DailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comDailyFinance.com%http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/BlogURL%/media/feedlogo.gifDailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/My Verizon Incredible Keeps Breaking: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/11/my-verizon-incredible-keeps-breaking-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/11/my-verizon-incredible-keeps-breaking-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/11/my-verizon-incredible-keeps-breaking-help-me-walletpop/#commentsIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.


Q. In December, I bought a Droid Incredible off contract from Verizon. The phone lasted less than a day before it died and refused to charge. They gave me a new battery. The phone worked for 3 more hours with the new battery, then the same thing happened. They sent me a second Droid Incredible.

A few minutes after having that one, the phone went into an auto-reboot loop, just restarting itself over and over. They sent me a replacement and the same thing happened. They sent me another replacement and the same thing happened. They sent me yet another and this time the phone worked great for about 2 months. Then that old problem, the auto reboot loop, started again.

They sent me a fifth Droid Incredible. As soon as I turned it on the same thing happened. At that point I went to the Verizon store and the guy thought that my problem was that I was using the same battery in every phone. He had Verizon send me a sixth Droid Incredible, and a new (third) battery. This was about three weeks ago, and the phone worked great until yesterday, when all my apps stopped working with an "Error: application data low" message.

I called Verizon and they sent me a seventh phone in this three month time frame. I refused to accept another Droid Incredible, so they said they'd send me the Droid Pro even though I bought my Incredible with my own money because it was a phone I wanted. I did not choose the Pro and I don't want it. But I want a working phone so I said okay. I reviewed my address with the person four times, but when the phone was sent out, she failed to put my name on it and sent it to the wrong address. When it finally arrived, she had sent me the wrong phone -- another Droid Incredible -- by mistake.

So here I am now, three months after shelling out hundreds of dollars for a cool new phone, and I am currently without ANY working phone at all. I would love for them to acknowledge that I spent money on my phone and shouldn't be stuck with one that I don't want! If I can't have a Droid Incredible (which I really loved when it was working), I want an iPhone.
-- Dori Manela

A. Dori, this is quite the ordeal. To get to the bottom of it, I contacted Thomas Pica in Verizon Wireless corporate communications. As you know, he looked into it and had someone from the company contact you. He wouldn't share the outcome of that conversation because of the company's privacy policy, but I know from speaking with you that they're going to upgrade your phone early, which will allow you to purchase an iPhone for $199.99. They've also credited you $100 towards that purchase because of all the trouble you've had, so you'll be able to buy the phone for around $100.

According to Verizon's website, the 16 GB iPhone 4 retails for $649.99 out of contract, so this is a substantial savings. I'm still not sure why you had so many issues with the Droid Incredible -- Pica says your situation was unusual, and some quick research shows me that the phone gets pretty good user reviews online. In any case, I hope your new phone works out better for you.

While we're on the subject of Verizon, just a quick PSA to all readers: The company will be eliminating the one-year contract option as of April 17. If you want a one-year term instead of the standard two-year term, you should lock in before that date. Verizon's website says their early termination fees range from $175 to $350.

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]]>cell phonedroid incredibleiphone 4jean chatzkyverizon incredible breakingverizon wirelessJean ChatzkyMon, 11 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTFox Rent A Car Won't Refund My Deposit: Help Me, WalletPophttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/04/fox-rent-a-car-wont-refund-my-deposit-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/04/fox-rent-a-car-wont-refund-my-deposit-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/04/fox-rent-a-car-wont-refund-my-deposit-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under: ,

help me WalletPop logo - fox rent a carIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q: In September of 2010 I booked a trip to San Francisco and paid for the plane ticket and rental car together through lastminutetravel.com. The trip was great but now the car rental company, Fox Rent A Car, is refusing to refund what they told me was a $150 deposit back to my card!

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]]>Bank of Americacar rental insurancecar rentalsfox rent a carJeanChatzkyJean ChatzkyMon, 04 Apr 2011 18:00:00 ESTMarriott Won't Transfer Rewards Points: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/28/marriott-wont-transfer-rewards-points-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/28/marriott-wont-transfer-rewards-points-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/28/marriott-wont-transfer-rewards-points-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under:

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Q. After much hunting around on the Internet, I thought you might be the best person I could consult about the issue I am having with Marriott. In June of 2007, my son checked into the Marriott Residence Inn in Pittsburgh to wait for a double lung transplant. Funds had been raised by family and friends to pay for his stay, which was estimated to last 6 to 8 weeks following transplant. For reasons beyond anyone's control, the stay actually lasted about 11 months. At some point during his stay, he signed up for the Marriott Rewards Program, and amassed many points. About six months into the stay, his travel funds ran out and his father and I paid for the rest of his stay, with the points, of course, accumulating on his account.

