Falling short of Musks promise of a sub-$30,000 car

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Tesla's new stripped-down models don't achieve Musk's goal of a sub-$30,000 price.
• Competition from Chinese manufacturers is cutting into Tesla sales.
• U.S. government's elimination of the $7,500 tax credit doesn't help either.

Tesla Inc.has introduced new Standard versions of its Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan in a bid to appeal to budget-conscious buyers. But with starting prices of $39,990 and $36,990, the vehicles remain out of reach for many, falling short of CEO Elon Musks long-promised sub-$30,000 mass-market car.

Musk has long argued that the key to unlocking mass adoption is an EV priced below $30,000 after incentives. Last year, however, Tesla scrapped plans for an all-new $25,000 vehicle and instead opted to pare down existing models.

The Standard versions reduce costs by eliminating features like Autosteer, rear-seat heating, and premium finishes. They do, however, maintain driving ranges of over 300 miles (480 km). Deliveries are scheduled to begin between December 2025 and January 2026.

Should You Buy a Tesla Now?

With Teslas latest affordable trims rolling out, heres what to keep in mind:

Pros:

• More than 300 miles of driving range

• Immediate availability for order

• Lower entry price compared to Premium trims

• Eligible for software updates and upgrades over time

Cons:

• Still above $35,000 before taxes and fees

• No U.S. federal tax credit currently available

• Missing key features (Autosteer, rear-seat heating, LED accents)

• May lose resale value if a true sub-$30k Tesla arrives in coming years

Investor disappointment

Tesla shares slid 4.5% on the announcement. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives called the discounts underwhelming, noting that the new trims are only about $5,000 cheaper than the Premium versions.

This is basically a pricing lever, not a product catalyst, said Shay Boloor, chief strategist at Futurum Equities. Running Point CIO Michael Ashley Schulman was harsher: Its Tesla taking off its Steve Jobs turtleneck and slipping into a Walmart hoodie.

Competitive pressures

The new pricing comes as Tesla faces steep competition from Chinese automakers and upcoming U.S. rivals such as Chevrolets Equinox, Hyundais Ioniq 5, and Kias EV4 many expected below $30,000. In Europe, Tesla is competing with more than a dozen electric and plug-in hybrids already priced under that mark.

The expiration of the $7,500 U.S. federal EV tax credit in September makes the new models more expensive than Teslas cheapest offerings just weeks ago.

Whats at stake

Teslas record September sales were fueled by buyers rushing to capture the tax credit. Analysts warn demand could weaken sharply without a true mass-market vehicle. Tesla still needs a sub-$30k EV, said Shawn Campbell of Camelthorn Investments.

Consumer Checklist

1. Compare rivals Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Kia are expected to release lower-priced EVs in 2026.

2. Check state incentives Some states still offer EV rebates even without the federal tax credit.

3. Consider timing Teslas deliveries are set for late 2025 into early 2026. If you can wait, cheaper competitors may arrive.

4. Think resale Models without premium features could depreciate faster.

5. Evaluate total cost of ownership Factor in insurance, charging, and home charging installation.

The online retailer offers tips for identifying real messages from fakes

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Be cautious of unexpected messages claiming to be from Amazon about your orders or account.

• Never share personal or financial information outside of Amazons official website or app.

• Report suspicious messages immediately to help Amazon stop scammers before they strike.
  

Millions of consumers will look for deals during Amazons two-day Prime Big Deal Days promotion, but beware scammers are lying in wait.

Amazon is reminding consumers to stay alert for impersonation fraudulent attempts to trick people into sharing sensitive information like Social Security numbers, banking details, or Amazon account credentials.

In 2023, more than two-thirds of reported to Amazon globally involved fake claims about order or account issues. These often start with a call, text, or email saying something like, You bought something on Amazon that you didnt order. The scammer then asks for personal or account information to fix the issue.

Scammers who attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk, said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazons vice president of Selling Partner Services. Although these take place outside our store, we will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on how to avoid .

What Amazon is doing

Amazon said it has implemented several key measures to help customers stay safe:

• Secure email authentication: Customers using Gmail, Yahoo!, and similar services will now see Amazons signature smile logo beside legitimate emails from the companyhelping distinguish real messages from fakes.

• Cracking down on scammers: In 2024 alone, Amazon initiated the takedown of over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers linked to impersonation schemes.

• Education and awareness: Amazon continues to share safety tips and resources to help consumers recognize and avoid .

Six tips to avoid impersonation

1. Verify purchases on Amazon. If you get a suspicious message about a purchase, dont click any links. Instead, log into your Amazon account or app to verify.

2. Use only Amazons app or website for payments. Amazon will never ask for payment over the phone or by email, nor request a bank transfer.

3. Beware of urgency tactics. Scammers often claim that immediate action is required to pressure you into responding.

4. Never buy gift cards to resolve a problem. Amazon will not ask you to make a payment using gift cards.

5. Contact Amazon directly. If something feels off, stop interacting with the sender and reach Amazon through its app or websitenot through links or phone numbers in messages.

