Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from September 2007

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from September 2007

Would you buy that again?(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... It's surprising what you get to know about a product when you live with it. CHOICE subscribers who responded to our recent appliance reliability survey, for example, gave us all sorts of reasons why they wouldn't again buy their particular...

New online savings account.(CHOICE cuts)(RaboPlus)
September 1, 2007... A new online savings account, called RaboPlus, offers an interest rate of 6.6%.The only higher rate currently offered (with one exception--see Account with a catch, right) is available from the BANKWESTTelenet Saver online account--this offers...

Echinacea and colds.(CHOICE cuts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A new study analysing the overall results of 14 separate trials on people catching colds has increased scientific confidence that the herb echinacea can decrease both the chance of catching a cold as well as how long it lasts. The analysis...

Chocolate hit OK.(CHOICE cuts)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Scientists already know that dark chocolate contains chemicals that can benefit your health, but there was concern that added sugar and fat would negate any benefits. A recent German study found that eating a small amount of dark chocolate each...

Budget laser printers.(CHOICE cuts)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2007... CHOICE Computer recently tested budget laser printers for performance, ease of use and ink consumption. It found that as the cost of laser printers has come down, they're a good choice for small-scale print runs. The HP Laser Jet 1022...

Unfair bank fees.(UPDATE)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... CHOICE, July 2007 National Australia Bank (NAB) has told us its periodic payment dishonour fee is $35--NAB provided an incorrect fee to CHOICE for our July article. The bank's direct debit dishonour fee remains at $50.

No more 'Have a nice day'.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(hotel services)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Major US hotel management strategists are planning to change attitudes to customer service, and especially the responses that are too often viewed as contrived and robotic, reports Ireland's Consumer Choice. So the generic 'Have a nice day' is...

You've been warned.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(advertising)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Also from Ireland's Consumer Choice comes a warning to expect a multitude of new advertising opportunities--and lots and lots of spin--with the latest developments in the dairy market. French yoghurt producer Danone is primed to take on the...

No witches, it's official.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(magic)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A Bavarian district court found you don't have to pay a witch if you ask her to put a magic spell on your ex-lover to return to you--because magic is simply impossible, reports Germany's Test magazine.

Pay Mcbills faster.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... In China, people sick of waiting in long bank queues at lunchtime have an alternative: fast banking at McDonald's. "The only downside is they may end up eating a lunch of spurious nutritional value," says an article on www.burning-pants.com, a...

Show some restraint.(CHOICE cuts)(child restraints in vehicles)
September 1, 2007... According to a review published in the Medical Journal of Australia, in 2005, 72 passengers under the age of 16 were killed in motor vehicle accidents, and 1000 more were seriously injured. And while injuries were more frequent when children...

Kween of karpet kleening.(QUICK REVIEW)(KLEENMAID VC700O Sebo Felix Fun)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... This KLEENMAID vacuum screams retro style, but there's nothing outdated about its performance. It cleaned our test carpet more thoroughly than any other model in our previous test of expensive vacs (CHOICE, June 2007, or go to...

Too much packaging.(YOUR letters)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... In this day of global warming impacts and the importance of energy conservation in aid of reducing those impacts, I was shocked at the amount of packaging I also purchased when I bought a small USB modem from Telstra. Granted, except for the...

Fair go on fees: it works!(YOUR letters)
September 1, 2007... I used your letter to request a refund of the late payment fee charged to my credit card. I just got an email back telling me that the charges were set out in the terms that I agreed to when operating my account but, as a gesture of goodwill,...

When you do need two eye drops.(YOUR letters)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Upon reading the World Consumer Snapshot 'Save on eyedrops' (CHOICE, June 2007), I was concerned that some people may misread the advice given: that only one drop is necessary, as the eye can only hold one drop at a time. While this was...

Letter of the month.(YOUR letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... We want to hear from you--your experiences help our research and let other readers know about scams and rip-offs. We're also keen to hear about positive outcomes you've had to a complaint you took to a manufacturer, retailer, importer or...

Drew Tait had a happy experience courtesy of STREAMLINE Products, the distributor of Zucchetti tapware.(THUMBS UP!)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Drew Tait had a happy experience courtesy of STREAMLINE PRODUCTS, the distributor of ZUCCHETTI tapware. His sink mixer with pull-out spray had come loose periodically since installation three years ago. This time, rather than tighten it again,...

The reliable choice: you told us: digital cameras are the most reliable product, and for large home appliances, choose Bosch or Miele.(APPLIANCE RELIABILITY / survey)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... You know the big brand names; you've heard the flashy promises and battled with the jargon, but when it comes to determining their long-term reliability, it's a bit of a stab in the dark. CHOICE'S tests pick out the top performers when they're...