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]]>jeanchatzkymarriottrewards programstravelJean ChatzkyMon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTHow Much Should You Worry About Inflation?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/24/should-you-worry-about-inflation/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/24/should-you-worry-about-inflation/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/24/should-you-worry-about-inflation/#commentsFiled under:

Last week, the Labor Department put out two important inflation measures: the Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The PPI, which tracks the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers, rose 1.6% in February. The CPI, which came out two days later and tracks how much consumers pay for goods and services, was up .5% in February.

Of course, I don't have to tell you that inflation bells are ringing. You've seen the jump in prices at the grocery store, and, maybe more significantly, at the gas pump.

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"The question for consumers right now is: Is this a permanent change that is signaling that inflation is about to take off -- or a temporary increase? Should you read the data as a blip driven by the Middle East, or is it a sign that we're about to hit an inflationary era?" asks Mark Thoma, a professor of Economics at the University of Oregon and author of the blog Economist's View.

His take? We're not on the verge of a massive inflationary episode, but as the economy recovers, there's a good chance that food and other commodity prices will stay high.

Here's what you need to know about inflation:

Supply and Demand
We talked about this recently, but one reason food prices will likely stay on the higher end is because of basic economics: Lower output plus increased demand equals high prices. "We're seeing higher world prices for food and other commodities, and that's not something that the Fed can do anything about. When there aren't enough tickets to the concert, prices go up," explains Thoma. "We're not on the verge of a great big Fed-induced inflation, but I do think that we're likely to see a higher cost of living."

Labor Is Steady
Luckily, raw materials only account for about 30% of the cost of an item. Labor, on the other hand, is 70 to 80%, according to Thoma. That means increased energy prices may not bleed through into other areas of your budget -- in fact, excluding food and energy, the consumer price index rose only .2% in February, and apparel actually declined .9%. Right now, wages are relatively steady -- if we start seeing them take off, other prices are likely to follow, and that's when inflation might start to have a bigger impact. With the current job market, this isn't yet an issue -- and it may not be for quite a while.

Interest Rates Should Remain Low
Thoma says he doesn't expect the Fed to change interest rates, at least through the end of the year, unless inflation really does start suddenly taking off. Of course, this news has a mixed impact: If you're living on interest income -- as many people in retirement are -- you want rates to go up. If you're living on variable interest rates -- credit card debt, or an adjustable rate mortgage -- an interest rate increase would kick you when you're down.

Plan Ahead
Your best protection against rising prices -- whether they're at the pump, the grocery store, or the mall -- is to plan for them. That means squirreling away money, so you have an emergency fund, and keeping some fat in your budget so a higher grocery bill won't throw your whole month off.




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]]>energy pricesEnergyPricesfood pricesFoodPricesgas pricesgrocery pricesinflationinterest ratesJeanChatzkypricesproducer price indexretirementrising pricesJean ChatzkyThu, 24 Mar 2011 06:30:00 ESTU.S. Bank Won't Resend My iPod: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/22/u-s-bank-wont-resend-my-ipod-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/22/u-s-bank-wont-resend-my-ipod-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/22/u-s-bank-wont-resend-my-ipod-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under:

help me walletpop - jean chatzky - iPod and us bankIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.


Q: I have been a customer of U.S. Bank for years. My husband travels a lot for work so we rack up a lot of points. I now have around 75,000 and I ordered an iPod Touch around Nov. 26, 2010. On Dec. 1, 2010 they sent it out USPS. The USPS website showed it was checked in Dec. 1 and departed on Dec. 2, then nothing was ever updated.

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]]>consumerscredit card rewardscredit cardshelp me walletpopJeanChatzkyU.S Bank and iPodus bankJean ChatzkyTue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 ESTThree Key Rules for an Unpredictable Housing Markethttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/15/three-key-rules-for-an-unpredictable-housing-market/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/15/three-key-rules-for-an-unpredictable-housing-market/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/15/three-key-rules-for-an-unpredictable-housing-market/#commentsFiled under: ,

Three Key Rules for an Unpredictable Housing Market On Feb. 19, I wrote about the housing market, and news out of the National Association of Realtors that home prices were starting to stabilize in many markets. The NAR's most recent report showed that 78 U.S. markets experienced growth in the fourth quarter of last year, and existing home sales were up 15.4%.

This was good news: It, along with better jobs numbers, indicated that slowly, the economy is recovering. But now, just a few short weeks later, some signs are pointing toward a double dip. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index that came out Feb. 22 said national home prices fell 4.1% during the last quarter of 2010. Robert Shiller, the co-founder of the index, predicted that prices have the potential to fall another 15%, 20% or even 25%.

