Consumer News: California seizes more than $1 million in flavored tobacco but faces an uphill battle

30-second fixes to stop overpaying

• Retailers use predictable tricks (fake was prices, decoy TVs, endless countdowns) to make you feel like you won while spending more
• Do these in 30 seconds: match the exact model number across stores, set price alerts on the exact SKU, compare the unit price (per oz/count), and countdown timers
• Skip traps like free-shipping thresholds and padded bundlesuse store pickup, buy only what youll use, and stick to your pre-set Im happy price

November and December is when retailers pull out their bag of tricks to try and get you to pay more for everything. And they do it in a way that makes you feel like you won the deal-hunting game. But in reality, most shoppers end up spending more on deals than they had planned.

The good news is that most of these tricks are predictable. Once you know what retailers are doing, you can counter their shenanigans in about 30 seconds. Below are eight common tactics youll see between now and Christmas along with easy, shopper-friendly ways to beat them at their own game.

1. The fake list or was price

Youll see Was $199, now $139 all season long.

Theres a very good chance the item never actually sold for the was/list price, ever. Then when the retailer puts a big slash through that price, you know youre probably being messed with.

The big slash is there to anchor your brain on the discount, not the actual value.

How to beat it: When shopping online, just copy and paste the name and model number into Google. Youll quickly see what other retailers are selling it for and if the deal is real or not.

When shopping in-store, snap a quick photo of the shelf tag and the barcode, then price-check it on your phone (Google/ShopSavvy/Amazon scanner).

2. Amazon will raise the price before a price deduction

Amazon is famous for this trick. Theyll raise the price of an item for a period of time knowing theyre going to lower it later to make it appear like a sale price. And often the sale price is what every other retailer is selling it for.

How to beat it: Use Amazons own technology to put an end to this trick. In particular, their AI shopping assistant, Rufus, will actually give you the 30 and 90 day price history so you can tell if youre being fooled.

From any product page on Amazon, tap the Rufus icon and say or type, Show me the price history. Youll instantly get a price chart that reveals if the current price is a fake deal or actually the lowest price its been in the past 90 days.

3. Decoy pricing: the wow TV trick

On Black Friday, retailers are notoriousfor pushing you towards products that make them the most money.

For example, Best Buy and Costco will have some of their most expensive TVs front and center, some as expensive as $7,999. These expensive models are not big Black Friday sellers, but thats not their job. Their job is to make the cheaper TVs seem like a screaming deal in the $300-$450 range, even if they'renot.

This is called decoy pricing and retailers use it all the time, especially around big sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

How to beat it: Always start with what you actually need and can afford, then buy the model that meets those specs. Dont let a pricier showpiece push you into the wrong pick.

Specifically, when buying TVs around Black Friday, remember that the screen size and price tag are the bait, while the specs speak the truth. Always try to lock in your spec want listfirst, then let price decide which model you end up buying, not the other way around.

4. Countdown timers that never die

Sale Ends in 02:47:13!, yet somehow theres another final hours sale tomorrow. Aside from true lightning deals, these are all urgency props designed to trick your brain into buying now.

How to beat it: Take a screenshot, wait a day, then re-check. If the price holds or drops, you just beat the clock without rushing. If stock is genuinely low, stores usually state exact quantities (For example, Limit 200 per store).

5. Shrinking packages, same price

Also known as shrinkflation, this is when a 16-ounce bottles become 14.8, yet the price remains the same.

When grocery shopping around the holidays, youll see it the most on baking and entertaining staples. Think things like broth, butter, chocolate chips, nuts, canned pumpkin, and party-size snacks.

How to beat it: Always compare unit price (per ounce, per count), not the actual sticker price. Try to shop store brands and warehouse clubs as they tend to change sizes less often so youre less likely to end up with a quietly shrunken package.

Also, sometimes the unit math is hidden when shopping online, so be sure to click on Details or Specifications, where the actual size often hides.

6. Free-shipping thresholds that cost you more

Youre $17 away from free shipping! So you add something to your online cart you didnt need to save $5.

Those progress bars many websites use (Youre 83% to free shipping!) are designed to trick your brain to look for stuff to add to your cart that you dont necessarily need. All of the sudden those filler items seem like smart buys, wrong.

