Cash4Gold Exposed!!!

I know this isn't celebrity news, but I feel that this was a very important story. At a time when most people in our country don't have a job, getting layed off from their jobs, or just plain don't have any money-People resort to doing other things to make money such as selling their old jewelry. If your like me and my friend Crotchety Old Man you are sick of the incessant televised advertisements for a company called Cash4Gold. If you haven't heard about them, they are a company that supposedly pays out the highest amount of money for your unwanted, broken, old jewelry. They claim they can pay top dollar because they own the refinery to break down the metals therefor eliminating the middle man(pawn shops). I thought while watching these ads that they were probably scamming everyone I just didn't know how. Well now I know how my friends and you do too.

The folks at Cockeyed.com put Cash4Gold to the test, they figured if Cash4Gold had enough money to advertise all the time on TV and they had a spot in the SuperBowl , someone's getting the short end of the stick. So they rounded up a bunch of old rings, necklaces, and earrings, and took them to a regular pawn shop to be appraised. The offer: $198 for the lot. They then sent the items to Cash4Gold and waited for a check in the mail. It arrived within a few days as promised... in the amount of $60. (You don't have to accept the check; the deal isn't done until you cash it.)

That price alone is practically criminal, but that's where the truly slimy part of the operation begins. First, if you call Cash4Gold and ask for your stuff back, you abruptly get a better offer: In the case of the above experiment, the offer was a whopping $178. That's a better deal, but still not market rate, though the caller was told that Cash4Gold could "manipulate the numbers on their end" to make it appear that more product was sent than was in reality. Bizarre, but it's really the only way Cash4Gold can cover its behind to convince you the original offer wasn't a wholesale ripoff.

As bad as that is, it's far worse if you opted for the company's "Fast Cash" option. Here, that original offer ($60) is wired into your bank account within 24 hours of them receiving your jewelry. It sure is fast, but it's not much cash -- and you don't have the option of declining the offer at all. You're stuck with being ripped off. (It's also worth noting that Cash4Gold has offered Cockeyed cash 4 removing its expose from the web...)

As a side note, another website offers an in-depth expose on how the system works here, this time analyzed from the inside by a former employee. Here it's outlined how the company offers bonuses to phone operators who can convince you to accept a lower offer and how the company attempts to delay payments as long as possible. It's also worth a look if you're considering sending stuff to Cash4Gold anyway and haggling for a better deal.

I always knew this company was a scam, but reading the article from the ex-employee and the original story really opened my eyes to how horrible of a company they are. Please don't send them your jewels, and please send this to other people you know so more people don't get scammed.

Source: Yahoo Tech Blog-Christopher Null:The Working Guy

2009 Grammy Nominations

The Grammy's are on 2/8/08 at 8pm.

2009 Grammy Awards Nominees:

Record Of The Year

Chasing Pavements
Adele

Viva La Vida
Coldplay

Bleeding Love
Leona Lewis

Paper Planes
M.I.A

Please Read The Letter
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Album Of The Year

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Coldplay

Tha Carter III
Lil Wayne

Year Of The Gentleman
Ne-Yo

Raising Sand
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

In Rainbows
Radiohead

Song Of The Year

American Boy
Estelle Featuring Kanye West)

Chasing Pavements
Adele

I’m Yours
Jason Mraz

Love Song
Sara Bareilles

Viva La Vida
ColdPlay

Best New Artist

Adele

Duffy

Jonas Brothers

Lady Antebellum

Jazmine Sullivan

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Chasing Pavements
Adele

Love Song
Sara Bareilles

Mercy
Duffy

Bleeding Love
Leona Lewis

I Kissed A Girl
Katy Perry

So What
Pink

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

All Summer Long
Kid Rock

Say
John Mayer

That Was Me
Paul McCartney

I’m Yours
Jason Mraz

Closer
Ne-Yo

Wichita Lineman
James Taylor

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Viva La Vida
Coldplay

Waiting In The Weeds
Eagles

Going On
Gnarls Barkley

Won’t Go Home Without You
Maroon 5

Apologize
OneRepublic

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Lesson Learned
Alicia Keys & John Mayer

4 Minutes
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland

Rich Woman
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

If I Never See Your Face Again
Rihanna & Maroon 5

No Air
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

The full 2009 nomination list can be found here.

Gwen Stefani's Hoodies Recalled

Several hooded sweatshirts from Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers children's clothing line have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The commission charges that "the jackets have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children," although no such incidents have been reported.

The voluntary recall suggests purchasers of the RSL Hoodie and Lovers Leopard styles trim off the ties or return them for a full, $75 refund. The jackets were sold in Macy's, Nordstrom's and other retailers from August 2008 to January 2009.

I'm sure Gwen is upset about this find by the CPSC, but I'm sure she's very thankful no one has gotten hurt from it.

Jessica Simpson's Mini Breakdown!!

These last couple of weeks have been pretty bad for Jessica Simpson. While performing at a chili cook-off last week she was photographed apparently looking heavier than "normal" . While I don't think she wore the most flattering outfit, I still believe she has a gorgeous, REAL body with real curves-Not the typical Hollywood stick figure. Page 6 went crazy with the pictures and drew horrible cartoons of her and she's been really upset about it. She has always been someone who has flip-flopped with her weight, but I don't know if this was the reason for her recent breakdown.

During her opening set for Rascal Flatts in Grand Rapids, Michigan right after the opening song, she started talking about how much she missed Tony Romo saying, "I'm so excited, I get to see my boyfriend tomorrow,". Tony came up again later when she dedicated "You're My Sunday" to him, telling everyone, "I love him so, so much!"

