Consumerpedia
Podcast
From auto repair shops to doctors to plumbers to vets, you can count on Checkbook to help you find the best service—and avoid the worst. Our podcast features advice from experts that empowers consumers to save money and make smarter choices.
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October 17, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Steve Brobeck - Senior Fellow at the Consumer Federation of America; Ilyse Glink - real estate and personal finance expert
The process has changed for anyone looking to hire a real estate agent; new rules took effect in August that are designed to bring transparency and competition to the marketplace. Consumer advocates hope agents will be more willing to negotiate their commissions, but the new process and unfamiliar paperwork could create confusion for a while.
In this episode: A look at the new rules and what they will mean to both buyers and sellers. Also, things everyone should know when they’re hiring a real estate agent.
More from Consumer Federation of America:
Consumer Alert: How Home Buyers and Sellers Can Cope with New Real Estate Broker Rules and Practices
CFA Releases Criteria for Evaluating Home Seller Contract Forms
CFA Releases Criteria for Evaluating Home Buyer Contract Forms
More from Ilyce Glink:
100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask
Love, Money + Real Estate Newsletter
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October 3, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Jenn Barger - Checkbook's Director of Content; Karin Winsweiler - Winsweiler Design, Seattle
Kitchen and bathroom renos are the most common home improvement projects—and they can be mighty expensive. If the layout of your kitchen or bath already works for you, and its cabinets and other features are in decent shape, you might be able to save a bunch of cash by doing what’s called a “light remodel.”
In this episode, how to decide if light remodeling is the way to go, the savings to your wallet and the environment by going this route, and how to keep most of what you have. Plus, some specific ideas on ways to freshen up kitchens and baths.
Read Checkbook’s full report on redoing your kitchen or bath for less.
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September 19, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Lisa Gill - Consumer Reports investigative reporter; Stacie Dusetzina - Professor in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Prescription drug costs in the U.S. are “significantly higher” than in most other countries, according to a report earlier this year from the Rand Corporation. The average American spends more than $1,400 a year on prescription medications, research shows. For many, that expense is a budget buster. Because of the high cost, more than 9 million Americans don’t take their medications as directed, the CDC reports, which could result in serious health consequences
In this episode: Why are drug prices so high, and can anything be done about it? Plus, ways you can cut the cost of your prescription meds.
About our guests: Lisa Gill is an investigative reporter with Consumer Reports who focuses on health and medicine. Stacie Dusetzina is a professor in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Much of her research focuses on the economics related to prescription drugs.
Additional Consumerpedia podcast episodes on health.
More from Consumer Reports
How to Beat the Rising Cost of Prescription Drugs
Online Pharmacies Can Help You Save Big on Prescription Drugs
How to Find the Best Medicare Part D Drug Plan
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Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
September 5, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor
Want to spend a few days in Dublin before going to Munich? Sightsee in Madrid or Lisbon on the way home from Paris or Rome? Maybe break up that long-haul flight to Australia or New Zealand with a few nights in Tokyo or Honolulu?
Dozens of airlines (mostly foreign carriers) let you visit two places for the price of one by allowing free stopovers. Book these tickets and you can stay in the hub city for a few days or weeks, and then continue onward to your final destination.
In this episode: A look at some of the stopover programs available and how to find them. Plus, tips for anyone planning to buy a plane ticket.
Additional Resources:
These 26 Airlines Let Flyers Stop Over in Their Hubs for Free
Consumerpedia Episode 62: The Travel Show 2024
Don’t Get Left Behind When Your Airline Travel Credits Expire
Credit Card Reward Programs Under Scrutiny by Federal Regulators
Not a Checkbook member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings.
Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
July 25, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Brad Lipton - CFPB; Steven Carvell - Professor of Finance at Cornell University; Christopher Elliott - Syndicated Travel Columnist
Whether it’s points, miles, or cash back, it’s nice to be rewarded for shopping. The lure of “getting something extra” can encourage you to apply for new credit cards and spend more to score those rewards.
In recent years, many credit card reward programs have become more complex and confusing, and frustrated cardholders are complaining to federal regulators.
In this episode: Should the CFPB create new rules to regulate credit card rewards programs? Also, a close-up look at the most common complaints about airline rewards cards, and how chasing rewards can cost you money.
Additional Resources:
Credit Cards: How to Choose the Best One
Credit Cards Provide Strong Protections for Consumers
Saving on Gas: Which Rewards Credit Cards Offer the Best Deals at the Pump?
