Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'customer'

For Struggling Car Owners, A Lifeline From Hyundai

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:47:00 EST

Carmaker Hyundai has announced a program for those customers who can no longer make a payment because of circumstances beyond their control. Hyundai Motor America acting President and CEO John Krafcik talks about the Hyundai Assurance Program.

Natural Gas Needs Power Russian-German Ties

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:23:00 EST

Germany is the biggest customer of Russia's state natural gas monopoly, Gazprom. It supplies more than 40 percent of Germany's gas. Some worry that Russia is using its natural resources as a political weapon, but others say the influence goes both ways.

Locked-In Rate Has Heating Oil Customers Steamed

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:00:00 EST

The recession is driving down energy prices making it cheaper for people to heat their homes. In the Northeast, where home heating oil is commonly used, it could be 25 percent less this winter than last year. That is, except for people who locked in at a higher price last summer. Curt Nickisch of member station WBUR reports.

Bailout Of GMAC May Take Time To Trickle Down

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:32:00 EST

The federal government is stepping up its efforts to save the auto industry by committing $6 billion to stabilize GMAC, the financing arm of General Motors. At least in the short term, it should help GM car dealers and their customers.

Who's To Blame When You Get Drunk...

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:37:00 EST

A man who got drunk on a United Airlines flight was arrested for beating his wife as they walked through customs. The couple is now suing the airline for serving him too many drinks. On an airplane, at a bar, or at a party, who's responsible when someone gets drunk?

How To Handle Your Debt In A Recession

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:04:00 EST

When hard times hit, Americans can usually fall back on their credit cards for emergency purchases. But in this recession, credit card companies are hurting too. They're passing their pain onto their customers by lowering limits, raising rates and tightening deadlines.

Holiday Food Customs Prove Hard To Digest

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

Forget the picturesque tree and perfectly arranged presents. Christmas means blending old customs with new traditions, even if the result is messier than a bag full of carrot jam.

State Of Emergency In New Hampshire

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:38:00 EST

Utility crews are making progress bringing electricity back to customers in New Hampshire. Still, hundreds of thousands of people are without power across the southern part of the state.

Mother, Daughter Guilty Of Smuggling Monkey

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:45:00 EST

The baby had a face that only a mother could love. And even then, the mother was a monkey. A Washington state woman was convicted of sneaking a rhesus monkey from Thailand into the United States. Gypsy Lawson got past U.S. Customs by tucking the monkey under her blouse and pretending to be pregnant. The jury also convicted Lawson's traveling companion: her mother. Or as the monkey would presumably refer to her: Grandma.

Mumbai's Leopold Cafe Lives To Tell Tale

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:31:00 EST

Leopold Cafe, a popular stop for Western tourists in Mumbai, India, was attacked last Wednesday by gunmen. But the cafe has reopened for business and many customers turned out. Farhang Jehani, a co-owner of Leopold Cafe, says they are trying to show to the world that "nothing can stop Mumbai."

For Store Clerks, Black Friday Is A Source Of Tales

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:45:00 EST

Jeff shares some of his memorable Black Friday retail stories with Michele and talks about his new book, The Customer is Always Wrong: The Retail Chronicles. He joins us from KWGS in Tulsa, Okla.

New York's Abercrombie Bucks The Retail Blues

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:18:00 EST

America may be in a recession — but you wouldn't know it from the lines of customers — often more than 200 people deep — around the Abercrombie & Fitch store on New York's Fifth Avenue. People line up every morning before the store open. Who are these people? Why are they there? What are they buying and why?

Gas Prices Down, SUV Sales Up

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

SUV sales seemed doomed by high gas prices. But as prices at the pump drop, customers are returning to the big vehicles that — just a few months ago — they wouldn't look at.

Back In Vogue: The Retro Way To Pay For Presents

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:58:00 EST

This season, stores like TJ Maxx and Sears are offering customers the option to buy on layaway — make a deposit, and the store keeps the goods until the price is paid in full. Layaway hasn't been in vogue for decades, but it's making a comeback because credit cards are no longer cheap or easy to use.

