Now that Amazon played a ginormous part in moving retail storse out of the malls and onto the Internet, they might be pulling a retro switcheroo and trying things the old-fashioned way with a brick-and-mortar store in Seattle. Reverse bandwagon! [More]
Retail Services
Shoppers Give Costco Highest Overall Marks Among Major Retailers
By 2.7.12
Our pals-in-arms at the Consumer Reports National Research Center recently asked more than 26,000 readers to rate their shopping experiences at the nation’s top retailers — both in-store and online — and in spite of being a members’ only warehouse store, Costco came out looking the best. [More]
Banks Realize Short Sales Are Better Than Foreclosure, Pay Homeowners To Sell Now
By 2.7.12
It’s been nearly a half decade since the housing market imploded like an old stadium packed with explosives and the ground is still rumbling from the impact. Realizing it’s better to recover some money now rather than trying to get all their cash back eventually, more banks are making it easier for homeowners to unload their houses for less than what is owed on the mortgage. [More]
Almost All States Sign On To Massive Mortgage Settlement
By 2.7.12
Last night was the deadline for the attorneys general of each state to sign onto a massive settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage lenders, and more than 40 of the states opted to join in the pot-sharing. [More]
Is Kohl's Marking Up Prices Before It Puts Items On Sale?
By 2.7.12
When you see a sale advertising “40% off” an item, what exactly does that mean? Is it 40% off the price it was selling for last week? 40% off the MSRP? There’s a gray area in retail pricing that has some shoppers accusing Kohl’s of inflating prices so that an “on sale” item looks to be a better deal than it actually is. [More]
What's On The Menu? The Chef's Specially Smushed Together Meat Glue Steak
By 2.7.12
Look at that nice, pink cut of beef, cooked rare for your steak-gobbling pleasure. Now look a little closer and hey! It could be just smushed together pieces of diced beef, bound with something called “meat glue.” Not so appetizing now, eh? [More]
Walmart Is Going To Tell You Straight Up Which Foods Are Healthy
By 2.7.12
In case you aren’t sure whether spinach is good for you, or maybe those pork rinds are trying to convince you they’re healthy, Walmart is spelling it out plainly with a new logo. They’re introducing a “Great For You” icon, which will be displayed on some food items in its aisles, in an attempt to convince shoppers they want you to eat healthy and save money while you’re at it. [More]
Target's Unlimited Item Policy Allows Miami Duo To Gobble Up Most Of Jason Wu Line At One Location
By 2.6.12
When Target releases a designer clothing line for a limited amount of time, shoppers go absolutely nutty. To wit: last year’s Missoni fracas where shoppers seeking coveted items crashed Target’s site, and rain boots showing up for $31K on eBay. So when one couple in Miami swooped in and grabbed most of one Target store’s Jason Wu line, their fellow shoppers were inclined to go berserk. [More]
Judge Says Bank Of America Can Boot The $16 House Guy From McMansion
By 2.6.12
UPDATE 4:40 p.m.: Kenneth says he’s going to leave his $16 house without a fight, telling the Dallas Observer’s “Unfair Park” blog: “If they are the true owners, then you’re supposed to give it up anyway.” [More]
Will Ferrell Brings His Love Of Old Milwaukee To Nebraska In Regional Super Bowl Ad
By 2.6.12
Will Ferrell is spreading his enthusiasm for Old Milwaukee through the heartland, taking on Nebraska in a Super Bowl ad shown only in that state last night. Regional ads for the beer aired in Davenport, Iowa and Terra Haute, Ind. in the last few months, after Ferrell asked the company if he could make commercials for them free of charge, an offer they clearly couldn’t refuse. [More]
Over 500 Women File Sexual Discrimination Claims Against Walmart
By 2.3.12
Both current and former female employees of Walmart are up in arms against the gigantic box store, with more than 500 of them joining together to file sex-discrimination claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the company. The move came after they were told last year they couldn’t bring their cases together as part of a nationwide class-action lawsuit. [More]
At Lids, Clearance Hats That Aren't On Clearance
By 2.3.12
Patrick bought three hats from online hattery Lids, but they didn’t fit. No problem-that’s what return policies are for! He contacted the company about returning the hats, and learned that he wouldn’t be allowed to because they were on clearance. Which is interesting, because Patrick saw no indication on the site that these hats were on clearance. [More]
Bank Of America Takes Back My Claim Money Because My Account Was Compromised Twice
By 2.2.12
Mahdi went through the upsetting ordeal of having her Bank of America checking account compromised, which was bad enough until of course, BOA found a way to make the whole thing even worse. Shocker. [More]
Dating Site Says Android Users Are More Likely To Give It Up On The First Date
By 2.2.12
Match.com did some very scientific research in Canada, polling singles living up there beyond our borders, and found that Android users are a lot more likely than other smartphone users to put out on the first date. Maybe don’t use that as your pick-up line, however, if you spot someone with an Android phone. [More]
HQ Notices Raiders Of The Lost Walmart Discovery, Fixes Problem
By 2.2.12
Hey, remember the Raiders of the Lost Walmart? Reader Joe sent us a picture of a comically obsolete thumb drive still on the shelves at his local Walmart, a stunning discovery in the field of retail archaeology. “We thought Walmart had the best inventory control systems in the world,” I wrote. “Perhaps not.” Then we heard from Walmart’s Arkansas headquarters. I was wrong–the inventory people are now on it. [More]
Survey Says We're All Still Suckers For That Thing Where You Buy Cheesy Valentine's Day Gifts
By 2.1.12
Your Valentine’s Day bahumbuggery isn’t fooling anyone — consumers are still throwing cash at cute stuffed animals, jewelry, candy and fancy meals to show their loved ones they’re just that — loved. At least, according to a report detailing the mushy gushy season’s shopping trends. [More]
Best Buy To Use Super Bowl Ad To Try To Convince You They Know About Electronics
By 2.1.12
During last year’s Super Bowl, Best Buy tried to use not-at-all-a-flash-in-the-pan teen star Justin Bieber and slurring punchline Ozzy Osbourne in a failed attempt to announce its Buy Back upsell program that we’ve barely heard about since. For this Sunday’s big ad the retailer, inspired by the death of Steve Jobs and the fact that people seemed to like him, has turned to tech innovators to convince customers it’s not just a showroom for Amazon and Newegg. [More]
Amazon Wants To Make Sure Your Tiny Purchase Has Lots Of Breathing Room During Shipping
By 1.31.12
Heaven forbid a four-pack of valve caps, weighing maybe about an ounce, not have enough room during shipping to spread out, breathe and generally feel the calming effects of roomy comfort. That must have been the thought process when Amazon decided to send Tara her purchase in a huge box instead of a more appropriately-sized conveyance. [More]
