Monday, December 28, 2009

A furious finger pointed at Walmart

OK, fellow consumers, here's the bottom line, right at the top: This is about as close a case of bait-and-switch as I have personally experienced in the last decade or so!

First of all, Walmart is currently running national ads boasting that the stores will price-match any other stores' sale prices. I heard a radio ad on the subject today. But just try to claim your "right" as a consumer at the store.

I wanted to buy something I saw in XS Cargo's Boxing Week flyer -- a Dr. Scholl's Paraffin Bath Spa kit -- but to get one, I'd have to drive out to Surrey. XS Cargo was asking $9.99 for this first-quality product (i.e. not refurbished). So I thought "Aha! I'll go to Walmart to take them up on their price-matching offer."

Coincidentally, manager for the Walmart store on Grandview Highway in Vancouver -- Will Semaniuk -- happened to be chatting with store personnel in the pharmacy section when I located the last package of the product (the one that was IDENTICAL to the version shown in XS Cargo's flyer).

Manager Will shook his head, telling me (a) that Walmart would not price-match to XS Cargo because "they sell refurbished goods," and (b) that it was Walmart's policy not to price-match Boxing Week prices.

Pharmacy staff checked the price on the Dr. Scholl's Paraffin Bath Spa kit I had brought up to their till, and it scanned in at almost $53! And just for the record, this unit was EXACTLY the same as the one offered at XS Cargo, and it was definitely not a reconditioned unit!

I mentioned that the policy of not price-matching during Boxing Week seems like false advertising; that Walmart should not be running ads AT THIS TIME OF YEAR if they have suspended their price-matching policy AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. Just to be sure I had heard right, I went over all the details with Manager Will and his minions. One of the pharmacy staff was kind enough to walk me over to a display of SIMILAR units (they only included 2 oz of wax, compared to the 4 oz supply in the one I chose; there were only 30 glove-liners, instead of the 60 included with the XS Cargo unit), that were sale-priced at $29.99. ("A great price, I thought" chirped the sales clerk.) Well, that might SEEM like a great price, but not once you've seen Paree (i.e. a $53 unit clearing out for $9.99.)

As I said, a classic bait-and-switch scenario.

But beyond the illegality of what Walmart is doing, the greatest insult was the manager's ATTITUDE. He looked at me as though I had been caught shoplifting, for heaven's sake. When I said I was going to write about the incident, I seriously thought he was going to have me escorted from the store, but you know me: Never one to back down, I asked for his name, which he gave me VERY reluctantly.

Just for the sake of comparison -- and because I was going there anyway -- I asked Melissa, acting manager at Canadian Tire what their price-matching policy is. She said they would always price-match XS Cargo's published prices, unless the price in question WAS for a refurbished item (especially electronics), or if it was for a "door-crasher" item where the flyer stated something like "minimum 4 available per store." She added that "At Canadian Tire, we would always try to do SOMETHING for the customer, even if we couldn't actually give them the full price-match discount." And she confided that Walmart is having financial trouble these days, so they are locking customers out of "normal" courtesies, like allowing returns without a receipt for good they recognize as their own. Well it's no WONDER Walmart is in difficulty if they turn their backs on good customers and treat them shabbily! I was going to stock up on meats for the freezer, but instead, I left without buying anything. And I urge anyone else who feels humiliated in Walmart to do the same thing.

Just an aside, I don't find Walmart's prices to be better than most nearby stores like Superstore, Price Smart or, yes, XS Cargo. And I've just gotta say that though the underling level staff are very friendly and helpful, they really cannot hold a candle to the competition.

And -- just for fun -- check out this anti-Walmart site.

Post-Boxing Day Evaluation Post

So here's the bottom line: Starting prices higher, discounts not as deep as last year. This year's Boxing Day stars: XS Cargo and a reluctant mention of Superstore. And honourable mention (which lost marks only because they had so little stock available) goes to Liquidation World, which featured 90% off Xmas decor items from Rite-aid in the U.S.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Boxing Day Beats Hockey

OK, already! It's just a temporary lapse, but I am just about to head out to the Boxing Day sales looking for items as diverse as LED light ropes and wrought iron sky hooks, so (a) wish me luck, (b) full report later, and (c) yes, I will be back in time for the hockey game. Go, Canucks, Go!

