Chicago, despite having Targets galore, only has a single Walmart store on the west side. The big box giant has faced serious resistance from labor unions who claim that the company doesn’t pay enough and doesn’t provide adequate benefits. Now Walmart says they have a plan called the “Chicago Community Investment Partnership.” [More]
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Target Says You Are Buying Crap You Don't Need Again
By 5.19.10
Target’s first quarter profits were up and things are looking better for the retailer’s troubled credit card division. The secret to their success? Consumers are buying more “discretionary merchandise,” which is retailer speak for ” various bullsh*t like video games and cheap designer clothes that you don’t technically need to survive.” [More]
Kmart Wants Your Dirty Laundry
By 5.19.10
If you live in Iowa City, Iowa, you’ll soon be able to do your laundry at Kmart. I don’t get it either, but that’s what the retailer has announced. It will be testing a laundromat addition to one of its Kmart stores in the city, and has named it Kwash. I’m assuming you’re supposed to pronounce it K-Wash, but for the first five minutes I kept reading “quash” and wondering how in the hell that was supposed to make me think of clean clothes and cheap goods. [More]
Why Everyone Loves Costco: Small Selection, Good Quality, Low Prices
By 3.29.10
ABCNews took a look inside the mysterious world of Costco. Why does everyone love it so much? Turns out the secrets are simple: Small selection, good quality, low price. [More]
As The Economy Improves, Shoppers Ditch Walmart
By 3.22.10
The NY Post says that they’ve found a correlation between economic growth and same store sales at Walmart. Their theory is that as the economy improves, people run away from the big blue box. [More]
Target And Target.com Are Not The Same Company, So Just Deal With It
By 3.16.10
Reader Patricia is angry and somewhat baffled by Target’s insistence that Target and Target.com are not the same company and its not a Target store’s problem if the website is messed up and tells you to drive 25 miles to buy something that isn’t in stock. [More]
Large-Footed Man Upset That Target Stopped Selling Size 13 Shoes
By 2.18.10
According to reader Dave, Target has stopped carrying size 13 men’s shoes. This makes Dave sad. 13 doesn’t seem really crazy-insane large to us, but apparently Target isn’t selling enough of them. If you want big shoes, you have to order them online. [More]
Receipt Checker Avoidance Tactic: Confuse Them With Extreme Politeness
By 2.9.10
Reader Matt wants to share his technique for waltzing past the Walmart receipt checkers with a minimum of hassle. The secret? Be super nice, but don’t stop walking. [More]
Employee: Best Buy Scrambling To Clean Up Optimization Mess
By 1.29.10
A mysterious email from someone claiming to be a Best Buy employee has emerged from the mist of our inbox. In it, the sender claims that Best Buy is threatening termination for employees that try to force the optimization fee on unwilling customers… [More]
Target Stops Selling Farmed Salmon. Also, Target Apparently Sells Salmon.
By 1.26.10
Target has announced that, due to love of the planet, they have decided to stop selling farmed salmon. Salmon farms, according to Target’s press release, produce “pollution, chemicals, parasites and non-native farmed fish that escape from salmon farms all affect the natural habitat and the native salmon in the surrounding areas.” They’re switching to “sustainable” wild salmon. [More]
Think Carefully Before Buying Diapers At Target
By 1.20.10
Reader Sarah was shopping for some diapers when she noticed something strange about Target’s pricing. Yes, the well-documented insanity continues in the diaper aisle… [More]
Best Buy Bans Visa Contactless Payment Over High Fees
By 1.6.10
If you buy something with your Visa card at Best Buy, you’ll have to go the old fashioned route, comparatively speaking, and swipe it. Visa demands that contactless payments have to be signed, which is more profitable for Visa but not for Best Buy. Visa refused to change their policy, so Best Buy says it will no longer allow customers to pay that way, reports StorefrontBacktalk. Mastercard doesn’t ban PINs on contactless payments and will continue to be an option. [More]
Target Testing "Warehouse Club" Style Deals
By 1.5.10
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune says Target is testing out “warehouse” style deals in space usually used for seasonal merchandise. Examples mentioned include: “supersize jugs of laundry detergent “;”bulk-size packages of batteries”;”bins of $1 neon-colored flip flops,” and “packs of athletic socks for $7.” [More]
Craftsman Doesn't Have The Ability To Cancel A Duplicate Order
By 7.23.09
Reader C.W. is wondering why Craftsman (which is part of Sears) doesn’t have the ability to cancel a duplicate order. Especially since there appears to be a “cancel” button on the website.
Walmart Greeter Who Was Attacked During Receipt Check Gets $20,000 Settlement
By 6.26.09
Remember the Walmart greeter who was attacked by a police officer when he tried to check the cop’s receipt? His lawsuit has been settled for $20,000.
Rumble In The Strip Mall: Best Buy Calls Out Walmart
By 6.17.09
Sure, Best Buy emerged victorious over Circuit City in the Battle of the Big-Box Electronics Stores, but they still have to compete with general discounters like Walmart. Which is why in a new ad campaign, Best Buy calls out Walmart specifically, attacking their employees’ presumed lack of product knowledge compared to Best Buy employees.
Current And Former Walmart CEOs Shop At Target
By 6.4.09
Fortune has an interesting article about a Target that opened up in Walmart country. The store is located about seven minutes from “Wal-Mart No. 1”, the first Wal-Mart ever built, and 20 minutes from Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, AR. At first, Target was concerned that the Walmart faithful wouldn’t shop at their new store — but they worried needlessly. Apparently, former CEO Lee Scott and current CEO Mike Duke are regulars.
