Everyone loves a Virgin...

A Virgin America (VA) flight that is - c'mon, get your mind out of the gutter! I've been a fan since the airline launched in 2007. Even though Sir Richard Branson doesn't officially run this company (shouldn't the FAA worry about more important things like outdated air traffic control systems), his genius constantly shines through. VA not only provides a hip flying environment (in a time when all the other airlines are more like hip replacements), but the company truly understands the importance of delivering an outstanding customer experience. If you've ever been on a delayed VA flight, you know what I mean. Rather than regressing to the level of DMVesque, bitchy and unaccommodating agents (like I've too often dealt with on other airlines), VA's ground crew leverages the weather or mechanical delay to set its brand apart. First, they provide continuous status updates, but more importantly, they do a surprisingly good job of passing the time with silly, yet entertaining games in the gate area. Even their safety video is entertaining (see below).

Although I could write so much more to express my love of VA or man crush for Richard Branson, that is not the sole purpose of this posting. I recently had to miss a VA flight due to a nasty bout of food poisoning. I am not skilled enough to multitask while praising the porcelain altar (click here for 1,591 other vomiting synonyms), so I did not cancel the flight prior to departure. Two days later, after 10 gallons of Gatorade and 78 slices of white bread, The Vigilant Consumer was back. I crafted a letter (see below) toVA's Guest Care department, and going against all of their standard policies, they provided a credit for the missed flight - they didn't even charge a $75 change fee.

A small win likes this certainly requires a good letter in addition to an understanding customer service representative. When you find yourself in a similar pickle, use the following tips when writing your letter. It takes some extra effort, but it's worked several times in the past:

• Rudeness is your enemy - if the they feel threatened or insulted, you'll be denied outright
• Humor sets the mood - throw in a funny anecdote if appropriate
• Empathy is the secret weapon - make them feel your pain
• Loyalty is valuable - especially in this economy, companies will bend over backwards to retain loyal customers

Enjoy the letter - it saved me $170!
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Dear Guest Care,

I was scheduled to fly on Virgin America (SFO to LAX) this past Friday, March 20. Unfortunately, the day of my flight, I was suddenly stricken with a case of food poisoning. It’s quite an ugly mess, something I could hardly wish upon an arch nemesis. Since I live alone, I needed all my energy to make it to the Urgent Care center at the hospital where, after 4 hours of waiting, a doctor officially diagnosed me with gastroenteritis. By the time I was able to receive the proper medical attention and medication, and return to the comfort of my home, it was too late for me to call Virgin America to cancel my flight.
Being a charter member of Virgin America Elevate, and a frequent flier (my girlfriend lives in LA), I am familiar with Virgin America’s standard cancellation policy. Unfortunately, however, this incident hit me so quickly and with such force, that I was in no position to cancel the flight or find someone to do it for me. When I returned to the living on Saturday, I called your reservation line and they suggested I contact Guest Care this week. Upon speaking with Guest Care yesterday, they suggested that there may be some leniency in the policy if I provided a note from the doctor.
I have attached the note, and hope that you will consider issuing me a credit for this particular round trip. I have loved the Virgin America experience, and since my girlfriend loves to see me on a regular basis, I plan to continue flying Virgin on my regular flights down south (already have one ticketed for April). Please call or email me if there is any additional information that I can provide.
Sincerely,
The Vigilant Consumer

PapaBear Pontificates...Babies aren't cheap? (PART II)

Being the single guy, it would be odd for me to know the tips and tricks on how to save money on all things baby. Plus, I don't change dirty diapers (or clean ones for that matter). Therefore, I am happy to present Part II of PapaBear's posting. If you missed Part I, click here to check it out.

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From the LazyBoy of PapaBear

Here are the baby items you will absolutely need:

1) Car Seat. The hospital won’t let you take your baby home without one properly installed. We got ours for free from the Rich Mother’s Club. Soon your baby will grow out of the infant car seat and have to sit in a bigger car seat. Find another free car seat through the Mother’s Club. Evidently, kids need to sit in car seats until they are 5 or 6 years old and there are different car seats all along the way. Keep finding free car seats otherwise your car seat investment will be in the thousands of dollars.

2) Diapers, lots of them! Steal as many as you can from the hospital. Unfortunately, you will eventually have to buy these yourself. Babies go through about 6-8 diapers a day. Have fun with the changing! Buy in bulk. Diapers.com will save you time, hassle and money.

3) Food: The good news. For the first few months, Baby food is free because it comes out of your wife’s boobs. The bad news. Your wife’s boobs have never been bigger, but not sure when you will ever look at your wife’s boobs the same again. After a few months, baby will start needing solid foods, again, buy in bulk.

4) Clothes: Get as much as you can from the Mother’s Club, hand me downs, use your own old clothes if you still have them. It is amazing how fast a baby will outgrow clothes. Avoid spending money on clothes at all costs! Baby clothes from 0-9 months are the dumbest expense! The baby has no memory and no ability to understand what she is wearing. Putting pretty clothes on a baby is purely for the indulgence of the parent at this stage of life. I've seen parents and babies wearing matching outfits. Some people think that’s adorable, I think that’s idiotic. It’s actually more expensive to buy the same outfit for a baby than it is for an adult if you can believe it. My baby is cute if she’s wearing a pretty dress or if she’s wearing a potato sack, you know why? She’s a baby! Babies are cute! Babies grow up to become people, and if you are a good looking person, you will spend more money on your clothes and appearance because the world loves good looking people. And if you are an ugly looking person, you will continue to wear nondescript clothing and question why the world is so shallow while secretly wishing that you were better looking. That’s just the way the world works. Babies and good looking people always win no matter what!

5) Furniture: Find it for free from someone giving it away from the Mother’s Club or family. You need a crib, a stroller and eventually a high chair for baby to eat solid food. Get these for as little money as possible. Neither you nor baby will remember how pretty baby’s furniture was. Nobody cares.