(PS: Hockey Day beats Boxing; no DUH!)

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Stalking for Becky Project

Here's Becky's account of the restoration of her Christmas Stocking. I made this (left) for her first Christmas with the great love and devotion that only a first-born can merit.





The one Becky made for her honey Aitor is shown at right. Hers is less traditional than mine perhaps, but much more crafty.

Many thanks to our special family friend Carol Rand Scandolara for the contribution of the little fish ornament additiona to Becky's stocking.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Jump the Boxing Day queue

John and I just enjoyed the last-minute, pre-Boxing Day experience of putting orders in to Best Buy, where patient and computer-savvy consumers can save anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars on electronics with price tags almost completely in line with Boxing Day savings. Another "gift" comes in the form of free Canada Post shipping for orders over $39. But you'll need to act quickly, because stock -- as seen on Best Buy's national website -- shows declining numbers of available items, in real time, as they are sold.





Purina launches pet-centric FREE websites

A PR buddy of mine in Toronto passed along this helpful info:

"Puppies and kittens are undeniably cute with their oversized paws, big eyes and playful spirits. But without proper training those adorable pets can turn into less delightful cats and dogs. Like new parents coming home from the hospital, new pet owners can feel overwhelmed when they bring home a puppy or kitten. And more people feel these emotions than you may realize: while 44 per cent of Canadian households have children, over half (51 per cent) own a pet!




"While pet adoption shows no sign of slowing down, new free online resources like www.mypuppy.ca and www.mykitten.ca can help new pet parents make sense of the new furry addition to their family. Gone are the days of frantic phone calls to the vet, pet store or neighbour – now Canadians can easily access pet related information with the simple click of a mouse.

"They can even learn how to train their puppies by using MyPuppy School. This first-of-its-kind online video series, starring award-winning dog trainer Kayl McCann, that teaches Canadians how to train puppies to do the basics (sit, stay, lie down) as well as how to respond positively to grooming and proper feeding techniques.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

FREE Store event on Sunday

Yes, it's absolutely free. The event is all day at Vancouver's Little Mountain Gallery, 195 East 26th Avenue (just west of Main).

Here's what they told me: "We are transforming Little Mountain Gallery (on 26th half a block West of Main) into a shop of liberated goods -- FOR FREE -- in mere hours. Yes, it's true. It really can happen. A store that is entirely free.

"This year we have had donated, among many other things: two iMac computers, a sewing machine, some black polyester pants with flames hand painted on them, a lampshade, lots of socks, a copy of Brave New World, a bicycle made for one, a whole bunch of vintage clothing from a local vintage store, A HOME GYM SYSTEM, a book on how to develop colour film, some weird pieces of wood, several televisions, a beautiful portrait of Michael Burnside by Mike Burnside, light pink 8-inch heels, kitchen appliances, and two flats of brand new instant java. There is a box of treasure and an electric keyboard and a helmet and almost everything is in full working order... Come check out the new and improved shrine to HALF-USED CREAMS...

"There is a Streetfighter II arcade game at Little Mountain now, and there will be a TOURNAMENT at 3pm. The winner gets FREE STUFF!!!!!!

"So anyways, besides all the things and things, there will be people, and something that happens when they all come together with a specific shared purpose, and probably cookies. Can someone bring cookies? (Or anything else?)

"Also, we hope to cover the store with free art. So bring that too if you have it. Pick your definition of art. I'm just sayin you could do free performance art by impersonating a garage sale. In fact, the home gym system will go to the person embodying a garage sale.

"There are rumours that there will be a hot swing jazz band landing in the later hours, and I'm pretty excited about that.

"Conclusion.

"Love, The Free Store"