Apologies if you had difficulty with some links last week. WSJ stories even via a library's website can become inaccessible. Please report any bad links to: comment@consumerworld.org
Note: For blocked NYT stories, clear their cookies.
Top Stories
Consumer World Original
Mouse Print* -- Do Toner Cartridges Really Deliver the Promised Number of Copies?
Printer toner cartridges all promise a certain number of copies at 5% coverage when you buy their brand. One consumer knew from day one that he was not going to get what he paid for. We'll share his trick.
That is our Mouse Print* story this week.
Quiz: Can You Spot the Fake?
An estimated $54-billion is spent every year on counterfeit products. You're not only getting an inferior product, but it could also be unsafe. Can you spot the fake when it is advertised? Take this fun quiz.
Open enrollment began last week for seniors to pick a new Medicare insurance plan if they so choose. Many people love Advantage plans that are all-in-one plans run by private insurance companies so you never have to deal with Medicare. But many have copays up the wazoo, and often a narrow network of doctors that accept their insurance. Consumer Reports explains the pros and cons.
Consumer Investigation
Refurbished Electronics Sold by Best Buy Third Party Sellers Tested
CBC Marketplace examines and tests refurbished electronics it bought from Best Buy's marketplace sellers, and discovers some real problems. Using hidden cameras, it also asked Best Buy's clerks their opinion of buying refurbs from third party sellers.
NOTE: We only feature free stories that are fully readable. If you are blocked, try a different browser and clear NYT cookies from it. Other newspapers may block you based on your repeated use of their site, or convert previously free stories to pay stories without notice.
Enter an item, or preferably paste its Amazon URL (address)
Spot a bargain by comparing its price to its price history. 546062
Visit Our Sister Site
Newsletter Sign Up
Every Monday morning, get a preview of the latest consumer stories and the Bargain of the Week in your email box...free! Sign up now.
Get $10 Off at Panda Express With PayPal or Venmo; $10 off $20 at CVS With Venmo
Until November 9th, select PayPal and Venmo accounts will display a $10 off a $10 or more purchase at Panda Express when you pay by allowing the cashier to scan your QR code. Look for the offer in your account. If it is not there, you may or may not be out of luck. (Some people report getting the $10 back instantly even if the offer did not show in their account. Your results may vary.) At the restaurant, go to the cashier first to make sure he/she knows how to scan a PayPal or Venmo QR code. Note that most Venmo accounts have a $10 off a $20 purchase offer at CVS buried in their offers menu (part of settings). You can use that promotion for almost anything including gift cards.
Printer toner cartridges all promise a certain number of copies at 5% coverage when you buy their brand. One consumer knew from day one that he was not going to get what he paid for. We'll share his trick.
That is our Mouse Print* story this week.
An estimated $54-billion is spent every year on counterfeit products. You're not only getting an inferior product, but it could also be unsafe. Can you spot the fake when it is advertised? Take this fun quiz.
Open enrollment began last week for seniors to pick a new Medicare insurance plan if they so choose. Many people love Advantage plans that are all-in-one plans run by private insurance companies so you never have to deal with Medicare. But many have copays up the wazoo, and often a narrow network of doctors that accept their insurance. Consumer Reports explains the pros and cons.
