home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- <text id=91TT0461>
- <title>
- Mar. 04, 1991: Business Notes:Consumer Affairs
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1991
- Mar. 04, 1991 Into Kuwait!
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- BUSINESS, Page 65
- Business Notes
- CONSUMER AFFAIRS
- Caveat Patriot
- </hdr><body>
- <p> U.S. CAR OWNERS FIGHT IRAQ! trumpeted newspaper ads
- promoting the patriotic and financial virtues of the PetroMizer
- gas-saving device. That was before investigators in 16 states
- concluded that the PetroMizer was a hoax--part of a surge of
- efforts to make a fast buck from gulf-war fever. Following
- legal action, the PetroMizer ran out of gas. But war-related
- come-ons continue. A fierce dispute between New York City
- consumer affairs commissioner Mark Green and Florida's Home
- Shopping Network has broken out over a print ad that urged
- consumers to "support our armed forces" by purchasing
- "Authentic Operation Desert Shield Armed Forces Fatigue Wear."
- Green challenged the authenticity of the palm tree-bedecked
- clothing and the claim that a "portion of the proceeds" would
- assist American troops. HSN killed the ad and sent a check for
- $25,000 to Army Emergency Relief--five days after Green's
- complaint.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
-