The Checkout

Mar 21, 2013

- Complimentary Medicines - Apple iPhone : Advertising vs Reality - If I Could Say One Thing : Catriona Lowe - Complaint Letter : Purina Cat Food - F.U. Tube : Consumers Bite Back - Product Vs Packshot : Coles Strawberries - As A Guilty Mum : Baby Bums - Parallel Consumerverse : If Toasters Were Mobile Phones - Product Tampering : Golden Circle Sunshine Punch - Meanwhile in Afghanistan - Buy Now, Pay Forever

Mar 28, 2013

- Phoney Regulations - Adventures In Fine Print : Flight Insurance - Product Tampering : Ribena Fruit Drink - Copycats - F.U. Tube - Product Vs Packshot : San Remo Lasagna - If I Could Say One Thing : Teresa Corbin - The Rational Consumer

Apr 4, 2013

- Returning goods - Restaurants - Salty Cereals - Sea Life - As A Guilty Mum: Germs - Road Testing Electric Cars - F.U Tube

Apr 11, 2013

- Milking It - Tricks of the Trade Mags - Product Tampering : Strawberry Indulgence - Parallel Consumerverse : If Groceries Were Foxtel - Funeral Plans - The Search For The Most Expensive Water - If I Could Say One Thing : Alan Kirkland - Data Mining - Product vs Packshot : Bubble O'Bill - F.U. Tube : Jetstar and Sam

Apr 18, 2013

- Chronic Pain - Swisse Vitamins - Search For The Most Expensive Wi-Fi - As A Guilty Mum : Sleep - Adventures In Fine Print : California Dreaming - Product Vs Packshot : Tom Piper Savoury - - - Mince & Vegetables - Not Appy - If I Could Say One Thing : Barry Schwartz - F.U. Tube

Apr 25, 2013

- Superfoods - Door Knockers - If I Could Say One Thing : Rod Sims - Down Down Arithmetic - Access vs Ownership - Parallel Consumerverse : If Cinemas Were Gyms - Product vs Packshot : On The Menu Double Cheeseburger - F.U. Tube

May 2, 2013

- Ticket Bookings - Product Vs Packshot : Palak Paneer - Spoilt For Choice : Toothpaste - Milk, White Lies & Permeate - A Load of Rubbish - As A Guilty Mum : Baby Safety - Extended Warranties - If I Could Say One Thing : Allan Fels - F.U. Tube

May 9, 2013

- Snack Break : Dairy Farmer's Yoghurt - Big Cosmetics In Little China - Product vs Packshot : KFC Salsa Twister - Adventures In Fine Print : Ticket Insurance - Cashback Backlash - Beat The System : Fashion Outlets - What's In A Name? - If I Could Say One Thing : Dan Ariely - Borrowing Money From Strangers - F.U. Tube

May 16, 2013

- Tricks of the Trade Mags - Online Terms and Conditions - Complaint Letter: Cadbury - Energy Crisis - Parallel Consumerverse: If Bread Were Houses - Snack Break: Trail Mix - If I Could Say One Thing : Fiona Guthrie - You Beauty - F.U. Tube

May 23, 2013

- High Tunes - Added Info : Coles Feed Your Family For $10 - As A Guilty Mum : Baby Smartness - Adventures In Fine Print : Water Leakage Insurance - The Bald Facts - Instant Roadtest - If I Could Say One Thing : Ian Jarratt - F.U. Tube Episode 10 - Why Is This Song $2.19?

Feb 20, 2014

Kirsten Drysdale looks at The Struth About Australian Made labelling, Julian Morrow on your consumer rights when services go bad and Craig Reucassel explains how to not get ripped off when reading credit card statements.

Feb 27, 2014

Craig Reucassel on the health claims that are 98% fact free, Kirsten Drysdale and Zoe Norton Lodge show Unilever is a market leader in corporate hypocrisy, and the guilty mum takes on toilet training.

Mar 6, 2014

Julian Morrow looks at superannuation and the quest for financial enlightenment, Kirsten Drysdale throws stones in the chlorophyll glasshouse, and Scott Abbot looks for clarity in headphones with a visit to Dr Dre.

