Consumer

Consumer Investigation: REI bike frame failures result in lawsuits (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Tracy Vedder Published: May 22, 2013 at 10:11 AM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 10:11 AM PDT

REI. It's a Seattle icon with a reputation for integrity. But a KOMO 4 Problem Solver investigation has uncovered a defect in that teflon reputation.

Consumer Avoid tornado disaster charity fraud (Video)

By Connie Thompson Published: May 22, 2013 at 9:06 AM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 9:06 AM PDT

Before you give money to help with tornado disaster relief in Oklahoma, find out what kind of help the charity is providing.

Consumer Before you hire, be sure to check out that lawn care service

By Herb Weisbaum Published: May 22, 2013 at 9:06 AM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 9:06 AM PDT

You decided to hire a lawn care service. But before you do, take the time to check them out. Choose the wrong company and you could waste a lot of green.

Consumer Want a better credit score? Here's how to do it

By Herb Weisbaum Published: May 21, 2013 at 8:01 AM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 8:01 AM PDT

A good credit score will save you money. It will drive down the interest rates you pay on credit cards, home loans, even a mortgage.

Consumer Washington ranked among top 10 for Internet crime (Video)

By Connie Thompson Published: May 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT

This may be one of the most Internet savvy parts of the country, but that doesn't mean we're internet secure.

Consumer Bike theft in Eugene: 'Have a nice bike? Never let it out of your sight' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Lauren Lee Published: May 20, 2013 at 5:06 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 10:22 AM PDT

Bicycle thefts are up significantly in 2013, the Eugene Police Department found in an analysis of crime reports.

Consumer Don't lose your toes: Practice lawnmower safety

By Herb Weisbaum Published: May 20, 2013 at 8:37 AM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 2:47 PM PDT

Lawnmower accidents can be pretty nasty: deep cuts, broken bones, burns and lost fingers or toes.

Consumer What you don't know about your credit score can hurt you

By Herb Weisbaum, NBCNews.com Published: May 17, 2013 at 8:28 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 2:48 PM PDT

Everyone wants a good credit score. We know it's important, but a lot of people don't understand how these numbers are created and how their actions affect them.

Consumer Bicycle hearse offers 'one last ride' to final resting place (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock Published: May 16, 2013 at 4:15 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 9:47 AM PDT

Wade Lind sketched out his plans for a bicycle hearse on a napkin at McDonald's. "It doesn't handle like a regular bicycle," the funeral director said.

Consumer Eugene Emeralds + Voodoo Doughnut = Bacon Maple Brat (Photo Gallery)

By Eugene Emeralds Media Services & KVAL News Published: May 16, 2013 at 3:27 PM PDT Last Updated: May 16, 2013 at 8:34 PM PDT

The new identity pays tribute to America's greatest urban legend, the legend of Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest. The primary logo features a Sasquatch unearthing trees behind "Emeralds" lettering.

Consumer Second-hand smoke linked to Alzheimer's disease

By Herb Weisbaum Published: May 16, 2013 at 9:19 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 2:48 PM PDT

Here's another reason to avoid second-hand smoke. Some new research indicates it could increase your risk for Alzheimer's disease or other types of severe dementia.

Consumer For the record: 'No one has ever preferred the CD' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Tom Adams Published: May 15, 2013 at 1:48 PM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 4:42 PM PDT

Vinyl records appear to be getting their groove back: U.S. sales last year were 18 percent above 2011.

Consumer Address change causes delivery aggravation (Video)

By Connie Thompson Published: May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM PDT

A change of address is one thing when you move to a new location, but people in a neighborhood near Renton say their addresses were changed without their knowledge and, more importantly, without them moving.

Consumer Critic of 5 cent bag fee: 'It's going to make it or break it for them' (Video)

By Carley Gomez Published: May 14, 2013 at 10:03 PM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 8:04 AM PDT

The single-use plastic shopping bag ban has been effect just two weeks, but already some members of the City Council say the local law has flaws.

Consumer Drive Thru Pet Pedi? How best friends benefit in a doggy dog world (Video)

By Dee Dee Gatton KPIC News for KVAL News, with KVAL.com staff Published: May 14, 2013 at 3:15 PM PDT Last Updated: May 15, 2013 at 9:03 AM PDT

In this doggy dog world, the VIPP 'pet pedi' service of a drive-thru dog groomer is bound to get some attention.