A woman with a Macy's credit card reports getting a letter showing a concerning rise in its APR—which has her contemplating closing the credit card and not shopping there again.

The TikTok video warning, which starts with the creator saying, "Here's a warning, everyone," can be found on the Latina Plant Priestess (@latinaplantpriestess) account. It was put up Friday, getting more than 366,000 views since. In it, she shares a letter she got from Macy's informing her of changes to her credit.

"I got this letter as an update from Macy's, my credit card," she says, adding, "I have excellent credit."

She then says, "Oh, look at what it says now," showing that the APR on the card is jumping up to 34.49%. "They are out of their damn minds. They can close my account."

Rising credit card interest rates

She goes on to explain that it's possible to call and challenge the rate by August 26, but if a customer doesn't do that, the rate will take effect, based on her interpretation of the letter. She also points out, "You know that they lost me. I was a customer. They are cray cray."

She also advised people to close their accounts, which can actually negatively impact one's credit score.

Experian advises, "In general, keep unused credit cards open so you benefit from longer average credit history and lower credit utilization. Consider putting one small regular purchase on the card and paying it off automatically to keep the card active."

The rate might seem outrageous, but according to Forbes, current credit card rates are more expensive than you might think. For the week of July 29, "The average credit card interest rate is 27.62%."

The article adds, "The Federal Reserve keeps tabs on the average interest rate that U.S. consumers pay for a variety of different financial products—credit cards included. In May 2024, the average credit card interest rate in the U.S. on accounts with balances that assessed interest was 22.76%, according to The Federal Reserve."

It then adds, "Of course, the annual percentage rates (APR) you pay on your own credit cards might not match up with the national average. Credit card APRs can vary widely based on a number of factors, from your credit score to your debt-to-income ratio and beyond."

Commenters weigh in

One remarked, "Tjmaxx, Marshall’s, HomeGoods card is the exact same! I hate that I even opened a card with them."

Someone else said, "Same here! Had this card for 15 years! Never once late!! Great credit! I’m over it!"

"There is not one thing in Macy’s that is worth me buying at 34% interest," another observed.

The Los Angeles-based creator, whose real name is Laura Jardon, responded to the Daily Dot via email. She said, regarding contacting Macy's, that she hasn't reached out after further consideration. "I don’t believe there’s room for negotiation. I had recently reached out to another CC company, Capital One, about lowering their interest rate (24%) and they refused."

@latinaplantpriestess #outoftheirminds #fyp #warning #viral #foodblogger #losangeles #warning #creditcarddebt #debtfreecommunity #crazystory ♬ original sound - Latina Plant Priestess

The Daily Dot reached out to Macy's via email for comment.

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Amazon's Netradyne cameras are touted as a way, per the company's website, to "enable drivers to adjust as risky events occur."

But one driver recently claimed to be flagged by the surveillance system for merely touching his eye. The revelation is part of an ongoing conversation about whether the cameras might be too "Big Brother."

The video comes from TikTok creator Austin Morgan (@austinsendz), posted on Thursday and racking up more than 3.6 million views. Morgan shows a view of what appears to be two people on a laptop looking at video of an Amazon driver on a route.

A voiceover says, "Amazon dinged me for touching my eye in the van." When the driver does that, the people watching the video of it happening can be heard talking.

Morgan then opines via caption, "These netradyne cameras suck."

What is Netradyne? And is it a privacy concern?

The Netradyne page on the Amazon website shows different types of cameras available, and touts its safety features. It notes, "Netradyne combines Artificial Intelligence with video and advanced onboard sensors to detect, reason, and determine causality of events."

The web page includes this tagline: "Humanizing the interaction transportation companies have with their drivers to enhance driving performance."

But according to The Verge, in an article published July 18, privacy concerns are a very real thing. "An influx of videos taken from Amazon’s in-van surveillance cameras has been published on Reddit in recent weeks, sparking fresh concerns about the privacy of delivery drivers being monitored for their entire shifts," the article reads.

Commenters shed some additional light on the issue

"My buddy works for Amazon and they just put these in. the management hates it so much cuz they have to go through ALL of those," one claimed.

