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Unbiased Reviews and Undercover Price Research on Local Services
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Warranty companies, with help from their public utility partners, pitch nightmare scenarios. But these programs stink.
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How to Get Rid of Unwanted Electronics Responsibly
Don’t throw your obsolete gadgets in the trash. Most contain a nightmarish mix of hazardous chemicals. Here's how to responsibly recycle them.
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Bug Off!
How to banish household pests, plus ratings of local exterminators if you need to call in a professional swat team.
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Buyers Beware
Think you’re getting a deal? 30 tricks sellers use to make you pay up and pay too much.
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Home Maintenance School
Here’s a yearlong plan on how to keep your home from falling apart.
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Free Perks You Don't Know You Have
We sifted through member benefits that come with credit cards, warehouse clubs, health insurance plans, and more, they discovered dozens of free, often little-known perks.
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Read Before Remodeling
Your closest ally in a remodeling project is your general contractor. Hiring the right one can be the difference between getting what you want (within your budget), and disaster.
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Trouble with Timeshare Exit Companies
We found many timeshare exit operations provide little, if any, service for their high fees.
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Do Your Trees Need TLC?
Here is advice on how to tell if your trees need help, and ratings of local branch managers if they do.
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Best Bets for Buying Secondhand Stuff
Our team went secondhand shopping for everything from electronics to armchairs and saved a bundle. A bonus: buying used stuff helps the environment. Here’s what you should (and shouldn’t) consider buying used.
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Finding an Auto Body Shop That Will Do a Bang-Up Job
Collision-avoidance auto technology doesn’t change one vital factor: Humans still get behind the wheel, so accidents still happen. Fortunately, our ratings have you covered.
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Shockingly Good Electricians
Need to install a new light fixture or do some other wiring around your home? Pull the plug on DIY electrical work—our ratings will help you find a pro.
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Many Medical Alert Devices Delay Emergency Response
We hit the panic button—290 times—to test the value of medical alert devices, and many of them came up short. Here’s what we found, and what we recommend if you’re interested in buying one.
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What to Do About Defective Products
You bought something that broke, or that never worked right. Here are strategies for how to get a refund, free repair, or replacement.
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Ratings of computer repair shops, plus advice on keeping your devices safe.
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Planning a Home Security System
Because most burglars enter homes by simply opening unlocked doors or windows—or pushing and kicking locked ones until they open—even the most basic protective measures will improve your security.
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Appliance Repair: Get Your Fix
Your fridge or washer goes on the fritz, you need help fast. Our ratings evaluate local fixers for quality and price.
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Fear of the drill isn’t the only reason lots of patients avoid the dentist; sometimes, it’s fear of the bill. Our ratings make it easy to find great dentists who charge low fees.
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Find the Best Vet for Your Pet
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Current Issue
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How to Save Energy at Home
32 changes that will cut costs and help the planet.
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Popular Mechanics
Ratings of local auto repair shops for quality and price.
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On the Road Again, Despite Dangerous Defects
Our investigation found used-car dealers often sell vehicles without addressing known life-threatening problems.
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Do You Need Coverage for Water and Sewer Line Repairs?
Warranty companies, with help from their public utility partners, pitch nightmare scenarios. But these programs stink.
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Bug Off!
How to banish household pests.
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Surviving the Crash
Ratings of computer repair shops.
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How to Protect Your Computers and Devices
15 steps to take to keep your digital devices safe.
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Where to Buy Computers and Devices
Top grades for upgrades, plus how major retailers compare on price.
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What to Do About Defective Products
Strategies for getting a refund or free replacement if you bought something that broke down too soon.
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Why You Should Skip the Extended Warranty
Purchase protection. Service contracts. AppleCare. Whatever retailers call them, these plans are usually bad buys.
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Hear Here
Where to shop for the right hearing aid.
