WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/EBay, NRF take on crime!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/22/ebay-nrf-take-on-crime/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/22/ebay-nrf-take-on-crime/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/22/ebay-nrf-take-on-crime/#commentsFiled under:

EBay and the National Retail Federation are teaming up to eradicate crime!

Sounds sexy until you realize the crimefighters are taking on the growing problem of shrink, or people stealing items from retail stores and the posting them for sale on eBay. Less glamorous, but a very significant problem for retailers. Global theft of merchandise reached $115 billion last year, according to a report from the UK-based Center for Retail Research and Checkpoint Systems.

EBay, the online auction site, and the NRF, the trade group for retailers, say they plan to brainstorm on a regular basis to come up with ideas on how to prevent organized retail crime, as well as use new technology to identify and track crime rings. They are also enlisting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help identify crime rings responsible for bulk thefts, and plan to bring legislation to strengthen penalties for retail crimes.

A recent NRF study found that 92 percent of retailers complained of organized retail crime in the past year, and 73 percent said the level of such crime had risen.




EBay, NRF take on crime! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>center retail researcheBayfbiFederal Bureau of InvestigationNational Retail FederationnrfSarah CoffeyMon, 22 Mar 2010 06:05:00 ESTThe most expensive (and cheapest) cars to insurehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/19/the-most-expensive-and-cheapest-cars-to-insure/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/19/the-most-expensive-and-cheapest-cars-to-insure/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/19/the-most-expensive-and-cheapest-cars-to-insure/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Porsche Carrera 911 GT2 two-dour coupe tops the list of the most expensive 2010 vehicles to insure, according to rankings released this week by Insure.com. The least expensive? The Mazda Tribute 2-wheel drive 4-door utility.

Published annually by Insure.com from data calculated by Quadrant Information Services, the rankings calculate the average premiums paid by customers from six large insurance carriers across 10 postal codes in each state.

Exciting cars to drive, such as the Porsche, cost much more to insure than your boring minivan. Why? Because people like to drive their Porsche fast (duh!) and soccer moms tend to drive that minivan slowly and during the day, when it's easier to see other cars and avoid hitting things.

The least expensive 2010 vehicles to insure:

1) Mazda Tribute 2WD 4 Door Utility, $1070.25
2) Honda Odyssey LX 5 Door 2WD SOHC Van, $1095.26
3) Mazda Tribute 4WD 4 Door Utility, $1103.29
4) Chrysler Town & Country LX 2WD 4 Door 3.3L Wagon, $1119.83
5) Jeep Wrangler X 4WD 2 Door 3.8L Utility, $1124.38
6) Mazda Tribute S 2WD 4 Door Utility, $1128.29
7) Dodge Grand Caravan SE 2WD 4 Door 3.3L Wagon, $1131.06
8) Toyota Sienna CE 4 Door Wagon, $1133.97
9) Hyundai Tucson GLS 2WD 4 Door Utility,$1134.08
10) Kia Sportage LX 2WD 4 Door Utility, $1138.41

The most expensive 2010 vehicles to insure:

1) Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 2 Door Coupe, $2943.78
2) Mercedes S65 AMG 4 Door Sedan, $2863.03
3) Dodge Viper SRT-10 2 Door Coupe, $2851.89
4) Porsche Panamera Turbo AWD 4 Door Sedan, $2837.39
5) Dodge Viper SRT-10 2 Door Convertible, $2815.90
6) Mercedes CL600 2 Door Coupe, $2754.80
7) Audi R8 2 Door Coupe AWD, $2751.55
8) Porsche Panamera S 4 Door Sedan, $2744.78
9) Mercedes SL600 2 Door Convertible, $2715.86
10) Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo 2 Door Coupe AWD, $2706.04

The most expensive (and cheapest) cars to insure originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>insurancemazdaPorscheSarah CoffeyFri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTYour sushi will continue to have bluefin tunahttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/19/your-sushi-will-continue-to-have-bluefin-tuna/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/19/your-sushi-will-continue-to-have-bluefin-tuna/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/19/your-sushi-will-continue-to-have-bluefin-tuna/#commentsFiled under:

When I lived in Marshfield, Mass. I sometimes would go down to Green Harbor and watch the fisherman unload the giant tunas they had caught around the Stellwagen Bank of the North Atlantic. At current prices, the bluefin tuna can fetch more than $100,000 for a single fish weighing around 1,430 pounds, making them a very hot commodity. The lucrative fish are quickly trucked up to Boston and loaded onto a waiting cargo plane at Logan International Airport, where they are flown overnight to Japan.

Those fisherman can now continue catching the bluefin tuna for profit, after a ban on bluefin tuna trade failed to pass a 175-nation meeting aimed at protecting endangered species.

The decision was made by the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, at a meeting held in Doha, Qatar. The United States had favored bans on tuna and polar bears and was disappointed in the vote, but a resolution that would make climate change a factor in future decisions by CITES has yet to be decided.

Bluefin tuna stocks in the Atlantic, which are seen as a prized delicacy in Japan, are down more than 80 percent since 1970, according to CITES. Japan imports around 80 percent of the bluefin tuna catch.

Your sushi will continue to have bluefin tuna originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bluefin tunacitesendangered speciesmarshfieldtunaSarah CoffeyFri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTPepsi removing its soda from schools worldwidehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/17/pepsi-removing-its-soda-from-schools-worldwide/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/17/pepsi-removing-its-soda-from-schools-worldwide/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/17/pepsi-removing-its-soda-from-schools-worldwide/#commentsFiled under:

PepsiCo, the world's No. 2 soft-drink maker, says it is removing its full-calorie sweetened drinks from schools in more than 200 countries by 2012.
This is the first time a major soft-drink producer has undertaken such a wide-sweeping policy, which essentially admits that sugary soda is not the best thing for your kids to be drinking.
Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola, the world's largest soda maker, agreed in 2006 to stop selling sugary drinks in U.S. schools.
Health groups have blamed sugary beverages for helping to increase childhood obesity, with an accompanying spike in diabetes and other health problems.
Earlier this month, Coke said it won't sell any of its drinks in primary schools world-wide unless requested by parents or the schools, but is still selling its beverages to secondary schools.
The policies have helped curb cola sales in the schools. Sales of full-calorie soft drinks fell 95 percent in U.S. schools between 2004 and 2009, according to the American Beverage Association.
Coke and Pepsi have been developing new low-calorie beverage offerings such as flavored water as people trend away from their full-calorie sweetened drinks.

Pepsi removing its soda from schools worldwide originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>american beverage associationcoca-colacokepepsipepsicosodaSarah CoffeyWed, 17 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTToyota president: So sorry about the whole recall thinghttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/16/toyota-president-so-sorry-about-the-whole-recall-thing/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/16/toyota-president-so-sorry-about-the-whole-recall-thing/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/16/toyota-president-so-sorry-about-the-whole-recall-thing/#commentsFiled under:

The president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, apologized late Monday for the problems created by recalling 9 million cars worldwide.

Writing on his Japanese-language blog under the name "Morizo," Toyoda says the automaker will "take seriously, accept humbly, and respond sincerely to" complaints that Toyota has not taken the recalls seriously enough, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Toyoda also wrote he won't be participating in a 24-hour endurance race in Germany as previously planned. He had taken part in the ADAC Nurburgring 24-Hour race at least 3 times before, and Toyoda had said last June that he would continue to take part in races after becoming top executive.

Toyota has recalled nearly 9 million cars in the U.S., Europe, Asia and other regions following problems with sudden acceleration with some models, including the top-selling Prius. Sales in the U.S. have plunged, and Toyota has introduced incentives to try and jump-start sales.

Meanwhile, Toyota is disputing a Prius driver's account that his car accelerated on its own in a dramatic incident captured on video last week on a California highway. Toyota says the driver repeatedly pressed the brake and accelerator, which would defeat a system that can prevent unintended acceleration. The car reached speeds of up to 90 miles per hour before it stopped.

