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» February 2010 Archives
Video: Behind the scenes with Wendy Mesley
Friday, February 26, 2010, 12:29 PM    3
cellphone_bill_606.jpg In this video (after the jump), go behind the scenes with host Wendy Mesley as she asks people in Toronto about their worst cellphone bill. As you probably already know, for months we've asked Canadians to send their bills. We whittled the worst down to a handful of finalists, and put the final three to a nation-wide poll. On Friday, March 5 we announce the "winner," and along the way reveal the results of our investigation into the cellphone industry.
Would you pay $120 a year for roaming charge 'insurance'?
Thursday, February 25, 2010, 4:51 PM    6
The subject of unexpected roaming charges is one issue that will generate a bazillion comments.
Is Matt Lauer the only person in Canada who couldn't score a pair of HBC mitts?
Monday, February 22, 2010, 4:08 PM    10
This week, Oprah may have set off yet another frenzy around HBC's famous red mittens after she talked about scoring a pair through her "connections."
'Pet parents' paying more for their pet's stuff
Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 4:25 PM    9
Among the findings of a report released Tuesday on household debt by the Vanier Institute of the Family was a breakdown of the Top 20 products that rose the most in cost between 2000 and 2008.
Spotting a 'growing' problem in homes
Friday, February 12, 2010, 3:53 PM    2
Do a quick Google search of "marijuana grow-ops" in Canada, and the headlines pop up. In just the past month: "RCMP estimate as many as 10,000 grow-ops in British Columbia," "Mounties encounter more sophisticated grow-ops," "Halifax police charge six in grow-op." And on they go.
What, no haggling on my warranty?
Thursday, February 11, 2010, 1:00 PM    7

logitech.jpgIs good customer service so rare today that when it happens, it's news?

Certainly, that would seem the case, judging by the number of and interest in stories about bad service with large corporations.
Too much choice can be paralyzing: study
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 3:36 PM    9
Have you ever been paralyzed by indecision when shopping for various consumer products?

I have, usually when it comes to buying light bulbs at Canadian Tire or shampoo at Shoppers Drug Mart. Hundreds of shampoos and conditioners are for sale, one for every phenotype of hair: curly, straight, red, brown, dry, fine, and on and on. And that's just one brand.
What you need to know... when looking for a weight loss clinic
Friday, February 5, 2010, 8:56 PM    14
606_magic_in_a_bottle.jpgWhen looking to lose weight at a weight loss clinic:

• Don't get bound into long term contracts.

• Ask for a total program cost - what does it include, what does it not.

• Find out what you can expect from the program.  For example, how much weight to be lost in a certain time frame. A reasonable goal would be 1-3 lbs a week.  Ask whether you have to buy additional products.
Questioning the Magic at Herbal Magic
Friday, February 5, 2010, 11:38 AM    106
When Stacey Edgar wanted to drop about 50 pounds last year, she decided to try Herbal Magic.  It's one of the biggest weight loss companies in Canada -- with more than 300 stores coast to coast.

"When they're selling you, you're just concentrating on how awesome you're going to look, and how it's going to change your life," says Edgar.  "And then they write all the numbers down, but they don't give you a breakdown of the cost."
Rogers uses detective work to fix bill
Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 5:40 PM    2
It's always interesting to find out whatever happened to some of the people featured in our stories.

Here's one happy update. Robert Lendvai, a Toronto marketing consultant, was angered after Rogers charged him about $600 for downloading a power-point presentation onto his BlackBerry while vacationing with his family in the Dominican Republic last March.

He argued with Rogers that it might have been good customer relations to allow for pop-up warnings for people who are about to incur unusually large fees.
GPS safety concerns, but no regulations
Monday, February 1, 2010, 12:48 PM    2
gps100131_16x9_xtralarge_1.jpg
Following Marketplace's GPS Distraction report, our colleagues at the Consumer News Unit revealed this weekend that even though Transport Canada has identified the use of GPS devices as a threat to road safety in 2003, after six years of consultation with industry and safety groups, it has done nothing to regulate them.
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