In recent years, a spate of retailers have been accused by customers of advertising “false” original prices on discounted or outlet merchandise in order to make consumers believe they are getting a steal of a deal. Now, the city of Los Angeles is joining the fray, suing JCPenney, Kohl’s, Sears, and Macy’s, alleging that in order to increase sales the companies used so-called “false reference pricing.” [More]
Retail Services
Lawsuit: Sears, JCPenney, Kohl’s & Macy’s Misled Consumers On Sale Prices
By 12.8.16 — Updated: 12.9.16
Costco Exec: We Beat ‘Amazon Go’ To The Punch “Literally 20 Years Ago”
By 12.8.16
In response to the arrival of Amazon Go — a checkout-less store design the Seattle ecommerce giant is planning for next year — one might expect that other food purveyors would be nervous. Not Costco, though. It’s already been there and done that, a company executive claims. [More]
Jimmy John’s To Pay $100K In Illinois Settlement Over Non-Compete Clauses
By 12.8.16
Earlier this year, Jimmy John’s announced, as part of a settlement with the New York attorney general’s office, that it would stop using strict non-compete clauses preventing workers from taking their sandwich-craft elsewhere, even if they were fired. Now, JJ has entered into a similar agreement with the Illinois attorney general’s office that includes a $100,000 payment to establish education and outreach programs. [More]
Sears And Kmart Pretend To Run A Retail Business For Another Quarter
By 12.8.16
Sears Holdings, the company that owns Sears and Kmart, is focused on “restoring profitability,” but so far the only method that the massive department store chain has found to do that since 2012 is by selling its stores to an affiliated real estate investment trust. Sears has a lot more real estate to sell, and could keep this charade up for a while yet. Will it? [More]
Playground Slide Recalled After Kids’ Fingers Amputated
By 12.7.16
Park slides can provide immeasurable joy for children (and some adults). And aside from scorching your bare legs on a slide that has been sitting out in the sun, they aren’t supposed to result in any pain. Yet some playground slides are being recalled after two children lost their fingers. [More]
Activists Emphasize Walmart’s Crime Problem In TV Ads Airing In 4 Cities
By 12.7.16 — Updated: 12.16.16
A number of Walmart stores around the country have been called out for being the epicenters of disproportionate levels of criminal activity and calls to the police. Now a union-backed labor advocacy group is using this information against the nation’s largest retailer in an TV ad campaign highlighting Walmart’s alleged high crime rates — and its cost to local taxpayers. [More]
Apple Support Site Now Includes Option To Schedule Repairs With Authorized Providers
By 12.7.16
When no one was paying attention, Apple updated its support site to include a new option for folks looking to get their iPhone or other Apple device fixed: The ability to schedule repairs with Apple Apple Authorized Service Providers. [More]
Makers Of ‘As Seen On TV’ Products Sue Amazon Over “Rampant” Counterfeiting
By 12.7.16
Companies like Allstar Marketing, Ideavillage Products, and Ontel Products aren’t household names, but you probably recognize the names of their signature products: they’re the companies behind the Snuggie, Copper Fit compression apparel, and Veggetti spiral slicers. These three makers of as-seen-on-TV doodads have sued Amazon, claiming the e-commerce giant allows vendors to sell counterfeit versions of their products — and that those counterfeit items can be found in Amazon’s own warehouses. [More]
McDonald’s Is Selling Waffle Fries This Holiday Season — But Only In Canada
By 12.7.16
Do you like waffle cut fries? Even though you can probably get them at just about every sports bar or diner in town, do you nonetheless have a craving to purchase them from McDonald’s? Then you had better plan a trip to the wintry north, because the fast food chain is only selling them in Canada this holiday season. [More]
Starbucks To Add 12,000 Cafes; Use Artificial Intelligence In Ordering App
By 12.7.16
If you were worried you wouldn’t be able to score your customary morning cup of coffee from Starbucks whilst traipsing around the world, worry not: The coffee giant unveiled plans to add 12,000 more stores globally by 2021. [More]
Target Reissues Menorah Recall Over The Wrong Kind Of Fire Concerns
By 12.7.16
This Hanukkah, you’ll want to gather around the table with your family to light the menorah. While you want there to be flickering flames, what you definitely do not want is a melted candelabrum melting all over your holiday decor. [More]
Philip Morris Applies To Bring Heated-Up Tobacco Sticks To U.S.
By 12.6.16
You might remember that a few months ago, we shared some interesting smoking news: that Philip Morris was working on a new product that’s somewhere between an e-cigarette and an old-fashioned tobacco one. Instead of lighting tobacco on fire, users would heat it up in a special device, inhaling a vapor instead of smoke. The company plans to apply for FDA approval for the system, seeking approval to sell it as a healthier alternative to cigarettes. [More]
Nordstrom’s $85 “Leather Wrapped Stone” Makes Us Wonder: Can You Tell Real Gifts From Fakes?
December 6, 2016
Nordstrom is — perhaps intentionally — making headlines this holiday shopping season for its inexplicable offering of a “Medium Leather Wrapped Stone” in “Natural” for the low, low price of $85 — with free shipping, obviously. It screams of hoax, but is apparently the real deal, leading us to wonder if folks can tell the difference between bizarre gift ideas and things we just conjured up. [More]
Burger King Selling A Doughnut Burger For Hanukkah
By 12.6.16 — Updated: 12.9.16
If you love doughnuts, burgers, and burgers made with doughnuts, you might want to think about spending Hanukkah in Israel, where Burger King will be offering doughnut burgers for the holiday. [More]
The Beer Industry Is Taking A Hit Because Of Legal Marijuana
By 12.6.16
When it comes time to kick back on the couch and get your buzz on, a new study says consumers in states with legal marijuana may be reaching for the bong instead of a beer. [More]
American Apparel Confirms It Might Lay Off 3,500 Workers Next Month
By 12.6.16
After earlier reports that hundreds of American Apparel workers were told they would be out of a job next month, the struggling retailer confirmed on Monday that it had sent notices to almost 3,500 employees warning them of potential layoffs. [More]
Customers Complain When Walmart Won’t Honor Pricing Error That Listed 70″ TV For $99
By 12.5.16
If you see a TV that normally sells for $2,000 suddenly listed for sale at $99, you probably know it’s either stolen, worthless, or — most likely — a pricing error. You’re free to try to take advantage of that goof, but you don’t really have much of a legal leg to stand on if they realize the error and cancel your order.
[More]
Ho Ho Whoa: Christmas Tree Prices Hit Up To $77 — Per Foot — In NYC
By 12.5.16
Yes, Virginia, there is a city where $1,000 Christmas trees are real. Where, you ask? In — where else? — New York City. [More]