How to beat it: Choose ship-to-store or curbside pickup and skip the threshold chase altogether. Or better yet, split orders with a friend if possible as your one big cart will clear the free shipping threshold with ease.

7. Lowest price of the seasonuntil next week

Retailers love to use wording like this because it makes you feel like this is your one shot. Surprise, surprise, it usually isnt.

November and December run on a rinse-and-repeat sale cycle. Youll see a weekend teaser, a midweek lull, then another cant-miss sale with the same (or better) number. Dont chase the headline, instead decide on an Im happy price and stick to it.

How to beat it: Set an alert on the exact model/SKU (not just air fryer). Use the store apps watch heart icon, Google Shopping, or a price tracker like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel. Whatever tool youll actually check. When it hits your number, buy and stop looking.

8. Bundles that inflate the value

Holiday gift sets love to claim $95 value by adding tiny filler products you wouldnt have bought otherwise. Many of those add-ons get tossed in a drawer, and you just paid a premium for clutter.

How to beat it:Do a quick sanity check. Price out the pieces youll actually use. If the math only works because of mini sizes or duplicates, buy the single full-size on sale and skip the fluff.

There were 52 PE-backed bankruptcies in the first half of 2025

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Private equity-backed bankruptcies are on the rise: In the first half of 2025, 52 private-equity or venture-capital-backed companies filed for bankruptcy.

• Debt-heavy buyouts heighten risk: Private equity firms often use leveraged buyouts (LBOs) that saddle acquired companies with large debts.

• Outcomes depend on management and strategy: Experts like Stephen Shipe note that private equity isnt inherently harmful the results hinge on how deals are structured and managed.

Consumers are often dismayed when their favorite retailer or restaurant chain files for bankruptcy and goes out of business. Lately, there seems to be a trend among these bankruptcies many of the businesses are owned by private equity or venture capital firms.

S&P Global reports that in the first half of 2025, 52 companies backed by private-equity and venture-capital firms filed for bankruptcy protection. During that same period, a total of 371 U.S. corporations filed for bankruptcy, meaning 14% of the total were owned or backed by private equity. In all of 2024, the share was 16%.

Private equity firms can play a significant role in both the growth and the eventual bankruptcy of businesses they acquire. Their impact depends on how they structure deals, manage debt, and operate the company after acquisition.

Heres a breakdown of how that influence works:

PE firms typically use leveraged buyouts (LBOs) buying a company using a mix of their own capital and large amounts of debt. The company being acquired, not the PE firm, usually takes on the debt. This means the business must now generate enough cash flow to service new interest and loan payments.

• Before acquisition: The company may have had moderate debt and steady profits.

• After acquisition: The company faces heavy leverage, sometimes several times its annual earnings.

This structure can magnify returns for the PE firm if the company performs well but it also greatly increases the risk of bankruptcy if earnings fall or interest rates rise.

The role of debt

Stephan Shipe, a professor of finance at Wake Forest University and founder of Scholar Financial Advising, doesnt think private equity involvement is a direct catalyst for business failure, saying it all comes back to management.

The biggest risks come when firms load companies with debt, Shipe told ConsumerAffairs. Thats when you start to hear the horror stories. If the firm uses the companys cash flow to service new debt or fund distributions back to investors, it can quickly become unsustainable Toys R Us is the classic example.

On March 17, 2005, a consortium of Bain Capital Partners LLC, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Vornado Realty Trust announced a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout of the company. The retailer filed for bankruptcy in September 2017.

But there are cases where private equity adds real value, too. If they specialize in the industry, they can bring economies of scale, better processes, and proven systems that help the company grow. The outcome depends on how its managed, Shipe said.

Some critics argue that several private equity tactics, while intended to improve efficiency or extract value, can unintentionally or sometimes predictably push companies toward insolvency. If the acquired company borrows too much money, it reduces financial flexibility. Even a mild downturn loss of a key client, supply chain shock, or higher borrowing costs can make the company unable to meet payments.

Increasing the risk

In 2019, Institutional Investor reported that healthy companies acquired by private equity firms through leveraged buyouts see their probability of defaulting on loans increase tenfold, citing research conducted at California Polytechnic State University. The researchers found that roughly 20% of large companies acquired through leveraged buyouts go bankrupt within ten years, as compared to a control groups bankruptcy rate of 2% during the same time period.

