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Innovation and efficiency is a tough trade-off, but the company is making it work

July 26, 2024

Whether you think shrinkflation is real or not, its perception vs. reality and when a brand is tagged with that moniker, they either shrug it off or get up off the mat and come back swinging. Chipotle has opted for the latter.

During Chipotles recent Q2 2024 earnings call, the companys CEO Brian Niccol addressed the shrinkflation accusations that have built up speed on TikTok lately. And what a firestorm that was!

In some of those accusatory posts, TikTokers went further than most sensible consumers would by recording Chipotles order builders with their phones, daring them to try and put a smaller dollop of guacamole on their burrito than they expect.

'Ok, well show you!'

Unknowingly, those TikTokers may have actually done other Chipotle customers a favor not to mention given the chain a golden opportunity to look good against their allegations.

There was never a directive to provide less to our customers. Generous portions [are] a core brand equity of Chipotle. [They] always [have] been, and always will be, Niccol fired back. With that said, getting the feedback caused us to relook at our execution across the entire system with the intention to always serve our guests custom burritos and bowls with generous portions. And, apparently, at no extra cost. Take that, TikTok'ers!

He did note, however, that there were a few outliers the company needed to have a heart-to-heart with locations where portion scores took a hit on consumer surveys. Niccol quantified that statement, saying that approximately 10% of the chains 3,500 restaurants suffered from those lower scores.

'Reemphasizing training and coaching'

We are reemphasizing training and coaching around ensuring we are consistently making bowls and burritos correctly, he said. We have also reemphasized generous portions across all of our restaurants, as it is a core brand equity of Chipotle We really needed to train up roughly 10% of the system.

Niccol said that the company is wed to making this investment in portion control, but held back on exactly what that means. His CFO, Jack Hartung, tried to explain the trade-off, saying that the investments Chipotle makes to guarantee generous portions will be balanced by efficiencies and innovation.

Apparently, whatever their boardroom pondering is, its working some magic. Niccol said the initiatives and investments are already starting to pay off and customers are pivoting back towards trusting the brand with their choice of where to eat.

Were already beginning to see our actions positively reflected in consumer scores and our value proposition remains very strong, he said.

Im already seeing it in social media, people commenting on the burritos and bowls theyre getting. I think the best source of marketing is word of mouth as people have these experiences.


Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images

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This is Razor's eighth recall

July 26, 2024


Razor is recalling around 7,300 of its Razor Icon electric scooters after dozens of dangerous incidents.

Riders can fall because thedowntube of the recalled electric scooter can separate from the floorboard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)said Wednesday.

There have been two reported injuries and 34 incidents of partial or complete separation, the CPSC said. This is Razor's eighthrecall since 2005, according to its website.

Walmart, Target, Best Buy and other stores sold the Razor Iconsin store for around $600 between Sept. 2022 and March 2024. The electric scooters were also available online, including on Amazon.com, Razor.com and Walmart.com.

The Razor Iconcame inblack, blue, orange, pink and red, and were made in China.

See a table below on which Razor Icons are recalled. The model number is on the lower right corner of the label on the bottom of the deck, while the serial number is printed below the bar code and on the back of the charger.

What to do

People should immediately stop using the electric scooters. Razor is offering refunds or a coupon, depending on when the scooter was purchased. If bought on or after March 11, 2023, buyers can get a full refund. All other buyers can get a $300 refund or a $700 coupon for a future purchase on Razor.com.

Razor is asking owners to remove the handlebar and return only the handlebar to Razor via a prepaid shipping pouch and return label the company can provide. Razor can be reached on its dedicated recalls webpage.

The rest of the electric scooter needs to be disposed of in accordance with state and local laws, particularly the lithium-ion battery.


Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images

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More consumers than ever before will be able to access NBA and WNBA games

July 26, 2024

With streamers like Amazon, YouTube, and Netflix making plays for football broadcasts, the NBA and WNBA are joining in the streaming wars.

The leagues have announced11-year streaming deals with Prime Video, Disney, and NBCUniversal.

Each of the networks will pay the NBA upwards of $1 billion each year of the deal for streaming rights. Amazon is paying $1.93 billion, Comcast NBCs parent company is paying $2.45 billion, and Disney is paying $2.62 billion annually.

Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world, said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade.

How will it work?

