Amazon
Amazon is still the king of book buying sites, featuring a huge selection of books in stock; an out-of-print book search; and book reviews by respected authors and publications. This feature makes research easy and fast, whether you plan to buy a book or not. "Top sellers" can be seen at a glance. Other than books, Amazon has expanded to cover DVD's, videos, electronics and camera equipment; it also has an auction site.
http://www.amazon.com
Appliance411.com
Provides advice about household appliances: purchasing, servicing, repair parts, and current headlines.
http://www.appliance411.com
AutoSite
A web page geared for the research of both new and used automobiles.
http://www.autosite.com
BestPlaces.net
Moving from Columbus to Houston-or anywhere else? This site compares salaries, climate, crime, cost of living, schools-everything you need to know to choose the best place for your new home. Money Magazine's annual "Best Places to Live" feature is done by Sperling's Best Places, the people who created this site.
http://www.bestplaces.net/
Consumer Protection Publications
An index to the publications provided by the Attorney General of the state of Ohio concerning the topic of consumer protection. The subtopics covered include avoiding telemarketing fraud, automobile repair and services law, Ohio consumer laws, home improvement law, small claims law, and the Ohio Lemon Law.
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/citizen/consumer/laws.asp
Consumer World
This is a very comprehensive consumer site that allows you to search for anything from small appliances up to the best mortgage rates on houses.
http://www.consumerworld.org
Consumers Union-Kaiser Family Foundation
A consumer guide providing information on resolving consumer disputes with employer or private health plans. Provides the laws in each of the 50 states concerning external review of such disputes. The full-text of the Consumers Union report about resolving such disputes is also available.
http://www.kff.org/consumerguide
ConsumerSearch
Here's a free, reliable, online answer to Consumer Reports. ConsumerSearch is top-rated by the Wall Street Journal, PC World, and Yahoo Internet Life, among others. There are hundreds of listings under major headings such as sports and leisure, software, lawn and garden, house and home; all provide research background, "best value" choices, prices and a comparison page. "Where to buy" is a welcome addition and a real time-saver.
http://www.consumersearch.com
Edmunds.com
This web site offers consumer information on new and used vehicles.
The New Vehicle Spotlight features a new vehicle and offers links to more details such as incentives & rebates, pricing, warranties, financing and more.
The New Cars and the Used Cars sections each offer prices, reviews and other information about specific vehicles or category of vehicles (such as SUV, hybrid, coupe, truck, etc.).
http://www.edmunds.com
Gas Price Watch
This consumer-oriented web site provides specific gas prices from all over the U.S. by zip code. It also provides 1 big chart that gives the highest price per gallon in the U.S. (and its location), the lowest price per gallon in the U.S. (and its location), and then the national average. The site also provides other kinds of information on gas prices, such a chart on international gas prices, and links to other web sites that might be helpful.
http://www.gaspricewatch.com/
Green Vehicle Guide
Provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this website rates the cleanliness and fuel efficiency of a given automobile. The automobile categories included are: small car, mid-size car, large car, wagon, pickup, SUV, minivan, van, other. The rating information includes: vehicle specifications (e.g., engine size, # if cylinders, fuel type, etc.); sales area-what state the automobile can be purchased in according to state emission requirements; underhood label ID number (emission control information); emissions/air pollution-numeric scale of emission levels; fuel economy/global warming-the relationship between the two.
http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions
Hoax Busters
This site is maintained by the United States Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability. It provides information on hoaxes and chain letters-e-mail messages often with false information that are meant to be sent to everyone a person knows. In particular it describes them, warns people against them, admonishes people from sending them, and has instructions on what to do upon receiving them.
http://www.hoaxbusters.org/
ID Theft
The Federal Trade Commission's central website providing information on identity theft (a.k.a., ID theft): means of identity thieves; risk minimization; steps to take when a victim of identity theft; identity theft complaint forms; federal laws dealing with identity theft; the laws dealing with identity theft in all 50 states; reports, testimony, and comments concerning identity theft; actual cases of identity theft; links to government agencies (e.g., Justice Department) and publications (e.g., identity theft affidavit) dealing with identity theft.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
Kelly Blue Book: Guiding the Car Buyer
This site provides reliable information on pricing, new and old car values, previews, concept cars and more. A real "plus" for this site is the coverage of ATV's, motorcycles, scooters, and personal watercraft. You can preview and price these on Kelley's; even includes snowmobiles.
http://www.kbb.com
Lemon Law America
A consumer web site that offers information and advice about lemon vehicles and products and includes the lemon law statutes from all 50 states. The site also offers a helpful section on lemon tips (i.e., "Send a certified letter-Under the Lemon Law, you must notify the manufacturer through certified mail that your vehicle is defective.") There is also an area that provides lemon links.
http://www.lemonlawamerica.com
NADA
Provides free consumer pricing estimates on new and used vehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, motor cycles, recreational vehicles and much more.
http://www.nada.com
Ohio Consumers’ Counsel: Residential Utility Advocate
This website provides Ohio gas, electric, water, and telephone consumers with information about these services and their rates. As of Jan. 1, 2001, Ohio consumers have the right to choose their electric supplier. This web site allows consumers to look for a new electric supplier and to compare rates and other information online. A toll free phone number is provided for consumer questions and support.
http://www.pickocc.org
Ohio Credit Union System
The website for the Ohio Credit Union League, the state trade association for credit unions operating within the state of Ohio. Provides information for consumers: Membership; Locations. Provides information for credit unions: Shared Branching; Publications. Press Room provides general information: What is a credit union?; Press releases.
http://www.ohiocul.org
Phone Scoop
A comprehensive website about wireless phones designed for the consumer. Provides pictures, specifications, features, and availability information on various wireless phone models. Offers articles as well as press releases on wireless phones, a list of carriers, a comparison search engine, and a specification search engine (Phone Finder) to find the phone a specific type of phone.
http://www.phonescoop.com
Telemarketing Sales (TSR)
A bulletin from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the amended Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) that provides for a nationwide "do not call" registry listing consumers who do not want to receive telemarketing calls; effective Mar. 31, 2003.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/rulemaking/tsr/
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
This sit is full of important information for consumers. From the home page, choose recalls/news, business, an electronic reading room, even a "for kids" site. There is a place to report unsafe products, and a wealth of links for each subject.
http://www.cpsc.gov
whichbook.net
This web site is a reader's advisory. It does not advise by genre or by author. It lets you set options on what you like or don't like in your books. There are twelve bars which offer two extremes on a sliding scale, such as happy...sad, safe...frightening, romantic...realistic, and you can set up to four of them at a time. There are a few other options such as setting, character, plot.
http://www.whichbook.net/
