Tag Archives: product testing

Restaurant Rant

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Here’s a somewhat (very) lightweight after-holiday post. Top 10 consumer peeves about restaurants! Here are some of the ones that struck me. How many do you share?

Feed the kids! Everybody knows that hungry, cranky kids are a time bomb waiting to explode all over your good time. Something, anything, just get some food in them as soon as you sit down.

Plate timing: What’s the old rule? Knife and fork across the plate means I am done. Don’t yank it away too soon, and don’t leave it sit for the rest of the evening.

Attentive, not obnoxious: Ever try to have a conversation, and the server keeps interrupting? The tea is empty, so fill it. No need to ask EVERY time. Of course, the flip side to this is “Where is our waitress? Do you even remember what she looks like?”

Policy, schmolicy: Dumb stuff like they won’t seat you until the whole party has arrived. Or, there are only 3 tables being used, and they have to seat you right on top of each other. If it’s busy, or you are understaffed, I get it. Otherwise, you are just following rules for rules’ sake.

Can the commentary: “Wow! Looks like SOMEBODY was HUNGRY!” Seriously, just shut up.

There is a bunch more at the original article, as well as a friendly reminder that we, as the customer, also have some responsibilities. So check it out. Did they miss any?

Drought Brings Crops Down, Prices Up

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How colorfully depressing!

On TV, radio and the web, it’s the background noise we have been hearing all summer: the big Midwest drought. Living in South Carolina, where it rains every day at 4pm sharp, it seems like somebody else’s problem. But my grocery bill tends to disagree. The biggest factor? CORN.

Corn — a crop that has been decimated by drought — is used as feed for beef and poultry; is manufactured into ethanol, a gasoline additive; and is cooked into corn syrup, a sweetener in everything from cereals to ketchup. And, of course, that doesn’t count corn’s simple uses, whether to be eaten alone or made into anything from chips to tortillas.  CBS Money Watch

Before the planting season, they were talking about a record crop. Now they say it will be down 12% from last year. So how does this affect your wallet? And what can you do about it?

  • Buy meat now: Before long, it will be cheaper for farmers to slaughter their livestock that to feed them. When that happens, meat process will shoot up.
  • $kip proce$$ed food$: they have a lot of high-fructo$e corn $yrup.
  • Buy fruit: The weather that is killing vegetables is good for fruit, so prices are lower.
  • Substitute. Oatmeal instead of processed cereal, fish instead of beef, foods with simple sugar instead of fructose, etc.
  • Eat locally: If you happen to live in an unaffected area, the local stuff should be cheaper.

So, have you seen the difference in your grocery bill? Do you have any other saving tips? Let us know!

Back to $chool $pending

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Are we properly capturing the misery?

Are you feeling 15% richer now than last August? I hope so, because that’s how much more we are going to spend to send our kids back to school this fall.

This year, the average family with students from kindergarten to 12th grade is expected to spend $689 on back-to-school supplies, up from $604 last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Parents estimate they will spend an average of $246 on clothes, $218 on electronics, $129 on shoes and $95 on school supplies, such as notebooks, pencils and backpacks. Chicago Tribune

So, how do you avoid getting cleaned out at the register? Here are some tips…

Do your homework: make a list, plan your trip, and stick to it. Also, look around the house. Do you need to buy a pack of ten ink pens? Don’t you have 50 lying around the house? I know I do!

Save on supplies: Dollar store, baby! Of course, it’s not only dollars. Saving on headaches can be valuable too. Like, when the moms of XYZ Middle School prepare those grocery bags with precisely all  the supplies you kid will need? Costs more, but so easy!!

Clothing: This is going to depend on the kid, but what’s wrong with Good will? My sister had 2 boys, and bought ALL their clothes there because they just didn’t care. So, get some kids like that!

Wait on the season: By the time your kid needs each season’s wardrobe, those clothes will be on clearance. So, chill!

Online shopping: Online back to school shopping has increased 400% in the past few years, and now 40% of parents are doing it.

Compare prices: Prices for the exact same items are truly all over the place. Spend some time online and figure it out.

Computers and electronics: A good time to whip out that student ID, for extra savings.

So, that’s the 411 on back to school savings. There’s much more info at the original article, so check it out!  What do you think? Did we leave anything out? Got any tips to share?

 

11 Dumb Things Our Teens are Up To

Actually, one of the less dangerous things on the list!

A while back we did a post about Salvia and bath salts, two things kids have managed to turn into drugs. Now, another article has come along with a bunch more terrifying things today’s bored kids are getting up to.

The latest teen trends make the underage drinking games of yesterday look like child’s play. Here’s an inside peek at some of the dangerous things teenagers are doing today … and that they will never tell you about.  ParentSociety.com

Here is the brief boildown…

11) Planking (see picture): Lots of injuries, at least one death.