6) Toys: Babies play with anything. They think that their own feet are foreign objects. There is absolutely no need to buy expensive baby toys. If you can find free toys, give them to your baby. But do not clutter your house! Keep 2 or 3 favorite toys around for baby to play with and that’s it. When a toy gets old, get rid of it and find a new toy. Use an old ball, a small box or an old cell phone. Let the baby use her imagination.

And that’s it. You see, raising a baby can be cheap. Don’t think that you need to spend a fortune on stuff. With a little legwork, all of your money can be saved for her education and that shotgun for when she starts dating.

Onsies and diapers and cribs...Oh my! (PART I)

Yes, I have been MIA for a few weeks - many apologies. Thankfully, I am blessed with eloquent friends who are willing to put pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboard, in my absence. Many thanks to JHO for sharing the affordable beauty of Canada with The Vigilant Consumer community a few weeks back (if you missed the post, click here). I for one know that her tour guide services can cheaply be bartered for some Timmy Hortons or a an ice cold pint (don't forget the lime).

Next up, I am proud to introduce you to PapaBear. He'll bring the fatherly perspective to The Vigilant Consumer - fairly relevant since everyone seems to be popping babies out these days. In his 2-part posting (he must think I am paying him by the word) he'll explore some unique ideas for saving money with a newborn.

Before I turn the mic over to PapaBear, I just wanted to remind you of the two easiest ways to keep up to date when there is a new Vigilant Consumer posting (so you don't have to keep checking back daily, confronted by stale content).

• Simply type your email in the box on the right and click "SUBSCRIBE" (don't worry your email address won't be shared with unscrupulous characters).
• Or, if you are a social media hotshot, follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/VigilantConsume (leave the "r" off the address).

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(From the desk of PapaBear)

I have this friend who calls me up one day and asks me if I want to write a guest blog for his new blog about shopping. So I say to my friend, “I’m too busy, I don’t really have time for you and your crazy single guy lifestyle with your going out to dinner, reading magazines on the toilet, and getting more than two hours of sleep at a time.” You know why I feel this way? Because I am the proud father of a 9 month old baby girl!

As everyone knows, there are three moments in life where you get overcharged… a wedding, a birth and a funeral. I’ll leave the wedding topic for another time, and hopefully, I’ll explore the funeral discussion many years from now. (See video here.)



Step 1: Make sure your baby is born at the best hospital. Then, the minute you bring your wife into the hospital to deliver the baby, steal every piece of baby gear in sight. I walked out of that hospital with 60 extra diapers, 30 extra blankets, 30 extra onesies, boxes of nipples, baby hats, pacifiers, wet wipes, thermometers, formula, and a stethoscope. Oh yeah, and a new baby daughter… and my wife.

Step 2: Join a Mother’s Club in a rich area. Rich people are the suckers who get overcharged for all the baby gear. When my wife got pregnant, she signed up for this Mother’s Club in our area. Mother’s Clubs have postings for free baby stuff that the mothers of the older kids are just dying to get rid of. So immediately, we went on the listserve and started collecting the free stuff that these rich mothers spent a fortune to buy brand new, use for a few months and then give away when their baby got too big. Nothing depreciates faster than brand new $300 infant car seats, $800 strollers, or $3,000 crib sets.

Stay tuned for PART II - How to save on car seats, diapers, baby food and clothes.

Canadian Vacation, eh? (brought to you by the JHO)

Being the awesome blogger that I am, my American buddy (an oxymoron for most Canadians) who runs this blog asked me if I’d be kind enough to contribute a post. “Something good,” he asked, not like the rest of the posts on here (I kid, of course).

Well, if you haven’t noticed or learned here on The Vigilant Consumer, the economy is officially in the crapper, and making sure you get the most bang for your buck is now more important than ever before. If you’re like me, you’re probably scrambling to stuff your mattress with whatever little savings you’ve scraped together over the years and doing whatever you can to avoid having squirrel soup for dinner (as one former Canadian politician has pointed out we may be headed for). That being said, in these depressing times (or, “depression times”, if you will), going out and having some fun, while stimulating the good old economy, may just be what the doctor ordered.

If you grew up in Canada, you already know the benefits of the cross-border road-trip to the mall in the US when the Canadian dollar goes up (see video here).



What you may be unaware of as an American citizen about our home and native land is, the 5-star-type cheap vacation opportunities that present themselves to you when the US dollar is strong – like it is now. Often there is some confusion amongst Americans about what Canada has to offer – it’s not all igloos, beavers, and strong beer – however if that’s what you’re into, that type of vacation deal is plentiful.

Did you know, for instance, that Canada is home to the top skiing and snowboarding destination in the world, Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia? The ways to spend your powerful US dollar in our fair land are endless – shopping in Toronto, skiing in Whistler, Banff or Jasper, fine dining in Montreal, or my personal recommendation: visit our nation’s capital Ottawa and thank our Prime Minister (same job as your president) for driving the Canadian dollar down so low that you can now make a killing on Canadian goods and services.

If you find yourself driving by a tired and hungry looking girl chasing squirrels in your new Mercedes S-Class you bought for just pennies on the American dollar in Vancouver en route to your 5-Star+ accommodations in Whistler…don’t forget to wave “hello” to me.

Money for nothin' and your chicks for free

Who said it is a bad thing to be living in California during this economic debacle? The Governator "a.k.a. Governor Schwarzenegger" is doling out checks to unsuspecting individuals, maybe even you. Although big fat IOUs are still replacing tax refunds (see the previous posting), you may be one of the lucky ones enjoying a different type of financial windfall. Before I tell how to find out if you're a big Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner, just dream for a bit about how you'll be spending the money. Go ahead and buy that famous Christmas Story, fishnet enveloped leg lamp you've been lusting after since your prepubescent days. Or, you could be more fiscally responsible and apply it to some upcoming bills.

Either way, it'll only take you 1 minute to find out. Simply visit the California State Controller's (that's John Chiang to you) Unclaimed Property Search at http://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP/. Type in your name, cross your fingers and see what turns up. Rumor has it that California alone has $5 billion worth of unclaimed property including uncashed checks, insurance benefits, retail credits, stock dividends, etc. Yours truly only got $2.06, but I know someone out there is going to take me to a nice dinner after I found her $530. Bored at work? See if anyone you know is on the list - it's almost as fun as Googling an ex-flame.