In addition to retailers, healthcare companies have also been acquired by private equity firms in recent years, with unsuccessful results.

• Envision Healthcare was acquired in 2018 and declared bankruptcy five years later.

• Akumin, a national outpatient radiology and oncology services company, declared bankruptcy in 2023.

• Steward Health Care declared bankruptcy in 2024.

While the trend is concerning, it should be noted that not all private equity involvement is destructive. When firms reduce inefficiencies responsibly, provide strategic guidance and capital, and focus on long-term growth rather than quick extraction, the results can be good for both the company and consumers.

The walk-iin delivery van was sold through Chevrolet dealers but never caught on in the marketplace

If you were waiting to buy a GMBrightDrop electric delivery van, you can stop waiting. General Motors is pulling the plug on the van, citing slow sales and a general lack of interest. s at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, leaving the future of the southwestern Ontario facility uncertain.

"These Bright Drop vans are a specialized electric delivery van for commercial customers and, quite simply, we just have not seen demand for these vehicles climb to the levels that we initially anticipated," said Kristian Aquilina, GM Canada's president and managing director. "This has nothing to do with tariffs or trade. It's simply a demand and a market-driven response."

The vans have been manufactured in Ontario, Canada, and the decisioncame as a major blow to the 1,200 workers at the plant, many of whom have been laid off since the spring.

"This news was devastating for all of us, especially for the membership of our local," said Mike Van Boekel, president of Unifor Local 88, in a letter to its members. "Weve shown up for every ask, every time. And now, to be met with this short-sighted decision is frustrating and disheartening."

GM emphasized that Canada remains central to its North American operations, highlighting ongoing production in Oshawa and St. Catharines, as well as a new $600-million battery-materials facility under construction in Bcancour, Que.

Never became airborne

BrightDrop was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2021. In 2023, BrightDrop was integrated into GM Envolve, the companys fleet business, which serves thousands of commercial and government customers.

The Chevrolet BrightDrop 400 and 600 will continue to feature state-of-the-art technology designed to help enhance efficiency, reduce tailpipe emissions, and optimize service and delivery operations, said Sandor Piszar, vice president, GM Envolve. Integration into the Chevrolet portfolio will expand its reach and accessibility and offer more customers additional tools to help achieve their productivity and carbon-neutral goals.

Holiday meal magic: One-click simplicity, big brands, and small price

• Walmarts 2025 Thanksgiving meal bundle serves 10 people for less than $4 per person.

• The bundle includes over 20 items turkey, sides, dessert ingredients featuring national and private-brand favorites.

• The offer is easy to grab online or in-store with convenient pickup/delivery options to take the stress out of holiday prep.

Holiday hosting can feel like running a marathon: stockings to hang, dishes to prep, and a budget that somehow balloons faster than the gravy boat.

Thats where Walmart steps in with a straw-saver of a deal: its annual Thanksgiving meal bundle for 2025 is back and its better (and more affordable) than ever.

Whether youre feeding family, friends or friends-giving, this one-click solution gives you a classic Thanksgiving spread without the typical stress or sticker-shock.

We know every dollar and minute counts which is why we are offering a low priced, one-click Thanksgiving Meal Basket featuring iconic brands like Butterball and Stove Top alongside trusted Walmart private brand items, Walmarts President and CEO John Furner said in a news release.

We wantevery family to be able to share a meal and celebrate without compromising on quality, quantity ortradition.

The details: Whats in the bundle & how much it costs

Heres the lowdown: this year the bundle is priced at $39.92 (serving 10 people under $4 per person) according to the online Thanksgiving Value Meal listing. It includes the following items (while supplies last, and availability may vary):

• Butterball Turkey (10-16 lbs): $13.14

• Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz bag: $1.42

• Fresh Whole Russet Potatoes, 5 lb. bag: $3.27

• Great Value Brown Gravy Mix: $0.32/each (two required)

• Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn, 15 oz: $0.50/each (three required)

• Fresh Baby-Cut Carrots, 2 lb. bag: $1.82

• Great Value Cut Green Beans, 14.5 oz can: $0.50/each (three required)

• Campbells Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.5 oz can: $1.00

• Kinders Crispy Fried Onion: $2.97

• Great Value Artisan Crafted Macaroni and Cheese: $1.47/each (three required)

• Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix, 2-count: $3.64

• Great Value Brown and Serve White Dinner Rolls, 12-count: $1.38

• Great Value Frozen Traditional Pie Crusts, Two 9-inch Pie Crust & Pans: $1.87

• Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15 oz: $1.16

• Great Value Evaporated Milk, 12 oz: $1.00

Youre getting a full spread turkey, vegetable sides, mac and cheese, dessert-friendly ingredients all for around $40.

