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.
retail
Why The Fashion Industry Can't Make Clothes That Fit Actual People
By 6.19.09
Another week, another article about brick-and-mortar stores phasing out their plus-sized clothing lines. (Edit: And here’s another!) For those who missed it, Tatiana the Anonymous Model over at Jezebel posted an interesting essay on the economics of women’s fashion, comparing pattern development issues designers face when developing both petite and plus sizes.
Best Buy Tries To Convince You To Buy The Wrong Memory Card
By 6.12.09
Reader Phil is annoyed. He called Best Buy to see if they carried MiniSD memory cards. He was told that they did, but when he got to the store — all they had was MicroSD. Instead of just apologizing and letting Phil get on with his day — they tried to convince him that he was wrong, and his camera took MicroSD. It doesn’t.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Some Assembly Required
By 6.8.09
Jim spotted this confusing sign at a Fry’s store in Campbell, Calif. On a display of compact fluorescent light bulbs, the store helpfully notes that some assembly is required. “Is it safe to assemble your own fluorescent light bulbs?” he wrote. “I mean with the dangerous mercury vapor and all?”
Circuit City Sends Rebate Check One Year After Purchase
By 6.4.09
Jan bought a keyboard from Circuit City last year. Since then, the company filed Chapter 11, the stores liquidated and closed, and another company bought the name. But last week, Jan finally-FINALLY-received her rebate check. Now she wants to know: is cashing this thing a good idea?
Why Is This Store Scanning My Driver's License?
By 5.29.09
Ed went to return a pair of shoes to Finish Line because they were the wrong size. As part of the exchange, the sales associate took Ed’s driver’s license and scanned it, and he wondered why.
Punishing Customers For Buying More: Now Worldwide
By 5.28.09
Theoretically, if you buy more of something, you should pay less per item, or per unit. That’s the entire point of buying things in bulk. Right? Not necessarily. To confuse the logical part of your brain this fine morning, here’s a collection of instances where customers pay more when they buy more.
Sorry, 2009's Clothing Discounts Will Be Less Insane
By 5.27.09
Clothing retailers are holding off on their crazy, desperate discounts a bit, and plan to discount less aggressively this summer. Why? Women’s Wear Daily reports that it’s not so much that the economy’s improving (it really isn’t) or unemployment has stopped rising (it hasn’t) but Americans need stuff. Retailers anticipate that they will need to mark down, but not at the desperate levels that have characterized the last six months or so.
Need A Suit? S&K Menswear Closing All 105 Stores
By 5.25.09
The decline in the “work clothing” market continues to take its toll. S&K Menswear are closing all 105 of their retail stores. The liquidation will be handled by Gordon Brothers, so don’t expect any actual deals. Going-out-of-business sales started on Thursday, May 21.
By 5.22.09
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Circuit City is dead. Long live Circuit City! Circuitcity.com is already about to relaunch. They’ll let everyone know via Twitter when they open. No word whether they will actually be distinguishable from TigerDirect.
Size 16 Goes Online-Only In Ann Taylor Stores
By 5.21.09
Ann Taylor will no longer carry size 16 items in their retail stores. “But they’re keeping it online,” our tipster Dena observed. “In other words, ‘Hey, wide load! Stay out of our stores! Oh, but keep giving us your cash.'”
How Do You Stay Entertained In A Recession? Used Video Games.
By 5.21.09
Video games are up, and books are down. GameStop says sales of used games jumped 32%, as the retailer posted a 13% rise in fiscal first-quarter earnings. Why is GameStop doing so well while other retailers suffer? Its used video game program has excellent profit margins.
The Sort-Of Comeback Of CompUSA
By 5.19.09
We previously reported that CompUSA refuses to die, and has reappeared. What I never expected to see was an article in BusinessWeek touting the reborn CompUSA’s success.
Target Advertises To Overhead Planes, Orbiting Satellites, Alien Life Forms
By 5.12.09
Joshua sent us this link to the Google Maps aerial view of a Target store in Alexandria, Va. There’s something to be said for branding, advertising, and taking advantage of unused space, but maybe a giant bulls-eye isn’t the logo to start with.
Circuit City Has Left Us, But Its Uniforms Live On
By 5.11.09
The Circuit City death watch is long over, but now there’s a way to preserve those memories forever—maybe even to outfit an entire troupe of Circuit City re-enactors. Reader chainofcommand02 was shopping in a grocery outlet store when he discovered several cases of Circuit City polo shirts. Yours, for only $1.00.
Walmart To Rest Of Planet: "What Recession?"
By 5.7.09
A new survey of American consumers shows something very unusual — they’ve lost their interest in shopping. Is this lack of interest driving them to discount stores like Walmart? Seems so.
Returning These Games To Best Buy Could Get A Little Awkward
By 5.4.09
Reader Charlton went to Best Buy to buy some games. He successfully accomplished his task, only to find that opening his purchase was going to be a little difficult.
