Annoyed with sears!

[BeachLove]

Needed some work shirts for my dad and found some at 50% off.(Normal t-shirts) I get home and notice a different price under the price sticker. The original price was the price I just paid. They upped the price 50% and put it on sale. The sale price I paid was fine. Its just so annoying!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I can see why that would be frustrating, but really I think most stores do this, they just use signs instead of price stickers to do the adjustment.

 

[POOHsie]

I also think this is pretty common, and not a recent development. What annoys me is an endcap display featuring a product in a large size, with an "extra value" price. Then you go down the actual aisle and find the same product in a smaller size with a cheaper price per ounce. I feel like I'm being played, and doesn't make me want to return.

 

[Sandi12404]

My parents had this issue when they were buying new living room furniture. They found a set they liked and the sales person wrote down the price and they went home to think about it (my dad's a thinker). About a week later the store announced their huge "everything is 50%" sale so my parents went up and there was the furniture they wanted advertised as 50% off and they exact same price it was the following week. My parents were kind of angry, they showed the manager the card with the price on it but he said that it was the wrong price. They left and never went back.

 

[Colleen27]

It seems like everyone does that now. I can't even tell you how many 40-50-60% off deals I've seen in the past month that are the exact same or maybe 10% less than the regular price of the item in a non-sale week.

 

[Zhoen]

Yep, *VERY* common. I wanted a beautiful bedset from Bombay Company years ago, and no matter what percentage "off" it was marked, it always worked out to $1100 (they would just adjust the "original" price to make the math work.) I think it's one thing when a store has insane "original" prices just so they can mark it 50% (cough...KOHL'S...cough) ... but Bombay KEPT changing the "original", and that's why I ended up not buying from them... it was wayyy too shady.

 

[timmac]

This topic has come up before in this board, and I'm sure this won't be the last time, either.

For me, though I can certainly appreciate the frustration--nobody likes feeling "duped"--the reality is we are the ones who made the purchasing decision. Any good purchasing decision should be made on the basis of "do I need/want this item" and "do I feel this is a good price". A purchase decision on the basis of a sign that says "50% off", "big sale", "special value", or whatever else, only means that we had a momentary lapse of judgment. And, like a monkey to a shiny object, we put the item in our cart and pay for it. To be clear, I don't mean this just directed at OP or anyone else in particular; I've certainly made the same mistake myself.

On the other hand, the other way to look at it is, do you feel happy with your purchase, for the price you paid? If the answer to that is yes, then all of the above is irrelevant, and you made the right choice for yourself. Discounts, deals, and signs don't change that... but in this case it's not that they distract you into making a purchasing decision, but rather they're distracting you into thinking your decision was a bad one.

 

[Colleen27]

On the other hand, the other way to look at it is, do you feel happy with your purchase, for the price you paid? If the answer to that is yes, then all of the above is irrelevant, and you made the right choice for yourself.

See, I disagree on that count. I don't think deceptive pricing is irrelevant even if I personally know better and I try to "vote with my dollars" against tactics that count on buyers not having the time/desire to research every purchase from socks to major appliances to avoid being taken for a ride. It is one thing if we're talking about a place like Kohls that marks everything up to above MSRP in order to constantly offer "deep discounts" but quite another when a place you shop and are familiar with the prices marks up an item from $10 to $20 before offering it 50% off.

 

[timmac]

See, I disagree on that count. I don't think deceptive pricing is irrelevant even if I personally know better and I try to "vote with my dollars" against tactics that count on buyers not having the time/desire to research every purchase from socks to major appliances to avoid being taken for a ride. It is one thing if we're talking about a place like Kohls that marks everything up to above MSRP in order to constantly offer "deep discounts" but quite another when a place you shop and are familiar with the prices marks up an item from $10 to $20 before offering it 50% off.

The big point where I'll definitely agree with you, is voting with the dollars. If you (general you) find a store's pricing policies to be
ridiculous, definitely don't keep shopping there.

We may have to agree to disagree on the interpretation, but that's ok too

I don't really see it so much as an outright deception... marketing trickery, sure, but it's not as though the price is ringing up differently than what
is labelled (between the price tag and sale sign, at least).