Another said, "The Netradyne is the worse thing Amazon had implemented into the vans. I mean as long as you ain’t catching violations you good abut it’s just a weird feeling having a camera there and blocks my view."

Someone else even claims it might be an impediment to new hires. One user wrote, "I was about work for Amazon till I heard they do this and also had a driver said u don't wanna work here." They added, "lol well that interview was fun."

Morgan responded, "He lowkey saved you."

@austinsendz These netradyne cameras suck 🤣 #fyp ♬ original sound - Austin Morgan

The Daily Dot reached out to Amazon via email and to the creator via TikTok direct message.

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The post ‘These netradyne cameras suck’: Amazon driver gets flagged simply for touching his eye appeared first on The Daily Dot.

An Amazon worker and self-declared freelance labor organizer is warning people of a bedbug infestation at an Amazon warehouse in Kentucky—though Amazon is denying the allegation.

Drew D. Duzinskas, whose LinkedIn profile shows he's both a "freelance labor organizer" and Amazon fulfillment associate, put up a TikTok video on Wednesday in which he warned viewers based on a TikTok shared with him. As of Friday morning, the video has tallied more than 273,800 views.

He starts by claiming, "Apparently, bedbugs had been found at an Amazon facility in Kentucky. Someone shared a TikTok video with me from a worker from SDF9 in Kentucky, in which they claimed that on July 20, 2024, the SDF9 facility was shut down in order to inspect the facility for bedbugs. This same worker is reporting that both night shift and day shift are reporting that they have had bedbugs found in their own personal situations."

The warehouse in question is in Shepherdsville, Ky., near Louisville.

Are Amazon workers unknowingly taking home bed bugs?

Duzinskas goes on to say, "Apparently, the corporation has been telling them to go to Amcare if they feel itchiness or feel any bites. Given the fact that it's mosquito season as well as poison ivy season, can be kind of hard to tell whether or not you're getting bedbug bites or not."

While there are no recent news reports to corroborate Duzinskas' story, a Reddit post on r/Louisville made on Thursday also alleges there's a bedbug situation.

"There's an alleged beg bug scare going on this week at the Amazon facility nearby Louisville," that post said. "It's also allegedly being said that Amazon workers are unknowingly taking bed bugs home."

However, an Amazon spokesperson told the Daily Dot that two independent pest control companies checked the facilities and determined it did not have bedbugs.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, "The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) has long been a pest – feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs a public health pest. However, unlike most public health pests, bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease. They can, however, cause other public health issues, so it’s important to pay close attention to preventing and controlling bed bugs."

The article goes on to say, "Experts believe the recent increase in bed bugs in the United States may be due to more travel, lack of knowledge about preventing infestations, increased resistance of bed bugs to pesticides, and ineffective pest control practices."

What to do in case of an infestation

A CBS News article provides some tips for determining if you have bedbugs, including, "If you notice reddish stains on your bed sheets, this could be your first sign of a bed bug infestation. It's not pleasant to know this, but it's worth it to be prepared: These stains are likely the result of crushed bedbugs and an indication that you should take a closer look at your mattress."

Commenters reacted to the possibility that Amazon packages might be carrying bedbugs.

One quipped, "Shopping addiction cured!"

Someone else claimed, "SDF9 is a mostly clothing/shoe return facility. It has always been rumored to have bed bugs." The person then clarified, "Never saw one while I worked there."

The Daily Dot has reached out to Duzinskas via LinkedIn mail and TikTok direct message,

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The owner of a custom auto lighting shop is showing what he claimed was a concerning security issue for owners of new Toyota Tacoma trucks before determining the real source of the issue.

The video comes from the TikTok account for Automotive Custom Lighting (@automotivecustomlighting), based in Surprise, Arizona. It features CEO David Ward, with a Toyota truck in his work bay, laying out the situation that caused him concern. He posted the video on June 28, and it has since gotten more than 24,000 views.

What did he think went wrong?

