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June 26, 2025

89 – Avoid a Hotel Horror Show

Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Jennifer Barger - Checkbook's Director of Content; Tara Busch - Founder, Conscious Travel Collective
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A bad hotel room can ruin your vacation or business trip, so you need to be careful when making your reservations. Hotel websites and online booking sites have great photos and glowing descriptions, but what you see isn’t always what you get.

In this episode, tips for booking a room so you don’t end up having a nightmarish experience. Plus, what to do if you wind up staying at the Bates Motel.

More from Checkbook:

Hotels: Tips for Finding a Sweeter Stay

Related Consumerpedia Episodes:

#41: Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates
#86: Travel Tips from a Travel Expert

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

Related Episodes

December 18, 2025

99 – How Marketers Target & Sometimes Trick Kids

Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): 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 /
Guest(s): 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 /
Guest(s): 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.

September 11, 2025

92 – Thrift Store Shopping Advice

Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Virginia Chamlee - author and second-hand shopping expert; Jenn Barger - Checkbook's Director of Content

Shopping at thrift stores can save you money and keep used stuff out of landfills. It’s also fun, since you never know what you’ll find. Plus, many thrift stores support local charities, meaning you’re helping others while picking up a vintage dress or a like-new dresser.

In this episode, you’ll find tips on buying pre-owned furniture, clothing, and antiques, plus the scoop on where to find great deals and hidden treasures. All this, plus some wonderful stories from these veteran thrift-store shoppers.

Virginia Chamleehas spent more than a decade collecting and selling vintage wares. She’s the author of the best-selling book Big Thrift Energy and the popular newsletter What’s Left.

More from Checkbook: Thrift Store Advice

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

July 24, 2025

91 – Checkbook’s Life Hacks

Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Jamie Lettis - Associate Editor; Dani Dredger - Senior Manager, Digital Marketing; Andy Duff - Director of IT Coordination; Jennifer Barger - Director of Content; Emily McKeague - Marketing Coordinator; Andrea Densmore - Managing Editor

Saving you time. Saving you money. Helping you score great deals—and steer clear of rip-offs and scams. That’s what we’re all about at the Consumerpedia podcast.

In this episode, Checkbook staffers share their favorite life hacks—simple tricks and workarounds they’ve used and swear by—that will help you shop smarter, spend wiser, and stay one step ahead.

Related Consumerpedia Episodes:

#84: Free Perks You Didn’t Know You Had
#49: Shop Like a Pro: Checkbook’s Top Shopping Tips
#26: Sale Prices Are Rarely Real Deals

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

May 15, 2025

86 – Travel Tips: How to Find Deals and Avoid Scams

Host: Herb Weisbaum /
Guest(s): Christopher Elliott - Syndicated Travel Columnist

Travel is always a hassle, but this year, it comes with some added twists. There’s growing uncertainty about the economy, and concerns about being an American tourist in a foreign country. Will you be welcome?

In this episode: What to expect when booking flights, hotel rooms, or vacation rentals; how to spot travel scams that can ruin your vacation and cost you a bundle; and tips on how to be a respectful and responsible tourist when visiting other countries.

Other Consumerpedia travel episodes:

#60: Avoid a Big Cell Phone Bill When Traveling Abroad
#41: Hotel Intel: Finding the Best Rates
#17: How to Find the Best Deals on Airfare

Additional Resources:

Visit The Elliott Report to read Christopher Elliott’s travel reports and advice. His nonprofit Elliott Advocacy empowers consumers to solve their own problems and helps those who can’t.

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

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