And it doesnt stop there. Walmart is offering extra bundle options this year: a gluten-free meal basket, a balanced-swaps basket (more protein, healthier sides), and a prime-rib meal basket for a more upscale twist.

To make it even easier: you can shop online or in store, pick up your basket with adhesive simplicity, or even have it delivered and if youre a first-time Pickup & Delivery customer you may qualify for free express delivery.

Respondents to a recent survey say they have the days off, but many dont feel safe using them

• Nearly one in four U.S. workers (23%) didnt take a single vacation day last year, even though most have paid time off.

• Although 82 % of workers report having PTO, many use very little: 42% took just 1-10 days off and only 18% took more than 15 days.

• The top reasons for skipping time off include heavy workload (43%), feeling they dont have enough PTO (34%), fear of falling behind (30%) and guilt/pressure to stay committed (29%).

It sounds almost paradoxical: many employees have paid time off (PTO) built into their jobs, yet a recent survey shows a surprisingly large share of workers arent using it.

According to FlexJobs Work & PTO Pressure Report, nearly one in four U.S. workers 23% didnt take a single vacation day in the past year. That means even when you have paid time off on paper, actually taking it (and feeling comfortable doing so) can be a different story.

If youre a consumer simply trying to rest and recharge, these findings are worth knowing: they hint at how work culture, workload and policy-vs-practice gaps play a big role in whether your PTO ever really becomes time off.

Most employees have some form of paid time off, but theres a big difference between a company that offers this benefit and one that actually encourages workers to use it, Toni Frana, Career Expert Manager at FlexJobs, said in a news release.

Without a company culture that supports rest, many workers feel they cant really step away without risking their professional reputation.

The survey

The survey behind these findings was conducted by FlexJobs between August 18 and August 31, 2025, with 3,063 U.S. respondents.

The respondents reflect a cross-section of workers who report whether they have PTO, how many days they actually take, and the attitudes/cultural pressures around taking time off. The report also breaks down types of PTO policies (accrued, fixed, unlimited, etc.) and links them to how much time people take.

While the survey gives helpful data points, keep in mind its self-reported (so perceptions of support, encouragement or discouragement around time off factor in).

The goal: to highlight the gap between having PTO and using it.

Major findings

One of the starkest facts: 23% of respondents took zero vacation days in the past year.

Meanwhile, although 82% say they have PTO, many take only a handful of days: 21% took one to five days; another 21% took six to 10; 17 % took about 11-15; only 18 % took more than 15 days.

In other words, just because PTO is offered doesnt automatically mean youll use it or feel you can use it.

The survey also breaks down types of PTO policies: 42% of workers say they have an accrued PTO system; 17% a fixed-day model; 12% a use-it-or-lose-it policy; 11% unlimited PTO; and 18% say they have no PTO at all.

And the reasons for not taking time off? Top answers include:

• A workload too heavy to justify time away (43%)

• Insufficient PTO (34%)

• Fear of falling behind (30%)

• Feeling guilty or pressured to show commitment (29%)

• Employer being unclear or not supportive of taking leave (19%)
  

What does this mean for workers?

First: check not just whether you have PTO, but whether you feel genuinely able to use it. If your team culture, manager expectations, or workload make it tricky to take a week away, that benefit is less valuable.

Second: taking little or no time off may contribute to burnout, lower job satisfaction, or decreased wellbeing. The survey underscores that rest isnt just a perk its a genuine part of work-life balance.

Third: if youre job-hunting or negotiating job offers, look beyond PTO included and ask: How does the company treat time off in practice? Are people encouraged to unplug? Will their absence lead to extra pressure when they return? The survey suggests the difference between PTO policy and PTO practice really matters.