Mar 13, 2014

Kirsten Drysdale asks if we're being taken for a ride by the taxi industry, Zoe Norton Lodge untangles the mess of HDMI Cables, and is there something fishy about tuna?

Mar 20, 2014

Craig Reucassel phones home and turns the table on reverse charges, a cautionary tale about frequent flyer points, and how 4G affects our mobile data cap.

Mar 27, 2014

Craig Reucassel brings free range chickens home to roost, the loving pet owner's guide to pet stress relief, and Kirsten Drysdale discovers insurance companies charging a lazy tax.

Apr 3, 2014

Craig Reucassel pays the price of convenience, Kirsten Drysdale asks why serving sizes are so self serving, and water resistant watches face the judgement of the gods.

Apr 10, 2014

All roads lead to roam... ing fees for mobile phone companies, online dating and scammers make a perfect match, and the loving pet owner's guide to pet fashions.

Apr 17, 2014

Gendered marketing and the equal opportunity to pay more, pet insurance gets put down and dishing the dirt on anti-bacterial cleaning products.

May 29, 2014

The pitfalls of the gift that doesn't keep on giving, a fresh look at claims to "freshness" and a price check on lowest price guarantees.

Jun 5, 2014

Kirsten Drysdale looks at the nature of organic products, Scott Abbot takes on food labelling and animal self improvement from the loving pet owner Zoe Norton Lodge.

Jun 12, 2014

The pros and cons of online supermarket shopping, pet fitness products get a work out and ways to avoid the rental mentals.

Jun 19, 2014

A warts and all look at skincare products, fuel for thought at the petrol pump and the Guilty Mum makes a meal of baby food.

Jun 26, 2014

Craig Reucassel fights the power... companies... on energy contracts; the Guilty Mum's unforgettable baby memorabilia; and Facebook... what's not to like?

Jul 3, 2014

Why people are going ape over palm oil, Julian Morrow scans the Code for barcodes, and palm reading for pooches with The Loving Pet Owner.

Jul 10, 2014

The Checkout team investigate why financial advisors are a nightmare; plus a focused look at the cost of glasses.

Apr 9, 2015

Kirsten Drysdale does a clinical trial on clinical trials in the beauty industry, and Craig Reucassel asks what happens if your car turns out to be a lemon... or a donkey.

Apr 16, 2015

Julian Morrow looks at the fine print on private parking fines and Ben Jenkins drinks the kool-aid that comes with sports drinks and asks if they’re really worth it.

Apr 23, 2015

Craig Reucassel looks at car financing plans and how much you’ll really pay, while Kirsten discovers she’s not related to Denise Drysdale, despite what the internet says.

Apr 30, 2015

Kirsten Drysdale brings us up-to-date with the latest bogus developments in milk marketing and Alex Lee examines who really owns the books and other digital media you buy online.

May 7, 2015

Ben Jenkins gets back to nature, Zoë Norton Lodge finds out why money transfers take so long to process, and Hannah Reilly exercises extreme caution about new car add-ons.

May 21, 2015

Julian plays The Price Is Right. Consumer edition! And Craig has an expensive groundhog day, thanks to financial commissions.

May 28, 2015

'Checkout Chumps' investigates Premium SMS as Julian Morrow joins the Not Appy club and Zoë Norton Lodge shows us what the song and dance is with Arbonne direct marketing.

Jun 4, 2015

Zoë Norton Lodge looks at which pet foods are Best In Chow with guest stars Cat Stevens and Rene Descat; Kirsten Drysdale gets taken for a ride when examining rip-offs in the hire car industry.

Jun 11, 2015

Ben Jenkins dips his toes into TV streaming and shows you the ins and outs of all the new video on demand services competing with the ABC for your precious eyeballs.

Jun 18, 2015

Kirsten Drysdale retreats from mental health retreats and The Guilty Mum throws a party.

Jun 25, 2015

Ben Jenkins gives low carb beers the once over, and then a twice over to be sure; Alex Lee takes a cleansing look at detox diets.

Jul 2, 2015

Craig shows what they pump into Pump water, Alex finds out what a NutriBullet does to facts and Hannah cracks the whip on leather.

