The Fry’s store in Renton, Washington, just played a mean trick on at least half a dozen customers. This morning, Jeff successfully navigated through the crowd outside, the crowds inside, and no less than five different lines in order to purchase a 52″ TV. Everything went remarkably smoothly. Well, until the very end. [More]
Retail Services
Walmart Shuts Down For 3 Hours After Shoppers Go Crazy
By 11.27.09
The Los Angeles Times says that a Walmart in Upland, California had to kick everyone out and shut down for 3 hours this morning, because shoppers lost their damned minds. [More]
Police Called To Quell Fight Over Toy Hamsters
By 11.27.09
People in Indiana really want those trendy little robot hamsters that are the designated fad toy of 2009. Police were called to two Toys R Us stores, one in Indianapolis and one in Greenwood, on Friday after fights broke out among toy shoppers. [More]
First Toy Store Melee Reported In Connecticut
By 11.27.09
The crowd waiting at the doors of the Toys R Us in Manchester, Conn., burning up with Black Friday fever, grew impatient. Shortly before the store opened at midnight, a group of people tried to jump the line and get through the doors. The store didn’t open until nearly an hour later–and after twenty police officers got the crowd under control. [More]
'I Stopped Denying People': Ex-Bank Of America CSR Tells All
By 11.27.09
Here’s a testimonial from a former Bank of America customer assistance employee. She was fired on Monday for offering repayment plans to too many customers, even those who “deserved” the 29.99% APR for making late payments. After hearing her story, you might conclude that this job was never a good fit for her skills. The next time you run up against a dead-sounding CSR, though, remember that people like Jackie don’t make for profitable collections department employees, which is why they don’t stick around for long. [More]
Catch-22s At BestBuy.com
By 11.27.09
Kenneth tried to get a jump on Black Friday shopping by doing some shopping at BestBuy.com yesterday, but the site’s arcane rules and procedures ended up jumping him. I could try to summarize but I’m pretty sure I’d get something wrong so let’s just let Kenneth explain what happened: [More]
Whoops! Sears Isn't Offering Too-Good-To-Be-True TV Deal
By 11.26.09
Sears stuck its drumstick in its mouth by apparently sending out an email advertising a ludicrously amazing Black Friday deal: a 54-inch 1080p HDTV for $399.99. Chris forwarded us this message from Sears in which the company backs away from the deal and offers a boring one in its place. [More]
Yes, You Can Shop Today If You Must
By 11.26.09
If turkey, football, pumpkin pie, a huge parade, and all of those great family members aren’t enough to keep you occupied today — or if you’re looking for an excuse to get away from all of those great family members — more stores than ever are open today, and some are even offering “Black Thursday” sweeteners to get you in before you slip into a tryptophan coma. [More]
2.1 Million Cribs Recalled, Including 150,000 From Fisher Price
By 11.24.09
Following four deaths, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced one of the largest recalls of cribs in the agency’s history: 2.1 million cribs manufactured by Stork Craft, including roughly 150,000 sold under the Fisher Price brand. As in other recent recalls, this one is based on problems with drop-side cribs entrapping babies and seriously injuring or killing them. [More]
Radio Shack Employees Say They Can't Force Donations
By 11.24.09 — Updated: 2.4.16
Responding to the post about a customer who thinks Radio Shack forced him to donate a dollar to Livestrong, a couple Radio Shack employees wrote in and said that cashiers lack the ability to force such charges. [More]
Toys R Us Invites You To Save -$10
By 11.23.09
We love when Toys R Us does this. Ah, yes. “While supplies last.” Hurry, people. Hurry.
Customer Finds Sears' Free Delivery Isn't So Free
By 11.23.09
Intrigued by a free delivery deal, Danielle ordered a dishwasher from Sears, but the retailer only reimbursed her $75 of the $81.19 fee.
Morning Deals
By 11.23.09
- Clothing
- Gap: [Clothing] Save Extra 25% off All On-Sale Apparel & Other Items
- JC Penney : [Apparel] 15% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon PCTHANJC
- Coldwater Creek : [Apparel] 25% Off Entire Purchase w/ Coupon NKP1225
- Bloomingdale’s: [Apparel] Bloomingdale’s Coupon Code Additional 20% off SALE4U
- Cabelas: [Outdoor Apparel] Columbia Men’s Bugaboo Parka Jacket $79.95
- JewelryUnder100: [Jewelry] 6mm Men’s Tungsten Carbide Ring for $16 + free shipping, more
Fewer Consumers Write Personal Checks, Fewer Retailers Accept Them
By 11.21.09
Reader broncobiker sent us the photo at left, wondering whether check acceptance policies might be getting a little out of hand. But checks have so much potential for fraud, and so few shoppers use them, that many merchants have just stopped accepting them entirely.
Black Friday Doorbusters Are A Sleazy Way To Lure Customers
By 11.20.09
Pay no attention to those ridiculously cheap TV sets and game systems—also called doorbusters—that retailers use to lure in hordes of holiday shoppers, notes CNN. They’re the equivalent of that little dangly thing anglerfish use to catch food.
