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TWITTER    Week of September 14, 2020 (see last week)   

Consumer News Quickies

Coronavirus Tests Are Supposed to be Free, But Patients Getting Billed
Home Depot Cancels Black Friday Sort Of

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Consumer World Original

Mouse Print* -- Need a New Refrigerator Fast? Don't Count On It!

mouse print MrConsumer had a refrigerator emergency about 10 days ago, and his adventure in trying to find a replacement fast provides unsettling news for major appliance buyers. That is our Mouse Print* story this week.

Amazon Accused of Price Gouging During Pandemic

Amazon gouging A new report by Public Citizen points the finger at Amazon for gross price gouging on essential pandemic-related items. Price increases ranged from 76% to over 1000% on face masks, antibacterial soap, disposable gloves, toilet paper, and more. Here is the full report. These increases would violate the price gouging laws of many states, but Public Citizen argues we need a federal price gouging law.

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MoneyTalksNews
Updated daily

Confessions of a Liar: How He Got Free Stuff in Exchange for 5-Star Reviews on Amazon

5 star reviews A writer, who also happens to be a divinity student, confesses in this piece of authoring 5-star reviews on Amazon in exchange for merchandise he received for free. He tried to tell the truth, he said, but he got caught up in the heady feeling of getting all this stuff for nothing. See how a network of recruiters works on behalf of sellers through Facebook Messsenger to find people to write and post these overly positive reviews and evade detection by Amazon.

Dozens of Amazon's Own Products Reported as Dangerous

Amazon AmazonBasics is the company's own budget brand for some 5,000 consumer electronics, household appliances, home goods and office accessories. But consumers have raised serious safety concerns about AmazonBasics items in complaints to government regulators and in reviews posted on Amazon's own website, even for some four-star products. Since 2016, at least 1,500 reviews, covering more than 70 items, have described products exploding, catching on fire, smoking, melting, causing electrical malfunctions or otherwise posing risks, according to a CNN analysis of AmazonBasics electronics and appliances listed on its website.

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Bargain of the Week

Free Box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch - Up to $6.50 Rebate

General Mills is giving away up to one million boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Buy a box (12oz, 16.8oz, 19.3oz or 27oz) by September 30, and then upload your receipt here by October 31. Offer void in RI, CT, North Dakota and Miami Dade County.

See also: Hot Deals

Consumer Reports

Which Household Products Work Against Coronavirus and Which Don't?

Using information culled from government sources and other experts, Consumer Reports tells you which common household products kill coronavirus and which types of products that you think might work really don't.

More from Consumer Reports
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