Herb Weisbaum, The ConsumerMan
@consumerman.bsky.social
Contributing Editor at Checkbook.org, the non-profit that helps consumers get good service and low prices. I also host Checkbook's Consumerpedia.org podcast. My goal: Save you time and money, and help you avoid rip-offs & scams.
Thanks for supporting my consumer reporting this year. I appreciate the kind email notes you send and the social media comments/likes/shares. Social media helps us reach a wider audience with our warnings, tips, and advice. Wishing you and yours a HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
December 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Thanks for supporting my consumer reporting this year. I appreciate the kind email notes you send and the social media comments/likes/shares. Social media helps us reach a wider audience with our warnings, tips, and advice. Wishing you and yours a HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
NEW Consumerpedia podcast: How Marketers Target & Sometimes Trick Kids. In this episode, what’s being done to protect our children from the deceptive marketing? Is anyone enforcing the rules? And how parents can talk to their kids about advertising. bit.ly/4911xOG
December 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
NEW Consumerpedia podcast: How Marketers Target & Sometimes Trick Kids. In this episode, what’s being done to protect our children from the deceptive marketing? Is anyone enforcing the rules? And how parents can talk to their kids about advertising. bit.ly/4911xOG
How Marketers Trick Kids, and Why Parents Should Worry: America’s children have enormous spending power, which is why companies spend billions of dollars a year marketing to minors, sometimes in ways that are misleading, deceptive, or illegal. bit.ly/48R6867
December 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
How Marketers Trick Kids, and Why Parents Should Worry: America’s children have enormous spending power, which is why companies spend billions of dollars a year marketing to minors, sometimes in ways that are misleading, deceptive, or illegal. bit.ly/48R6867
Virtual Credit Cards Help Fight Fraud: These 16 digit numbers are a proxy for your actual card number when you shop online. The merchant or scammer who receives the virtual code never gets your credit card number. bit.ly/49ZFwlG
December 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Virtual Credit Cards Help Fight Fraud: These 16 digit numbers are a proxy for your actual card number when you shop online. The merchant or scammer who receives the virtual code never gets your credit card number. bit.ly/49ZFwlG
NEW @consumerpedia.org podcast episode: The Benefits of Shopping Locally. In this episode: The benefits and challenges of shopping at small, independent stores, ways to spend more in your community, and whether it costs more to avoid the big chain stores. bit.ly/4oFqEwz
December 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
NEW @consumerpedia.org podcast episode: The Benefits of Shopping Locally. In this episode: The benefits and challenges of shopping at small, independent stores, ways to spend more in your community, and whether it costs more to avoid the big chain stores. bit.ly/4oFqEwz
Unsafe Toys: How to Spot the Hidden Risks That Could Harm Your Child. The annual “Trouble in Toyland” report from U.S. PIRG highlights hidden dangers in toys, ranging from toxic chemicals to artificial intelligence that can engage in “disturbing conversations” with kids. bit.ly/4pAGBVD
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Unsafe Toys: How to Spot the Hidden Risks That Could Harm Your Child. The annual “Trouble in Toyland” report from U.S. PIRG highlights hidden dangers in toys, ranging from toxic chemicals to artificial intelligence that can engage in “disturbing conversations” with kids. bit.ly/4pAGBVD
LAUNDRY QUESTIONS NEEDED. I'm interviewing the laundry expert at Consumer Reports for an upcoming @MyConsumerpedia podcast episode — and he'd like to answer your wash day questions: Use this link to submit: bit.ly/4a9fzQx
November 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
LAUNDRY QUESTIONS NEEDED. I'm interviewing the laundry expert at Consumer Reports for an upcoming @MyConsumerpedia podcast episode — and he'd like to answer your wash day questions: Use this link to submit: bit.ly/4a9fzQx
NEW Consumerpedia episode: SALE PRICES ARE USUALLY FAKE DISCOUNTS. Researchers at Consumers’ Checkbook tracked prices at 25 major retailers for 6 months and found that most advertised markdowns were bogus. Find out which retailers run fake sales most often. bit.ly/49zhmOG
November 21, 2025 at 6:10 PM
NEW Consumerpedia episode: SALE PRICES ARE USUALLY FAKE DISCOUNTS. Researchers at Consumers’ Checkbook tracked prices at 25 major retailers for 6 months and found that most advertised markdowns were bogus. Find out which retailers run fake sales most often. bit.ly/49zhmOG
Tariffs, higher prices, and fake discounts make holiday shopping tough this year. Get shopping tips from experts on Consumerpedia. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or through the link in the comments. www.facebook.com/share/r/18Ah...