Live outside of California? Check if your state has a similar program. Just type "unclaimed property 'your state'" into Google and hope for the best.

Why end the cheesiness with Valentine's Day? Fun things to do on the cheap, or for free.

I'm not offended if you feel that the humor I dish out is at times a bit Velveeta-esque. What do you expect from a free blog entitled The Vigilant Consumer - money and time saving tips encapsulated in a barrel of laughs? Although I've done my best to spark a smirk or two, all my previous postings are a mere curd in comparison to theooey, gooey, pungent, crispy and delicious cheesy mess that I am about to melt down right now.

That's right, The 2nd Annual NorCal Grilled Cheese Invitational is hitting San Francisco this weekend. Do you know how excited I am? I'm too excited to sleep (see the video above)! [Here is a Vigilant Consumer tip within a tip - Disneyland is offering everyone free admission on your birthday, throughout 2009 - see terms and conditions. I guess this is somewhat related since mice eat cheese.] I've never been to the Grilled Cheese Invitational (GCI), but after reading the rules for the event, I know it will be a blast. The sandwiches are judged by the public, making it even tastier. Perhaps I'll enter next year with a delectable treat - a crunchy outer layer of fried cheese and an inner layer of metliness nuzzled up against some crispy Doritos. Mmmm mmmm good.

Best of all, the event is free! Although I dream of one day growing up to be Anthony Bourdain (or at least possessing a teaspoon of his culinary eloquence), I actually chose to write about the GCI because it represents one of the hundreds of free or cheap events taking place in your city each week. Some may be as innocuous as sampling a tasty sandwich while others may be more risque like coed naked two hand touch football on a muddy field - in San Francisco the activities run the gamut.

Here we are blessed with several websites that aggregate the activities for us such as funcheapSF.com and mybart.org. Since The Vigilant Consumer is a one man operation that boasts readers from 394 cities in 22 countries, I simply don't have time to uncover the gems in each of your cities. Help out your fellow readers by posting a comment (or emailing me - thevigilantconsumer@gmail.com) with your favorite websites that feature the naked grilled cheese contests in your city, and I'll be sure to share them with the masses.

Shrinkage! Get out of the pool and lower your cellphone bill.

With Senator Judd Gregg withdrawing himself from consideration, perhaps President Obama should nominate Ronald McDonald or Walmart's unemployed Smiley character as the next Commerce Secretary. After all, McDonald's and Walmart seem to be the only companies that are still thriving in this economic debacle that we are enduring (even Coca Cola's profits are down). At least there'd be some tasy fries at the cabinent meetings. In a previous posting I discussed how to tighten the physical belt - today let's tighten the metaphorical one.

Ahh, remember the glory years of the Seinfeld era? Back in those days, shrinkage led to embarrassment (see video above). Today shrinkage should be celebrated, especially when it refers to your shriveling cellphone bills. Does The Vigilant Consumer have a tip on how you can easily determine whether these reductions are in your future? You betcha.

BillShrink.com aims to analyze your mobile usage in order to determine the most cost-effective plan. Once you provide info on voice minutes, data and text usage, they'll spit out recommendations on which carriers and plans you should consider. Keep in mind, however, if you are an iPhone junky - you are still tied to AT&T in the US. BillShrink predicts the carriers' projected signal strength in your zip, but be sure to check with friends and coworkers if you are switching to a new carrier - you don't want to become the victim of a dead-zone. If this site doesn't do the trick for you (and you are no longer under contract), try the old fashioned way. Call up your carrier and immediately ask for the cancellations department. Chances are, they'll be willing to throw some freebies your way.

Can you hear me now?

Rescue your New Year's resolutions. Black lights, dance beats and hot chicks (or dudes) in spandex will do the trick.

In these belt tightening times, perhaps you should cinch yours up a few notches. It's early February and McDonald's just released record earnings. This likely means that all your New Year's resolutions of health and fitness have long been chewed up with your Big Mac and swallowed away with a chocolate shake. Have no fear, The Vigilant Consumer is here to help resuscitate those lofty goals. I've caught on to an exercise phenomenon that is sure to rock your world - it's a mashup that's sure to rival the beauty of chocolate and peanut butter.



Combine the thrills of a hot nightclub with the heart thumping energy of an intense workout and there you have it, spin class (a form of high-intensity exercise using a stationary exercise bicycle). It's no surprise that most people join a gym and never go. Who wants to stand around in a stuffy room packed with meatheads? Not only will spin class provide the most gym value for your dollar, but it will also quench your thirst to go clubbing 7 nights a week. Allow me to explain:

• Think of the spin studio as the dance club itself. You enter and the lights are dim - everyone always looks better under the soothing hue of a black light.
• Just like a club, the class is chock full of hot chicks (or dudes). More importantly, they are likely in better shape then the average club kid, and they probably look more attractive in spandex. And, just like when clubbing, you still won't end up talking to any of them.
• The bike is your safety blanket. You won't need to bust out your awkward dance moves, but you'll still break into a sweat. If you are determined to learn some new dance moves, click here or watch the video below.
• You'll still get to enjoy your favorite mind blaring dance beats while sipping a dreadful tasting energy drink. The only difference is the drink won't be mixed with vodka.
• From The Vigilant Consumer perspective, you're getting your money's worth. Not only are you using the gym's equipment, but they also have to pay for those instructors.
• OK, maybe the spin studio will be missing one thing - glow sticks.

This plan spells success. Gone will be the late nights of clubbing where you end up dropping $100 or more on booze and late night eats. Less than one night's savings will fund your monthly gym membership, you'll be back on track to a healthy year and you may even have to buy a smaller belt.

UPDATE: Apparently I forgot to detail all of spinning's cardiovascular benefits in the original post. If burning 400-600 calories is not enough proof for you, check this out. Right after writing this post I went to a spin class, and one row in front of me was Bob Harper, the hardcore trainer from NBC's "The Biggest Loser".

Markopolos vs. Madoff - a hero is born. Plus, forensic accountants: the modern day doctors or lawyers?

