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al-Mart founder Sam Walton believed in having an alluring and unbeatable "opening price point" item in each category -- whether TV sets or bathing suits. The low price functioned to catch the consumer's eye and create the perception of value across the higher price points further up the aisle.

"The opening price point is clearly a foundation of who we are and how we interact with our customers," Ray Bracy, Wal-Mart's vice president of international corporate affairs told FRONTLINE.

The focus on low cost also had the effect of forcing Wal-Mart to look inward and find innovative ways to take costs out of the supply chain.

With its roots in Northwest Arkansas and the American Sunbelt, Wal-Mart would seem an unlikely leader in information technology. But it turns out Wal-Mart was often way ahead of the curve.

In the 1960s and '70s, Wal-Mart took its first big bet by building its own infrastructure and distribution network. Before Wal-Mart decided to take charge of its own distribution, retailers traditionally depended on wholesalers, who procured, warehoused and distributed manufactured products. But Walton found that none of the wholesale distributors at the time were interested in giving adequate service to a geographically remote discount retailer. Wholesalers would be shut out of Wal-Mart's business model.

Next, to take on powerful brand-name suppliers, Walton would make a massive bet in information technology. By the early '80s, Wal-Mart was one of the earliest to take advantage of the bar code to increase efficiency at the checkout counter. The aim now was to find a way for technology to help Wal-Mart come up with the right mix of goods for its individual stores, thereby increasing efficiency and lowering the company's inventory costs. The idea was to transmit point-of-sale information in real time to manufacturers. The information then could be used to examine consumer taste trends, gauge demand and eliminate the need for warehousing -- manufacturers would deliver "just in time."

And so, the cornerstone of Wal-Mart's increased efficiency was its trend-forecasting software, which tracked consumer behavior. In 1985, Walton and his chief lieutenant, David Glass, began developing a program called Retail Link. The software, and the hardware that went along with it, took years to perfect, eventually costing $4 billion. This revolutionary system delivered sophisticated information on consumer behavior, drawn from the data imbedded in the barcodes that passed through checkout counters.

Wal-Mart shared this revolutionary software with suppliers at no cost, in order to help them meet the retailer's needs more efficiently. In the early years, many Wal-Mart suppliers were American firms with factories in the U.S., and so sharing the Retail Link system dovetailed with Sam Walton's "Buy American" campaign, which focused on using domestic manufacturers. But Walton also insisted on ruthless efficiency. As he wrote in a letter to his suppliers in 1985, he was committed to buying U.S. goods whenever possible, but they would have to upgrade their operations and improve productivity to "fill our requirements."

At the heart Wal-Mart's offer to share its software program was a Faustian bargain for suppliers: Use our Retail Link program, play by our new rules and we will be your gateway to sales beyond your wildest dreams. Or refuse, and be shut out of America's dominant retail chain. In fact, by sharing Retail Link, Wal-Mart gained command over its suppliers and effectively penetrated their executive decision-making. It drew them into what Sam Walton liked to call a partnership: Wal-Mart was plugged into the supplier and the supplier was plugged into Wal-Mart.

But Wal-Mart had the upper hand: By gaining access to its supplier's books, the company was in a position to virtually dictate the terms of its contracts on price, volume, delivery schedule, packaging, and quality. And it allowed the giant retailer to set the profit margin each supplier would get. It turned the supplier-retailer relationship upside-down.

If vendors wanted their products on Wal-Mart's shelves, they had to implement Wal-Mart's "customized business plans." Each year, the big retailer handed its suppliers detailed "strategic business planning packets." Wal-Mart would grade them on weekly, quarterly and annual report cards. And when it came to discussions of price, there was no real negotiation, even for household brands.

"It was a cultural change between retailers and manufacturers," said Bobby Martin Jr., the Wal-Mart executive who developed and managed the Retail Link software system. "Part of process people went through was fear that Wal-Mart would know their business better and run their business. Some of them were not even as computer literate or capable as Wal-Mart… But the impetus behind it is the low cost commitment. This is divine discontent with cost."

Thus, Wal-Mart used its buying power and its information about consumer buying habits to force vendors into squeezing their costs and keeping their profit margins low. Over time, some suppliers -- especially middle-sized and smaller firms -- were bankrupted; and major firms moved production overseas, and increasingly to China.

Drug Name

Total Prescriptions

 

HYDROCODONE W/APAP

92,719,975

 

LIPITOR

69,766,431

 

LISINOPRIL

46,206,563

 

ATENOLOL

44,162,229

 

SYNTHROID

44,056,176

 

AMOXICILLIN

41,393,538

 

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

41,345,733

 

ZITHROMAX

37,171,754

 

FUROSEMIDE

36,508,251

 

NORVASC

34,729,004

 

TOPROL XL

32,794,562

 

ALPRAZOLAM

32,404,743

 

ALBUTEROL

31,219,862

 

ZOLOFT

29,877,707

 

ZOCOR

27,234,005

 

METFORMIN HCL

25,472,580

 

IBUPROFEN

25,188,051

 

TRIAMTERENE W/HCTZ

24,616,014

 

AMBIEN

24,494,669

 

CEPHALEXIN

23,665,172

 

NEXIUM

23,641,811

 

PREVACID

23,628,587

 

LEXAPRO

22,597,383

 

PREDNISONE

22,506,888

 

ZYRTEC

22,382,823

 

SINGULAIR

22,020,478

 

CELEBREX

21,916,220

 

FLUOXETINE HCL

21,752,487

 

FOSAMAX

20,972,548

 

METOPROLOL TARTRATE

20,840,044

 

PREMARIN

20,324,619

 

LEVOXYL

19,760,520

 

LORAZEPAM

18,873,635

 

ALLEGRA

18,772,070

 

PLAVIX

18,721,885

 

EFFEXOR XR

18,574,507

 

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE

18,523,548

 

PROTONIX

18,359,740

 

PROPOXYPHENE NAP W/APAP

17,931,369

 

ADVAIR DISKUS

17,400,826

 

WARFARIN SODIUM

16,581,657

 

ACETAMINOPHEN W/CODEINE

16,079,867

 

CLONAZEPAM

15,968,529

 

NEURONTIN

15,476,692

 

FLONASE

15,136,691

 

AMITRIPTYLINE HCL

15,086,803

 

RANITIDINE HCL

14,884,810

 

TRAZODONE HCL

14,450,339

 

NAPROXEN

13,918,496

 

AMOX TR-POTASSIUM CLAVULANATE

13,810,927

 

ENALAPRIL MALEATE

13,732,556

 

PAROXETINE HCL

13,731,071

 

PRAVACHOL

13,662,403

 

VIAGRA

13,539,272

 

CYCLOBENZAPRINE HCL

13,246,157

 

VIOXX

13,226,546

 

ALTACE

13,149,598

 

DIOVAN

13,133,513

 

LOTREL

13,037,546

 

LEVAQUIN

12,926,850

 

L-THYROXINE SODIUM

12,394,756

 

BEXTRA

12,227,513

 

OXYCODONE W/APAP

12,118,687

 

DIAZEPAM

12,093,060

 

TRAMADOL HCL

11,852,004

 

VERAPAMIL HCL

11,143,691

 

DIOVAN HCT

10,737,750

 

ALBUTEROL SULFATE

10,498,863

 

LISINOPRIL/HCTZ

10,406,078

 

ORTHO EVRA

10,380,213

 

CELEXA

10,358,042

 

ACCUPRIL

10,236,306

 

CARISOPRODOL

9,947,523

 

ACTOS

9,875,273

 

PROMETHAZINE HCL

9,725,896

 

ACTONEL

9,723,277

 

ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE

9,621,678

 

ALLOPURINOL

9,537,507

 

PAXIL CR

9,507,161

 

COZAAR

9,501,756

 

CLONIDINE HCL

9,451,698

 

CIPROFLOXACIN HCL

9,366,605

 

WELLBUTRIN XL

9,260,409

 

GLYBURIDE

9,227,291

 

AVANDIA

9,194,550

 

PENICILLIN VK

9,044,304

 

ZETIA

8,969,666

 

TRIMOX

8,904,667

 

METHYLPREDNISOLONE

8,695,743

 

FOLIC ACID

8,640,505

 

ACIPHEX

8,531,810

 

GLIPIZIDE ER

8,526,225

 

FLOMAX

8,502,798

 

DILTIAZEM HCL

8,501,749

 

RISPERDAL

8,458,338

 

OMEPRAZOLE

8,449,378

 

YASMIN 28

8,328,815

 

DOXYCYCLINE HYCLATE

8,225,902

 

TRICOR

8,058,816

 

SEROQUEL

7,952,278

 

COUMADIN

7,707,865

 

ADDERALL XR

7,707,093

 

CONCERTA

7,618,920

 

NASONEX

7,605,041

 