The truth behind superjuices: can juice from 'super' fruits--goji, noni, mangosteen or acai--really cure cancer?(SUPERJUICES / health)
September 1, 2007... Forget about an apple--if you really want to keep the doctor away, you need to knock back a daily dose of juice from goji, mangosteen or some other even more exotic 'super' fruit... or so say the distributors of these products. Most suggest...

The colour of money: you'll be surprised by where some 'ethical' and 'sustainable' funds invest your money.(ETHICAL INVESTMENTS / money)
September 1, 2007... Did you know that huge chunks of our superannuation--which is now worth more than a trillion dollars--are invested in companies involved in industries such as old-growth forestry logging and uranium mining, and products that cause greenhouse...

Skin and bare it: wax on, wax off? What's the best way to defuzz your legs for summer?(HOME HAIR REMOVAL / health)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2007... Once upon a time, the trusty razor was most women's only tool for removing hair from their legs, but as you'll see when cruising down the personal care aisle in your supermarket, you've now got the option of waxes (both hot and cold), lotions,...

Cooking with cream: light cream and light sour cream are healthier than full-fat cream--but do they work as well in cooking?(CREAM & SOUR CREAM / food)
September 1, 2007... If you've ever watched Maggie and Simon whip up something fabulous in The Cook and the Chef, devoured Karen Martini as she dollops on the double cream in your Sunday glossy, or pored over the latest Delicious with Gordon Ramsay's creamy soup...

Fabulous fans: a ceiling fan looks and cuts costs for both you and the environment.(tests: CEILING FANS)(Buyers guide)(Table)
September 1, 2007... It might evoke the romance of a bygone era, but a ceiling fan could also be your environmentally friendly ticket to summer cool. CHOICE tested 19 mid-priced ceiling fans (around $200-$700), from your Casablanca-style rattan fan to stylish...

Four the merrier?(test: FOUR-WHEEL STROLLERS)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2007... They may not have the street cred of their three-wheeled cousins, but the results for the four-wheel strollers in this test confirm there's no shame in transporting your pride and joy on four wheels--in fact, it could be safer. CHOICE...

Is it good to be 3? Mobile phones have played music and taken for some time, just not very well ... until now.(test: MOBILE PHONES)
September 1, 2007... Some models in our latest round-up are finally beginning to deliver on the earlier promise of a true multimedia mobile, and the rise of 3G may have contributed. Almost half the phones in CHOICE's latest test can take photos at 2 megapixels or...

Load 'em up: sixteen new machines were put through their paces a cold-water wash.(test: WASHING MACHINES)(Buyers guide)(Table)
September 1, 2007... Most Australians now wash in cold water, so that's how CHOICE tests washing machines. This time, we tested 16 new models on their normal cold-wash cycle, loaded up as usual to their claimed capacity (ranging from 5.5 kg to 9.5 kg). But how many...

The player's the thing.(test: DIGITAL MUSIC PLAYERS)
September 1, 2007... Digital music players come in many colours, shapes and sizes, but ultimately your needs are the determining factor when you choose one. Some machines come with lots of software for 'ripping', organising and transferring music to the player;...

Rain supreme.(test: CAR TYRES)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2007... Unless you buy a new car every couple of years, you'll probably have to buy a set of new tyres at some point--at the latest when the tread wear indicators show your tyres have reached the minimum legal limit. If you're shopping for tyres,...

Breadwinners.(test: BREADMAKERS)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2007... Does the tantalising aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the house sounds like a nice wake-up call? Programming your breadmaker to have a warm, fresh loaf ready when you wake up is only one of the features we found in our test of six...

Banks recognise Door practice on penalty fees.(CHOICE campaigns)
September 1, 2007... Bank penalty fees hurt consumers and discriminate against low-income households. This important admission about their inequitable impact came from John MacFarlane, Chief Executive of ANZ, in response to CHOICE's campaign to axe unfair penalty...

Do not call register update.(CAMPAIGN NEWS)(telemarketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... It's clear Australian consumers are sick of unsolicited phone calls--the Do Not Call Register has seen immense support, with over one million phone numbers registered, and it's still growing. The register was a much needed initiative, but...

Time to tighten standards on food advertising to kids.(CAMPAIGN NEWS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is reviewing the Children's Television Standards (CTS). The CTS regulate programming of children's TV shows, appropriate content of children's programs and advertising to children. ...

Recalls & bans.
September 1, 2007... 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 Product Recalls Australia website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Product...