Consumer Reports articles from October 2008

Consumer Reports archives from October 2008

As if gas didn't cost enough ...(debit cards)(Viewpoint essay)
October 1, 2008... MARY ALICE BELOV planned to put gas in her car, then buy groceries. What she didn't plan on was the $10 gas purchase freezing $50 of her bank account and forcing Belov, a small-business owner from Goldendale, Wash., to put items from her cart...

Notice a change?(FROM OUR PRESIDENT)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... When we set out to tweak the design of CONSUMER REPORTS (you have the results in your hands), our editors, designers, and market-research team traveled the country to meet with subscribers. You might think hours of talk about Ratings tables,...

Tour our test labs.(FROM OUR PRESIDENT)(Consumer Union)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Chat with our experts and visit our labs at Consumers Union's annual meeting and tours on Sat., Oct.25, at our national headquarters, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY. The meeting begins at 10 a.m.; tour groups form at 11:30 a.m. For directions and...

Kitchen upgrades.(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... Great job on the kitchen-remodel issue, (August 2008), but your review of over-the-range microwave ovens was missing the two most important factors to me and others who I've talked to: fan-noise decibels and an oven's ability to draw steam and...

Hidden savings.(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... Regarding the auto-insurance section of "Cut Spending by $500 per Month," (August 2008), try negotiating with your current company. When I found a competing company offering the same coverage at a savings of $200+ per year, my current agent not...

Ticket to nowhere.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... In your report "Buying Tickets? How to Play the Game" (August 2008), you outlined some of the pitfalls of buying from Ticketmaster and ticket resellers. Here's another: Ticket-master's policy of not refunding some fees if the event is...

Smart and fun.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... I can't believe your First Look report on the Smart ForTwo (Up Front, August 2008). I am a car nut, and of the 38 cars I have owned, my Smart is the most fun to drive. It is a niche car and is not suitable for all people or all purposes, but it...

Correction.(LETTERS)(Correction notice)
October 1, 2008... In "Points Mania" (July 2008), a company spokesperson for the Dream Card provided us with incorrect information. We should have said that you earn one point for every $90 (not every dollar) when you play the slots at Foxwoods Resort Casino or...

You wanted to know ...(ASK OUR EXPERTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Why do all the test cars in your magazine have Connecticut license plates? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is one of the questions asked most often of our auto experts. We buy cars in a few states, but since our Auto Test Center is in East...

Toughest travelers.(Up front)(bags)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Checked-bag fees ($15 for the frst bag on many airlines; $25 or more for the second) make it tempting to cram your stuff into a carry-on. But among the 12 small rolling suitcases we tested, there were diferences in durability, capacity, and...

Don't let flying make you sick.(UP FRONT)
October 1, 2008... The airline industry's largest trade group says that financial woes will probably mean more crowded planes, which can make you not only cranky but also sick. Here's how to minimize problems: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Move around Any...

You'll pay for that 'free' cell phone.(GOTCHA!)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Big cellular service providers offer "free" or deeply discounted phones, but you pay back those promised savings one way or another, representatives for the carriers admit. The most obvious way is through early-termination fees as high as $200,...

Clear winners.(UP FRONT)(glass cleaners)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... To see which glass cleaners really work, you have to make a mess. We took clean panes of glass and coated some with outdoor grime (mineral oil, clay, and a solvent) and others with indoor grime (those ingredients plus synthetic skin oil to...

Is the bullet a grease killer?(CLAIM CHECK)(Grease Bullet)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The claim. "No scrubbing," says the maker of the "revolutionary" Grease Bullet. "Just drop in hot tap water and soak." It's "great for burnt-on residue" and is supposed to work on a wide variety of surfaces. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

The lowdown on downsizing.(UP FRONT)
October 1, 2008... Whether it's ice cream, juice, or paper towels, many manufacturers are giving you less of what you want, and our new survey shows that you're taking notice. Downsizing--charging the same price for a lighter package--isn't new: In 1959 a...

Truth in advertising? Industry group rules on claims.(AD WATCH)(National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... "# 1 Whitening Power!" was a powerful claim for Church & Dwight's Arm & Hammer with OxiClean liquid detergent, but it was unsupported by any evidence. For Unilever's Ragu pasta sauces, the use of the name Fresh & Simple was a no-no because...

