CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> <head profile="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <title>Consumerist</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /><meta name="google" content="notranslate" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Consumerist"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="/consumermediallc.wordpress.com"> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@consumerist"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Consumerist"> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="/s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/vip/consumerist2/images/logo.jpg"> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="9LN2ANQdloei4Y0cgQLG83NVGd5Dd2eDPH2g0s2Gal8" /> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="E2E5B3AF87A11A875597CF4E8B412F6E" /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-0-1' href='/s0.wp.com/_static/static0.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='fontawesome-css' href='//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.0.3/css/font-awesome.css?ver=4.9.5' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-2-1' href='/s1.wp.com/_static/scripts-1.js' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type='text/javascript' src='../../../../s0.wp.com/_static/index.html%3F%3F-eJyFjssKwkAMRX%252FI6VitYBciLrtz5b7WWDN2Hk4yLfr1pqALsSgEAjcnJ9FDUOiaLp2AtJG6JYj3V8sMzfQvQFlsY82QWXRvuPGOwfHIWn%252FEDlQiiHUrmYjOfoILntgCkUAT08+X0PUIw1%252FMAIe6uaoIhI8vK19A7ukeg5aIkoWIxItRc0BC9nG3r2Rpazd5US7LeZGv1uYJsM1voA=='></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//use.typekit.net/jyn3ola.js?ver=4.9.5'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='/s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/vip/consumerist2/js/fonts.js?m=1360207792h'></script> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="/consumermediallc.wordpress.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Consumerist" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://consumerist.com/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Consumerist" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/498da4a1827c0de26bc1854d0c809a17?s=200&ts=1525370075" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="200" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="200" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@wordpressdotcom" /> <meta name="msapplication-window" content="width=device-width;height=device-height" /><meta name="msapplication-task" content="name=Subscribe;action-uri=https://consumerist.com/feed/;icon-uri=https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/498da4a1827c0de26bc1854d0c809a17?s=16" /><style type="text/css" id="syntaxhighlighteranchor"></style> </head> <body class="home blog mp6 customizer-styles-applied custom-header header-full-width sidebar-content news-red"> <span class="no-css-warning" aria-hidden="true" style="background-color:red;font-size:larger;speak:none">Whoops! It looks like portions of our site are being blocked! Check your browser settings or contact your network administrator.</span> <div id="header"><div class="wrap"> <div class="header-inner-wrap clearfix"> <div class="cs-logo"> <h1> <a href="https://consumerist.com"> <img src="/s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/vip/consumerist2/images/consumerist-logo-white-bg.png" alt="Consumerist" /> </a> </h1> </div> </div> </div></div><div id="wrap"><div id="fb-root"></div> <div id="notification-area" class="black hidden"> <div class="notification-modal"></div> <div class="wrap"> <header class="entry-header"> <div class="tag-wrap"> <a class="remove-notice" href="#" id="remove-notice" rel="10293012" data-nonce="82938946a1">×</a> </div> </header> <h3 class="notice-title">Welcome to the Consumerist Archives</h3> <p>Thanks for visiting Consumerist.com. As of October 2017, Consumerist is no longer producing new content, but feel free to browse through our archives. Here you can find 12 years worth of articles on everything from how to avoid dodgy scams to writing an effective complaint letter. Check out some of our greatest hits below, explore the categories listed on the left-hand side of the page, or head to <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CR.org</a> for ratings, reviews, and consumer news.</p> <p class="full-width"><a class="notice-cr-logo" href="https://www.consumerreports.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://cdn.consumerreports.org/etc/designs/cr/images/common/footer-logo.svg" alt="Consumer Reports" /></a></p> <div class="clear"></div> </div>  </div>  <div class="home-search"> <h2 style="margin: 0;">View Our Archives</h2> </div> <div id="inner"><div class="wrap"><div id="content-sidebar-wrap"><div id="content" class="hfeed"><div class="post-10173234 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-consumer-experience tag-i-dont-like-it tag-complaint-letters tag-hoverbikes tag-how-to-complain tag-sample-complaint-letter entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/i-dont-like-it/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> i don't like it </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2014/07/21/heres-a-sample-complaint-letter-for-when-you-dont-know-what-to-say/" title="Here’s A Sample Complaint Letter For When You Don’t Know What To Say" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2355386642_018a092102_o.