Consumer Reports Magazine | January

Published: January 2013
January 2013

Cover story

Smart ways to save on smart phones
Which phone and plan are right for you? Whether you're buying for a family or shopping for yourself, we can guide you to the right ones

Features

25 great holiday gifts
Do you need an accident-protection plan for your tablet? Eighteen percent of tablet owners we surveyed bought a service contract or extended warranty
Protecting Mom & Dad's money What to do when you suspect financial abuse
What’s in that pork? We found antibiotic-resistant bacteria and traces of a veterinary drug

Cars

2013 Chevrolet Spark review
2013 Dodge Dart review
2013 Lexus ES 350 & ES 300h review
Cadillac XTS and Lincoln MKS reviews Two big, opulent American sedans fall short of expectations
Halogen headlight bulbs Higher-priced lights shine more brightly but not farther

Up Front

Claim Check: Lint Lizard Can a $10 "magic wand" make clothes dryer lint disappear?
Gotcha! Beware of ‘fast cash’ Payday loans can be pricey and unforgiving
Lost in translation: Many labels no sense make There’s no law against confusing—or amusing—wording on many goods
Sparkling wines that shine don't have to cost a lot Celebrate the holidays with one of our recommended sparklers
Spread it on: Best jellies and jams Some inexpensive brands tasted better than pricier ones
The cold facts about colds and flu Many products sold on drug store shelves don't help. But some simple steps can.
Three cleaners remove haze from dishware These film stars eliminate hard-water buildup
Yogurt taste tests show Greek is good

CR Health

5 things I learned from my patients Listening to their stories has sometimes improved my health

CR Money

Don’t get taken guarding your ID Do-it-yourself safeguards are just as effective as paid services

Departments

Biggest consumer complaints to the CPSC Appliances accounted for 2,029 complaints in the SaferProducts.gov database
From our president: Naughty and nice
Viewpoint This page highlights efforts of Consumers Union to improve the marketplace
Selling It A monthly selection of goofs, glitches, and gotchas

The January 2013 issue of Consumer Reports provides recommendations, expert buying advice, and Ratings on hundreds of consumer products. Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services, with more than 7 million print and online subscribers. It conducts the most comprehensive testing programs of any U.S. publication or website, and the company's experts have decades of experience in testing and reporting.

Subscribe here or call 800-234-1645. Access updated information and reports at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports magazine archive

Looking for a special report, investigative feature, or product review from a past issue of Consumer Reports? You can access that information and much more going back to January 2009 in our archive.

   


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Consumer News

PAINT REVIEWS
Sherwin-Williams' Chip It! helps you pick a paint color After you upload a photo you get a palette of up to 10 different hues.
ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
$500 monthly lease on a Tesla electric car doesn't add up Actual payments could be more than three times the hyped monthly figure.
WINDOW REVIEWS
Winbot 710 and 730 could ease window cleaning chore The robotic window cleaners will save you work but not necessarily time.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Rolling over a 401(k) is a pain—and potentially costly The process can be inefficient and produce misinformation.
TELECOM SERVICES
5 tips for cutting your monthly cable TV bill Subscribers who haggle might get more services for the money.
SMART PHONE REVIEWS
Why you need Google Maps to find the Apple store Google Maps include maps and tours of malls, airports, and more.

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