Nuts for peanut butter?(PB&J)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... If you can limit your consumption to a dollop (and if you aren't allergic, of course), peanut butter can be a healthful snack, providing protein, vitamin E, niacin, and fiber. But ounce for ounce, it's also high in calories (about 200 per...

A Smucker's smack-down.(PB&J)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... To find a good partner for peanut butter, we tested four preserves from the top-selling brand (Smucker's) in the top-selling flavor (strawberry). The regular, Low Sugar, and Simply Fruit products were all very good. The regular and Simply Fruit...

Reverse mortgages can be a costly way to tap home equity.(MONEY)
October 1, 2008... REVERSE MORTGAGES, which convert a home's equity to ready cash, can help older homeowners who have few or no other assets or major sources of income. But some lenders imply those loans can enhance a lifestyle, not just be a lifeline. In an...

Are you making your headaches worse?(5-MINUTE CONSULT)
October 1, 2008... MY PATIENT, a 38-year-old receptionist, sat down in my offce and began to cry. Although she had experienced migraines several times a year since herteens, for the past few months she had been suffering from headaches daily. [ILLUSTRATION...

Did you know?(5-MINUTE CONSULT)(vitamin d deficiency)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Up to 36 percent of Americans might be deficient in vitamin D, research suggests. Low levels have been linked to autoimmune disorders, cancers, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about whether you need a blood test. Boost...

Update on bisphenol A.(SAFETY ALERTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Since our May 2008 report on health effects of bisphenol A, a chemical found in polycarbonate plastics, a draft report from the National Toxicology Program has reinforced concerns about the health effects of low exposure to BPA. Now, some...

USDA to name stores in meat recalls.(SAFETY ALERTS)(United States Department of Agriculture )
October 1, 2008... AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS in the past year involving millions of pounds of tainted beef, the Department of Agriculture is starting to identify retail stores affected by serious recalls. The department's Food Safety Inspection Service will...

'07-08 Nissan Sentra.(AUTOMOBILES & EQUIPMENT)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The internal seal groove in the body of some brake master cylinders might be irregular, and brake fluid might leak onto the brake booster assembly, causing brake warning light to go on. If warning light is ignored, one of the brake circuits...

RadioShack 13.8V DC power supplies.(HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Supplies are wired incorrectly, and pose electrocution and fire hazards. PRODUCTS: 160,000 13.8V power supplies sold at RadioShack from 10/04 through 1/08 for $50 to $85. Supplies have catalog numbers 22-507 and 22-508, and date codes...

Dirt Devil vacuum accessory.(HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Plastic pieces inside vacuum tool can break and be ejected, posing risk of laceration. PRODUCTS: 987,000 Dirt Devil vacuum power brush attachment tools sold at stores nationwide from 4/07 through 4/08 for $60 to $170. The attachment was an...

The new credit card jungle: don't get bitten by sudden changes in terms.(FEATURE)
October 1, 2008... WHILE YOU MIGHT HAVE so far avoided any direct effect from the storm clouds in the economy, they're causing the credit-card industry to change in ways that could hurt all consumers. Whether you have good credit or bad, CONSUMER REPORTS'...

Save energy, save money: choosing efficient products over energy hogs can save you thousands.(ENERGY SAVINGS)
October 1, 2008... THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD will spend $6,400 on utility bills and at the gas pump this year. That's $1,700 more than just two years ago, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit coalition of consumer, business, government, and...

25 simple ways to save.(ENERGY SAVINGS)
October 1, 2008... 1. Clean the coils behind or underneath your refrigerator with a tapered appliance brush to keep it running efficiently. 2. Skip prerinsing dishes. Our tests have found that it's unnecessary, and you'll save up to 6,500 gallons of water per...

Energy Star has lost some luster: the program saves energy but hasn't kept up with the times.(CR INVESTIGATES)
October 1, 2008... IF YOU NEED a new refrigerator, you might be drawn to the Samsung RF267ABRS. This sharp-looking bottom-freezer, which we're testing for a future report, is equipped with French doors, through-the-door ice and water dispensers, and many other...

Compact fluorescent bulbs: don't believe common myths about these long-lasting, energy-saving lights.
October 1, 2008... SWAPPING REGULAR BULBS for compact fluorescents can save you at least $30 per bulb over a CFL's life. The latest bulbs are better than earlier ones. Yet the myths burn on. Here are some of the most common misconceptions: [ILLUSTRATION...

