Consumer World Celebrates 30 Years: 1995 - 2025  
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Thanks for Nothing – Summer 2019

Every so often you see offers that make you do a double-take, or promise a great deal but only disappoint you when the true facts are revealed. Here’s the latest crop.

Example 1:

While it still is summer, you might decide to buy new sunglasses. No brand is more famous than Ray Ban and the crooks that are marketing these knock-offs know it.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Rayban knock-offs

Thanks for nothing (and trying to scam buyers). Photo credit:Reddit.

Example 2:

Just about now, despite the current heat wave, stores are starting to get in fall and winter clothing and accessories. Here’s an odd one:

heated insoles

These are heated insoles to keep your feet warm in shoes or boots. They are usb-powered, so they have to be connected to your computer. Just be sure to buy a really long extension cord for when you’re out in the cold. Thanks for nothing.

Example 3:

As we continue with the summer theme, sporting goods are big sellers this time of year. Here’s a kickball for your kids or grandkids, but there is a surprise safety warning in small print.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Don't kick the kickball

Thanks for nothing, Gopher. Photo credit: Reddit.

Example 4:

On a hot day, nothing beats an icy cold beer (I’m told). And if the beer is free, all the better. This Connecticut bar and grill decided to offer just that. But there was an asterisk after the word “free.”

*MOUSE PRINT:

free beer with coupon
Photo credit: Reddit

Thanks for … the chuckle, Wood -n- Tap.

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Consumer World Celebrates 30 Years: 1995 - 2025  
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Klutzes Have Two Left Feet, So What Is Kmart Insinuating?

Before we get to this week’s story…

UPDATE: A few weeks ago we told you that Citi was dropping most benefits from some of its credit cards including the very popular Citi Double Cash 2% cashback card. After searching for weeks, MrConsumer finally found an equivalent card, with 2% unlimited cash back AND virtually all the benefits like price protection, double the manufacturer’s warranty, CDW, lost luggage coverage, etc. It is the PayPal Cashback Mastercard. NOTE: Many consumer reviews of this card are negative concerning the bank’s customer service.

Let’s take a summer break this week from the nasty surprises that sometimes are buried in the fine print. Instead here’s the tale of MrConsumer’s recent purchase of sneakers from Kmart.com and its nasty surprise.

By accident a few months ago, MrConsumer found a pair of lightweight Everlast brand sneakers at Kmart that were the most comfortable ones he had ever worn. They soon became only available online and all the 9.5s were sold out. So I decided to bite the bullet and buy two pairs in size 10.

Kmart sneaker order

About 10 days after ordering, a bag arrived with four loose shoes inside:

3 left shoes

It may not be obvious from the picture, but they sent three left shoes and one right one. And they weren’t even all size 10. Duh?

The folks at my local Kmart had quite the chuckle when I dramatically pulled three left shoes out of the bag one-by-one. But they said my order didn’t beat the record they had previously seen of all the kids shoes in an order being only for the same foot.

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Consumer World Celebrates 30 Years: 1995 - 2025  
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This Free Pet Food Rebate Turns the Table on Retailers

Shoppers often complain that mail-in rebates are a pain in the neck. You have to send in the proof of purchase, pay for postage, and keep your fingers crossed that you will actually get your money back.

Now one pet food manufacturer, Pets Global, is doing it differently. The company issued a unique manufacturer’s coupon/rebate good for a free four-pound bag of Essence dog or cat food worth up to $17.99. But instead of making the consumer buy the product and send in the proof of purchase, they are making the store do it.

Essence pet food rebate
Click to enlarge

This looks pretty normal. While it appears the consumer has to fill out the coupon, one of our faithful readers says it really is the retailer’s contact information that is required according to the company. The fine print turns the tables on the retailer who sold the product converting the coupon into a rebate of sorts.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Retailer Instructions: 1. Return this completed form. 2. The original proof of purchase receipt dated on or before 7/31/19 with the purchase price of the product circled. … Must be sent to a Pets Global distributor within 60 days of date printed on receipt for redemption.

Distributor Instructions: Send completed coupon form and receipt from retailer to Pets Global…

Some would say all rebates should work this way… but don’t hold your breath since manufacturers rely on the “breakage” and “slippage” that results when shoppers don’t follow through with the rebate process. But some states and municipalities have adopted rules that require retailers to provide the rebate to customers at the time of sale. Witness the fine print for the 100% rebates for several items in this week’s Macy’s Black Friday in July sale featured in Consumer World (see Bargain of the Week):

*MOUSE PRINT:

In “CT, RI, PR, and Dade and Broward counties in FL, rebate is given at the register.”

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