"There are several measures out there -- the National Association of Realtors, Case-Shiller, CoreLogic (CLGX), which follows closely in methodology to Case-Shiller. And then there's the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which tracks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. Basically, they're showing, in many markets, a return to year-over-year price declines. There are a lot of reasons to believe that in many markets, prices are continuing to soften," says Eric Belsky, the managing director of Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Here's the thing, though: Getting caught up in all of these national measures will drive you crazy. Yes, they're important. They're particularly helpful if you want to sell your home and you're waiting for the value to come back before you put it on the market. They can also give you a rough idea of where the market stands, if you're a buyer wondering whether to jump in. And of course if you're an investor considering putting more money into (or taking it out of) real estate related stocks, those measures matter. So by all means, you should keep an eye on them. But there are several tenets of the housing market that you ought to follow, no matter what:

o. Think local. I've said this before, but it bears repeating: You need to look at your local market, not national, state or even, to a certain extent, city data. These numbers are all well and good, but if you're seeing stabilization in your neighborhood (homes are selling faster, for more than they did last year or even last month), it might be time to pull the trigger on a purchase or think about putting your home on the market. On the flip side, if there's a wealth of inventory and a lot of empty homes in your area, it could mean that average prices are still going down. Vacant homes tend to signal distressed sales, because people don't want to pay for a house they're not living in, so they're more willing to price to sell. This can drive home prices down, at least slightly, across the board.

o. Take your time. We don't know if we've seen the lowest of the lows, or if this double dip will materialize. That is, of course, the frustrating thing about the bottom: You can't put your finger on it until it has passed. That's why most experts will tell you not to to try to time a market bottom. Instead, take your time finding a house you love in a neighborhood that you'll remain in for at least five years or so.

"We'll always tell you, it's really difficult to time the markets, and it's especially difficult to time when to jump into the market," explains Belsky. " But buyers don't have to have a sense of urgency. Interest rates have drifted lower again, and house prices don't appear to be going up in lots of markets."

o. Make sure you can afford it. Home ownership is just one goal among many others, including retirement and a healthy emergency savings cushion (always important, but even more so when you're on the hook for a mortgage). By all accounts, rising gas prices are going to put some added pressure on household budgets. That doesn't mean you can no longer buy a home, but it does mean you might want to take a closer look and make sure all of your wiggle room hasn't been eaten up by the increase. You don't want to stretch yourself too thin. When you buy, you want to be able to afford the home -- and any unforeseen expenses that pop up along the way.


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]]>buy a houseCase ShillerCase Shiller Home Price IndexCoreLogicdouble dipfannie maeFederal Housing Finance AgencyForeclosuresfreddie machomehome saleshome sellershome sellinghousinghousing marketinterest ratesjean chatzkyNARNational Association of RealtorspropertyPropertyPricesreal estateJean ChatzkyTue, 15 Mar 2011 06:30:00 ESTAT&T App Failed Me: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/14/atandt-app-failed-me-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/14/atandt-app-failed-me-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/14/atandt-app-failed-me-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under:

Help Me WalletPop logoIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q. Hi, I heard of you through a woman at my bank. I have a problem with AT&T. The company (in November) hooked up the account number to an account that I didn't want to use to pay my bill. I pay my bill through an app on my iPhone. It took talking to at least three or more customer service representatives to find out that I had to delete the app and start over the next time I pay my bill. I created a case with AT&T on Nov. 30, 2010, to get the payment problem solved. To this day, the problem has not been resolved. I've now sent in two bank statements showing where my account was put in the negative -- $86.37 -- by their system running a payment I didn't authorize (my overdraft protection tried to cover the charges). Please help!
-- Dari Dennis

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]]>appsATTcell phonesJeanChatzkyoverdraft feesoverdraft protectionJean ChatzkyMon, 14 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTHow to Cope With Rising Food Costshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/11/how-to-cope-with-rising-food-costs/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/11/how-to-cope-with-rising-food-costs/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/11/how-to-cope-with-rising-food-costs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The U.S.Department of Agriculture has confirmed what you likely already know: Food prices are on the rise. In January, the department forecast a price increase of 2.5% for 2011; last week, they upped that to between 3% and 4%.

We're expected to see the bulk of that increase toward the second half of the year, but you -- the consumers -- know it's already pretty evident: Major food manufacturers like Sara Lee (SLE) and ConAgra (CAG) are starting to increase prices on items such as frozen meals and deli meats. And other companies, like Kraft (KFT), may reduce the size of packaging to cut costs.

All this translates to a higher grocery bill for you.

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What is driving these price hikes? I'm not just talking about the soaring gas prices we've been shaking our heads over. Beginning in July of last year, we also started to see a pretty sharp increase in corn prices, according to Darrel Good, an agricultural economist and professor at the University of Illinois.

"The price of corn has basically doubled since the end of June last year," Good says. "There are three or four factors that are fundamental to rising prices, but first and foremost, crop problems resulted in a smaller-than-expected output." We also saw a rapid expansion in demand due primarily to corn's use in ethanol.

