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making groceries
Posts Tagged “
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Best Buy will start selling the iPhone on September 7th, making it the only retailer other than Apple and AT&T to offer the device. [Associated Press]
making groceries
99 Cents Only
'99 Cents Only' Store Chain Considers Raising Prices, Changing Sign To '99 Cents, Orly?'
In a conference call with analysts this week, the CEO of the California-based "99 Cents Only" store chain was asked whether they'd consider breaking their 99-cent barrier to improve their dismal numbers. He responded:[It is] definitely on the table. That is something we’re looking at . . . in the future for us. We’re looking at doing some experiments. Obviously one way [is that] you can start selling things for $1.05, $1.09, $1.15 and other ways. You could have more of a break between your 99 cents price point and the next price point."More »
target
Dan can do math in his head, which is a great skill these days when you're checking out the n objects for x price! specials at Target. In this case, Dan notes that the "temporary price cut" is so temporary that it doesn't even exist: you'll pay 13 cents more per box if you buy three of them. This is the third Target "special" we've seen this month that screws the consumer. Are we seeing a new trend? Is it legal to call it a price cut if it's not?
More »
Is Target Intentionally Using Its "Special Deals" To Screw Over Customers?
Dan can do math in his head, which is a great skill these days when you're checking out the n objects for x price! specials at Target. In this case, Dan notes that the "temporary price cut" is so temporary that it doesn't even exist: you'll pay 13 cents more per box if you buy three of them. This is the third Target "special" we've seen this month that screws the consumer. Are we seeing a new trend? Is it legal to call it a price cut if it's not?
More »
sweatshops
Sweatshop In Queens Produced Clothes For Macy's, the Gap, Banana Republic, Urban Apparel, and Victoria's Secret
New York state labor officials are bringing one of their largest cases ever against Jin Shun, a clothing factory in Queens, New York that employed Chinese immigrants. Inspectors say the company
- cheated its workers out of more than $5 million in pay;
- instructed workers to lie to state inspectors;
- required 6 and 7-day workweeks, sometimes for up to 120 days at a time;
- didn't pay overtime or minimum wage;
- kept two sets of timecards to fake-out inspectors.
starbucks
A Complete List Of Starbucks Locations That Will Be Closing
Starbucks has released the complete list of stores that will be closing. You can browse the full list, organized alphabetically by state, inside. More »
Le Petit Fromage
Violating every conceivable standard of decency, the Grocery Shrink Ray has unleashed a heartless attack on baby cheese. Mini Babybels, those adorably pudgy wax-encrusted cheese cylinders, were once allowed to grow until they reached 132 grams. Now, the Babybel's are a stunted 120 grams.
More »
Not Even Mini Babybel Cheese Can Escape The Grocery Shrink Ray
Violating every conceivable standard of decency, the Grocery Shrink Ray has unleashed a heartless attack on baby cheese. Mini Babybels, those adorably pudgy wax-encrusted cheese cylinders, were once allowed to grow until they reached 132 grams. Now, the Babybel's are a stunted 120 grams.
More »
Rhapsody is entering the a la carte music store business—now you can buy single tracks or albums just like you can from Amazon or iTunes. The first 100,000 people who create accounts receive a $10 credit. (You need a credit card to register.) [Rhapsody]
After a successful pilot program, Macy's is putting fancy Japanese-style vending machines in 400 of its stores. They'll sell things like iPods and cameras. Looks like Macy's will have to add another list of things excluded from its not-very-valuable coupons. [Reuters]
websites
Man Tries To Buy From "The Camera Professionals," Fails
"The Camera Professionals" are not actually that professional, nor do they have cameras to sell you. That's what ZDNet reporter Josh Taylor discovered when he decided to take their Google AdWord bait and buy a camcorder they were offering for nearly $300 less than other stores. He didn't expect much success, and he was richly rewarded:
More »While stories like mine are sadly not that uncommon, I’m still absolutely stumped at what kind of scheme The Camera Professionals is trying to pull off. They never tried to upsell me, they never charged my credit card, they simply appeared to have taken an order for an item they seemingly have no intention of trying to fill.
fines
Big Box Retailers Fight Back Against FCC's Recent Fines
Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sears are all contesting the FCC's recent fines against them for not properly following analog transition rules in their stores, reports Ars Technica. Last week, Best Buy submitted a 41-page response (PDF) that claimed among other things that the FCC has no authority to fine them. More »
customer neglect
Lazy Employees Lose Kohl's An Easy $300 Sale
When husbands, boyfriends, and sons go shopping for womanly gifts, it's like shooting fish in a barrel for store clerks—these guys usually want to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible, and either they'll decide in a snap what to buy or they'll happily take your advice on what makes for the best gift. Either way, it's easy money with little hassle. Somehow, though, Kohl's jewelry counter clerks missed this bit of retail advice—here's how they lost a $300 sale from a guy who was ready to buy and bolt earlier this week. More »
insiders
Manager Defends Retail Renting As Valuable Sales Tool
A former camera store manager came forward to defend retail renting as a common tactic that helps drive sales. Retail renting is when a customer buys a pricey item like a prom dress with the intention of returning it later. Our completely unscientific poll shows that 70% of you disapprove of retail renting, but our tipster insists that it is a victimless crime and a valuable sales tool. Our enlightening chat with the former manager, inside. More »
retail
Haggle With Chain Stores
The Times is reporting that recession-fearing chain stores like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Circuit City are increasingly more desperate to clinch sales by negotiating prices. Hit the jump to see how ordinary shoppers are wielding research and charisma to knock added savings out of retailers. More »
rankings
Latest ACSI Survey Is Out: You Really Like Dollar General
The American Customer Satisfaction Index has released its latest scores of retail businesses, so we thought we'd take a look at the department store rankings by constructing a handy graph. When it comes to customer satisfaction, apparently Dollar General is doing something right—and Wal-Mart, as usual, is doing lots of things wrong. More »
typical
A Tragic Tale Of Horrific, Yet Typical, Service At CVS
Reader Rachael's description of what its like to shop at her local CVS is a good example maddening, yet typical "customer service" that you find at chain drug stores. Why is buying razor blades and photo prints so insanely difficult? Why? More »
all good things
Zappos Zaps Price Protection Policy, Free Overnight Shipping
Update: Zappos will still surprise customers with free overnight shipping, but it is no longer a perk they will actively promote.
Online shoe store Zappos.com, renowned for their otherworldly 'just-say-yes' customer service philosophy, no longer offers free overnight shipping or a 110% price match guarantee. Tipster Julie forwarded her conversation with a Zappos CSR confirming the policy shift.