Tankless water heaters: they're efficient but not necessarily economical.(Cover story)
October 1, 2008... HEATING WATER accounts for up to 30 percent of the average home's energy budget. Some makers of gas-fired tankless water heaters claim their products can cut your energy costs up to half over regular storage heaters. So is it time to switch?...

So long, flip phones, hello, touch screens.(PRODUCT UPDATES)
October 1, 2008... As cell phones add features--text messaging, media playback, GPS navigation, and Web browsing--more are swapping the familiar buttons and keypads for large, touch-sensitive displays with virtual controls. Instead of stumbling through a...

Smaller LCD TVs.(LAB TESTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... This article is for all those readers who have asked us to test smaller LCD TVs suitable for bedrooms or other rooms where a monster TV might be too intrusive. Our tests found that a smaller screen doesn't have to mean inferior quality....

Small but thirsty fridges.(LAB TESTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... FOR AS LITTLE AS $70 compact refrigerators are tempting for offices and dorm rooms. But don't look for big savings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 15 models we tested guzzle almost as much electricity as a full-sized model yet hold only 10...

Did you know?(LAB TESTS)(clothes drying)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Drying clothes too dry can cause static cling. Assuming your dryer is set on auto dry, decrease the moisture from, say, medium dry to less dry, our testers say. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

How to use the Canada Extra section.(Canada Extra)(Editorial)
October 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 in...

Smaller LCD TVs.(Canada Extra)(liquid crystal display)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Report and Ratings, page 32 Seven of the 8 tested 32-inch models and 4 of the 5 tested 26-inch models are available, including all 4 recommended models. [TABLE OMITTED]

Upright & canister vacuums.(Canada Extra)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Report, page 34; Ratings, pages 36-37 Thirty-five of the 58 tested upright and canister vacuums are available, including 8 of the 11 Recommended models. [TABLE OMITTED]

Small vacuums.(Canada Extra)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Report, page 34; Ratings, page 38 Thirteen of the 21 tested stick vacs, hand vacs, and sweeper/brooms are available, including 6 of the 7 Recommended models. [TABLE OMITTED]

2001-2005 Volkswagen models.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Aging plastic material in fuel tank rollover valve might lead to cracking of the valve nipple. Fuel leak might result in vehicle fire. Models: 3,599 2001-2004 Audi A6 Quattro, 2001-2005 Audi Allroad Quattro vehicles. What to do: Have...

2007-2008 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... On certain vehicles equipped with Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), unused electrical connectors might become corroded and might short-circuit. That could cause a variety of conditions including dead battery, inoperative cruise control or...

1999-2005 Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Passat four motion.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... On certain vehicles equipped with automatic transmission, underbody heat shield might become damaged, causing heat shield to make contact with exhaust system. If that happens, it might cause a vehicle fire. Also, the affected vehicles (1.8T...

1997-2003 Buick Regal GS and Pontiac Grand Prix GTP.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Vehicles equipped with 3.8L supercharged engine might experience degradation of front rocker cover gasket, which might result in eventual oil seepage. Under hard breaking, drops of engine oil might be deposited on exhaust manifold. If manifold...

2003-2004 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... On certain vehicles, regulator bolts (which attach front side window glass to power window regulator) might become loose, causing noise when window is raised or lowered. If window is constantly used in that condition, bolts might eventually...

2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Regulator bolts might become loose, causing noise when window is raised or lowered. If window is continually operated in that condition, the bolts might eventually separate, causing glass to become misaligned and possibly shatter. Models:...

2003-2005 Volkswagen new beetle convertible.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... On certain vehicles, frontal crash sensor for dual-stage air-bag system might fail. If that happens, air-bag indicator light will illuminate and fallback algorithm will ensure that frontal air bags deploy if needed. In low-impact front crashes,...

2003 Honda accord.(Recalls)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... If water enters windshield wiper motor breather ports, it might result in corrosion inside the motor housing. That might lead to windshield wiper motor becoming inoperable. Models: 29,462 vehicles. What to do: Have dealer make...