Then Jessica lost her place in several songs including "Pray Out Loud," which the band had to start over after several measures. And then "Come On Over," where she mouthed "sorry" to the monitors.

She explained tearfully, "My voice is weak tonight and I feel so vulnerable onstage." And just before she closed the 38-minute set, she mentioned how sometimes, like this particular disastrous night, she wished she could just walk off the stage. She then thanked her band for not going all Christian Bale on her and appeared to wipe tears away as she exited the stage.

One of the local paper's writers blames the episode on Tony not showing up, but who knows. The fans that attended the show and cheered her on with words of support have a slightly more astute take on the whole thing. "I felt bad for her tonight," one told the paper. "Magazines are ripping her, being so harsh, and she's gorgeous." That sounds like more of a reason to me, she seems really stressed out. I hope nothing but the best for her-I like Jessica!

In Tough Economic Times At Least Superbowl Commercials Will Still Be Seen!!

Even if lots of us won't be able to afford throwing that huge Superbowl party this year or can't afford to have television to watch it or pay our electric bills-The companies will still pay millions for their commercials to be seen for products we can't afford to buy.

That’s not to say some advertisers aren’t nervous about buying expensive ad slots as business falters. Some such as General Motors Corp., FedEx Corp. and Garmin Ltd. won’t be advertising. Playboy Enterprises Inc. isn’t throwing its customary party at the game, for the first time in nine years.

But aggressive marketing by NBC to secure ad deals before last September’s financial meltdown helped to ensure Super Bowl XLIII won’t be a marketing bust. NBC said 90 percent of the Super Bowl ads had sold as of mid-January. Most ads have sold for about $3 million per 30-second spot—an all-time high price for the Super Bowl, which is the most watched event in the nation, with about 100 million U.S. viewers.

While some high-profile advertisers have pulled the plug, many are staying put and some, such as Mars Inc.’s Pedigree pet food, will appear in the Super Bowl for the first time.

But the tone of some ads this year will reflect tough times. As Tim Calkins, marketing professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management puts it: A good ad connects with its audience. And that audience is stressed about finances.

Take for example Hyundai Motors America.

Automotive ads during the Super Bowl tend to focus on vehicle launches, and Hyundai was planning to run two 30-second spots for its Genesis Coupe—one with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma playing a Bach piece that viewers can re-edit online.

But now, they might exchange one of the ads for a spot featuring a new incentive program that forgives auto loans for car buyers who lose their income within a year of the purchase.

“We know consumers are concerned about their future earnings,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of marketing at Hyundai Motor Co.’s Fountain Valley, Calif.-based American division. “That’s keeping a whole bunch of people on the sidelines from buying a new car.”

Longtime Super Bowl patron Anheuser-Busch is taking a different approach. The Budweiser brewer said it wants its ads to uplift and entertain viewers instead of reminding them about the economy.

The company is still spending heavily on the Super Bowl, even after announcing 1,400 job cuts in December that were tied to its acquisition by InBev SA. Anheuser-Busch will be airing 4 1/2 minutes worth of ads—30 seconds more than what it purchased last year—broken up into two 60-second ads and five half-minute spots.

Audi of America is staying put and buying a 60-second spot. The Germany automaker Audi AG wants to raise its profile as a luxury brand for younger, affluent consumers.
“We need to make the Audi brand far more popular and far more known,” said Chief Marketing Officer Scott Keogh. “That’s why we do the Super Bowl and the Olympics.”
Last year, traffic to Audi’s Web site tripled in the month leading up to the Super Bowl—as details about the ads were teased—and the month immediately after.
In the face of dismal automotive news, Audi said it’s important to communicate strength and optimism. Or as Keogh put it, “This is a brand that’s spending money.”

The Go Daddy Group Inc., which registers Internet domain names, is unapologetic about splurging on the Super Bowl. This is the same company that unabashedly threw a $2 million holiday party last month—flying in thousands of employees and guests to Arizona—as other firms cut back. CEO Bob Parsons rode a motorcycle into a concert that featured Joan Jett and Sinbad at Phoenix’s Chase Field.

GoDaddy is elated that NBC has approved two somewhat racy ads for the Super Bowl, one of which will air after a consumer vote. Censors disapproved its ad for last year’s Super Bowl, so GoDaddy aired a spot telling viewers to go to its Web site to watch the commercial. Scottsdale, Ariz.-based GoDaddy got 1.5 million Web hits before the game ended. “Our ads are fun, edgy and slightly inappropriate,” said spokeswoman Elizabeth Driscoll.

Soon as I find some teasers I'll be sure to post them.

New Paid Survey Site!!

If your like me and always looking to make money online- I found a cool new survey site. When you go here and register for free with your own account you get a $6 welcome survey. They also had about 5 other surveys waiting for me that were between $3-$5. They pay out through PayPal and don't make you fill out any crazy information or profile stuff. So its simple, easy and free plus hopefully you can make lots of cash!! You can on the left is the link ad.

Johnny Knoxville Detained At LAX!!

Star of MTV's Jackass, Johnny Knoxville was detained today for allegedly bringing an inert grenade into Los Angeles International Airport. After security screeners spotted the grenade in the star's carry-on luggage, a bomb squad determined it lacked a firing pin or explosive. Police say Knoxville was later released and allowed to board an American Airlines flight to Miami.

Prosecutors will decide whether to charge the 38-year-old with bringing a prohibited item into a secure area of the airport, a misdemeanor. An e-mail to Knoxville's publicist was not immediately returned.

Knoxville, whose real name is Philip John Clapp, told officers the grenade was a prop he forgot to remove from his bag, Airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said.