WalletPop Blog

Keep your change: Rare coins fetching top dollars

Madhusmita Bora — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

You may want to be careful before you disdainfully toss away that good for nothing penny next time. A 1795 reeded-edge U.S. penny recently fetched $1.3 million at an auction. The coin made history as the first penny ever to rake in more than a million dollars, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

Why such a high price? Apparently wealthy investors, anxious about a spiraling dollar and future inflation are bidding up prices for rare coins. They feel more secure about putting their money on these coins than investing in stocks and bonds.

Clearly, the recession is not affecting the coin collectibles industry. Earlier this year a high-end collection of rare half dollars grabbed $1.1 million at an auction.

"Things that are ordinary are not doing well," said John Albanese, founder of Certified Acceptance Corp. in a phone interview. "But the rare coins are one in a million. They are trophy coins and you don't see them everyday."

Wealthy, sophisticated buyers don't mind the high bids because they know if they don't grab the coin when it's available, they may have to wait another 30 years for another chance, he said.

So, if you have always wondered when's a good time to break open that piggy bank, this may be it. Who knows, maybe you'll find that rare penny and your ticket to the millionaire bracket.

Keep your change: Rare coins fetching top dollars originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vending machines invoke new technology to attract shoppers

Madhusmita Bora — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping, Technology

Customer service is the cornerstone of a retail business. So could the vending machine industry really make people more easily give their money to a machine rather than a person with a friendly smile?

The secret lies in technology and convenience, according to the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), which represents the vending machine industry.

With gas prices and the recession not sparing even this $30 billion segment of the retail market, vending merchants are looking at swanky machines that dispense everything from deep-dish pizzas to prescription drugs to nab more customers.

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Vending machines invoke new technology to attract shoppers originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shop the friendly skies? The airlines are hoping you'll buy while in the sky

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation

Along with sandwiches and soda, you may one day be able to buy tickets to Lion King and Animal Kingdom while cruising 35,000 feet above ground. A New York Times story reported that the airline industry is tinkering with the idea of expanding retail offerings to boost revenue.

Leading the brigade is American Airlines, which sells Heathrow Express train tickets on its flights to London and allows passengers in-flight Internet access and a chance at splurging on products from the SkyMall -- the glossy brochure that sells everything from cabin bags to fancy pens and perfumes.

Many airlines around the world already sell a limited collection of products on board from SkyMall. The only glitch has been in the technology that would allow a purchase in real time. In the past, passengers had to wait until they reached their destination to place an order, but Canadian company GuestLogix solved that problem by coming up with a technology that allows on air sales with the help of a credit card reader and sales software.

Personally, I do like having that option of buying an extreme last minute gift for a forgotten relative while en route to that big family gathering in India. Apart from saving face, it also would help me kill some time on that 15-hour flight. But, would passengers who like catching up on precious sleep cringe at the option? Trying to fall asleep with flight attendants sashaying the aisles carrying products and swiping credit cards definitely won't be easy.

Continue reading Shop the friendly skies? The airlines are hoping you'll buy while in the sky

Shop the friendly skies? The airlines are hoping you'll buy while in the sky originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kohl's tries to help customers budget with online wishlists for Black Friday

Madhusmita Bora — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping

To lure more traffic on Black Friday, department store chain Kohl's is allowing customers to create their shopping lists online.

Nov. 22-27, shoppers can compare shop, print out ads, prices and photos of items on their Holiday wishlist, the Wisconsin-based chain said in a press release. It would be just like creating a wedding or baby shower registry, and the online list would help shoppers focus on things they need rather than indulge in impulse buying.

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Kohl's tries to help customers budget with online wishlists for Black Friday originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart: Who shops there?

Madhusmita Bora — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping

Everyone loves to hate Walmart. So, who shops there and makes it the Goliath that it is?
Is it shoppers like the ones you see in this video posted by peopleofwalmart.com?

The site claims to be a "satirical social commentary of the extraordinary sights" found at Walmart. Judging by the user-submitted photos on the blog, you would think Walmart only caters to a special kind of demographic. But really, is it only people with absurd outfits, strange body art and outdated hairdos that constitute the discount giant's core clientele? Or is Walmart more inclusive than that?

