Shopping

Independent and trusted investigations and guides to your rights when shopping in retail stores and online.

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Faded receipts

Receipts printed on thermal paper have a tendency to fade, but we reveal whether they can still be used as proof of purchase and a tax record.

13 May 2013 | We look at your rights when it comes to receipts that have faded and what you can do to prevent them from fading.

Posters

Ticketing

No matter the event, you'll likely be slugged with extra charges for tickets.

1 May 2013 | Add-on charges for tickets vary from event to event and from one ticketing agency to another.

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The problems with ticketing

No matter the event, you’ll likely be slugged a whole lot of extra charges for tickets.

1 May 2013 | We investigate the problems associated with buying tickets through agents, cinemas, and from scalpers.

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Consumer sharing

Swap, share and rent your way to a better future.

23 Apr 2013 | Consumer sharing is growing in popularity to meet today’s buyer demands. It’s energy efficient, environmentally friendly and cost effective, and it’s now easier than ever.

Loyalty cards

Shopping loyalty cards

Supermarket loyalty programs offer very little value but are used to collect enormous amounts of your personal data.

11 Apr 2013 | CHOICE found that most loyalty programs offer such poor rewards you generally save less than a dollar per $100 spent.

Who owns my brand?

Who owns my brands?

Are big companies giving us the illusion of choice, when in reality it’s just more of the same?

9 Apr 2013 | Find out which multinationals own the brands sitting on the shelves of your local supermarket.

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Celebrity endorsements

Do famous folk really stand by the products they endorse, or is it simply a case of cash for comment?

13 Mar 2013 | Celebrities have been spruiking products for years. We look at the persuasive power of these endorsements, and whether they're all just hot air.

Choosing a charity

Cause for concern?

Gimmicky gifts from charities meant to increase donations are having the opposite effect.

8 Mar 2013 | The fundraising industry says personalised pens, pad, and address labels are an effective marketing ploy for inspiring generosity, but potential donors tell a different story.

Outsourcing household tasks

Outsourcing household chores

Too many tasks and not enough time? The answer could be domestic outsourcing.

4 Mar 2013 | We check out how you can outsource various household chores, such as cleaning, dogwalking and general home maintenance, to ease the squeeze on your work-life balance.

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Your guide to self-storage

Whether you're moving, downsizing or just need a place to put some boxes, we've looked at how to find a storage facility that's right for you.

26 Feb 2013 | With a trend towards high-density living, more Australians are turning to self-storage as a short- or long-term solution for lack of space.

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Polls

 
 

Have you used the following payment methods in the past 12 months?

  
14%
 
Interest-free
  
14%
 
Lay-by
  
10%
 
Lay-by and Interest-free
  
60%
 
None of these
  • 28 votes