By definition a hero is a person "of distinguished courage or ability, admired for brave deeds and noble qualities." When pondering modern day heroes, Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger stands tall at the top of the list. Not only did he skillfully land an Airbus 320 into the Hudson River, but then he searched the plane twice making sure all 150 passengers and crew had safely escaped. Sully is the complete package with the good looks and pedigree - he even called the local library to alert them that he lost one of their books in the crash.

Is it possible for someone armed with a slight comb-over and a slew of complex spreadsheets to be designated a hero? Although his Facebook page has less than 100 fans (in comparions to Sully's 556,000), Harry Markopolos (pictured up top) is not only one of the greatest vigilant consumers ever, he is definitely a true modern hero. In his mind, the decade long journey to untangle and expose the Ponzi scheme being perpetuated by Bernie Madoff was a complete failure. After all, the scheme did not unravel as a result of his efforts and it led to at least one victim's suicide - this was not a simple boiler room (see video) operation.

The failure and guilt weigh entirely on the conscience of the SEC and so called journalists who missed this golden opportunity that Markopolos delivered to them on a silver platter (if you read my earlier post on why the newspaper industry is dying, here is a another reason - a complete lack of investigative journalism). Without Markopolos's detailed records, the SEC may have escaped from this scandal unscathed. As this unassuming finance geek told the world via his testimony before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, ""The SEC is also captive to the industry it regulates and it is afraid of bringing big cases against the largest most powerful firms." More importantly, he has the documents to back up his claim (if you are really having a hard time falling asleep, click here to read his 2005 submission to the SEC).

Markopolos feared for his life as he gathered this information and tried to alert the authorities. It may have taken more than 8 years and losses of $50 billion, but due to Markopolos's heroic efforts, we are certain to see drastic changes in the way the SEC conducts itself. Even though he didn't officially defeat Madoff (and his Gordon Geckoesque shenanigans), he does claim to have a smaller $1 billion scheme (Stewie Griffin sized - see video) that he will be exposing shortly.

Meantime, the government is scrambling to find qualified forensic accountants to make sense of all this madness. I doubt we will be seeing a Law and Order Forensic Accountants spin off anytime soon (I yawned just thinking about it), but with such a high demand for their services (and so few experts in this area) they will be able to demand rock-star salaries, especially in this fraud and bankruptcy plagued economy. Don't be surprised if your mom calls trying to set you up with the son of her friend from the bridge group. No, he's not a doctor or a lawyer. He's a forensic accountant!

A January recap:Tips and tricks to protect yourself, save time and get the most for your money.

January was an quite exciting month. After donning The Vigilant Consumer costume for the first time, I embarked on a journey, spreading the art of proactive consumerism - teaching people to protect themselves, save time and get more for their money. Along the way, I managed to give "The Finger" to BernieMadoff and sit down for a free lunch (which tasted much better than spam) courtesy of OpenTable. When my beloved Chargers lost in the playoffs, I turned up the free, feelgood tunes on my iPod touch (courtesy of Pandora) and drowned my sorrows in some eCommerce , trying to make a dent in the pile of gift cards I received during the holidays. Did I search for promo codes before buying? You betcha... especially since I need to save money after learning that The Governator might be sending me an IOU rather than tax refund this year.

If that read like complete gibberish, then you clearly have not been reading enough of The Vigilant Consumer. Now that Blagojevich will no longer make headlines that consume your each waking hour (I am sure I'll be eating those words), why not spend that freed up time indulging yourself in some more of what I'm throwing down. To make it easy for you to navigate the previous postings, I put links below. Don't worry, just like rollover minutes, they don't expire. Plus new ones are on the way!

If the opening paragraph strangely made sense to you, however, then you are one of the 600 loyal readers that has inspired me to keep this journey going. Please continue sending me feedback and story ideas at thevigilantconsumer.gmail.com. More importantly, spread the word to all your friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances and exes who might enjoy the blog. Are you a recluse, or like Madoff , do you no longer have friends? You can still help the cause. At the end of each posting you'll notice a little green icon with a less than symbol and the words "share this". Simply click this link and click either the "Reddit" or "Digg" service to tell the masses about The Vigilant Consumer. After a quick registration process (it just takes a few minutes), it'll only take a few seconds each time you want to help promote The Vigilant Consumer.

Check out the links to January's stories below.

• What is The Vigilant Consumer? - It's all about proactive consumerism, tips and tricks that can prevent you from getting screwed in the first place. Protect yourself, save time and get more for your money.
• Do you have a promo code? - When buying online, you should ALWAYS search for a "promo code". How to find these codes for huge savings.
• The next Bernie Madoff is knocking on your door. How do you protect yourself? - How to use some easy internet tools to protect yourself when selecting a financial adviser.
• Get spammed and save money. Top brands will throw offers your way! - How to save money by signing up for company newsletters.
• Buying an iPhone, iPod, Mac or any other Apple product? Visit MacRumors first. - One website you should always reference prior to purchasing any Apple product.
• I hate email spam... and I'm also not partial to the meat byproduct after which it is named. - How to use multiple email accounts to avoid spam from retailers, even when you want to receive info and coupon codes from them.
• Live in California? Pay your taxes ASAP or your refund might be an IOU. - Governor Schwarzenegger may be sending you an IOU rather than a tax refund this year. How to protect yourself in the future.
• Out of touch. One reason the newspaper industry is dying. - How trips to Naples just to eat pizza and "glam, glam, glam" are killing the newspaper industry.
• 4 tips to protect your holiday gift cards. - How do you protect your gift cards from getting lost, expiring, or burning a hole in your pocket.
• There ain't no such thing as a free lunch? Think again. OpenTable gets 3 Thumbs Up. - How OpenTable saves you time and money when making restaurant reservations. Take advantage of this service to enjoy Restaurant Weeks across the country - three-course, prix-fixe meals at top restaurants with some even donating money to charity.
• The Blog vs. Blago: A Tale of the Tape - A funny explanation of how The Vigilant Consumer (Blog) is much different than Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Blago)!
• Free music on your iPhone, iPod touch or home computer. Pandora scores 3 Thumbs Up. - In this time of change, expand your music horizon. Learn how Pandora.com entertains you as you discover new music on your iPhone,iPod, or home computer – for free.
• Mesothelioma - Things That Make You Go Hmm. - Ever wonder why your TV is dominated by Jacoby and Meyers type ads for lawsuits involving mesothelioma? Find out why these law firms spend so much to advertise online and on TV.
• To all BlackBerry users suffering iPhone envy. Download the Wall Street Journal Mobile Reader and see why it gets 3 Thumbs Up. - Fellow news junkies with BlackBerry mobile devices must check out the Wall Street Journal Mobile Reader.