Toyota president: So sorry about the whole recall thing originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>NurburgringpriusrecalltoyodatoyotaSarah CoffeyTue, 16 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTReplace your iPad for $99http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/15/replace-your-ipads-battery-for-99/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/15/replace-your-ipads-battery-for-99/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/15/replace-your-ipads-battery-for-99/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple has announced a battery replacement program for its new iPad that will cost you $99, in an attempt to head off battery life issues before the product even ships.

Should the battery in your iPad have problems, Apple will ship you an entirely new iPad, or you can visit an Apple store and they'll hand you a new one, assuming your unit is in good shape otherwise. The cost is $99. A replacement unit can also be ordered over the phone for an additional $7 shipping and would take a week to arrive to your address.

Apple's products are notorious for shortened battery life and have faced both criticism and lawsuits regarding the inability of consumers to replace them. Apple is trying to assuage any concerns about battery life for its latest creation before the first iPad shipments on April 3. Preorders began on March 12, with initial sales said to be around 120,000.

The program could also be a way for Apple to get you to continually invest in the latest version of the iPad at a discount. Batteries on the units are expected to last around two to three years, so by the time you need a new battery, a new model is sure to have been introduced.

Replace your iPad for $99 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Appleapple batteryipadSarah CoffeyMon, 15 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTStep right up to pre-order your iPad todayhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/12/step-right-up-to-pre-order-your-ipad-today/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/12/step-right-up-to-pre-order-your-ipad-today/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/12/step-right-up-to-pre-order-your-ipad-today/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple's latest creation the iPad is available for pre-order starting today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, 5:30 a.m. Pacific time. So set your alarms, California!

As usual with Apple products, details are elusive and scarce. But according to reports, as of Friday morning you can log on to the Apple online store and place your order for the device, which goes on sale on April 3. Pre-ordering allows you to have an iPad delivered to your door or reserve one for pick up at your local Apple Store location on April 3.

You'll only be able to pre-order the Wi-Fi model, as the 3G-equipped version won't be available until late April. The Wi-FI models is priced at $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB.

Sadly for ex-pats such as myself, international customers will have to wait until later in April to order their iPads, which will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. Pricing for those countries is expected to be announced in late April.

Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs touts the iPad as a new category of device somewhere between smartphones and low-priced netbook computers. It has a 9.7-inch touch screen and is able to process Web pages, e-mail, music, videos, electronic books and iPhone applications.

Step right up to pre-order your iPad today originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AppleipadSarah CoffeyFri, 12 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTBest Buy bets you want 3D TV, so do you?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/11/best-buy-bets-you-want-3d-tv-so-do-you/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/11/best-buy-bets-you-want-3d-tv-so-do-you/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/11/best-buy-bets-you-want-3d-tv-so-do-you/#commentsFiled under:

Electronics giant Best Buy is betting you really need a 3D television set this year.

Hoping to cash in on the success of James Cameron's 3D blockbuster movie "Avatar," Best Buy unveiled a new line of 3D television sets yesterday made by Panasonic at an electronics show in New York City.

The 3D equipment requires snazzy 3D glasses (at $150 a pair!) to use, and at around $2,500 for a 50-inch set, also costs a lot more than a regular old television. Sony and Samsung say they're introducing 3D TV's in the upcoming months as well.

So what on earth will you watch first with your new 3D set? Soccer! ESPN plans to show the World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg in June. Next year, you'll be able to watch new networks launched by Discovery, Sony and IMAX.

Panasonic says it's looking to sell around 2 million units of the 3D sets in their first year of sale. However, analysts are not convinced, telling Reuters that it's an iffy prospect at best, particularly considering the pricey glasses.

So what do you think -- will you buy a 3D television?

