All of those $1 drinks from McDonald’s continue to add up, boosting the fast food giant’s bottomline for a second quarter in a row. [More]
promotions
Target’s Holiday Plan: Fewer Sales, More Focus On Everyday Low Prices
By 10.23.17
From “doorbusters” to “advance deals” to hourly specials all through Black Friday weekend (not to mention Cyber Monday), the holiday shopping season is a continuous barrage of retail promotions varying in quality and value. In an attempt to rein things in, Target says it plans to offer fewer sales this holiday and hope that customers will be won over by everyday lower prices. [More]
Taco Bell Will Once Again Give Out Free Tacos After First Stolen Base In World Series
By 10.16.17
Even though we don’t yet know who will be playing in the Big Games, one thing is certain about this year’s World Series: Free tacos are on the line. [More]
Netflix Takes Over California Pot Dispensary, Offers Show-Themed Marijuana
By 8.28.17
“Netflix and chill” took on an entirely different meaning this weekend: The streaming service hosted a pop-up at a medical marijuana dispensary in California, offering pot strains inspired by several of its original television shows. [More]
Surprise Charges: Feds Advise Retailers To Make “No Interest” Store Credit Offers More Transparent
By 6.8.17
Three years ago, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned consumers that some credit card companies weren’t clearly disclosing the risks of promotions, including deferred-interest offers that promise not to charge interest on purchases as long as the balance is paid off by a certain date. However, if that doesn’t happen customers can find their bill nearly doubled thanks to retroactive interest charges. Now the agency is setting its sights on retailers, urging them consider more transparent promotions for store-branded credit cards. [More]
Man Gets Hypothermia Hiking Snow-Covered Mountain In Shorts, Trying To Score Free Pizza
By 5.11.17
If a pizza place is offering free food to people who can hike or bike their way up a snow-covered mountain, you have to ask yourself: Is the pizza really free? And if you’re one Arizona man who had to be rescued while trying to cash in on this promotion, you’re probably wondering: Why did I wear shorts? [More]
Customer Accuses Burger King Of Bogus BOGO Deals
By 5.9.17
Typically, when presented with a “buy-one-get-one” coupon, customers expect to pay the original price for one item and then get the second one free. But one Burger King customer claims the fast food chain actually increases the price on the first sandwich so you’re not truly getting two for the price of one. [More]
New Big Macs, Cheaper Drinks Help Boost McDonald’s Sales
By 4.25.17
Last year, McDonald’s had all-day breakfast to thank for a boost in sales, beating earning expectations. Now, the company has its three sizes of Big Macs and cheaper drinks to hang its fatter wallet on. [More]
As Sales Sink, Urban Outfitters CEO Declares Retail “Bubble Has Burst”
By 3.8.17
The last few years haven’t exactly been great for long-time mall retailers, with chains like Wet Seal, BCBG, Aeropostale, and The Limited filing for bankruptcy, while Abercrombie & Fitch and Barnes & Noble struggle to remain relevant. Now that two additional mall mainstays — Express and Urban Outfitters — one CEO is saying that retailers have no one to blame but themselves. [More]
Chipotle Giving Away More Free Food, Because Of Course It Is
By 1.25.17
Weeks after Chipotle blamed weaker than expected sales for the last quarter on the higher cost of avocados and promotions, the company doesn’t seem to be too concerned. Instead, it’s combining the two elements in a free guacamole giveaway. [More]
Bristol-Myers Squibb Agrees To Pay $19.5M Over Improper Marketing Of Medication
By 12.8.16 — Updated: 12.12.16
Prescription medication, when used properly and safely, can provide needed relief to consumers suffering a wide range of illnesses or physical conditions. However, those medications must be marketed and advertised properly. That apparently wasn’t the case for a antipsychotic prescription drug manufactured Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). As a result, the company has agreed to pay $19.5 million in a settlement with 42 states and the District of Columbia. [More]
Get A Golden Bud Light Can, Win A Remote Chance To Win Super Bowl Tickets
By 11.28.16
The premise of the Golden Ticket promotion in the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the two movies based on it was simple: there were five pieces of gold-colored paper hidden in chocolate bars all over the world, and the bearers of those tickets would get to visit Willy Wonka’s candy factory. The grown-up version of this promotion involves 37,000 golden-colored cans of beer hidden in cases of Bud Light, but only seven winners. [More]
Get Ready To See Even More Exclusions On Department Store Coupons
By 11.22.16
If department stores can’t break their addiction to discounting, designer brands want to help. Brands like Michael Kors and Kate Spade are selling fewer of their products in department stores. Other brands are keeping their items in stores, but insisting that they not be discounted. [More]
Some Time Warner Cable Customers Still Waiting Months For $300 Promotional Gift Cards
By 11.11.16
Back in February, Ann chose to keep her business with Time Warner Cable when the company dangled a free $300 prepaid gift card in her face. Fast forward to November and she’s still waiting for the card, like hundreds of other customers who stuck with the company or switched to the pay-TV provider. So what’s the deal? [More]
Always Pay Attention To Who The Actual Seller Of Your Amazon Item Is
By 10.17.16 — Updated: 10.18.16
When you shop on Amazon, it pays off to pay attention to who you’re actually buying from. As we’ve discussed before, buying an item on Amazon.com doesn’t mean that you’re buying it from Amazon, even if it’s shipped to you from one of Amazon’s warehouses. The seller is another person or company who sent their stuff to Amazon’s warehouse. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can have some unintended effects. Like depriving you of piano lessons. [More]
Chipotle Hopes Freebies For Kids & Students Will Convince Customers To Return
By 8.30.16
In its continuing effort to make everyone forget about all that food-borne illness stuff from last year, Chipotle is trotting out two new promotions in September aimed at the younger set. [More]
Spirit Promo Gives Bonus Miles To Customers Who Buy The Cheapest Fares
By 8.3.16
Whether they like it or not, travelers have become used to the fact that many airlines now reward frequent-flier miles based on how much your ticket costs: the more you spend, the more miles you get. But Spirit is flipping that idea on its head, and will instead offer bonus miles to customers who buy the cheapest fares — for a limited time. [More]
Are T-Mobile Tuesdays T-Mobile Terrific, Or T-Mobile Trash?
By 7.26.16
T-Mobile Tuesdays, which launched in June, have sometimes been T-Mobile Trouble for the big pink carrier. Two months in, it’s hard to tell if the rewards program is actually useful… or if it’s the digital version of that set of useless roofing and carpet-cleaning coupons that you throw out from your mailbox every week. [More]