CLARINEX

7,577,701

 

LOVASTATIN

7,373,795

 

HYZAAR

7,340,635

 

SPIRONOLACTONE

7,271,450

 

AMARYL

7,246,808

 

DIGITEK

7,225,219

 

TEMAZEPAM

7,134,429

 

DIFLUCAN

7,107,234

 

EVISTA

7,085,682

 

XALATAN

7,075,287

 

LANTUS

7,009,424

 

COREG

6,961,217

 

COMBIVENT

6,888,620

 

CRESTOR

6,887,980

 

COTRIM

6,800,424

 

VALTREX

6,782,224

 

ZYPREXA

6,498,677

 

DOXAZOSIN MESYLATE

6,485,905

 

OXYCONTIN

6,386,235

 

TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE

6,378,669

 

ESTRADIOL

6,356,120

 

ASPIRIN

6,280,399

 

ALLEGRA-D 12 HOUR

6,267,316

 

ENDOCET

6,247,225

 

GEMFIBROZIL

6,161,194

 

ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN

6,028,942

 

METOCLOPRAMIDE HCL

6,024,790

 

HYDROXYZINE HCL

5,976,840

 

AVAPRO

5,905,598

 

ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO

5,825,865

 

TOPAMAX

5,799,851

 

IMITREX

5,764,066

 

STRATTERA

5,762,842

 

METFORMIN HCL ER

5,749,616

 

DETROL LA

5,740,205

 

OMNICEF

5,640,331

 

MECLIZINE HCL

5,621,298

 

TRINESSA

5,607,134

 

FLOVENT

5,605,531

 

GLIPIZIDE

5,579,469

 

PROPOXYPHENE NAPSYLATE W/APAP

5,563,827

 

ULTRACET

5,558,854

 

CLINDAMYCIN HCL

5,536,403

 

METRONIDAZOLE

5,415,244

 

LANOXIN

5,264,880

 

NYSTATIN

5,111,085

 

BISOPROLOL FUMARATE/HCTZ

5,047,342

 

DEPAKOTE

5,001,556

 

KLOR-CON

4,936,081

 

SMZ-TMP

4,840,584

 

BENAZEPRIL HCL

4,834,783

 

MINOCYCLINE HCL

4,768,055

 

NASACORT AQ

4,750,255

 

CARTIA XT

4,745,853

 

MIRTAZAPINE

4,695,186

 

WELLBUTRIN SR

4,680,879

 

RHINOCORT AQUA

4,633,208

 

PROPRANOLOL HCL

4,628,997

 

PROMETHAZINE W/CODEINE

4,628,888

 

TERAZOSIN HCL

4,578,163

 

BUPROPION HCL

4,557,355

 

PREMPRO

4,517,080

 

ARICEPT

4,504,355

 

LEVOTHROID

4,504,208

 

BUSPIRONE HCL

4,488,014

 

SKELAXIN

4,441,925

 

MOBIC

4,441,328

 

DURAGESIC

4,409,435

 

ACYCLOVIR

4,333,297

 

FAMOTIDINE

4,287,821

 

HUMULIN N

4,261,396

 

NIASPAN

4,246,644

 

DIGOXIN

4,217,773

 

FERROUS SULFATE

4,197,333

 

NECON

4,150,286

 

AVIANE

4,113,691

 

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

4,072,977

 

HUMALOG

4,048,108

 

ELIDEL

4,018,917

 

FLUCONAZOLE

4,012,259

 

LORATADINE

4,003,152

 

PATANOL

3,958,967

 

BENICAR

3,918,409

 

CLOTRIMAZOLE/BETAMETHASONE

3,886,738

 

KLOR-CON M20

3,867,439

 

BIAXIN XL

3,821,600

 

TRI-SPRINTEC

3,783,480

 

METHOTREXATE

3,753,232

 

LAMICTAL

3,734,346

 

QUININE SULFATE

3,696,998

 

DILANTIN

3,624,606

 

FOSINOPRIL SODIUM

3,582,773

 

AMOXIL

3,567,624

 

MIRALAX

3,565,964

 

PULMICORT

3,542,264

 

KETOCONAZOLE

3,541,303

 

NORTRIPTYLINE HCL

3,528,831

 

AVALIDE

3,506,542

 

DITROPAN XL

3,502,395

 

ZYRTEC-D

3,502,238

 

NITROFURANTOIN MONOHYD MACRO

3,475,131

 

TIZANIDINE HCL

3,436,269

 

MEDROXYPROGESTERONE

3,389,941

 

GLUCOVANCE

3,369,346

 

TIMOLOL MALEATE

3,363,441

 

PHENYTOIN SODIUM

3,323,412

 

CAPTOPRIL

3,323,270

 

NIFEDIPINE ER

3,322,552

 

CARBIDOPA/LEVODOPA

3,309,214

 

AUGMENTIN ES-600

3,277,936

 

HUMULIN 70/30

3,269,764

 

MICROGESTIN FE

3,255,171

 

NABUMETONE

3,243,651

 

HYDROCORTISONE

3,221,531

 

INDOMETHACIN

3,205,107

 

INDERAL LA

3,203,867

 

LITHIUM CARBONATE

3,176,554

 

DEPAKOTE ER

3,167,971

 

GLYBURIDE-METFORMIN HCL

3,165,951

 

BENZONATATE

3,148,872

 

ATENOLOL W/CHLORTHALIDONE

3,120,197

 

PHENOBARBITAL

3,098,930

 

AMPHETAMINE SALT COMBO

3,043,037

 

HYOSCYAMINE SULFATE

3,037,087

 

PHENAZOPYRIDINE HCL

3,027,210

 

APRI

3,001,414

 

KARIVA

2,996,125

 

TAMOXIFEN CITRATE

2,995,530

 

AVELOX

2,965,864

 

LESCOL XL

2,933,454

 

PROSCAR

2,929,426

 

METHOCARBAMOL

2,926,277

 

TRIVORA-28

2,924,776

 

NITROQUICK

2,909,494

 

OXYCODONE HCL

2,882,571

 

CEFZIL

2,882,157

 

TRILEPTAL

2,858,706

 

DICYCLOMINE HCL

2,843,802

 

PHENTERMINE HCL

2,841,815

 

CHLORHEXIDINE GLUCONATE

2,840,867

 

TETRACYCLINE

2,837,753

 

AVANDAMET

2,827,799

 

ATACAND

2,796,038

 

TUSSIONEX

2,792,488

 

NITROGLYCERIN

2,782,410

 

ALPHAGAN P

2,768,716

 

AUGMENTIN XR

2,735,901

 

CARBAMAZEPINE

2,729,492

 

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE SULFATE

2,718,685

 

MORPHINE SULFATE

2,717,961

 

BIAXIN

2,710,512

 

THEOPHYLLINE

2,686,958

 

DOCUSATE SODIUM

2,683,310

 

NAPROXEN SODIUM

2,680,493

 

AMIODARONE HCL

2,657,941

 

LAMISIL

2,641,473

 

LOW-OGESTREL

2,629,533

 

BUDEPRION SR

2,601,183

 

CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE

2,586,243

 

CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE

2,565,723

 

BACLOFEN

2,564,934

 

CIALIS

2,561,620

 

TOBRADEX

2,550,175

 

ERYTHROMYCIN

2,537,642

 

COSOPT

2,535,496

 

MIACALCIN

2,530,338

 

MULTIVITAMINS W/FLUORIDE

2,486,520

 

COLCHICINE

2,486,130

 

DOXEPIN HCL

2,478,755

 

XOPENEX

2,475,333

 

ARMOUR THYROID

2,455,487

 

ABILIFY

2,426,642

 

LABETALOL HCL

2,416,823

 

BENZTROPINE MESYLATE

2,386,126

 

BUTALBITAL W/APAP/CAFFEINE

2,378,842

 

DIPHENOXYLATE W/ATROPINE

2,362,735

 

METHYLPHENIDATE HCL

2,353,950

 

NYSTATIN-TRIAMCINOLONE

2,348,605

 

BACTROBAN

2,346,369

 

ETODOLAC

2,326,235

 

PLENDIL

2,325,696

 

VIVELLE-DOT

2,296,066

 

SEREVENT DISKUS

2,287,767

 

GABAPENTIN

2,239,430

 

INDAPAMIDE

2,236,620

 

VIGAMOX

2,216,113

 

OXYBUTYNIN CHLORIDE

2,213,756

 

PROMETRIUM

2,208,601

 

BENICAR HCT

2,194,915

 

NIFEDICAL XL

2,191,101

 

HYDROCODONE BIT-IBUPROFEN

2,184,530

 

ASTELIN

2,165,723

 

 

 

The iPod MP3 player and other shiny toys are tempting even to non-tech types, but beware of the new gizmos' hipness barrier.

