Consumer Reports articles from May 2009

Consumer Reports archives from May 2009

Cable rates' endless rise.
May 1, 2009... Jay Young, 73, had never written a letter to the editor of his newspaper. But he was driven to in December, when Blue Ridge Communications informed him that his cable rates would increase almost 6 percent, he says. It was roughly the same jump...

They say, you say.
May 1, 2009... The promotional copy from appliance maker Fisher & Paykel says: "We imagined the ideal dishwasher... and the concept of the DishDrawer was born." Here's what you, our readers, say: Ha! A quarter of the Fisher & Paykel dishwashers you bought...

Stock talk.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... In "Rebuild Your Nest Egg" (February 2009) you say that it took people in the market during the Depression about 25 years to recover their investments. But you ignore one of the most important aspects of the market: dividends. Investors who...

Not cool.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... "Fridges Lose Their Energy Star," in the February issue, mentions models using more energy than stated. My 6-month-old fridge started running almost constantly when the coils under the cabinet got blocked by dust. My coil brush only reaches...

Toasters unplugged.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... In "How Often Do Americans Take Risks?" (February 2009) it says to unplug the toaster or toaster oven when not in use. Why? Hedy Dalin San Diego Many toasters and toaster ovens have been recalled for either turning on spontaneously or...

You say cable, I say analog.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... "Digital Decisions" (February 2009) says that if you have cable, to keep getting programming you don't have to do a thing. That isn't true for me, with RCN cable, which requires a set-top box if you have analog TV, as they don't supply analog...

No-fee tax prep.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... "Is That Tax Preparer Really Qualified?" (March 2009) offers excellent advice, but there was no mention of the VITA/TCE (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling for the Elderly) program sponsored by the IRS and operated by AARP. VITA...

Body mass index.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... When I saw "Dieting on a Budget" (February 2009) I was concerned: Body mass index calculations mass index calculations can be highly misleading. My BMI says I'm "obese," yet my body fat is a healthy 12 percent. Why? Because I have been a weight...

Payday predators.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2009... Concerning "Small Loan, Big Problem" (Viewpoint, February 2009), as long as lenders must publish interest rates, we don't need more laws to protect people from stupidity. We need better education so that the younger generation can make sound...

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2009... In "Who Makes the Best Cars?" (April 2009), we wrote that Chrysler dropped in three measures in its report card: overall score, average test score, and average reliability. In fact, Chrysler's average test score rose by one point. In addition,...

Ask our experts.(cleaning laptop monitors)(applying water sealant to decks)(debit cards when paying for online purchases)(Questions and Answers)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... How should I clean a laptop display? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cliff Spradlin Seattle To clean a glossy or matte display or a monitor, use a soft cotton cloth. For dust, wipe the screen gently. To clean fingerprints or other schmutz...

Now your credit is bailing out banks.(interest rates on bank credit cards)
May 1, 2009... While big banks are collecting billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout money, they are also getting what amounts to a second helping from consumers. The reason? Banks have been raising credit rates, and their markups have hit record territory....

Sweet challenge.(Truvia, sugar substitute)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Calorie-free, plant-based Truvia is "a miracle of nature," the manufacturer says. It combines the sweetener rebiana, from the leaves of the stevia plant; erythritol, a natural sweetener typically found in grapes and pears; and natural flavors....

Costco outshines the rest.(customer satisfaction at chain stores)(Survey)
May 1, 2009... If you're shopping at a big retailer, you'll probably be happiest at Costco and least happy at Walmart or Kmart. That's a key finding from our recent online survey of 6,903 subscribers to ConsumerReports.org. They told us about more than 13,000...

Chocolates Mom could love.(chocolate candies)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2009... In the February issue, we reported on very pricey chocolates that pass the Valentine's Day test. But not everyone wants to spend up to $102 (more than $4.50 per ounce) for a box of mail-order candy. For our Mother's Day test, we looked at...

Sniff this to sneeze less?(Nasal Ease, antiallergic spray)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The claim. Nasal Ease is a "100% natural allergy blocker" that forms a barrier to "stop indoor/outdoor allergies before they start!" You spray this combo of cellulose vegetable powder and peppermint powder up your nose as often as every 3...

Project runaways.(planning home-remodeling projects)
May 1, 2009... Odds are high that something will go wrong with your next remodeling project. How do we know? We asked 17,129 readers about their experiences with 18 common projects, from painting a room to building an addition--almost 30,000 projects in all....

The hidden costs of home improvement.(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Our house shows median overall cost overruns, based on our survey, for eight popular projects. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bathroom remodel 60 percent went over budget Overrun: $600 Main causes: changed plans, needed to...

Paper or plastic? How about a tote.(tote bags when grocery shopping)
May 1, 2009... The Environmental Protection Agency says 3.8 million tons of plastic bags and wrap and 720,000 tons of paper bags ended up as waste in 2007. You can easily keep bags out of landfills and incinerators by bringing your own to the supermarket. To...

