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We go dumpster diving to find out if take out coffee cups really get recycled. And is slower really safer on the highway? We put speed limits to the test. And comedian Nile Seguin takes on social media to find out how much is too much sharing.
We rely on best before dates to make sure food is fresh and we don't get sick. But how reliable are they? Supermarket insiders tell all and share common tricks some grocery stores use to give your favourite foods a second life.
Fish oil, vitamin C, and protein powder: We spend more than a billion dollars every year trying to supplement our diet with essential nutrients. In a first of its kind test in Canada, Marketplace finds out what's really in all those pills and powders, and which ones live up to the promises they make. Part of a special joint investigation with the fifth estate.
Sometimes, hidden cameras are the best way to help expose an important story. From "peegate" to dirty hotels and oil change scams, we expose our top 5 hidden camera busts and show you how and why we go undercover to get you the goods.
In a revealing peek behind the retail curtain, we look at the tricks that companies use to convince you to buy more. How an industry of neuroscientists and behavioural psychologists help retailers boost business and make us buy stuff that we may not actually want or need. And just in time for Black Friday, we show you how to recognize and resist the most popular and deceptive marketing techniques.
Sometimes, getting in a car accident is only the beginning of the problem. Marketplace investigates tow truck scams that can cost you a lot more than they should. We're showing you how to avoid getting taken for a pricey tow truck ride.
And, we're looking at how some store flyers mislead you about what's really on sale.
Many people flock to outlets for deals on their favourite brands. But are you always getting the same quality that you get at retail stores?
And we look at the "compare at" price at Winners, and find out if their discounted prices are the real deal.
Costume jewelry is everywhere these days, popular with tweens, teens and adults. But is it safe? We test jewelry bought from major Canadian retailers and find those low prices can come at a surprising price: Some popular brands are made with toxic metals. We travel to factories in China to find out how your jewelry gets made.
Trying to stay on track for New Year's Resolutions? Some healthy sounding super snacks pack more sugar and salt than popular chips and candy bars.
We looked at popular snack foods that may fool some shoppers into thinking they're getting a good dose of guilt-free food, and found that some healthy sounding products, kale chips, energy bars, fruit snacks, contain high levels of sugar or sodium.
Scanning your own groceries, booking your travel, printing your own tickets, selecting your own seats. It's not just about convenience: We're doing a lot of work ourselves that companies used to do for us. But while we're doing the work, are we seeing the savings?
Your chances of surviving an airline emergency are better than you may think. Think you know what to do to keep safe? In a unique simulation we put airline safety to the test. What we have to show you could save your life.
Canadians are charged some of the highest prices in the world for cellphone service. And when we have a problem, it's often tough to get it solved. We help three Canadians who are tired navigating customer service options and waiting forever on hold.
We've got inside information: help from a long-time customer service rep and a professional haggler who's built a career out of getting better cellphone deals. They coach three consumers sick of getting the runaround from their cellphone companies, and give viewers critical tips on how to save money.
Do tired and overworked doctors on marathon shifts make more mistakes? It's a nightmare that many people don't think about: How your doctor's schedule may be harming your health. Sleepless shifts of up to 30 hours are routine for many of Canada's 12,000 resident doctors. And that's unacceptable and dangerous, according to a panel of medical experts. But Canada has no national standard for the hours residents work. David Common and two doctors stay awake and put themselves to the test in a 26-hour sleep lab experiment, to test how sleep deprivation can affect even the best doctors.
Looking for a job, shopping, renting an apartment: Does your name or the colour of your face matter? A special one-hour Marketplace investigation puts Canada to the test. You may be surprised by what we find.
Should women have to dress sexy to serve you a sandwich? Charlsie Agro goes undercover to apply for a job serving in popular family restaurants. Along the way, we meet women forced to wear high heels, short skirts, and full make-up to serve your food: Dress codes far more sexual, than their male counterparts. Are these dress codes sexist? Some experts say yes. Should women be treated this way at work? We hear from servers who feel they shouldn't have to dress sexy to keep their jobs.
"Nest-laid," "free-run," "free-range" and "organic": Egg cartons hold a lot of big promises about what's inside and how they got there. We test the marketing on supermarket eggs, and ask companies if we can see for ourselves what the labels really mean for chickens and for you.
How do the big three cellphone providers get away with charging us so much for data? Cellphone companies may be bending the rules by letting children authorize additional data without their parents' permission. Although the CRTC's Wireless Code was brought in to prevent bill shock, it doesn't seem to be working for some families.
We also have an update: Our hospital parking story made a big difference in Ontario, which has just frozen parking rates and introduced a discount for frequent users. But we look at the picture across the country, and find hospital parking rates are increasing, with real consequences for patients and their families.
A new breed of criminal is combining the high tech skills of a hacker with the brazen nerve of an old-fashioned car thief. We go on the hunt for the mysterious device police believe those thieves are using to steal your car.
As reports emerge of mysterious car break-ins where no damage was done, we examine how keyless car entry systems may allow thieves to unlock a car without breaking in. We break down the new ways thieves break-in to your car and show you how you can protect yourself.
Many restaurants, hotels and attractions in Niagara Falls automatically add a tourism fee to your bill. But do you have to pay it? We follow up on an earlier story and find a surprising change to the tourism charges.
It's elementary: Teachers play an invaluable role in our lives and in our kids' lives. But how good is the system at protecting you, if there's a problem in the classroom? In a months-long investigation, we find out how serious complaints about teacher conduct are handled across Canada, and reveal that in most provinces, teacher discipline is so rare, slow and secretive that often teachers who have been disciplined continue to teach while parents remain in the dark.
We expose how the lack of transparency and efficiency in parts of Canada could put students at risk, and find out which provinces get a failing grade.