By LAURA MOYER
 

Date published: 12/29/2004

Two identical iPods emerged from their gift-wrapped cubes on Christmas morning.

My sister and I had been very, very good all year, and the surprise iPods were our rewards.

Neither of us considers herself high-tech, but we're both solidly upper-middle-tech--not early adopters, but capable consumers of computers, DVD players, handheld organizers, cell phones and other gadgetry that didn't exist until we were well into adulthood.

One thing we noticed right away: The modern-art packaging and the look of the iPod itself implied that this was a product for those under 30 and hip, not those over 40 and spreading of hip.

Still, we thought, even if the target iPod consumer is more likely to download Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" than load up my sister's beloved old-time banjo music, we'd work it out.

The day after Christmas, she sat down at her computer to start learning the mysteries of the MP3 player world.

Cold water in the face moment No. 1: The iPod flat rejected her perfectly good but old computer, running Windows 98. This new 'iPod wouldn't work with anything earlier than Windows 2000.

Cold water in the face moment No. 2: Her 11-year-old daughter had the only compatible computer in the house, a gift from a family friend who'd updated it with Windows XP. The kid quickly worked out a trade of computer time for occasional iPod listening privileges.

Cold water in the face moment No. 3: Once all the software was loaded, my sister had to register the iPod's serial number. This number is printed in teeny-tiny white type on a mirrored metal surface. It wasn't clear up close. It wasn't clear at arm's length. In fact, it wasn't clear until the 11-year-old with new-generation vision came into the room and read the digits and letters out loud to the aged parent.

That done, the parent soon had her iPod up and running, loaded with the music of the West Virginia mountains.

This she recounted to me on the morning after the morning after Christmas, coincidentally the very morning I'd set aside to get my iPod up and running.

Charge it up first, she advised me. And oh, by the way, it doesn't work with Windows 98. No problem, I thought; my computer, bought in 2001, runs Windows ME. Surely, getting the iPod to work with it is only a matter of downloading an update or two.

Cold water in the face moment No. 4: It wasn't. Hours later, after Web-site visits and a few 45-minute tech support calls to Microsoft, Apple and my computer's manufacturer, I was forced to accept the truth. You can't get there from here.

Windows ME works well for me, and I don't want to change until I'm forced to buy my next computer. So back will go my iPod in favor of a less exclusionary hard-drive MP3 player, a comparable Rio Carbon that thoughtfully does run with Windows ME (even Windows 98, for that matter).

I have it on very good authority that I will like this. It's recommended by a friend's tech-savvy 13-year-old son, who researched all possible options before laying out his own money for one.

Anyone who's ever broken a dish in Granny's china or watched one of their favorite products disappear from store shelves knows the special frustration of trying to replace them. It's as if the shopping universe has slammed its doors in your face.

You're ready and willing to pay for what you want, but no one can sell you what you need.

Well, almost no one. While some things are irreplaceable, there are a number of steps you can take before giving up the good fight. Whether it's the signature scent you've been wearing for 10 years or the running shoes that provide just the right bounce, the Internet has made it easier to find items that have gone missing. Here's how to get started.

Check the source
In your panic, you may forget the obvious, like starting with the product's original manufacturer. It can help in a couple of ways: First, the maker can clear up the question of whether the product is truly being discontinued or if it's a local supply issue. And second, even if your old favorite is being phased out, the manufacturers can often help you find inventory that's still available, if temporarily, either in their own warehouses or in stores across the country. Do a general Web search or use the MSN Yellow Pages to contact the manufacturer.

Don't let retirement
sneak up on you.
Create a perfect plan.



Product discontinuations are so common in the makeup industry, for example, that many companies maintain Web pages listing products that are on the chopping block. You can try Lancome's "Beauty Bye-Bye" page here, Estee Lauder's "Farewell Favorites" here, and Bobbi Brown's "Bobbi's Closet" here. Clinique has a "Gone but not Forgotten" telephone number, at (646) 602-7725, though the company says it doesn't maintain inventory of discontinued products in its warehouse.

For items that you've simply lost or broken among a set that's still being produced, many manufacturers can sell the item individually. For instance, toy-and-game maker Hasbro maintains a Web page where you can order replacement pieces for many of its games and toys. For the classic Monopoly, a set of 12 hotels and 32 houses will cost $4; a replacement board is $5. They also have a selection of Monopoly cards that generally cost $1 for a partial set, including shipping and handling -- easily beating the cost of an entire new game. (If you're buying more than one piece, though, keep in mind you can find cheap games at Wal-Mart and other general discount retailers; Monopoly sells online for about $10 plus shipping.)

Try the specialty replacement sites
If your inquiry to the original manufacturer comes up empty, you may be able to find what you're looking for from a specialty replacement site. Some general sites, such as DiscontinuedItem.com, try to connect you with retailers who have what you're looking for.

Other sites specialize in certain product categories. Here are a few to get you started:


Don't forget eBay
A general search on eBay with just the word "discontinued" turns up more than 2,000 items. With eBay you're not just relying on formal supply chains -- you're plowing the depths of your neighbor's basement, so new products can come online at any time. Also, the seller may not include the word "discontinued" in his listing, so simple product-name searches will be your best bet.

As a last resort, have it made
This is usually the most costly way to go, and it fits a fairly narrow array of items. But if it's makeup or a replacement part for your bike, you could be in luck.

For most kinds of purchases, you can get valuable advice and comparisons on the Internet. Ask a librarian or friends which Internet sites they think are helpful, or you can use a search engine like Google or Yahoo. Be aware that information you find is often biased. At many websites, the only products or sellers listed are ones that pay to advertise. Before buying anything on the Internet, check several websites and make sure you deal with reputable dealers.

 

Airline Fares

Compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that fly to your destination. Remember, the best fares may not be out of the airport closest to you.

You may save by including a Saturday evening stay-over or by purchasing the ticket at least 14 days in advance. Ask which days of the week and times of the day have the lowest fare.

Even if you are using a travel agent, check airline and Internet travel sites, and look for special deals. If you call, always ask for the lowest fare to your destination.

Car Rental

Since car rental rates can vary greatly, compare total price (including taxes and surcharge) and take advantage of any special offers and membership discounts.

Rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver options. Check with your automobile insurance agent and credit card company in advance to avoid duplicating any coverage you may already have.

New Cars

You can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a car by selecting a model that combines a low purchase price with low depreciation, financing, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and repair costs. Ask your local librarian for new car guides that contain this information.

Having selected a model and options you are interested in, you can save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping. Get price quotes from several dealers (over the phone or Internet) and let each know you are contacting the others.

8. Remember there is no "cooling off" period on new car sales. Once you have signed a contract, you are obligated to buy the car.

Used Cars

Before buying any used car:

Compare the seller's asking price with the average retail price in a "bluebook” or other guide to car prices which can be found at many libraries, banks, and credit unions.

Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold "as is."

Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car.

Auto Leasing

Don't decide to lease a car just because the payments are lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing payments are lower because you don't actually own the car.

Leasing a car is very complicated. When shopping, consider the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost), your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments, various fees (excess mileage, excess "wear and tear," end-of- lease), and the cost of buying the car at the end of the lease. A valuable source of information about auto leasing can be found in Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide, which is published by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission.

Gasoline

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner's manual.

You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your engine tuned and your tires inflated to their proper pressure.

Car Repairs

Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done car repairs. The most important step that you can take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who:

is certified and well established;

has done good work for someone you know; and

communicates well about repair options and costs.

 

 

Auto Insurance

You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.

Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least $500 or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage altogether. This can save you hundreds of dollars on insurance premiums.

Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Homeowner/Renter Insurance

You can save several hundred dollars a year on homeowner insurance and up to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer. Ask your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different licensed companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they would charge you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more important to call at least four insurers for price quotes.

Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace the house and its contents. "Replacement" on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.

Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Life Insurance

If you want insurance protection only, and not a savings and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy.

If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at least 15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few years can more than double your life insurance costs.

Check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website (www.naic.org/cis ) or your local library for information on the financial soundness of insurance companies.

 

 

Checking Accounts and Debit Cards

You can save more than $100 a year in fees by selecting a free checking account or one with no minimum balance requirement. Request a complete list of fees that are charged on these accounts, including ATM and debit card fees.

See if you can get free or lower cost checking through direct deposit or agreeing to ATM only use. Be aware of charges for using an ATM not associated with your financial institution.

Savings Products

Before opening a savings account, find out whether the account is insured by the federal government (FDIC for banks or NCUA for credit unions). Financial institutions offer a number of products, such as mutual funds and annuities, which are not insured.

Once you select a type of savings account, use the telephone, newspaper, and Internet to compare rates and fees offered by different financial institutions-including those outside your city. These rates can vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect interest earnings.

To earn the highest return on savings (annual percentage yield) with little or no risk, consider certificates of deposit (CDs) or U.S. Savings Bonds (Series I or EE).