Some gripes with a grip.(Get a Grip, safety handle for showers and bathtubs)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... The claim. Get A Grip is a safety handle with "two powerful suction grips... strong enough to provide the grip you need to safely enter or exit the bath tub or shower." It "attaches in seconds" and is "just as easy to remove as it is to...

Relief for aching backs: hands-on therapies were top-rated by 14,000 consumers.(Survey)
May 1, 2009... ABOUT 80 PERCENT of U.S. adults have at some point been bothered by back pain. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery....

Be wary of narcotics to treat back pain.
May 1, 2009... One too many sets of tennis caused lower-back pain for one of our survey respondents, Janie King, 63, of Kula, Hawaii, and prompted her to see her primary-care doctor. He prescribed the opioid (narcotic) pain reliever Vicodin (acetaminophen and...

Low-cost brokers score high in service.(Survey)
May 1, 2009... DISCOUNT BROKERS did a better job shepherding their clients through the stock market upheaval of the past year than did traditional investment banks such as Merrill Lynch, according to a Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of...

Steps to ladder safety.
May 1, 2009... IF THE ARRIVAL of better weather inspires you to get on your ladder to clean gutters or spruce up the outside of your home, be careful. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ladders play a big role in thousands of accidents around the home. A...

Peanut recall list is growing.(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... SINCE FEDERAL OFFICIALS linked an outbreak of salmonella to peanut products in early January, the list of tainted items has grown substantially. As of early March, more than 2,600 products had voluntarily been recalled by more than 200...

Household products.(product recalls)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... Bosch and Siemens dishwashers Electrical component can overheat, posing risk of fire. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRODUCTS: 476,500 dishwashers sold at appliance and specialty retailers nationwide from 5/99 through 12/06 for $550 to...

Shop smart & save big: our best tips, plus exclusive ratings of 59 supermarkets.(Survey)
May 1, 2009... TO HELP YOU stretch your grocery dollar--the average U.S. family spends about $5,000 per year--our latest supermarket feature couldn't come at a better time. Our reporter's shopping expeditions prove that you can save hundreds, even thousands...

Hazardous health plans: coverage gaps can leave you in big trouble.
May 1, 2009... MANY PEOPLE who believe they have adequate health insurance actually have coverage so riddled with loopholes, limits, exclusions, and gotchas that it won't come close to covering their expenses if they fall seriously ill, a CONSUMER REPORTS...

Hassle-free lawns & yards: save time and money with these 10 tips.
May 1, 2009... Inside Yard makeovers for $500 or less Pages 31, 32, 33 By the numbers Page 31 Mower & tractor ratings Pages 36, 37, 39 Maintenance: Can this mower be saved? Page 38 Equipment safety Page 40 ...

Canada Extra: information from Consumer Reports[R] for Canadian readers.
May 1, 2009... In this section Refrigerators 30A Lawn mowers 30B Lawn tractors 30B Recalls 30C Small SUVs and pickup trucks 30D Contact info 30D How...

Mowers & riders: best values from our tests of more than 80 models.(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2009... You can pay almost $1,000 for the creme de la creme of mowers and more than $4,000 for a rider that turns on a dime. But our latest mower tests yielded a list of top picks that cost far less. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Five mowers are CR...

Lab tests.(smart phones, computer monitors, streaming-video services, food processors, toilet paper, refrigerators)(Buyers guide)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2009... Reports Cell phones 41 Monitors 42 Streaming video 42 Food processors 43 Infrared cooker 43 Toilet paper 44 Refrigerators 46 Hot new cell phones Motorola Krave ZN4, $180 * from Verizon Clever...

Sweat equity: cleaning up pays off.(washing automobiles)(includes evaluation of sport-utility vehicles and trucks)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2009... Reports How to wash your car 47 Small SUVs and full-sized pickups 48 MAINTAINING YOUR CAR'S appearance is a big part of optimizing its resale value, and the more elbow grease you're willing to invest, the less money you'll need to...

Call us crabby, but ...
May 1, 2009... ... this come-on seems a little fishy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sticker shock.
May 1, 2009... A reader who bought these nonstick pans noted that though food didn't stick to them, the label did. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Instead of what?(SELLING IT)
May 1, 2009... Instead of what? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Confusion rains.(hair conditioner bottles)(Humor)(Brief article)
May 1, 2009... How could both of these bottles have "33% more" conditioner? According to customer relations, the 19.95-ounce bottle replaced a 15-ounce version, and the 18-ounce bottle replaced a 13.5-ounce version. Don't ask us why they were both $1, or why...

Just kidding.
May 1, 2009... "Let's hope the seniors aren't very hungry," said the reader who spotted this ad. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

'I' before 'E,' no matter what.
May 1, 2009... Losers "recieve" a dictionary. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Gee, thanks!(SELLING IT)
May 1, 2009... Gee, thanks! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]