In hard times, with shrinking advertising budgets, who can blame retailers for trying to get the most for their money by convincing their suppliers to promote stores by co-branding? When Walmart is involved…pretty much everyone blames the retailer. See, everyone’s favorite retail juggernaut is threatening to take shelf space away from vendors that do not use part of their ad budget to promote Walmart.
Retail Services
Best Buy To Sell Electric Motorcycles
By 7.20.09
Have you ever wished that you could combine the competent, organized staff of your local Best Buy with the gentle, no-pressure sales environment of a vehicle showroom? You’re in luck! Best Buy is now selling motorcycles. Motorcycles?
Walmart Doesn't Want 7-Year-Old's Birthday Money
By 7.20.09
The parents of a seven-year-old took him to Walmart this weekend to spend his saved birthday and allowance money on a pretty awesome looking swimming pool & slide combo. They’d checked online first to make sure the item was in stock—and Walmart said it was, at three different locations in fact.
Walmart Enlists Help Of Local Police Officer To Force You To Show Receipt
By 7.20.09
One would think that Walmart would have had enough of the drama that results from receipt checking — but according to reader Eric, that’s just not the case. He says he politely declined to show his receipt to the Walmart employee who asked to see it because, unlike with Sam’s Club, he had not signed an agreement obligating him to show it. Walmart didn’t see it that way.
How To Load Up Your Kindle With Non-Amazon Ebooks
By 7.20.09
So you’ve got a Kindle, and you have books on it, and you want to keep those books—no matter what Amazon or a publisher decides you deserve in the future. Your legal options are limited, but you do have some.
Morning Deals
By 7.20.09
- Buy.com: [Micro Exploration] Carson Optical MM-640 USB Digital Microscope $35 Shipped
- Buy.com: [Flashlight] Smith & Wesson LED Aluminum Flashlight Blue for $7.24 w/ Free shipping
- BustedTees: [Clothing & Accessories] Busted Tees Mega Sale: Shirts for $7 + $6 s&h
Used Syringes Surprise Kohl's Shopper
By 7.18.09
We’ve all been there, trying on a pair of shorts in a Kohl’s dressing room when suddenly we feel the cold sting of three used syringes. Or maybe it’s a joy that was limited to a Texas woman who was shopping yesterday at the Kohl’s in Harris County, Texas.
Amazon Deletes Your Books, Has Always Been At War With Eastasia
By 7.17.09
Sure, electronic books are portable and have all sorts of advantages. But Borders has not, to date, broken into my house and stolen back my copy of The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Verizon Limits Handset Exclusivity To 6 Months
By 7.17.09
Verizon announced it will limit handset exclusivity deals to 6 months, a bow to pleas by small wireless carriers, and in advance of possible Department of Justice action on its inquiries on the one-carrier deals for the iPhone, Pre and LG Voyager. In its announcement, Verizon noted 24 rural carriers had asked it to limit these anti-competitive deals. Yes, apparently there are that many small carriers still left.
Retailers Ready To Rebel Against Credit Card Fees
By 7.17.09
You’ve all seen the $10 minimum signs at Mom & Pop stores, and while these stores aren’t supposed to be placing this type of restriction on their customers (it’s a violation of their agreement with the credit card companies) it’s important to understand why the signs are there in the first place. Fees.
Morning Deals
By 7.17.09
Froobi: [Tools And Hardware] 7-LED Adjustable Head Lamp for free + $4 s&h- BackCountryOutlet.com: [Outdoor Apparel] The North Face Fleece Jackets Under $50
- Buy.com: [Gear Hauling] Wenger SwissGear Julien Laptop Backpack $30 Shipped
- The Body Shop: [Beauty] The Body Shop Final Sale: Up to 90% off select items
Morning Deals
By 7.16.09
- Eddie Bauer: [Travel] Gear Up Sale: Up to $40 off Duffel Bags & Luggage
- Months of Pregnancy: [Tools] Free Measuring Tape
- Cruisin USA: [Retro Shirts] 50% Everything until August 15th with code GUTTER (Thanks to Chris!)
Best Buy Has PC Game Sale, Forgets To Tell Stores About It
By 7.16.09
Victor got an email from Best Buy telling him “up to 100” PC games were on sale for members of the company’s Gamers Club, so he took his son down to their local store to see what was available. Nothing, that’s what, because the store hadn’t been told about the sale, even though it’s been going on for nearly a week.
Jewel-Osco Resorts To Sarcasm
By 7.15.09
We know times are tough for retailers as well as consumers, but Chicago chain Jewel-Osco seems to be resorting to sarcasm instead of discounts.
Nice Letter Gets 29.99% APR Down To 12.24%
By 7.15.09
David paid his credit card one day late, one time, and Chase immediately jacked his interest rate from 12.24% to the default rate of 29.99%. He called customer service and was told he need to pay on-time for 6 months before he could get it reduced. 6 months later he calls back and now they tell him it’s 12 to 24 months. A supervisor confirmed this. Say what? That’s what he said, and so he wrote Chase a letter, and it got some serious results:
Morning Deals
By 7.15.09
- NewEgg: [Game] Dark Sector Xbox 360 Game for $7.99 w/ Free shipping
- Best Buy: [TV] Panasonic 42″ HDTV 1080p + Xbox 360 60GB System for $899.98 + Shipping
- Budget Rent A Car: [Car Rentals] Budget Rent A Car: Up to 50% off rentals
- Southwest Airlines Vacations: [Vacations] Southwest Airlines Vacation Offers: 2-for-1 vacations to Las Vegas, Disneyworld, more
Chase Sends You Debit Card You Don't Need, Tells You To Activate It
By 7.14.09
Chase isn’t just acting in shady ways toward their credit card customers. Their latest sneaky move is sending new debit cards that impose fees to their banking customers, hoping that customers will simply activate the new debit cards with no questions asked. Not so fast.