Best Buy bets you want 3D TV, so do you? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>3DAvatarbest buypanasonicsamsungworld cupSarah CoffeyThu, 11 Mar 2010 06:30:00 ESTHaven't Madoff's victims suffered enough?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/10/havent-madoffs-victims-suffered-enough/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/10/havent-madoffs-victims-suffered-enough/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/10/havent-madoffs-victims-suffered-enough/#commentsFiled under:

As if those defrauded of their life savings by Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme haven't suffered enough, a new web site had until yesterday been trying to scam even more money off those unfortunates.

As of Wednesday morning the site, i-sipc.com, had been taken down, with the words "THIS SITE IS TEMPORALLY CLOSED" all you can now see on the page. Boy, doesn't that look legitimate!

The Securities Investor Protection Corp., an organization created by Congress to help the customers of failed brokerages such as Madoff's, says "I-SIPC" purported to stand for the International Security Investor Protection Corporation. It pretended it was the legitimate agency, but instead was nothing but a front trying to obtain sensitive information such as social security numbers from Madoff's victims.

SIPC President Stephen Harbeck said in a statement: "We know from information provided to us by individuals that this bogus group is already attempting to obtain funds and confidential financial information from investors in the U.S. SIPC wants to be as clear as possible that Madoff victims and other investors should not share any personal financial information via this Web site or rely upon it as an information source. We intend to use every available means to shut down this illicit operation."

The phony group also annoyed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, who issued this statement: "Never underestimate the creativity and duplicity of con artists. They will do anything to separate you from your money and securities."

As if Madoff's victims, who lost a whopping $65 billion, don't have enough problems right now.

Haven't Madoff's victims suffered enough? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bernie madoffmadoffscamSecurities and Exchange CommissionSecurities Investor Protection Corp.Sarah CoffeyWed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTHow will Oscar help "The Hurt Locker?"http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/09/how-will-oscar-help-the-hurt-locker/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/09/how-will-oscar-help-the-hurt-locker/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/09/how-will-oscar-help-the-hurt-locker/#commentsFiled under:

Oscar is sure to help sales of "The Hurt Locker," welcome news for a picture that has only grossed $7 million domestically.

Sales of "The Hurt Locker" DVDs spiked on Amazon.com following the low-budget movie's Oscar win on Sunday, rising to third place from 13th, and the Iraq war drama was the most-rented movie yesterday on Amazon's video-on-demand service and Apple's iTunes.

"The Hurt Locker" cost $15 million to make and won best original screenplay and best director for Kathryn Bigelow. The question now is how to cash in on the movie's success.

The movie's distributor, Summit Entertainment, could extend the film to 1,000 movie screens from its current 274, which would boost its box-office sales worldwide to around $40 million, according to analysts interviewed by Bloomberg. That's nearly double its current worldwide sales total.

The Oscar wins could also help Summit sell 1 million DVDs, in addition to the 725,000 already sold, analysts predicted. Video-on-demand, home video and cable TV will also reap the benefits from the Oscar win.

How will Oscar help "The Hurt Locker?" originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>amazonApplebloomberghurt lockeriTunesOscarSummit EntertainmentSarah CoffeyTue, 09 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTWhat's an Oscar worth?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/08/whats-an-oscar-worth/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/08/whats-an-oscar-worth/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/08/whats-an-oscar-worth/#commentsFiled under:

So you're Kathryn Bigelow and you've just won an Oscar for Best Picture 2010. It's very exciting to receive that gold statue! But what exactly is that Oscar worth in cold hard cash?

Of course, the accolades, fabulous parties, and future opportunities based on the Oscar win are, in some ways, immeasurable and priceless. But let's say you win an Oscar and you're the hit of the town -- this year. Years from now, you're not quite so hot and are looking for ways to make a buck. Time to cash in! There are a couple of options.

You could sell the Oscar for cold, hard cash. Each statue is 13.5 inches tall and weighs eight pounds, made from steel alloy britannium and dipped in 24k gold plating. Based on current gold values, the statute melted down is worth around $500.

