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July 2, 2026

112 – Outlet Malls: Do They Offer Real Savings?

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Jenn Barger - Checkbook's Director of Content
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Consumers’ Checkbook investigated 40 brands operating off-price stores and found that many offer lower-quality merchandise rather than legitimate bargains. So, what gives?

In this episode: What you can expect to find when you browse around outlet stores, factory stores, or clearance centers, how you can tell what’s a bargain and what’s not, plus money-saving shopping tips.

⁠Read Checkbook’s full investigation here⁠.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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June 4, 2026

110 – Marketers Often Use Cult-Like Tactics

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Mara Einstein - Digital Media Expert

Businesses use a variety of marketing tactics to attract new customers and keep them. These tricks are designed to make you feel special, like you’re part of a group. The lure can be mighty powerful.

In this episode, a conversation with digital media expert Mara Einstein about how promotional strategies and social media can be deceiving and addictive. In her book, Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults, Einstein explains why she believes marketers often use the same tactics as cult leaders to entice new customers. It’s an interesting half hour.

December 18, 2025

99 – How Marketers Target & Sometimes Trick Kids

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Bonnie Patten - Executive Director, Truth in Advertising (TINA.ORG); Dona Fraser - Senior Vice President, BBB National Programs

America’s children have enormous spending power. Most have cash or access to their parents’ credit cards—and plenty of influence over what the family buys through their “pester power.” Marketers know this, which is why they spend billions of dollars a year targeting minors.

Advertising can easily exploit a child’s limited ability to distinguish between entertainment and selling. AI and digital animation make it easier than ever for advertisers to cross the line. The growth of online marketing to children raises serious concerns about privacy and data collection.

In this episode, what’s being done to protect our children from the pervasive and persuasive marketing? What are the rules regarding marketing to minors, and is anyone enforcing them?  And most importantly, how parents can talk to their kids about advertising.

Additional Resources:

Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU)

BBB National Programs – Children’s Initiatives

TINA.org: Monetizing Minors

More from Checkbook:

Unsafe Toys: How to Spot the Hidden Risks That Could Harm Your Child

Are Your Kids’ Smart Toys Spying on Them?

Buying Toys on Overseas Websites Can Be Risky

Related Consumerpedia Episode: 20 – Whatever Happened to Truth in Advertising?

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

December 4, 2025

98 – The Benefits of Shopping Locally

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Stacey Price - Founder, Shop Made Brands; Jenn Barger - Checkbook's Director of Content

The “Shop Local” movement encourages consumers to buy goods and services from independent, locally owned businesses rather than national chains or online giants. It’s both an economic strategy and a social campaign aimed at strengthening your own community’s businesses, fostering regional identity, and promoting sustainability.

In this episode: The challenge of shopping locally, ways to spend more in your community, and whether it costs more to avoid the big chain stores.

Find out more about Stacey Price at Shop Made in DC.

Related Consumerpedia episodes:

#96: Checkbook’s Holiday Shopping Tips 2025

#92: Thrift Store Shopping Advice

November 20, 2025

97 – Checkbook Investigation: Sale Prices Are Usually Fake Discounts

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor

Researchers at Consumers’ Checkbook tracked prices at 25 major retailers for six months and found that most of the advertised markdowns were bogus.

It’s now common practice for retailers to deceive their customers by displaying crossed-out “regular” or “list” prices, with lower sale prices featured nearby. But the higher “regular” prices are rarely, if ever, what customers pay. Our study found that at most of the stores we surveyed, the products tracked were offered at questionable discounts more than half of the time. And, at many retailers, the fake sales never end.

In this episode, we’ll tell you which retailers were the worst offenders, as well as the few that seem to offer legitimate discounts.

⁠Read Checkbook’s full analysis⁠.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

November 6, 2025

96 – Checkbook’s Holiday Shopping Tips 2025

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Edgar Dworsky - Publisher, ConsumerWorld.org; Lisa Lee Freeman - shopping and consumer expert; Ted Rossman - Senior Industry Analyst, Bankrate.com

The hectic holiday shopping season is underway, and for many, that will put a strain on the family budget. Checkbook wants to make this stressful time a little easier.

Our annual holiday helper is packed with timely advice: Super shoppers share tips about how they find the best prices and avoid fake sales. Plus, how are you going to pay for all the items on your gift-giving list? We have some money-saving ideas.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

January 9, 2025

77 – Amazon Floods Search Results with Ads

Host: Herb Weisbaum
Kevin Brasler - Checkbook's Executive Editor

Amazon is convenient, but America’s second-largest retailer —and most dominant online merchant—too often steers customers toward items it gets paid extra to promote. Our researchers looked for 50 products on Amazon; half of what the retailer showed them were paid promos.

In this episode: What’s the deal with all these ads? Can you trust Amazon to show you the best products and prices? And is there a way to get rid of these paid promos when shopping?

⁠Read Checkbook’s full report about ads on Amazon⁠.

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠. 

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