He says in the video, "Both keys are right here. Now, I was just able to move this vehicle into my shop without the keys. I thought one of my guys left the keys in the truck; I moved it in here. Come to find out, he had the keys nowhere near the truck."

He then demonstrates it, putting the keys at a workstation about eight steps away from the truck. With the truck unlocked, he could go right up to it and use the push-button starter to get the motor running.

He also demonstrates it with the doors locked, but the driver's side window rolled down. While he can't pull on the door handle to have the car open automatically as he can when the key fob's on his person, he is still able to use the push-button starter just by reaching into the car.

"So, for some reason," he concludes, "you're able to start this Toyota without any keys."

@automotivecustomlighting 2024 Toyota Tacoma Starts with no Keys. #toyota #tacoma #automotivecustomlighting #arizona ♬ original sound - AutomotiveCustomLighting

What really happened?

Commenters shared their thoughts, starting with one who theorized the issue might not be with Toyota at all.

That person suggested, "He got an aftermarket remote start drive the lazy way where they put in another key in there."

Another wondered, "How are you able to start it without not pushing on the brake pedal?"

Someone else said, "Toyota had this problem with the first gen Prius," adding, "I repossessed a Toyota Prius before without the key being in the car."

That led another commenter to quip, "Toyota: Let’s go places, without the keys."

The creator then sneaked in what actually happened in a response within that thread. "Ended up being a spare wallet key in [the] glovebox," he wrote.

How do Toyotas generally fare?

According to Statista, between 2009 and 2023, Toyota has consistently outpaced other car companies in customer satisfaction. In 2023, Toyota rated an 84 out of 100, while all car manufacturers considered averaged just 79 out of 100.

Car and Driver rated the 2024 edition of the Tacoma a 9.5 out of 10, saying, "The 2024 Toyota Tacoma finally has the goods to go toe to toe with modernized mid-size rivals such as the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado. Not only does the all-new Tacoma have brawny bodywork, but its interior finally qualifies as contemporary, with an attractive aesthetic supplemented by crisp digital displays."

The Daily Dot has reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message and online contact form and to Toyota via online contact form.

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A fan of financial literacy is telling people with car loans how to make principal-only payments.

The advice comes from TikTok creator Angela (@anggrill), who has generated more than 175,000 views as of Wednesday for a video posted on July 16. In the video, she talks about her loan payment situation and how she's been able to whittle away at her total loan amount by paying down the principal.

She starts by referencing a previous viral video in which she explained how she's paying off a four-year car loan in under three years by making extra payments that only apply to her principal rather than to any interest.

How does she do it?

"I go to Bank of America for my loan," she explains, walking viewers through the additional $500 she set aside to pay it down. "But then, Wells Fargo is where my checking is. And so [the money] usually gets taken out literally the next day. So, like, by tomorrow, the $500 will be taken out."

She also notes, "Make sure you tell the person, like the teller, that you're talking to that you want this to be applied towards principal only. Have your account number ready, and then you're good to go."

@anggrill YOUR SIGN TO PAY YOUR LOAN OFF QUICKER !!! And yes i know its a privilege to be able to do this but i work for a nonprofit and i budget every month to be able to do so #autoloan ♬ original sound - Angela

Do experts agree with her advice?

In a 2023 article, Bankrate observed, "When you make extra payments on the principal, you save on your interest over time. With a simple interest loan — which make up the vast majority of car loans — interest is a percentage of the principal you owe. As you pay down the principal amount, your accrued interest becomes less and less. However, with precomputed interest loans, lenders front-load interest on your loan payments, so you benefit less from early payoff."

It's also possible to pay down a car loan faster even if the lender doesn't allow for principal-only payments. The same article advises, "You may not have the money to make a whole payment twice a month, but making a half payment every other week can cut down on the overall interest paid, depending on how it’s calculated. Remember, this only works out if it is a simple interest auto loan, as precomputed interest will be applied the same regardless of when payments are made."

Commenters shared their thoughts

"My car loan is through Bank of America and i don’t see an option on the app for principal only," one shared, "so i called them and they said there’s no way to do a principal only payment! how are you doing it?!"