A more lucrative prospect would be to sell your Oscar to a collector. Big-name Oscars can easily fetch $60,000 or more, but there is a catch. If you won an Oscar before 1950, you can sell it without hinderence. But Oscars won after 1950 cannot be sold without permission from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which makes all winners sign an agreement that if they want to sell they must first offer the Oscar back to them for $1.

What's an Oscar worth? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>goldoscarsOscars2010Sarah CoffeyMon, 08 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTAre incentives helping Toyota sales?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/05/are-incentives-helping-toyota-sales/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/05/are-incentives-helping-toyota-sales/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/05/are-incentives-helping-toyota-sales/#commentsFiled under:

It's hard to resist a good deal, even if it's a recall-plagued Toyota.

Toyota's new incentive plan is attracting the attention of potential buyers, according to Edmunds.com and kbb.com, the site of the Kelly Blue Book.

Edmunds.com says pricing research, or "purchase intent," for Toyota vehicles is up 40 percent to a 14-month high following Toyota's announcement on Tuesday to offer zero percent financing for as long as 60 months on eight of its most popular models. including the Avalon, Camry and Corolla.

Kelly Blue Book says shopper looking at Toyota cars rose 44 percent this week versus last week.

Toyota is hoping the incentives boost sales following a massive recall related to at least 34 deaths from sudden acceleration.

Are incentives helping Toyota sales? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>EdmundsKBBrecalltoyotaSarah CoffeyFri, 05 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTWhich cars sold best in February?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/03/which-cars-sold-best-in-february/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/03/which-cars-sold-best-in-february/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/03/which-cars-sold-best-in-february/#commentsFiled under:

Not surprisingly, February was not a good month for Toyota's auto sales, with those unfortunate recalls and the automaker's chief executive officer being called to testify before a congressional committee.

On the upside, Ford and Chevrolet benefited from all the commotion, as people shied away from buying Toyotas in favor of other models such as Ford's F-150 pickup truck

Here's a list of the top 20-selling vehicles according to total units, and shows the percent change in sales compared to last February. Total sales of the top 20 vehicles rose 16.7% or 80,368 units to 560,989.

1. Ford F-Series P/U +23.9
2. Honda Accord +32.7
3. Chevy Silverado-C/K P/U -2.7
4. Nissan Altima +15.6
5. Toyota Corolla -8.6
6. Toyota Camry -21.9
7. Chevrolet Malibu +51.7
8. Honda Civic +4.3
9. Ford Fusion +81.8
10. Chevrolet Cobalt +100.3
11. Ford Escape +40.4
12. Ford Focus +36.3
13. Chevrolet Impala +52.5
14. Honda CR-V -15.7
15. Dodge Ram P/U -25.9
16. Nissan Versa +74.4
17. Toyota Prius +7.2
18. Hyundai Elantra +27.4
19. Mazda 3 +11.3
20 Nissan Sentra +37.8

Which cars sold best in February? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>best selling carsbest selling cars in FebruaryBestSellingCarsBestSellingCarsInFebruarychevroletfordgmhow many carsHowManyCarsrecalltoyotaSarah CoffeyWed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTDoes the latest GM recall affect you?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/02/does-the-new-gm-recall-affect-you/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/02/does-the-new-gm-recall-affect-you/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/02/does-the-new-gm-recall-affect-you/#commentsFiled under:

General Motors announced very early this morning that it is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in North America due to a power steering problem linked to 14 crashes and one injury.

What is affected: the 2005-2010 model year Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 in the United States; 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 sold in Mexico.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation on Jan. 27 into about 905,000 Cobalt models after logging more than 1,100 complaints of power steering failures. GM said in a statement those vehicles can be still be "safely controlled" but may require greater steering effort under 15 mph. Drivers will see a warning light and hear a chime if the power steering fails.

GM says it is trying to fix the problem and will notify customers when it has a plan of action.

Speaking of recalls, Toyota global quality control chief Shinichi Sasaki and North American President Yoshimi Inaba are expected to appear before a Senate committee today for a third hearing on how Toyota handled consumer complaints.

Yesterday, news came that Toyota is expected to offer incentives to attempt to lure customers back to buying their cars following a massive recall following at least 34 deaths due to sudden acceleration. The incentives are said to include zero-percent financing for five years, cash rebates of $500 to $3000 and two years free maintenence.

Does the latest GM recall affect you? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>general motorsGeneralMotorsGMrecalltoyotaSarah CoffeyTue, 02 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTTonight, Jay Leno returns to Tonight Showhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/01/tonight-jay-leno-returns-to-tonight-show/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/01/tonight-jay-leno-returns-to-tonight-show/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/03/01/tonight-jay-leno-returns-to-tonight-show/#commentsFiled under:

Did you miss him? Jay Leno returns tonight to his long-time gig as host of the Tonight Show, and NBC is hoping it will be like he never left. Leno's first guests are Jamie Foxx, Olympic skiier Lindsay Vonn (straight from the Vancouver closing ceremonies, I hope she's awake!) and country singer Brad Paisley.

NBC is hoping viewers have gotten over the whole firing Conan O'Brien thing and will return to watch Leno like nothing ever happened, except for the fact that NBC paid Conan $45 million to go away.

NBC promised in 2005 to turn over the Tonight Show to Conan in 2009. They did, his ratings tanked, and Leno's experimental 10 p.m. version of his show didn't bring in enough viewers, which hurt local affiliates, many of whom threatened to dump Leno's 10 p.m. show.

Leno was No. 1 in his 11:35 p.m. time slot for 15 of his 17 years as host. During the last year, he averaged 5.2 million viewers. When Conan took over, around 2.4 million of those viewers disappeared. Where did those people go?

Apparently, they stopped watching television at that hour, or they turned on their DVRs and watched pre-recorded programs. David Letterman didn't see a huge bump in viewers, and neither did other programs.

Tonight, Jay Leno returns to Tonight Show originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>conan obrienConanObrienjay lenoJayLenonbcolympicstonight showTonightShowSarah CoffeyMon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:00 ESTTrump betting on Jersey casinoshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/26/trump-betting-on-jersey-casinos/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/26/trump-betting-on-jersey-casinos/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/26/trump-betting-on-jersey-casinos/#commentsFiled under:

Donald Trump is betting people still want to gamble at casinos, and so are others -- shares of Trump's company soared 41% in after-market trading following Trump's testimony yesterday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Trump is fighting for control of the three Atlantic City hotel-casinos that bear his name. Trump and his daughter Ivanka are pushing a plan to invest $225 million in a reorganized Trump Entertainment by selling stock and paying down debt. The deal would give Trump up to 10% of the company.

That $485 million in debt is held by Texas banker and poker player Andy Beal, and billionaire Carl Icahn, who have their own plans to reorganize the casinos.

Trump Entertainment Resorts made its third bankruptcy filing last February.

Trump betting on Jersey casinos originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>casiotrumptrump entertainmentTrump Entertainment ResortsTrumpEntertainmentTrumpEntertainmentResortsSarah CoffeyFri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:00 ESTNo more Blockbuster?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/25/no-more-blockbuster/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/25/no-more-blockbuster/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/25/no-more-blockbuster/#commentsFiled under:

Remember the days you'd get in your car and drive to your local Blockbuster, wander around the aisles looking for just the right movie, stand in line to pay, then hustle back to the store a few days later to avoid the late fee?

Those days are gone, and with them might go Blockbuster.

Blockbuster stock is down to around 36 cents as investors worry about the movie rental chain's viability as more and more customers either download digital copies from the Internet or order movies from cable.

Continue reading No more Blockbuster?