November 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Tariffs, higher prices, and fake discounts make holiday shopping tough this year. Get shopping tips from experts on Consumerpedia. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or through the link in the comments. www.facebook.com/share/r/18Ah...
Talked about strategies to avoid holiday debt with the morning tea @komonews.bsky.social (ARC Seattle). Planning ahead and knowing the cost of credit can prevent lingering debt that lasts long after the holiday decorations are taken down. bit.ly/43yVBuE
November 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Talked about strategies to avoid holiday debt with the morning tea @komonews.bsky.social (ARC Seattle). Planning ahead and knowing the cost of credit can prevent lingering debt that lasts long after the holiday decorations are taken down. bit.ly/43yVBuE
Joined the morning team at @komonews.bsky.social (ARC Seattle) to share Checkbook’s Holiday Shopping Tips 2025: How to find the best deals, avoid the fake sales, and steer clear of online scams. bit.ly/4hRAnxU
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Joined the morning team at @komonews.bsky.social (ARC Seattle) to share Checkbook’s Holiday Shopping Tips 2025: How to find the best deals, avoid the fake sales, and steer clear of online scams. bit.ly/4hRAnxU
Enjoyed being on the Talking Real Money podcast today to discuss the latest robocall scam attack, how AI-enabled fraud is becoming increasingly difficult to spot, my nightmare airline experience, and some early holiday shopping tips. bit.ly/3JVKbdE
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Enjoyed being on the Talking Real Money podcast today to discuss the latest robocall scam attack, how AI-enabled fraud is becoming increasingly difficult to spot, my nightmare airline experience, and some early holiday shopping tips. bit.ly/3JVKbdE
Holiday Shopping Tips 2025: Checkbook asked shopping experts for their advice on how to find the best deals and avoid the bogus sales. Plus, the smart ways (and the really costly ways) to pay for your holiday purchases.
bit.ly/49OXHKy
bit.ly/49OXHKy
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Holiday Shopping Tips 2025: Checkbook asked shopping experts for their advice on how to find the best deals and avoid the bogus sales. Plus, the smart ways (and the really costly ways) to pay for your holiday purchases.
bit.ly/49OXHKy
bit.ly/49OXHKy
Joined John Landecker on @wgnradio.bsky.social last night to talk about LONG car loans and those $!#%@$ robocalls!
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
November 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Joined John Landecker on @wgnradio.bsky.social last night to talk about LONG car loans and those $!#%@$ robocalls!
