returns

A common lament I hear from investors is that this country is headed "in the wrong direction", which is a euphemism for Socialism.It's hard to quarrel with the premise. A recent cover story in Newsweek Magazine darkly proclaimed: We Are All Socialists Now. The tag line noted: "In many ways our...

Welcome to WalletPop's Consumer Ally, where we are on your side -- to help resolve difficult situations, explain why things happen the way they do and to try to right wrongs. If you're having a problem with a business, please send a note to ConsumerAlly@WalletPop.com. Q. My daughter's friend...

First it was guns and then guitars; but now the ultimate American investment vehicle has arrived: lawsuits. With millions of lawsuits filed in the U.S. paying out billions of dollars a year, the thought of investing in the outcome of huge litigation is an appealing investment opportunity. The NY...

About $219.1 billion worth of merchandise is expected to be returned this year according to the National Retail Federation. Of that, $47.1 billion worth of stuff will come back to stores during the holiday season. With seasonal sales expected to be the worst in decades, 11% of retailers say they...

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday. Dear Ken and Daria, My wife and I have the money to pay off our mortgage. Should we pay it off or invest for a higher return? -Richard Thinking of re-financing your mortgage? Check out the...

Here's a pretty convoluted story I found on the GolfWrx.com message board. Basically, this guy went to Golf Galaxy and purchased a club for $60 and then received this phone call: "The sonartec club you purchased 2 weeks ago shouldn't have been for sale. It was an employee's club getting serviced or...

Retail renting: for the uninitiated, this is the process of purchasing something with the intent of using for a short period of time and then returning it. Examples might include clothing or a big-screen TV for a Super Bowl party.A piece in the Boston Globe recently looked at the issue -- a form of...

Bad news if you're unhappy with the blender your aunt got you for Christmas: You might have a tough time returning it. In an effort to crack down on fraud (The National Retail Federation estimates that 1 in 10 returns are bogus), stores are getting tough on returns. Even with a receipt, you might...