Airline Steers Clear of Some Electronics

Here’s yet another nudge for getting work done on business flights. Beginning this week, Northwest Airlines is banning use of compact disc players and other entertainment devices aboard airliners.

The airline said it is concerned that the devices might interfere with important navigation and communication systems.

Besides CD players, Northwest is banning use of FM radios, cellular phones and remote-control toys.

Northwest Airlines said it hasn’t experienced any problems with the devices, but isn’t willing to take any chances.

A quick survey found that policies vary somewhat from airline to airline. While most prohibit cellular phones and radios, CD players are permitted on United and American airlines. Delta bans CD players.

The Electronic Industry Assn., an organization representing electronics manufacturers, said there is no evidence that increasingly popular CD players interfere with navigation or communications equipment.

The Federal Aviation Administration has no rules on electronic devices, though several airlines have asked the agency to come up with guidelines.

Workaholics needn’t worry about Northwest’s new rules. Northwest says laptop computers, electronic calculators and portable tape players are still OK, except during takeoff and landing.

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Telemarketing tips: A week ago, the FBI launched a nationwide crackdown on telemarketing fraud, arresting more than 200 people for allegedly ripping off consumers. Southern California companies shut down by the FBI took in an estimated $118 million in less than two years from consumers alone.

Government investigators said illegal telemarketing outfits have certain characteristics consumers can look for to avoid becoming victims of future telephone sales scams. Among the telltale traits are:

* Offers for low-cost items in response to immediate concerns. For example, telemarketers might peddle self-defense devices after a crime wave. Typically, victims are told not to expect merchandise for at least 45 days. In many cases, victims receive no merchandise.

* High-pressure pitches for stakes in such risky investments as oil and gas leases, precious metals, land or penny stocks. Telemarketers usually demand payment by check or wire transfer, and warn victims not to expect a return for at least 18 months to two years. Needless to say, many investors lose their money.

* Offers of sweepstakes prizes in return for a processing fee ranging between $29 and $599. Common prizes are pen and pencil sets, jewelry, household cleaning products, vitamins and cosmetics and skin care products. The prizes are worth far less than what the victims paid.

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Now serving sticks and stones: How do you pressure children into eating a breakfast cereal? Apparently Quaker Oats Co. believes that insults work.

The giant food company is claiming on television commercials that only “weird” children dislike its Life breakfast cereal. We recently spotted the commercial on Nickelodeon, a cable channel geared toward children.

A Quaker Oats spokesman said the commercial was directed at mothers, and that the company has used the unless-your-children-are-weird, they’ll-eat-Life approach for six years. The company has received few complaints, despite a rap from Zillions, the children’s magazine published by Consumers Union.

Quaker Oats isn’t trying to offend young consumers, the spokesman said. “It’s intended to have humor, and be attention grabbing.”