But corn's not the only problem. There's been an increased demand for soybeans. Meat prices, too, are headed up, because of large price increases for livestock cattle and hogs. Producers of livestock have been slowly losing money, so they've reduced supply. And as basic college economics taught us, when the supply is down, prices go up.

So the question is, how do you cope? I have four suggestions:

Adjust Your Budget
Darrel Good says whether prices will continue to rise depends on what happens to crop production in 2011 -- if we have a favorable growing season, we can replenish some of that lost inventory. If prices do stay up, the cost of living will take a hit. If your budget is already stretched by gas prices, these price increases are going to push it even further, which means you may be faced with hard choices when it comes to discretionary spending: eating out, entertainment, new high-tech toys.

It's time to go over your budget and see where you can cut back (cable and cell phone are always good places to start -- these companies are typically negotiable). Then put a hold on major purchases to give yourself a chance to adjust.

Shop Smarter
This means making a plan -- and a list -- before you leave for the grocery store, so you know exactly what you're buying. Take some time to survey your stock: Know what you have and what you need. Limit impulse purchases. It helps to make one big shopping trip each week, rather than several. That way, you only have to walk past the magazines, candy bars and exotic fruit once.

Dedicate yourself to clipping coupons (worth a valuable $1.12 apiece on average) for things you regularly buy and need, and buy things when they're on sale, particularly non-perishables. Give store brands another look. And compare prices between stores, because you might be surprised. Wegman's, for instance, announced earlier this year that they wouldn't be raising prices on 40 staple products in 2011, despite rising commodity prices. Bananas, orange juice, tuna, cereal and frozen vegetables are on their list.

Compare Unit Prices
 This is particularly important now that package sizes are shrinking: You need to get into the habit of looking at not only the retail price, but also the unit price. This will show you how much you're paying per ounce, pound, quart or other measurement, so you can compare products of different sizes and see where the best deal is. Often -- but not always -- you'll save by buying larger sizes, so pay attention.

Avoid Processed Foods
The further your food is from the original source -- and the more it's processed and packaged -- the more you'll pay for it as a general rule. That's why you'll often see price hikes in the inner aisles of the grocery store, where all the cookies, crackers, TV dinners and boxed meals live. (Corn and soy are popular ingredients in these foods, whether in the form of soybean oil, soy protein, corn syrup or maltodextrin.)

If you stick to the outer aisles -- or shop at a farmer's market come spring, where prices don't reflect gas costs to truck food across the country -- you may not be hit quite as hard.


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]]>commodity pricescorn pricesgrocery pricesgrocery shoppinginflationoil pricespricesshopping tipssoy pricesJean ChatzkyFri, 11 Mar 2011 12:30:00 ESTAwaiting Refund from TheAwesomeStore.com: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/08/awaiting-refund-from-theawesomestore-com-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/08/awaiting-refund-from-theawesomestore-com-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/08/awaiting-refund-from-theawesomestore-com-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under: ,

TheAwesomeStore.com jean chatzky consumer helpIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q. I recently placed an order online at TheAwesomeStore.com, and I accidentally ended up with an order for two DVDs instead of one. The company notified me by email and I emailed back saying I made a mistake and only wanted one. I received only one in the mail, but was charged for two. I contacted the company by email about the error and have never been contacted back again. It's only about $25, but any help would be appreciated.
Leslie Baldwin

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]]>Consumer Allyconsumer helpconsumer help and adviceJeanChatzkyonline orderingrefundsshopping onlinetheawesomestore.comJean ChatzkyTue, 08 Mar 2011 08:00:00 ESTMy Polaroid TV Went Dark: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/01/my-polaroid-tv-went-dark-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/01/my-polaroid-tv-went-dark-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/01/my-polaroid-tv-went-dark-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under: ,

polaroid tv problemsIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q. I purchased a 37" LCD Polaroid TV in 2006 at Walmart. The total purchase price was $738, plus two years of warranty. In the last year, my TV has had some problems: The remote stopped working and the TV just turns off by itself sometimes. Then the TV went out completely -- no picture, no sound, not even the Polaroid image when the TV first comes on.

I contacted the company's technical support and the representative informed me that they had a lot of power failure problems with this model TV and that it can be fixed with a replacement part for $222. He said I could fix it myself with a screwdriver, and they would refund $100 back to me once I returned the old part. I asked what would happen if the same problem came up again and he said it shouldn't happen again, but if it did, I would have to purchase a new part again.