Credit Cards

To avoid late payment fees and possible interest rate increases on your credit cards, make sure you send in your payment a week to ten days before the statement due date. Late payments on one card can increase fees and interest rates on other cards.

You can avoid interest charges, which may be considerable, by paying off your entire bill each month. If you are unable to pay off a large balance, pay as much as you can. Try to shift the remaining balance to a credit card with a lower annual percentage rate (APR). You can find listings of credit card plans, rates, and terms on the Internet, in personal finance magazines, and in newspapers.

Be aware that credit cards with rebates, cash back, travel awards, or other perks may carry higher rates or fees.

Auto Loans

To save as much as several thousand dollars in finance charges, pay for the car in cash or make a large down payment. Always get the shortest term loan possible as this will lower your interest rate.

Make certain to get a rate quote (or pre-approved loan) from your bank or credit union before seeking dealer financing. You can save as much as $1000 in finance charges by shopping for the cheapest loan.

Make certain to consider the dollar difference between low-rate financing and a lower sale price. Remember that getting zero or low-rate financing from a dealer may prevent you from getting the rebate.

First Mortgage Loans

Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. For each $100,000 you borrow at a 7% annual percentage rate (APR), for example, you will pay over $75,000 less in interest on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage than you would on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

You can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the lowest-rate mortgage with the fewest points. On a 15-year $100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, just lowering the APR from 7% to 6.5% can save you more than $5,000 in interest charges over the life of the loan, and paying two points instead of three would save you an additional $1,000.

Check the Internet or your local newspaper for mortgage rate surveys, then call several lenders for information about their rates (APRs), points, and fees. If you choose a mortgage broker, make certain to compare their offers with those of direct lenders.

Be aware that the interest rate on most adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) can vary a great deal over the lifetime of the loan. An increase of several percentage points might raise payments by hundreds of dollars a month, so ask the lender what the highest possible monthly payment might be.

Mortgage Refinancing

Consider refinancing your mortgage if you can get a rate that is lower than your existing mortgage rate and plan to keep the new mortgage for at least several years. Calculate precisely how much your new mortgage (including points, fees and closing costs) will cost and whether, in the long run, it will cost less than your current mortgage.

Home Equity Loans

Be cautious in taking out home equity loans. The loans reduce or may even eliminate the equity that you have built up in your home. (Equity is the cash you would have if you sold your house and paid off your mortgage loans.) If you are unable to make payments on home equity loans, you could lose your home.

Compare home equity loans offered by at least four reputable lending institutions. Consider the interest rate on the loan and the annual percentage rate (APR), which includes other costs, such as origination fees, discount points, mortgage insurance, and other fees. Ask if the rate changes, and if so, how it is calculated and how frequently, as this will affect the amount of your monthly payments.

 

 

Home Purchase

You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing a buyer broker who works for you, not the seller. If the buyer broker or the broker's firm also lists properties, there may be a conflict of interest, so ask them to tell you if they are showing you a property that they have listed.

Do not purchase any house until it has been examined by a home inspector that you selected.

Renting a Place to Live

Do not limit your rental housing search to classified ads or referrals from friends and acquaintances. Select buildings where you would like to live and contact their building manager or owner to see if anything is available.

Remember that signing a lease probably obligates you to make all monthly payments for the term of the agreement.

Home Improvement

Home repairs often cost thousands of dollars and are the subject of frequent complaints. Select from among several well established, licensed contractors who have submitted written, fixed-price bids for the work.

Do not sign any contract that requires full payment before satisfactory completion of the work.

Major Appliances

Consult Consumer Reports, available in most public libraries, for information about specific appliance brands and models and how to evaluate them, including energy use. There are often great price and quality differences. Look for the yellow Energy Guide label on products, and especially for products that have earned the government’s ENERGY STAR, which can save up to 50% in energy use.

Once you've selected a specific brand and model, check the Internet or yellow pages to learn what stores carry the brand. Call at least four of these stores to compare prices and ask if that's the lowest price they can offer you. This comparison shopping can save you as much as $100 or more.

 

 

Electricity

To save as much as hundreds of dollars a year on electricity, make certain that any new appliances you purchase, especially air conditioners and furnaces, are energy-efficient. Information on the energy efficiency of major appliances is found on Energy Guide Labels required by federal law.

Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for information about these cost-saving programs.

Heating and Cooling

A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating (and air conditioning). Ask your electric or gas utility if they audit homes for free or for a reasonable charge. If they do not, ask them to refer you to a qualified professional.

Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for information about these cost-saving programs.

Telephone Service

Once a year, review your phone bills for the previous three months to see what local, local toll, long distance, and international calls you normally make. Call several phone companies which provide service in your area (including wireless and cable), to find the cheapest calling plan that meets your needs. Consider a bundled package that offers local, local toll and long distance, and possibly other services, if you heavily use all the services in the bundle.

Check your phone bill to see if you have optional calling features or additional services, such as inside wire maintenance, that you don't need. Each option you drop could save you $40 or more each year.

If you make very few toll or long distance calls, avoid calling plans with monthly fees or minimums. Or consider disconnecting the service altogether and use dial around services such as 10-10 numbers or prepaid phone cards for your calls. When shopping for dial around service, look for fees, call minimum, and per minute rates. Treat prepaid cards as cash and find out if there is an expiration date.

If you use a cell phone, make sure your calling plan matches the pattern of calls you typically make. Understand peak calling periods, area coverage, roaming, and termination charges. Contracts offered by most carriers will provide you with a trial period of 14 days or more. Use that time to make sure the service provides coverage in all the places you will be using the phone (home, work etc.). Prepaid wireless plans tend to have higher per minute rates and fees but may be a better option if you use the phone only occasionally.

Before making calls when away from home, compare per minute rates and surcharges for cell phones, prepaid phone cards, and calling card plans to find how to save the most money.

Dial your long distance calls directly. Using an operator to place the call can cost you up to $10 extra. To save money on information calls, look the number up on the Internet, or in the directory.

 

 

Food Purchased at Markets

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the highest price.

You will spend less on food if you shop with a list, take advantage of sales, and purchase basic ingredients, rather than pre-packaged components or ready-made items.

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing price-per-ounce or other unit prices on shelf labels. Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs.

Prescription Drugs

Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than their generic equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist if a less expensive generic or an over the counter alternative is available.

Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often charge lower prices.

Funeral Arrangements

Plan ahead, making your wishes known about your funeral, memorial, or burial arrangements in writing to save your family or estate unnecessary expense.

For information about the least costly options, which may save you several thousand dollars, contact a local Funeral Consumer Alliance or memorial society, which are usually listed in the Yellow Pages under funeral services.

Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask for prices of specific goods and services, or visit them to obtain an itemized price list. You are entitled to this information by law.
______________________________________

The Consumer Literacy Consortium is a working group of representatives from federal and state government agencies, consumer groups, business organizations, and educational institutions that seek to develop and publicize money-saving consumer tips. Membership in the Consumer Literacy Consortium does not imply endorsement of all its messages or the products and services of other members.
American Association of Retired Persons
American Council on Consumer Interests
American Council of Life Insurers
American Express
American Financial Services Association Education Foundation
AT&T
Center for the Study of Services - Checkbook Magazine
Consumer Action
Consumer Federation of America
Credit Union National Association
Fannie Mae

Federal Citizen Information Center
Federal Reserve Board
Federal Trade Commission
MasterCard International
MCI Communications Corporation
National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Sprint
U.S.D.A Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

For an online version of this brochure with links to product-related sites with additional information, go to www.66ways.org

 

al-Mart founder Sam Walton believed in having an alluring and unbeatable "opening price point" item in each category -- whether TV sets or bathing suits. The low price functioned to catch the consumer's eye and create the perception of value across the higher price points further up the aisle.

"The opening price point is clearly a foundation of who we are and how we interact with our customers," Ray Bracy, Wal-Mart's vice president of international corporate affairs told FRONTLINE.

The focus on low cost also had the effect of forcing Wal-Mart to look inward and find innovative ways to take costs out of the supply chain.

With its roots in Northwest Arkansas and the American Sunbelt, Wal-Mart would seem an unlikely leader in information technology. But it turns out Wal-Mart was often way ahead of the curve.

In the 1960s and '70s, Wal-Mart took its first big bet by building its own infrastructure and distribution network. Before Wal-Mart decided to take charge of its own distribution, retailers traditionally depended on wholesalers, who procured, warehoused and distributed manufactured products. But Walton found that none of the wholesale distributors at the time were interested in giving adequate service to a geographically remote discount retailer. Wholesalers would be shut out of Wal-Mart's business model.

