Consumer Reports articles from February 2004

Consumer Reports archives from February 2004

A really busy year.(have you heard?)(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... As readers of CONSUMER REPORTS, you get advice in every issue. What few people know is that as head of Consumers Union, I get advice from the staff--the entire staff, every day. They left me a list last month as a reminder to fill in my new...

Financial predators target armed-forces families.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
February 1, 2004... U.S. troops are not only under attack in Iraq and Afghanistan; they're being ambushed at home by predatory lenders in communities near army, air force, and naval bases, according to a recent study "There's an interesting divergence...

Sealed or spilled?(Claim Check)(Glad Press 'n Seal Wrap)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The claim: Glad Press 'n Seal Wrap "takes wrap where it's never been before," courtesy of ingredients found in chewing gum. It's supposed to create a spillproof seal on plastic, metal, Styrofoam, glass, paper, and wood. An ad shows Press 'n...

Clean-two-three-four.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Roomba, a robotic floor cleaner)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The aptly named Roomba, a robotic floor cleaner, waltzed into the world and quickly developed a dedicated following. How many floor-care products have their own online discussion group? The Roomba does. What the Roomba doesn't have is...

Fastforward: convenient call forwarding.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Most cell-phone companies play a me-too game, trying to lure customers with similar kinds of calling plans and phone deals. (See the special section that begins on page 12.) Cingular tries to be different. It was the first to let customers...

How to choose a cold remedy.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
February 1, 2004... Although conventional drugs can't shorten the course of a cold, they can relieve its symptoms. To simplify your choice of over-the-counter products, consider only targeted, single-ingredient remedies; multisymptom "shotgun" products generally...

Plasma TV ratings online.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
February 1, 2004... Our first Ratings for plasma TV sets--those expensive, super-thin displays--will be available free on CRXtra, through Feb. 9. To view them, visit www.ConsumerReports.org, and type in code 104. Look for a full Ratings in the March issue.

First look.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Hershey's sugar-free candies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Product: Hershey's sugar-free candies Hershey's has new candies for people who have a sweet tooth but want to avoid sugar. We tasted three--bite-sized bars in milk and dark chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures--to see how...

Foolproof white ceiling paint.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... After you've repainted a white ceiling, you're apt to see spots--spots, that is, of old paint you've failed to cover. Our tests found that two new paints made just for ceilings, Glidden EZ Track and Ace Simply Magic, virtually eliminate that...

Cleaning upholstery.(Quick Tips)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Is mashed fruitcake mingling with the roses on your floral-print sofa? Red wine polka-dotting your beige tweed chair? If you're tackling a post-holiday cleanup of upholstered furniture, try these tips: * Follow any cleaning code. If...

The skinny on beef.(food wise)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... When it comes to nutrition, you're apt to hear beefs about beef, but you can limit its calories and fat by choosing wisely. Ground beef labeled 95 percent lean and leaner steaks such as top sirloin are lower in calories and fat than some...

Clarification.(your letters)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2004... Our December report on gift cards highlighted fees that can whittle down a gift card's value. Among the five cards pictured, those for Circuit City and Mall of America levy a monthly fee if the card isn't used within a certain period; the...

New Web site makes it easier to learn about product recalls.(recalls & safety alerts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Many potentially hazardous products aren't repaired or replaced because getting authoritative information about recalled vehicles, toys, appliances, and other goods can be hard to do. That situation changed for the better in late...

Vehicles and equipment.(recalls & safety alerts)
February 1, 2004... '02 Honda CR-V Ignition key could be removed without putting shifter in Park. If that occurs and driver doesn't engage parking brake, vehicle could roll and crash. Models: 76,988 sport-utility vehicles. Hazard exists because metal...

Children's products.(recalls & safety alerts)(Plan Toys)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Plan Toys solid wood drum Rubber feet could become unscrewed and pose choking hazard to a small child. Products: 2,100 natural wood drums sold 3/03 to 9/03 online, by mail order, and at specialty toy retailers for about $15. Blue and red...

Household products.(recalls & safety alerts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Nesco deep fryers Mesh filter in cover could allow moisture to collect in oil reservoir, causing oil to boil over and pose burn hazard. Products: 47,000 deep fryers sold 5/01 to 10/03 at discount department stores and online for about...

Cell phones: new rules, new choices.
February 1, 2004... The big news in cell phones isn't the handsets, even though they're more elaborate than ever. It isn't the calling plans, even though they're more generous with the allotment of minutes. The biggest news centers around the 10-digits hone...

Best carriers: should you switch?(cellular telephone services)
February 1, 2004... Last fall, when it became clear that cell-phone customers would finally be able to keep their phone numbers if they switched carriers, the major cell-phone companies began an advertising blitz to woo new customers and keep old ones. Estimated...

Best calling plans: small fees add up.(cellular telephone)
February 1, 2004... Finding the right calling plan is easier than ever. That's because the plans are becoming simpler. Long-distance, roaming, and calls on nights and weekends--important features that used to add significantly to overall costs--are now almost...

Best phones: basic features matter most.
February 1, 2004... The newest cell phones can perform plenty of stunts. You can easily find phones with cameras, cutting-edge games, organizers, Web access, a walkie-talkie, and more. Given the ability to make simple phone calls might seem to be an...

911 calls: more trouble ahead?
February 1, 2004... If you bought a cell phone because you thought you could count on it for emergency calls to 911, think again. Seven years ago the Federal Communications Commission ordered the creation of the so-called wireless Enhanced 911 system (E911). But...

