Shopping

Amazon held a one-day sale Wednesday that was billed to be bigger than Black Friday. It was not. On Prime Day, the online behemoth offered a smattering of deals to customers who had purchased its $79 annual Prime membership, a service which gives members free two-day shipping on most items, plus cloud storage for photos…

Retailers collect an obscene amount of data on their customers and they use loyalty programs such as Air Miles and Aeroplan to gain additional insight into our shopping habits and spending patterns. Consumers want to know what data is being collected about them and want retailers who offer loyalty programs to ask for permission before tracking them online or…

You interact with various customer service personnel throughout your day, and most of the time it’s acceptable – the store clerk who points you in the right direction, the pleasant and efficient cashier, the telephone customer service agent who sorts out your billing problem – but it’s not really memorable. The really memorable encounters are…

Many of us have a Costco membership to take advantage of discounts on bulk food and household goods. Be aware, though, that the warehouse giant does not always offer the lowest price on an item. Sales, loss leaders, and generic goods at competing stores may give you a better deal. Related: Is the Costco Executive…

Some time ago, the manufacturer of Polysporin held a contest to see who had the oldest tube of this antibacterial cream.  I thought I had a sure thing with my 25-year-old tube, but I guess I was wrong because I didn’t win. Related: 10 useless kitchen gadgets We all pay attention to expiration dates when…

When we downsized a couple of months ago we had to dispose of most of our furniture, as it just would not fit in our new home.  As a result, we have been doing a lot of shopping lately! I’m not normally much of a shopper, so I was surprised that almost every transaction ended…

In the last couple of months there have been a plethora of surveys on how much Canadians spend on Christmas shopping. Unlike our neighbours to the south (who are spending less), we apparently are more confident about our economy and plan to increase spending this year by 2 to 3.5 percent. Related: Saying, “I Can’t…

I’ll begin by saying that I love kitchen gadgets and small appliances.  Or, to be more accurate I love the idea of them.  I want to be the person who makes their own cheese, slices meat in thin even strips, and cooks a succulent pot roast in less than 20 minutes.  The reality is it’s…

Amazon, the online retail giant, started selling groceries on its website last week.  The line-up consists of over 15,000 non-perishable grocery and gourmet food items, including well-known brands such as Kellogg’s, Pepsi, Campbell’s, and Knorr. At first glance, it’s difficult to see how Amazon can compete on price once they factor in the cost of…

To shop is human – to splurge (at least once in a while) is divine.  But if your buying habits cause problems with your family, job, and finances you may be an impulse buyer in trouble. Related: What’s Your Purchasing Behaviour Style? Do you: Use shopping to cheer yourself up or make you feel better…