The new CEO of Lands’ End, who came to the company from high fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, wasn’t a customer of the company before she went to work there because she wanted their classic basics for her own wardrobe. No, she shopped there to get her kid’s school uniforms. Now she’s leading the company into its future after the divorce from Sears Holdings. [More]
Retail Services
Amazon Debuts Launchpad, A Store Showcasing Crowdfunded Products
By 7.28.15
From books to mini-tanks, Amazon might be a one-stop-online-shop for just about anything consumers could desire, and with the unveiling of its new platform, Launchpad, the e-tailer is now gunning to be the one-stop-marketing-and-distribution center for startups. [More]
Costco Joins In Virginia Crackdown On Bulk Cigarette Buyers
By 7.28.15
Following reports of Costco shoppers loading up entire trucks full of large boxes of cigarettes, presumably with the purpose of reselling them on the black market in other states, the wholesale club is now posting signs indicating that these customers will face much more scrutiny going forward. [More]
Get Your Halloween Costumes And Plastic Pumpkins While They’re Still On Shelves
By 7.28.15
Time keeps moving whether we like it or not, and it’s almost the end of July. The patriotic party decorations and inflatable pool rafts have all sold, the school supplies that took their place in stores’ “seasonal” sections are starting to move, and they need something to fill that empty space on the shelf. That’s why we have Halloween in July. [More]
From Apple To Walmart, Over A Dozen Of The Biggest Businesses In The U.S. Sign On To White House Climate Pledge
By 7.27.15
A huge number of the world’s nations are coming together in Paris this December to negotiate an agreement to stem emissions and forestall further climate change. Ahead of this winter’s United Nations talks, however, some well-known names here at home are pledging their own contributions to the cause. [More]
Someone Is Planning A Drive-Thru Grocery Store In Silicon Valley: Maybe Amazon
By 7.27.15
A real estate developer has filed building plans for an 11,000-square foot grocery pickup facility in Sunnyvale, CA, but won’t say who their client is. Sunnyvale is the Silicon Valley town where Yahoo is based, but word in the local real estate community is that their new grocer isn’t a local startup: it’s Amazon. [More]
Luxury Accessory Counterfeiters Change Their Methods, Brands Must Catch Up
By 7.27.15
It used to be pretty easy to spot counterfeit luxury goods online: when a handbag that normally costs, say, $3,000 is available for $50 on a website that popped up overnight, that’s usually a pretty good hint. That’s why counterfeiters have an interesting new tactic: they’re improving the quality of their fakes and selling them for prices closer to those of the original item. You know, to keep from arousing customers’ suspicion. [More]
Shoplifter Says Lifetime Ban From Walmart Won’t Stop Her From Shopping There
By 7.27.15
Much like there are people driving with suspended or revoked licenses, not everyone banned from life from entering a Walmart abides by that order. But most of these folks don’t go around brazenly telling reporters that they intend to violate a court order. [More]
Banks Run Free Classes For Rich Kids On How To Be Super-Rich
By 7.24.15
Being a young adult who will inherit billions of dollars isn’t all fabulous parties, designer clothes, and supercars. It also means learning responsibility: at minimum, you’ll be responsible for caring for your own billions, and you could also end up running the family business or a foundation. There’s no degree, not even in business administration, that can prepare you for life as a billionaire, but some banks would really like to help. [More]
Costco Cuts Back On Chilean Salmon In Favor Of Antibiotic-Free Fish
By 7.23.15
Amid concerns of antibiotics overuse contributing to the development of drug-resistant superbugs, American consumers are increasingly demanding antibiotic-free meat and fish. That’s bad news for Chilean salmon farmers who are facing a bacterial outbreak and treating their fish with record levels of antibiotics — and losing the business of Costco and others. [More]
Amazon Adds 5% Cash Back For Prime Members To Store Credit Card
By 7.22.15
Hey, you, person who buys things on Amazon but who doesn’t have a Prime subscription. Yeah, you! If the discounted shipping, streaming media, and the deals and festivities of Prime Day weren’t enough to convince you to subscribe to the service, what about a credit card? Yes, Amazon already has a variety of credit cards, but what about a special Prime credit card? [More]
Target Sorry People Are Offended By Its “Trophy” T-Shirt For Women
By 7.22.15
A storm has been brewing recently on social media over a women’s T-shirt sold by Target that bears the word “TROPHY” across it. As in, a trophy wife, someone who is meant only to adorn the arm of another and look pretty. But Target says it’s just part of its collection for women of the marrying kind, and that it’s received an “overwhelmingly positive” response to the item. [More]
Walmart Ending Overnight Shopping Hours At More 24-Hour Stores
By 7.22.15
If you’re used to shopping at Walmart at 3 a.m., you might need to revamp your schedule. The nation’s largest retailer has decided to close the doors to overnight shoppers at dozens of 24-hour locations. [More]
Discover Bank Must Pay $18.5 Million Over Illegal Student Loan Servicing Practices
By 7.22.15
As federal regulators continue to probe potentially unscrupulous student loan servicing practices, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ordered Discover Bank and its affiliates to pay nearly $18.5 million in refunds and fines for, among other things, overstating amounts due on student loans and failing to notify borrowers of their rights. [More]
Sears Hometown Wants To Remind You That They’re Still Here
By 7.22.15
Hello, person on Sears mailing lists! Did you know that, even though your local Sears store may have closed, there’s still a Sears nearby? It’s true, in the form of a Sears Hometown store. Please come visit. [More]
Amazon Expands Local Services Marketplace To 15 New Cities
By 7.22.15
Despite a pending lawsuit claiming it stole provider lists from rival service marketplace Angie’s List, Amazon announced today that it would expand its upstart Amazon Home Services to 15 new cities, offering consumers a place to find local service providers for repairs, installations and other jobs around the house. [More]
Customers File Class Action Over Allegedly Misleading TJ Maxx Price Tags
By 7.22.15
Consumerist readers as well as dedicated outlet and closeout shoppers know that the “compare at” or “manufacturer’s suggested retail price” tags at outlet stores don’t necessarily mean anything. Two occasional TJ Maxx shoppers have now proposed a federal class action lawsuit against the company for false advertising, claiming that the company engages in “deceptive pricing.” [More]
