Walmart became the world’s largest retailer by attracting consumers who were most interested in low prices, not a highfalutin, top-notch shopping experience. So it’s unsurprising that Walmart has received poor ratings in studies covering customer service and broad range of shopping categories. But at least Walmart’s got the cheapest prices and packs in the most value, right? Well, no.
Consumers tend to be pretty particular when it comes to an item that ultimately gets flushed away. Survey results published last summer indicate that we’re more brand-sensitive regarding toilet paper than with banks, motor oil, DVD players, and other products. And which brand of TP do consumers rate the softest, strongest, and overall best?
More than nine in ten online retailers say that they’ll offer complimentary shipping on purchases during the holiday shopping season.
It’s happened to everyone: You buy a holiday gift, and soon regret making the purchase because the same item later appears on sale for a fraction of the price. With Walmart’s new holiday season price-matching promotion, shoppers are supposed to rest easy and stop worrying about the possibility of cheaper prices down the line.
Last summer, the average price for a case of soda was $6.12 in grocery stores. Beverage manufacturers preferred it that way, before soda price wars broke out, with Wal-Mart charging $4 or $5 for a case of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other top brands, and grocery store competitors matching prices.
Handsets are often way cheaper when purchased at big-box retailers like Wal-Mart or Best Buy, or from online giant Amazon.
On Saturday, May 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., participating Wal-Mart stores are celebrating the “Joy of Ice Cream” by dishing out free sundaes complete with Breyers and Blue Bunny ice cream, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, Reddi-wip, and a cherry on top. No purchase necessary, while supplies last.
Grocery stores such as Aldi and Save-A-Lot offer a tradeoff that plenty of shoppers can live with: Compared to a standard supermarket, they stock far fewer products, but, compared to a standard supermarket, shopping there can save you a ton of money.
Even though there are signs that the economy is recovering, there are just as many indications that consumers remain in scale-back mode, buying cheaper or discounted goods, and buying less period. Will the days of spending $100 a month on cat food ever return?
Shoppers love eBay and Amazon because they can buy stuff without ever leaving the house. To compete with the e-commerce giants, brick-and-mortar retail giants like Kmart and Wal-Mart are testing the idea of the drive-thru discount store, where shoppers never have to leave their cars.
To save money, create a more simplified shopping experience, and potentially even increase sales, Walgreens, Kroger, Wal-Mart, and other stores are whittling down the options on their shelves. It’s a move that most consumers appreciate, at least in theory: Now they only have to consider 187 varieties of shampoo, rather than 248. But if it’s [...]
