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Consumer Talk with Wendy Knowler

CapeTalk
Cape Town
Consumer Protection Act
South Africa
Artificial Intelligence
Global NCAP
Standard Bank
Capetalk
Lay-By (consumer Protection)
Online Scams
Automobile Association Of South Africa
Virgin Active
Black Friday
Tow Truck Industry
Advertising Regulatory Board
Rental Market
Bottle Deposits
Virgin Active Point Club Greenpoint
Gift Vouchers
Discovery Health
Digital Customer Service

Consumer journalist Wendy Knowler joins Pippa Hudson to provide useful insights and tips on how to make the most of your buying power.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationBusiness

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Artwork for Consumer Talk

Latest Episodes

Pippa Hudson speaks to consumer journalist Wendy Knowler about how the Woolworths store card fee has gone from zero to R630 a year.

Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show.

This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audie... more

Saskia Falken speaks to consumer journalist Wendy Knowler about how food delivery service, Uber Eats reacted after a woman complained that pizzas she ordered never arrived.

Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show.

This 2-hour re... more

Saskia Falken speaks to Angelika Grimbeek, the Policy and Programme Manager at HEALA about why the organisation is calling for Front of Package Warning Labels to become a reality.

Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show.

This 2-... more

Saskia Falken speaks to Sean Granger, General Manager at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, about whether hospitality has become too focused on automation, and why good old-fashioned customer service may still be the industry's biggest competitive adv... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Siobhi Thibs
Ophthalmologist known as Dr. Tebz, hospital clinician
Huitasco Hospital, Cape Town
Episode: Consumer Talk: When your food delivery doesn’t arrive
Angelika Grimbeek
Policy and Program Manager at Heala
Heala
Episode: Consumer Talk 2: Campaign for Front of Food Package warning labels
Pippa Hudson
Co-host referenced in intro
CapeTalk
Episode: Consumer Talk 2: Campaign for Front of Food Package warning labels
Sean Granger
General Manager at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa
Granny Mouse Country House & Spa
Episode: Consumer Talk 1: What hospitality can teach us about AI and the customer experience
Kirby Gordon
Chief Marketing Officer for FlySafe Air
FlySafe Air
Episode: Consumer Talk: Courier insurance surcharge on plane tickets
Nick Harding
Boss of the year in this case, employer who intervened to help avert foreclosure
Unknown (employer of Arnold)
Episode: Consumer Talk: Home loan finally paid off
Arnold Soderdinger
Carpenter, former RDP homeowner
Self
Episode: Consumer Talk: Home loan finally paid off
Mary Ophelio-Storpe
Listener who shared her experience with Alf Duncan Auctioneers
Private individual (auction seller)
Episode: Consumer Talk: Problem auction houses and quashing scams
Nico Marie
Vice-chair and head of compliance for the SA Institute of Auctioneers
South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA)
Episode: Consumer Talk: Problem auction houses and quashing scams

Hosts

Pippa Hudson
Host of CapeTalk's Consumer Talk
Wendy Knowler
Consumer journalist and co-host

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 11 ratings
  • Great advice. Empower yourself

    Wendy is the consumer guru. Listen to her and learn so you DON’T need to adk her for help.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @Mermaid_nix
    South Africa3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong emphasis on accountability from retailers and regulators is a hallmark of the show.
Content is consistently relevant to everyday buying decisions and safety concerns, with real-world case studies enhancing credibility.
Guests are well-chosen experts who translate complex consumer rights into practical steps.
Listeners appreciate the concrete, actionable consumer guidance and the blend of advocacy with regulatory context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#36
South Africa/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Consumer Talk 2: Campaign for Front of Food Package warning labels
Q: What exactly are front-of-package warning labels, and how do they differ from current nutrition information?
They are bold, simple warnings (often black-and-white with icons) that indicate high levels of sugar, salt, or saturated fat, and they differ from back-of-package nutrition tables which many find confusing or unreadable.
Consumer Talk 1: What hospitality can teach us about AI and the customer experience
Q: Why do you think guests still crave human interaction despite advances in AI and automation?
Because AI often misses the subtle, emotional cues that make a guest feel seen and cared for; human staff can recognize individual preferences, remember personal details, and genuinely adapt to a guest's mood and needs.
Consumer Talk: Home loan finally paid off
Q: What happened to the loan balance after 18 years of payments?
The balance ballooned to more than the original loan amount due to escalating arrears, rising insurance costs, and poor communication, leading to a public outcry and a resolution after media intervention.
Consumer Talk: Courier insurance surcharge on plane tickets
Q: Does that mean all insurance paid on courier items is wasted money if the goods aren't covered?
Not necessarily; the CPA may override exclusions, and even when coverage is denied, there can still be liability for the carrier under the Act, or other remedies such as refunds of related costs; the real takeaway is to scrutinize exclusions, assess risk, and pursue appropriate channels if coverage is misrepresented or misleading.
Consumer Talk: Courier insurance surcharge on plane tickets
Q: Before we get to the outcome, what actually happened with Jonathan's case?
Jonathan paid for the courier and a separate insurance premium, but the insurer refused coverage for secondhand goods; the company offered only a refund of the premium and later settled part of the courier fee, with ongoing considerations under CPA Section 65 to determine liability; overall, the episode emphasizes that the buyer may still have recourse under the CPA despite insurance exclusions, and there are steps to pursue further remedies if needed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Consumer Talk

What is Consumer Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A consumer-affairs show led by a veteran consumer journalist and a seasoned radio host that covers practical rights, regulations, and real-world experiences across a wide range of purchasing and service categories. Episodes frequently dissect consumer protection law, discuss regulatory gaps, and translate complex rules into actionable guidance for listeners dealing with issues like deposits, refunds, price hikes, recalls, labeling, and safety standards. Notable strengths include first-hand case studies, rapid editorial follow-ups with regulators and companies, and a willingness to hold retailers and service providers to account. The program consistently blends expert commentary with listener experiences, making it useful for anyone navigati... more

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How many listeners does Consumer Talk get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Consumer Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Consumer Talk:

1. Wendy Knowler is the Consumer Ninja
2. The Gareth Cliff Show
3. MoneywebNOW
4. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
5. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit

How many episodes of Consumer Talk are there?

Consumer Talk launched 8 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Consumer Talk?

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What guests have appeared on Consumer Talk?

Recent guests on Consumer Talk include:

1. Dr. Siobhi Thibs
2. Angelika Grimbeek
3. Pippa Hudson
4. Sean Granger
5. Kirby Gordon
6. Nick Harding
7. Arnold Soderdinger
8. Mary Ophelio-Storpe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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