Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from July 2004

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from July 2004

Buyer beware.(stories covered in this issue)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ... And there's a lot of that about at the moment. For example (see page 20), a pilot study has shown you have a one-in-five chance of not getting what you paid for when buying barramundi or red emperor (fresh and cooked). The misnaming can...

Marmalade: Choice, April 2004.(Update)
July 1, 2004... When's an orange not an orange? When it's in marmalade, it seems. In our April article we ranked various brands of orange marmalade by the percentage of 'oranges' stated on the label, not including juice or orange pulp listed as separate...

Suzanne Russell.(Australian Consumers' Association Life Member, Suzanne Russell, tragically passed away)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
July 1, 2004... Australian Consumers' Association Life Member, Suzanne Russell, tragically passed away after an accident on May 22, 2004, aged 64. Suzanne had been a dedicated defender of consumer rights for decades. She was first elected to ACA's Council...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2004... CAR REPAIR COSTS CHOICE, May 2004 On page 35 the legend to the car repair costs table indicates that ticks show an increase in repair costs while crosses show a decrease. This was of course meant to be the other way round. WASHING...

Refunds for electronic pest repellents.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... We told you three years ago that electronic pest repellents don't work; now it's official. And if you bought one from the DANOZ group of companies, you could get a refund. In March the ACCC found that DANOZ couldn't substantiate its claims...

Toothbrush tips.(choice cuts)
July 1, 2004... A systematic review of research comparing manual and electric toothbrushes, published in the Journal of Dentistry, has found that electric toothbrushes are at least as effective as manual ones at reducing plaque and gum disease. The July...

Appliance reliability survey winner.(choice cuts)
July 1, 2004... More than 16,000 subscribers returned their appliance reliability surveys, telling us whether they'd had problems or repairs in the past 12 months for eight different household appliances. Look out for the results in an issue later this year....

More shonky investment seminars.(Forex Pacific)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Australian Securities and investments Commission (ASIC) recently acted against investment training company Forex Pacific. It teaches foreign exchange trading using software from an American company, US Capital. However, Forex Pacific...

Bad news for GM food.(choice cuts)
July 1, 2004... A recent New Scientist report about Argentina's agricultural and environmental crisis holds a worrying lesson for the rest of the world--particularly the developing world--about the impacts of genetically modified food crops. It says,...

Ring of confidence.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Several years ago my fiance and I bought a diamond engagement ring. We did our homework on diamond cut, clarity and colour, chose a ring with diamonds of a certain quality and purchased from a reputable jeweller. We relied heavily on the...

Letter of the month.(your letters)
July 1, 2004... We want to hear from you--your experiences help our research and often let other readers know about scares and rip-offs. Positive outcomes you've had or a complaint you took to a manufacturer, retailer, importer or tradesperson interest us too....

Try before you buy.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... In your Jan/Feb 2004 issue you published a letter from a subscriber about losing photos taken with a digital camera. I would like to emphasise the importance of 'trying' digital cameras before you buy, including taking some test photos and...

Thumbs up!(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... * SondraRoberts, via email, gives a big thumbs-up to Zen Imports. Sondra gave her husband a LEATHERMAN tool nine years ago. It never leaves his side and is in constant use around the farm. Recently she sent it back to Zen Imports for repairs to...

Gyms: it's a jungle out there ... and our survey discovered plenty of pitfalls for the unwary.(Survey: gyms)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... Earlier this year, the Victorian Minister of Consumer Affairs issued a warning to examine gym contracts carefully before signing up. This was a response to a 32% increase in the number of complaints received by Consumer Affairs Victoria about...

Should you take the plunge? Buying your plunger coffee pre-ground from the supermarket can be a bitter experience ...(Test: plunger coffee)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Australians love coffee. Supermarkets devote large chunks of their aisles to it, we re particular about the way we drink it, we read about the virtues of it in newspapers, and some of us are even on first-name terms with the barista who makes...