Sporty cars.(Recalls)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)
October 1, 2008... Report, page 50; Ratings, page 51 Of the 9 tested cars, only the Volkswagen R32 is not available in Canada. Acceleration (sec.) Make & model Price range 0-50...

Contact info.(Canada Extra)(manufacturers)(Directory)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... How to reach manufacturers in Canada. Aerus Lux www.aerusonline.com 800-668-0763 Bissell www.bissell.ca 800-263-2535 Black & Decker www.blackanddecker.com 800-544-6986 Bosch ...

Best subcompact cameras.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... Manufacturers are enticing buyers with promises of capable shooting in low light and ISO settings of 3200 or more. But for most indoor shots, a camera setting of 400 ISO or greater will allow you to shoot with no flash and a quick enough...

Better cordless phones.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... Cordless models continue to improve, thanks to technologies such as Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. In our tests, DECT phones delivered much longer talk time on a charge. And interference with other devices isn't a problem because...

Vacuums: our tests show several standouts and some big names to skip.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... UPRIGHT VACUUMS might clean up in sales, but the latest canisters are rivaling them in performance. Youll also find good smaller vacs for smaller messes. But some versions of Dirt Devils handheld Kone make some everyday cleaning risky, and weve...

2Dirt Devil Kone models not Acceptable.(SAFETY ALERT)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... Dirt Devil calls its best-selling, handheld Kone M0213, $45, and similar M0212, $43, "an elegant, sculptural form that can be left on display". Our tests suggest some Kone owners should do precisely that. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Four...

Save gas and money with a stick shift.(Cars)
October 1, 2008... In your quest for better fuel economy and more value, don't overlook the benefits of a manual transmission. In recent tests, we've found that a stick shift can improve gas mileage by a notable 2 to 5 mpg, compared with an automatic...

Which hybrids save you money? Despite their higher price, many models pay off after only a year.(CARS)
October 1, 2008... GAS/ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES present a conundrum for many car shoppers. They typically deliver the best fuel economy in their class, but they're also priced higher than similar conventional cars. So it has been difficult to know whether a...

Why savvy shoppers buy used cars: you can save thousands, which is like getting years of free gas.(CARS)
October 1, 2008... A LATE-MODEL USED CAR can be one of the best values you'll find when buying a car. With relatively low mileage, modern safety and convenience features, and usually a much lower price than similar new vehicles, those used cars are in the sweet...

New car preview: the push is on for better fuel economy from '09 models.(NEW CARS)(List)
October 1, 2008... WITH FUEL ECONOMY becoming increasingly important for car shoppers these days, automakers are scrambling to bring more efficient vehicles to showrooms. They include versatile small cars, new hybrids, wagons, hatchbacks, and small, car-based...

Sporty cars: small vehicles that are big on fun.(CARS)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... WITH SPLENDID HANDLING, a punchy engine, and an overall fun-to-drive quality, the BMW 135i outpaced all of its competition to become our top-rated sporty car. Moreover, the 135i doesn't cede much in fun and capability when compared with the...

Fresh news.(SELLING IT)(Arm & Hammer)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Arm & Hammer's Web site says "change your Fridge-n-Freezer box every 3 months." The box itself says to do it every 30 days. Does that mean you have to buy the product three times as often? An Arm & Hammer customer-service rep seemed as puzzled...

Misdirected.(SELLING IT)
October 1, 2008... And once you're let up, you can tell your new GPS device where to go. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tasty bubbles?(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... An observant soldier and CR reader discovered this product in Iraq, where he was stationed. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Repels some.(SELLING IT)
October 1, 2008... A New York reader says she left an almost full bottle of Repels-All outside her house one night. This was the result. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Numbers game.(SELLING IT)
October 1, 2008... Do 100 tools really fit into this kit? Sure, if 50 of them are tiny terminal connectors, used to join wires. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Never mind!(SELLING IT)(Photograph)
October 1, 2008... Hoover's claim (including the "56% more" that resembles 100 percent more) is undermined by the message revealed when you follow the asterisk. It says: "The Hoover Cleaning Performance System is for comparing the relative progressive performance...

Give 'em a raspberry.(SELLING IT)(Photograph)
October 1, 2008... The flip side of this packet of Prime California Produce lists the country of origin as China. The front says "eat natural," but the back lists color (FD&C Red 40) as an ingredient. And no wonder the strawberries are "sweet": The second...