I have read tales from other people who are having the same problem with the same TV, and they say that after 90 days, their TV went out again. Why didn't Polaroid issue a recall on the TV if so many consumers were having issues with the product? Can you help me with this issue?
-- Latoria Chapman

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]]>healthJeanChatzkypolaroidpoliticstelevisiontv problemswarrantyJean ChatzkyTue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 ESTWhat Retail's Rebound Means for Shoppers and Investorshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/26/retail-is-on-the-rebound-what-this-means-for-you/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/26/retail-is-on-the-rebound-what-this-means-for-you/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/26/retail-is-on-the-rebound-what-this-means-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week, the National Retail Federation (NRF) put out its 2011 economic forecast, predicting that retail sales will increase 4% over 2010. This projection seems to fall in line with other economic indicators: Consumer confidence is up, home prices are starting to stabilize in many markets and unemployment is shrinking, albeit slowly.

It also mirrors recent research from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling that found we're getting a little tired of pinching pennies.

All in all, a boost in retail sales is good news, of course. But what, exactly, does it mean for your wallet -- and what are you going to see over the course of the year?

Here's how Jack Kleinhenz, NRF's chief economist, thinks it will all shake out:

More Optimism
We know this from the most recent consumer confidence survey, and NRF's forecast confirms it. Over the past few years, consumers have really been keeping their wallets closed, and that's slowly starting to change, which will help prop up the economy. "A number of issues have curtailed spending by consumers during this recovery, when in the past, during other recovery cycles, consumers have tended to start spending much earlier in the process. That hasn't happened until recently, but now consumer sales are bouncing back, and there is a good indication that there is more confidence in the economy. The outlook is more favorable overall," explains Kleinhenz.

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A New Hitch
Gas prices are on their way up, and that always cuts into discretionary spending. Last month, we saw Social Security tax cuts -- the withholding was reduced from 6.2% to 4.2% -- that put some extra money in our paychecks every month. Unfortunately, the impact of that extra cash might be absorbed by these higher gas prices, says Kleinhenz, which has the potential to hurt retail sales. In the past, consumers may have adjusted better to higher gas prices, but these days, we're wary. "Historically, when we had higher gas and energy prices occur, people said they'd spend more on gas but they weren't going to cut back on other things. Today, consumers are much more prudent given the way the economy has preformed." Being more careful is good for your wallet, but not necessarily for the economy.

Higher Prices
Kleinhenz expects that retailers will continue to attempt to spark sales with value pricing, but there's another wrench in the progress: Cotton prices are up due to poor weather and increased demand. That could translate into higher prices for retailers (you may have already noticed prices inching up at the mall). "Not everything will increase in price, because there could be substitution of wool or synthetics. But there could be price acceleration in certain clothes that have a higher cotton content, and you see more of those in the spring and summer," explains Kleinhenz. Baby clothes, in particular, may be hit.

Investment Opportunities
When consumers have more discretionary income, retailers tend to do better. So, Kleinhenz says there could be an argument for investing in retailers that have the ability to capitalize on that, and show it in their quarterly or annual sales performance. But, as always, you have to look at your portfolio as a whole. You always need to be mindful of your long-term goals, and the best portfolios focus on diversification, not chasing the next hot stock.

Kleinhenz notes that the data from the NRF isn't all-inclusive. "When we compute our retail sales number, we actually exclude some numbers in the data, because some things just aren't as consumable on a regular basis. So, we exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants. When we look at retail sales, we're looking at the core activities that are traditional retail." The projections are based on stores you'd find in a mall, plus independent retailers, grocery stores and discount outlets.

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]]>consumer confidenceconsumer spendingcotton priceseconomyGasPricesNational Retail Federationretail salesretail stocksRetailSalesshoppingspendingunemploymentJean ChatzkySat, 26 Feb 2011 08:00:00 ESTBest Buy Opened and Damaged My Video Game: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/22/best-buy-opened-and-damaged-my-video-game-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/22/best-buy-opened-and-damaged-my-video-game-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/22/best-buy-opened-and-damaged-my-video-game-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Q. I purchased "Left 4 Dead 2" from Best Buy. Upon playing it for several days I noticed it began freezing randomly, amongst other problems. I returned to Best Buy to exchange the game. The first associate had me grab another copy while he began the exchange. Upon returning, another associate took over, and everything went well until he used a box cutter to remove not only the shrink wrap, but the plastic sticker holding the case shut. He then removed the game disc, showed me the underside and asked if it looked good, and slammed the disc back in the case. The new game disc is now scratched and will not read. Did Best Buy just change their policy with game exchanges?
Jamie Vondrak

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]]>Best BuyJean ChatzkyReturn PoliciesVideo GamesJean ChatzkyTue, 22 Feb 2011 14:30:00 ESTWhat the Housing Market Is Signaling Nowhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/19/what-is-the-housing-market-signaling-now/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/19/what-is-the-housing-market-signaling-now/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/19/what-is-the-housing-market-signaling-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last week, we got some good news: Home prices in most major metropolitan areas are starting to stabilize. A report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showed that 78 markets in the U.S. experienced price gains in the fourth quarter of 2010 over the previous year. Existing-home sales were up as well, rising 15.4% to an annual rate of 4.8 million from 4.16 million in the third quarter of 2010.

