Consumer Reports articles from December 2008

Consumer Reports archives from December 2008

When a gift card is no gift.(VIEWPOINT)(gift cards and retailer bankruptcy)
December 1, 2008... LAST HOLIDAY SEASON, John Houston received a turntable as a gift. He didn't need it and returned it to Sharper Image, receipt in hand, but the store would only give him a refund in the form of a store credit. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Reform school.(FROM OUR PRESIDENT)(Brief article)(Column)
December 1, 2008... While much about the U.S. economy will change between the time I write this column and when you read it, the position of Consumers Union will not. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whatever happens with the markets, financial firms, and...

Correction.(Correction notice)
December 1, 2008... In "Save Energy, Save Money" (October 2008), a photograph of a tankless water heater was shown instead of a new heat-pump storage water heater. Also, since we published, the company manufacturing heat-pump storage water heaters has...

Ask our experts.(pain-relief products, refrigerator and car care)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Do topical pain-relief products work? Marcia Levy St. Louis Yes. Over-the-counter topical creams with the pepper-plant extract capsaicin can relieve minor aches and pains caused by back problems, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid...

Which AA batteries last?(Up front)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... When everyone's posed and saying "Cheese," you might use stronger language if your camera's batteries have died. To see which AAs are most inclined to keep cameras clicking--and toys, radios, flashlights, and remote controls working--we...

Testing the strength of Hercules.(CLAIM CHECK)(Hercules Hook)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The claim. "Tested up to 150 lbs. strong" appears on the packaging of the Hercules Hook, part of the Billy Mays infomercial-product empire. Just "Twist! Push! Turn!" the wire hook into drywall, plaster, or paneling. A caveat--"for heavier...

Sara Lee is edged out in pie-eating contest.(UP FRONT)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... If you believed the claims on frozen-pie boxes, you'd expect something Grandma toiled over all day. Marie Callender's Dutch Apple Pie is "100% fresh apples." "With every bite" of Sara Lee Key Lime Pie, "you can almost hear the island sounds...

Kick a car charity's tires.(UP FRONT)(automobile donations)
December 1, 2008... 'Tis the season to be charitable. For some people, that means donating a vehicle. You can give through a local chapter of a national organization, including the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and many others. Or you can contact a group that...

Zyrtec or Zantac? Beware of medication mix-ups.(SAFETY ALERT)(Table)
December 1, 2008... As much as 25 percent of drug errors--when someone gets the wrong prescription, say, or the wrong dosage--occur when the name of one drug looks or sounds like another. Poor penmanship, sloppy pronunciation, and look-alike labels make the...

Holiday tipping in hard times.(UP FRONT)
December 1, 2008... Despite tight-money woes, Americans are unlikely to cut back on tipping, according to a nationally representative survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. We asked almost 1,900 U.S. residents what they gave last holiday...

FedEx vs. UPS vs. the Postal Service.(UP FRONT)(FedEx Corp., and United Parcel Service of America Inc.)
December 1, 2008... There are times when you might need "next day" to mean exactly that. To check on timing and rates, we recently sent 48 packages from facilities near our Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters to 16 CONSUMER REPORTS shoppers in 12 states. Each recipient...

The lowdown on 100-calorie snack packs.(UP FRONT)
December 1, 2008... When you need to munch but don't want to derail your diet, can 100-calorie packs satisfy? We turned up more reasons to pass on those foods than to purchase them. For starters, their looks sometimes aren't as pictured, some don't taste like...

Do you need premium gas?(CLOSE UP)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Among drivers whose car owner's manual recommends regular fuel, about 5 percent use mid-grade and 3 percent use premium, according to a recent, nationally representative study by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Based on 12,000...

Let the patient decide.(5-MINUTE CONSULT)
December 1, 2008... A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I followed two patients who were in similar circumstances: Both had chest pain (angina) from a partially blocked heart vessel. They were very active seniors who wanted to remain that way. But they were also concerned...

No-nano sunscreens?(CLAIM CHECK)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... The claim. Some sunscreen and sunblock makers claim their products contain no ultrasmall nanoparticles. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The check. Tests we commissioned from an outside lab found nano-size ingredients in four of five...

Ford and GM recalls are being ignored.(SAFETY ALERTS)(Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning owners of 5 million unrepaired Fords, Lincolns, and Mercurys that the vehicles could pose a serious fire hazard. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Those vehicles have a defective...

Salmonella taints pet food.(SAFETY ALERTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Mars Petcare recalled all dry dog and cat food produced at the company's plant in Everson, Pa., between Feb. 18 and July 29, 2008, because it may be contaminated with salmonella. The food was distributed in 31 states. [ILLUSTRATION...

FDA warns about coffee and candy.(SAFETY ALERTS)( Food and Drug Administration )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about several foods because of possible contamination with melamine, an industrial chemical. Three imported varieties of Mr. Brown 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 powdered packets in bag coffee mix...

