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- Thread starter SoapyCy
- Start date
I don't care for lawsuits like this. We see that all the time in flooring though. 50% off retail, free installation, etc.. It's somewhat silly as "retail" is entirely a fabrication of the individual store (I'm not sure I've ever seen an established retail price for any flooring). I'm fine with that though. I think it's up to their competitors to shine a light on those practices, and up to the consumer to be slightly smarter than a box of rocks.
IIRC, Penny's went to a no sale price/no coupons model several years ago and it about destroyed their business. Can't blame them for switching back even if all they're doing is taking an item they've always had for sale at $30 and listing a retail price of $40 and calling it a "discount".
In the end the customer has to decide if the price listed is approximate to the value they are willing to pay for the item, regardless of whether or not it's on "sale".
In the end the customer has to decide if the price listed is approximate to the value they are willing to pay for the item, regardless of whether or not it's on "sale".
The problem is Kohls and JC Penny's aren't being deceptive about it. If you walk into Kohls and think I have to buy this now because it won't be on sale next week you are stupid. It will most likely be on sale for close to the same thing for the next year.
Let's take Kohl's for example. Does anyone really believe that they saved $107 on that $85 purchase? It's not like there aren't a thousand ways now to price check while in-store.
"Similarly, the lawsuits allege Kohl’s sold belted cargo shorts online for $35.99, advertised as down from the “original” price of $60"
Does someone actually think that $60 would have ever been a reasonable price for cargo shorts?
Does someone actually think that $60 would have ever been a reasonable price for cargo shorts?
Is there really a reasonable price for cargo shorts?
Can you put a price on dignity?
I think the Menards '11% off everything' sales are more deceptive. They shouldn't be able to say that when you actually have to fill out and mail in a rebate form to get the 11% and it comes in the form of a voucher.
Thanks. I missed the belted part. That makes them fancy. $60 is a steal.
That is a good point about Penny's. When that CEO was there, he wanted to just show the true price of the product and offer no sales. So while the products may have been priced the same in Penny's as the sale price at another store, it showed how stupid customers are. It could actually be a an interesting research study for a marketing/advertising department to undergo.
They've done stuff about it. You feel better about the purchase when it is "On Sale".
Menard's has to make a killing in these "sales". So many things have to happen in order for that 11% to take a hit on Menards. Consumer must fill out form, attach receipt, mail to clearinghouse within 2 weeks, redeem within 2 week window. If one of those don't happen, no rebate and menards pockets more cash. A sneaky thing menard's says is that your rebate becomes property of the clearinghouse. So if they lose it, Menards is not obligated in any way to reimburse you. I had a $15 rebate get "lost" so I never got a voucher for it. Besides that, every other rebate I have received.
I think when it comes to rebates, only 10-20% of people actually fill them out, so that is 90-80% who don't.
I understand that people get more excited about the sale aspect of it. But in my life, I don't think I have ever seen it actually apply or put in practice as it has with JC Penney.
- Mar 27, 2006
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Some consumers really like the idea of getting a deal. It can be a powerful buying motivator. I used to be in software sales. The customer base consisted mostly of doctors, so highly educated, wealthy, intelligent people. And it was shocking how many of them would bite on the "big discount" line. The "retail" price of the software was usually between $30-$40,000, but it was always sold with at least a 40% discount. There was always a "special" running, and about to expire. A summer sale, a Valentines day sale, a Veteran's Day special, etc. None of them were real. The salesperson was allowed to call it whatever they wanted.
It always struck me that people should see through it and just ask why our regular retail price wasn't lower, but very few ever did.