Next, to take on powerful brand-name suppliers, Walton would make a massive bet in information technology. By the early '80s, Wal-Mart was one of the earliest to take advantage of the bar code to increase efficiency at the checkout counter. The aim now was to find a way for technology to help Wal-Mart come up with the right mix of goods for its individual stores, thereby increasing efficiency and lowering the company's inventory costs. The idea was to transmit point-of-sale information in real time to manufacturers. The information then could be used to examine consumer taste trends, gauge demand and eliminate the need for warehousing -- manufacturers would deliver "just in time."

And so, the cornerstone of Wal-Mart's increased efficiency was its trend-forecasting software, which tracked consumer behavior. In 1985, Walton and his chief lieutenant, David Glass, began developing a program called Retail Link. The software, and the hardware that went along with it, took years to perfect, eventually costing $4 billion. This revolutionary system delivered sophisticated information on consumer behavior, drawn from the data imbedded in the barcodes that passed through checkout counters.

Wal-Mart shared this revolutionary software with suppliers at no cost, in order to help them meet the retailer's needs more efficiently. In the early years, many Wal-Mart suppliers were American firms with factories in the U.S., and so sharing the Retail Link system dovetailed with Sam Walton's "Buy American" campaign, which focused on using domestic manufacturers. But Walton also insisted on ruthless efficiency. As he wrote in a letter to his suppliers in 1985, he was committed to buying U.S. goods whenever possible, but they would have to upgrade their operations and improve productivity to "fill our requirements."

At the heart Wal-Mart's offer to share its software program was a Faustian bargain for suppliers: Use our Retail Link program, play by our new rules and we will be your gateway to sales beyond your wildest dreams. Or refuse, and be shut out of America's dominant retail chain. In fact, by sharing Retail Link, Wal-Mart gained command over its suppliers and effectively penetrated their executive decision-making. It drew them into what Sam Walton liked to call a partnership: Wal-Mart was plugged into the supplier and the supplier was plugged into Wal-Mart.

But Wal-Mart had the upper hand: By gaining access to its supplier's books, the company was in a position to virtually dictate the terms of its contracts on price, volume, delivery schedule, packaging, and quality. And it allowed the giant retailer to set the profit margin each supplier would get. It turned the supplier-retailer relationship upside-down.

If vendors wanted their products on Wal-Mart's shelves, they had to implement Wal-Mart's "customized business plans." Each year, the big retailer handed its suppliers detailed "strategic business planning packets." Wal-Mart would grade them on weekly, quarterly and annual report cards. And when it came to discussions of price, there was no real negotiation, even for household brands.

"It was a cultural change between retailers and manufacturers," said Bobby Martin Jr., the Wal-Mart executive who developed and managed the Retail Link software system. "Part of process people went through was fear that Wal-Mart would know their business better and run their business. Some of them were not even as computer literate or capable as Wal-Mart… But the impetus behind it is the low cost commitment. This is divine discontent with cost."

Thus, Wal-Mart used its buying power and its information about consumer buying habits to force vendors into squeezing their costs and keeping their profit margins low. Over time, some suppliers -- especially middle-sized and smaller firms -- were bankrupted; and major firms moved production overseas, and increasingly to China.

Drug Name

Total Prescriptions

 

HYDROCODONE W/APAP

92,719,975

 

LIPITOR

69,766,431

 

LISINOPRIL

46,206,563

 

ATENOLOL

44,162,229

 

SYNTHROID

44,056,176

 

AMOXICILLIN

41,393,538

 

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

41,345,733

 

ZITHROMAX

37,171,754

 

FUROSEMIDE

36,508,251

 

NORVASC

34,729,004

 

TOPROL XL

32,794,562

 

ALPRAZOLAM

32,404,743

 

ALBUTEROL

31,219,862

 

ZOLOFT

29,877,707

 

ZOCOR

27,234,005

 

METFORMIN HCL

25,472,580

 

IBUPROFEN

25,188,051

 

TRIAMTERENE W/HCTZ

24,616,014

 

AMBIEN

24,494,669

 

CEPHALEXIN

23,665,172

 

NEXIUM

23,641,811

 

PREVACID

23,628,587

 

LEXAPRO

22,597,383

 

PREDNISONE

22,506,888

 

ZYRTEC

22,382,823

 

SINGULAIR

22,020,478

 

CELEBREX

21,916,220

 

FLUOXETINE HCL

21,752,487

 

FOSAMAX

20,972,548

 

METOPROLOL TARTRATE

20,840,044

 

PREMARIN

20,324,619

 

LEVOXYL

19,760,520

 

LORAZEPAM

18,873,635

 

ALLEGRA

18,772,070

 

PLAVIX

18,721,885

 

EFFEXOR XR

18,574,507

 

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE

18,523,548

 

PROTONIX

18,359,740

 

PROPOXYPHENE NAP W/APAP

17,931,369

 

ADVAIR DISKUS

17,400,826

 

WARFARIN SODIUM

16,581,657

 

ACETAMINOPHEN W/CODEINE

16,079,867

 

CLONAZEPAM

15,968,529

 

NEURONTIN

15,476,692

 

FLONASE

15,136,691

 

AMITRIPTYLINE HCL

15,086,803

 

RANITIDINE HCL

14,884,810

 

TRAZODONE HCL

14,450,339

 

NAPROXEN

13,918,496

 

AMOX TR-POTASSIUM CLAVULANATE

13,810,927

 

ENALAPRIL MALEATE

13,732,556

 

PAROXETINE HCL

13,731,071

 

PRAVACHOL

13,662,403

 

VIAGRA

13,539,272

 

CYCLOBENZAPRINE HCL

13,246,157

 

VIOXX

13,226,546

 

ALTACE

13,149,598

 

DIOVAN

13,133,513

 

LOTREL

13,037,546

 

LEVAQUIN

12,926,850

 

L-THYROXINE SODIUM

12,394,756

 

BEXTRA

12,227,513

 

OXYCODONE W/APAP

12,118,687

 

DIAZEPAM

12,093,060

 

TRAMADOL HCL

11,852,004

 

VERAPAMIL HCL

11,143,691

 

DIOVAN HCT

10,737,750

 

ALBUTEROL SULFATE

10,498,863

 

LISINOPRIL/HCTZ

10,406,078

 

ORTHO EVRA

10,380,213

 

CELEXA

10,358,042

 

ACCUPRIL

10,236,306

 

CARISOPRODOL

9,947,523

 

ACTOS

9,875,273

 

PROMETHAZINE HCL

9,725,896

 

ACTONEL

9,723,277

 

ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE

9,621,678

 

ALLOPURINOL

9,537,507

 

PAXIL CR

9,507,161

 

COZAAR

9,501,756

 

CLONIDINE HCL

9,451,698

 

CIPROFLOXACIN HCL

9,366,605

 

WELLBUTRIN XL

9,260,409

 

GLYBURIDE

9,227,291

 

AVANDIA

9,194,550

 

PENICILLIN VK

9,044,304

 

ZETIA

8,969,666

 

TRIMOX

8,904,667

 

METHYLPREDNISOLONE

8,695,743

 

FOLIC ACID

8,640,505

 

ACIPHEX

8,531,810

 

GLIPIZIDE ER

8,526,225

 

FLOMAX

8,502,798

 

DILTIAZEM HCL

8,501,749

 

RISPERDAL

8,458,338

 

OMEPRAZOLE

8,449,378

 

YASMIN 28

8,328,815

 

DOXYCYCLINE HYCLATE

8,225,902

 

TRICOR

8,058,816

 

SEROQUEL

7,952,278

 

COUMADIN

7,707,865

 

ADDERALL XR

7,707,093

 

CONCERTA

7,618,920

 

NASONEX

7,605,041

 

CLARINEX

7,577,701

 

LOVASTATIN

7,373,795

 

HYZAAR

7,340,635

 

SPIRONOLACTONE

7,271,450

 

AMARYL

7,246,808

 

DIGITEK

7,225,219

 

TEMAZEPAM

7,134,429

 

DIFLUCAN

7,107,234

 

EVISTA

7,085,682

 

XALATAN

7,075,287

 

LANTUS

7,009,424

 

COREG

6,961,217

 

COMBIVENT

6,888,620

 

CRESTOR

6,887,980

 

COTRIM

6,800,424

 

VALTREX

6,782,224

 

ZYPREXA

6,498,677

 

DOXAZOSIN MESYLATE

6,485,905

 

OXYCONTIN

6,386,235

 

TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE

6,378,669

 

ESTRADIOL

6,356,120

 

ASPIRIN

6,280,399

 

ALLEGRA-D 12 HOUR

6,267,316

 

ENDOCET

6,247,225

 

GEMFIBROZIL

6,161,194

 

ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN

6,028,942

 

METOCLOPRAMIDE HCL

6,024,790

 

HYDROXYZINE HCL

5,976,840

 

AVAPRO

5,905,598

 

ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO

5,825,865

 

