Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from November 2003

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from November 2003

Time to get serious about smoking.(Australian government need to be more serious about controlling the tobacco industry)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... It's been 42 years since CHOICE first ran a major article on arguably the most dangerous consumer product of all: tobacco. Since then, Australian smoking rates have fallen dramatically, all but the last vestiges of advertising have been banned,...

Medibank Private does it again.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Last year it discontinued one of its better-value products, First Choice Saver, forcing consumers to pay more. This year it's removed the highest excess option (level 3) on Blue Ribbon Hospital and Smart Choice Hospital policies, transferring...

Sun exposure and multiple sclerosis.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... After decades of demonising the sun because of the risk of skin cancer, concerns are now being raised that too little exposure could also be detrimental. Previous issues of CHOICE Health Reader have reported on women who get too little sun...

ACA's CEO farewelled.(choice cuts)(Louise Sylvan)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... As some subscribers may be aware from media reports, after 14 years at the Consumers' Association our Chief Executive Officer, Louise Sylvan, took up the position of Deputy Chair of the ACCC from November 1. This appointment is an important win...

Washing machines: CHOICE, September 2003.(CORRECTION)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... In the table on pages 46-47 we said the ASKO Quattro W6231 and W6021 both have a delayed start feature. In fact, while the W6231 does have it, the W6021 doesn't.

Can you help? Problems with rental cars.(choice cuts)
November 1, 2003... Have you had any problems with a rented or courtesy car in Australia? For example, you had an accident and found you weren't covered, or the company charged your credit card without your agreement. If so, we'd like to hear about your experience...

Exercise bike injury risk.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Exercise bikes can pose a serious injury risk for young children, according to recent Monash University research. Between 1995 and 2000, at least 140 exercise-bike-related injuries were treated in Victorian hospital emergency departments....

Deceased estate hoax.(choice cuts)
November 1, 2003... An alert subscriber, Mike Burton of Mackay, Queensland, forwarded us an email claiming to come from a company called Deceased Estate, based in Sydney. It said the recipient had been nominated as the next of kin in the will of a distant...

F&P: caught out on customer service.(choice cuts)
November 1, 2003... FISHER & PAYKEL appliances generally do well in our tests. And in our past reliability surveys they haven't rated too badly either--around average or slightly below for 'not needing repair', and towards the top for 'would buy the same brand...

And the winner is ...(choice cuts)
November 1, 2003... Congratulations to Sally Cherry of Rosewood, Queensland, the winner of our September label carrier promotion. She's won $200 worth of CHOICE books.

Spoilsport.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I felt your story about the calcium-enriched ice cream was a bit negative. It's great to see a food manufacturer trying to do better and offer more nutritional value rather than less, which seems to be so often the case. While ice cream...

In defence of certain bank fees.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... Recently I travelled in Europe. Instead of carrying large sums of cash I made regular but relatively small withdrawals from ATMs. In total, these ATM transactions cost me 1% of the sum involved in fees. I regard this expense as a reasonable...

Waiving your rights.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... My 19-year-old daughter races go-karts with aspirations of a motor sport career. This year with her licence renewal she received a waiver to sign, which consisted of six points stating in various wording that if the association is negligent in...

Letter of the month.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... We want to hear from you--your experiences help our research and often let other readers know about scares and rip-offs. To thank you for writing to us, Your Letters awards a prize of a CHOICE book to the 'Letter of the month'. This month's...

Jodie Kable-Corbett had her Sunbeam mixmaster--a wedding present--in storage for several years, after which she discovered it didn't work.(THUMBS UP!)
November 1, 2003... Jodie Kable-Corbett had her Sunbeam mixmaster--a wedding present--in storage for several years, after which she discovered it didn't work. Sunbeam fixed it free of charge, even though it had exceeded its warranty period and she had no receipt.

"If only other products and companies were this good," writes Jane Rowland, via internet, commenting on Wusthof knives and Cookaholics in Burnside, WA.(THUMBS UP!)
November 1, 2003... "If only other products and companies were this good," writes Jane Rowland, via internet, commenting on Wusthof knives and Cookaholics in Burnside, WA. She bought several knives 20 years ago from a shop long since defunct. Cookaholics passed on...