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="Donovan Beeson" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2014/07/21/heres-a-sample-complaint-letter-for-when-you-dont-know-what-to-say/" title="Here’s A Sample Complaint Letter For When You Don’t Know What To Say" rel="bookmark">Here’s A Sample Complaint Letter For When You Don’t Know What To Say</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10238016 post type-post status-publish format-image has-post-thumbnail hentry category-financial-products category-uncategorized tag-that-doesnt-seem-right tag-mastercard-2 tag-visa-2 tag-security tag-fraud tag-dunkin-donuts tag-weird tag-cvv tag-cvc2 tag-cvv2 tag-emv tag-chip-and-pin post_format-post-format-image entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/that-doesnt-seem-right/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> that doesn't seem right </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2016/04/15/can-a-cashier-make-me-read-my-3-digit-credit-card-code-in-front-of-other-shoppers/" title="Can A Cashier Make Me Read My 3-Digit Credit Card Code In Front Of Other Shoppers?" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/credit_cards.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="frankieleon" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2016/04/15/can-a-cashier-make-me-read-my-3-digit-credit-card-code-in-front-of-other-shoppers/" title="Can A Cashier Make Me Read My 3-Digit Credit Card Code In Front Of Other Shoppers?" rel="bookmark">Can A Cashier Make Me Read My 3-Digit Credit Card Code In Front Of Other Shoppers?</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10245577 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-government-policy category-travel category-uncategorized tag-airports tag-carry-on tag-checked-baggage tag-flying tag-food tag-security tag-transportation-security-administration tag-travel tag-keep-calm-and-fly-on entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/airports/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> airports </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2016/06/27/heres-a-big-updated-list-of-the-foods-you-can-bring-through-airport-security/" title="Here’s A Big (Updated) List Of The Foods You Can Bring Through Airport Security" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/tsaline.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="quinn.anya" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2016/06/27/heres-a-big-updated-list-of-the-foods-you-can-bring-through-airport-security/" title="Here’s A Big (Updated) List Of The Foods You Can Bring Through Airport Security" rel="bookmark">Here’s A Big (Updated) List Of The Foods You Can Bring Through Airport Security</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10182431 post type-post status-publish format-image has-post-thumbnail hentry category-transportation-infrastructure category-uncategorized tag-a-horse-of-many-colors tag-car-colors tag-automobiles tag-dupont tag-duco tag-general-motors tag-ford tag-henry-ford tag-model-t post_format-post-format-image entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/a-horse-of-many-colors/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> a horse of many colors </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2014/10/10/a-brief-history-of-car-colors-and-why-are-we-so-boring-now/" title="A Brief History Of Car Colors — And Why Are We So Boring Now?" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/maincarheader.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="stepahndw" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2014/10/10/a-brief-history-of-car-colors-and-why-are-we-so-boring-now/" title="A Brief History Of Car Colors — And Why Are We So Boring Now?" rel="bookmark">A Brief History Of Car Colors — And Why Are We So Boring Now?</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10218327 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-insurance category-uncategorized tag-the-bad-kind-of-surprise tag-surprise-medical-bills tag-health-insurance tag-insurance tag-healthcare entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/the-bad-kind-of-surprise/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> the bad kind of surprise </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2015/09/24/a-loopholes-and-master-pricing-how-surprise-medical-bills-knock-consumers-down/" title="Insurance Loopholes & Master Pricing: How Surprise Medical Bills Knock Consumers Down" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/screen-shot-2015-09-21-at-4-32-05-pm.png%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="C x 2" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2015/09/24/a-loopholes-and-master-pricing-how-surprise-medical-bills-knock-consumers-down/" title="Insurance Loopholes & Master Pricing: How Surprise Medical Bills Knock Consumers Down" rel="bookmark">Insurance Loopholes & Master Pricing: How Surprise Medical Bills Knock Consumers Down</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10285268 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-data-privacy category-telecom-technology tag-you-are-what-you-google tag-privacy tag-big-data-is-watching tag-data-privacy tag-digital-fingerprints entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/you-are-what-you-google/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> you are what you google </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2017/08/01/your-anonymous-web-browsing-history-totally-isnt/" title="Your “Anonymous” Web Browsing History Totally Isn’t" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/laptopsidewalkreflectionbw.