Back in January, Best Buy CEO Brian “Brooks and” Dunn confirmed reports that the electronics retailer would continue to shrink the footprint of its bricks-and-mortar stores. But a recent memo sent to employees says not to worry about those shuttered outlets because Best Buy is opening up new stores — in China. [More]
Retail Services
Best Buy To Employees: "Don't Worry About Stores Being Closed. We're Opening Stores In China"
By 1.31.12
This Receipt-Handling Dog Is Adorable, But Is It Icky?
By 1.31.12
By now, there’s a chance you are one of the million or so people who have already watched the viral-buzzworthy-internetty-whatever YouTube clip of the dog that apparently works at a veterinarian, where it takes a printout from the printer, takes it to the assistant, who staples a receipt to the page, and then brings the whole thing to the customer. [More]
Ripoffs Encountered At The Grocery Store
By 1.31.12
Sometimes items on the store shelves jump into your cart with the promise of better things than they deliver. Examples include food stuffs that look nothing like their glamour shots on the box and big bags of chips that are only half-full. [More]
Another Guy Sues Frito-Lay, Says He Wasted $.10/Ounce On 'All-Natural' Chips
By 1.31.12
Print something on a package and you better believe consumers are going to take it seriously, hence why a New York man is adding another lawsuit to Frito-Lay’s docket, claiming their line of chips aren’t made with “all-natural ingredients” as advertised. [More]
Walmart Moving Greeters Away From The Entrance And To The Checkout Line
By 1.30.12
Only days after it was reported that Walmart was no longer going to be putting greeters on the graveyard shift comes news of a more radical change in the whole philosophy of greeters — taking them away from the entrance and moving them inside the store where they can possibly be of more help. [More]
It's A Good Thing Shoppers Can Do Simple Math Because Walmart Isn't So Great At It
By 1.30.12
James was doing some shopping at Walmart, when he came upon one of those handy signs advertising a price “Rollback” posted on a display of yogurt. But just because Walmart says something is a deal, it pays to do the math to make sure it actually is a bargain. [More]
Retailers Resort To Offering Refunds To Customers For Positive Reviews Online
By 1.27.12
What’s a retailer to do when they’re not getting enough online love? Just offer customers a kickback in the form of a refund for a positive review. Some businesses have been pumping themselves up in this dastardly way, which could mean all those glowing reviews of the latest blanket-and-sweatsuit-all-in-onesie might not be the real deal. [More]
How About Some Cocaine To Go Along With That Terrorism Textbook You Ordered On Amazon?
By 1.27.12
A college student was a bit surprised when she opened a used textbook on terrorism that she’d ordered from Amazon, and a package of cocaine fell out. Perhaps whoever sent it thought she might need an extra kick for those hours of studying.
Curb Impulse Spending By Carrying Larger Bills
By 1.27.12
If you’ve got a bunch of singles in your wallet, you probably don’t think much of burning a few of them on a trinket or snack that catches your eye. If you’ve got larger bills, such as $20s or $50s, you’re probably less likely to go through the hassle of breaking them just to indulge your whims. [More]
Physics Professor Uses Super Math Skills To Investigate Classic Question Of Generic vs. Brand Name Battery
By 1.27.12
It’s a good thing there are physics professors around to do all the complicated math when we need questions answered, otherwise how would we know if it’s worth it to buy name brand batteries? We would never know, is the answer. [More]
My New Kindle Went Astray…Pre-Loaded With My Credit Card Info
By 1.27.12
The cloud of invisible information that surrounds is is a wonderful thing, but there are dangers as well. Brandon ordered a Kindle as a gift for his girlfriend, and upgraded to one-day shipping, but the package went astray. Amazon overnighted a new Kindle and things were glorious…until Brandon started receiving purchase confirmations of Kindle apps and content using his credit card and e-mail address. His girlfriend wasn’t making the purchases. So who was? [More]
Cheap Products That Can Improve Your Life
By 1.27.12
Minimalists who get by with as few creature comforts as they can sometimes make everyday activities more difficult than necessary. Some small splurges more than pay for themselves with the way they make things easier. [More]
New Video Game Is Full Of "Revelaitons"
By 1.27.12
Just about every publisher in the entertainment world sends out advance copies of their products to the media. The goal is to give writers enough time to digest the material and write articles that spread awareness as the product sets to launch, but occasionally early copies serve a second purpose — free copy editing. [More]
Raiders Of The Lost Walmart Discover Cache Of Ancient Flash Drives
By 1.27.12 — Updated: 8.15.13
In the electronics department of his local Walmart in New York state, Joseph made an amazing discovery in the field of retail archaeology. No one was interested in these ten 256 MB flash drives, so they’ve languished. No markdowns, no clearance: they’ll remain on the shelf, with a price tag of $28.83. A cashier told Joseph, “You’ll be bringing your kids in here some day, and these will still be here.” Something to look forward to. [More]
Best Buy Apologizes If Your Item Doesn't Cost What It Says Due To "Technical Difficulties"
By 1.26.12
So you thought you just scored a sweet deal on something at Best Buy? Sucker! It’s just that they’re having some problems putting the right prices on their items. You’ll find that out when you get to the cash register, or from handy signs posted about the store. [More]
Bank Of America Gives Loan Modifications To People Who Won't Complain About Them On Facebook
By 1.26.12
As we’ve previously reported, Bank of America’s loan modification program (for want of a better phrase) is being sued by the state of Arizona. But the AZ Attorney General says the nation’s second-largest bank is hindering his investigation by quietly negotiating settlements with underwater homeowners — or at least those who will pledge to keep their mouths shut about the bank. [More]
You're Probably Not Shocked To Hear That Tickets To The Super Bowl Are Expensive
By 1.26.12
Breaking news: Going to the most anticipated game in the NFL season isn’t going to come cheap. Once you’re over the shock, you should know that if you’re still trying to get tickets to this year’s Super Bowl in Indiana, they’ll cost you anywhere from about $2,800 to about $,3600. [More]
Why Women's Clothing Sizes Will Never Make Any Damn Sense
By 1.26.12
Women’s clothing sizes vary over time, by manufacturer, and sometimes from one clothing design to another in the same store. Why is that? Was it ever different? Has anyone ever tried to impose order? Back in 1958, the National Bureau of Standards tried to apply standardized sizing to the pattern-making industry, and optionally to ready-to-wear clothing vendors as well, but the standards didn’t take. The very sizing system we grumble at today is based on these 1958 numbers. Loosely. [More]