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Walmart: Who shops there? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy sprints into fitness business

Madhusmita Bora — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping

Along with cameras, laptops and plasma screen televisions, electronics retailer Best Buy Co. will now sell elliptical, stationary bikes and personal health solutions gadgets like Bluetooth-enabled weight scales and blood pressure monitors.

The company sprinted into the health and fitness market today by unveiling exercise products in 40 stores in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas.

Apart from fitness equipment, the selection at these stores include more than 30 feet of technology devices organized by popular activities such as running, walking, swimming, and yoga.

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Best Buy sprints into fitness business originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McDonald's dollar menu wakes up

Madhusmita Bora — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Food

Fast food giant McDonald's is spicing up the breakfast market with rumors about a national dollar menu hitting stores next year.

The Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal report that they have documents suggesting that advertising for the breakfast deals is likely to begin in January. McDonald is not confirming its intentions, but the move could help the company lure back customers on a thin budget.

For the quarter ending in October, the company on Tuesday reported a one-tenth of 1% decline in same store sales in the United States., although it fared pretty good overall. The dollar menu, its Angus burger and McCafe offerings helped the burger Goliath from falling further in sales.

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Recession tales: Entrepreneurs shoot up when economy dives

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Recession, Recession Diaries, Special Reports

All your life you wanted to do something outlandish for a living. But that cushy corporate gig and the frills attached to it stopped you from turning your passion into a profession.

Enter recession, pink slips and voila your ticket to be your own boss.

Unemployed folks are taking the leap of faith and investing their time, energy and resources into entrepreneurial ventures. Yes, believe it or not, new entrepreneurs are on the upswing in this downward spiraling economy. While some took that layoff as an excuse, many are jump starting new ventures out of necessity.

Last year, the hemorrhaging economy cost 2.6 -million jobs, the highest tally in more than six decades. The bloodletting hasn't stopped yet. But laid off employees are moving on. They are providing that silver lining to an otherwise gloomy environment.

Continue reading Recession tales: Entrepreneurs shoot up when economy dives

Recession tales: Entrepreneurs shoot up when economy dives originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dunkin' Donuts increasing its offerings

Madhusmita Bora — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food

This week, Dunkin' Donuts added more variations of chicken and tuna oven-toasted sandwiches to its menu in select markets -- for as low as $1.49 for a wrap.

The popular hang out for breakfast and beverage has been expanding its offerings for quite sometime and morphing into something more than just a coffee and doughnut place. You can now have all three of your meals and more there.

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Dunkin' Donuts increasing its offerings originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'La-Z-Boy' in DUI again driving bids on eBay

Madhusmita Bora — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation

The motorized chair involved in a DUI crash that grabbed international headlines is again parked on eBay for bids.

According to news reports the chair drove up bids to nearly $40,000 before the makers of La-Z-Boy pulled the brakes on the final hours of auction objecting to the chair being called a La-Z-Boy when technically it 's just a recliner.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the disappointment. Now that we know it's not a La-Z-Boy how much are you willing to cough up for a chair you can drive around?

By Tuesday afternoon, the chair attracted 37 bids raising the bar to $4,719. There's still two more days to go, and I am sure the police department in Proctor, Minn., is hoping for miracles the second time around. By law, the proceeds would benefit the cops,state and the prosecuting attorney, who made owner Dennis LeRoy Anderson a celebrity of sorts.

Anderson is not getting any share from the eBay loot, but his family was able to get him $710 by auctioning a photo of his on on his now famous chariot. I am sure it won't compensate for his hurt pride, or his lost toy, but hey it should help him pay some of his legal fees.

A piece of advice to the future winner/owner of this infamous chair. You may want to keep practicing your driving skills within your property limits. Even if you do get tempted to show it off to neighbors by zooming through the streets, remember to do it sober. Otherwise, like Anderson, you will forever be labeled as the drunk La-Z-Boy, err, motorized recliner driver.

'La-Z-Boy' in DUI again driving bids on eBay originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wal-Mart enters the casket business

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping

You go to their website for deals on car seats, linens, diapers and furniture. Now, discount retail Goliath Wal-Mart will also cut you a break on your final resting place.

Wal-Mart quietly slid into the afterlife industry last week, putting up 15 caskets and dozens of urns for sale on its website, according to the Associated Press. The caskets ship within 48 hours and are priced at less than $2,000, with budget models such as "Dad Remembered" and "Mom Remembered" steel caskets tagged at $999. You can also plan ahead and pay off the casket in 12 months interest-free.