10) Vodka Eyeballing: Pretty much what it sounds like. Could cause retinal scarring or blindness.

09) The Choking Game: Cutting off oxygen to the brain, then a rush of breath, causing a brief high.

08) Vodka Gummy Bears: Again, just what it sounds like.

07) Smoking Smarties: Seriously? Like smoking bath salts, I guess, but sweeter!

06) Alcohol Tampons: Yep. And it’s not just girls.

05) Distilling Purel into alcohol: They say to switch to the foamy kind.

04) Car Surfing (see picture): Thanks, Teen Wolf!

Jedi-level car surfing

03) Purple Drink: Sprite, Jolly Ranchers and codeine cough syrup. Yum!

02) ChatRoulette.com: Internet video chat room. Easy to access, anonymous and with barely any filtering or rules.

01) Bath Salts: Our old friend is still number 1!

What do these things have in common, other than making parents wet themselves in terror?  They are all about two clicks away on the internet. Which is not an argument for web censorship, but a suggestion that we all get familiar with our kids’ web habits. Food for thought!

Now Hiring?

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Has the downturn got you thinking about a career change? It does me, for REALZ. But which direction should you go? Where is the growth? Where is the need? And where is the satisfaction? USNews.com has some ideas…

Each year, U.S. News compiles a list of the Best Careers based on the Labor Department’s employment projections. And this year, we continue to base our picks for the Best Jobs of 2012 on professions that should hire abundantly over the next several years. To better help you make a smart career choice, we’ve also started ranking our selections. USNews.com

The short answer? Healthcare and computers. Here is their list for 2012…

10. Occupational Therapist : $48k-$102k. Over 36,000 needed in the next decade.

9. Computer Programmer: $40k-$114k. High job satisfaction, competitive salary, good prospects.

8. Physical Therapist: $53k-$107k. Field will grow by 40% over the next decade. You need a Master’s, though.

7. Computer Systems Analyst: $48k-$119k.

6. Web Developer: $43k-$119k. Over 65,000 positions are anticipated in the next 10 years.

5. Database Administrator: $41k-$115k. They used to call it “filing.” A critical position throughout business, but one that requires a lot of certifications.

4. Medical Assistant: $20k-$40k. No specific training is required, but the more you have, the better.

3. Pharmacist: $82k-$138k. LOTS of education required, but it pays off. The pharmacist at my CVS drives a SWEET Benz convertible. I’m just sayin’.

2. Software Developer: $54k-$87k. Like many of these tech jobs, you have to be constantly keeping up with evolving technology.

1. Registered Nurse: $44k-$95k. Over 700,000 positions will need filling in the coming decade.

So, are you or someone you know in any of these fields? Do you agree that these are Top 10 material? Let us know!

(photo: allthingsd.com)

Will You Miss Them When They’re Gone?

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These brands, that is. Face it, even in the best of times, things change, and brands die. And these are hardly the best of times. So analysts are looking into their crystal balls to see who is on their way out.

Each year, 24/7 Wall St. identifies 10 important American brands that we predict will disappear within a year. This year’s list reflects the brutally competitive nature of certain industries and the reason why companies cannot afford to fall behind in efficiency, innovation or financing.  24/7 Wall St.com

Companies get hurt by bad management, big losses, a shrinking market…the list goes on and on. So who is on deathwatch for 2012?

  • Research In Motion: the BlackBerry guys. No shocker.
  • Pacific Sunwear: ran out of dough
  • Avon: fierce competition, bad management
  • MetroPCS: Wireless carrier I have never heard of!
  • Oakland Raiders: will be around, but probably NOT around Oakland!
  • Salon.com: one of those websites everybody talks about but few visit.
  • Suzuki: getting pushed out of small, cheap car market by Hyundai
  • Current TV: see Salon.com
  • Talbot’s: hurt by recession, competition from Ann Taylor and Limited
  • American Airlines: rash of mergers in the airline biz, and AA got left behind.

There are several on this list you probably don’t care about. But please don’t tell my wife about Talbot’s! And I’m not sure if it’s still America without Avon!

What do you think? Will you miss any of these brands? Let us know. And have a great weekend!

(photo: flickriver.com)

Survey: Olympic Athletes are Smart with Money

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When it comes to money matters, the stereotypical image of the Dumb Jock does not apply to today’s Olympic athletes.

…Olympians aren’t just fitter than the rest of us—they’re more financially savvy, too. That’s according to official Team USA sponsor TD Ameritrade, which surveyed 254 Olympic athletes. Most of them said that they thought their athletic training contributed to their financial discipline.  USNews.com

For example, suppose they win big at the Games, and get a sweeet Nike or Kellogg’s deal or something. How would they handle their money?

