WalletPop was at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando when Disney Parks (aided by ABC's Ty Pennington) unveiled a publicity stunt for a good cause: a Guinness-authenticated world record for the largest structure ever made out of canned food. Continue reading.

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Chase and Starbucks pour their partnership down the drain

Martha C. White Feb 15th 2010 @ 2:00PM EST Filed Under: Credit Cards

Customers who hold Starbucks-branded Visa cards issued by Chase will soon have to find another way to get their caffeinated rewards. Chase recently announced that, as of the end of March, it's discontinuing the co-branded card, called the Duetto Visa, which has been around since 2003.

But their rewards won't disappear: Customers will get their reward points transferred to a Starbucks card, according to this account of the program-scrapping on Consumerist. The Seattle Times reported that the Canadian version, issued by RBC, is also getting the ax.

The Duetto worked both as a prepaid Starbucks card as well as a regular Visa card, and customers earned points, called "Duetto Dollars," on everyday purchases that could earn them free coffees. (We're going to call out the Consumerist reader who shared this news for his admission that he put his children's tuition on his Duetto card. Really? We're all for reward cards, but are free $4 coffees the best perk you can find for that amount of money?)

A Chase spokesperson told WalletPop in an email that current cardholders will be issued ordinary Chase Visas "at their own discretion," leaving open the possibility that some cardholders will be left out in the cold. The spokesperson also didn't specify which card or cards would be issued to former Duetto holders, or what kinds of terms and rewards Chase is substituting for the soon-to-be defunct Duetto Dollars.

Readers, help us fill in the blanks. Did you have a Duetto card? What replacement card are you being offered? How do the terms -- interest rate, rewards and so on -- compare to what you were paying or earning with the Duetto card? Our curiosity is well, brewing.

Home builders take aim at the 55-plus crowd

Charles Feldman Feb 15th 2010 @ 1:00PM EST Filed Under: Real Estate, Retire, Recession, Mortgages

In just four years, roughly one fourth of the U.S. population will be 55 or over -- that translates into some 85 million Americans.

So it is little wonder that home builders are reportedly taking aim at these aging baby boomers in an effort to increase sales at a time of great uncertainty and fiscal pain throughout the real estate market.

"In general, we're seeing very positive response among this buyer group," says Chris Naatz, the Midwest-area director of marketing for Pulte Homes, in an interview with the Dallas Morning News.

There's even an on-line magazine you can buy that is focused on this particular segment of the home buying public.

Back in June of 2009, according to a news release on the website of the National Association of Home Builders, the association's chief economist, David Crowe, said, "A strong and growing number of retirees and empty-nest households are interested in either downsizing or moving to a more user-friendly home -- especially if it's near their existing community."

But he went on to caution that the market conditions, as they existed this past summer, were such that it still presented "significant obstacles" to the 55-plus potential home buyer because of the difficulties in selling their current home.

Continue reading Home builders take aim at the 55-plus crowd

Collectibles of tomorrow: What's likely to go up in value?

Zac Bissonnette Feb 15th 2010 @ 11:00AM EST Filed Under: Extracurriculars

Last week on WalletPop, I looked at how Currier & Ives prints and Kodak cameras have provided vastly different economic returns to collectors over the past 40 years.

This week, as promised, I asked a few of the smartest antiques and collectibles experts I know one question: Which antiques and collectibles -- that normal people have the resources to collect -- are likely to increase in value in the future?

Tammy Fennell, Host of CollectiblesCornerTV and owner of VintageRareStuff.com, suggests vintage "10-cent" comic books, especially those featuring super heroes and the rarer Archie issues. "These just seem to keep going up," she said. "Just not as many people are finding their old collections anymore. They've been lost or thrown out as the Baby Boomers are getting olde.!"

She also suggests Civil War-related magazines, but warns to be careful of reprints which generally are of no value. "Harper's Weeklies from the Civil War years are not that hard to find," she added, but she believes their prospects for appreciation are good.

Matthew C. Quinn of Quinn's Auction Galleries in Virginia, said that the key thing to remember with buying vintage stuff is that, financially, you'll be better off than buying retail.

Continue reading Collectibles of tomorrow: What's likely to go up in value?

Homebuyers' credits for 2010

Kelly Phillips Erb Feb 15th 2010 @ 9:00AM EST Filed Under: Real Estate, Tax

Even though we're firmly in the midst of the 2009 tax season, you may still be able to claim the homebuyer credit for a purchase made in 2010 on your 2009 tax return. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act Of 2009, which was signed into law on November 6, 2009, extended the credit through 2010 and expanded the number of homeowners who qualify. As part of the extension, you have the option of claiming the credit for 2010 purchases on either your 2009 or 2010 return.

To qualify for the credit, you must have purchased or signed a binding contract to purchase a principal residence on or before April 20, 2010. If you sign a binding contract to purchase, your closing must be scheduled for a date on or before June 30, 2010.

