The fact that Eddie Lampert isn’t even a CEO didn’t stop Herb Greenberg at Marketwatch from slapping the coveted “Worst CEO of the Year” award on him. Eddie beat out such unemployed luminaries as Chuck “Whoops” Prince, formerly of Citigroup, and Ed “I Hate My Customers” Zander, formerly of Motorola.
big box
Dangerous Toys Helping Walmart?
By 12.7.07
Parents are staying away from small toys this holiday season, says a survey from America’s Research Group, and planning instead to buy more expensive tech items.
Costco Finds Item You Accidentally Left In The Parking Lot And Holds It For You
By 12.6.07
I wanted to let you know that Costco customer service is awesome. Last Sunday, My family went to Costco to shop. I saw they had a good deal on a chair mat. Right before we checked out, I went back to get it. As we were headed to the exit, my wife figures out they overcharged her for something. So (with help from a CSR) we split up so I could load the car. Well, I put the chair mat somewhere and forgot about it. (probably against the car) I realized it later that night that I had forgotten it, and had written it off. Today, I went to Costco to get a prescription filled and I thought I would ask about it. Apparently an employee found it, logged it, and put it back on the shelf. The CSR told me to get another one off the shelf and gave me a note to get through the cashiers with it. The cashier then radioed to the receipt checkers, so I didn’t even have to wait in the exit line!
Well, damn. That’s really nice! Good job, Costco.
Sears' Cost Cutting Not Going So Well
By 11.30.07
The New York Times has an article that attempts to diagnose what’s wrong with Sears, and it mainly focuses on their (ill-advised?) cost cutting strategy.
What’s Wrong With Sears?
By 11.29.07
Sears’ earnings are down 99% and there’s really no denying that something is going wrong with the retailer. Same store sales, the most important indicator of the health of a store, fell 4.2 percent in the third quarter.
Fired By Circuit City? They Might Want You Back
By 11.20.07
Circuit City fired 3,400 of its highest-paid store employees in March, claiming that it needed to hire cheaper help in order to stop hemorrhaging money. It didn’t work. Only a few months later, analysts blamed the ill-advised job cuts for Circuit City’s poor sales.
Walmart: "Black Friday" Is Now This Friday, Thanksgiving Surrenders
By 10.31.07
Walmart is moving “Black Friday” to this Friday in a desperate attempt to make some money this holiday season. Never mind that this “holiday season” is weeks away. Black Friday is here, folks.
Kmart Worker Who Put Rat Poison In Ground Beef Sentenced To 1 Year House Arrest
By 10.30.07
The pissed off Kmart worker who tried to get revenge against the store by putting rat poison in the ground beef has been sentenced to a year of house arrest, plus $4,000 in restitution to Kmart.
Walmart Threatening Legal Action Against Websites That Leak Its "Black Friday" Circular
By 10.18.07
You must wait until Nov. 19 to know what delicious deals Walmart has in store for America this “Black Friday.” The Mart of Wal is threatening legal action against any website so bold as to post the coveted “Black Friday” circular before that date.
Walmart Tries To Make DVDs, Toothpaste, Soap, Milk, Beer, Vacuum Cleaners, and Soda Eco-Friendly
By 9.25.07
According to BusinessWeek, Walmart is using its considerable power to pressure its suppliers to reduce manufacturing energy consumption, and in doing so, cut costs.
Agassi Sues Target Over Unauthorized Flip-Flops
By 9.21.07
Andre Agassi is suing Target for slapping his name on a pair of brown men’s flip-flops without his permission, says the AP.
What Walmart Can Tell Us About Ourselves
By 9.13.07
Walmart knows more about us than we do, according to ABC News.
Target: Putting Merchandise In Correct Bins Not Our Responsibility
By 9.10.07
Reader Marie went to the Target store in Biddeford, Maine and was told by the on-duty manager that “it is not the responsibility of the department manager or stocker” to ensure that the store’s bins actually contain the items that they are supposed to.
Man Attempts To Return Walmart Ammunition At 1300 Feet Per Second
By 9.10.07
It’s Walmart’s policy, clearly visible on their website and in their stores, that all sales of guns and ammunition are final. One San Diego man didn’t like that policy so he tried to return the ammunition in another way. By firing it in the Walmart parking lot.
Home Depot Finally Sells Commercial Business Supply Division After $2 Billion Price Cut
By 8.28.07
Home Depot has finally rid itself of the commercial business supply division that was often blamed for the chain’s miserable customer service and lagging stock price. The commercial supply division was accused of stealing resources from the stores, and was the pet project of disgraced former CEO “Big Bob” Nardelli. Home Depot had to chop $2 billion off the asking price, but they got the deal done.
Dell Having Trouble Fitting In At Walmart?
By 8.27.07
In recent visits to five Wal-Mart stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, however, TheStreet.com found a company still struggling to find its footing in the rough world of retail.
What Retail Slump? Target And Lowe's Are Doing Just Fine
By 8.21.07
Target and Lowe’s cheered everyone up by announcing that they’re doing just fine in the “tough selling market” that Home Depot was so worried about.
Circuit City Rep Offers Refund Of $389, Now Is "No Longer In The Dept" And Won't Help
By 8.8.07
Josh realized he forgot to click a “web only special” link when ordering something from CircuitCity.com, so he suspected that his order was not processed correctly. He called customer service as a precaution and sure enough, because he didn’t click the link they said he wouldn’t be getting the the deal and there was nothing they could do about it.