Reader car reviews: in the market for a small car? Here's what our readers thought of three popular models.(Report: cars)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * What three small cars are like to live with--does their day-to-day performance and convenience live up to the marketing promises? When looking for a new car, you can do a lot of research yourself before walking into a...

What's that fish? Are you really getting the fish you thought you were buying?(Food: fish substitution)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Fish substitution and mislabelling do happen, so a system needs to be put in place to protect consumers from rip-offs and potential health problems. When you buy fish you're entitled to expect you're getting what you...

A steamy affair: does more steam give a smoother ironing experience?(Test: steam stations)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Steam station irons do the job well, so if you do a lot of ironing you could find one a good buy. * As a unit they tend to be heavy and cumbersome, so are better suited to homes with a dedicated space for ironing, so...

!Hola! Everything you wanted to know about olives (and even some things you probably didn't) ...(Report: olives)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Where they're from, what the different types are, how they're made edible and even how they're stuffed... * CHOICE Home Testers rated prepacked green olives stuffed with pimento. While they didn't like any of them...

When Johnny comes marching home ... with cuts and grazes, which bandaid gives the best TLC?(User trial: dressings for minor wounds)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Various products by well-known brands such as ELASTOPLAST, BAND-AID and RAPAID were rated top by our Home Testers. * They're not suitable for all kinds of wound--see When to use them, right. The first problem with...

Food habits defined.(food bites)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Think your food-buying habits keep you below the advertising radar? Think again. New definitions have been devised to help food companies target people more effectively. After about 55,000 interviews with Australians, the population has been...

Fruitless cordial?(food bites)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Earlier this year the national food regulator, FSANZ, and the ACCC committed themselves to working together on misleading practices in the food sector. Just days after signing, the ACCC had success in the Federal Court when Cadbury Schweppes...

Big fat lies.(food bites)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Following our Fat refresher course (CHOICE, March 2004), some readers questioned our advice to replace saturated fats with mono- and polyunsaturates. They'd read books and websites claiming a massive cover-up by the food industry and that...

No need to splash out: don't spend more than you need on your new dishwasher.(Update: dishwashers)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Whether you're renovating your whole kitchen or just replacing your clapped-out dishwasher, there's a temptation to go all-out with an expensive European brand. Our latest test confirms that a designer name (and designer price) don't...

Youth money matters.(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Youth debt and marketing that targets youth spending have become hot issues in the broader community. Consumer Affairs Victoria has introduced a new website designed to help young people improve their general money management skills and avoid...

In a spin over reverse mortgages?(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Reverse mortgages are one way for people over 60 to free up cash tied up in their home, without selling the property. You might have noticed several financial institutions recently launched new reverse mortgage products, and more could be on...

Idol votes a moneyspinner.(Australian Idol )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Just so you know what you're up for when the new series of Australian Idol screens later this year, in the last series a vote cost 55 cents per SMS or 190 number call. The voting poll was conducted by Legion Interactive, a provider of...

What's for dinner, baby? How much real food is in baby food--and can you do better for your baby? We investigate.(Test: baby food)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Not all baby foods are created equal--some have thickeners and water to bulk up 'real food'. * Baby food is handy, but is best used as a convenience food, not every day for every meal. * Some manufacturers give...

Cooking up a storm: blissful baking and thrilling grilling--we find the ovens that are the toast of the roast.(Test: multifunction ovens)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * All the ovens on test performed well overall, with a couple achieving almost perfect scores for baking or grilling. * Think about what you cook most, and whether you use the oven or grill more often, then check the...

Get protected: antivirus software is essential for any computer.(Test: antivirus software)
July 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Antivirus software is only a good as its last update. Keeping your virus signature files up-to-date is vital to ensure your virus checker works effectively. * Install a new version of antivirus software every two to...

Recalls & bans.
July 1, 2004... Nowadays there are so many product recalls we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Consumer Safety...

Hard word.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE Our reader's still wondering how a toaster can knock the fat out of a slice of toast--and with less than one gram of fat per slice of white bread, there's not a lot in toast to knock out anyway. HOW ABOUT...