I also do not mean to imply that everyone should research every single purchase, but on any given day, then can look at what price is being offered, and they can make a purchasing decision based on that information. Whether it's an item marked $10, or marked $20 with 50% off, the end question of "Do I want to buy this for $10" is no different. Even moreso in a place where one is familiar with the prices... if an item's price was marked up you'd notice it immediately, and could easily decide it was no cheaper than usual, and decline to purchase; no being taken for a ride involved.

Also, to be fair, I totally get the sense of frustration with some of the pricing games. I just don't see it so much as "the store is evil" so much as it sounds like sour grapes when someone realizes they didn't get the steal of a bargain they originally thought.

 

[bumbershoot]

I also think this is pretty common, and not a recent development. What annoys me is an endcap display featuring a product in a large size, with an "extra value" price. Then you go down the actual aisle and find the same product in a smaller size with a cheaper price per ounce. I feel like I'm being played, and doesn't make me want to return.

Have you ever tried to compare the prices of different tortilla packages? The 10 tortilla package vs the 20 vs the 40... At my local Safeway they will literally have "per tortilla" on one price tag and "per ounce" on another. And it's never just one way that works out the best, they change it up all the time. (we buy a lot of tortillas) I have to bring a calculator just for tortillas, LOL. Luckily we only buy the one brand and one size of tortilla (for portion control purposes we get the smaller ones); if we had to include other things in our purchase decision, our heads might explode!

Because of tortillas, I always make sure I'm getting the package (of whatever) with the best price per ounce/grams/whatever.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it's one thing when a store has insane "original" prices just so they can mark it 50% (cough...KOHL'S...cough) ... but Bombay KEPT changing the "original", and that's why I ended up not buying from them... it was wayyy too shady.

Funny thing is people claim they would rather have lower regular prices, but JCP is proving how false that is. People want the thrill of getting something on sale. Getting something that was marked $20 for $10 gives people a high that buying a shirt that always sells for $10 does not.

In Michigan it is illegal to mark something up to put it on sale, and then mark it back down once the sale is over. Must not be that way everywhere.

 

[Colleen27]

Funny thing is people claim they would rather have lower regular prices, but JCP is proving how false that is. People want the thrill of getting something on sale. Getting something that was marked $20 for $10 gives people a high that buying a shirt that always sells for $10 does not.

I'm not sure that's entirely true. Part of the problem with JCP right now is that their prices are lower than the former regular prices but higher, and on some items much higher, than the sale prices that were offered under their old model. That's why I cut way back on shopping there - on one hand, I love that I can order my curtains whenever rather than waiting for a 40% off sale, but on the other hand I'm not willing to pay $17 for kids' jeans that I used to get on sale for $12, even if they did retail for $20 before.

Also the "stores within a store" model has pretty well decimated the selection, at least at our local JCP. It is a small store to begin with and all the additional space dedicated to display, atmosphere, and branding is squeezing out the actual merchandise.

 

[threeboysmom]

I can understand OP's frustration at the store's deception, however...

Let's say Macy's is having a 50% off cashmere sale, and I grabbed a gorgeous women's cashmere sweater for $40 because that is a STEAL of a price!

Does that really change when I get home and find out the original price under the sale tag was $40?

$40 for a cashmere sweater! It's still a fabulous price regardless of the original price!!

Unless.... the only reason why I bought the sweater was because I thought it was 50% off. Then, I'd be upset, lol.

 

[BeachLove]

In Michigan it is illegal to mark something up to put it on sale, and then mark it back down once the sale is over. Must not be that way everywhere.

Interesting!

 

[BeachLove]

Needed some work shirts for my dad and found some at 50% off.(Normal t-shirts) I get home and notice a different price under the price sticker. The original price was the price I just paid. They upped the price 50% and put it on sale. The sale price I paid was fine. Its just so annoying!

Yeah, I just felt annoyed. Only one of the shirts had the new and improved price tag on it. The others just had the clothing tag with the original price.