Sounds creepy that they want your dollars in life and after? Rival Costco has been doing that for quite some time.

Wal-Mart downplays its latest product, telling AP that the company is simply conducting a limited beta test to gauge customer response. But will its entry into the market with competitive prices spell the burial for the high-markup casket industry?

We don't know yet. What we do know is even though this whole thing is somewhat discomforting, it could be a good option for consumers on a tight budget.

Read more: How make your funeral green

Wal-Mart enters the casket business originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retail return fraud to decline this year

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping

Beware naughty shoppers. Getting away with "wardrobing"- -- buying that special dress for the Christmas party and taking it back to the store after one wear -- could get tougher this year.

A survey released by the National Retail Foundation today says retailers expect such returns to be down 18% in 2009, while fraud involving counterfeit receipts are predicted to decline by from 45.7% to 43.1%. Only 6.4% of holiday returns are expected to be bogus this year, and overall there will be more than a 17% dip in retail fraud in 2009.

Yet, retailers are expected to lose $2.74-billion to fraud this year as compared to $3.32-billion last year. Joe LaRocca, senior asset protection adviser for the NRF, gives a shout-out to honest shoppers for the decline in numbers.

Continue reading Retail return fraud to decline this year

Retail return fraud to decline this year originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch out iPhone, here comes the Droid

Madhusmita Bora — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

Verizon Wireless, Motorola and Google set the smartphone market on fire yesterday with Droid, their latest offering. Does this mean the iPhone, which many hailed as the Jesus phone, is counting down its last days of glory?

John Stratton, Verizon's chief marketing officer, told reporters yesterday that the Droid could compete head to head with the iPhone. They started building their case against their rival in the last several weeks with the iDont ads that listed all things wrong with the iPhone. Although the Droid won't hit stores until Nov.6, experts are already giving it a thumbs up. Jeffrey Hammond, an analyst with industry research firm Forrester, told newsfactor.com that at this point the Android 2.0 "represents the most credible challenge to the iPhone platform."

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Watch out iPhone, here comes the Droid originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grilled chicken an unhealthy option?

Madhusmita Bora — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Health

Ordering grilled chicken or cooking it home may not be as healthy as you think.

Last week, the Cancer Project, a Washington D.C.-based group, sponsored a class-action lawsuit in Connecticut against McDonald's, Burger King and Friendly's alleging that the restaurant chains failed to warn consumers about a dangerous carcinogen in grilled chicken.

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Grilled chicken an unhealthy option? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Target return policy changes and it needs to be more upfront about it

Madhusmita Bora — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Shopping, Economizer

Last month, Target ushered in the busy shopping season with changes in its return policy. The timing couldn't make more sense considering the premonition and speculation about a disastrous holiday season for retailers.

We all know the big discounter can't better rival Walmart on prices, but can it take a shot at them with the new policy and swing away traffic? Maybe not, according to ConsumerReports.org

On the face of it, the changes, which are still being rolled out, look awesome. In a year-long period, you can exchange any item or items up to $70 and many times as you want, as compared to the previous cap of $35 and only two returns without receipts.

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Target return policy changes and it needs to be more upfront about it originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Restaurants healthy despite lean economy

Madhusmita Bora — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Recession

This anorexic economy may be costing us our jobs and life's savings, but it's not stopping us from finding comfort in eating out. Zagat, the restaurant rating organization, found in its latest survey that the national percentage for restaurant and take out meals dropped only 2% this year -- from 50 to 48% this year -- while the average cost of a meal climbed 1.2%.

The survey, conducted among more than 145,000 diners, found 26% of respondents saying the economy is not playing the Grinch on their dining habits. Oh and there's more-- 61% of those surveyed said they are willing to splurge more on "green" products and menu items.

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Restaurants healthy despite lean economy originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Americans go for fast fruit instead of fast food?

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Food, Health

McD-ed out and want something lean on the go?

Edible Arrangements, the fruit bouquet guys, made their foray into the quick-service sector this month, selling juices, salads, smoothies and dipped fruits to customers in a hurry. Frutation stores are locating themselves near high foot-traffic areas and existing Edible Arrangement stores. They are butting heads with Jamba Juice, Qdoba and of course the burger giants.