This wasn't a total improvement over 2009 -- prices are up 0.2%, however the fourth quarter of that year saw an annual rate of 5.97 million sales, largely due to the first-time home buyer tax credit -- but it's certainly progress.

Here's what that means for the average consumer:

A Slow Improvement
These are not great gains, and in fact, only half of the markets saw improvements, which means -- say it with me -- half did not. But it does mean we're inching in the right direction, and we should continue to see more growth as the year goes on.

A Heads Up for Buyers
If you're in the market for a home, you need to be paying attention to these numbers. "If I were thinking about buying, I would want to have some perspective about where prices were headed. If they're starting to accelerate, you might want to act. If there's been a decline, you have to realize that there are opportunities out there to shop and find a real bargain," says Jed Smith, the managing director of quantitative research at NAR. Chasing the bottom is never a good idea -- no one knows when it will hit-- but if you've been holding out and prices have shown signs of increasing in your area, you probably want to get serious.
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Another Chance for Sellers
If you've been waiting to put your home on the market -- or you had it on, but took it off because it just wasn't moving -- we may be inching toward a time when you can put it up for sale and recoup at least some of the value it lost during the recession.

It's Not a Store-Wide Sale
Real estate is extremely local, not just by state or city but by neighborhood, and in some cases, even by block. That means you really have to track your immediate area if you want to follow prices and sales data carefully. You can find out hyper-local information from a local real estate agent, one of the perks of working with one to find a home. But this national data from NAR tells you one thing: You're not going to find bargains in every market. "Everyone thinks that everything is on sale. It really isn't, and if you're going to make a realistic offer, you need to take into account whether prices are going up rapidly, stabilizing, or going down in your specific area. If prices are going up, a low-ball offer isn't going to work. If they aren't, you need to recognize that it might be a good time to buy a house," says Smith.

The Economy Is Improving
The jobs situation, in particular, which I wrote about last week, is looking better. We're adding jobs slowly -- too slowly for the kind of rebound we need -- but these NAR figures are promising. The unemployment rate in any given area tends to correlate very closely with home prices, explains Smith. "When the economy is generating jobs, and there are areas where jobs are being generated, home prices in those areas tend to be headed up. When the economy is holding constant, prices tend to be relatively stable. And where there are job problems, prices may be weak or headed down in some cases."

In NAR's release about these new numbers, Lawrence Yun, the association's chief economist, says that the housing recovery will mean faster job growth. He projects that 150,000 to 200,000 jobs will be added to the economy in 2011 from an anticipated 300,000 additional home sales.

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]]>Home PricesHomePricesHousingHousingCrisisJobsProperty PricesPropertyPricesReal EstateRealEstateRecessionJean ChatzkySat, 19 Feb 2011 08:00:00 ESTKohl's Won't Honor Offer: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/15/kohls-wont-honor-offer-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/15/kohls-wont-honor-offer-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/15/kohls-wont-honor-offer-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under: ,

kphlsIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q. I purchased a luggage set on a buy-one, get-one free sale online for $199 with free shipping from Kohl's website. I received the email confirmation and it only reflected one luggage set. I immediately emailed them to inquire about the other set that I had purchased. I was written back that I had to type in two sets on my online shopping bag purchase. I told them there was absolutely no instruction to this and to please just make the adjustment to my order. They acknowledged I was correct and apologized that the online ordering was not clear to this, but, they would not adjust my order and said that I needed to order two. They would not issue another shipping order for the second set of luggage that I had purchased and was entitled to in this buy-one, get-one-free offer. I was told if I wanted this second set I would have to spend another $199 and place another order, then email them the new order number. They would make a note to credit my card for the second order, and I should see that credit within 30 days. I don't have another $199 to order another set. Please, help me!
-- Kathleen Bradshaw

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]]>buy one get one freeJeanChatzkyKohlsonline shoppingJean ChatzkyTue, 15 Feb 2011 08:00:00 ESTJanuary's Jobs Report: What It Means for Youhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/12/januarys-jobs-report-what-it-means-for-you/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/12/januarys-jobs-report-what-it-means-for-you/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/12/januarys-jobs-report-what-it-means-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last Friday, the eagerly awaited January jobs report came out, and it was, frankly, a bit of a flop. The unemployment rate did shrink 0.4 percentage points from 9.4% in December 2010 to a flat 9% in January 2011. But the economy added only 36,000 jobs during the month, far short of the 145,000 that were expected.

"The recovery in jobs has been very anemic. We're not doing as well as we ordinarily do during a recovery," says Hugh Johnson, an economist and the chief investment officer of Hugh Johnson Advisors in Albany, N.Y. "The economy cannot grow by adding just 36,000 jobs a month."