Angela replied, "I go in person!!! Or you can call them and tell them to apply your extra payment towards principal only but I prefer a paper trail!!!"

"Learned this with my first car. Paid it off in One year! I plan on doing this with my new car," another viewer said.

The Daily Dot reached out to Angela via TikTok direct message and email and to Bank of America and Wells Fargo via email.

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The post ‘I finance through Wells Fargo and they have this option online!’: Driver says you should make principal-only payments on your car loan appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A mechanic is claiming that a customer experienced a retro experience with the car's entertainment system after hitting a bump.

The video comes from TikTok creator Ryan (@ryran88), the only video on the channel so far, getting more than 1.2 million views as of Monday. The short video went up on Friday, with an on-screen caption reading, "Customer states hit a bump and radio turned into a computer from 2004."

The video shows a blue screen in the entertainment system above the center console in the car with a blue screen and part of a logo for what several commenters identified as the Windows Embedded Compact operating system.

As it went up Friday, some commenters referred to the faulty CrowdStrike software update that wreaked havoc with computer systems worldwide on Friday.

An AP story on the outage noted, "Worrying about the fragility of a globally connected technology ecosystem is nothing new. It’s what drove fears in the 1990s of a technical glitch that could cause chaos at the turn of the millennium."

The AP story also noted, “This is basically what we were all worried about with Y2K, except it’s actually happened this time,” via Australian cybersecurity consultant Troy Hunt, who posted his observation on X, formerly Twitter.

But a TechCrunch article about the unfolding situation noted, "Automakers GM and Ford told TechCrunch their manufacturing operations were not affected by the outage and that their consumer-facing apps, which owners use to unlock and lock their vehicles and control other information, are working as normal. OnStar, the GM subsidiary that handles in-vehicle communications including emergency services, is also working as normal."

@ryran88 #fypage ♬ original sound - Ryan

Commenters weighed in further

"Windows CE was particularly good for cars because it boots VERY fast and does not care if disconnected from power suddenly," one observed. "Which happens all the time in cars."

Another noted, "You’ll be suprised how infotainment systems still use old operating systems."

Someone else said, "I’d take it over the new Google system GM is now using in its EVs that lack Apple CarPlay."

One commenter remarked, "If they really hit a bump, I wonder if it just happened to cause the right button combination to be triggered."

The Daily Dot has reached out to the creator via TikTok comment.

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A server was dismayed by the state of the table when three patrons left the restaurant at the end of the meal. But for people who weighed in on the video she created, the server suddenly became the main character in the worst way possible.

The video chronicling the complaint came from TikTok creator Aryanna (@ary.evanz), posting it on Saturday and getting more than 105,000 views as of Monday morning.

In it, she starts, "I'm sorry," before stating, "But if you are a grown-a-- adult, three grown-a-- adults and you are leaving your table like this ... who raised you?"

The video shows the table in question, which appears to be in some mild disarray, with plates still on the table and a napkin over a plate.

Commenters didn't think it was so bad. They did, however, think that the server was so bad.

Viewers are not on her side

"You don’t understand the job," one remarked.

Another noted, "When my tables left, hardly anything was on it because as a server, I picked up plates after they were finished. Who trained you?"

That led someone to remark, "This right here! Best response. If you are actively interacting, the mess is removed throughout the duration of the meal."

Another chimed in with, "So if we stack dishes they complain, if we don’t stack dishes they complain. Makes me not want to dine out."

Someone else added, "AND you want a 25% tip?"

@ary.evanz zillenials know what im talking about #restaurantlife #mannersmatter #amiwrongtho ♬ original sound - aryanna

Dining etiquette

A December 2023 article from Forbes gave the perspective of someone who waited tables in college, applying lessons from life as a server to the business world. The list of tips included, "You have to be adaptable," with the writer noting, "being able to adapt to the different environments I was in, adhere to the varying rules that were set, and adjust my approach to the clientele for each helped me learn that no two companies, clients or projects are the same."

It also advised, "Making yourself more amenable to others and adjusting your approach to their needs doesn’t take away from your strength. Rather, if done in the right way, it can give you more access, influence and compliance so that you can reach goals with more consistency."

