Consumerist
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branding fail
Blue Redbox Experiencing A Severe Identity Crisis
Chris spotted thisBlueRedbox at a Wal-Mart. Poor, confused box. -
The animals are rising up, and invading our big-box stores. This week, a small (non-poisonous) snake bit a man in an Illinois Walmart, and a woman in Utah reportedly found a black widow spider in a bunch of grapes purchased at Costco. Nature clearly abhors the modern suburban lifestyle, and it's taking back its territory. [Carmi Times] [KSL]
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lawsuits
Walmart Greeter Who Was Attacked During Receipt Check Gets $20,000 Settlement
Remember the Walmart greeter who was attacked by a police officer when he tried to check the cop's receipt? His lawsuit has been settled for $20,000. More » -
oh snap
Rumble In The Strip Mall: Best Buy Calls Out Walmart
Sure, Best Buy emerged victorious over Circuit City in the Battle of the Big-Box Electronics Stores, but they still have to compete with general discounters like Walmart. Which is why in a new ad campaign, Best Buy calls out Walmart specifically, attacking their employees' presumed lack of product knowledge compared to Best Buy employees. More » -
Advice: If the Walmart employees tell you that you can't drink alcohol while waiting to have your car serviced, don't respond by ripping a telephone out of the wall. [Hernando Today via Fark]
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bad consumer
Man Causes Thousands In Fire Damage After Walmart Refuses Return
After Walmart wouldn't let him make a return, Phillip R. Wright, 41, of Monroe, Louisiana, pictured, left, looking disgruntled and pretty "arsony," set a men's clothing rack inside the store on fire. More » -
makeup
A Big, Red, Shiny Kiss Goodbye To Max Factor
Max Factor, the venerable cosmetics brand marketed to American women using the faces of familiar film actresses, will disappear from U.S. store shelves forever next year. It will still be available abroad, including in the UK, where it's a top seller for some reason.
The story of Max Factor the company is a classic American business tale—a company started at the beginning of the 20th century by a plucky immigrant, only to end its life as part of a multinational conglomerate (Proctor & Gamble) and sold primarily at Walmart.
Max Factor Going To The Big Medicine Cabinet In The Sky [Jezebel]
P&G Discontinues Max Factor Makeup Brand in U.S. [Advertising Age]
Makeup and Make-believe [The New Yorker](Photo: armydre2008)
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gossip
Current And Former Walmart CEOs Shop At Target
Fortune has an interesting article about a Target that opened up in Walmart country. The store is located about seven minutes from "Wal-Mart No. 1", the first Wal-Mart ever built, and 20 minutes from Walmart's headquarters in Bentonville, AR. At first, Target was concerned that the Walmart faithful wouldn't shop at their new store — but they worried needlessly. Apparently, former CEO Lee Scott and current CEO Mike Duke are regulars. More » -
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poor value
Buy Your Dead Fish For Less At Walmart
A reader sent us the following pics of the neglected aquariums in her local Walmart in Carmi, Illinois. She complained to a manager, but when she checked back "several hours later," the tanks remained untouched. Well, the dead fish were probably slightly smaller, since the remaining live fish were eating them. More » -
confusing
Punishing Customers For Buying More: Now Worldwide
Theoretically, if you buy more of something, you should pay less per item, or per unit. That's the entire point of buying things in bulk. Right? Not necessarily. To confuse the logical part of your brain this fine morning, here's a collection of instances where customers pay more when they buy more. More » -
made in USA
Buy American? Sure, If You Can Afford It
Is it possible today to buy U.S.-made goods in mainstream, reasonably-priced stores? The answer, ABC's John Donvan learned while reporting a "Nightline" story to be broadcast tonight, is a rather emphatic "no" when it comes to clothing, and otherwise "maybe." More » -
walmart
Walmart To Pay $7,000 OSHA Fine In Worker Death
Earlier this month, Walmart avoided criminal charges in the trampling death of a worker at a Long Island store last November by setting up a $400,000 victims' compensation fund and giving $1.5 million to local non-profits and social service programs. But that settlement didn't stop an ongoing investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Now, the government agency has announced the results of its probe, declaring that workers were put at risk "due to the store's failure to implement reasonable and effective crowd management principles." The company will be fined the maximum penalty allowed: $7,000. Walmart has 15 days to appeal or pay up. More » -
mysteries
Are Walmart's New Shopping Carts Shocking Customers?
We received a strange tip from Steve, who says the new shopping carts in his local Walmart shock him every time he touches them. He says he saw another shopper get shocked as well, and that a cashier confirmed it. Has anyone else experienced this? More » -
walmart owns the world
Walmart Goes All Redbox On GameStop's Racket
If you're a gamer you know how shameful it feels to plunk down a game you played $60 at a used game store counter in exchange for $15 or $20 three weeks later. More » -
funny
Better Bring Some Wire Clippers With You When You Shop At This Walmart
You'll need them to cut off the right amount of penny at the cash register. Or, we suppose you could add something to your cart that includes 6/10 of a penny to even it all out—but that's how they get you, with those "even penny" purchases. (Thanks to Amanda!) -
walmart
Walmart Only Institutes Anti-Trampling Measures At NY Stores
Interesting note about that Walmart settlement, the anti-trampling measures are only going to be instituted at the 92 New York area stores. Now, sure, it was part of a deal with New York state but you'd think maybe they'd want to improve trampling conditions at the rest of their stores too. Who knows, maybe they're planning to get around to it. [AP] -
recession watch
Walmart To Rest Of Planet: "What Recession?"
A new survey of American consumers shows something very unusual — they've lost their interest in shopping. Is this lack of interest driving them to discount stores like Walmart? Seems so. More » -
blackest friday
Settlement In Shopper Stampede Case; Wal-Mart Avoids Criminal Charges
Wal-Mart will not face criminal charges in the death of temporary holiday worker Jdimytai Damour at its Valley Stream, NY store. Damour was posted at the front of the store when the out-of-control early morning crowd broke the door down, and he was trampled to death. More »
walmart
New York, 5:57 AM
Sat Jul 4
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