Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from June 2005

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from June 2005

A good result.(Australian Competition and Consumer Commission )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... It makes a nice change to report a result in consumers' favour, but in this issue there's good news about something you've complained long and loud about--airlines printing airfares in bits and pieces (the fare here, a tax there, a fee...

Basketball hoop alert.(choice cuts)(assemblage weaknesses cause serious injuries)
June 1, 2005... Horrific injuries suffered by Western Australian schoolboy Terry Vo have highlighted the potential dangers of backyard basketball hoops, or rings as they're also called. Ten-year-old Terry had both of his hands and his left foot severed after a...

Finally: just one airfare price.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... You've complained long and loud about so-called component pricing--just last month, on the letters page, we published your complaints about airlines' increasing tendency to advertise a fare price in its component parts, with charges, levies and...

ACCC discontinues proceedings against pest free.(UPDATE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... PLUG IN PEST FREE is an electronic device that was claimed to repel insects and vermin. Late last year the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) discontinued proceedings against its distributor, PEST FREE AUSTRALIA (reported on...

Digital cameras.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2005... CHOICE, October 2004 The SAMSUNG DigimaxV4 is supplied with a Lithium ion battery in Australia, not a CR-V3 as stated in the table on page 13. However, it can also use CR-V3 and non-rechargeable alkaline batteries, and was tested in Europe...

Photo prints direct from your camera.(choice cuts)(printer docks)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Printer docks connect to your digital camera and allow you to print standard-sized prints without the use of a computer. You need a camera designed for a printer dock or that's PictBridge-enabled, or you can use a memory card if the printer...

Who to complain to?(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... It's not always easy to find out which organisation could help you sort out a consumer problem, but now there's help at hand if you've a reason to complain but don't know who to address your gripe to. The Australian Consumer Handbook,...

Fridges.(UPDATE)(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2005... CHOICE, May 2005 The WESTINGHOUSE RS645V side-by-side fridge, reported on in the table on page 44, has been upgraded to a more energy-efficient model but still has the same model number. The manufacturer, Electrolux, didn't tell us this...

When a cot is a chair is a bed ...(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Following our report on cots in CHOICE, Jan/Feb 2005, we recently tested another new cot, the STOKKE Sleepi, which you might have come across and wondered about if you're in the market for a cot. It's a solid and versatile cot, with a number of...

Clothes dryers.(UPDATE)(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2005... CHOICE, April 2005 Contrary to what was punished in the table on page 44, the manufacturer has since informed us that the KLEENMAID KED 300 has reverse tumbling, can be stacked on top of a washing machine, and that an optional kit is...

Dead pixels and digital cameras.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I wonder how many people are aware that digital cameras can suffer pixel degradation, like LCD computer monitors or TV screens? I bought a FUJIFILM FinePix S602 Zoom six-megapixel camera two years ago after a favourable review in CHOICE....

Gas guzzlers.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... While I really enjoyed the feature article on the energy industry (CHOICE, March 2005) and learning the issues for consumers, I was shocked to see an article about outdoor gas heaters in the same issue. In my opinion, these heaters are some...

Thumbs up!(your letters)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... [thumbs up] * Julie Malgo had her SUNBEAM steam station iron only two days before it was accidentally dropped and the plastic casing cracked. She contacted SUNBEAM spare parts division to see if she could replace the broken parts. There were...

Come, fly with me: more than 500 Choice and Choice Online subscribers give you their verdict on the major domestic airlines.(SURVEY: Domestic airlines)(Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... When we last surveyed consumer satisfaction with airlines eight years ago, the then two major domestic carriers scored very similarly for overall satisfaction. But a lot has changed in the domestic amine market since then. In 2000, after the...

Sudan 1 in Australia?(food bites)(Food Standards Australia New Zealand )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A recent large food recall in the UK highlights the importance of traceability of foods and their ingredients. You might have heard about it: hundreds of foods were recalled due to the presence of an illegal food additive, Sudan 1. It's a...

Good news for mushroom lovers.(food bites)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... If you're already a mushroom lover, a new study from the University of Illinois in the US will have you reaching for more. While we've known for a while that mushrooms are good for you, surprisingly the make-up of the carbohydrate component...

Tea tastes.(food bites)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A takeaway espresso coffee may be the latest fashion accessory, but for many, nothing beats the lure of a good cup of tea. These days you'll find more than just black tea on the supermarket shelf. The main difference between the teas is the...

Magic little pills? Multivitamins are big business, but do they really give you what you need?(REPORT: Multivitamin supplements)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Do you try to insure your health by using complementary medicine? You're in good company if you do. Around half the Australian population uses at least one form of it a year, most commonly through popping a multivitamin/mineral pill. When...

A stroll in the park? Most of the 'jogger' strollers we tested failed to live up to expectations.(TEST: Three-wheel strollers)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Judging by the number of three-wheel strollers you see out and about, they're more popular than ever. The perceived ability to go jogging with your child as well as pop to the shops is obviously appealing to many parents. Most three-wheelers...

Buon appetito! when you're buying spaghetti you might as well choose the cheapest--we tested 26 brands and our Home Testers thought they were all OK.(TASTE TEST: Spaghetti)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Spaghetti is a favourite with many people. It's quick and convenient to cook, and there are many wonderful sauces to serve with it--so it's no surprise that in Australia each of us slurps our way through an average of nearly four kilograms of...

How much is your car to repair? It could cost many thousand more than the cheapest models.(CARS: Low-speed crash tests)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... The repair bill from a low-speed bingle can be almost one third of a new car's purchase price, and there are big differences between models in each size category. For example, the same crash can cause damage worth less than $3000 (SMART...

Meet your new mobile: test results for 45 GSM models.(UPDATE: Mobile phones)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... This is an update of our test in CHOICE, Jan/Feb 2005. The general comments on test results we made then are still valid: battery capacity is generally keeping up well with increasing power demands for new features like a large colour display;...

Winter warmth: prices for some convection heaters have dropped dramatically. Do they still do their job?(TEST: Convection heaters)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... We tested six new electric convection heaters from $50 to $299 with a maximum heating capacity of 2000 W, making them suitable for a bedroom or small living area--depending on where you live and how well insulated your home is. We're also...

Suckers for steam: getting rid of steam and smells in the kitchen.(TEST: Rangehoods)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... If you love a home-cooked curry but don't want your house to smell like an Indian bazaar for days, you need a good rangehood. These sometimes ugly, sometimes trendy-looking contraptions come in different styles and can range in price from a...

Recalls & bans.
June 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 Customer Safety...

Hard word.
June 1, 2005... $7.50 COMBO Present this voucher at the Candy Bar and pay only $8 for a regular combo. Valid 31 January to 20 February 2005. Not valid in conjunction with any other discount offers. Single use only. Not for re-sale. Not redeemable for...