Blog Archives for May 2014

If you've purchased something online, you've probably got a story about getting burned by a shady merchant. Here at DealNews, we take multiple steps to ensure every deal we list is verified, price-checked against other deals, and sold by a reputable retailer. While we can't give you our instincts and experience, we can share a few guidelines to help you shop smarter on the Internet.

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

Dr. Dre can now add Apple executive to his ever-diverse resume. The rap mogul, along with Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine, sold their Beats empire to Apple for a cool $3 billion. But some Beats fans aren't thrilled about the idea of Cupertino controlling their favorite streaming service. What do you think?

Companies are supposed to advertise their products responsibly, but sometimes items hit store shelves backed by misleading language or unproven claims. And in the end, this hurts consumers who put their trust in these claims, in the form of their hard-earned dollar.

A new study concluded that people are willing to pay more for, "cute" or "playful" products, and interact with them more. In this brief — yet lively — video, our experts discuss what they've paid more for, because it was whimsical.

With less than seven days to go before the start of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, shipping estimates for Cupertino's all-in-one desktop are beginning to slip across various retailers. For consumers, that means holding off on all purchases as rumors indicate a new budget iMac could make a splash in less than a week.

If you're like most people, high school just doesn't feel like it was that long ago (for better or worse). Well, wanna feel old? Here's a list of consumer experiences that the kids graduating from high school this year have never had!

Webrooming is the opposite of showrooming: researching products online, then purchasing in store. It's becoming increasingly popular, and it's great for consumers and struggling brick-and-mortar retailers. But is it becoming a problem for e-retailers?

Customer loyalty isn't to be underestimated, especially in the case of companies where millions of marketing dollars are at stake. Here are eight examples of rebranding attempts that went awry for a variety of reasons.

Amazon has been known to play hardball when it comes to contract negotiations and Hachette is the latest publishing house to feel its fury. The massive online retailer is blocking titles from the publisher while pushing for low prices. Is this good for consumers, or a childish move by Amazon?

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Apple, Star Wars, Facebook, 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.

Despite the rising cost of food, the organic food industry continues to thrive. And with new contenders entering the arena, the organic food industry — which was once dominated by premium stores like Whole Foods — could finally see some serious competition. For consumers, that translates into more affordable prices.

The Surface Pro 3 is a high-end tablet designed to replace your laptop. There's only one problem: this $799 tablet doesn't include a keyboard. Factor in that additional cost, and you have a far more expensive "laptop killer."

As if we needed any more proof that 2014 will go down as the year of the hack. The massively popular online auction site eBay just became the latest hacking victim, and is recommending that users change their passwords.

During a recent conference, the CEO of Levi Strauss revealed that the pair of jeans he was wearing has not been washed in over a year. The claim is that they last longer if you don't run them in the washing machine... ever. In this brief — yet lively — video, our experts discuss if this is gross.

We researched and tested some of the most popular airfare booking apps available, and found lots of pleasant service, but not all that offered the best deals. So which app is the most worthy of your time?

Writing a bad review is a powerful form of catharsis. You spent money on a good or service and had a negative experience, so you do the only thing you can: try to warn others. But what happens when the business you're reviewing takes issue with your commentary? Recently, some authors of negative reviews have begun receiving lawsuit threats.

Leaked photos from tech blog PhoneArena have revealed what looks like the Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime, a rumored smartphone that pushes the limits of the current Galaxy S5. If true, the new phone could be the reason we've been seeing killer deals on the current Galaxy S5.

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance but also travel and celebration. With the help of AAA and Washington.org, we've compiled a list of numbers that will give you an idea of the size and scope of the holiday.

Our crack team of deal-slingers unearthed an excellent discount on the famed Soho Grand Hotel, and we'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the Soho Grand is not just a regular hotel; staying there is more about the experience than the actual process of finding a place to lay your head.

Are you tired of reading rumors about the latest technology? Sick of hearing insane hearsay about Apple, Google, Red Dead Redemption, and more? Well, neither are we! That's why we put all the latest biz-buzz from the internet into the Rumor Roundup.

