Nintendo’s Wii U gaming console never caught on with the public in the same way some of the company’s earlier devices did, and now it looks like the end is nigh for the 4-year-old console.
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Retail Services
Nintendo To End Production Of Wii U “Soon”
By 11.10.16
Walmart And Target Kick Off Black Friday At 6 PM On Thanksgiving Day
By 11.10.16 — Updated: 11.14.16
If you’re looking for an excuse to escape your family or other guests on Thanksigivng Day, the most popular big-box discount stores will be ready for you on the holiday itself. Both Target and Walmart are kicking off their doorbuster deals at 6 PM on the holiday, and Walmart is opening up access to some of its hottest deals a week early. [More]
Mylan To Start Selling $300 Generic EpiPen Pack Next Month
By 11.10.16
Under pressure to reduce the price of its expensive EpiPen emergency allergy treatment, drugmaker Mylan said in August that it would be introducing a generic version of the drug at half the retail price. Now it looks like the less-costly epinephrine auto-injector will be hitting the market after Thanksgiving.
PayPal Now Lets iOS Users Send And Request Money With Siri
By 11.10.16
Don’t feel like tapping or swiping around on your phone, but have to pay your buddy $17 for all that pizza you devoured last night? If you’ve got the PayPal app on an iOS device, you can now just tell Siri to do it. [More]
Half Of Razors Sold At Target Now From Harry’s
By 11.9.16
Earlier this year, Harry’s, the online razor subscription service that isn’t Dollar Shave Club, began selling its products in Target stores. The startup put up cool displays shaped like a giant orange razor, and soon half of the razor handles sold at Target were from Harry’s. One-tenth of the blade cartridges sold were from Harry’s. Dominant razor seller Gillette was not pleased. [More]
One State & One City Voted To Eventually Do Away With Sub-Minimum Wages For Tipped Workers
By 11.9.16
If you’ve never worked in the foodservice or hospitality industry, you may not know that employees who rely on tips often earn base pay that is significantly less than minimum wage (the federal minimum is currently $2.13/hour). Tips can certainly add up to much more than the minimum wage, but they can also be cyclical and unpredictable, which is problematic for people living paycheck to paycheck. Yesterday, voters in one state and one city decided it was time to phase in wage increases that will eventually get tipped workers earning base pay that is at least the minimum. [More]
Report: Suppliers Starting To Cut Sales To Sears And Kmart
By 11.9.16 — Updated: 5.25.17
Retailers’ shelves and warehouses are stocked up for the holiday season, but suppliers are reportedly holding back from the stores belonging to one company. Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, reportedly is having shipments to its stores cut by suppliers, who don’t want to be stuck with the bill if the company files abruptly for bankruptcy protection. [More]
Four Cities Approve Sugary-Drink Taxes
By 11.9.16
For residents in four U.S. cities, it’s about to get more expensive to buy soda or other sugary drinks after voters okayed new taxes on these beverages. [More]
GoPro Recalls Recently Launched Drones After Some Stop Working
By 11.9.16
GoPro only released its new $800 (no camera included) Karma drone two weeks ago, but the flying photo-taking device has already been recalled because some of them simply stopped working.
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Walgreens Files Suit Against Former Partner Theranos
By 11.8.16
Theranos, the startup that shuttered its blood-testing business after losing its retail partnerships and facing stiff sanctions by federal regulators, is now facing another challenge, this time in the courtroom: Walgreens has reportedly filed a $140 million lawsuit against its one-time partner. [More]
Walmart Sued For Selling Mislabeled Welspun Egyptian Cotton Sheets
By 11.8.16
Two months after textile manufacturer Welspun was sued for allegedly fraudulently labeling its bedding as premium Egyptian cotton, Walmart — which sold and then pulled the products — is facing a lawsuit of its own. [More]
Apple Now Selling Refurbished iPhones Online
By 11.8.16
Before today, you could purchase a refurbished iPad or Mac — but not an iPhone — online from Apple. That’s changing as the tech company is now offering customers the chance to purchase refurbished iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus online. [More]
Sears Will Open On Thanksgiving Then Close For Five Hours
By 11.8.16
For every retailer like REI, hhgregg, and TJMaxx that proudly announces they are bucking the trend of opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day, there’s a counterpart sticking to its guns and opening to holiday shoppers on an actual holiday. To that end: Sears will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. [More]
McDonald’s Big Mac Getting Both Bigger And Smaller
By 11.7.16
Even though McDonald’s franchisees have complained about having their corporate overlords force too many limited-time menu items on them, the fast food giant continues to tinker. This time, it’s the company’s signature sandwich, the Big Mac, which is getting both smaller and bigger versions in 2017. [More]
Consumer-Facing Companies Blame All Of Their Woes On Election
By 11.7.16
It’s all your fault. Yes, you, Mr. or Ms. Consumer, because you’re apparently preoccupied with the election instead of out shopping like a proper American should. How do we know this? Executives of publicly-traded companies keep getting on conference calls with analysts and journalists and saying so. [More]
Soylent Says It Knows What’s Making Customers Sick; Will Stop Using Algae-Based Flour
By 11.7.16
Last month, meal-replacement startup Soylent voluntarily stopped selling its new-to-market nutrition bar and long-running powder after receiving reports from customers who became ill after consuming the meal-replacement products. Now, the company says it has pinpointed the cause of the issues: an algae-based ingredient called algal flour. [More]
Here’s Where Voters Can Score Election Day Freebies & Deals
By 11.7.16
You might have heard that tomorrow is Election Day, a day when Americans will vote not only on who will lead our country for the next four years, but also on numerous ballot initiatives that could affect consumers in many states. To mark the occasion, several businesses are offering up special freebies and discounts. [More]
PetSmart Offers Same-Day Delivery Because You Never Know When You’ll Run Out Of Dog Food
By 11.7.16
Retailers are constantly attempting to one-up each other in services offered to customers. Recently that has meant introducing the quick delivery of products. Joining the likes of Amazon Now, Google Express, Best Buy, and Staples is PetSmart, you know, because you never know when you’ll unexpectedly run out of dog food. [More]