General electric toasters.(HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... A short circuit can occur between heating element and bread cage, risking fire and electrical shock. PRODUCTS: 210,000 GE toasters sold at Wal-Mart stores from 9/07 through 7/08 for between $17 and $28. Models are the four-slice...

Regent Sports soccer goal nets.(SPORTS AND RECREATION)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Flexible openings in soccer goal nets can pose risk of head and neck entrapment or strangulation. PRODUCTS: 190,000 MacGregor and Mitre folding soccer goal nets sold at Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware, and sports and toy stores nationwide from...

Simplicity drop-side cribs.(CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Drop side can detach or partially detach, creating a gap that can lead to entrapment and suffocation. Products: 600,000 Simplicity cribs sold nationwide from 01/05 through 08/08 for $150 to $300. Recalled model numbers include 8620,...

Your money: what to do now: expert advice on how to ride out the financial storm.(FEATURE)
December 1, 2008... WHEN WE ASKED Americans what they're most worried about now, they told us loud and clear: having enough money to retire, the value of their savings and home, and the cost of everything from gas to college. Thirty-three percent said they're...

Wine for the holidays: best values in three varietals, including a $5 chardonnay.(FEATURE)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... Chardonnay This best-selling wine is diversifying. It was once synonymous with wine that's woody and buttery. Yet many of the ones in this roundup are crisper, fruitier chardonnays. We tested 27 wines and recommend the eight at right...

Buying clothes online: Ratings of 39 Web sites, plus tips to ensure a good buy.(FEATURE)(Survey)
December 1, 2008... Most people still buy clothes in actual stores, but the tide might be turning. Last year, Americans ordered more apparel, accessories, and shoes online--almost $23 billion worth--than any other category of merchandise, even computers and...

Buying electronics: 10 money-saving secrets, plus Ratings of 36 retailers.(FEATURE)
December 1, 2008... 1 Buying online can be better The highest-rated electronics retailers in our annual reader survey are Web sites. Two of the chart toppers have been perennial standouts in our retailer Ratings: Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com. One, B&H.com,...

Best electronics LCD & plasma TVs: top choices from more than 400 models tested, including 21 CR Best Buys lower price and higher quality add up to good deals.(Cover story)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... IF THE UNCERTAIN ECONOMY and high gas prices are getting you down, here's news that could lift your spirits: Prices of flat-panel high-definition TVs continue to fall, while their performance continues to improve. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Blu-ray & DVD players; high-def models at lower prices challenge standard units.(Buyers guide)(Cover story)
December 1, 2008... THIS GIFT-GIVING SEASON could be the first strong one for Blu-ray high-definition disc players. More players are arriving in stores, and prices are falling. Some sell for less than $300, and you might see "doorbuster" specials for less than...

Camcorders: they're smaller and lighter, but they don't sacrifice performance.(Cover story)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... NOTHING COMPARES with a camcorder for capturing high-quality video, our latest tests show--no cell phone, no compact camera, not even the first digital SLR with high-definition video recording (see Claim Check on page 41). Almost all the...

Audio equipment: explore easy ways to enjoy better sound with your TV.(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2008... WITH GROWING INTEREST in the multichannel sound tracks on DVD and Blu-ray discs and in high-definition TV programs, manufacturers are trying to pump up TV sound quality without bulking up slim LCD and plasma sets. Some TVs provide decent...

How to use the Canada Extra section.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Every month, Canada Extra provides Canadian pricing and availability information about products tested for that issue. The Ratings in this section are based on this month's reports, but they narrow your choices to the products that are sold...

GPS navigators.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report, page 54; Ratings, page 55 Twelve of the tested GPS devices from our Select Ratings are available in Canada. All are recommended and some are also CR Best Buys. [TABLE OMITTED]

LCD TVs.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report, page 28; Ratings, pages 30-31 Thirty-eight of the 56 tested LCD televisions are available, including 23 of the 30 recommended models. [TABLE OMITTED]

Plasma TVs.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report, page 28; Ratings, page 32 Nineteen of the 25 tested plasma televisions are available, including 12 of the 15 recommended models. [TABLE OMITTED]

Printers.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report and Ratings, page 52 Five of the tested all-in-one inkjets, both of the tested plain inkjets, and the tested plain laser from our Select Ratings are available. All are recommended models, and some are also CR Best Buys. [TABLE...

Digital cameras.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report, page 40; Ratings, pages 42-43 Fourteen of the 24 tested subcompact cameras, 11 of the 20 tested compact cameras, and 11 of the 15 tested superzoom cameras are available, including 14 of the 15 recommended models. [TABLE...

Luxury SUVs.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report and Ratings, page 66 Three of the 4 tested luxury SUVs are available in Canada. Acceleration (sec.) Make & model Price range 0-50 KM/H 0-100...