The sharing economy is the rise of people renting out their stuff to others, over and over, to make money. Poster-company Airbnb is on track to be worth $10 billion! But here are 10 things we're hoping we never see enter the "sharing economy."

The Internet Tax Freedom Act of 1998 is set to expire on November 1, which means internet access and usage in the US could soon be taxed for the first time. Combined with efforts to standardize a sales tax on online purchases, these new taxes could mean a big hit on consumers.

The Samsung Galaxy S5, which has quickly become a media darling smartphone, will soon enter the DealNews hall of fame. It is on track to hit $0 (subsidized) before Black Friday, a feat that took its two predecessors much longer to accomplish.

Starting on June 9, Microsoft will begin selling its Xbox One console sans the Kinect sensor, effectively lowering the price to $399. The Xbox One is now in line with its biggest competitor, but is the lower price point as good as it sounds?

A recent study by Bankrate.com revealed that 80% of Americans carry less than $50 in cash at any given time. In this brief — yet lively — video, our experts reveal how close we are to a cashless society, and the pros and cons of ditching the bills.

Vibram has settled a lawsuit that accused the company of offering misleading claims about the health benefits of its shoes. In light of the dilemma, we asked our readers — who have been very interested in FiveFingers shoes over the years — what they thought. And apparently, Vibram love cannot be stopped by million-dollar lawsuits.

We took a look at eight foods that may be in for a price hike this summer, and there's good and bad news. You aren't likely to starve, but you may need to seek out some budget-friendly alternatives to your usual fare.

Not all freebies while flying have gone the way of the biplane. We spoke to some experts find out where you can get free rewards and other perks while flying. You just have to know what to do, how to ask, and where to look.

Skeptical about the benefits of barefoot running? You're not alone. Vibram USA, the company behind the FiveFingers running shoe, just settled a multi-million dollar class-action lawsuit over false advertising. If you own a pair, you may be entitled to some cash.

If Amazon is to be believed, drone delivery is the future. Not wanting to be left behind, we at DealNews have embraced drone technology, too! Watch our short infomercial announcing our new DealDrone delivery service!

Aereo, the company that rents antennas to watch over-the-air TV, is being sued in the Supreme Court by the nation's broadcasters for copyright infringement. In the meantime, we decided to take a look at this case from the consumer's perspective. The decision could affect not only Aereo customers, but traditional antenna users as well. Read on for our breakdown of how home antennas work, why Aereo is different, and how this case affects everybody.

As some of you might have noticed, Hooters is offering a peculiar promotion this weekend; any woman who comes to the restaurant with her brood in tow on Mother's Day will receive a free meal. Considering the establishment is best known for catering to men, this might seem like an unusual offer. So we wondered: How many people have actually availed themselves of this deal?

Most kids would probably like to visit Disney World year round, but there's no denying the fact that a trip during the summer months, when kids are free from school, makes the most sense for many families. But just because you have to travel to the Happiest Place on Earth during the busy season doesn't mean you can't try to save money in the process.

To help you pick the perfect grill for your outdoor cooking needs, we'll explore the charcoal vs. gas grill debate, looking at the cost of both, and weigh a number of other grilling variables.

These five subscription deals will keep on giving, allowing you to shop, game, or beautify better. Get a free subscription to BJ's Wholesale Club and a gift card, six month of unlimited free same-day deliveries from Google Shopping Express, and much more.

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel claims personal responsibility for the company's data breach last winter, and is thus stepping down from his post. But is that enough for Target to win back the trust of consumers?

This morning, Amazon announced that it has partnered with Twitter to give customers a new and "exciting" way of adding items to their cart, with the use of a special hashtag. But is it actually saving shoppers all that much time?

The future is now with retail features like touchscreen ordering, computer scans for custom shoes, and personalized delivery schedules. Check out these visions of things to come — and make sure that you, the shopper, are as empowered as the retailers.

While information privacy has certainly been a hot topic of late, particularly in respect to retailers and security, a new study suggests that consumers might not be all that shy about their data if a deal is involved.

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