The new agreement will kick off with the 2025-2026 season and run through the 2035-2036 NBA and WNBA seasons. Each streaming platform has its own unique setup, and the NBA app will be the central point that directs consumers to the appropriate network for each game.

For the regular season, the breakdown on each platform is as follows:

• Prime Video: 66 regular-season games, including Thursday night doubleheaders, Friday evening doubleheaders, select Saturday afternoon games, at least one game on Black Friday, and the Quarterfinals and Semifinals in the Knockout Round of the Emirates NBA Cup. Prime will also stream 30 regular-season WNBA games.
  

• Disney: 80 regular-season games, including more than 20 games on NBC and up to 60 games on ESPN. ABC/ESPN will also host all five NBA Christmas Day games, as well as the All Star Celebrity Game, the NBA Draft, the NBA Draft Lottery, and half of all NBA Summer League games. Disney will also stream a minimum of 25 WNBA games throughout the regular season.
  

• NBCUniversal: 100 regular-season games, with more than half of the games airing on NBC. Additionally, NBC will become the home of all things NBA All Star, including: Rising Stars, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, Starry 3-Point Contest, Kia Skills Challenge, and the All-Star Game. Peacock will also stream a doubleheader each Monday night of the season, and NBC will air 50 regular-season WNBA games.
  

What about the playoffs?

Similarly, the breakdown for the playoffs includes:

• Amazon Prime: Prime Video will distribute all six SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament games, as well as one-third of all first and second round games each year. Prime will also be rotating with NBCU on streaming one of two Conference Finals games each year, in addition to one WNBA first-round series annually.
  

• Disney: ABC/ESPN will stream 18 games in the first two rounds each year and one of the two Conference Finals series in 10 of the 11 years of this agreement. Under the new agreement, ABC remains the distributor of the NBA Finals. Disney will also air two WNBA first-round playoffs series per year.
  

• NBCU: NBC or peacock will stream 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs, with at least half the games on NBC. The streamer will also host one first-round WNBA series annually. All three networks will rotate the Semifinals and Finals of the WNBA, with Prime Video and NBC each airing seven Semifinals series and three Finals series, and Disney streaming eight Semifinals series and five Finals series.
  

Its also important to note that ESPN will be launching its own streaming platform, and any games available through ABC/ESPN will also be available on the new platform once it goes live.


Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images

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People writing fake reviews about pajamas? How low can they go?

July 26, 2024

The validity of product reviews on the wide-open internet is becoming increasingly difficult to manage because of the rampage of artificial intelligence (AI).

In 2023 alone, Google took down an eye-popping 170 million fake reviews of businesses, hotels, and restaurants -- up 32% from 2022. A recent Fakespot study revealed that certain product categories have a high percentage of unreliable reviews, too -- with up to 75% of reviews for some products being deemed fake.

Added together, its making it harder and harder for consumers to trust online feedback.

Is there anything a consumer can do to prevent themselves from being sucked in by a fake AI review? There is not only by scrutinizing certain categories, but also by watching how reviews are constructed.

For example, Fakespots study found that there are five categories you can shop with confidence. There are:

Apple products: Fakespot researchers said that 84% of Apple product reviews are genuine. Much of this is attributed to Apple consumers being Apple fans. At some point, they purchased an Apple product, found it to be reliable, fell in love with the support they got, and devoted themselves to being an Apple customer whenever they could.

Video game chairs: Gamers, rejoice! 84% of reviews for video game chairs are trustworthy, making this a solid category for your next purchase, Fakespot researchers said.

Books: Book lovers can be pretty vocal and whether they like a book or not, Fakespots study of nearly 3,000 book reviews found that 81% of those were genuine.

Computers: Attention, tech enthusiasts, youre in luck! An impressive 79% of reviews for computers are genuine, ensuring you get the real scoop before you buy.

Home office desks: there is a certain luxury of being given an office desk. When someone drops hundreds of dollars on one, then spends the time and energy to put it together, they want it to be worth their money. Fakespots verdict? It says 68% of home office desk reviews are legit.

Top 5 categories to watch out for

When it comes to being duped about a product, Fakespot researchers gave a grade of D or lower to these five products, essentially because of fake reviews:

Slides: Not the microscope kind, but the playground kind. Fakespot found that a troublesome 75% of reviews for slides are unreliable, making it the least reliable category in its study.

