Bob Niedt
Bob is a Senior Online Editor at Kiplinger.com. He has more than 40 years of experience in online, print and visual journalism. Bob has worked as an award-winning writer and editor in the Washington, D.C., market as well as at news organizations in New York, Michigan and California. Bob joined Kiplinger in 2016, bringing a wealth of expertise covering retail, entertainment, and money-saving trends and topics. He was one of the first journalists at a daily news organization to aggressively cover retail as a specialty, and has been lauded in the retail industry for his expertise. Bob has also been an adjunct and associate professor of print, online and visual journalism at Syracuse University and Ithaca College. He has a master’s degree from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a bachelor’s degree in communications and theater from Hope College.
Latest articles by Bob Niedt
-
Watch Out for Flood-Damaged Cars from Hurricane Ian
Buying & Leasing a Car In the wake of Hurricane Ian, more flood-damaged cars may hit the market. Car prices may rise further because of increased demand as well.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
Buying & Leasing a Car -
Amazon Early Prime Access Sale Is a Prime Day Redux
Amazon Prime Prime Day: So nice they had to try it twice. A fall event will follow the model of blowout sales over two days. But it will come with a different name.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Costco Deals Ripe for the Pillage in the “Treasure Hunt”
Costco You don’t have to be a pirate to go on this Treasure Hunt, where you can buy $55,000 diamond rings, $650 Wagyu filets or a $35 fur trapper hat. But hurry – supplies are limited (really).
By Bob Niedt Published
Costco -
Will There Be a Second Amazon Prime Day 2022? Stand By
Amazon Prime Purportedly leaked documents indicate Amazon is asking retailers for possible “lightning” deal options for an October Amazon Prime Day 2022.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
MoviePass is Relaunching. Should You Sign Up?
Smart Buying The subscription discount movie card company has a checkered past and an army of disillusioned former cardholders. If you want to try the reboot, you’ll need to hurry.
By Bob Niedt Published
Smart Buying -
HBO Max Is Offering Huge Discounts
Smart Buying Looking for a streaming service deal? Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting the price of HBO Max.
By Bob Niedt Published
Smart Buying -
Latest Costco Perk: Pickup Lockers
Costco Costco’s lockers will let you buy some products without having to roam the aisles.. But don’t expect to use it to buy a generator, mattress, whole goat or other large item.
By Bob Niedt Published
Costco -
Can I Buy Amazon’s Always Home Cam, the Flying Indoor Security Camera?
Amazon Prime Want to know if everything’s okay at home while you’re away? The Always Home Cam is a drone that will fly from its dock and soar toward the bad guys (or broken pipes).
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Amazon Layaway: A New Perk of Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Reserve now, pay over time is one of retail’s oldest holiday shopping gimmicks, dating back to the Great Depression. Now, Amazon is reviving it year-round.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Amazon Adds Another Popular Smart Home Brand to Its Amazon Prime Mix
Amazon Prime Amazon.com spends $1.7 billion to vacuum up iRobot into its name-brand portfolio.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Are You Streaming Too Much? What the Discovery+/HBO Max Mashup Means
Smart Buying Fewer original scripted series? Maybe. And maybe it’s time to unsubscribe.
By Bob Niedt Published
Smart Buying -
Amazon Ending a Key Perk for Amazon Prime Customers
Amazon Prime Got stuff stored on Amazon Drive? Heads up – that’s going away. Your photos are safe, though.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Best Amazon Prime Day Smart Home Deals
online shopping Time to scoop up Amazon Prime Day deals to make your home, and your life, smarter.
By Bob Niedt Published
online shopping -
Amazon Prime Fees Are Rising. Here’s How to Cancel Your Amazon Prime Membership
Amazon Prime Amazon Prime will soon cost $139 a year, $180 for those who pay monthly. If you’re a subscriber, maybe it’s time to rethink your relationship. Here’s a step-by-step guide to canceling Prime.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Costco Membership Cost Is Due to Rise
Costco If Costco stays true to form, a rise in membership dues could come as soon as this summer.
By Bob Niedt Published
Costco -
Best Amazon Prime Perks for the Holidays
shopping From Amazon for Students to Amazon Music, the benefits of Amazon Prime are far-reaching. We found some Prime perks perfect for the holidays.
By Bob Niedt Published
shopping -
61 Stores That Won’t Be Open on Thanksgiving Day 2021
Smart Buying Is Target open on Thanksgiving? Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving? Is Costco open on Thanksgiving? What about Best Buy and others? We’re tracking dozens of major retailers that are taking a break on November 25.
By Bob Niedt Published
Smart Buying -
Supply-Chain Woes Cloud Holiday Outlook
Making Your Money Last Problem number one: Not as much stuff is being made. Problem number two: It’s having a hard time getting to stores and warehouses.
By Bob Niedt Published
Making Your Money Last -
13 Reasons to Shop at Walmart (Even If You Hate Walmart)
spending If you haven't shopped at the world's largest retailer in some time, here's some of what you've been missing.
By Bob Niedt Published
spending -
14 Worst Things to Buy at Walmart
how to save money Walmart prides itself on low, low prices. We did some comparison shopping regarding Walmart vs. Amazon prices and those of other retailers. The price differences may surprise you.
By Bob Niedt Published
how to save money -
The Most Popular Items Sold on Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Amazon Prime Day moved up to June 2021 after a dive into October in 2020. Here are the most popular items sold this week.
By Bob Niedt Published
Amazon Prime -
Staunton, Va.: The Perfect Place (for Me) to Retire
Smart Buying Why not head farther south? Virginia is retiree-friendly, it doesn’t tax Social Security, and it has no estate or inheritance tax.
By Bob Niedt Published
Smart Buying -
5 Alternatives to Amazon Prime for Free Shipping on Everyday Purchases
online shopping You don’t need to pay Amazon Prime’s $119 annual fee to find a wide swath of products online at different retailers.
By Bob Niedt Published
online shopping -
47 Stores That Won’t Be Open on Thanksgiving Day, 2020
Smart Buying Is Target open on Thanksgiving? Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving? What about Best Buy, Costco and others? We’re tracking dozens of major retailers that won’t be open on November 26.
By Bob Niedt Published
Smart Buying