Echinacea--power pill or placebo? It's a popular herbal supplement, but how strongly does medical science support its use? And is taking it in a tablet likely to be any use?(REPORT + TEST: Echinacea)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * The evidence that echinacea is effective is mixed: some studies have shown it to stimulate the immune system and help prevent or alleviate colds, but others have failed to show any benefit. * Our active ingredients...

Less fat--but still fattening.(foodbites)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... McDonald's is now offering some low-fat options. It claims its new Salads Plus menu offers "Food that is light yet high in taste--to leave you feeling good". But while definitely a step in the right direction with at least 60% less fat than a...

Had a gutful?(foodbites)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Fad diets to lose weight are rife and most of us are confused to some extent about what we should--or shouldn't--be eating. Now the CSIRO has come up with the Total Wellbeing Diet. While it's been described in the media as a "high-protein"...

And coming soon ...(foodbites)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... In future we might be able to enjoy eating in virtual reality--dispensing with the kilojoules altogether! Japanese scientists are developing a device that supposedly mimics the entire eating experience. Linked to a computer, the device fits...

Sun safety: if recent media reports about the risk of vitamin D deficiency have made you think twice about using sunscreen--think again.(HEALTH: Sunscreen)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Fact 1: Skin cancer can kill. * Fact 2: It's caused by the sun. * Fact 3: You can protect yourself safely. * Fact 4: You're very unlikely to get too little sun, so don't fool yourself. We all know it--it's...

Choc chip heaven: there's nothing like a good biscuit to dunk in your cuppa--here's the lowdown on the best choc chip biscuits on your supermarket shelf.(FOOD: Choc chip biscuits)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * You might have to pay a bit more for the biscuit that blew the others out of the water, but judging by our trialists' comments, it's well worth it. As all sweet tooths out there would understand, there wasn't a lot of...

On the road again: the real meaning of all those fine-print conditions, and how to find the right cover for your overseas trip.(UPDATE: Travel insurance)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * We surveyed 83 international travel insurance policies and list our Best Buys for a family travelling to the US or Europe for a four-week holiday or to New Zealand for 16 days (far right). * For the first time we've...

Sparkling clean: dishing the dirt on bathroom cleaners.(USER TRIAL: Bathroom cleaners)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * White King was the clear winner of the 16 products trialled--and it's also one of the cheapest. * If you're more concerned about smell, ease o fuse and not irritating your eyes, nose or throat, go for Orange Power. ...

Sold by: owner: if you ever considered selling your home without a real estate agent but didn't know where to start, here's the lowdown on what's involved.(REPORT: DIY home sales)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Selling your house yourself could save you thousands of dollars in agent's commission, but you need some time and aptitude for the job. * Good preparation and knowledge of the market is essential for a successful sale....

Big moves for big TVs: improvements all round on the 68 cm TV front: their sound's getting better, they now have a truly flat screen and, best of all, they're getting cheaper.(TEST: 68 cm TVs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: nine 68 cm flat-screen TVs ranging in price from $700-$1500. * Prices for this size of TV have fallen in the past year. So if you want a decent TV-watching experience without spending a fortune, one of our...

Cooking at warp speed? The latest oven technology--is it really cooking with light?(TEST: Novelty ovens)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * The LG SolarDom cooks well and is as versatile as any other combination convection/grill/ microwave oven, but you're paying a lot of money for a halogen light. If you believed the LG SolarDom Light Oven commercials and...

Country dwellers' mobile alternative? The CDMA mobile phone network is supposed to be the system to choose if you use your mobile a lot outside metropolitan areas. But which handset should you get?(TEST: CDMA phones)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Overall, there's not all that much difference between the seven CDMA phones we tested. However, the top two stood out for sensitivity (ability to pick up a signal) and should be your choice if you use your phone a lot in...

Fully featured fridges: the trade-off: features like water and ice dispensers vs space.(TEST: Side-by-side fridges)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: Four side-by-side fridges in the 590-650 L size range (the small end of the side-by-side market). * Choosing a model with a water and ice dispenser means losing around 30% of your freezer space and extra...

Recall & bans.
November 1, 2003... 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.ou. If you don't have web access, call the Consumer Safety...