Apr 7, 2016

Kirsten Drysdale investigates whether online hotel booking sites save you money; Ben Jenkins explains your consumer rights when shopping online; Julian Morrow reveals what to do with your Dick Smith gift cards.

Apr 14, 2016

Alex Lee shines a light on sunglasses to find out which ones give you the best protection; Zoe Norton Lodge looks into the debt relief industry & tells you how you can help yourself, for free.

Apr 21, 2016

The hazards of travel insurance, what's so special about that new box feeling, and The Checkout story on unsolicited sales you haven't been asking for.

Apr 28, 2016

Scott Abbot sheds too much UV light on sunscreen, the mechanics of private health insurance, and petrol prices make Craig Reucassel snap.

May 12, 2016

Relive some of The Checkout's best segments in this compilation of viewer favourites from previous seasons. Satisfaction not guaranteed.

May 19, 2016

Relive some of The Checkout's best segments in this compilation of viewer favourites from previous seasons. Satisfaction not guaranteed.

Jul 28, 2016

The Checkout returns to take a look at the pitfalls of buying a puppy, what to do when internet service providers promise one speed but deliver another & Craig Reucassel looks into the second hand car market.

Aug 4, 2016

Kirsten Drysdale looks at wine awards, Julian Morrow asks why pharmacies are selling so many scientifically dubious products & the scam detectors investigate scammers pretending to be government departments.

Aug 11, 2016

Zoe takes a high level of interest in "zero balance transfers" on credit cards, Andy negotiates the challenges of getting a better mobile phone plan and The Guilty Mum's guide to preparing school lunches.

Aug 18, 2016

It's snot rocket science when it comes to over the counter cold & flu medication, the fine print in car parks that'll drive you mad, and are car makers coming clean with emissions ratings.

Aug 25, 2016

Hannah Reilly takes an interest in switching mortgage providers; Ben Jenkins shows you how to avoid an expensive lesson in further education and the yoga accessories that will really stretch your budget.

Sep 1, 2016

Craig reports on the health ratings that leave you seeing stars (at the supermarket); Alex learns why you should think before you ink; Zoe & Kirsten look at the ways packaging tries to influence our purchasing decisions.

Sep 8, 2016

Craig gets a check up for his private hospital cover; hunky bachelors abound as Zoe faces an important choice...of comparison websites; and the guilty mum takes an unhealthy interest in kids' health products.

Sep 15, 2016

Alex goes ga ga over baby food, Kirsten asks what's in a brand name at the supermarket, and Scott plays a round with golf gear.

Sep 22, 2016

The Checkout presents some of your favourite segments in this Factory Seconds episode. Kirsten checks in on hotel booking sites, Ben investigates your rights in online shopping & Alex has a cool look at sunglasses.

Sep 29, 2016

The Checkout's final episode for 2016 is a compilation of some of our best stories throughout the year. Andy looks at new phone plans & Jules buys a goat in a pharmacy. Plus Asterisk Man, a superhero for our times.

Apr 6, 2017

The Checkout tackles issues that face all of us when we open our wallets - identifying ways consumers are being taken advantage of, manipulated and ripped off... even if there's nothing illegal about it.

Apr 13, 2017

Zoe investigates the nightmare of timeshare holiday accommodation; Craig looks at reverse mortgages for over-55s; The ACCC-CCCC bust open sports betting scams & Alex highlights the trap of automatically renewing payments.

Apr 20, 2017

Andy breaks down the cost of dying with a look at the funeral industry; Scott checks out the many ways telcos continue to torture us and in FUTube, Zoe discovers Australia Post are signing people up for junk mail.

Apr 27, 2017

Alex Lee unpacks the issues with removalists, in a moving tale. The Tooth Fairy tells Ben Jenkins the 'tooth' about dentists. And in FUTube, Julian Morrow trawls the canned tuna industry with a new sustainability report.

May 4, 2017

Zoe Norton Lodge investigates how to assert your rental rights in Australia; Scott Abbot discovers Google Shopping's search results are allowing dodgy businesses to prosper & what happens when you can't pay your vet bill?

May 18, 2017

Craig Reucassel discovers the pitfalls of buying a car; the ACCC-CCC-C lift the lid on the biggest scam in Australia last year and in FUTube, Julian Morrow gets to the bottom of age discrimination in travel insurance.

