If you are heading out to part with some cash, you probably want to feel good about where you are going. Who has the best selection? The easiest access? The most friendly environment?

While fewer folks have money, more are giving a thumbs-up to their shopping experience. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a national economic indicator of the quality of products and services, improved 0.9% to 75.7 on the 100-point scale in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the same period a year earlier. The survey canvasses about 19,000 consumers on their preferences.

Who are the best of the best?

Forbes has the list:

Nordstrom

Kohl’s

J.C. Penney

Target

Dollar General

Dillard’s

Macy’s

Army and Air Force Exchange Service

Sears Holding

Wal-Mart Stores

To read more about these chains, and why people like them, visit Forbes.

Advertisement

We’re always keeping an eye out for stylish bargains and great sales. This week we’ve found a handful of handbags, all for less than $50:

1. Kohl’s has a faux snakeskin hobo bag by Relic that’s a bit shiny, with black patent trim, on sale for $33.60 (it was $48).

2. Botkier is that very pricy, hip designer line that has a Target line of bags that look a lot more expensive than they are. The roomy gray faux python satchel even has a cell phone pocket, for $28 (it was $40, pictured left).

3. If you want a splashy colorful statement bag, look no further than Betsey Johnson’s Betseyville canvas tote, complete with pink spotted straps, a wild girly graphic and her signature metal tag. It’s $43.50 at Macys (pictured, right), originally $58.

4. Piperlime is a great site for bags and shoes, and they also have great sales. This Jessica Simpson Pacha tote was $99, and now it’s $50!

5. Another great site for accessories (and clothes, jewelry, etc.) is Amazon. They’ve got a lot more than books! We spotted a sporty RuthMichael blue Bali slouch purse for exactly $50.

For more style finds, go to Shopperati.

J.D. Power and Associates analyzed the responses from more than 7,600 credit card users to understand what made them either satisfied or unhappy with their current cards. The study measures customer satisfaction with credit cards over five key factors: interaction; billing and payment process; fees and rates; reward programs; and benefits and services.

Here’s how cardholders scored high performers in areas they identified as important to them:

Rewards (Transactors)

• AmEx
• Discover
• Chase

Fees/Rates (Revolvers)

• AmEx
• US Bank
• Discover

Call Center

• AmEx
• Discover
• Chase

Problem Incidence

• Target Visa
• Discover
• WaMu

Accepted Everywhere

• National City
• WaMu
• Chase
• Target Visa

Some additional credit card insights:

• Transactors are, as a whole, more satisfied with their credit cards than revolvers and are twice as likely as to remain with their primary credit card issuer.
• Even though transactors are most interested in rewards programs, 72 percent of all cardholders participate in some type of reward program.
• Hotel stays are the most satisfying type of reward, followed by cash rewards.
• One quarter of all cardholders don’t know if their card offers them additional benefits and one-third haven’t used any during the past year. Those users have lower satisfaction levels than their better informed counterparts.

For more information, view the complete credit card ratings at the J.D. Power and Associates web site.

Source: From J.D. Power and Associates