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="Darren Sethe" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2017/08/01/your-anonymous-web-browsing-history-totally-isnt/" title="Your “Anonymous” Web Browsing History Totally Isn’t" rel="bookmark">Your “Anonymous” Web Browsing History Totally Isn’t</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10215525 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized tag-heres-the-beef tag-we-tried-it tag-ground-beef tag-hamburger tag-consumer-reports tag-burgers entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/heres-the-beef/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> here's the beef </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2015/08/24/we-tried-it-4-ways-to-cook-a-burger-thats-safe-to-eat-but-doesnt-taste-like-leather/" title="We Tried It: 4 Ways To Cook A Burger That’s Safe To Eat But Doesn’t Taste Like Leather" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/header1.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="Scott DeFillippo/Consumerist" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2015/08/24/we-tried-it-4-ways-to-cook-a-burger-thats-safe-to-eat-but-doesnt-taste-like-leather/" title="We Tried It: 4 Ways To Cook A Burger That’s Safe To Eat But Doesn’t Taste Like Leather" rel="bookmark">We Tried It: 4 Ways To Cook A Burger That’s Safe To Eat But Doesn’t Taste Like Leather</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10244248 post type-post status-publish format-image has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized tag-what-were-they-thinking tag-ford-edsel tag-crystal-pepsi tag-new-coke tag-coke-ii tag-coca-cola tag-qwikster tag-bic tag-gerber tag-tropicana tag-gap-2 tag-frito-lay tag-olestra tag-wow-chips tag-miller-beer tag-beer tag-lifesavers tag-keurig-kold tag-keurig tag-orbitz-soda tag-pepsico post_format-post-format-image entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/what-were-they-thinking/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> What were they thinking </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2016/06/30/17-commercial-failures-from-brands-with-spectacularly-bad-ideas/" title="17 Commercial Failures From Brands With Spectacularly Bad Ideas" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/brands.png%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="17 Commercial Failures From Brands With Spectacularly Bad Ideas" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2016/06/30/17-commercial-failures-from-brands-with-spectacularly-bad-ideas/" title="17 Commercial Failures From Brands With Spectacularly Bad Ideas" rel="bookmark">17 Commercial Failures From Brands With Spectacularly Bad Ideas</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10158426 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-food-personal-care category-original category-quality-safety tag-spoilage-wars tag-food tag-supermarkets-2 tag-food-storage tag-fruit tag-vegetables entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/spoilage-wars/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> spoilage wars </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2014/04/05/keep-your-onions-garlic-separated-and-other-tips-for-storing-fruits-vegetables/" title="Keep Your Onions & Potatoes Separated And Other Tips For Storing Fruits & Vegetables" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/foodstorage2.png%3fw=600&h=392&crop=1" alt="Jonathan Coffey" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2014/04/05/keep-your-onions-garlic-separated-and-other-tips-for-storing-fruits-vegetables/" title="Keep Your Onions & Potatoes Separated And Other Tips For Storing Fruits & Vegetables" rel="bookmark">Keep Your Onions & Potatoes Separated And Other Tips For Storing Fruits & Vegetables</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><div class="post-10136468 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-crime-fraud category-government-policy category-telecom-technology category-uncategorized tag-advice-worth-repeating tag-scams tag-scamalamadingdong tag-ftc tag-robocalls entry"> <a href="https://consumerist.com/tag/advice-worth-repeating/" class="cs-tag" rel="tag"> advice worth repeating </a> <a href="https://consumerist.com/2013/08/27/please-dont-press-any-buttons-when-you-get-a-scammy-robocall/" title="Please Don’t Press Any Buttons When You Get A Scammy Robocall" class="post-img-container"><img src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/1034889957_34686d8940_b.jpg%3fw=600&h=450&crop=1" alt="Matt