Blog Archives for 2013

This year, ad executives used ballerinas to sell booze, '90s nostalgia to sell a browser, and a suicidal cat to sell a car. Confused? So are we.

A new IRS ruling has caused much frustration amongst restaurant owners and servers, and could possibly end a practice that's bugged many restaurant patrons for years. At the center of this controversy is the automatic gratuity, that compulsory charge that many eateries tack on to your bill when you dine with a large group of people.

If there's one area of modern life that's almost as confounding as choosing a diet, it's hunting for the right audio components to build a killer stereo system or home entertainment center. But if you stick to these six tips, you can put together a quality home entertainment center on the cheap.

Despite adamant claims that gifts would arrive in time for Christmas, it appears that many people were left empty-handed for the holidays. And while UPS and others scramble to complete all those backlogged deliveries, some retailers are attempting to make amends with customers.

Do you know just what your favorite online stores know about you? In the wake of the Target compromise we wanted to get a better idea of how retailers gather and use consumer data, so we turned to an expert to find out.

Target made waves earlier this week when it announced that as many as 40 million credit and debit card numbers had been compromised via in-store purchases. In response, CEO Gregg Steinhafel announced that the retailer would offer 10% off all in-store purchases this weekend, as an apology for the ordeal. Is that enough?

Chicago is a favorite vacation destination for many because it has the glamour and attractions of a large metropolis and that friendly, down-to-earth Midwest vibe. There's something for everyone in Chicago — theater shows, cool music venues, and countless dining options, whether you'd like to try dishes from famous chefs or you want a classic Chicago hot dog and deep-dish pizza (no matter what Jon Stewart says). So pack your bags! We're going to Chi-town.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Google, Twitter, Windows, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

Target confirmed today that it experienced a security breach between November 27 and December 15, and as many as 40 million credit and debit card accounts might have been compromised. In a twist though, the hack occurred in-store.

Where Kmart tried to shock shoppers into its stores with this year's holiday ad campaign, its sister company Sears seems to have something else on its mind: the retail chain's increasingly ghost town-like atmosphere.

Search giant Google recently purchased Boston Dynamics, a military-grade robotics company. Besides getting some cool robots to play with, we wondered why Google would be interested in this company. In this brief — yet lively — video, our experts discuss the possible uses for Google killbots robots~!.

Ever watch a holiday movie in which someone is given an awesome gift and you find yourself coveting it? It happens to us rather frequently, so we decided to put together this ultimate wish list based solely on items that are only available to people in holiday movies. (Mostly!)

The issue of holiday tipping has left many folks wondering how big (or small) a tip to leave (or not leave) as part of the yearly ritual of playing Santa. To get a handle on holiday tipping etiquette, we talked to a few experts and found out that by following a few simple guidelines, you can spread extra holiday cheer to the folks with whom you interact every day without going broke.

Why chance ruining the holiday by getting your kids toys that'll harm them? That's not very cheery and in the spirt of things! To make sure you don't spend Christmas in the E.R. check out W.A.T.C.H.'s list of the season's 10 Worst Toys.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about iPads, Batmans, Windowses, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

Sometimes we wonder whether Santa's elves keep quirky magic dust hidden in the North Pole workshop that can turn certain toys into collectibles. To find out more about when and why toys turn valuable, we talked to the owner of a Chicago collector's store and asked him which collectible toy lines are of the most valued.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Windows, YouTube, Doctor Who, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

If the face is the window to the soul, then here's what Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's face-window was revealing about his inner thoughts during his much talked about 60 Minutes interview.

Seiki is poised to break some records this December when it releases its latest 4K HDTV, the ultra-cheap 65" SE65UY04. And while big-box retailers may use this "cheap" 4K HDTV to lure shoppers, we think early adopters should wait at least a few weeks before making any purchase.

Gift-giving is in full swing. And for most of us it means following the time-honored tradition of wrapping and unwrapping tokens of appreciation. But this year, such gift-giving is taking on additional meaning. Retailers like Warby Parker, Toms, and Threads are offering customers the opportunity to not only shop for themselves or their loved ones this year, but also for the less fortunate — at no extra cost. These buy one, give one programs will not only satisfy your desire to do good this holiday season, but they're also great alternatives to giving a family a goat.

Recently, CBS aired a 60 Minutes interview with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in which he revealed that his company plans to create autonomous flying drones that will deliver packages within 30 minutes of when an order was placed. In this video, our deal experts discuss the feasibility and desirability of such a scheme.

Everybody take a deep breath: Black Friday has come to an end. While there are still some Cyber Week sales to consider, we can at least close the book on Black Friday 2013. And as we do so, we've got some amusing tidbits (Did you know that one of the hottest deals of the week was a towel?) as well as some major gripes to share.

Before you personalize and laser-cut a message in to the back of that new iPad you bought as a Christmas present, stop and think about what each character may be doing to the device's resale value.

Ready to do a few DIY projects? Check out these Editors' Choice Cyber Monday tool deals. Grab a 192-piece mechanics tool set for only $85, save $66 on a miter saw, or pick up a selection of hand tools for $2 each.

Many of you asked for advice about secondary monitors for your desktop setups. Just for you, we've put together a roundup of the best Cyber Monday peripheral deals including 20" - 29" LED screens, printers, and more.

Whether you're an iPhone devotee or an Android addict, we've gathered the best Editors' Choice Black Friday cell phone deals for your perusal — including a slew of "for profit" promotions that include a $100 gift card for free.

