Shop Smart April 2013

Big Brother is a size 4 Mannequins have always given me the creeps, with that vacant look in their eyes and those perky breasts (why did they have to grow nipples?!), especially when they’re in various states of undress or dismemberment. But now they’re going to give me nightmares. In “How Stores Are Spying on You,” on page 79, you’ll learn how some retailers are turning the life-sized Barbies into drones with cameras in their eyes—so that they can watch you while you shop. Mannequins are teaming up with cash registers, parking-lot cameras, and even your own cell phone to follow you around. Stores are doing that to size you up so that they can lob marketing smart bombs at you and sell you more stuff. Many of us have…

1 Score tickets for less. Hot tickets are harder to come by than ever, but there are ways to save. Look for daily deals on Groupon and other sites; we even saw an offer for Bruce Springsteen tickets! Buy at LiveNation and get a refund if you find better seats later. “Like” artists, teams, and arts groups on Facebook and follow them on Twitter; sign up for e-mail messages from local venues; join fan clubs so that you’re the first to know about upcoming events. Too late? If you want to get into a sold-out show, skip online classifieds, where you might get burned with fake tickets; use guaranteed sites such as Ace Ticket, StubHub, and Ticket Liquidator. And always pay with a credit card, just to be safe. 2…

GE ADORA GHWN8350DWS TOP-LOADING WASHER Price $1,000 Why it’s hot This is claimed to be the first top-loader with a specially designed curved front to make loading and unloading easier on your back. Other unique features include specific stain-treatment options and a “My Settings” feature that stores eight to 12 of your go-to settings. A soft-closing lid is a plus, and it’s built in the U.S. Where to get it Home Depot MAYTAG M800 PREMIUM STEAM IRON Price $80 Why it’s hot This iron had the fastest heat-up time we’ve ever seen. It is claimed to go from cold to the hottest setting in 55 seconds and it came close in our lab. We also like the removable water tank, which makes filling easier. Look for our full iron report…

Checking a site’s privacy policy before you buy is an easy way to protect yourself from spam and even identity theft. But with apps, that’s harder to do, and privacy is a big issue in the news right now. Here’s what you need to know: Not all apps tell you what personal info they collect and what they do with it. A 2012 study by a privacy think tank found that of 150 top apps in iTunes, Google Play, and the Kindle Fire Appstore, almost half of the paid apps and about 30 percent of free apps didn’t link to a privacy policy. Another study by the Federal Trade Commission found that just 20 percent of apps for kids in the Apple App and Google Play stores disclose the info…

Plush Puppies Invincibles dog toy THE LABEL SAYS: SHOPSMART SAYS What dog wouldn’t want to chew on this aggressively? And why call them “Invincibles”? Summer’s Eve cleansing products THE AD SAYS: SHOPSMART SAYS Don’t worry, Summer’s Eve, we never forget our “V”—but we’d like to forget this ad! Marrakesh Express Roasted Chicken with Vegetables Cous Cous THE LABEL SAYS: SHOPSMART SAYS Which is it: all natural or artificially flavored? Looks like Marrakesh Express is taking us for a ride.…

What’s faster and easier than cooking up a pot of pasta? Ronzoni says its quick-cooking pastas are ready in just 3 minutes. But when we cooked them and compared them with the regular stuff in blind tastings, we found that, well, speed isn’t everything. RONZONI ROTINI Price $1.79 per 1-pound box Pros Nice pasta flavor and springy texture. Cons Takes an extra 5 minutes to cook compared with the versions at right. RONZONI QUICK COOK Price $1.79 per 1-pound box Pros Cooks in 3 minutes, but you still have to boil water. Cons Tastes a bit bitter. RONZONI PASTA PORTIONS Price $1.79 per 9-ounce box Pros Cooks in 3 minutes in a bag. Cons Twice the price per ounce as others and not as tasty. BOTTOM LINE C’mon, you can…