Aryanna created a follow-up video to her original one, responding to a commenter who said, "I did this job for a decade ... it's literally your job to clean up the table ... get a clue."

She replied, "I was not expecting to receive so much backlash on that last video. Obviously, I know it's my job to clean the table."

She went on to explain, "At my job, I am the only server on, and I'm actually the only person who speaks English because it is a little mom-and-pop shop Thai kitchen. And I answer the phone, I pack the takeout orders, and I wait all the tables, and I bus all my own tables," she continues. "So when you see me running around, and you're just rude on top of it and then you leave a mess, It just really speaks to a person's character."

Doubling down, she adds, "It's really just about how you treat other people and entitlement."

The Daily Dot has reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message.

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A driver who claims TikTok made her do it showed a window-opening trick she learned.

The video demonstrating how it's done with a Ford vehicle comes from creator Amy Oak358 (@amy14oak), who posted the video on Thursday and has generated more than 3.4 million views since.

She starts it recording with her POV, stating, "I swear, TikTok has me doing the stupidest sh*t on a Wednesday afternoon. She then pulls her key fob from the passenger seat, while the car's parked in the driveway, and explains the demo she's about to embark on.

"OK, so allegedly," she starts, "If you hit your unlock button once, twice, and then hold it the third time, it's supposed to roll your windows down. So naturally, I'm going to see if it works and if it does I'm gonna be shocked."

Indeed, she is shocked, as the move does work and the windows come down.

"Shut up!" she exclaims as the windows roll down. Then, after a beat, she wonders, "Did anyone else know that was a thing?"

@amy14oak Are you KIDDING me?! Was I the only one???? #ford #lifehacks #shook ♬ original sound - Amy Oak358

It is, indeed, a thing that is the subject of a Daily Dot story from several days ago. In that story, the owner of a Honda Passport determined that an identical key fob sequence worked.

That story noted, "The feature can be found in some Hondas, Fords, and Toyotas," and if you want to similarly roll your windows back up without getting in the car, "All you need to do is press the unlock button twice, and then hold it down the second time."

Commenters were amazed at the hack

"I banged my knee running thru my hallway to get my keys," reported one, "but now I can confirm this works on Nissan too."

Another pointed out, "Your salesman is supposed to show you these things! That’s why they get paid!!!"

That led Amy to report, "He was the worst salesman ever! Lol."

Another pointed out, "Comfort entry," then clarified, "It’s to allow you to let excess heat out of your car before getting in."

Another person noted, "It's over 95 here and was 105 last week. I wish I would have known about this sooner."

The Daily Dot has reached out to Amy via TikTok direct message and to Ford via email.

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The post ‘Did anyone else know??’: Ford driver realizes her key fob can do this one window trick appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A person extolling the virtues of $2 protein shakes at Popeye's confused people confusing it with the better-known Popeyes.

TikTok creator Gab (@gabybraganza) posted a video on July 10 praising Canadian nutrition chain Popeye's Supplements for offering a $2 shake special on Tuesdays. It has since generated more than 465,000 views. By including the #popeyes tag in the post, she may have confused viewers who thought she was referencing the American fried chicken chain instead.

"Maybe I'm the only person that didn't know this," she begins her short clip, "but Popeye's has $2 protein shakes on Tuesdays, so cheers."

She then adds, helpfully, "I got the caramel fudge." In her caption, she writes, "Ok usually i am a protein shake hater BUT the caramel fudge slaps and for TWO DOLLARS in this economy??? Run."

Since when has there been another Popeye's?

According to its website, "In 1989 Canada's Popeye's Supplements Canada was the very first sports nutrition retail outlet in Canada. TODAY, it is Canada's largest sports nutrition retailer with Over 100 Locations coast to coast!"

It continues, "Popeye's Supplements Canada's exceptional growth and success rate throughout these years can be attributed to extreme hard work, but also servicing customers' needs by offering optimum results and solutions with superior service, accurate information, real knowledge, the best of the best in products on the market, and incredible value for their hard earned money with the LOWEST PRICES IN CANADA GUARANTEED!"