Ranges.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Report, page 60; Ratings, pages 61-62 Twenty-seven of the 78 tested ranges are available, including 5 of the 17 recommended models. [TABLE OMITTED]

Contact info.(Canada Extra)(Directory)
December 1, 2008... How to reach manufacturers in Canada. Canon 800-652-2666 www.canon.ca Casio 800-661-2274 www.casio.com Dacor 800-793-0093 www.dacor.com Dash 888-949-3274 www.dash.net DCS ...

Digital cameras: top performance doesn't have to cost a bundle.(COVER STORY)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... WHATEVER YOUR NEEDS, you're bound to find a good camera at the right price in our Ratings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We turned up subcompacts costing less than $250 that excel in low light without a flash; compacts priced below $175...

Digital picture frames: very good models now cost $150 or less.(COVER STORY)
December 1, 2008... YOU'LL FIND MORE CHOICES than ever in digital frames, the displays that continuously show camera images. In stores, you'll see frames as small as 3 1/2 inches (measured diagonally) costing less than $75 and feature-laden or very large...

Computers: the best desktop or laptop for you and where to buy it.(Cover story)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... SPEEDIER PERFORMANCE and extended laptop battery life are among the improvements in several new models in our latest tests of computers. Yet other models fell short in those areas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We found plenty of laptops...

Printers: the latest models offer value and versatility.(COVER STORY)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... MANUFACTURERS KEEP FINDING ways to make printers perform better and more cheaply. Some all-in-ones can print a 4x6 photo in just under a minute for about 45 cents. Snapshot printers have fewer features but can produce very good shots for 25...

GPS navigators: a growing market offers more bargains and models with traffic info.(COVER STORY)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... WHETHER YOU WANT HELP navigating cross-country or across town at rush hour, it's a great time to buy a portable GPS device. As new models are introduced, buyers are able to get more features at lower prices, including real-time traffic...

First looks.(Lab tests)(latest mobile gadgets)
December 1, 2008... This time of year brings out a slew of new gadgets. Here are three of the latest mobile devices: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Google phone clicks The long-awaited Google phone was introduced recently as the G1, made by HTC. The phone,...

Worthy wine cellars.(Lab tests)(wine chillers)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... Sales of wine cellars, also known as wine chillers or wine refrigerators, have been growing as Americans drink more vino. We tested 13 undercounter and seven freestanding models with capacities ranging from 28 to 58 standard bottles. ...

Slow cookers: convenience is key.(Lab tests)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... The faster the pace of your life, the better a slow cooker looks. What's not to like about stirring together ingredients in the morning, attending to other tasks while the cooker bubbles away on the kitchen counter, and spooning out a...

Speedier cooktops and wall ovens.(Lab tests)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... Cooktops and wall ovens are touting quicker meals and safer cooking. But our tests show that unless you've got money to burn, you'll probably prefer a recommended cooktop or wall oven from our Select Ratings at right. There are also some...

Ranges: new models slice time and guesswork and yield new top picks.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... CAN SUCCULENT TURKEYS, savory hams, and mounds of mashed potatoes be fast and foolproof this holiday season? Several new ranges deliver both of those benefits with dual ovens, convection, and shortcut programs like the ones on your microwave....

Gas-saving models lead in reliability.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES are a very reliable segment of the automotive market overall. And European cars, which have trailed the domestic models for about five years, are showing signs of improvement. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Those are...

Luxury SUVs: other vehicles do just as much for less.(CARS)(sport utility vehicles)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... DESPITE GAS PRICES and the dismal fuel economy of large SUVs, the sales of some luxury models have actually gone up this year. That indicates the strong appeal of the luxury experience for buyers of models such as the Porsche Cayenne and...

An 'F' in marketing.(SELLING IT)(pizza-shop card)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... This pizza-shop card, left on a reader's door recently, offers toppings such as baby portabella mushrooms and fresh-sliced roma tomatoes on four types of crust. Sound good? Let's look for the shop's name, address, or phone number, which are...

Ignore this picture.(SELLING IT)(Photograph)
December 1, 2008... So those round, golden things with butter and syrup must be Frisbees. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Smile & pay.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Get an Awesome Auger for $19.95, plus two freebies? Great. But mind the teeny "S&P" (shipping and processing) under each item. Only after calling to place an order did we find out that the total for the Awesome Auger, "free" drill, and "free"...

What you see, what you get.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... A sandwich we made with one of the four servings in the package of Hillshire Farm pastrami (left) looked pretty puny next to the sandwich shown on the label, but eventually we were able to achieve that overstuffed look (right). Problem was,...

O, no Canada.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Think Global Pharmacy Canada sells drugs made in Canada under that country's regulations? Au contraire. According to the diminutive "Patient Acknowledgement" on an order form that came to a reader, "prescriptions will be filled according to...

Down and out in Deerfield Beach, Fla.(SELLING IT)(Photograph)
December 1, 2008... If the site works, couldn't they afford a fancier sign? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]