Internet help desks: They may offer too much help

This week, I contacted a company that offers technical assistance for internet users. These organizations can provide a valuable service, even for seasoned communications network professionals. After all, even a network pro cannot know the ins-and-outs of the operations of thousands of internet products.

Stores focus on the hunt

Trader Joe's, the specialty grocery chain, might not have the cheapest toilet paper or the most varieties of ketchup, but it hooks customers with mango butter, chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds and cilantro-and-jalapeno hummus.

WinEconomy III

Prices falling again?

Over the past months we had found that wine prices had begun a stabilization that would not only be welcomed by wineries and grape growers but to some degree was needed to ensure the financial health of the industry. In just the last couple of weeks though we have started to see broad based and very deep discounting at the wholesale price level that leads us to think we have some time to go when great wine can be had at compelling prices.

Excelling at selling, on a serious tip

Years ago, a salesperson friend told me a story about his daughter. She insisted on buying her favorite gumdrops from a particular candy store owned by Nick, even though a more convenient candy store had recently opened in a shopping mall.

Purchase controlled hunt tags by Saturday

Big game hunters who were successful in drawing controlled hunt tags for deer, elk, pronghorn and black bear have until 11 p.m. PDT, Saturday, Aug. 1 to buy their tags.

Frugal food can be found

Healthy eating can cost less, study finds

Shopping for back-to-school deals?

It's all in the timing

NEW YORK - The start of the school year is just around the corner, and you haven't shopped yet?

Groupon sizzles in public debut

Is it safe to buy pet meds online?

Dear PropellerHeads: I'm hoping to save a little money. Is it safe to buy my pet medicines from an online pet pharmacy?

Black Friday Preview

This one looks nothing like BFs of the past

COVID-19 has stores getting proactive about customer safety like never before

Embittered Facebook investors ponder next move

To say that Facebook's debut as a public company was bungled is something like saying Facebook is a website you might have heard of.

No blues on Black Friday

By CRAIG NORTHRUP

There's an app for that: Part 1

Destination: Everywhere

Many people will argue that technology is ruining our society. I am not one of those people, especially when it comes to traveling. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about turning off my phone and enjoying the view - sometimes for a few weeks at a time. But technology just allows you to relax and focus on the vacation while handling for you the hassle of getting there. Here are a few of my favorite apps and websites that make the whole process a breeze.

New microchip card for US purchases in Europe

NEW YORK - If you've traveled to Europe recently, you may have had the frustrating experience of being unable to use a U.S.-issued credit card for automated transactions, like renting a bike from a stand on the street, paying for highway tolls or buying a train ticket from an unmanned kiosk. A new prepaid smart card from Travelex solves that problem by utilizing the microchip and PIN technology that is standard in credit cards in Europe, but not here.

Vintage vendors

First Vintage and Garden Show set for Saturday

Lately, Sharon Blythe has started to notice her stuff piling up.

Michigan bill would make ticket scalping legal

Opal’s Homestead Hacks: Easy-in-bulk

Today’s hack is a home economics trifecta: It extends food life, reduces waste, and saves time. All you need are used jars and Ziploc bags (remember, you can wash and reuse those too).

So far, most of tax cut is going down the gas tank

WASHINGTON - Americans are earning and spending more, but a lot of the extra money is going down their gas tanks. Gas prices have drained more than half the extra cash Americans are getting this year from a cut in Social Security taxes.

Inkwell dries up after 35 years in downtown Sandpoint

SANDPOINT - Another longtime downtown retailer is succumbing to a struggling economy and perceptions that buying locally is costlier compared to big box stores or online vendors.

The collective sigh

That collective sigh of relief that is audible to most every wine consumer is coming from grape growers and winemakers around the appellations of the western U.S. After two unbelievably tough years of poor quality harvests and extremely low tonnage of usable wine grape stock, it appears at least for now that the 2012 crop is going to be larger than normal, in some cases much larger, and of very good to great quality!