The fall of Sears has been well documented. But who else is feeling the grip of Amazon on their once thriving retail business and who will be next to declare bankruptcy? Questions: 1. According to the article, what is the toxic combination that will take the eight named retail companies out of the game? 2…. Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ethical Dilemma
Now you See it, Now you don’t.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning to consumers that criminals are posing as government officials and asking people to use a gift card to pay a bogus tax bill or get a new Medicare card. Questions: 1. How much money was lost to this scam in 2015? 2. How much money was lost… Read more »
A Look at the Price Tag
According to the Washington Post, with the $750 iPhone XR, arriving in stores on Friday, you have the opportunity to leap ahead to better technology — like a superior camera and more screen — without getting a nosebleed from the price tag. Questions: 1. What is the benefit with the XR battery? 2. What other… Read more »
Yum, yum, eat ’em up!
New survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 36.6% of us eat some kind of fast food on any given day. That includes 37.9% of men and 35.4% of women, according to a report published Wednesday by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Questions: 1. What is the main… Read more »
Hey there, where’d you get the loot?
A woman from Azerbaijan who spent 16 million pounds ($21 million) on jewelry, wine and other goods at luxury London department store Harrods over the course of a decade has become the first target of a new British rule allowing officials to seize money from people suspected of getting their wealth through corruption. Questions: 1…. Read more »
Amazon – Only the Best – Coming in stores near you!
Amazon’s latest retail concept looks a lot like your online shopping cart brought to life. It’s a physical store that offers only products with high customer ratings, including non-Amazon-branded merchandise. Items must be a top seller, have a four-star rating or above, or be new and trending on Amazon.com. Questions: 1. How many brick-and-mortar bookstores… Read more »
Tough Times for the IRS
Audits and criminal referrals are down sharply by the IRS since Congress cut the tax agency’s budget and management changed priorities. Questions: 1. How many cases did the IRS’s criminal division bring last year? 2. How many cases did the IRS’s criminal division bring in 2010? 3. According to the IRS’s estimates, how much in… Read more »
To Forgive is Divine But Impossible
A program intended to wipe away the student loans of qualifying public servants has rejected more than 99 percent of those who applied, according to a government audit that found that “fragmented” management and “piecemeal” operating instructions had contributed to the failure to forgive more debt. Questions: 1. What does the Education Department say is… Read more »
Uber and Lyft to the Rescue
This article talks about the cost of an ambulance ride. With ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft far cheaper and now available within minutes in many areas, it shows how a significant amount of money for non-emergency situation would be better served using an Uber or a Lyft. Questions: 1. How much was spent in… Read more »
The New Twist in Airline Rates
While the list of things not included with your plane ticket seems to be constantly growing, there is a new twist in ticket rates. As if it isn’t becoming difficult enough, now some airlines have started bidding sites for seat upgrades! Questions: 1. What are the extra fees associated with airline transportation called? 2. What… Read more »