Pajamas: Since we spend a third of our lives in bed, most of us who dont sleep as naked as a jaybird, like to cozy up with a warm pair of PJs. But Fakespot says we should cozy up with caution, as 62% of pajama reviews arent genuine.

Basketball: Sports gear shoppers should also be wary, because 61% of basketball-related product reviews are unreliable.

Stick vacuums and electric brooms: The first of two glass half-full/half-empty categories, with 57% unreliable reviews in this category.

Fashion hoodies and sweatshirts: The other in the half-full/half-empty reviews are hoodies and sweatshirts Like vacuums, 57% of reviews in this category are not reliable, despite the large number of products reviewed (6,078).

Dont get fooled again

As artificial intelligence advances, fake reviews are becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot, blurring the line between authentic feedback and fabricated content. The AI experts at AIPRM shared three tips with ConsumerAffairs to help you spot fake AI reviews and shop with confidence.

Watch for generic gimmicks: Because AI has made fakers lazier than ever, AI-generated reviews can seem like they were pulled from a big fat, one-size-fits-all script bland, vague, and lacking in personality.

Be wary of reviews that rely on generic phrases and could be applied to almost any product, AIPRM said. Instead, look for reviews that describe how the product was used, highlight specific features that stood out, and share any unique experiences the reviewer had. Genuine reviews often include nuances and personal insights that are harder for AI to replicate.

One example of a potentially fake review is This product is great. It works well. I recommend it.

Where, on the other hand, a real review might say, Ive been using this vacuum cleaner for two months, and I'm really impressed with how it tackles pet hair! The battery life could be better, but overall, its a solid purchase for pet owners. Reviewers who post videos along with their reviews, like some do on Amazon, strengthens the validity of those reviews, too.

Analyze the reviewers profile: Time to get on your inner-Columbo, your CSI, or whichever detective you want to be and examine reviewers profiles for clues about authenticity. Real users usually have a history of varied reviews across different products and services, AIPRM notes.

In contrast, fake profiles might only have a handful of reviews, often clustered around the same dates, or lack any personal details like a profile picture and bio.

Example: Potentially fake profile: A user with three reviews that are all 5-star ratings, posted within the same week.

Real profile: A user with a mix of positive and critical reviews spanning various product categories over several months or years.

Look for extreme opinions: One thing that many miss because as they gloss over reviews is the impact that extreme opinions pockmark on their brains best, life-changing," "the absolute best," or "perfect in every way.

Or, on the flip side, excessively negative feedback feedback probably written by the products competitor. The gold star BS detector here is that those reviews lack any real details to back them up.

Genuine reviews often present a balanced perspective, acknowledging both the pros and cons of a product or service, AIPRM theorizes.


Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images

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Injuries rose 45% from 2017 to 2022

July 26, 2024

Electric scooters are highly popular, but they may not be the safest form of transportation. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) report that injuries to scooter riders have surged, coincidingwith scooter use.

The researchers say the use of electric scooters grew 50-fold over the last decade. But their study also found that riders engaged in increasingly risky behavior, such as riding without a helmet, and even riding while intoxicated.

Another factor is where scooters tend to be most used densely populated urban areas. Riders also tend to be young.

The study found that e-bicycle injuries doubled every year from 2017 to 2022 bad enough while e-scooter injuries rose by 45%. Injured e-riders tended to be slightly older and wore helmets less often than conventional riders.

E-scooter riders were more likely to sustain internal injuries than conventional scooter riders, while upper extremity injuries were more common among non-EV riders.

This week the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announcedthat 7,300 Razor Icon electric scooters are being recalled for a defect that contributed to more than 30 injuries.

Remarkable increasein injuries

The U.S. had a remarkable increase in micromobility injuries during the study period, said co-lead author Dr. Adrian Fernandez, chief resident with the UCSF Department of Urology. This increase in accidents not only introduced a demographic shift, but also underscores an urgent need for added safety measures. There are undeniable health and environmental benefits to micromobility vehicle use, but structural changes must be taken to promote safe riding.

Data came from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which has collected statistics from emergency departments on consumer product-related injuries since 1978. Researchers looked at factors like injury type, injury region and helmet use.

E-bicycle injuries dramatically increased from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022, and e-scooter injuries rose from 8,566 to 56,847 during the same period.


Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images