Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.
Vijay Khasat wants his defective mattress replaced. Yes, it's old -- very old. But he says Sealy gave him a 20-year warranty and he wants a new mattress.

How do I get Sealy to replace my defective mattress?

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Don’t look now, but chances are your mattress is covered by a ridiculously long warranty. Or so you might think. But Vijay Khasat recently found out what Sealy meant by “20 years” when he tried to get the company to replace what he claims is a defective mattress.

It turns out 20 years is not 20 years, at least in the traditional, dictionary-definition sense. His odyssey to replace a bad mattress is a reminder for all of us to read the fine print on your warranty. (The mattress police won’t save you, but maybe my advocacy team can help.)

It's harvest time in western Colorado -- the perfect time for a fruit safari. OK, so fruit may not be the first thing that comes to mind in Colorado. But...

How to have a fruit safari in western Colorado

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It’s harvest time in western Colorado — the perfect time for a fruit safari.

A what? OK, so “fruit” may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Colorado. And the western slope of the Centennial State is so different from the rest of the state that you’d think you were in Utah or Arizona anyway.

But in September and October, this place is a fruitapalooza of apricots, apples, grapes, peaches, pears and plums. You can spend a Saturday afternoon canvassing the farms near Grand Junction and discover some of the tastiest produce this side of the Rockies.

Miguel Barragan made an online auction mistake that cost him $1,250. Or did he? It's a mistake he claims Prime Public Auctions took advantage of.

How an easy online auction mistake cost him $1,250

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Miguel Barragan made an online auction mistake that cost him $1,250. Or did he?

Barragan, who paid for a TV console, crib, mattress, and several other items through Prime Public Auctions, an auction house in Van Nuys, Calif., says his bid was an error. It’s a mistake he claims Prime Public Auctions took advantage of, ultimately forcing him to pay the full amount.

5 worst things that can happen to a traveler

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What’s the worst thing that can happen when you’re traveling? A traffic accident? Terrorist hijacking? Hotel fire? Travel is risky, of course. But there’s just no way of knowing when your number will be up, and your plane will go down.