  • 40% save or invest
  • 33% pay down debt
  • 20% charity or share with friends or family
  • 03% would blow it all on hats

An interesting angle, as seen in the quote above, is the Discipline. We have all said, “If I ever come into money, I am going to start making better decisions!” But these jocks are already making good choices. 70% are “consciously saving for the future,” and over half make regular automated deposits to a savings account.

So, I guess the question is, “Where can I get ME some of that discipline!?”  What do you think? Let us know! And enjoy the Games!

The MindField Nickel Tour, Revisited

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The internet is a living, breathing, sweating beast…and things change. We did a tour of the MindField Online website last year, and we now present an update. Enjoy!

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Over at the MindField Online Facebook page, we commonly hear, “I’m new—how does this whole thing work?”  That’s a pretty broad question, so we usually answer, “There’s plenty of info to be found at our website, www.mindfieldonline.com -check it out!”

But exactly what you will find has been a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in an internet – until now!  So, keep your hands and feet inside the tram as we take an informative, exciting (but mostly informative) tour of the MindField Online Internet Panels website!

Member Home

A really useful portal that gives you a quick look at announcements, surveys available (“Live Now!”), membership details, payout options, referrals, member profile survey status, payout balance progress… and more!

Account Settings

Here is where you can update or change your user preferences, email or street address and your password.

History

This is a detailed list of your survey activity, with a link to your payout activity, as well.

Policies

How do you register? Who is eligible? What are the rules? Here is where you find out!

FAQ

Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions HERE. Then, take a moment to realize “So THAT’S what FAQ stands for!”

IQD

Other than farm fresh ingredients, what steps does MindField Online Internet Panels take to ensure the quality of our data? Find out HERE.

About

Because corporate histories are so darn exciting, click HERE to learn more about MindField Online and parent company McMillion Research.

News

Much of the news you will have seen on our Facebook page, but you will get more detail here.

Winners

MindField Online has regular cash drawings and sweepstakes. Here is where you can see the winners.

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And that brings us back to the lobby. We hope you have enjoyed your tour of the MindField Online Internet Panels website! Thanks for your attention. Please exit through the giftshop…

Retailers Battle Against “Showrooming”

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It’s called Showrooming, and it’s becoming an issue. You go into the big box store, looking to buy a Blu-Ray player. You look at the models while the kid in the blue shirt explains the pros and cons of each. So far, so good. Then, you whip out your smartphone and snap a few pics, zap a QR code or two, and do a little online comparison shopping. Ultimately, armed with all of this consumer knowledge, you leave the store, go home, and make your purchase online. So, from Best Buy’s point of view, they are doing all the work while Amazon gets the sale.

So brick-and-mortar stores are getting creative.

Now some big retailers are taking a new approach to the dreaded showrooming by transforming their stores into extensions of their own online operations. Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Best Buy, Sears, the Container Store and other retailers are stepping up efforts to add Web return centers, pickup locations, free shipping outlets, payment booths and even drive-thru customer service centers for online sales to their brick-and-mortar buildings. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Additionally, Wal-Mart is letting people order online, pick up at the store, and pay in cash – which is a surprising chunk of business for them. Meanwhile Sears is introducing drive-thru pickup – and even drive thru returns (if you have ever stood in line at the Service Desk, you know that sounds AWESOME!)

So, what do you think? Are you a Showroomer? (It’s OK – we’re all friends here!) Have you seen any of these new developments at you favorite brick-and-mortar store? Let us know…read the original article…and have a great weekend!

(photo: blog.amaze.com)

Spending Less, Barbecuing More

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Fun with statistics: Independence Day edition!

According to a survey by Visa credit cards:

  • 21% of Americans didn’t celebrate the 4th of July this year, up from 18% last year.
  • Of those who celebrated, we spent an average of $191, versus $216 last year.
  • Midwesterners spent the most, $211; Northeasterners spent the least at $171.

Analysts who watch the economy, looking for any clue as to the state of our finances, wonder why. Is the decrease in spending results from tighter family budgets, or is it because the holiday fell on Wednesday this year?

Either way, spending might be down, but celebrating with family and friends at a barbecue is actually up. A different survey shows that 68% of us either hosted or attended a BBQ…the highest number in a decade.

“The Fourth of July is all about community, and that’s a white-hot want right now for many Americans who feel increasingly disconnected (due to) divisive politics … and less-nourishing techno-fueled relationships.”   USA Today

So, what did you do? Spend less, BBQ more? No change in habits? Did the economy factor into your plans? We want to know !

Anyway, we hope you had a nice 4th…and a great weekend ahead!