Reinbold" class="Thumbnail thumbnail home-curated aligncenter post-image" /></a><h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://consumerist.com/2013/08/27/please-dont-press-any-buttons-when-you-get-a-scammy-robocall/" title="Please Don’t Press Any Buttons When You Get A Scammy Robocall" rel="bookmark">Please Don’t Press Any Buttons When You Get A Scammy Robocall</a></h2> <div class="entry-content"></div></div><h4 class="home-curated-label">Greatest Hits</h4></div><div id="sidebar" class="sidebar widget-area"><div id="custom_html-2" class="widget_text widget widget_custom_html"><div class="widget_text widget-wrap"><h4 class="widget-title widgettitle">View by Category</h4> <div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><ul class="cat-list"> <li><a href="/category/retail-services/">Retail Services</a></li> <li><a href="/category/education/">Education</a></li> <li><a href="/category/transportation-infrastructure/">Transportation & Infrastructure</a></li> <li><a href="/category/crime-fraud/">Crime & Fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/category/data-privacy/">Data & Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/category/quality-safety/">Quality & Safety</a></li> <li><a href="/category/food-personal-care/">Food & Personal Care</a></li> <li><a href="/category/government-policy/">Government & Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/category/pharma-medicine/">Pharma Medicine</a></li> </ul></div></div></div> </div></div><script type='text/javascript'> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-10697639-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script> </div></div></div><div id="footer-widgets" class="footer-widgets"><div class="wrap"><div class="footer-widgets-1 widget-area"><div id="black-studio-tinymce-6" class="widget widget_black_studio_tinymce"><div class="widget-wrap"><div class="textwidget"><p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10247868" src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/footer-logo.png%3fw=300" alt="Consumerist" width="300" height="38" /></p> <p>Part of聽<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10254758" src="/consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/consumer-reports-logo.png" alt="Consumer Reports" width="212" height="22" /></p> </div></div></div> </div><div class="footer-widgets-2 widget-area"><div id="black-studio-tinymce-2" class="widget widget_black_studio_tinymce"><div class="widget-wrap"><div class="textwidget"><p>Founded in 2005, Consumerist庐 is an independent source of consumer news and information published by Consumer Reports.</p> </div></div></div> </div><div class="footer-widgets-3 widget-area"><div id="nav_menu-3" class="widget widget_nav_menu"><div class="widget-wrap"><div class="menu-footer-menu-container"><ul id="menu-footer-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-10247861" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10247861"><a href="/about-us/">About Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10254867" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10254867"><a href="/connect-with-us/">Connect With Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10247864" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10247864"><a href="/no-commercial-use/">No Commercial Use Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10288226" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10288226"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/customerservice/privacy-policy/highlights/index.htm">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10247866" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10247866"><a href="/user-agreement/">User Agreement</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10247867" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10247867"><a href="https://jobs-consumers.icims.com/jobs/search?pr=0">Work With Us</a></li> </ul></div></div></div> </div><div class="footer-widgets-4 widget-area"></div><div class="footer-widgets-5 widget-area"></div></div></div><div id="footer" class="footer"><div class="wrap"><ul id="menu-bottom-footer-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-10288225" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10288225"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy-policy/highlights/index.htm">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10287493" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10287493"><a href="/user-agreement/">User Agreement</a></li> </ul> <div class="footer--copyright"> © 2018 Consumer Reports</div> </div></div><script type='text/javascript' src='/s1.wp.com/_static/scripts-1.js'></script> <script type="text/javascript"> // <![CDATA[ (function() { try{ if ( window.external &&'msIsSiteMode' in window.external) { if (window.external.msIsSiteMode()) { var jl = document.createElement('script'); jl.type='text/javascript'; jl.async=true; jl.src='/wp-content/plugins/ie-sitemode/custom-jumplist.php'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(jl, s); } } }catch(e){} })(); // ]]> </script><script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(".ui-tabs").tabs(); });</script> </body> </html>