Consumer Reports articles from May 2001

Consumer Reports archives from May 2001

Selling It.(bogus print and packaging claims)(Humor)(Column)
May 1, 2001... We're not in Kansas anymore. Maybe Nature's Preserves Candle was indeed "created in America's Heartland," but it sure wasn't made there--unless you include the rest of the Americas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Snow job. Ready to...

Coffee: how much is too much?(Your Health)(Column)
May 1, 2001... If you're among the roughly 160 million Americans who drink coffee, you've probably followed news reports that implied the brew could damage your health--particularly since it contains caffeine, a potent, potentially habit-forming stimulant....

There oughta be a law: telling consumers the truth could save them money.(Your Money)(Column)
May 1, 2001... Ignorance is bliss" has long struck us as a dubious bit of wisdom. When companies keep their customers in the dark about key terms and conditions of their products and services, a lack of knowledge can be downright expensive. Following up on...

Sedans with sports appeal.(Sports Sedans - test)(Sports Sedans)(Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... At one time, the concept of a sports sedan seemed like an oxymoron. Traditionally, if you wanted a comfortable car that could carry five people, you bought a four-door sedan. If you wanted good performance and crisp handling, you bought a...

Microwave ovens: making progress by degrees.(Product Update)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... The most notable developments we've seen in microwave ovens recently have been in the areas of design and convenience. For this Update, we tested 14 new models. Two of them--the Sharp R-630D and R-610D--have an unusual look, with controls set...

New lawn tractors: a turn for the better?(Product Updates)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... If you have a half-acre or more of lawn, you have two ways to mow it quickly: a riding mower or a lawn tractor. But you'll probably prefer a tractor's wider swath, which trims mowing time. An engine mounted in front, rather than in back as on...

Recalls.(vehicles (2), household products (3))(Product Information)(Product Support)
May 1, 2001... Vehicles and equipment. * '99-00 Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles Brake pipe could leak fluid, resulting in increased stopping distances. Models: 1,383,922 vehicles, including '99-00 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC...

Chain saws.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... A chain saw is a smart investment in convenience, provided you're careful. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 28,000 people were injured using chain saws in 1999, the most recent year for which statistics are available....

Dish detergents get tough.(dishwasher detergents)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2001... Manufacturers are usually eager to tout an ingredient intended to boost a product's performance. But the makers of dishwasher detergents seem shy. Though more and more dishwasher detergents contain enzymes, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the...

Stepping up to the plate: while no dishwasher bats a thousand, many are fine cleanup performers.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... Dishwashers are doing their best these days to be well-behaved members of the household: We're seeing more models that are reasonably quiet, energy-efficient, and stylish. But there's still room for improvement. The ideal machine--one that...

Showy shrubs: where to buy summer-flowering shrubs.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... Shrubs are the backbone of the garden, whether providing structure in a flower border, serving as a focal point in an expanse of lawn, or lining up to screen an unsightly view. To find the best sources for healthy, fast-growing shrubs, we...

Cool comfort: saving energy - report.(air conditioning)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... Can you stay cool this summer without breaking the bank? What's the best way to manage central air conditioning in this era of ever-climbing electricity prices and rolling blackouts? While there's no one money-saving strategy that will work for...

Final arrangements.(prepaid funerals)(Buyers Guide)(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2001... Even if you're only in your 50s--and especially if you've helped arrange a funeral or attended one lately--three big funeral chains want you to think seriously about dropping dead yourself. No, they don't wish you ill; they just want to sell...

Scanners get cheap: paying more for a scanner doesn't always get you more.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... Electronic images seem to be everywhere. Family and friends swap them across the world. Every kind of web page has them. And legions of devoted home photographers edit their images on personal computers so they can print custom photos on...

Data to go.(personal digital assistants)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2001... The personal digital assistant, or PDA, seems to be showing up in everyone's hands. The dot-com CEO has one, naturally, but so does the dot-com gofer. The soccer mom uses one and so do her kids. The college freshman is just as likely as the...

Worth their salt: potato chips - test.(Buyers Guide)(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2001... The year 1853 swept Franklin Pierce into the White House as 14th president of a union of 31 states and 25 million Americans. But that same year may be better remembered for a milestone event at a Saratoga Springs, N.Y., resort. A noted guest,...

www.Going-going-gone!(online auctions - test)(Buyers Guide)(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2001... Has there ever been a more potent marriage between technology and shopping than the phenomenal rise of online auctions? Tapping the Internet's global reach and ability to connect buyer and seller instantaneously, auction web sites--from niche...

Quick fixes for an empty tank?(Front Lines)(Product Test)
May 1, 2001... If you've ever run out of gasoline, you know you'd gladly pay just about any price to get to the nearest gas station. Now come two brands of "sort-of" fuel that can keep you from getting stranded on the road. If you're not careful, however,...

How to buy a better baseball cap.(Front Lines)
May 1, 2001... How do you choose a baseball cap that will last longer than spring training? We tested 13 caps, from $6.50 to $22, looking at fit, construction, and how well the cap cleaned up. (It's news to a lot of people that many caps can be washed.)...

Look before you toss: privacy.(Front Lines)
May 1, 2001... What, more junk mail? Actually, those envelope stuffers in recent bills from your banks, brokerages, insurers, and credit-card companies may include an important notice regarding your privacy rights. The notice, a new requirement of all...

Gardening: work gloves that really work.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2001... One pair of gloves usually doesn't do for all types of garden chores. You might want thin cotton gloves to transplant seedlings. To prune roses, you want thick, sturdy gloves. We asked gardeners to help us test nine different pairs of...

You're late!(credit card fees)
May 1, 2001... How did Mike Stookey come to owe $92 in fees and interest on a credit-card balance of zero? Stookey, a software-company manager from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., says he paid his bill on time and in full; Household Bank says he was...

Save money on prescription drugs!(chain price-matching hints)(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2001... The high cost of prescription drugs affects almost all Americans--and their rate of inflation is roughly triple that of overall health-care costs. But here's a little-known fact: Many drugstore chains--including Kmart, Rite Aid, and...

Now decanting in aisle 27: taste test.(Wal-Mart's 'Alcott Ridge' brand)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2001... A sun-streaked sky, a lone pine perched on the shore--a gold-banded label on a newly branded wine. It's well bred, it's worldly, it's... Wal-Mart? The world's largest mass merchandiser recently teamed up with the world's most prolific...

Our next steps.(Memo To Members)(Editorial)
May 1, 2001... Continuity and change for one of the most trusted institutions in America--that's what I bring to my responsibilities as the sixth president in the 65-year history of Consumers Union. I've seen both during my 21 years as chair of the board...

'Mad-cow disease' - where do we go from here?
May 1, 2001... "Mad-cow disease" has made worldwide headlines in recent months, as more than a dozen countries have reported cases of this brain-wasting disease in cattle, which has been linked to a fatal disease in people. No cases of mad-cow disease or its...