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
Despite warnings about volatility, scams, and lax regulatory oversight, digital currencies have gone mainstream. While this modern-day gold rush has made people (mostly insiders) incredibly rich, many others have lost money to scams. bit.ly/3WxBhWE
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Despite warnings about volatility, scams, and lax regulatory oversight, digital currencies have gone mainstream. While this modern-day gold rush has made people (mostly insiders) incredibly rich, many others have lost money to scams. bit.ly/3WxBhWE
New Instagram Reel about my latest Consumerpedia podcast -- all about the risks of investing in digital currencies. instagram.com/p/DQcGPNlkbjj/
October 31, 2025 at 5:16 PM
New Instagram Reel about my latest Consumerpedia podcast -- all about the risks of investing in digital currencies. instagram.com/p/DQcGPNlkbjj/
NEW Consumerpedia episode: Cryptocurrency: Coins, Cons, & Chaos. It's a modern day gold rush. Millions of Americans are buying digital currencies despite the known risks. Hear why experts warn that many are going to get burned. bit.ly/3L2IKup
October 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
NEW Consumerpedia episode: Cryptocurrency: Coins, Cons, & Chaos. It's a modern day gold rush. Millions of Americans are buying digital currencies despite the known risks. Hear why experts warn that many are going to get burned. bit.ly/3L2IKup
Lengthy Car Loans Can Cost You Thousands: To lower their monthly payments many car buyers are taking out longer loans. But that will drive up the total interest you'll pay, and you'll be upside-down on that loan for much longer. bit.ly/43uj005
October 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Lengthy Car Loans Can Cost You Thousands: To lower their monthly payments many car buyers are taking out longer loans. But that will drive up the total interest you'll pay, and you'll be upside-down on that loan for much longer. bit.ly/43uj005
My new Instagram reel previews the latest Consumerpedia episode: Smart picks from Checkbook’s editors—websites and apps that save you time & money. www.facebook.com/share/r/1Ctg...
October 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
My new Instagram reel previews the latest Consumerpedia episode: Smart picks from Checkbook’s editors—websites and apps that save you time & money. www.facebook.com/share/r/1Ctg...
Scam Alert: Fake Loan Approval Robocalls: Identity thieves have found a new way to steal our personal financial information: By calling with an “update” on a loan you never applied for. These scammers are aggressively targeting consumers nationwide. bit.ly/4h9k4fB
October 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Scam Alert: Fake Loan Approval Robocalls: Identity thieves have found a new way to steal our personal financial information: By calling with an “update” on a loan you never applied for. These scammers are aggressively targeting consumers nationwide. bit.ly/4h9k4fB
New Attempt to Stop the Robocall Epidemic: Nomorobo, a robocall blocking service, has taken the unusual step of suing four companies—all debt collectors—it claims are “significant violators” of a federal law that bans most robocalls. bit.ly/48jOsS5
October 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
New Attempt to Stop the Robocall Epidemic: Nomorobo, a robocall blocking service, has taken the unusual step of suing four companies—all debt collectors—it claims are “significant violators” of a federal law that bans most robocalls. bit.ly/48jOsS5
NEW Consumerpedia podcast episode: Our Editors’ Favorite Websites & Apps. We'll share some of the apps and websites we use and trust, and explain why you may find them valuable tools. bit.ly/4q3NdN6
October 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
NEW Consumerpedia podcast episode: Our Editors’ Favorite Websites & Apps. We'll share some of the apps and websites we use and trust, and explain why you may find them valuable tools. bit.ly/4q3NdN6
Home Insurance Crisis: Soaring Premiums & Inadequate Payouts. The skyrocketing cost of home insurance far exceeds the rate of inflation. How can you lower your premiums? Find money-saving tips in my new @checkbook.org story. bit.ly/3IVOnJZ
October 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Home Insurance Crisis: Soaring Premiums & Inadequate Payouts. The skyrocketing cost of home insurance far exceeds the rate of inflation. How can you lower your premiums? Find money-saving tips in my new @checkbook.org story. bit.ly/3IVOnJZ
Check out the new Instagram reel about the new Consumerpedia podcast episode. t.co/UF13tZd6gE
October 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Check out the new Instagram reel about the new Consumerpedia podcast episode. t.co/UF13tZd6gE
FTC secures historic $2.5 billion settlement from Amazon: The company will pay a civil penalty of $1 billion and refund $1.5 billion to approximately 35 million customers harmed by what the FTC described as “deceptive Prime enrollment practices." bit.ly/4mEZFjG
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
FTC secures historic $2.5 billion settlement from Amazon: The company will pay a civil penalty of $1 billion and refund $1.5 billion to approximately 35 million customers harmed by what the FTC described as “deceptive Prime enrollment practices." bit.ly/4mEZFjG