Synopsis

THE CHECKOUT reinvents consumer affairs for the twenty first century, giving viewers a healthy and/or dangerous mix of info and attitude that hopefully might lead to smarter spending decisions.



In this episode join The Checkout for a look at :



COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES

The Australian Complementary Medicines industry is worth over $1.2 billion a year. But do manufacturers have to do enough prove their products work? Should we expect more proof? And should consumers be made more aware that the listing of their pills may be based on traditional use rather than any well reviewed scientific experiment?



The Therapeutic Goods Administration are currently reviewing their rules for complementary medicines. The reviews dont deal with all the concerns we have raised, but do attempt to close some of the weaker elements of the current rules. Heres Dr Ken Harveys response. Industry players are already pushing back against the changes so if you think there should be higher standards for your complementary medicines you can contact Catherine King the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aging.



To read a Choice report about supplements click here.



APPLE iPHONE : ADVERTISING VS REALITY

Some digital graffiti for Apple's "Bounce" TV commercial from the team at The Checkout.



IF I COULD SAY ONE THING : CATRIONA LOWE

Catriona Lowe, co-CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, says if your home and contents insurance policy doesnt give you total replacement cover then get a new policy.



The Consumer Action Law Centre has a lot of very helpful information and advice, you can visit them here.



COMPLAINT LETTER : PURINA CAT FOOD

Whats inside Purina Cat Food ? Angela, 68, isnt happy. The Checkout encourages you to take action if youve got a complaint. Write, call, or email the company or service provider, or post something on their Facebook page. Youll feel better. It might just get them to change.



F.U. TUBE : CONSUMER BITE BACK

Julian introduces F.U. Tube, a new consumer empowerment experiment. Self broadcasting can give disgruntled consumers a chance to bite back, and we talk to the gold standard bearer Dave Carroll, maker of the United Breaks Guitars clip that caught fire online.



To find out more about making your own F.U. Tube submission click here. You may even end up on The Checkout.



For some advice from and an overview on online activism by Choice click here.



To see Dave Carrolls full United Breaks Guitar clip click here.



To visit Dave Carrolls Gripevine click here.



PRODUCT VS PACKSHOT : COLES STRAWBERRIES

Looks great on the outside, but whats on the inside? This week Coles Strawberries. If youve got a good product vs packshot post a photo on our Facebook wall.



AS A GUILTY MUM : BABY BUMS

Having a baby is an experience that can involve opening your wallet  a lot. Australians spent $4.38 billion on baby products last year, and the segment is predicted to grow  concrete proof that expectant and new parents are fair game when it comes to the marketplace.



A quick flick through pregnancy magazines or visit to one of the enormous babies and kids expos that tour the country show the power of marketing when it comes to parenthood. The array of products available is mindboggling, from basics such as cots, strollers and clothes, to the extreme  knee pads for babies learning to crawl and crash helmets for those learning to walk, not to mention an array of surveillance devices to ensure your baby is under watch 24 hours a day. And then there are the products promising that with their purchase your baby will sleep, eat and/or develop better.



As a guilty mum shines a light on some of the worst examples of baby consumerism from the cradle to the playground.



To read more from Kate Browne the Guilty Mum visit here.



To read about babies and kids marketing go here.



PARALLEL CONSUMERVERSE : IF TOASTERS WERE MOBILES

Toasters on a ten-dollars-a-month plan over 24 months, with 4 free multigrain loaves or 2 free thick-cut fruit bread ? Just sign here, here, here and here.



PRODUCT TAMPERING : GOLDEN CIRCLE SUNSHINE PUNCH

The Checkout redesigns the packaging on popular products to show you whats really in the box.



MEANWHILE IN AFGHANISTAN

Dr Ahmad Masoud of Afghanistans Consumer Rights & Services Organisation gives an insight into a consumer rights issue in Afghanistan - the dumping of substandard products into Afghanistan by multi-national corporations.



To read Dr Masouds blog click here.



To find out more about Consumers International and the Consumer Rights & Services Organisation click here.



BUY NOW PAY FOREVER

Kirsten Drysdale zoom zooms in on the many variations of the razors and blades business model consumers get caught by, where you buy now at a cheap price, but pay forever with long term expenses. Car servicing, coffee machines, printers are some of the products under the microscope.



Jules then questions whether Mazda is misleading consumers about its stated servicing requirements.



To see the letter we sent to Mazda click here.



To read Mazdas response in full click here.