May 25, 2017

Kirsten finds something fishy in the world of Omega-3 supplements; Ben shows you how to complain about anything; Craig shares everyone's frustration with a look at what to do when your parcel delivery goes awry.

Jun 1, 2017

Craig investigates why manufacturers aren't labelling trans-fat in foods; Zoe highlights the normalisation of payday lending & Scott finds out why tapping your debit card instead of swiping can land you with greater fees.

Jun 8, 2017

Scott comes to grips with the fact that expensive running shoes aren't worth it; Mark discovers that hearing clinics are basically sales centres & Julian looks at how long a product should reasonably be expected to last?

Jun 15, 2017

Zoe navigates the pitfalls of buying a home off the plan; Alex finds out which mozzie repellents actually work; and Ben gets the low down on security holding deposits which can take an age to return to your account.

Jun 22, 2017

Zoe looks at the Comm Bank's customer supply program, Dollarmites; Andy looks at commercial weight loss programs; Kate returns in As A Guilty Mum and Kirsten highlights the rise of phantom supermarket brands.

Jun 29, 2017

Kirsten and Zoe test the shape of multi-level marketing schemes; Scott reveals how much loyalty reward scheme points are really worth; A visit from an old friend as the ABC Investigator's Helen Wellings visits The Checkout.

Jul 6, 2017

Jul 13, 2017

Jan 30, 2018

The Checkout team reveal what's really in your daily bread; Kirsten Drysdale untangles the truth about thread count when it comes to bed sheets; Julian Morrow shows why Voltaren Osteo Gel is more slimy than the regular gel.

Feb 6, 2018

Alex Lee cuts through the mumbo jumbo of buying a new TV, Zoe Norton Lodge gets the buzz on Manuka Honey, and Kirsten Drysdale puts Jetstar and Omo detergent through the ringer in FU Tube.

Feb 13, 2018

Craig Reucassel avoids peak use to save on electricity bills, Alex Lee turns into a wine wanker and Zoe Norton Lodge tries to put her mum in a nursing home.

Feb 20, 2018

Home wasn't built in a day; Craig Reucassel finds out how to engage a builder, Zoe Norton Lodge on what to reject when you're expecting morning sickness and in FUTube, Scott Abbot puts Aldi's Special Buys under the microscope.

Feb 27, 2018

Scott Abbot discovers how crafty most craft beers are, Ben Jenkins shows you how to manage your passwords and in FU Tube, Julian Morrow wrecks the relationship between Apple and RSVP.

Mar 6, 2018

Scott Abbot with some super news about life insurance, Ben Jenkins runs a battery of tests and in FU Tube, Craig Reucassel on the massive airbag recall which seems full of hot air.

Mar 13, 2018

Kirsten Drysdale gets the taste for MSG, Craig Reucassel swaps out his light globes to save some cash, Zoe Norton Lodge on what supplements to reject when you're expecting and in FU Tube the ongoing headache from a Jawbone return.

Mar 20, 2018

Kirsten Drysdale channels Jerry Springer to investigate an online travel agent, Ben Jenkins and Alex Lee give apple cider vinegar the acid test and in FU Tube, Julian Morrow finds out when cancellation fees in mobile plans can be challenged.

Mar 27, 2018

Alex Lee rubs mineral makeup the wrong way, Zoe Norton Lodge on What to Reject When You're Expecting; Pain Management and In FUtube Julian Morrow frees a customer from Freedom Furniture.

Apr 3, 2018

Kirsten Drysdale flexes her muscles over protein marketing, Scott Abbot wears too much lycra as a midlife cyclist and in FUtube, Ben Jenkins discovers Samsung's mobile windscreen mount doesn't suck.

Apr 10, 2018

Craig Reucassel shines a light on solar power, Zoe Norton Lodge on What to Reject When You're Expecting; Breastfeeding and Europcar takes Alex Lee for a ride.

Apr 17, 2018

Alex Lee joins the waiting list for childcare, Mark Sutton loses sleep trying to buy a mattress and in FUTube, Julian Morrow questions international transaction fees for online shopping.