Credit cards: what's wrong with this bill?
February 1, 2004... "Pay by credit card" has been a mantra of consumer-finance advice since 1975, when shoppers won the right to dispute charges on their credit-card bills. It's still wise advice. But a CONSUMER REPORTS investigation has found that this landmark...

Echinacea: cold comfort.
February 1, 2004... Echinacea, the top-selling herbal remedy in the U.S., seems to do what conventional drugs can't: reduce the length of a cold. That's the conclusion of the latest comprehensive review of the published research. But our tests of 19 echinacea...

Treadmills: more for the money.
February 1, 2004... Bad weather and barking dogs aren't the only reasons to consider joining the roughly 11 million Americans who do at least some of their walking or running indoors on a treadmill. These motorized machines help you burn more calories than...

Refrigerators: playing it cool.
February 1, 2004... Finding a refrigerator that combines the capacity, convenience, styling, and price you want keeps getting easier. Most new models, whether they cost $500 or $5,000, have their acts down cold when it comes to temperature performance and...

Garbage disposers: trimming your waste.
February 1, 2004... Garbage disposers link the often disparate demands of convenience and conservation by grinding up kitchen scraps and sending them down the drain to a sewage-treatment plant or septic system for decomposition. Besides eliminating messes...

Male hormone use soars despite unknown risks.(CR health)
February 1, 2004... Surging sales of the male hormone testosterone, available by prescription in patches, tablets, gel, or injection form, have outpaced the scientific evidence about whether testosterone therapy helps or harms older men who have borderline or...

Quicker relief for nosebleeds.(names & claims)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "Stops bleeding instantly!" and "Effective for people who bleed easily" are two claims on packages of NosebleedQR (for Ouick Relief), a new, over-the-counter first-aid product. Load OR powder on the enclosed swab, coat the bloody nostril, and...

Ipecac remedy nixed.(Did You Know?)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Despite a long history of use, syrup of ipecac is not the best way to rid the body of poison. A recent review of the research concluded that vomiting alone does not reliably remove poisons from the stomach. And ipecac's potential side...

Appraising jewelry appraisals.(CR money)
February 1, 2004... When it comes to valuing Grandma's heirloom jewelry, the neighborhood jeweler, an appraisal company, or even a pawnshop will give you a dollar figure. But whom can you really trust? That's hard to know because appraisals of the same piece...

There's jewelry justice.(Did You Know?)(Jewelers Vigilance Committee)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... An appraisal may reveal that you didn't get what you paid for, but suing your jeweler probably wouldn't be economical, after you paid leqal fees. Instead, you can file a complaint for $50 with the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, an industry...

Do-it-yourself dent repair.(CR cars)
February 1, 2004... Fixing even a small dent or cling in your car can cost hundreds of dollars and tie up your vehicle for a day or longer. A quicker, less-expensive alternative is a do-it-yourself kit sold through television infomercials or on the Internet for...

Temp affects tires.(Did You Know?)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Tires lose pressure as the temperature drops. On average a tire's air pressure can decrease by about 1 pound per square inch for every 10[degrees] F that the ambient temperature goes dawn. In colder regions of the country, the temperature...

Upscale sedans: inside and out, the redesigned Acura TL is best in its class.(View From The Top)
February 1, 2004... Redesigned for 2004, the Acura TL is a significant improvement over the previous version. Overall, it scored well enough in our tests not only to top this month's group, but to edge out the BMW 330i as the best upscale sedan that we've tested...

Raffle winners announced.
February 1, 2004... Steven Wigod of Pennsylvania (shown here with Jim Guest) has won the $25,000 grand prize in the Consumer Reports raffle. Douglas Brooking of Missouri won the $10,000 first prize. Donald Lewis of Massachusetts won the $5,000 second prize. Ten...

Critical: disclosing hospital-infection rates.(View point: the consumers union perspective)
February 1, 2004... Hospital-acquired infections affect about 1 in 20 hospital patients, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences. Such infections add almost $5 billion a year to our nation's health-care...

Working up a sweat.(then & now)
February 1, 2004... When we tested stationary bicycles in 1971, we were intrigued by the Exercycle 210 (left), an electric model with "fairly sophisticated instrumentation"; it cost $800, eight times the top-rated bike. Its handlebar, seat, and pedals moved...

Double take.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)
February 1, 2004... Come on--any peanut worth its salt should be heavily soiled. A Georgia reader asks: "Anyone seen Fido lately?" Afraid we can't print what a Florida reader suggested, but trust us. it was funny. We sure hope so! (The Canadian...

Get a grip.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(bottles of Minute Maid juice )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A Pennsylvania reader bought two bottles of Minute Maid juice at the same time, paid the same price for each ($1.09), but got two different bottles. You'd think she'd prefer the one labeled "New Easy Grip Bottle". But no. Though it's taller,...

Going nowhere fast.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)
February 1, 2004... This TV Travel Stand has a strap to hold TV units "firmly" to a cushion base, plus strips that "secure cushions to each other and to carpet in your vehicle." The cushions "protect against vibrations," the box says. All of this should prove...

Painted into a corner.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Ralph Lauren paint)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Let's get this straight. The accuracy of the paint color on the flip side of these color samples is ensured only when you use Ralph Lauren paint. But the actual paint color may be different from the sample. So the actual color is... what?

Black hole award.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... First, let's establish that Sebastian Laminates Shampoo Cleansing Polish is for hair, not shoes. Now, check out that bottle. Pour the shampoo by flipping the pop-top, as most people would, and you'd never know about the long, skinny neck that...