Consumer Alert

You've probably seen a Coinstar Exchange kiosk at your local grocery store or mall. For quite some time, the machines have been popular among consumers who pay a 10.9% fee to exchange coins for paper currency. Now, Coinstar is taking the consumer experience a step further. Instead of just accepting coins, Coinstar Exchange kiosks will be equipped to accept old gift cards in exchange for money. Although the company's cut is uncertain, the amount the consumer will receive will likely depend on the demand for that particular brand of gift card.

Do you have old gift cards you want to exchange for cash?

Click here for more.

Coffee Bean Prices Jump Dramatically

Prices for Arabica coffee beans are up nearly 90% this year. With a massive drought throughout Brazil, the world's biggest supplier of coffee, farmers have been unable to produce viable crop. As a result, companies that rely on coffee for business, like Starbucks, are feeling the burn. In fact, Starbucks has stopped buying coffee beans over the last month. The company already has contracts in place for the current fiscal year, which means consumers might not immediately feel the impact of the Brazil drought. However, if the high coffee bean prices continue, the additional cost will certainly trickle down to consumers.

Will coffee prices go back down?

Click here for more.

Your Money

Evaluate your company pension payout options!
Click here for more.

For the Lawyers

Hyperlinked waivers are enforceable. The District Court for the Southwestern District of New York held that class action waivers and arbitration clauses in consumer contracts are enforceable, even if the provisions must be accessed via a series of two successive hyperlinks from the agreement sign-up box.
Click here for more.

To stop receiving email news alerts from the Center for Consumer Law, please click here.