If you have a job, you may be thinking that none of this means a whole lot to you. Or maybe you know it means something, but you're not sure what. So, that's what I'm here to do: break it down and explain what you need to know.

Key Gauges of Economic Health

Job growth and unemployment are both key gauges when it comes to judging the economy's overall health. "They are one of the measures as to how the economy is doing, and they can give people either a high level of comfort or a low level of comfort. In other words, if you have a job, will you still have one in six months or a year? Are we headed in the right direction?" explains Johnson.

During this downturn, the unemployment rate peaked at 10.1% in October 2009. A rate of 4% to 6% is considered healthy.

As far as job growth goes, it's plain to see that adding 36,000 jobs a month isn't enough. But what is?

The answer comes down to careful math. "You're looking at how many jobs you need to add each month to make up for the 8.3 million losses during the crisis -- and how many jobs we have to add to make up for those losses by the end of 2012," says Johnson. This isn't a calculation you need to do, but let's just say we need to be adding closer to 300,000 a month.

Keep Your Job

One thing about these numbers is pretty obvious: Jobs are still few and far between. Although we're certainly making progress, it's clearly going to take a while, so you should stay put unless you already have another offer.

We're not seeing as many layoffs as we once were, but they're still a possibility. That means you need to be doing your best to make your company, and your boss, see that you're a vital part of the business.

It also means that having a hefty emergency fund -- enough to cover six to nine months' worth of expenses - continues to be crucial, in good economies and bad. And if you're among the unemployed, look to industries that are growing: technology, health care and education top the list.

Hold On to Your Investments

Slow job growth can actually be good for your portfolio, says Johnson. "It is, in a perverted way, good news for investments that employment isn't growing too rapidly and taking too big of a cut out of profits. Companies are not hiring many workers, and therefore more of their revenue goes right to the bottom line in the form of profit."

As the economy continues to add jobs -- and Johnson says we're going to start picking up speed in February, when he predicts we'll see a "very good number" -- people will start feeling more secure, which means they'll spend more money. More spending leads to more jobs, and slowly, we'll pull ourselves out of this mess.

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]]>january jobs reportjanuary unemployment reportjob growthjob tipsjobslooking for a jobneed a jobunemploymentunemployment rateJean ChatzkySat, 12 Feb 2011 08:00:00 ESTAn Insider's Trick to Avoiding Late Feeshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/10/expedite-your-payment-to-avoid-a-late-fee/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/10/expedite-your-payment-to-avoid-a-late-fee/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/10/expedite-your-payment-to-avoid-a-late-fee/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stack of late billsHere's the scenario: You're in the elevator, or perhaps the office, when the smartphone dings (or vibrates or whatever you have it set to do). It's one of the notices you set up with your bank, where you do most of your business online. The credit card bill is due - tomorrow. Or maybe the mortgage. Or the car loan. And, for whatever reason, you haven't paid it. What do you do?

Well, the first thing you should do is call the biller. If you're never late, they may be willing to give you a few days grace. They may also (assuming this is not a credit card bill) be able to take immediate payment over the phone at no charge. But sometimes these aren't options. Then, you likely have a $35 late fee staring you in the face.

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]]>credit cardsexpedited paymentsJavelin Strategy Researchjean chatzkylate feesloansJean ChatzkyThu, 10 Feb 2011 12:00:00 ESTUPS Won't Pay My Claim: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/08/ups-wont-pay-my-claim-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/08/ups-wont-pay-my-claim-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/08/ups-wont-pay-my-claim-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under:

ups claim jean chatzky If you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q. I paid UPS for an insurance policy to cover any damages en route for a shipment I sent. UPS dropped or somehow damaged it in shipping so badly that they destroyed the contents. UPS (actually the insurance company they contract with) has since refused to pay out on this insurance policy claim for $1,000 and they keep changing their reason for doing so. They did this to us once before when we had a similar problem a few years ago and had to go through several steps in order to get compensated for our loss at that time. This time it seems that they are taking a harder line and are finding any excuse they can to ignore this issue and not pay for the damage that they caused. If it has happened to me I'm sure that UPS is doing this to others. Please help me out with this situation.
Roger M. Grubb

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]]>JeanChatzkyshippingupsups claimJean ChatzkyTue, 08 Feb 2011 13:10:00 ESTFive Investing Rules You Can Learn From Kidshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/05/investing-rules-tips-children-kids/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/05/investing-rules-tips-children-kids/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/05/investing-rules-tips-children-kids/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about what you can learn from the opposite sex when it comes to investing. As with most things, men and women have different strengths when managing a portfolio.

This week, I'm taking it a step further: I'm going to show you what you can learn from your kids. Yes, your kids. Or your nieces and nephews, if you don't have kids of your own.

