Consumerpedia

Many Americans are sold on supplements. They’re convinced the “natural ingredients” in these non-prescription products have powerful health benefits that can prevent diseases, make us feel better, and slow down the effects of aging. But can you trust what’s in the bottle, and the marketing claims used to sell this stuff? In this episode, we focus on the false claims, bad science, and marketing tricks often used to sell dietary and nutritional supplements. Plus buying advice for those who choose to take these products. Additional Resources: UC Berkeley Wellness Letter: A Guide to Dietary Supplements CSPI Nutrition Action Newsletter: Why the supplement aisle is the Wild West How supplements distort science to sell Tricks of the trade: Are supplement companies playing you for a fool? Truth in Advertising (TINA.org): Jury Hands Down a Verdict in Prevagen Deceptive Marketing Case Consumer Alert: Hair Growth Products Cow Colostrum Supplements What You Should Know about Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements Not a Checkbook member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings.

Moving is always a hassle. But if you hire the wrong movers, it can be a nightmare. An alarming number of consumers tell Checkbook they're disgusted with movers who arrived hours or even days late, lost or broke their possessions, reneged on promises, and demanded more money than the quoted amount. In this episode: Tips on choosing a moving company that provides fair and reliable pricing, gets the job done on time, and takes good care of your belongings. Plus: Why to avoid moving brokers and how to spot moving scams. Read Checkbook's full report on how to find a household mover. Not a Checkbook member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings.

Americans bought a record 1.2 million electric vehicles last year, and EV sales continued to grow in the first quarter of 2024, although at a slightly slower pace than anticipated. Buyers have more choices than ever: More than 40 electric cars, trucks, and SUVs from both U.S. and foreign manufacturers. Battery range has improved, and some lower-priced models are now available. In this episode, how to decide which non-conventional vehicle might be right for you. Do EVs live up to their range promises? Consumer Reports creates a special test to find out. Plus, why are electric vehicles less reliable than conventional cars? Additional Resources: From Checkbook: Consumerpedia Episode 63: The Car Show 2024 Car Buying Strategies Crash Course on Auto Insurance From Consumer Reports: CR’s Real-World EV Range Tests Show Which Models Beat EPA Estimates Electric Vehicles Are Less Reliable Than Conventional Cars Best Electric Cars Hybrid & EV Buying Guide

The car market has nearly recovered from the pandemic. Dealers have good supply of both new and used vehicles, and that’s pushing down prices: The average new car buyer paid $47,000 in March, according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s a two-year low, but still nearly 16% higher than in March 2021. With more cars on the lot, some dealers and manufacturers are offering bigger incentives. In this episode, the latest new vehicle reliability ratings from Consumer Reports, the right way to take a test drive, and how to get the best deal on that new car. Plus, should you use a buying service to simplify the process? Additional Resources: From Checkbook: Car Buying Strategies Crash Course on Auto Insurance From Consumer Reports: CR’s Best Cars of the Year: 10 Top Picks of 2024 Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars? Four of the Five Least Expensive Car Brands to Maintain Are American 7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Car How to Beat the 'Four Square' and Other Car Dealership Sales Tactics

It's going to be a busy summer for travel, especially for those headed abroad. It's late in the booking season, but some deals may still be available. In this episode, we'll look at what you can expect to pay for airfare, hotel rooms, and rental cars. Plus, tips from travel experts Haley Berg of Hopper.com and Christopher Elliott of the "On Travel" column on how to deal with crowds and other peak-season hassles. Other Consumerpedia travel episodes: 17 - Travel Tips: How to Find the Best Deals on Airfare 41 - Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates 60 - How to Avoid a Big Cell Phone Bill When Traveling Abroad Additional resource: Elliott Advocacy is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't.

Data breaches are now an annoyingly normal part of life: You change your stolen passwords, cancel your compromised credit cards. But it can be a significantly more serious problem when hackers get your medical data. Last year, about 1 in 3 Americans had their medical records breached, according to the federal government. In this episode, we’ll look at how hackers are getting their hands on this highly sensitive personal information, what they’re able to do with it, and how you can protect yourself. Special guests: Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center James Lee, Chief Operating Officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center Read more on Checkbook.org.

Travel outside the U.S. and you’ll need to make sure your cell phone works wherever you’re headed. With a little advance planning, you can also lower the cost of using your phone on that trip—in some cases, by $100 a line a week or more. In this episode, what the major mobile phone companies charge to use their roaming services when you’re in a foreign country, and how to pay less by switching to a local wireless carrier at your destination. Plus, the pros and cons of turning off your cell service and relying on Wi-Fi. Read Checkbook's full report on how to save money while using a phone internationally.

Feeding the family has never been more expensive. Supermarket prices have been going up for four years now, running well ahead of the overall inflation rate. And while increases are slowing, no one expects the cost of food to drop back to where it was before the pandemic. In this episode, why everything is so pricey, the tricks food manufacturers use to disguise their price hikes—shrinkflation and skimpflation—and how to get the most for your money when you go to the supermarket. Special Guests: Abha Bhattarai - Washington Post Reporter; Edgar Dworsky - Publisher, ConsumerWorld.org; Jamie Lettis - Checkbook Associate Editor Read Checkbook’s full report on grocery stores and delivery services.

You can save a ton of money by comparison shopping. Checkbook’s surveys consistently find huge price differences—sometimes more than twice as much—from company to company for the exact same product or service. And businesses can get away with this because they know most customers won’t bother to shop around. Sometimes consumers don’t compare prices because they’re in a rush or they don’t want to scour the internet for the best deal. But we often find buyers don’t compare prices because they’ve been duped into thinking they already have. In this episode, some of the common manipulative marketing techniques sellers use to convince you to pay up and pay too much. Read Checkbook's full report on the 30 Tricks Sellers Use to Manipulate You

Are you frustrated with the way companies treat you? If so, you’re not alone: Surveys find that many consumers are fed up with long waits on the phone, customer service agents who can’t solve their problems, unintelligible billing statements, poorly designed websites, and inexperienced or indifferent sales staff. In this episode: Why do so many companies see customer service as a costly problem, rather than a way to retain their customers? Why is it so difficult, if not impossible, to resolve issues via phone? Is there anything you can do to get your problems solved after the sale? Guests: Jon Picoult, founder of Watermark Consulting and author of “From Impressed to Obsessed.” Forrest Morgeson, associate professor of marketing at Michigan State University, and director of research emeritus at the  American Customer Satisfaction Index.