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Interact with Consumerism Commentary

by Flexo

There are more ways to interact with Consumerism Commentary than visiting this website. I hope you do visit this website often to participate in the discussions. Subscribe to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed For those with feed readers, we offer an RSS feed, bringing the full text of these entries to your reader, the way ... Continue reading this article…

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Paying Off Layaway Accounts at Kmart

by Flexo
Kmart

When I first read the news about alleged Good Samaritans and Secret Santas paying off Kmart customers’ layaway accounts, the cynical side of my mind took over. What a great marketing maneuver for K-Mart. With mystery lay-off angels, they are saying, “Buy your gifts on layaway here, an action that could very well be profitable ... Continue reading this article…

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How to Receive Great Customer Service

by Flexo
Telephone

Rather than blaming a representative or a corporate culture when discussions with a company don’t go the customer’s way, perhaps there are specific things the customer can do to encourage representatives to help. Money Magazine polled its readers and talked to experts to determine the best tactics for receiving the best customer service from companies. ... Continue reading this article…

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PayPal Makes Accepting Charity Difficult

by Flexo

Around the holidays, for-profit companies see an opportunity to do something charitable, even though they’re not technically registered non-profit organizations. The concept reminds me of college. I was in my university’s marching band, and we frequently traveled as a group to performances. At the end of the trips, someone on the bus collected money from ... Continue reading this article…

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Balance Transfer Day: December 11, 2011

by Flexo

Just last month, Bank Transfer Day encouraged disgruntled consumers across the country to move money out of their bank accounts and deposit the funds in credit unions and smaller, community banks. Partly as a result of this successful campaign, hundreds of thousands of American large-bank customers opened credit union accounts since the day the campaign ... Continue reading this article…

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10 Cash Back Credit Card Traps

by Flexo
Cash Back Credit Cards

For my own finances, I’ve been a fan of credit cards with cash back programs. Some financial experts advise avoiding best credit card deals completely, even those cards that offer rewards like cash back or offer on best gas credit cards and small business credit cards. I’ve never been a fan of this approach — ... Continue reading this article…

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Personal Balance Sheet, October 2011 ($373,552, +9.2%)

by Flexo
Net Worth Balance Sheet, October 2011

I’ve been tracking my net worth and keeping my finances updated in personal finance management software since July 2003. I’ve done this mainly for myself. Posting my finances online helps make the numbers real. I use these monthly reports to hold myself accountable. If I write publicly about spending more in a budget category than ... Continue reading this article…

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American Express’s Small Business Saturday

by Flexo
American Express

I’ve avoided writing about Black Friday this year. In the community I follow, promoting the day after Thanksgiving for shopping has gotten completely out of hand. I wrote an article for PC World a few years ago, The Insider’s Guide to Black Friday Bargains, where the tips are still relevant for today’s shoppers. I’m not ... Continue reading this article…

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