TOPAMAX

5,799,851

 

IMITREX

5,764,066

 

STRATTERA

5,762,842

 

METFORMIN HCL ER

5,749,616

 

DETROL LA

5,740,205

 

OMNICEF

5,640,331

 

MECLIZINE HCL

5,621,298

 

TRINESSA

5,607,134

 

FLOVENT

5,605,531

 

GLIPIZIDE

5,579,469

 

PROPOXYPHENE NAPSYLATE W/APAP

5,563,827

 

ULTRACET

5,558,854

 

CLINDAMYCIN HCL

5,536,403

 

METRONIDAZOLE

5,415,244

 

LANOXIN

5,264,880

 

NYSTATIN

5,111,085

 

BISOPROLOL FUMARATE/HCTZ

5,047,342

 

DEPAKOTE

5,001,556

 

KLOR-CON

4,936,081

 

SMZ-TMP

4,840,584

 

BENAZEPRIL HCL

4,834,783

 

MINOCYCLINE HCL

4,768,055

 

NASACORT AQ

4,750,255

 

CARTIA XT

4,745,853

 

MIRTAZAPINE

4,695,186

 

WELLBUTRIN SR

4,680,879

 

RHINOCORT AQUA

4,633,208

 

PROPRANOLOL HCL

4,628,997

 

PROMETHAZINE W/CODEINE

4,628,888

 

TERAZOSIN HCL

4,578,163

 

BUPROPION HCL

4,557,355

 

PREMPRO

4,517,080

 

ARICEPT

4,504,355

 

LEVOTHROID

4,504,208

 

BUSPIRONE HCL

4,488,014

 

SKELAXIN

4,441,925

 

MOBIC

4,441,328

 

DURAGESIC

4,409,435

 

ACYCLOVIR

4,333,297

 

FAMOTIDINE

4,287,821

 

HUMULIN N

4,261,396

 

NIASPAN

4,246,644

 

DIGOXIN

4,217,773

 

FERROUS SULFATE

4,197,333

 

NECON

4,150,286

 

AVIANE

4,113,691

 

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

4,072,977

 

HUMALOG

4,048,108

 

ELIDEL

4,018,917

 

FLUCONAZOLE

4,012,259

 

LORATADINE

4,003,152

 

PATANOL

3,958,967

 

BENICAR

3,918,409

 

CLOTRIMAZOLE/BETAMETHASONE

3,886,738

 

KLOR-CON M20

3,867,439

 

BIAXIN XL

3,821,600

 

TRI-SPRINTEC

3,783,480

 

METHOTREXATE

3,753,232

 

LAMICTAL

3,734,346

 

QUININE SULFATE

3,696,998

 

DILANTIN

3,624,606

 

FOSINOPRIL SODIUM

3,582,773

 

AMOXIL

3,567,624

 

MIRALAX

3,565,964

 

PULMICORT

3,542,264

 

KETOCONAZOLE

3,541,303

 

NORTRIPTYLINE HCL

3,528,831

 

AVALIDE

3,506,542

 

DITROPAN XL

3,502,395

 

ZYRTEC-D

3,502,238

 

NITROFURANTOIN MONOHYD MACRO

3,475,131

 

TIZANIDINE HCL

3,436,269

 

MEDROXYPROGESTERONE

3,389,941

 

GLUCOVANCE

3,369,346

 

TIMOLOL MALEATE

3,363,441

 

PHENYTOIN SODIUM

3,323,412

 

CAPTOPRIL

3,323,270

 

NIFEDIPINE ER

3,322,552

 

CARBIDOPA/LEVODOPA

3,309,214

 

AUGMENTIN ES-600

3,277,936

 

HUMULIN 70/30

3,269,764

 

MICROGESTIN FE

3,255,171

 

NABUMETONE

3,243,651

 

HYDROCORTISONE

3,221,531

 

INDOMETHACIN

3,205,107

 

INDERAL LA

3,203,867

 

LITHIUM CARBONATE

3,176,554

 

DEPAKOTE ER

3,167,971

 

GLYBURIDE-METFORMIN HCL

3,165,951

 

BENZONATATE

3,148,872

 

ATENOLOL W/CHLORTHALIDONE

3,120,197

 

PHENOBARBITAL

3,098,930

 

AMPHETAMINE SALT COMBO

3,043,037

 

HYOSCYAMINE SULFATE

3,037,087

 

PHENAZOPYRIDINE HCL

3,027,210

 

APRI

3,001,414

 

KARIVA

2,996,125

 

TAMOXIFEN CITRATE

2,995,530

 

AVELOX

2,965,864

 

LESCOL XL

2,933,454

 

PROSCAR

2,929,426

 

METHOCARBAMOL

2,926,277

 

TRIVORA-28

2,924,776

 

NITROQUICK

2,909,494

 

OXYCODONE HCL

2,882,571

 

CEFZIL

2,882,157

 

TRILEPTAL

2,858,706

 

DICYCLOMINE HCL

2,843,802

 

PHENTERMINE HCL

2,841,815

 

CHLORHEXIDINE GLUCONATE

2,840,867

 

TETRACYCLINE

2,837,753

 

AVANDAMET

2,827,799

 

ATACAND

2,796,038

 

TUSSIONEX

2,792,488

 

NITROGLYCERIN

2,782,410

 

ALPHAGAN P

2,768,716

 

AUGMENTIN XR

2,735,901

 

CARBAMAZEPINE

2,729,492

 

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE SULFATE

2,718,685

 

MORPHINE SULFATE

2,717,961

 

BIAXIN

2,710,512

 

THEOPHYLLINE

2,686,958

 

DOCUSATE SODIUM

2,683,310

 

NAPROXEN SODIUM

2,680,493

 

AMIODARONE HCL

2,657,941

 

LAMISIL

2,641,473

 

LOW-OGESTREL

2,629,533

 

BUDEPRION SR

2,601,183

 

CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE

2,586,243

 

CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE

2,565,723

 

BACLOFEN

2,564,934

 

CIALIS

2,561,620

 

TOBRADEX

2,550,175

 

ERYTHROMYCIN

2,537,642

 

COSOPT

2,535,496

 

MIACALCIN

2,530,338

 

MULTIVITAMINS W/FLUORIDE

2,486,520

 

COLCHICINE

2,486,130

 

DOXEPIN HCL

2,478,755

 

XOPENEX

2,475,333

 

ARMOUR THYROID

2,455,487

 

ABILIFY

2,426,642

 

LABETALOL HCL

2,416,823

 

BENZTROPINE MESYLATE

2,386,126

 

BUTALBITAL W/APAP/CAFFEINE

2,378,842

 

DIPHENOXYLATE W/ATROPINE

2,362,735

 

METHYLPHENIDATE HCL

2,353,950

 

NYSTATIN-TRIAMCINOLONE

2,348,605

 

BACTROBAN

2,346,369

 

ETODOLAC

2,326,235

 

PLENDIL

2,325,696

 

VIVELLE-DOT

2,296,066

 

SEREVENT DISKUS

2,287,767

 

GABAPENTIN

2,239,430

 

INDAPAMIDE

2,236,620

 

VIGAMOX

2,216,113

 

OXYBUTYNIN CHLORIDE

2,213,756

 

PROMETRIUM

2,208,601

 

BENICAR HCT

2,194,915

 

NIFEDICAL XL

2,191,101

 

HYDROCODONE BIT-IBUPROFEN

2,184,530

 

ASTELIN

2,165,723

 

 

 

The iPod MP3 player and other shiny toys are tempting even to non-tech types, but beware of the new gizmos' hipness barrier.

By LAURA MOYER
 

Date published: 12/29/2004

Two identical iPods emerged from their gift-wrapped cubes on Christmas morning.

My sister and I had been very, very good all year, and the surprise iPods were our rewards.

Neither of us considers herself high-tech, but we're both solidly upper-middle-tech--not early adopters, but capable consumers of computers, DVD players, handheld organizers, cell phones and other gadgetry that didn't exist until we were well into adulthood.

One thing we noticed right away: The modern-art packaging and the look of the iPod itself implied that this was a product for those under 30 and hip, not those over 40 and spreading of hip.

Still, we thought, even if the target iPod consumer is more likely to download Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" than load up my sister's beloved old-time banjo music, we'd work it out.

The day after Christmas, she sat down at her computer to start learning the mysteries of the MP3 player world.

Cold water in the face moment No. 1: The iPod flat rejected her perfectly good but old computer, running Windows 98. This new 'iPod wouldn't work with anything earlier than Windows 2000.

Cold water in the face moment No. 2: Her 11-year-old daughter had the only compatible computer in the house, a gift from a family friend who'd updated it with Windows XP. The kid quickly worked out a trade of computer time for occasional iPod listening privileges.

