The New York Times says that police departments all over the country are reporting an increase in shoplifting arrests — up to 20%.
retail
Fry's VP Arrested For Embezzling $65 Million
By 12.23.08
A Fry’s VP was arrested last Friday for embezzling $65 million from the electronics retailer to fuel a gargantuan gambling lifestyle and feed his appetite for excess.
Consumer Electronics Glut Forbodes Post-Christmas Price Slashing
By 12.22.08
Season’s Greetings from Obvious Land: There’s a glut of electronics on the shelves as shoppers only buy essentials. I predict crazy post-Christmas deals as vendors desperately shovel excess inventory out the door. [BusinessWeek] (Photo: Getty)
Pier 1 Is In Danger Of Being Delisted From The NYSE
By 12.18.08
We are living in difficult times for selling wicker furniture, it seems. Pier 1 lost $36.9 million in the third quarter — and is in danger of being delisted from the NYSE.
Every Christmas Target Execs Fight Over Auto-Printing Guest Receipts
By 12.18.08
Regarding this story, turns out, every year at this time, Target has an internal clash of the titans over whether or not to automatically print guest receipts, according to a former employee.
Shopping Online Kills Ponies
By 12.18.08
The campaign, titled “Give Your Community a Lift … Shop Locally for Your Gifts!” aims to remind shoppers that local retailers provide local jobs and support community-based civic and charitable organizations. “Many consumers shop online and avoid paying sales tax, and while this may appear to consumers as a way of saving a few dollars, in the end it may cost them more if local tax revenue is eroded and municipalities are forced to cut back on services,” said Michael P. Kercheval, ICSC’s president and CEO.
Go To The Black Macy's If You Want Plus-Sized Formal Dresses
By 12.17.08
Amanda couldn’t find a fitting formal dress at Macy’s. Macy’s said they don’t cater to her plus-sized demographic, she should go to another Macy’s, which caters to more black women, who tend to be larger.
Best Buy Falling On Hard Times
By 12.16.08
“Best Buy Co. Inc. offered voluntary severance packages to virtually all its 4,000 corporate employees Tuesday as the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain announced its third-quarter profit skidded 77 percent,” says the AP. [Forbes]
Target No Longer Automatically Prints Gift Receipts?
By 12.15.08
Reader Jennifer reports that Target doesn’t seem to be automatically printing gift receipts at the bottom of the receipts. Clever way of discouraging holiday returns? Target’s official policy is no returns without a receipt…
Santa's Not Coming: All KB Toys Stores To Be Liquidated And Closed
By 12.11.08
KB Toys has returned to Chapter 11 bankruptcy, says the Wall Street Journal, and will be liquidated by its parent company — Prentice Capital Management.
Jdimytai Damour, RIP
By 12.4.08
Artist Jeremy Scheuch made this digital image of Jdimytai Damour, the Walmart worker who was trampled to death by a crowd of Black Friday shoppers after they broke down the front doors and stormed in.
Panic: Are Consumers Scared To Buy Gift Cards?
By 12.1.08
Earlier this year when the Sharper Image declared bankruptcy, they briefly stopped accepting gift certificates. Eventually, they did start accepting them again — but with the requirement that consumers buy twice the face value of the card. This, it seems, has caused a fair amount of panic among consumers. Chain emails are circulating warning shoppers not to buy gift cards from various retailers — claiming that they are going out of business. But are they?
2 Dead In Toys 'R Us Black Friday Shooting
By 11.29.08
The floors of a Palm Desert, CA Toys R’ Us ran red on Black Friday after two gunslinging representatives from “two groups of individuals that have a dispute with each other” opened fire. [AP] (Thanks to Tim!)
Circuit City Bouncing Refund Checks, But Will Reissue Them
By 11.26.08
If you have a Circuit City refund check not deposited before 11/10, it’s going to bounce.
Busted: Linen's N Things Liquidation Prices Actually Higher Than Original
By 11.25.08
A Good Morning America hidden camera investigation found that if you peel back the label on the “sale” items at Linen’s N Things, you’ll find the old label underneath, with a cheaper price. How do they get away with saying “10-20% off sale” then?
Best Buy Really Does Not Want To Let You Buy The Advertised Special
By 11.24.08
Reader John writes in with a story about “upselling” at Best Buy. He saw a TomTom GPS unit for $99.99 on sale at Best Buy, so he headed over to the store to pick one up. What follows is his account of how much trouble it was to actually buy the item. We think we counted 9 times that John had to tell various and sundry Best Buy employees that, yes, he was sure that he didn’t want to buy a slightly more expensive model of the same device.
Circuit City Turns To Unrelentingly Optimistic Junk Email As The End Nears
By 11.21.08
Reader James forwarded us an unsolicited email from Circuit City that we had to post because it’s just so chipper about the fact that they’ve resorted to spamming him out of desperation. It cheerfully proclaims, “Now you’ll be the first to hear the latest news,” before informing him that he’d been “chosen” as one of their “best customers” to receive spam.
GAP Sells Bikes For Holidays. We Don't Know Why.
By 11.17.08
GAP has a new promo for the holidays. They’re selling bikes, covered in an argyle pattern. We can only speculate as to dear God why. Perhaps it’s so shoppers can flee from the fashion fiasco that is their retail chain even faster.