Children have an interesting perspective about investing: They can really bring you back down to earth and help you recover common sense (because, let's face it, money -- and, specifically, the prospect of making more money -- really makes us kind of lose it, a little bit).

So, here are five lessons you can take from the little ones in your life:

1. Buy Low. Logically, you know this rule. You'd never wait for the price of those shoes to go up. But for whatever reason, people tend to lose sight of this when investing.

"If you go back to March of 2009, stocks had a half-price sale, and kids will tell you that it's better buy something when it's on sale, when prices are low rather than high," says Allan Roth, a certified financial planner and author of How a Second Grader Beats Wall Street: Golden Rules Any Investor Can Learn. "But we were panicking in the streets, selling. Now that the markets have recovered, finally many people have started moving back into the stock market."

Ideally, of course, you want to do the opposite: Buy low, and sell high.

2. Diversify. Your kids probably know the saying as well as you do: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. For them, it might apply more to the mall than the stock market, but the key lesson remains the same. If you aren't spreading your investments out, or worse, your portfolio is too heavy in your employer's stock, you're asking for trouble.

Many people don't think about it this way, but your job is, essentially, one of your investments, and certainly the one with the highest return. If your company goes down -- and history shows us that's always a possibility -- you don't want the lion's share of your investments to go with it. Keep company stock to 5% or 10% of your portfolio, at the most.

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3. Lend With Caution. Or as a kid would say, don't lend money to someone who won't pay it back. This rule has two meanings, at least to me: First of all, keep your risk in check. Yes, you have to weigh your individual tolerance for risk, and some people like taking chances. That's fine, but don't let greed get in the way of common sense.

The second way this factors into your portfolio? Don't tie your money up in low-yield investments that won't beat inflation. If you do that, you're losing money. Instead, set yourself up with an emergency fund (here, the interest rate is less important than easy access) and then set up a portfolio that will beat inflation. That means an age-appropriate mix of stocks and bonds.

4. Don't Play the Game Unless You Understand the Rules. "We adults sign up for an annuity with a 373-page prospectus, not realizing that the actuaries and the attorneys aren't writing that thing to protect the consumer. I've never met a consumer who understood what they bought, and I've rarely met an agent who understood what they were selling," says Roth. This goes for all investments you don't understand: Ask questions, and if it still isn't clear, move on.

5. Keep It Simple. An overly complex portfolio isn't necessarily a better portfolio -- and in fact, in many cases, it's worse. Yes, you want to diversify, but you can do that with three to five funds, says Roth: A total U.S. index fund, a total international index fund and a total bond index fund. "With those funds, you can own the entire world. People think they have to have 53 mutual funds, but that doesn't mean they're diversified."

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]]>buy lowchildrendiversificationHigh Yield Investinghigh yield stocksinvesting tipsjean chatzkykidsKids and Moneylow yieldsportfolioriskrisk managementsimpleJean ChatzkySat, 05 Feb 2011 09:00:00 ESTI Didn't Get My Packages From Sears: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/02/i-didnt-get-my-packages-from-sears-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/02/i-didnt-get-my-packages-from-sears-help-me-walletpop/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/02/i-didnt-get-my-packages-from-sears-help-me-walletpop/#commentsFiled under: ,

sears shipping jean chatzkyIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Become a fan of Consumer Ally on Facebook.

Q. I placed an order with Sears online for a pair of tennis shoes and a tool for my husband for Christmas. I paid extra for shipping to be sure it was delivered by Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, I had not received the order so I called customer service. I was told the shoes were delivered by FedEx on Dec. 22. I never received them. I was also then told that the tool I ordered was on back order. When I could get nowhere with this person, I asked for a supervisor. He kept repeating that the shoes were delivered on the 22nd and could offer no explanation as to why I was never notified that the tool was on backorder.

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]]>fedexholiday shoppingJeanChatzkyrefundssearsshippingupsJean ChatzkyWed, 02 Feb 2011 07:00:00 ESTThe Children's Place Changed Its Return Policy: Help Me, WalletPop!http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/01/26/the-childrens-place-changed-its-return-policy-help-me-walletp/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/01/26/the-childrens-place-changed-its-return-policy-help-me-walletp/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/01/26/the-childrens-place-changed-its-return-policy-help-me-walletp/#commentsFiled under: ,

children's place jeam chatzkyIf you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com.

Q. I purchased a children's vest (among other items) from The Children's Place in Pennsylvania. The vest was $13.30. Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law bought the same one and asked me to return mine. No problem, I thought. I did return the vest, only to be told that the return policy had changed and I would only get $7.49 returned. The return policy changed three days prior to my purchase and I was told (by The Children's Place supervisor) that the store posted notices stating the change. I did not notice any change of policy information posted when I was shopping at that time. I was told the return information was on the back of the receipt, end of story.

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]]>childrens placejean chatzkyreturn policyreturnsJean ChatzkyWed, 26 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST