Sure, there are costs involved. But going the extra mile for unhappy customers can lead to serious growth.

We've all done some crazy things. Like when the "Happy Days" writers had Fonzie jump that shark tank; or when Tom Cruise flailed around on Oprah's couch; or when I recently grappled with the take-a-way sushi at Heathrow Airport.

For my money, though, the crazy crown has to go to the folks at Henderson, Nev.-based Zappos. Reason: This company sells shoes. To women. Online.

Ask any guy who's gone shoe-shopping with a female and you'll understand why I say this. This is not a matter of political correctness: Women simply have an unnatural relationship with shoes. My wife owns dozens and dozens of them. It's like she's on a never-ending search to find that perfect thing in her life to make up for her other disappointments (like her choice in men). And, like all other women, my wife has never purchased a pair of shoes without trying on 37 other pairs beforehand.

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Still more perplexing (to men, at least), these same women--after finally deciding on that one great pair--will head right back to the store 10 minutes after getting home to return them. Because that's what women do--they change their minds. It's their prerogative.

So why, a decade ago, did the Zappos guys decide to start an online female-shoe retailer? "We're actually not in the shoe business at all," says Sean Kim, vice president of business development. "We're in the service business. We just happen to sell shoes."

Looking for an upside to the downturn? Check out the auto showrooms.

If you qualify for a car loan (credit score above 500 and proof of employment), deals can be had. Thank the recession, the meltdown of Detroit's Big Three and the downward spiral in consumer confidence.

"If you are a bargain hunter, there has never been a better time," said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds, which specializes in consumer automotive information. "If it gets any better, they will be giving cars away. In the cases we are looking at, it's 25 to 30 percent off sticker price."

But before you run out, be warned: There are no giveaways. And if you're looking real cheap, you'll be hard pressed to find a car below $10,000 -- except for a bare-bones Nissan Versa without air conditioning. Even your basic Toyota Yaris -- known as a "price leader" designed to draw customers -- runs $11,390 on the Darcars Toyota Silver Spring lot.

The best deals go to those who can pay cash. If you are borrowing at zero percent interest, which is making a comeback, most dealers will not give you as big a break on price because the zero-interest loan is looked upon as the bargain.

"It all comes down to how much you finance," said Ethan Rossignol, general sales manager at Darcars Toyota Silver Spring. For those borrowing money, a credit score over 700 will probably bring an interest rate in the 5 or 6 percent range, said Al Toueg, general sales manager at Buick Pontiac GMC on Nicholson Lane in Rockville, part of the Fitzgerald Automalls network. The lower your credit score, the higher the interest rate. A credit score of around 600 might cost the buyer an annual interest rate of 8 or 9 percent. People in the 500 range will have trouble getting approved.

With car sales expected to hit 13 million this year compared with 16 million last year, dealers have thrown out the book on showroom economics. Profit margins, which is the amount they keep on each car, are thin or almost nonexistent.

The margin is normally someplace between what they pay for the car ("invoice price") and what they would like you to pay for the car ("sticker price" or "manufacturer's suggested retail price-MSRP"). That margin can range from $300 on a Toyota Corolla to a few thousand on GMC's lumbering Denali sport-utility vehicle.

Darcars' Rossignol swears he is losing money on some small cars.

Take a Toyota Corolla, one of the hottest selling cars in the country. Rossignol sells a Corolla with power locks and windows, an automatic transmission and air conditioning. Its invoice price is $16,522. The MSRP is $17,865, which is what Toyota suggested he get for it. That would have given him a $1,300 profit. The car's price: $14,790. Even if the manufacturer gives him some extra cash for the Corolla -- known as "dealer cash" -- it's likely that Rossignol will make little or nothing on the sale. A year ago the car would have probably fetched more than its $16,522 invoice.

"Six months ago, you had zero incentives," Rossignol said. "Now you have a choice of $1,000 customer cash or zero percent financing. Incentives from the manufacturer is something that we have never seen. And Toyota has never, ever put zero percent [interest rates on loans] like it just did. Now we have zero [percent loans] on 12 models."

General Motors, which says it will soon fail if it doesn't get billions in government loans, is knocking thousands off its prices to bring in customers. The bigger the car, the bigger the deal.

Sources: Richardson a 'serious contender' for Commerce job

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a serious contender for commerce secretary, but he could be tapped for another senior post, two sources close to the transition told CNN Friday.

Gov. Bill Richardson is being considered for commerce secretary but could also be given another top post.

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The sources said they do not consider Richardson's appointment to the Commerce Department to be a done deal.

Richardson, 61, was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

Currently in his second term as New Mexico's governor, he previously served as ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration.

Richardson is also considered to be a possibility for the secretary of state post.

Friday, Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp shot down media reports saying that she had already agreed to accept the secretary of state position.

"We're still in discussions, which are very much on track," said Philippe Reines, Clinton's senior adviser. "Any reports beyond that are premature."

The New York Times reported Friday that Clinton would give up her Senate seat and accept the Cabinet post, citing two confidants, who said the decision was made after further consultation with President-elect Barack Obama about the nature of her role and his foreign policy plans.

A Senior Obama aide told CNN there has been no development on a possible Clinton appointment since they informed CNN yesterday she is "on track" to be nominated for secretary of state.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Timothy J. Geithner will be nominated to be treasury secretary.

Geithner, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, began working with the Treasury Department in 1988 in the International Affairs division. In 1999 he became under secretary of the treasury for international affairs.

Obama's transition team also appears close to choosing a national security adviser to the White House.

Two sources close to the Obama transition team tell CNN retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones has emerged as the president-elect's leading choice for the position.

The sources said Jones has been given the impression by Obama that the job is his if he wants it. But the officials said there are still private discussions under way and that no final decision has been made.

The discussions are focused on precisely how much power Jones will have in the staff job since he is used to being in a command role. Among his many posts, Jones served for several years as the operational commander for NATO