Continue reading Homebuyers' credits for 2010

Win $10,000 from Apple for 10 billionth iTunes download

Josh Smith Feb 15th 2010 @ 8:00AM EST Filed Under: Bargains, Technology

If you've been holding off on buying a bunch of music, now's the time to open up iTunes and start buying for your chance to win big. Just as Apple has celebrated previous milestones in the iTunes store, it is marking the sale of the 10 billionth song sold on iTunes by giving the user who downloads it a $10,000 iTunes gift certificate.

It is expected that the 10 billionth song will sell sometime before the end of February; as millions of songs are sold every day and the pace quickens when Apple announces a contest like this.

The iTunes music store has celebrated several milestones in the past including;

Continue reading Win $10,000 from Apple for 10 billionth iTunes download

Will Toyota increase incentives to lure in customers?

Sarah Coffey Feb 15th 2010 @ 6:00AM EST Filed Under: Transportation

Thinking about buying a car? You may benefit from Toyota's recent recall troubles. The beleaguered car maker is considering offering larger incentives and an extended warranty program to try and lure customers back following its largest recall ever.

Toyota is talking with its U.S. dealers about a number of options, including adding $1,000 to its current $1,000 cash incentive to returning Toyota customers. Toyota's current $1,000 program matches incentives offered by General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Hyundai.

Other options could include a free maintenance program -- such as oil changes and regular checkups -- and a new warranty program that would match Hyundai's 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Currently Toyota offers a five-year or 60,000 miles powertrain warranty, plus three years of basic warranty coverage for "all components other than normal wear and maintenance items."

Toyota's U.S. sales dropped 16% in January to their lowest levels in more than a decade, after it suspended sales of top-selling vehicles subject to safety recalls, including the Prius, Camry and Corolla.

Restaurants will feel the love this Valentine's Day

Madhusmita Bora Feb 14th 2010 @ 12:00PM EST Filed Under: Food

This Valentine's Day, restaurants are expected to feel the love.

Los Angeles-based research firm IBISWorld expects total Valentine's Day spending to be up 3.3% this year, touching $17.6 billion. And because Valentine's Day is today, IBIS says consumers might toss out the idea of buying flowers and gifts, opting for a romantic getaway or dinner instead.

The news, although gloomy for retailers, should be a cause of celebration for the restaurant industry.

"Because Valentine's Day lands on a Sunday, restaurants are likely to gain traffic throughout the entire weekend," said Toon van Beeck, senior analyst with IBISWorld in a release. "Furthermore, because President's Day is on the following Monday, many consumers will be able to travel over the three-day weekend, further boosting restaurant sales."

The restaurant industry is taking note, and many such as Bonefish Grill are offering extended hours and deals to lure in customers.

Traditionally Valentine's Day is a big day for jewelry merchants, florists and candy stores. With the economy still in the doldrums, consumers may not be very generous about parting with their cash. The hardest hit might be florists because Sunday is the worst day for them come Valentine's Day.

"Many retailers will see Valentine's Day as an opportunity to kick start the new year, but the unemployment rate and continued uncertainty of the economic recovery will hamper growth and expansion," van Beeck said. "This combined with the fact that the holiday is a discretionary purchase, IBISWorld expects customers to remain on the shopping sidelines for the second consecutive year."

Old Navy kids clothes up to 40% off

Julia Scott Feb 14th 2010 @ 9:00AM EST Filed Under: Bargain Babe

Old Navy is having an online sale on kid, baby, and maternity clothing plus there is a coupon code, which means you are primed for saving. Here are some of the deals I found:

Girls polos are $7.50 (orig. $12.50, that's 40% off). Light blue and navy blue girls' uniform polos are $7.50 each if you buy two.

Boys graphic T-shirts are $7 (orig $9) and mesh sports shorts are $8 (orig. $12. 50). Boys' branded hoodies are $10-$15 (orig $19.50).

Summery maternity tops are $15-$20 (orig. $24.50-$26.50). A super cute jean maternity skirt is just $13 (orig. $30) but comes only in size XL and XXL.

Get free shipping on your purchase of kids, baby, or maternity clothes of $50 or more with code ONGIVE50. Expires Feb. 18, 2010.

Survey says, the bigger the bank, the less people trust them

Geoff Williams Feb 14th 2010 @ 8:00AM EST Filed Under: Banks

It's no revelation that big banks have an image problem these days. And to add proof to what we'd already suspected, a new report from Forrester Research shows that America's biggest banks are the least trusted banks in the country.

Forrester Research ranked almost 50 financial services firms in the United States, asking approximately 4,500 people if they agree with the following statement: "My financial provider does what's best for me, not just its own bottom line."

With the percentage of respondents who agreed with that statement ranging between 33% and 16%, the bottom seven of this year's rankings were, in order, Bank of America, Chase, Capital One, TD/Commerce, Fifth Third, Citibank and, at the very, very bottom, HSBC.

But this isn't just due to the bailouts. As American Banking News points out, these banks have been at the bottom of the survey for the past seven years.

Just out of curiosity, I contacted a well-regarded corporate image consultant who specializes in branding to see if he had any suggestions for how the banks could regain their customers' trust.

I expected some optimism, but just as a measure of how deep a hole the big banks now find themselves in, Adam Hanft, CEO of the branding firm Hanft Projects, wasn't able to give me much.

Continue reading Survey says, the bigger the bank, the less people trust them

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