Is there really a $2 deal?

While Popeye's doesn't uniformly advertise the $2 Tuesday shake deal on its site, one commenter to Gab's video claimed, "It’s the Popeyes locations only in British Columbia and Quebec." Another store in Saskatoon offered a Free Shake Friday contingent on buying at least $50 worth of supplements. That store also offered the $2 Tuesday shake, billing it as "Toonie Tuesday," though that deal dates back to 2018.

@gabybraganza Ok usually i am a protein shake hater BUT the caramel fudge slaps and for TWO DOLLARS in this economy??? Run #popeyes #proteinshake #proteingoals #vancouver #musttry #fittok ♬ original sound - gab

The idea of a $2 shake crossover at Popeyes—launched in a New Orleans suburb in 1972, initially as Chicken on the Run—tickled some commenters.

"I’m about to go order a 4 piece dark meat protein shake," one cracked.

Another similarly wondered, "Instructions unclear im with a box of 4 piece fried chicken."

Someone else remarked, "I’m here now. The lady at cash is looking at me crazy. She said 'we only sell chicken here sir', what do I do next?"

Another queried, "Now why would more than one place be called popeyes?"

According to the Popeyes history page, the chicken chain is "named for Gene Hackman’s hard-boiled police detective Popeye Doyle from the 1971 film The French Connection." On the other hand, Popeye's Supplements nods to the spinach-swilling cartoon character that, according to Britannica, debuted in 1929.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Gab via TikTok direct message, Popeye's Supplements via its contact form, and Popeyes via email.

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The post ‘Instructions unclear im with a box of 4 piece fried chicken’: Does Popeyes really have $2 protein shakes? appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A woman provided a hack for what she called a "delicious homemade sugar-free margarita" using Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero as a base.

The video from creator Riotstef (@Riotstef), offering "poor life advice," was posted to TikTok on May 1 and has generated more than 219,000 views since then. In it, she shares her drink recipe in what at first appears to be a warning.

"Hey guys, whatever you do, don't put tequila in your Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero," she begins, "or else you will have a delicious homemade sugar-free margarita straight from the bottle."

She then adds, to close, "And you're gonna get turnt."

Her accompanying caption warns in all caps, "BE CAREFUL!!" But that didn't stop commenters from being encouraged by the recipe.

"What’s the ratio so I don’t accidentally do this?" one asked.

Another responded, "Follow your heart, honestly."

Someone else offered encouragement, coining, "Gotta get Baja Blasted."

One commenter offered an alternate recipe, saying, "I get the frozen baja blasts and put tequila in them."

That suggestion led the creator to remark, "BRILLIANT."

@riotstef BE CAREFUL!! #cocktail #margarita #drinking ♬ original sound - riotstef

Another noted, "Did this with vodka was so good ended up in the hospital bc I had way tooo much it was fun but never doing it again."

Baja Blast, initially birthed in 2004 as a collaboration between the soft drink company and Taco Bell, has a special place on the internet. A Daily Dot story on the concoction observed, "Taco Bell’s own site, dealing in metaphor, claims it’s 'like drinking a real hurricane,' before admitting, 'We’re obviously speculating here, since even trying to drink an intense tropical storm would basically be impossible.'”

Another less fantastical source cited in the article described it as having "a turquoise-green color and a flavor that has been described as Mountain Dew mixed with tropical lime."

What else do people like to mix with it?

A Reddit post on the r/TacoBell subreddit asked, "What alcohol mixes best with Baja Blast?" Though vodka made an appearance, as you might expect, a surprising nomination gathered momentum from a number of redditors: peach schnapps.

The proponent for that noted, "The flavor of the peach pairs well with the tropical flavor of the Baja Blast."

One hardy soul responded, "Dude, you weren’t kidding. I just tried all the suggestions in this thread and yours wins by a long shot."

The Daily Dot has reached out to Mountain Dew via email and to Riotstef via TikTok and Instagram direct message.

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The post ‘Thanos moment’: Woman warns against putting tequila in your Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero appeared first on The Daily Dot.