Consumerist (blog)

Infobox Website
name = "Consumerist"



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url = [http://consumerist.com consumerist.com]
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type = blog
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owner = Gawker Media
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current status =
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slogan = Shoppers Bite Back
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"Consumerist" is a consumer affairs blog run by Editor Ben Popken, along with Senior Editor Meghann Marco, Associate Editor Chris Walters and Weekend Editor Carey Greenberg-Berger.

Consumerist is part of the Gawker Media family of blogs. As its name implies, the focus is on consumerism, and it deals with consumers' experiences and issues with companies and corporations. The blog focuses mostly on the U.S., but accepts input from other countries as well. Some of the stories are generated by the editors, but most are reader-submitted tips and complaints. Stories initially reported on The Consumerist have been featured in national media such as CNN and "The New York Times". [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/business/03money.html?ex=1328158800&en=cea6c102794389f1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Consumers Have Allies on the Web] , New York Times, 3 February, 2007] Consumerist often posts phone numbers and contact information for CEOs and upper level corporate customer support, and provides information on how to execute an "Executive Email Carpet Bomb". [ [http://consumerist.com/consumer/complaint-letters/how-to-launch-an-executive-email-carpet-bomb-259713.php How to Launch an Executive Email Carpet Bomb] ]

Features

Worst Company In America Contest

Consumerist runs an annual "Worst Company In America" contest with the winner determined by a reader poll.

In 2007, the winner was the RIAA and the runner-up was Halliburton. Other notable contestants were Wal-Mart, Exxon and Sony. [ [http://www.technati.com/2007/03/24/riaa-most-hated-company-in-usa/ RIAA: Most Hated Company in USA » Technati - Tech News » Archive ] ] [ [http://www.boingboing.net/2007/04/12/dnc-appoints-riaa-sh.html DNC appoints RIAA shill to run Public Affairs for convention - Boing Boing ] ]

In 2008, the winner was Countrywide Financial, defeating Comcast. Also in the final four were Diebold and Wal-Mart.

Morning Deals

Usually the first post of every weekday consists of a number of online deals or offers, usually on electronic devices. Companies featured include Woot.com, Buy.com, Amazon.com and the Apple Online Store.

A new feature as of late are 'Great Moments In Commercial History,' with a focus on strange and entertaining local commercials. Recent features have included Chicago's Moo and Oink stores, and Eugene, Oregon's Mr. Appliance.

Notable campaigns

Nazi T-Shirt Coverage

Consumerist was the first site to report Wal-Mart's selling and untimely recall of T-shirts that contain the insignia of the Nazi 3rd SS Division Totenkopf, breaking the story on November 10, 2006. [ [http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/walmart/walmart-sells-nazi-skull-tshirt-213942.php Walmart Sells Nazi Skull Tshirt] , 10 November, 2006.] Frequent reports and pictures of Walmart stores restocking the Nazi shirts are running as of June 1, 2007. [ [http://consumerist.com/consumer/3rd-ss-division-totenkopf/walmart-nazi-tshirt-watch-week-28-264990.php Walmart Nazi Tshirt Watch: Week 25] , 24 September, 2007]

Vincent Ferrari & AOL

On June 13, 2006, Vincent Ferrari posted an audio file of himself speaking with an AOL representative named "John" and trying to cancel his father's AOL account. The AOL representative had resisted Ferrari's request by attempting to keep the discussion focused on Ferrari's reasons for wanting to cancel. After many attempts to get John to cancel his account, the conversation becomes confrontational to the point Ferrari said "CANCEL THE ACCOUNT" repeatedly until John complied with his request. After the recording of this call, Ferrari both posted it to his blog and submitted it to The Consumerist tip line. [ [http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-06-04-n80.html Vincent Ferrari, One of the New Influencers ] ] [ [http://www.callcentermagazine.com/blog/archives/2006/06/aol_customer_re.html ICMI/Call Center Magazine Network ] ]

When The Consumerist posted this story, they labeled it as "The best story we ever posted." [ [http://consumerist.com/consumer/aol/the-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-reader-tries-to-cancel-aol-180392.php The Best Thing We Have Ever Posted: Reader Tries To Cancel AOL ] ]

The Grocery Shrink Ray

The "grocery shrink ray" is a term coined by Meghann Marco for the trend for groceries to be reduced in size while being sold at the same price point. [cite web|title=Grocery Shrink Ray |url=http://consumerist.com/tag/grocery-shrink-ray/ |work=Consumerist |publisher=Gawker Media |accessdate=2008-07-14] Manufacturers perform these reductions to better manage their own costs, but do not pass any savings on to the customer. Installments of these articles usually included user submitted photographs of the product in question on the shelf, being sold along with a newer and slightly smaller version of the same product. Local and national media outlets such as WTVT-TV FOX 13 in Florida, and National Public Radio have interviewed Popken regarding the trend and his attempts to inform the public at large. [cite web |last=Popken |first=Ben |title=Ben Popken on TV talking bout Shrinking Packages |url=http://consumerist.com/tag/media-whoring/?i=5018351&t=ben-popken-on-tv-talking-bout-shrinking-packages |work=Consumerist |publisher=Gawker Media |date=2008-06-20 |accessdate=2008-07-14] [cite web |title=Grocery Items: Same Price, Smaller Size |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92426936 |work=All Things Considered |publisher=National Public Radio |date=2008-07-10 |accessdate=2008-07-14]

References

External links

* [http://www.consumerist.com/ Consumerist]