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Will the new regulations protect consumers against misleading advertisements? Or is there some sort of government conspiracy afoot? While many observers welcome changes that promise to bring about more transparency in airline pricing, Spirit Airlines, one of the nation’s leading low-cost carriers, has taken a rather audacious, anti-regulation stance by sending out e-mails like this: “WARNING: New government regulations require us to HIDE taxes in your fares.”
Duracell? Energizer? The cheapie packages of AAs at the dollar store? Tired of dumping money blindly on batteries for Wii remote controllers, flashlights, Nerf guns, and the like, a physicist decides it’s time to investigate which batteries truly give the most bang for the buck.
At one time, upper- and middle-class shopping centers turned up their noses at dollar stores, assuming that their presence would hurt the image of neighboring retailers, as well as the area as a whole. My, how times have changed.
President Obama said in his state of the union speech that it’s time to cut federal aid to any college that does not keep tuition increases in check. The hope is that they will then find ways to cut costs and make college more affordable. Here's how that is likely to play out.
Less than 1% of J.C. Penney’s revenues come from items bought at full price. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of merchandise sold by the department store chain is discounted by at least 50% off. What this tells shoppers is that J.C. Penney’s original prices are pretty much meaningless. They’re floated out there to see if any suckers bite, and also to make the inevitable markdowns seem more impressive. Soon, though, J.C. Penney promises it’ll stop playing games, cut to the chase, and offer a more simplified, sensible pricing structure. For example, a T-shirt that used to retail for $14—but typically wound up selling for $6—will just be priced at $7 from the start.
Would you buy scalped tickets — to a funeral? Fans who want to bid final respects to legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who died on January 22, will have a chance to do so this afternoon at his public memorial service. But the outpouring of grief for JoePa didn’t stop the entrepreneurial spirit of some quick-thinking hustlers who tried selling tickets to his memorial service on eBay.
New research reveals that the kind of cash we carry around with us affects how generous or thrifty we are when we spend money.
Mitt Romney may not be paying as much federal income tax as you’d like. But his charitable giving is extraordinary. Add the two together—taxes and voluntary giving—and you get something close to an overall rate that many would find acceptable.
I’ve never been a car guy. I can’t tell you the difference between Honda and Hyundai. I don’t see a classic speedster (that’s the term, right?) on the road and say, “There goes the ’69 Camaro SS 396 4-Speed. Boy, listen to that thing purr.” So it’s reassuring to see that more Americans are finally catching up with me.
Study after study shows that, generally speaking, women are uncomfortable haggling over major purchases. The groundbreaking book Women Don’t Ask indicated that men are four times more likely to initiate negotiations than women, and that women have been known to pay upwards of $1,300 extra to avoid haggling over the price of a car. But a new survey demonstrates that the assumption that women are clueless pushovers easily taken advantage of by car sellers couldn’t be more wrong.
If you think your bank’s CEO lies awake at night thinking of ways to take away your customer perks, here’s a surprise: debit rewards are coming back. Sort of. Bank of America is testing a pilot of a new merchant-funded reward program called BankAmeriDeals, in which rewards come in the form of special Groupon-like discounts on purchases from major retailers. The customer’s “rewards” show up as bank statement credits at the end of every month.
On the most recent season debut of American Idol, viewers watched as a 24-year-old from Tennessee named Amy Brumfield won a golden ticket to Hollywood. Besides her soulful rendition of an Alicia Keys song, what made Brumfield stand out from the pack is that she lives in a tent in the woods with her boyfriend and dog. “We can’t afford a $100-a-week hotel room, you know,” said Brumfield. “The only thing we can do is live in a tent in the woods and cook soup over a fire.”
To broaden their appeal and expand business, each of these big-name chains is trying something new—adding breakfast, alcohol, and special bargain-priced deals, respectively.
