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Posted
Sep 10 2008, 06:09 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
An article this week at MSN Money describes rude and inappropriate behavior by cashiers that is bound to drive shoppers elsewhere. We'll add another bad behavior by employees to the list. "So Cal Savvy" describes it ever so wonderfully in a post called "The 1950s housewife." Her story involves a bank employee who was a big sexist jerk. She dubbed him "Mr. BankTellerMan."
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Posted
Jun 16 2008, 05:49 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
You're already a smart shopper (or, because you're reading these pages, hopefully on your way to getting there). Do you also want to be a more socially responsible shopper? To that end, "Penny Nickel" at Money and Values points her readers to a new Web site on the block. Responsible Shopper, a product of Co-op America, rates hundreds of companies in five areas of performance deemed important by the co-op for being a good corporate citizen. The most-viewed profiles so far? Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart and the Gap.
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Posted
May 21 2008, 10:48 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Pardon us if we're a bit cynical, but the retail behemoth that's made billions and billions by convincing people to spend in its stores now has a blog telling people how to save money? We decided to give Wal-Mart's new personal-finance blog, Make Your Dollar Stretch, a look.
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Posted
Apr 23 2008, 05:45 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Shades of World War II: Two warehouse-type retail chains in the United States are rationing rice as anxious customers stock up because of a worldwide shortage. It's the most startling sign that the world food crisis is making itself felt in the United States. But, despite rising food prices here, we've still got it good compared with some developing countries, where food shortages and price hikes have sparked deadly riots.
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Posted
Apr 07 2008, 09:43 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Some people seem to think that I never buy anything new. That's not the case. A few weeks ago I bought a dining table and chairs.
Although it's like placing a "Kick Me" sign on my own back, I'm going to admit that I bought these things from Kmart.
Discount department stores have a down-at-the-heels reputation: their merchandise is low-end and their employees -- when you can find them -- are surly and unhelpful.
That wasn't my experience. When I couldn't find the advertised dining set, a manager brought one out from the stockroom. Then he loaded it into my car, chatting pleasantly.
The sale price of $99 was a good deal for a table and four chairs. If you follow this link, you'll see that it's perfectly respectable-looking furniture. Naturally, some assembly was required.
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Posted
Mar 29 2008, 03:34 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
"FMF" at Free Money Finance worked one summer years ago as a management intern at Kmart, so he has an insider's perspective on the chain's decline. In his new series of store reviews, he gives his former employer an "F." When he worked there, "Kmart was the king of mass merchants, but my particular store was panicked because a new competitor was headed into their region, some company by the name of Wal-Mart," he says. "... they were bracing for an invasion that they expected to be about as terrible as the Huns coming to ransack their city." The ransacking apparently has taken its toll. By the way, FMF gave Wal-Mart a "B+" rating.
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Posted
Mar 28 2008, 02:47 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
How does positive-thinking blogger Steve Olson really feel about Wal-Mart? A positive-thinking tip in one of the most popular posts at his site is "Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart." He's not the only blogger to share his opinion on the big-box titans. Several lately have posted comparisons of the two stores. Steve, of Steve-Olson.com, back in 2006 listed 10 reasons why he prefers Target, including "I've never seen anyone wearing a NASCAR shirt, purple sweat pants, and pink fluffy slippers at Target." Also, the aisles at Wal-Mart are too narrow, the employees are surly and not helpful, and the customers look depressed. (Read his anecdote about shopping for a lunch box at both stores.) He added: "Wal-Mart's atmosphere is cheap and crass. Target's atmosphere exudes progress and style."
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Posted
Mar 21 2008, 05:27 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Everyone has an opinion about Wal-Mart, so when "SingleGuyMoney" wrote about things he hates about Wally World, "BeThisWay" at Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know You? was compelled to reply. Since SingleGuyMoney started this discussion, we'll give his reasons first: too many people, rude people, bad drivers in the parking lot, and shoppers with 50 items who go to the checkout line for 20 or fewer items. Most irritating, he said, is what he calls "poor financial responsibility." He explained: "Today, the person in front of me with the 50 items paid for her food with her food stamp card. She paid for her five DVDs with cash. Granted, I do not know what her financial position is or how many kids she has, but if you need food stamps to buy your food, you probably should be saving your cash for other needs and not movies."
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Posted
Jan 28 2008, 06:01 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Trust Nick at Punny Money to come up with an alternative, "much more awesome" economic stimulus plan. After all, this is the guy who refers to the Fed as "aka Kevin Federline." Nick says the plan to give people tax rebates won't work for three reasons, including this one: "Writing checks to stupid people is stupid. I promise you that 90% of the money issued by this tax rebate plan will go straight to drugs, booze and hookers. And that's just my share!" So what is the government to do?
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Posted
Dec 18 2007, 02:06 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from Lisa Wade McCormick at partner blog ConsumerAffairs.com. Consumers aren't just worried about lead in their children's toys -- and their pet's toys -- this holiday season. They're also worried about lead in their Christmas decorations. Consider this warning Cathy R. of Sickleville, N.J., found on a box of Christmas lights she recently purchased at Target: "Handling the coated electrical wire on this product exposes you to LEAD, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after use.'" Cathy said she is shocked that Target would sell tainted merchandise. "Normally children help when putting decorations up, which not only would expose the adults, but the children to lead," she told us. "I am appalled that Target or any other store would sell such products. In this day and age with all the recalled items from China that contain lead, I can't believe that any store -- especially Target under their own brand -- would put these out for consumers."
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