from the disease!

Green Bay area woman nicked by Nigerians



And here is Dateline video of another Wisconsin victim and a Dateline sting of the Nigerian scammers.

Want to work at home stuffing envelopes?

When I started as a Consumer Protection reporter in 1971 the stuffing envelopes scam dotted almost every newspaper classified ad section--because the scam worked like a chain letter. Instead of receiving envelopes to stuff when you sent in your money you got instructions on how to make money putting the same rip-off ad into other newspapers.

Thirty-seven years later, the envelope stuffing scam is still going fairly strong. Fact is there have never been any envelopes to stuff at home. Every last one of those ads is meant to deceive and steal money.

Here is the latest prosecution.

Speeding Up Safety

With the government slow to act and consumers quick to mobilize, companies have learned to take swift action on potentially dangerous products. Washington Post