6. Check Amazons Scam Tracker. In partnership with the Better Business Bureau, this tool allows you to search for reports of similar by email, URL, or phone number.

Report suspicious messages

If you suspect a scam, Amazon asks that you report it right away. Amazon offers a self-service tool for customers to flag suspicious messages quickly. Non-customers can also forward scam attempts to reportascam@amazon.com. Each report helps Amazon identify bad actors and prevent others from falling victim.

Heres what some market analysts are saying

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Gold this week surged to all-time highs, crossing the $4,000 per ounce mark, as investors seek refuge in safe-haven assets.

• The rally is being fueled by a mix of inflation fears, expectations for future rate cuts, central bank purchases, and geopolitical uncertainty.

• Financial institutions and analysts are split: some see room for further gains toward $5,000+, while others warn of technical overbought risks or timing corrections.

The price of gold did something this week it has never done before: It closed above $4,000 an ounce. Spot and futures markets alike have registered new highs, propelled by strong inflows into gold ETFs and intensifying demand from institutional and central bank buyers.

So far in 2025, gold has rallied by more than 50 %, ranking among the best-performing major assets across equity, bond, and commodity markets. But the question is, where does it go from here?

Golds relentless rally this year is no longer just a general flight to safety, Kevin Rusher, founder of RAAC, said in an email to ConsumerAffairs. Its also a clear sign that investors are losing faith in the US dollar, whose reserve currency dominance is rapidly diminishing.

What analysts are saying

But, is it too late to safely purchase the precious metal? Heres what some market experts are saying about the path ahead:

Investor implications and strategy considerations

Before investing in gold, its a good idea to consult a trusted and objective financial advisor. Prices can go down just as quickly as they have gone up. Here are some things to consider:

• Diversification & hedging: Many experts view gold not as a core return engine but as a portfolio hedgeparticularly in volatile or inflationary regimes.

• Timing matters: Because gold is already at lofty levels, some suggest dollar-cost averaging or waiting for meaningful pullbacks before adding exposure.

• Relative signals: Watch indicators like real interest rates, inflation surprises, central bank buying trends, and technical momentum (e.g. RSI, trend channels).

• Risk controls: Given golds volatility, investors should set stop-losses or caps on exposure sizeespecially for speculators.

• Stay informed on policy shifts: Golds fate in the near term is tightly linked to central bank communications and economic surprises, so monitoring macro data and Fed signals will be crucial.

The online retailer offers tips for identifying real messages from fakes

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Be cautious of unexpected messages claiming to be from Amazon about your orders or account.

• Never share personal or financial information outside of Amazons official website or app.

• Report suspicious messages immediately to help Amazon stop scammers before they strike.
  

Millions of consumers will look for deals during Amazons two-day Prime Day promotion, but beware scammers are lying in wait.

Amazon is reminding consumers to stay alert for impersonation fraudulent attempts to trick people into sharing sensitive information like Social Security numbers, banking details, or Amazon account credentials.

In 2023, more than two-thirds of reported to Amazon globally involved fake claims about order or account issues. These often start with a call, text, or email saying something like, You bought something on Amazon that you didnt order. The scammer then asks for personal or account information to fix the issue.

Scammers who attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk, said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazons vice president of Selling Partner Services. Although these take place outside our store, we will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on how to avoid .

What Amazon is doing

Amazon said it has implemented several key measures to help customers stay safe:

• Secure email authentication: Customers using Gmail, Yahoo!, and similar services will now see Amazons signature smile logo beside legitimate emails from the companyhelping distinguish real messages from fakes.

• Cracking down on scammers: In 2024 alone, Amazon initiated the takedown of over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers linked to impersonation schemes.

• Education and awareness: Amazon continues to share safety tips and resources to help consumers recognize and avoid .

Six tips to avoid impersonation

1. Verify purchases on Amazon. If you get a suspicious message about a purchase, dont click any links. Instead, log into your Amazon account or app to verify.

2. Use only Amazons app or website for payments. Amazon will never ask for payment over the phone or by email, nor request a bank transfer.

3. Beware of urgency tactics. Scammers often claim that immediate action is required to pressure you into responding.

4. Never buy gift cards to resolve a problem. Amazon will not ask you to make a payment using gift cards.

5. Contact Amazon directly. If something feels off, stop interacting with the sender and reach Amazon through its app or websitenot through links or phone numbers in messages.

6. Check Amazons Scam Tracker. In partnership with the Better Business Bureau, this tool allows you to search for reports of similar by email, URL, or phone number.

Report suspicious messages

If you suspect a scam, Amazon asks that you report it right away. Amazon offers a self-service tool for customers to flag suspicious messages quickly. Non-customers can also forward scam attempts to reportascam@amazon.com. Each report helps Amazon identify bad actors and prevent others from falling victim.