3 Easy Ways to Tell If a Business Puts Its Customers First
When it comes to customer service, some companies go above and beyond, even it hits the bottom line. Here's how you can tell when you're dealing with a company that really cares about you.
incentives
A Hot Solar Stock: SunPower's Sales Have Far to Rise
SunPower boasts of being able to manufacture the most efficient large-scale solar modules in the industry, and shipments of its residential and commercial components have been growing rapidly. Trefis predicts they'll keep growing, especially if federal policy shifts further in favor of solar.
Toyota to Offer Rebates on Lexus Models to Boost Sales
Seeking to boost sales of Lexus brand vehicles, Toyota plans to offer rebates of up to $3,000, as well as subsidized financing on certain models, company executives told a gathering of Lexus dealers from across the country this week.
Flawed Incentives Were the Rot Behind the Mortgage Crisis
The mortgage-backed securities meltdown whose effects still haunt our economy sprang from a simple cause: The rules of the game gave big incentives to every player involved to ignore the problems and keep collecting their fees. And despite financial reform, those rules haven't changed much.
Will Paying for Tips Lead to More SEC Crackdowns?
A new report says Wall Street insiders who tip off authorities about securities fraud may end up with big rewards. But will the new system work as intended or just gum up the works with frivolous claims while scamsters go about their business?
Romer Resigns: A Chance to Reset Economic Policy?
The departure of Christina Romer as chair of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers ought to prompt a rethink of U.S. economic policy -- but it won't, even though Friday's jobs numbers showed tepid progress on creating jobs for the millions put out of work by the recession.
U.S. Auto Sales May Have Revved Up in July
Analysts' expectations are that sales rose to the highest levels of the year last month as increased automaker incentives lured bargain-hunters.
California Freezes Popular Solar Incentives
With comically bad timing, California suspended a key solar incentive just days before some 20,000 solar devotees converged on San Francisco for Intersolar, an industry conference and expo. Why? Because the program has been too successful.
Fewer New Car Buyers Are Switching to Toyota
After a series of recalls, Toyota is attracting fewer car owners who drive other brands, despite generous incentives and a massive media campaign to address concerns about quality. Nearly half of all new cars sold at Toyota dealerships this year included a Toyota trade-in, up from 42% in 2009.
Chrysler Expands Risk-Free Car Return Program
In an effort to boost sales, Chrysler said Thursday it is expanding a program that allows customers to return new vehicles within 60 days if they aren't happy with their purchase. In addition, the automaker is also offering zero-interest financing on most 2010 vehicles.
Shopping for a Car? Why You May Be in Luck
When it comes to new cars, bad news for the industry can be good news for consumers. Auto sales have slipped lately, and as a result, the major automakers are expected to ramp up the rebates and incentives this summer.
Biz Brief: Mortgage Fraud in Short Sales Rising
A new form of mortgage fraud called "flopping" is spreading as banks increase the use of short sales to cut their losses from the growing number of home foreclosures.
Americans Want Better Fuel Economy -- but Keep Buying SUVs
Americans say they want more fuel-efficient vehicles -- but as soon as the economy starts perking up, they go shopping for trucks and SUVs. The best solution for this dilemma? One expert calls it "political suicide."