Citigroup Weighs Company's Options

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

The financial crisis is closing in on Citigroup. The banking colossus has more than 200 million customers around the world. But investors are increasingly worried about Citigroup's financial condition. Its share price tumbled more than 25 percent Thursday. CEO Vikram Pandit is weighing his options, and they include selling off parts of the company or selling the whole company. Citigroup lost half its value this week and is trading at levels not seen since the mid 1990s.

Cobbler Has Sole During Recessionary Times

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

As Americans trim their budgets, some businesses are ready for thrifty activity. In St. Louis, a shoe repair shop has seen business skyrocket as the economy prompts more customers to have shoes fixed instead of buying new ones. Jeff Lipson of Cobblestone Shoe Repair is a third generation cobbler, and he's seeing a new type of customer. Adam Allington of member station KWMU reports.

Survey: British Call Workers Phone In Sick A lot

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:53:00 EST

New figures from the United Kingdom show that call center workers are twice as likely to call in sick, compared to other sectors of British workers. The British government survey shows that nearly five percent of customer service workers had taken at least one day off in the previous week. The average is two and a half percent. The high rate of sick days could explain long waits listening to repetitive hold music.

Gas Is Down — So What's With The High Prices...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:38:00 EST

Gas prices are the lowest they've been since February 2007. According to the Department of Energy, prices have fallen more than $1.50 since the middle of September. Many fuel surcharges are now gone — but that doesn't always mean lower prices for airline customers.

Circuit City's Problems Go Beyond Economy

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

The "real culprit" behind Circuit City's collapse is bad management, says Time magazine staff writer Anita Hamilton. She says Circuit City's failure to secure better locations for its stores, develop a stronger Web presence and provide good customer service all contributed to lost sales and revenue.

Duke Energy Sees Rooftops As Future Power Plants

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:43:00 EST

The North Carolina power company wants to pay customers for the ability to install solar panels on their roofs and vacant lots. Duke would own and operate the solar panels, and the electricity they generate would go straight onto the grid.

Obama, Japan, Suggests A Presidential Visit

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

If Barack Obama wins the White House, he already has an invitation for a foreign tour. Residents of a town in Japan have been wearing "I Love Obama" T-shirts. It's not known if the Democrat would actually visit the town of Obama, Japan. As far is a we know, there's no McCain, Japan. But it's a fair guess that the Republican is getting votes from customers of the McCain Mall. It's in North Little Rock, Arkansas, a state that McCain is favored to win.

Companies Engage In 'Credit Line Profiling'

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Credit card companies are watching the economy and making pre-emptive moves to reduce the amount of credit they offer to many customers. And they are looking well beyond payment history when reconsidering credit lines. Some companies are looking at who the customers' mortgage lender is, where they shop and whether they live in a region that's been hard hit by foreclosures. Customers are outraged, but card issuers say they are simply managing risk in tough economic times.

Worm Obsession Prompts Money-Making Scheme

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Lack of credit, high fuel costs, slumping demand aren't problems for a new business in Maryland. Six-year-old Enzo Fiore and his brother Otto, 4, are seeing their fortune in the worm business. Supplies are strong, it is all cash-and-carry, and when customers don't come there are always the worms to play with.

Pizza Promotion Backfires

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:00:00 EDT

When John McCain stopped campaigning in Michigan, a pizzeria owner made customers an offer: free pizza to people who brought in John McCain signs. Diana Franzoni apologizes, saying she didn't know people would steal yard signs for free food. McCain is still campaigning in Florida. That includes Key West, scene of a giant costume parade. One of the hottest-selling masks is of Sarah Palin.

Bank Of America To Give 400,000 Borrowers A Break

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The bank has come to an $8.4 billion settlement, which will rewrite 400,000 former Countrywide customers' mortgages, in an effort to keep them in their homes. We explore who is eligible and the implications of the settlement.