No more Blockbuster? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>BlockbustercoinstarNetflixVHSVideo storesVideoStoresvuduwalmartSarah CoffeyThu, 25 Feb 2010 06:00:00 EST@yahoo joins with @twitterhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-joins-with-twitter/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-joins-with-twitter/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/24/yahoo-joins-with-twitter/#commentsFiled under: ,

No time for tweets? Yahoo hopes to solve that dilemma by integrating Twitter into its websites in an effort to boost the appeal of its online offerings.

What does this mean for you? Say you are checking out Yahoo news. You will soon be able to see short, 140-character messages, or "Tweets," created by Twitter users directly within Yahoo sites. You will also be able to publish your own Tweets without leaving Yahoo.

From Yahoo:

1) People will be able to access their personal Twitter feeds across Yahoo!'s many products and properties, including the homepage, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Sports, and others, letting them check in more easily on what's happening with the people and things they care about while on Yahoo!.
2) People will be able to update their Twitter status and share content from Yahoo! in their Twitter stream, so they can easily share their Yahoo! experiences with their friends and followers on Twitter.
3) Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! media properties like News, Finance, Entertainment, and Sports will include real-time public Twitter updates across a variety of topics. Yahoo! Search users will immediately see real-time Twitter results today; go to Yahoo! and try it out.

Yahoo did the same thing with Facebook a few months ago, and a few weeks ago Google unveiled "Google Buzz" that replicates many of the social networking features of Twitter and Facebook.

Why does Yahoo care about social networking? Internet search giants like Yahoo and Google depend on people viewing their sites to generate ad sales. Web users are increasingly spending more time on Facebook and Twitter, which means they are viewing ads on those sites.

@yahoo joins with @twitter originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>facebookgooglegoogle buzzGoogleBuzztwitterYahooSarah CoffeyWed, 24 Feb 2010 06:00:00 ESTAnother choice for downloading movies?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/23/another-choice-for-downloading-movies/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/23/another-choice-for-downloading-movies/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/23/another-choice-for-downloading-movies/#commentsFiled under:

If you prefer downloading movies onto your computer or television, thus avoiding driving to Blockbuster and standing in line next to the tempting snack rack, you may soon have another company to pick movies from.

Big-box retail giant Wal-Mart is buying VUDU, an online movie on-demand service, to compete with other digital movie distributors like Netflix and Apple's iTunes store. Financial terms for the deal were not disclosed.

VUDU operates a library of 16,000 movies and is already built into television from LG Electronics and Mitsubishi, among others. Wal-Mart says VUDU has one of the largest high-definition movie libraries, which gives it an advantage.

Netflix offers both movies by mail and Web streaming of about 12,000 titles through its "Watch Instantly" service. It has 12 million subscribers, but most of its offerings are older Hollywood titles, because major studios have been reluctant to make new releases available for digital streaming.

Another choice for downloading movies? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>BlockbusterBlockbusterOnDemandBlockbusterVideoNetflixvuduwal-martSarah CoffeyTue, 23 Feb 2010 06:30:00 ESTDo the new credit card laws help you?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/22/do-the-new-credit-card-laws-help-you/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/22/do-the-new-credit-card-laws-help-you/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/22/do-the-new-credit-card-laws-help-you/#commentsFiled under: ,

A new federal credit-card law takes effect today. The loftily-named Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 is designed to help consumers reduce fees and interest charges.

But of course, card issuers have already come up with new tactics that could prove even more costly to even the most conscientious cardholder.

The law makes some important changes:

- Card companies must now show customers on their statements how long it would take to pay off the balance if they only make the minimum monthly payment.

- Customers can only exceed their credit limit if they agree ahead of time to pay a penalty fee.

- Interest-rate increases will affect only new purchases, not existing balances, unless a cardholder misses payments for more than 60 days.

In return, card issuers are expected to charge higher annual fees, higher balance-transfer charges, and more for overseas transactions. Lucky us!

The average American was running a $5,400 credit card balance in 2009, according to TransUnion, so we can use all the help we can get.

Do the new credit card laws help you? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>credit cardsCreditCardsTransUnionSarah CoffeyMon, 22 Feb 2010 07:05:00 EST