To all BlackBerry users suffering iPhone envy. Download the Wall Street Journal Mobile Reader and see why it gets 3 Thumbs Up.

I love news. Business, technology, political, food, sports and travel - I read it all. How do you think I come up with all the crazy stuff I write about in The Vigilant Consumer? Now, more than ever, I have become obsessed with the influx of stories about the economic downturn, corporate bankruptcies, failed bailouts, financial fraud, mass layoffs, Blagojevich, Madoff, etc. - you get the point. Perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment. Most people would say, "Calgon, take me away." If you're like me, however, you eschew the temptation of a relaxing bath infused with sodium hexametaphosphate and start reading the next article.

All of my fellow news junkies with BlackBerry mobile devices must check out the Wall Street Journal Mobile Reader. This nifty mobile application is certainly worthy of 3 Thumbs Up on theVC Scale of Love. It is free, extremely easy to use, not available on the iPhone and packed with the following features:

• Premium content for free - Access most of the Wall Street Journal on your mobile. This depth of content isn't even available onWSJ.com unless you are a subscriber. Plus, customize the settings so you only will see stories from categories that you find interesting.
• Stories beyond the Wall Street Journal - That's right, you can use this application to get all your favorite blogs or RSS feeds (don't worry about the fancy words) delivered straight to your phone. Now you can read The Vigilant Consumer when governing the kingdom from your porcelain throne!
• Stock updates - Get almost real time stock quotes so you can follow your personal portfolio or track those new-found buying opportunities. Who really wants to follow their portfolio that closely? Did you forget? I am a masochist.
• Sharing - Want to share the pain with a friend? It's easy to email the story to someone from your address book, bookmark it with Delicious or post it to Facebook.

If you are new to the world of "mobile applications", do not fear. Downloading this to your phone is about 10x easier than setting the clock on your VCR (and if you're too young to even know what a VCR is, you were probably downloading mobile apps at birth). All you have to do is click here, enter your email address (the one you access on your mobile) and open the email from your BlackBerry. The rest is a piece a cake.

If you were a CrackBerry addict before, you'll certainly need an intervention now. After all, you probably just missed another Madoff or Blagojevich inspired headline.

Mesothelioma - Things That Make You Go Hmm.

As many Americans look to the future, I'd like to pay homage to the past and simultaneously introduce a new segment of The Vigilant Consumer - "Things That Make You Go Hmmm." I'm a very curious individual, and this segment is inspired by an extraordinary comedian, inspiring actor and Emmy Award Winning talk show host, Arsenio Hall. Did you know that the Things That Make You Go Hmm skit on "The Arsenio Hall Show" actually inspired the hit song by C+C Music Factory? And, for all you youngins, Arsenio could've won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Randy Jackson and American Idol for their pilfering of the "Dogpound" or "Dawg Pound" if he himself hadn't stolen it from the Cleveland Browns.

Speaking of lawsuit, I had the pleasure of attending jury duty this week. When the judge announced that this was to be a class action, civil case dealing with mesothelioma I knew this one would drag out for awhile. However, looking around the room, I noticed that many of my fellow citizens had puzzled looks on their faces, as though they wondered why we would be dealing a case taking place on the Tigris-Euphrates rivers, near Iraq. Not Mesopotamia...Mesothelioma. Not that I am smarter than my peers, but I watch a fair amount of TV, have done my share of online advertising, and like I said, I am a very curious person.


Therefore, I'd like to dedicate this inaugural segment of Things That Make You Go Hmmm to mesothelioma. If you haven't heard of it, that's a good thing. It's a very deadly type of cancer in which malignant cells develop in the mesothelium (the lining that protects many of your body's organs). In particular, it usually affects areas of the chest, the heart and lungs. As you may be thinking, however, mesothelioma is not caused by smoking. Rather, the majority of mesothelioma cases are due to asbestos, a group of minerals that are used in many industrial products including insulation, roof shingles and flooring. During manufacturing and installation, the cancerous particles easily became airborne, and are often inhaled by workers.

Although some famous people (Steve McQueen, Warren Zevon, and Paul Gleason the actor who portrayed Principal Richard Vernon in The Breakfast Club) have died from mesothelioma, it is quite rare with only 2,000-4,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Chances are the word rings a bell because you've seen one of the many television ads featuring lawyers that can win you court judgements worth millions if "you or someone you know is suffering from or died due to mesothelioma." You may be wondering how these shady looking (think Law Offices ofJacoby and Myers) law firms have the budget to run such expansive campaigns. If that's not perplexing enough, why is the word "mesothelioma" one of the most expensive keywords (costing advertisers $20-40 per each click) for targeted ads on all the search engines?

The answer is simple. Class action lawsuits + huge awards = wealthy lawyers. Despite knowing of the dangers associated with asbestos for more than 60 years, manufacturers still continue to use it in their products. Therefore, victims and their families have received judgements worth billions of dollars to cover the cost of medical care, lost wages and in many cases punitive damages. In 2003 the Wall Street Journal reported that $54 billion had been paid out relating to asbestos cases, with more than half of that going to the lawyers. Since each additional victim adds another $1,000,000 or more (I'm just guessing here) to the value of the class action suit, then running these ads is a nobrainer . This is especially true in the online world where the law firms' ads are only exposed to those who are actively searching on the rare term "mesothelioma" and where they only have to pay when someone clicks the ad. Think about it. At $30 per click, even if only 1% of those that click become clients, the law firm will only be spending $3,000 for each new $1,000,000 client. That's not too shabby a return on investment.