 

[mrodgers]

Funny thing is people claim they would rather have lower regular prices, but JCP is proving how false that is. People want the thrill of getting something on sale. Getting something that was marked $20 for $10 gives people a high that buying a shirt that always sells for $10 does not.

The other funny thing is, how many of the folks right here are going to go nuts on Black Friday? I've looked at many ads for stuff that I'm interested in, stuff I've recently bought, and stuff that I've looked at looking for the recent stuff I've bought. Most of the stuff I'm noticing in the Black Friday ads are the same price as they are normally.

Example, I just bought a Panasonic Plasma TV, $699 at Sears. Now it is in the Black Friday ad at.... $699! What a deal!

I'm interested in a GoPro Hero2 video camera. It's been $199 for several years now. Special deal on Black Friday at Walmart.... $199!

I'm in the market for a couple of 32 inch TVs for the kids for Christmas. None of them are cheaper in the ads than I've seen the past several months.

How many people are going to get trampled this year on Black Friday for stuff at just normal prices?

 

[BeachLove]

The other funny thing is, how many of the folks right here are going to go nuts on Black Friday? I've looked at many ads for stuff that I'm interested in, stuff I've recently bought, and stuff that I've looked at looking for the recent stuff I've bought. Most of the stuff I'm noticing in the Black Friday ads are the same price as they are normally.

Example, I just bought a Panasonic Plasma TV, $699 at Sears. Now it is in the Black Friday ad at.... $699! What a deal!

I'm interested in a GoPro Hero2 video camera. It's been $199 for several years now. Special deal on Black Friday at Walmart.... $199!

I'm in the market for a couple of 32 inch TVs for the kids for Christmas. None of them are cheaper in the ads than I've seen the past several months.

How many people are going to get trampled this year on Black Friday for stuff at just normal prices?

On the sears ad right now at the BF site you'll see that current price link thing. Well, so much of it is actually higher on black friday. I'm hoping for a BF that won't have people being trampled. Hopefully retailers have learned new ways to control crowds.

 

[Colleen27]

The other funny thing is, how many of the folks right here are going to go nuts on Black Friday? I've looked at many ads for stuff that I'm interested in, stuff I've recently bought, and stuff that I've looked at looking for the recent stuff I've bought. Most of the stuff I'm noticing in the Black Friday ads are the same price as they are normally.

I've noticed that too this year but I chalked it up to having a small and rather unusual Christmas list. I've seen a few things I'd like at good prices, movies and such, but saving $5 isn't worth braving the crowds so if I can't get those things online I'll just pay a little more for them later. My daughter is a bit disappointed; she just started joining my mom & I for our annual Black Friday outing last year and this year we've decided to more or less skip it.

 

[Callie]

I work in retail at Old Navy. We never mark stuff up to put it on sale. Every now and then the original price of some items get raised a few dollars but it stays that price. Usually its due to the cost of cotton going up. But note that hasn't happened now in months!

But sometimes a sale price is from a weekly sale ad is cheaper than when the item goes 40 percent off or bogo

 

[KellyNY]

The other funny thing is, how many of the folks right here are going to go nuts on Black Friday? I've looked at many ads for stuff that I'm interested in, stuff I've recently bought, and stuff that I've looked at looking for the recent stuff I've bought. Most of the stuff I'm noticing in the Black Friday ads are the same price as they are normally.

Example, I just bought a Panasonic Plasma TV, $699 at Sears. Now it is in the Black Friday ad at.... $699! What a deal!

I'm interested in a GoPro Hero2 video camera. It's been $199 for several years now. Special deal on Black Friday at Walmart.... $199!

I'm in the market for a couple of 32 inch TVs for the kids for Christmas. None of them are cheaper in the ads than I've seen the past several months.

How many people are going to get trampled this year on Black Friday for stuff at just normal prices?

So true. But if people do not do research who is to blame. I noticed that Best Buy is crazy on Black Friday, people just grab everything. I was looking for laptop last year so I was researching and waiting. Particular laptop I was watching went up in price on Black Friday, I was shocked. I bought it right after New Year for much cheaper. My only finds last year were bunch of freebies from CVS, RA and Walgreens.