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Consumer Reports Unveils Annual Holiday Guide

November 3, 2005

• Consumers Playing Rebate Roulette This Holiday Season • Beware of Zero Percent Financing • Survey Finds Consumers Wary about Holiday Returns • NYC Fines Retailers for Return & Restocking Fee Violations • Retailers Urged to Curb Violent Video Games • Smart, Careful Shopping Will Help Keep the Season Bright • Video Game Industry Gets a D+ • Negative Option Scams May Snag Online Holiday Shoppers • Black Friday Gives Wal-Mart a Black Eye • Retailers' Return Policies Getting Tougher • Watch Out for Hidden Toy Hazards • Safety, Shopping, Charitable Giving Tips • Nordstrom, Wal-Mart, L.L. Bean Top Customer Service Rankings • Consumer Reports Holiday Guide • The Gift That Keeps On Taking • Tis the Season to Avoid Identity Theft • Beware of Payday Loans • Best of All: Giving Without Shopping

Consumer Reports online has unveiled its annual Holiday Giving Guide to provide free expert advice for online shopping as well as Hanukkah and Christmas gift ideas.

Complete with useful shopping tips in areas including Games & Recreation, Home, Health, and Shopping & Spending, the guide also features e-Ratings, unbiased evaluations of online shopping sites.

To ensure that people are prepared for the holidays with the latest information, the guide will be updated throughout this Hanukkah and Christmas holiday season with new postings.

"Early holiday shoppers can consult the ConsumerReports.org Holiday Giving Guide for a wide variety of gift selections," said Helen Popkin, Associate Editor of ConsumerReports.org. "The holiday section is easy to navigate and empowers online users to shop smarter and faster, while knowing that they are getting expert advice on products, services, and great tips for the holiday season."

In this year's guide, shoppers will find valuable information from the best suggested Hanukkah and Christmas gift ideas to the finest online shopping sites, as well as invaluable tips and advice for the holidays.

Among Consumer Report's advice for tending to your physical - and emotional - health during the holiday season:

• Be selective about food -- decide on what you want to indulge in and keep portions small.

• Drink up -- drink plenty of water throughout the day -- at least eight glasses -- to keep from eating when you are actually thirsty.

• Go easy on the alcohol -- try not to drink too much at holiday.

• Make exercise a group effort -- take a walk around your neighborhood to admire holiday decorations with your family and loved ones.

• Enjoy the great outdoors -- remember, your body burns extra calories just keeping warm.

• Cut everyone some slack; the holidays are a time to be more tolerant and understanding towards your friends, family, coworkers and yourself.

• Expect less of yourself -- skip the less important holiday rituals and focus on activities that lighten your heart and bring out the deeper meaning of the holidays.

Additionally, the guide provides useful guidance on extended warranties, Hanukkah and Christmas gift return policies and holiday tipping.

Among Consumer Report's advice for tipping at the holidays:

• Reward those who make a difference -- see who makes the biggest impact on you and reward them accordingly.

• Think about those whose services you frequently use -- these people may include beauticians, barbers, or the newspaper carrier.

• Tip those who go out of their way for you -- these people may include water-delivery people who lug heavy jugs for you and giving non-cash gifts to postal service workers and schoolteachers.

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