Now, if only I can figure out what happened to Arsenio Hall!

Free music on your iPhone, iPod touch or home computer. Pandora scores 3 Thumbs Up.

On this historic day we witnessed change. The Vigilant Consumer is not a politically focused blog, therefore I am not referring to a change in policy associated with the new Obama administration. No, I am quite confident that this will continue to be covered ad nauseam by the pundits, talking heads, politicos or anyone who consistently begins a sentence with the words "Look" or "Listen". The change of which I speak, is that of iPod One. Yes...the Presidential iPod.

President Bush, known for his love of mountain biking, loaded his iPod with Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and the Knack. I can hardly imagine Brown Eyed Girl fueling an intense, heart-pounding bike ride, but I guess My Sharona may have done the trick. President Obama's musical tastes seem to be a bit more diverse, and even if he has to give up the BlackBerry, at least he'll be able to keep the iPod. His top 10 songs are; Ready or Not (Fugees), What's Going On (Marvin Gaye), I'm On Fire (Bruce Springsteen), Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones), Sinnerman (Nina Simone), Touch the Sky (Kanye West), You'd Be So Easy to Love (Frank Sinatra), Think (Aretha Franklin), City of Blinding Lights (U2) and Yes We Can (will.i.am).

Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, a general love of music is something that unites us all. Why not take the opportunity during this time of change to expand your own musical horizons? There is no better way to do this than with Pandora.com, another service that scores "3 Thumbs Up" on the VC Scale of Love. Pandora's mission is "To play music you'll love - and nothing else." Not only do they keep you entertained by playing new music based on the songs or artists you already love, but they do it for free. If you doubt the results, you better think again. Pandora, also known on as the Music Genome Project, employs a team of highly skilled musical analysts that dissect each song into 400 musical attributes, enabling them to discover similarities and differences among different songs.

Although it sounds terribly complex, have no fear. Once you visit Pandora.com, you'll be rocking out in no time. Simply, sign up for a free account and then create a channel with songs or artists that fit your favorite style(s). Pandora magically begins to play your customized suggestions, and as you rank each with a thumbs up or thumbs down, it learns more about your musical preferences. If you prefer to keep your Bette Midler separate from your Dr. Dre, you can even create multiple stations. As if that's not compelling enough, you can also listen to Pandora when you are on-the-go. It works for free on your iPhone, iPod touch, and other select Sprint, AT&T and WindowsMobile devices.

Happy listening!

The Blog vs. Blago: A Tale of the Tape

Are you entering the blogosphere for the first time? Welcome to this world of creative chaos. I'm honored that you landed on The Vigilant Consumer and am thrilled to be your guide as you embark on this journey. All of the newbies are likely experiencing simultaneous emotions - confusion and excitement. Why does someone write a blog? How do I know when you blog? How do I spread the gospel of the the Vigilant Consumer?

There is no better way to break this all down than through a Tale of the Tape: The Blog (aka The Vigilant Consumer) vs. Blago (aka Governor Rod Blagojevich)

The Blog is written in California (land of the Governator) while Blago is in Illinois (where he is Da Govenah).
Did the folks at SNL really miss this opportunity to bring back Bill Swerski's Super Fans? (click to see video)


The Blog tries to fight against BS while Blago is full of BS.
That's right, keep reading The Vigilant Consumer to learn the art of proactive consumerism. Protect yourself, save time and get more for your money.

The Blog gets updated and you may have no idea. Blago burps and every major news channel jumps.
You can change this. Simply visit www.thevigilantconsumer.blogspot.com/ and enter your email address in the box on the middle right of the page. Then you'll get each new story sent to you hot off the press.

The Blog actually has to spend some time writing while Blago has diarrhea of the mouth.
Unfortunately, the blog is a one-man, part-time operation. If you just can't get enough, make sure you've read all of the previous posts - they don't expire. To do this, either:

• Visit www.thevigilantconsumer.blogspot.com/ and either click on "Older Posts" at the bottom of the page (the front page only displays the most recent)
• Or, visit www.thevigilantconsumer.blogspot.com/ and click on the posting titles that appear on the right hand side of the page under "Blog Archive"

The Blog loves friends and feedback while Blago can't get a single Chicagoan to join him for an Italian beef (even if he were buying).
Here are some ways you can show some love to The Vigilant Consumer.

• Leave comments if you like a posting or have something to share with other readers. To do this, just click on the word "comments" at the bottom of the related posting and write away.
• Join The Vigilant Consumer on Facebook. Simply click here and then "Become a Fan" to help spread the word. Then you can start or join discussions with other fans.
• Email The Vigilant Consumer at thevigilantconsumer@gmail.com with ideas for stories.

The Blog saves you money while Blago just wants to make money (for himself).
It is important for me to note that there are advertisements on the blog, and they are always between the postings. They are contextually based, meaning that some sharp computer matches the ads to fit the words I write. These ads constantly change, and The Vigilant Consumer does not necessarily support, endorse or use any of the advertised services/companies.

Blago has some great hair. The Blog just can't compare.

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch? Think again. OpenTable gets 3 Thumbs Up.

Whenever I encounter a product or service that saves me both time and money, I have to award it the coveted 3 Thumbs Up designation. That’s right, why stop at two? In fact, theVC Scale of Love ranges from "The Finger" (yep, the middle one) which resides on the unhappy end of the spectrum all the way to "3 Thumbs Up" on the happy happy joy joy end of the scale. Just to put in into perspective (and, don't worry, I will post more about theVC Scale of Love in the future), Bernie Madoff Investment Securities is the poster child of a firm that has earned itself The Finger. On the contrary, OpenTable is a terrific service that scores 3 Thumbs Up.

I know, many of you are already familiar with OpenTable. After all, it’s one of those tech boom stalwarts that launched in 1999 (back in the Internet Golden Ages) and has been around ever since. If you are already a fan, then I won't be offended if you skip down to the last paragraph of this posting. Otherwise, allow me to set a scene that will open your eyes to this amazingly simple, yet effective service.

