From drones to airplanes, and fleets of on-demand delivery drivers or employees dropping off packages, many retailers — most notably Amazon — have begun dipping they toes in the logistics and delivery game. Now it’s Target’s turn, as the big box retailer has acquired a transportation tech firm with the intention of speeding up deliveries to customers. [More]
Retail Services
Here’s A Partial List Of Closed Joe’s Crab Shack & Brick House Tavern Locations
By 8.14.17 — Updated: 9.5.17
As we recently reported, employees at some Joe’s Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern restaurants found out without warning that their locations had been shut down immediately. While the corporate owners of these brands did not provide a list of shuttered locations, we’ve been able to piece together some spots that are now closed for good. [More]
Why Are Chinese Car Companies So Interested In Buying Fiat Chrysler?
By 8.14.17
After years of perusing the dating apps, hoping for a multi-billion dollar love connection, Fiat Chrysler has reportedly found itself on the receiving end of a Bachelor-like rose from an unnamed Chinese auto manufacturer. Except, the company has said “thanks, but no thanks,” leaving us with all kinds of questions. [More]
Aldi Customers In Some Cities Can Now Get Delivery Through Instacart
By 8.14.17
Soon you won’t have to schlep all the way to Aldi, pay $0.25 to rent a cart, and then bag your own groceries. You can just wait at home and let Instacart do all that work instead. [More]
Walmart Claims ‘Back-To-School’ Sign On Gun Case Was A Prank
By 8.14.17
Walmart recently took a lot of heat on social media over a photo showing a back-to-school promotional sign over a gun display case. The retailer now says it has definitive proof that the sign was posted as a prank, but is not providing any additional details. [More]
Cheesecake Factory Customers Say They Were Duped Into Leaving Big Tips
By 8.11.17
Even though we all now have phones with handy calculator apps, some restaurant diners are still confounded by the math when trying to sort out the tip, particularly when splitting the bill. Many restaurants now do the math for you and print a suggested tip on the receipt, but some Cheesecake Factory customers say the popular chain is enriching itself by suggesting misleading tips on split bills. [More]
Several Joe’s Crab Shack Restaurants Abruptly Close With No Warning To Employees
By 8.11.17
Joe’s Crab Shack and its sibling restaurant chain, Brick House Tavern, will soon have a new owner pending approval by the bankruptcy court. Yet it’s celebrating in a surprising way: The chain is abruptly closing locations scattered across the country, sending employees home during their shifts. Update: Here’s a newer list of recently closed locations that employees and customers sent to Consumerist. [More]
Wells Fargo Accused Of Overcharging Small Businesses
By 8.11.17
The scandals and accusations continue to mount for Wells Fargo. This time, the banking giant is being accused of overcharging small businesses to process credit card transactions. [More]
JCPenney’s Turnaround Has Gone 360 Degrees
By 8.11.17
JCPenney has tried so many turnarounds during this decade, it’s difficult to remember which direction the classic American department store brand is even supposed to be facing. As of now, it’s not headed in the direction of profitability, or paying down its debts. [More]
Applebee’s Closing More Than 100 Locations, IHOP To Shutter 25 Restaurants
By 8.11.17
There could soon be fewer places to grab an app or order a stack of pancakes: Dine Equity, the company behind Applebee’s and IHOP, will close up to 160 locations of the chain restaurants this year in an attempt to trim costs and boost sales. [More]
Amazon May Take On Ticketmaster With New Event-Ticketing Business
By 8.10.17
Though many have tried, no online ticket sellers have even come close to touching Ticketmaster. It doesn’t hurt that its parent company is Live Nation, which owns or operates many of the biggest concert venues and promotes the biggest touring acts. Is Amazon one of the few companies with enough size and reach to actually take on Ticketmaster? We might soon find out. [More]
Macy’s Launching Its Own Self-Scanning Technology In Stores, Kinda
By 8.10.17
While Walmart tests stores where shoppers walk around scanning their own purchases with smartphones, and Amazon tests a store where customers just pick up their purchases and walk out with them, Macy’s doesn’t want to be left out. That’s why the department store chain is testing its own system, which turns its stores into a catalog showroom for smartphone users. [More]
Target To Partner With Online Dog Supplies Retailer Bark, Carry Items In Stores
By 8.10.17
Maybe it’s suddenly time for subscription services and big-box discount stores to be pals. After yesterday’s report that Walmart may be in talks with beauty products subscription service Birchbox, today we learned Bark, a pet supplies company best known for its Barkbox subscription service, has made a deal with Target to put its products in stores. [More]
Walmart Says ‘Back-To-School’ Sign Should Not Have Been Posted Over Gun Case
By 8.10.17
The nation’s largest retailer says it is now trying to find out why a back-to-school promotional sign was posted on a rifle display case at one of its stores. [More]
Swimsuits For Babies And Toddlers Sold At Meijer Recalled For Detaching Snaps
By 8.9.17
It’s nearly the end of summer (where did the time go?) but if your baby or toddler hasn’t outgrown these super-cute swimsuits from Meijer yet, you should know that they’ve been recalled because the snaps can detach, posing a choking hazard. [More]
Yes, There Really Is A Starbucks Everywhere You Look, And That’s A Problem For Starbucks
By 8.9.17
These days, it might feel like there’s a Starbucks on every corner. And while more stores sometimes translate to more customers and better sales, the ubiquity of Starbucks is turning into a bit of a problem for the Seattle-based chain as it struggles to compete — with itself. [More]
Payless ShoeSource Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This Week
By 8.9.17
Congratulations to Payless ShoeSource, the nation’s #1 source of light-up sneakers with Disney characters on them. The chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the current retail apocalypse that has survived the process without closing all of its stores and going out of business. [More]
Noodles & Co. Venturing Into Veggie Land With ‘Zoodles’
By 8.9.17
Health-conscious foodies — and those avoiding gluten — now have another option when looking for a fast-casual restaurant offering veggie fare: Noodles & Company is testing “zoodles” — spiralized zucchini — at some of its restaurants in an attempt to bring in carb-avoiding customers. [More]
