Consumer Reports today unveiled its latest public-education campaign: the first Consumer Reports’ Naughty & Nice Holiday List.  The list identifies some good and some not-so-good shopping policies and the companies behind them.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a full-page ad running in the November 22, 2010 edition of USA Today. The ad highlights three “naughty” and three “nice” policies and names the companies behind them.  The full list, comprised of 10 naughty and 10 nice policies, is available at ConsumerReports.org/holiday.

The ad takes the form of a “Dear Shopper” letter, first introduced in the 2006 campaign. Consumers are invited to share their own Naughty & Nice Holiday List at facebook.com/ConsumerReports.

THE NAUGHTY & THE NICE

The Naughty & Nice Holiday List is based on input from Consumer Reports’ reporters and editors who cover shopping, travel, hospitality, telecommunications and other areas.

Consumer Reports notes that the Naughty & Nice Holiday List is based on specific policies and is not reflective of a company as a whole.

The following companies were called out for Naughty policies:

• Verizon Wireless: Doubled to $350 the Early Termination Fee for canceling smart-phone contracts after the 30-day grace period.
• Macy’s: Shipping charges based on the dollar amount of the order, not the size and weight of the package.
• CompUSA: For imposing unusually punitive restocking fees of “up to 25 percent” of the purchase price on any product that doesn’t meet its return criteria.

The following companies were called out for Nice policies:

• Zappos.com: Free shipping and free returns, including prepaid return label.
• L.L.Bean: 100 percent product satisfaction guarantee. Return anything at any time for any reason.
• Southwest: Two pieces of checked luggage, no charge. And that includes bulky freight such as golf clubs and skis.

FULL TEXT OF AD

Dear Shopper,

We’re happy to introduce our first ever Naughty & Nice Holiday List. We took a look at the policies of some large companies. Here’s a peek at a few of those that made it.

Naughty

Verizon Wireless

Doubled to $350 the Early Termination Fee for canceling smart-phone contracts after the 30-day grace period.

Macy’s

Shipping charges based on the dollar amount of the order, not the size and weight of the package.

CompUSA

For imposing unusually punitive restocking fees of “up to 25 percent” of the purchase price on any product that doesn’t meet its return criteria.

Nice

Zappos.com

Free shipping and free returns, including prepaid return label.

L.L.Bean

100 percent product satisfaction guarantee. Return anything at any time for any reason.

Southwest

Two pieces of checked luggage, no charge. And that includes bulky freight like golf clubs and skis.

See the full Naughty & Nice Holiday List at ConsumerReports.org

Yours truly,

Consumer Reports

Share your Naughty & Nice Holiday List

facebook.com/ConsumerReports

SOURCE Consumer Reports