You are sitting at work on a Friday afternoon and your boss is hounding you to complete the TPS reports (click to see the video). You mind is wandering to that first icy cold, happy hour, adult beverage and you get a text from an old college buddy – “wifey and i r in town 2nite. dinner at 8? u choose.” Your boss saunters by, peers over the cube and taps his watch. In a strange turn of events, the normally mundane task of calling 40 different restaurants to track down that illusive Friday night, last minute reservation is oddly more appealing than completing thoseTPS reports. However, you do value that paycheck. In a quick effort to secure a reservation you log onto OpenTable.com. Voila - 4 simple steps and 2 minutes later you've landed a reso at the hottest new gastropub (really, despite the Pepto sounding name, they're the hottest new things these days), and an email notification with all the details has been sent to your friends. All you had to do was:

• Select a location - OpenTable represents more than 10,000 restaurants in 8 countries, so there is a good chance your local is covered.
• Refine your search - If you desire, narrow it down by neighborhood and cuisine, or even a specific restaurant name.
• Select date, time and party size - No explanation needed here.
• Pull the trigger - You'll be presented with a comprehensive list of available restaurants. Browse reviews and menus before making your choice.

It's that easy and the time savings are obvious. Now, here comes the free lunch. OpenTable offers Dining Rewards for each completed reservation. Typically you'll earn a $20 certificate after 20 reservations (each is usually worth 100 points). However, be on the lookout for the bonus 1000-point reservations and you'll speed up that run to a free lunch.

If all of that isn't grand enough for you, at certain times throughout the year OpenTable promotes Restaurant Weeks, partnering with local dining establishments to offer special three-course, prix-fixe meals at terrific prices for both lunch and dinner. Many of these are currently underway, so click here to see the current participating cities. In some cities, this event even supports a local charity. In San Francisco it's called Dine About Town and prices range from $21.95-$34.95. In New York it is called Restaurant Week, donations are made to City Harvest and prices range from $24.07-$35.00 (a steal in NYC). So, ditch thoseTPS reports for a few minutes and check out OpenTable.

UPDATE: OpdeTable is filing for an IPO - http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/30/opentable-files-for-ipo-and-reveals-its-finances/. Best of luck to them in this market!

4 tips to protect your holiday gift cards.

Did you have a December to Remember? I'm assuming most of us didn't wake up this holiday season to a shiny new Lexus adorned with a bow. In fact, did you really get anything from your wish list? There is nothing worse than unwrapping an Ionic air purifier when you were dreaming of a new iPod. OK, maybe the pink bunny costume would trump that (see video).



I am a huge fan of giving and receiving gift cards. If you are sitting on a post-holiday treasure trove of gift cards, here are a some tips to protect these valuable pieces of plastic.

• Lose gift cards and you are out-of-luck. Unless you treat them like the Amex travelers checks of yesteryear. Remember how you used to copy down the individual numbers of each check before heading off on a trip? Do the same with your gift cards. Then, if you misplace one, simply go back to your records and use the number for an online purchase. Some retailers may even let you get a new card if you are worried that it was stolen or if you prefer to make an in store purchase.


• Some gift cards expire or lose their value over time. This all depends on your state gift card consumer protection laws. Check a site such as ConsumersUnion.org to review your state's laws.


• Use them before the retailer goes bankrupt. Have a card from Mervyn's? You are out-of-luck. Got one from Linens 'n Things? You probably have about 10 more minutes to buy something. If you suspect the retailer might be going bankrupt, don't sit on that gift card.


• Just can't find anything you want to buy? If you don't eat at Red Lobster or no longer shop at Sears, have no fear. There are a number of online marketplaces out there that allow you to swap gift cards for a small fee. These include Swapagift.com, Cardavenue and GiftCardsAgain.com. DISCLAIMER - I've never tried any of these services so be sure to do your due diligence before proceeding. If you have experience with any of these services, please post a comment below to let others know.

Happy shopping! Enjoy the lingering post-holiday sales.

Out of touch. One reason the newspaper industry is dying.

"In my life, I've been to Naples three times times just to eat pizza."

No, The Vigilant Consumer does not lead such a life of decadence. That's actually a direct quote from a recent San Francisco Chronicle article entitled "Cook Joanne Weir's local picks for food, wine". If that's not chi chi enough for you, Ms. Weir first recommends a spa in this alleged food and wine article. As though she needs to establish her credibility as a modern day bon vivant, she pontificates, "When I get home after a long flight, one of my favorite retreats is to visit Beate Comment for a facial." She proceeds by suggesting an upscale boutique that appears to sell several hundred dollar blouses. "Yes, it's kind of pricey but if you want something glam, glam, glam, this is the place to do a little damage."

To Weir's credit, she does give a shout out to one of my favorite restaurants serving up $3 sandwiches in one of San Francisco's grittiest neighborhoods (I don't imagine she wears that $400 blouse when going there). However, it's just too little, too late. Don't get me wrong, I lean heavily toward the foodie extreme of the spectrum and certainly know how to appreciate the finer things. However, does this type of article really belong in a newspaper full ofheadlines about Bernie Madoff, corporate layoffs, bankruptcies, foreclosures and disappearing 401Ks? Seems to me, a publication such as Food and Wine or Travel + Leisure may be a bit more appropriate.

Apparently, I am not alone. After reading this article online, I noticed that it managed to receive 34 mostly negative comments. "Pretentious" seemed to be a recurring theme in the feedback. Obviously newspapers need to include some positive, upbeat, escapist stories to balance out the doom and gloom. However, with this economy, "glam, glam, glam" may not be the way to go.

Hopefully I didn't stress you out by the seriousness of this posting. In order to lighten the mood a bit, allow me to say "GO SAN DIEGO SUPER CHARGERS" and offer a video tribute to my hometown!

Live in California (OR KANSAS)? Pay your taxes ASAP or your refund might be an IOU.