Cold water in the face moment No. 3: Once all the software was loaded, my sister had to register the iPod's serial number. This number is printed in teeny-tiny white type on a mirrored metal surface. It wasn't clear up close. It wasn't clear at arm's length. In fact, it wasn't clear until the 11-year-old with new-generation vision came into the room and read the digits and letters out loud to the aged parent.

That done, the parent soon had her iPod up and running, loaded with the music of the West Virginia mountains.

This she recounted to me on the morning after the morning after Christmas, coincidentally the very morning I'd set aside to get my iPod up and running.

Charge it up first, she advised me. And oh, by the way, it doesn't work with Windows 98. No problem, I thought; my computer, bought in 2001, runs Windows ME. Surely, getting the iPod to work with it is only a matter of downloading an update or two.

Cold water in the face moment No. 4: It wasn't. Hours later, after Web-site visits and a few 45-minute tech support calls to Microsoft, Apple and my computer's manufacturer, I was forced to accept the truth. You can't get there from here.

Windows ME works well for me, and I don't want to change until I'm forced to buy my next computer. So back will go my iPod in favor of a less exclusionary hard-drive MP3 player, a comparable Rio Carbon that thoughtfully does run with Windows ME (even Windows 98, for that matter).

I have it on very good authority that I will like this. It's recommended by a friend's tech-savvy 13-year-old son, who researched all possible options before laying out his own money for one.

Anyone who's ever broken a dish in Granny's china or watched one of their favorite products disappear from store shelves knows the special frustration of trying to replace them. It's as if the shopping universe has slammed its doors in your face.

You're ready and willing to pay for what you want, but no one can sell you what you need.

Well, almost no one. While some things are irreplaceable, there are a number of steps you can take before giving up the good fight. Whether it's the signature scent you've been wearing for 10 years or the running shoes that provide just the right bounce, the Internet has made it easier to find items that have gone missing. Here's how to get started.

Check the source
In your panic, you may forget the obvious, like starting with the product's original manufacturer. It can help in a couple of ways: First, the maker can clear up the question of whether the product is truly being discontinued or if it's a local supply issue. And second, even if your old favorite is being phased out, the manufacturers can often help you find inventory that's still available, if temporarily, either in their own warehouses or in stores across the country. Do a general Web search or use the MSN Yellow Pages to contact the manufacturer.

Don't let retirement
sneak up on you.
Create a perfect plan.



Product discontinuations are so common in the makeup industry, for example, that many companies maintain Web pages listing products that are on the chopping block. You can try Lancome's "Beauty Bye-Bye" page here, Estee Lauder's "Farewell Favorites" here, and Bobbi Brown's "Bobbi's Closet" here. Clinique has a "Gone but not Forgotten" telephone number, at (646) 602-7725, though the company says it doesn't maintain inventory of discontinued products in its warehouse.

For items that you've simply lost or broken among a set that's still being produced, many manufacturers can sell the item individually. For instance, toy-and-game maker Hasbro maintains a Web page where you can order replacement pieces for many of its games and toys. For the classic Monopoly, a set of 12 hotels and 32 houses will cost $4; a replacement board is $5. They also have a selection of Monopoly cards that generally cost $1 for a partial set, including shipping and handling -- easily beating the cost of an entire new game. (If you're buying more than one piece, though, keep in mind you can find cheap games at Wal-Mart and other general discount retailers; Monopoly sells online for about $10 plus shipping.)

Try the specialty replacement sites
If your inquiry to the original manufacturer comes up empty, you may be able to find what you're looking for from a specialty replacement site. Some general sites, such as DiscontinuedItem.com, try to connect you with retailers who have what you're looking for.

Other sites specialize in certain product categories. Here are a few to get you started:

  • China, silver and crystal: If your last holiday meal ended with a broken gravy boat (and what good party doesn't?), sites such as Replacements Ltd. and SetYourTable can come to the rescue. Replacements boasts 200,000 patterns -- including designs produced more than 100 years ago, so that heirloom set may not be compromised, after all. Even if you don't know the name of your china pattern, most sites will match it from a photo.

    Because these sites are continually buying new pieces from private sellers as well as manufacturers, it's worth checking back if you strike out the first time. And remember, if you've broken a dish from a set that is still in production, it's generally cheaper to go to a general retailer or the original manufacturer than to use a specialty service.
  • House fixtures (for remodeling projects): Anyone trying to preserve the historical charm of an old house while refurbishing it has probably been on his share of wild goose chases. Check out sites specializing in architectural salvage -- old doorknobs, faucets and the like -- that other home renovators have tossed. About.com has a great index of salvage sites here. You can also find discontinued wallpaper at Wall USA. And don't forget to check with Blue Mountain Wall Coverings. It's the largest wallpaper manufacturer, with many well-known brands.
  • Perfumes: The Perfume Corner in Boston and La Parfumerie in Seattle specialize in discontinued and hard-to-find perfumes. If their sites don't list what you're after, you can send e-mail and they'll try to locate the scent for you. You can also post a note in the Fabulous Fragrance forum, which has an ongoing thread on finding past favorites. Or, contact the venerable Perfume Detective, Anitra Earle, by snail mail. She's based in New York and has made it her business for the last 20 years to find elusive scents. Contact her here: The Perfume Detective, 615 Warburton Ave., Suite 7J, Yonkers, NY 10701.
  • Running shoes: Runners can be fanatical about their shoes, making discontinuations especially tough. But at RoadRunnerSports.com, you can stay one step ahead by signing up for e-mail notifications that let you know when your shoes are slated to be discontinued. Bandana Running and Walking and MyRunningShoe also offer already or about-to-be discontinued shoes.


Don't forget eBay
A general search on eBay with just the word "discontinued" turns up more than 2,000 items. With eBay you're not just relying on formal supply chains -- you're plowing the depths of your neighbor's basement, so new products can come online at any time. Also, the seller may not include the word "discontinued" in his listing, so simple product-name searches will be your best bet.

As a last resort, have it made
This is usually the most costly way to go, and it fits a fairly narrow array of items. But if it's makeup or a replacement part for your bike, you could be in luck.

  • Makeup: There are a number of sites that create customized makeup, including Three Custom Color, Giella and Reflect.com. Three Custom Color specializes in lipsticks -- you can send them a smidge of your old one and they promise to match it.
  • Widgets: Customers of eMachineShop.com have had everything from saxophone mouthpieces to signs and parts for model helicopters and rockets made through the site. If you've broken something on your bike or you want a customized solution to a problem, you can download eMachines software and design the piece yourself. They'll make anywhere from one to 1 million copies of your design.
For most kinds of purchases, you can get valuable advice and comparisons on the Internet. Ask a librarian or friends which Internet sites they think are helpful, or you can use a search engine like Google or Yahoo. Be aware that information you find is often biased. At many websites, the only products or sellers listed are ones that pay to advertise. Before buying anything on the Internet, check several websites and make sure you deal with reputable dealers.

 

Airline Fares

Compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that fly to your destination. Remember, the best fares may not be out of the airport closest to you.

You may save by including a Saturday evening stay-over or by purchasing the ticket at least 14 days in advance. Ask which days of the week and times of the day have the lowest fare.

Even if you are using a travel agent, check airline and Internet travel sites, and look for special deals. If you call, always ask for the lowest fare to your destination.

Car Rental

Since car rental rates can vary greatly, compare total price (including taxes and surcharge) and take advantage of any special offers and membership discounts.

Rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver options. Check with your automobile insurance agent and credit card company in advance to avoid duplicating any coverage you may already have.

New Cars

You can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a car by selecting a model that combines a low purchase price with low depreciation, financing, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and repair costs. Ask your local librarian for new car guides that contain this information.

Having selected a model and options you are interested in, you can save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping. Get price quotes from several dealers (over the phone or Internet) and let each know you are contacting the others.

8. Remember there is no "cooling off" period on new car sales. Once you have signed a contract, you are obligated to buy the car.

Used Cars

Before buying any used car:

Compare the seller's asking price with the average retail price in a "bluebook” or other guide to car prices which can be found at many libraries, banks, and credit unions.

Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold "as is."

Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car.

Auto Leasing

Don't decide to lease a car just because the payments are lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing payments are lower because you don't actually own the car.

Leasing a car is very complicated. When shopping, consider the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost), your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments, various fees (excess mileage, excess "wear and tear," end-of- lease), and the cost of buying the car at the end of the lease. A valuable source of information about auto leasing can be found in Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide, which is published by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission.

Gasoline

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner's manual.

You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your engine tuned and your tires inflated to their proper pressure.

Car Repairs

Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done car repairs. The most important step that you can take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who:

is certified and well established;

has done good work for someone you know; and

communicates well about repair options and costs.

 

 

Auto Insurance

You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.

Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least $500 or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage altogether. This can save you hundreds of dollars on insurance premiums.

Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Homeowner/Renter Insurance

You can save several hundred dollars a year on homeowner insurance and up to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer. Ask your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different licensed companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they would charge you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more important to call at least four insurers for price quotes.

Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace the house and its contents. "Replacement" on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.

Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Life Insurance

If you want insurance protection only, and not a savings and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy.

If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at least 15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few years can more than double your life insurance costs.

Check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website (www.naic.org/cis ) or your local library for information on the financial soundness of insurance companies.

 

 

Checking Accounts and Debit Cards

You can save more than $100 a year in fees by selecting a free checking account or one with no minimum balance requirement. Request a complete list of fees that are charged on these accounts, including ATM and debit card fees.

See if you can get free or lower cost checking through direct deposit or agreeing to ATM only use. Be aware of charges for using an ATM not associated with your financial institution.

Savings Products

Before opening a savings account, find out whether the account is insured by the federal government (FDIC for banks or NCUA for credit unions). Financial institutions offer a number of products, such as mutual funds and annuities, which are not insured.

Once you select a type of savings account, use the telephone, newspaper, and Internet to compare rates and fees offered by different financial institutions-including those outside your city. These rates can vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect interest earnings.

To earn the highest return on savings (annual percentage yield) with little or no risk, consider certificates of deposit (CDs) or U.S. Savings Bonds (Series I or EE).

Credit Cards

To avoid late payment fees and possible interest rate increases on your credit cards, make sure you send in your payment a week to ten days before the statement due date. Late payments on one card can increase fees and interest rates on other cards.

You can avoid interest charges, which may be considerable, by paying off your entire bill each month. If you are unable to pay off a large balance, pay as much as you can. Try to shift the remaining balance to a credit card with a lower annual percentage rate (APR). You can find listings of credit card plans, rates, and terms on the Internet, in personal finance magazines, and in newspapers.

Be aware that credit cards with rebates, cash back, travel awards, or other perks may carry higher rates or fees.

Auto Loans

To save as much as several thousand dollars in finance charges, pay for the car in cash or make a large down payment. Always get the shortest term loan possible as this will lower your interest rate.

Make certain to get a rate quote (or pre-approved loan) from your bank or credit union before seeking dealer financing. You can save as much as $1000 in finance charges by shopping for the cheapest loan.

Make certain to consider the dollar difference between low-rate financing and a lower sale price. Remember that getting zero or low-rate financing from a dealer may prevent you from getting the rebate.

First Mortgage Loans

Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. For each $100,000 you borrow at a 7% annual percentage rate (APR), for example, you will pay over $75,000 less in interest on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage than you would on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

You can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the lowest-rate mortgage with the fewest points. On a 15-year $100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, just lowering the APR from 7% to 6.5% can save you more than $5,000 in interest charges over the life of the loan, and paying two points instead of three would save you an additional $1,000.

Check the Internet or your local newspaper for mortgage rate surveys, then call several lenders for information about their rates (APRs), points, and fees. If you choose a mortgage broker, make certain to compare their offers with those of direct lenders.

Be aware that the interest rate on most adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) can vary a great deal over the lifetime of the loan. An increase of several percentage points might raise payments by hundreds of dollars a month, so ask the lender what the highest possible monthly payment might be.

Mortgage Refinancing

Consider refinancing your mortgage if you can get a rate that is lower than your existing mortgage rate and plan to keep the new mortgage for at least several years. Calculate precisely how much your new mortgage (including points, fees and closing costs) will cost and whether, in the long run, it will cost less than your current mortgage.

Home Equity Loans

Be cautious in taking out home equity loans. The loans reduce or may even eliminate the equity that you have built up in your home. (Equity is the cash you would have if you sold your house and paid off your mortgage loans.) If you are unable to make payments on home equity loans, you could lose your home.

Compare home equity loans offered by at least four reputable lending institutions. Consider the interest rate on the loan and the annual percentage rate (APR), which includes other costs, such as origination fees, discount points, mortgage insurance, and other fees. Ask if the rate changes, and if so, how it is calculated and how frequently, as this will affect the amount of your monthly payments.

 

 

Home Purchase

You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing a buyer broker who works for you, not the seller. If the buyer broker or the broker's firm also lists properties, there may be a conflict of interest, so ask them to tell you if they are showing you a property that they have listed.

Do not purchase any house until it has been examined by a home inspector that you selected.

Renting a Place to Live

Do not limit your rental housing search to classified ads or referrals from friends and acquaintances. Select buildings where you would like to live and contact their building manager or owner to see if anything is available.

Remember that signing a lease probably obligates you to make all monthly payments for the term of the agreement.

Home Improvement

Home repairs often cost thousands of dollars and are the subject of frequent complaints. Select from among several well established, licensed contractors who have submitted written, fixed-price bids for the work.

Do not sign any contract that requires full payment before satisfactory completion of the work.

Major Appliances

Consult Consumer Reports, available in most public libraries, for information about specific appliance brands and models and how to evaluate them, including energy use. There are often great price and quality differences. Look for the yellow Energy Guide label on products, and especially for products that have earned the government’s ENERGY STAR, which can save up to 50% in energy use.

Once you've selected a specific brand and model, check the Internet or yellow pages to learn what stores carry the brand. Call at least four of these stores to compare prices and ask if that's the lowest price they can offer you. This comparison shopping can save you as much as $100 or more.

 

 

Electricity

To save as much as hundreds of dollars a year on electricity, make certain that any new appliances you purchase, especially air conditioners and furnaces, are energy-efficient. Information on the energy efficiency of major appliances is found on Energy Guide Labels required by federal law.

Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for information about these cost-saving programs.

Heating and Cooling

A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating (and air conditioning). Ask your electric or gas utility if they audit homes for free or for a reasonable charge. If they do not, ask them to refer you to a qualified professional.

Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for information about these cost-saving programs.

Telephone Service

Once a year, review your phone bills for the previous three months to see what local, local toll, long distance, and international calls you normally make. Call several phone companies which provide service in your area (including wireless and cable), to find the cheapest calling plan that meets your needs. Consider a bundled package that offers local, local toll and long distance, and possibly other services, if you heavily use all the services in the bundle.

Check your phone bill to see if you have optional calling features or additional services, such as inside wire maintenance, that you don't need. Each option you drop could save you $40 or more each year.

If you make very few toll or long distance calls, avoid calling plans with monthly fees or minimums. Or consider disconnecting the service altogether and use dial around services such as 10-10 numbers or prepaid phone cards for your calls. When shopping for dial around service, look for fees, call minimum, and per minute rates. Treat prepaid cards as cash and find out if there is an expiration date.

If you use a cell phone, make sure your calling plan matches the pattern of calls you typically make. Understand peak calling periods, area coverage, roaming, and termination charges. Contracts offered by most carriers will provide you with a trial period of 14 days or more. Use that time to make sure the service provides coverage in all the places you will be using the phone (home, work etc.). Prepaid wireless plans tend to have higher per minute rates and fees but may be a better option if you use the phone only occasionally.

Before making calls when away from home, compare per minute rates and surcharges for cell phones, prepaid phone cards, and calling card plans to find how to save the most money.

Dial your long distance calls directly. Using an operator to place the call can cost you up to $10 extra. To save money on information calls, look the number up on the Internet, or in the directory.

 

 

Food Purchased at Markets

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the highest price.

You will spend less on food if you shop with a list, take advantage of sales, and purchase basic ingredients, rather than pre-packaged components or ready-made items.

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing price-per-ounce or other unit prices on shelf labels. Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs.

Prescription Drugs

Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than their generic equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist if a less expensive generic or an over the counter alternative is available.

Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often charge lower prices.

Funeral Arrangements

Plan ahead, making your wishes known about your funeral, memorial, or burial arrangements in writing to save your family or estate unnecessary expense.

For information about the least costly options, which may save you several thousand dollars, contact a local Funeral Consumer Alliance or memorial society, which are usually listed in the Yellow Pages under funeral services.

Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask for prices of specific goods and services, or visit them to obtain an itemized price list. You are entitled to this information by law.
______________________________________

The Consumer Literacy Consortium is a working group of representatives from federal and state government agencies, consumer groups, business organizations, and educational institutions that seek to develop and publicize money-saving consumer tips. Membership in the Consumer Literacy Consortium does not imply endorsement of all its messages or the products and services of other members.
American Association of Retired Persons
American Council on Consumer Interests
American Council of Life Insurers
American Express
American Financial Services Association Education Foundation
AT&T
Center for the Study of Services - Checkbook Magazine
Consumer Action
Consumer Federation of America
Credit Union National Association
Fannie Mae

Federal Citizen Information Center
Federal Reserve Board
Federal Trade Commission
MasterCard International
MCI Communications Corporation
National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Sprint
U.S.D.A Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

For an online version of this brochure with links to product-related sites with additional information, go to www.66ways.org