Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from July 2005

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from July 2005

Message in a bottle.(marketing of water)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Our cover story on bottled water (page 8) isn't called A triumph of marketing for nothing. On the one hand you have a product that in most places is extremely cheap, very safe and pleasant to drink: tap water. Then along comes bottled...

When can I claim my 30% childcare rebate?(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Tax time is upon us again, and readers with children in childcare may be wondering when you can start claiming the 30% childcare rebate promised by the government in the lead-up to last October's federal election. Unfortunately, not for a...

Super choice: good and bad.(choice cuts)
July 1, 2005... Don't feel pressured by the hype surrounding the arrival of super choice from 1 July. The latest issue of our sister magazine, CHOICE Money& Rights, recommends you think carefully about the consequences of changing funds and watch out for some...

Code of practice for motor wreckers.(choice cuts)(National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council)(National Parts Code)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... If stolen cars aren't 'rebirthed' (resprayed and altered so they can be resold with a new identity), they often turn up as spare parts. The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, which governments and insurers set up some years ago,...

Need help choosing a super fund?(choice cuts)(Australian Securities and Investments Commission )(ww.fido.gov.au)(superannuation calculator on website)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... To make comparing funds easier, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has launched a new superannuation calculator on its consumer website (www.fido.gov.au). If you're interested in switching funds, you can use the...

Cots.(UPDATE)(new model STOKKE Sleepi cot)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CHOICE, June 2005 In our report on the STOKKE Sleepi (Choice Cuts, page 6), we noted this cot didn't comply with the Australian standard, clue to some gaps between bars being less than the required 50 mm minimum, and some holes creating...

Laundry detergents.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2005... CHOICE, May 2005 In the table on page 13, AMWAY SA8 Laundry Concentrate should have a tick in the 'Contains enzymes' column.

Period pain panacea?(choice cuts)(vitamin E supplements)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A randomised study of almost 300 teenage girls has found that vitamin E supplements appear to be a safe and effective way of reducing period pain, reports the June 2005 issue of CHOICE Health Reader. After four months, the duration of...

Watered-down pork.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)
July 1, 2005... In the UK, consumers who buy pork in supermarkets were warned last year that they risked being misled because of the food industry's practice of adding water to raw meat. The watered-down pork, which can have a meat content as low as 87%, was...

It's a write-off!(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(advertised earnings for proofreaders after completeing a course)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... While investigating a newspaper ad for an Australian proofreading and copy editing course that claimed top editors could earn $179 an hour, our New Zealand counterparts found on the school's website a testimonial from a former student. They...

Going skiing?(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(digital cameras and cold conditions)(skiing and helmets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... If you're planning to take a digital camera on your next skiing trip, make sure you don't leave it where it can get too cold, like in the car or an outside pocket of your jacket. German Test magazine advises that digital cameras are...

Unit pricing revisited.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... When I worked in the UK, I noticed that a lot of items on supermarket shelves had the actual price listed, and also the unit price. For instance, a packet of 12 toilet rolls had a price of '[pounds sterling]x', as well as a price of '[pounds...

Miraculous mouthwash.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... For many years I was a sufferer of 'gum pockets'. No matter how religiously brushed and flossed, I still had to book in to see the dentist every three months for a thorough clean and scrape. Then a few years ago, a friend told me about...

Is the lady of the house in?(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... I receive phone calls from people trying to sell me their goods and services most days of the week. I reached the end of my patience last Wednesday, when I was waiting for an important call concerning the serious illness of a family member....

Letter of the month.(your letters)
July 1, 2005... 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 to a complaint you took to a manufacturer, retailer, importer or tradesperson interest us,...

Thumbs up!(your letters)(KINGS delivery company Brisbane)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Clare Dowling, via email, awards a thumbs up to KINGS, Brisbane, a delivery company IKEA uses. They rang on the day of delivery to give an approximate time of arrival and again 30 minutes before arriving to confirm, carried the item carefully...

A triumph of marketing: pay for bottled water if you like the taste, but don't kid yourself it's healthier than tap water.(REPORT: Bottled water)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * For most of us, there's no good reason to believe bottled water's any healthier than tap water. Tap water generally has to comply with strict standards, and it's thoroughly tested--with the bonus that it costs virtually...

Can I eat it? When do old leftovers or mouldy tomato paste go from should-be-OK to downright risky?(Q&A: Food safety)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * We answer your queries about the dodgy items lurking in your fridge and cupboard. Q Is it OK to cut the mould off my cheese? A Moulds can produce toxins that can damage your liver, kidneys and immune system. Some...

