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Consumerist

Shoppers Bite Back.

TACA Passengers Stranded For 9 Hours [Travel]Today

200 passengers were held captive for 9 hours on the tarmac outside LA this week. TACA Airlines blamed fuel delays, lack of staff, and fog. As they waited, they were fed water and crackers. [FOX] (Thanks to Justin!) (Photo: Getty)

FDIC Critizes Banks' Overdraft Fees [Fees]Today

It took 18 months for the FDIC to figure out that banks' practice of clearing checks largest to smallest makes banks a lot of money.

Bankers defend it saying that people would rather their cable bill to bounce than their mortgage payment, but it just so happens that if you miscalculate your balance or a deposit didn't clear in time, it maximizes potential fees. Overdraft fees accounted for 74% of service fees banks earned in 2006, to the tune of $1.97 billion. The data was based on banks' responses to survey questions, so you can bet the numbers are actually higher.

FDIC: Bank overdraft fees hit young, low-income customers [USAToday] (Thanks to Snarkysnake!) (Photo: David Reber)

Inside The Mind Of A Liquidator [Tweeter]Today

Interesting facts from a Boston Globe article profiling a member of the Tweeter liquidation team, David "The Junkyard Dog" Spehar:

• At the beginning of a liquidation sale, it's very typical that they reset the price back to original and begin discounts from there
• The discounts get bigger week by week, or faster if merch isn't moving
• Employee theft is a big problem
• One liquidator helps make nice with the old employees working through the liquidation sale by giving more sales bonuses than they got before
• Also, by buying everyone donuts

As retailers reel, a call for the liquidators [The Boston Globe] (Thanks to peetah!) (Photo: Josh Reynolds)

Dollar Tree To Murdered Black Employee: Drop Dead [Dollar Tree]Today

Prosecutors say Taneka Talley was killed while working at Dollar Tree because she was black, and now Dollar Tree is denying her 11-year-old her worker's comp because they deem racially-motivated murders on-the-job to be "personal" and not "work-related." Empathy costs more than a dollar, it seems.

Firm denies workers' comp in racial killing [SFGate] (Thanks to Kevin!)

What You Should Tip [Tipping]Today

Ever wonder what the "right" tip was to give a service provider? Well, wonder no longer as Yahoo Hotjobs offers the following tip suggestions for a variety of workers:

* Bartender: 10-15 percent of the bar bill.
* Waiter/Waitress: 15-20 percent of the bill, 20 percent at fine restaurants or if you have a large group.
* Massage Therapist: 10-20 percent of the total, 20 percent if it is a really great massage.
* Hairstylist: 15 percent of the total.
* Concierge: $5-10 is average, more for special services or favors.
* Doorman: $1 dollar or more for help with luggage or finding a taxi on the street.
* Parking Attendant: $1-2, depending on how far they travel to get your car.
* Van Driver: $1 or more per bag, especially if they help you with your luggage.
* Musician/Singer: $35-75 per person.
* Taxi Driver: 15 percent of fare, $1 per bag up to 5 bags, $2 per bag for 5 or more bags or if bags are very heavy (50 lbs. each).

In addition, if you regularly use any of these (or other) service workers, you'll likely want to give them an extra holiday tip this season. For guidance on what amounts are appropriate, Consumer Reports offers