It may be the next logical step for a company that sustains itself selling perishable food. And with all the talk about insurance companies shying away from overweight clients, healthy is definitely trendy. But, in a hemorrhaging economy, dwindling disposable income and an already saturated quick-service food market, launching something new is quite the bold move.

The company does seem to be on a growth spurt; it has more than 900-locations and shows no sign of slowing down The goal is to touch the 1,000 mark by 2010, an Edible Arrangements spokeswoman said in an email.

There are already 20 Frutation stores since its debut, and plans are underway to open more stores in Massachusetts and Virginia.

Here's a peek at the menu: FruZees (iced fruit beverages) are $3.95 and $5.95; FruSalads (greens with fruits etc) are $6.95; and FruSalsas(pita with fresh fruit dipping sauce) are priced at $4.95.

The price seems on target. But will the fast fruit habit grow on Americans and turn them away from their burgers and fries? Only time will tell.

Will Americans go for fast fruit instead of fast food? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Windows 7 the dawn of a new era?

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

Microsoft's latest offering is here. But will Windows 7 reclaim the clout that operating systems enjoyed in the pre-Windows Vista era? Or will it succumb to the cloud -- the Internet-based system?

At first glance the dawn of Windows 7 seems to have already raised the OS market's temperature from warm to sizzling hot. Apple sales have usually showed an uptick during a new Microsoft release, and it is doing its bit by running ads -- reminding consumers the failures and shortcomings of past Microsoft operating systems.

IBM and Canonical, the maker of the free Linux distribution, Ubuntu, recently announced an OS bundle that they claim is not just an alternative to Windows 7, but also offers the newest buzzword -- clouds.

Unlike the OS, the cloud, somewhere in the Internet, can support applications as well as user data. The best example is, of course, Gmail, offered by Google. It's not the OS that is important, but the Web browser. And Google, which has created Google Chrome, is also working on a browser based OS called Google Chromium.

The OS market today is different from the time when Apple's OS X was hip, Linux was geeky and Windows was everybody. When OSes were known for the applications that they could run, and the devices that they supported.

Also, consider the economy. People are tight with their wallets and yes, even geeks and businesses will think a little before splurging on new applications or upgrading to new systems.

So, while it's exciting times in the OS market with the latest release, there are challenges other than the looming cloud for it to surpass. We are in the cusp of things and it will be fun to see who emerges as the final winner.

Is Windows 7 the dawn of a new era? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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500 resumes for a $13 an hour job

Madhusmita Bora — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation, Career, Recession

Call it a testimony to the times. A Salt Lake City trucking company's quest to fill a $13-an hour administrative assistant position at its Indiana driving school generated nearly 500 resume hits from all over the country, according to a New York Times story.

The job entailed data entry, copy making and assembling paper work at the Burns Harbor, Ind. school. Interested candidates ranged from a former IBM business analyst, a former bank manager to a veteran Deloitte & Touche alum.

Normally, C.R. England posts jobs for 30 days before starting the hiring process. But in this case, the company shuttered its doors on applicants after the third day. "It was just such a high volume -- we never got that many for one job," said Stacey Ross, head of corporate recruiting, in a telephone interview.

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500 resumes for a $13 an hour job originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scariest shopping trend? Halloween and Christmas stores everywhere

Madhusmita Bora — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bargains, Shopping

Everyone is scouting for good deals in this ghoulish economy, including mom-and-pop Halloween merchants howling for vacant spots in shopping centers and strip malls.

The Halloween stores, which will soon morph into Christmas centers, are popping up in every nook and corner and offering prices like never before.

Plummeting same-store sales, depleting consumer spending and bankrupt retailers shuttering locations have resulted in a lot of prime real estate lying empty. To scare away the horror of zero income, landlords are wooing temporary merchants to help them tide over the difficult times.

The vacancy rate at U.S. regional malls rose to 8.4% in the second quarter, the highest level since Reis Inc., a New York-based real estate research firm, began tracking regional malls in 2000. Mom-and-pop owners who earlier could only aspire to sell their wares out of a small kiosk or cart are now proudly displaying merchandise in enviable locations. Rents are cheaper and the spaces available are bigger.

Continue reading Scariest shopping trend? Halloween and Christmas stores everywhere

Scariest shopping trend? Halloween and Christmas stores everywhere originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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