Fit for what? Can you rely on professional fitters to find you a bra that fits?(SHADOW SHOP: Bra fitting services)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Many women are wearing poorly fitting bras, which can cause health problems, especially [or larger-breasted women. * Our shadow shop found that using a professional in-store fitter isn't any guarantee of getting a...

7 deadly ** sins of food labelling: don't be taken in by everything you see on the label ...(Food: Labelling)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * When you're buying food, don't assume that what you see at first glance is what you get--a more detailed look at the label can reveal surprises. When you're hurrying to do your weekly grocery shop, chances are the...

Slimline dishwashers ... Not so slim for energy and water usage.(TEST: Dishwashers)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * All the slimline dishwashers in this test use a surprising amount of water and energy for their size. * Most cost as much to buy and run as a standard-sized dishwasher, so don't buy one unless lack of space forces you...

Dishwasher detergent danger: adults might have trouble opening them, but unfortunately kids can get into some 'child-resistant' caps.(REPORT: Child-resistant closures)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Dishwasher detergent is alkaline--it can be extremely caustic and burn if swallowed. Don't rely on supposedly child-resistant caps or packaging: keep it well out of reach. Ten days before Christmas last year, an...

More safe car models: drivers and passengers are safer, but no joy for pedestrians.(DRIVELINES: ANCAP update)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * More and more car models score very well in ANCAP high-speed crash tests, partly due to side and head airbags becoming more widely available. * Pedestrian protection is still a major weakness of most cars. The...

Home loans from your newsagent.(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A visit to your local newsagent to buy the newspaper could see you come away with a home loan. Finance companies Homestar and SAVE are now selling home loans through some local newsagencies. Newsagents are being offered the opportunity to...

New health rebate.(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... How does the new health insurance rebate for older Australians work? Since 1 April, Australians aged 65 and over have been entitled to an increased rebate on their private health insurance premiums. If you're between 65 and 69 your rebate...

Want more money info?(hip pocket)
July 1, 2005... CHOICE Money& Rights magazine is published six times a year and contains more information on money topics (and your consumer rights) than we could ever fit into CHOICE. To subscribe call 1800 069 552 toll-free or go to www.choice.com.au/...

Over 550,000 affected by heavy super exit penalties.(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... According to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) at least 550,000 people have older-style super funds (called 'legacy' products) and may face heavy exit penalties if they try to leave those funds. Legacy funds were...

Short and sweet: it's not just Mama's little baby who loves short'nin' bread!(TEST: Shortbread)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... There's something special about a good shortbread. Perhaps it's the way it can crumble and melt in your mouth, or the guilty pleasure you get from indulging in such a rich treat. Or maybe it's just its simple, buttery flavour. Whatever the...

Choosing an oven: ovens aren't simple any more--our buying guide takes you through the choices.(BUYING GUIDE: Ovens)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * The pros and cons of gas vs electricity, and the different oven layouts to consider. * Self-cleaning, steam ovens and automatic cooking programs: a roundup of the latest in oven technology. You could spend hours...

More for your money? Our latest vacuum cleaner test shows that top price doesn't guarantee top performance.(TEST: Expensive vacuum cleaners)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Overall the expensive vacs did about the same job as the mid-priced ones from last year's test. In fact some of the mid-priced models from 2004 outperformed these pricier vats in areas such as dirt removal and cleaning...

Microwaves for a small household: compact microwaves on test.(TEST: Small microwaves)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: 11 compact microwaves with a capacity of around 26 litres. * The top-rating model features inverter technology, whose claims of superior cooking performance appear to be backed up by these test results. ...

ACCC cracks down on juice makers.(food bites)(Australian Competition and Consumer Commission)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... In the December 2004 issue of CHOICE we reported on the rise and rise of juice bars, and raised concerns about claims being made for some of the herbal supplements added to the juices. At the time we wrote to the Australian Competition and...

What's in 'seafood extender'?(food bites)(seafood sticks)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... You've probably eaten it as a seafood stick, or on some seafood pizzas. Seafood extender, or surimi, is a Japanese invention--it's a minced fish product that's used as imitation shellfish such as crab and prawn. It's made by mincing fish and...

Try this one on for size ...(food bites)(monstor hamburgers)(fat content of Monster Thickburger)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A fast food outlet in the US has on its menu a 2/3 pound (around 302 g) Monster Thickburger. Keeping in mind that the recommended daily kilojoule (kj) intake for women is around 8500 and for men up to 10,000, this one burger contains nearly 600...

Recalls & bans.(Directory)
July 1, 2005... 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.
July 1, 2005... Don't think too loud... Our reader managed to escape his hotel without having to pay for this bottle of water in his room, despite the fact that he would indeed have likedto use it. While he didn't actually use it, having first spotted...