Latest from Consumer Information

Diana Clement: Watch out for hot sales to be in line for real bargains

Whatever your style or store preference, you can find a bargain if you're willing to put in some research before shopping, writes Diana Clement.

Kiwi prices among the world's highest

Kiwis pay more than buyers elsewhere for some of the most popular consumer goods, a global report shows. So which products will burn a hole in your pocket?

John Parker: When I need a yak to my ISP, they're out with theirs

Before I signed up for an internet service provider (ISP) I imagined their help centres as well-lit, large rooms with lots of windows and dozens of small cubicles, writes John Parker.

Small Business: E-commerce - Lester Binns

The internet is a big place, especially when compared with your local shopping mall or high street.

A plan stretches dollars

A meal plan, shopping once a week and buying fruit and veges from specialist shops, rather than a supermarket, will save you thousands a year, a food writer and budgeting expert says.

Buy Crikey: Cheaper shipping for bulk purchases

Have you ever browsed overseas websites dreaming of being able to buy so cheaply or to have such choice? I'm guilty of doing that on Zappos.com, writes Diana Clement.

Fare go: The meter is running

Four Herald staff caught cabs from Auckland Airport's international terminal to SkyCity yesterday, so we could compare their routes and what they were charged.

Which phone is vulnerable to malware?

Whether you use Android, iOS, Blackberry or another system, you are vulnerable. On some systems, more than 40,000 pieces of malware exist to infect your device.

Christmas clubs get in early

Starting a Christmas savings scheme will make shopping less stressful and the way you save will make a big difference to how much cash you'll have.

No room for Mr Whippy?

The owner of the Mr Whippy master franchise says Auckland's frozen dessert market is close to reaching "saturation point".

Buy Crikey: Online not the only way to go

We are conditioned to expect a bargain online but sometimes it's just as cheap to buy at a shop, where you get to touch and feel the product and discuss it with a salesperson, writes Diana Clement.

Spending in vogue as gloom lifts

Kiwis are splashing out on wining, dining and big-ticket items such as new cars and household furniture as consumer confidence hits a nine-year high.

Asian enthusiasm for natural health boosts NZ industry

Asian consumers increasingly viewing health supplements as "an investment rather than an expense" are driving growth in New Zealand's natural products industry.

The power is in your hands

Most households could easily cut their power bills by 10 per cent by making small adjustments, energy conservation experts say.

Pink pushes up prices

Is it worth paying more for a razor just because it's pink?

Card spending rebounds

Consumers' plastic cards saw more of the light of day last month, but the trend suggests some loss of momentum in retail spending.