Ahhhh California, the land of milk and honey! It's the only state governed by a Terminator, and according to wikipedia, California's GDP is greater than all but 8 countries in the world. So, why am I comparing California to a modern day Wimpy (remember that lovable character from Popeye who was always willing to "pay Tuesday for a hamburger today")? Well, according to breaking news reports, Arnold might not have enough money in his coffers to cover the tax refunds for all of his constituents. If you are from California, don't fret too much. You would still get a refund in the mail, but rather than including a check, there would be a Wimpy-esque IOU.

If you think this is a far-fetched conspiracy theory, think again. Back in 1992 California actually issued IOUs to 100,000 state employees in lieu of their paychecks - FOR 2 MONTHS. While a delayed refund would certainly be an inconvenience, it really shouldn't be that big of a deal. Or, maybe it should be. Apparently, there are many people out there who don't trust themselves to save for anticipated expenses. They use their tax refund as a savings account, adjusting their withholdings so the resulting refund will cover their property tax bill which is due in April. Unfortunately, an IOU can't pay off a property tax bill.

I've always been confused by those who would rather overpay the government and let it hold onto their money until the end of the year. Sure, it is exciting to get a big check from the government, but I find the time value of money to be much more thrilling (that sounds a bit geeky). Anyhow, a buddy of mine reminded me that not all people have willpower when it comes to saving - a dollar in the bank account is a dollar that will get spent. Frankly, I don't buy that excuse at all. In a future posting, I will suggest a solution. It involves direct deposit, online bank accounts and some of the best interest rates around.

UPDATE (2/17/09): Wake up Toto, looks like you'll be receiving an IOU in the mail this year as well. There's no place like home...No place like home...

I hate email spam... and I'm also not partial to the meat byproduct after which it is named.

There is nothing more frustrating than filtering through hundreds of unsolicited messages to unearth the few legitimate ones. It looks like Tom Dickson and the folks at BlendTec hate spam just as much as I do. Check out the video to see, "Will it blend?"



How many "Nigerian Scam" or "Penile Enlargement" emails do unsuspecting victims really open, and then, do they really reply? The spammers are sophisticated, and the cost to send email is minimal, so these messages will continue as long as people fall into the trap.

In a previous post I mentioned the potential benefits of subscribing to email newsletters. The sale notifications and special coupon codes are just too good to pass up. However, I NEVER use my primary email address when registering. In fact, I never use or share my primary email address unless I am communicating with someone I know or someone I trust who will not use it for inappropriate purposes.

Therefore, it's a good thing the solution is simple, and more importantly, free. Simply sign up for a free secondary email account with Google Gmail (click here), YAHOO! Mail (click here) or Microsoft Hotmail (click here). I've used them all and am definitely partial to Gmail (by the way, you can always reach me directly with questions, comments or story ideas at thevigilantconsumer@gmail.com). Don't take it from me. Since they are free, give all of the services a try. Notice that I don't recommend you use one of the free email services from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The reason is simple - if you ever switch ISPs because you move or find a cheaper provider, your old ISP provided email account will likely disappear.

Next up: One example why the newspaper industry is dying a fast death.

Buying an iPhone, iPod, Mac or any other Apple product? Visit MacRumors first.

According to a recent Forrester research report, consumers will significantly cut back on their electronics purchases in 2009. SHOCKER!

Although this report is not surprising, what would you do if you forgot to take your iPhone out your jeans before you threw them in the wash? What if you walked into the pool with your iPod in your pocket (yours truly has pulled that slick move)? It all depends on how attached you are to your iFart application (yes it is the #1 application in the iTunes App Store) or the AC/DC "Black Ice" album you just downloaded from iTunes, but my bet is that you'll likely buck the Forrester report and buy a replacement sooner rather than later.



Before you do, be sure to check out the MacRumors.com Buyer's Guide. This terrific site has the latest and greatest news (and rumors) on all of the Apple products. More importantly, it tracks the historical product lifecycles, and based on this info, assigns a Buy, Neutral or Don't Buy rating for each Apple product. This is especially important when buying from a company like Apple that is notorious for adding features or reducing prices every six months. If you know that the latest and greatest is only months away, then perhaps you can suffer the separation anxiety for just a bit longer before you replace that waterlogged iPod.

Time is on your side. With the annual MacWorld show taking place this week, hopefully Apple will be making some exciting announcements.

Get spammed and save money. Top brands will throw offers your way!

Happy New Year! After some rest and relaxation, I am back at it, refining and promoting the art of proactive consumerism so that you will protect yourself and get more for your money. The vacation included a few terrific days in Oxnard, California. Never heard of it? This sleepy, laid-back town certainly ranks high on the list of The Vigilant Consumer's Value Vacation Spots - more of those in a future posting. It has an amazing beach and excellent proximity to Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley wine country made famous by the movie Sideways. If you don't trust me about Oxnard, check out this New York Times article.

Enough of the vacation reminiscing, it is back to business. The post holiday sales are still in full-effect and now is a great time to return those horrendous sweaters you got so you can treat yourself to the gifts you really wanted. In a previous post I covered how to save money by searching for coupon or promo codes to use online. Imagine if that info came straight to you via an email, with offers from your favorite stores and brands. It's simple, just visit the websites of your favorite companies and look for the place to subscribe to their "email updates", "newsletters" or whatever other cutesy branded name they use. Look on the homepage where there is usually a link for this at the very bottom (or they will always ask you if you want to receive offers when you complete an online purchase).

The savings can be huge - checkout this 40% off in-store coupon that I just received this morning from Borders Books (click here to register for their emails). In addition these being popular for bookstores and department stores like Macy's (click to register), many consumers love the weekly airfare sales from Southwest (click to register) or United Airlines (click to register).

As usual, there is always a catch. Be prepared to get inundated by emails from these stores. Some subscribe to the quantity over quality belief, and therefore, send messages multiple times a week. Although you shouldn't have to worry about this from reputable companies, some may also sell your email address to list brokers. The solution simple - always use a secondary email address (I call it my junk email address) when subscribing to any of these newsletters. Those of you already employ that technique know what I mean. If this is new to you, stay tuned for the next posting.

Next up: Unclutter your email inbox. Control spam in 2009.