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Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
July 11, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor
When it comes to buying corrective eyewear, the choices seem endless—from dozens of contacts to thousands of fashionable frames. Even so, shopping for new specs or contacts can be a major hassle, and it’s an expensive purchase.
In this episode: Which eyewear stores offer the best advice and service, where to find the best prices on glasses and contact lenses, and who should you see to get your eye exam?
Read Checkbook’s full report on opticians, optometrists, and buying eyewear.
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June 27, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Dr. John Swartzberg - Head of the Editorial Board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter; Bonnie Patten - Executive Director and Co-Founder of Truth in Advertising (TINA.org); Caitlin Dow - Senior Nutrition Scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Many Americans are sold on supplements. They’re convinced the “natural ingredients” in these non-prescription products have powerful health benefits that can prevent diseases, make us feel better, and slow down the effects of aging.
But can you trust what’s in the bottle, and the marketing claims used to sell this stuff?
In this episode, we focus on the false claims, bad science, and marketing tricks often used to sell dietary and nutritional supplements. Plus buying advice for those who choose to take these products.
Additional Resources:
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter:
A Guide to Dietary Supplements
CSPI Nutrition Action Newsletter:
Why the supplement aisle is the Wild West
How supplements distort science to sell
Tricks of the trade: Are supplement companies playing you for a fool?
Truth in Advertising (TINA.org):
Jury Hands Down a Verdict in Prevagen Deceptive Marketing Case
Consumer Alert: Hair Growth Products
What You Should Know about Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements
Not a Checkbook member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings.
Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
June 13, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor
Moving is always a hassle. But if you hire the wrong movers, it can be a nightmare. An alarming number of consumers tell Checkbook they’re disgusted with movers who arrived hours or even days late, lost or broke their possessions, reneged on promises, and demanded more money than the quoted amount.
In this episode: Tips on choosing a moving company that provides fair and reliable pricing, gets the job done on time, and takes good care of your belongings. Plus: Why to avoid moving brokers and how to spot moving scams.
Read Checkbook’s full report on how to find a household mover.
Not a Checkbook member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings.
Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
May 30, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Alex Knizek, Manager of Auto Testing and Insights at Consumer Reports; Steven Elek, Senior Automotive Data Analyst at Consumer Reports
Americans bought a record 1.2 million electric vehicles last year, and EV sales continued to grow in the first quarter of 2024, although at a slightly slower pace than anticipated.
Buyers have more choices than ever: More than 40 electric cars, trucks, and SUVs from both U.S. and foreign manufacturers. Battery range has improved, and some lower-priced models are now available.
In this episode, how to decide which non-conventional vehicle might be right for you. Do EVs live up to their range promises? Consumer Reports creates a special test to find out. Plus, why are electric vehicles less reliable than conventional cars?
Additional Resources:
From Checkbook:
Consumerpedia Episode 63: The Car Show 2024
Crash Course on Auto Insurance
From Consumer Reports:
CR’s Real-World EV Range Tests Show Which Models Beat EPA Estimates
Electric Vehicles Are Less Reliable Than Conventional Cars
Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
May 16, 2024
Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Mike Quincy - Consumer Reports auto tester and writer; Keith Barry - Consumer Reports veteran auto reporter
The car market has nearly recovered from the pandemic. Dealers have good supply of both new and used vehicles, and that’s pushing down prices: The average new-car buyer paid $47,000 in March, according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s a two-year low, but still nearly 16% higher than in March 2021. With more cars on the lot, some dealers and manufacturers are offering bigger incentives.
In this episode, the latest new-vehicle reliability ratings from Consumer Reports, the right way to take a test drive, and how to get the best deal on that new car. Plus, should you use a buying service to simplify the process?
Additional Resources:
From Checkbook:
Crash Course on Auto Insurance
From Consumer Reports:
CR’s Best Cars of the Year: 10 Top Picks of 2024
Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?
Four of the Five Least Expensive Car Brands to Maintain Are American
7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Car
Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support
Meet The Host
Herb Weisbaum
Herb Weisbaum is one of America’s top consumer experts. He’s been protecting people across the country for more than 40 years.
Herb is a contributing editor at Checkbook.org, and publisher of ConsumerMan.com.
During his distinguished career, Herb has covered the consumer beat for NBC News Digital, NBC’s TODAY Show and CBS News.
A five-time Emmy-award winner, Herb’s dedication to protecting consumers has been honored by the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, United Press International, and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Herb is a graduate of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.