Rather than sleeping through the busiest shopping week of the season — not to mention all the potential savings — and likewise, not to waste any more time thinking what to buy your nearest and dearest, we've put together the ultimate Black Friday gift guide! From secret Santas to significant others, here are some of the best Black Friday deals that will make great gifts and keep you on budget.

As humans, we glean an inordinate amount of amusement from dressing our animal companions in costumes ranging from the cute to the bizarre. We'll take any occasion — the arrival of spring, the holiday season, and of course Halloween. Thanksgiving is no exception. These are our 11 of our favorite pets that have gone all-out to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Black Friday is so close we can practically taste it! But before we charge out the door on Thanksgiving, we want to pause for a minute and think about what this all adds up to. We've crunched some big numbers in the lead up to this major shopping event, and think this is a great space to talk about Black Friday by the numbers.

We've all heard the Black Friday horror stories about out of control crowds. But is it really dangerous to head to the store on Black Friday? What steps are retailers taking to protect customers and employees during the shopping holiday? Read on to see how merchants will try to maximize safety — and profits — during the Black Friday season.

Another Kmart commercial, another uproar! The company's new boxer commercial for the holidays is ringing some people's bells. Judge for yourself if it's edgy, button-pushing, inappropriate, or just insipid.

Amazon has finally sent around a preview of its Black Friday Sale. Starting on Sunday, November 24 (that's a whole day earlier than last year), Amazon will post a new deal every 10 minutes for eight days straight. That's a lot of deals. But are any worth your time?

Some people have convinced themselves that it'll never happen; that it's all hype. But Black Friday is coming ... and it's coming soon! Have you made plans for how you're going to survive a direct strike from Black Friday? If you're an anti-consumerist, Buy-Nothing-Day believer with any hope of surviving Black Friday, you'd best enact some of these Black Friday preparations, STAT.

Here at DealNews, we like to say that every day is Black Friday. But that doesn't mean that Black Friday itself isn't an important deal day — there's a reason people camp out in the cold and trample each other for these sales! You don't have to suffer like them, though. By employing a few Black Friday shopping strategies, you can snag all the best Black Friday deals without the hassle of crowds and frostbite.

Believe it or not, there are shoppers that have already started lining up for Black Friday. Yes, it gives us hilarious images of tents outside of a Best Buy, but what makes a person go to such drastic measures?

Black Friday isn't just about tech and clothing. Joining the shopping frenzy is your neighborhood drugstore. But is making an early bird trip to the drugstore really something consumers should plan on for Black Friday? We combed through the Black Friday drugstore ads from Walgreens, Rite Aid, and a leaked ad from CVS to find out.

We strive to ready our deal slingers with ample consumer ammo via our Black Friday ad analyses, but useless "filler deals" can still be hard to spot on the big day. In order to steer clear of such fluff, we've outlined a number of pointers that will help you identify the good from the bad, because not all that glitters is consumer gold.

There are many people in this country who love fried turkey at Thanksgiving, like our dear friend William Shatner. But some culinary wannabes don't know how hazardous frying a turkey can be. So, to put it into perspective, we've put together this list of things that are actually less dangerous than frying a turkey.

Black Friday clothing sales have been steadily growing in popularity in recent years, with even luxury boutiques offering significant discounts during the shopping holiday. We've rounded up several stand-out clothing, shoes, and accessories deals that we've come across in our perusal of the leaked Black Friday ads.

Video games have been a staple in many American households since the mid 1970s when Atari's Pong console game became a hit. Now, whether you're a fan of Wii U, Xbox, or some 8-bit relic that's just a hair past the days of Pong, the question of which were the best video games of all time remains.

Black Friday can be really overwhelming, but don't panic: Here at DealNews, we spend all year preparing for Black Friday so you don't have to. Our Black Friday hub is the only place you need to go for all the latest info. So get comfy and then get clicking, deal-seekers; you've come to the right place.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Apple, Parappa The Rapper , Jennifer Lawrence, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are right around the corner, so the obvious question is: When will we find a deal on these next-gen consoles? Unfortunately, the answer might not be what you want to hear, but your patience will pay off!

Target's complete Black Friday ad is now live! We've combed through it to find the best and the worst. And while there are some pretty great deals from the retailer, we've found that in many cases, other competitors will offer slightly better discounts.

We've already sorted through some interesting Black Friday ads, but finally, the big names for the holiday are making an appearance; Walmart, our second-best retailer for Editors' Choice Black Friday deals, has released its full Black Friday ad. And judging from the promotions below (which include some amazing TV deals and discounts on Apple products), we're pretty optimistic about what's to come for 2013.

Most of us at DealNews have stayed up late to watch just one more episode of Breaking Bad or devoted an entire rainy Saturday to catching up with The Walking Dead. And thanks to streaming TV services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, the common practice of "binge-watching" affords viewers the ability to view back-to-back episodes of a series — sometimes taking in entire seasons of addicting TV shows within weeks. So then why is Amazon debuting new episodes of its original series on a weekly basis?

Whether it;s a source of aggravation or pride (or likely a bit of both), owning a car requires significant investment to keep it in tip-top shape, especially if you're planning on driving it for 200,000 miles. However, there is a payoff: from zero car payments to far fewer cosmetic repairs to worry about once the car is past the 100,000 mile mark, maintaining an automobile is a rewarding endeavor. Just make sure to follow this sound advice.

What exactly motivates people to shop in-store on Black Friday? And for that matter, why do people decide to shop online instead? You might think that the Almighty Deal dictates our habits, but our reader survey and fancy Black Friday Infographic suggest otherwise.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Jason Schwartzman, Nintendo, Call of Duty, and more? Well, neither are we! Hooray! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into one place, the Rumor Roundup!