Comments on: Target scams (aka “marketing”) http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=target-scams-aka-marketing Making ¢ents out of family life. Covering money, debt reduction, saving, frugal and budget-friendly products for families. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:44:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kellie Alexander http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-3658 Kellie Alexander Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:19:22 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-3658 wal mart has been doing a similar thing. i buy A LOT of diet coke, so I can tell you the best price per can generally. i noticed a few months ago that the diet coke and my toilet paper had signs that said "WAS ....", but the funny thing was, I had never paid that price before EVER. In fact, it looked like the "old" price was higher than today's price. I saw this for what it was -- a soft sell on the higher price -- and stocked up. I was right. A couple of weeks later, the new price was the old "WAS ..." price (which was really a new, higher price). Later, and this is to wal mart's credit, all the prices of my main buys there have been "rolled back", so now i am actually paying much lower prices than they originally had.<br><br>i agree that you should know what your best price is on an item, but if i happen to get stuck for 20 or 30 cents, i try not to sweat it. it's a cheap lesson learned.<br><br>:o) wal mart has been doing a similar thing. i buy A LOT of diet coke, so I can tell you the best price per can generally. i noticed a few months ago that the diet coke and my toilet paper had signs that said “WAS ….”, but the funny thing was, I had never paid that price before EVER. In fact, it looked like the “old” price was higher than today's price. I saw this for what it was — a soft sell on the higher price — and stocked up. I was right. A couple of weeks later, the new price was the old “WAS …” price (which was really a new, higher price). Later, and this is to wal mart's credit, all the prices of my main buys there have been “rolled back”, so now i am actually paying much lower prices than they originally had.

i agree that you should know what your best price is on an item, but if i happen to get stuck for 20 or 30 cents, i try not to sweat it. it's a cheap lesson learned.

:o )

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-729 Kelly Sat, 02 May 2009 13:11:45 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-729 Thanks for stopping by Kosmo! I personally think that companies like Target are betting you don't pay attention to pricing at all! I know when I have my kids with me it is harder to concentrate on the odd pricing. Trying to price paper products always give me a headache! Especially TP, sometimes the squares are different sizes so 1000 sheets from one manufacturer means something totally different from another! I have seen the weird diaper pricing as well, it always makes me laugh! Thanks for stopping by Kosmo!
I personally think that companies like Target are betting you don’t pay attention to pricing at all! I know when I have my kids with me it is harder to concentrate on the odd pricing. Trying to price paper products always give me a headache! Especially TP, sometimes the squares are different sizes so 1000 sheets from one manufacturer means something totally different from another!

I have seen the weird diaper pricing as well, it always makes me laugh!

]]> By: Kosmo @ The Casual Observer http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-720 Kosmo @ The Casual Observer Fri, 01 May 2009 21:42:09 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-720 I honestly think they are just clueless. I see the strangest pricing at our local Target. At one point, the 120 count bottle of a med I was taking was CHEAPER than the 80 count - and these were the regular prices. I don't mean less per pill, I literally mean that the 80 count bottle was ~$10 and the 120 count was $9. Exact same medicine, exact same brand, and it was something I bought somewhat frequently. Obviously, I'd buy the 120 count. Until they ran out for about 8 consecutive weeks (not exaggerating). Their excuse was that they had not control over what was on the truck. Nice ... well, Wal-Mart had the same med. Their toilet paper pricing is funny, too. Some times the 30 count has the best per unit price, sometimes the 12 count does, sometimes it's in between. They also (consistently) have a 64 pack of diapers at the same price as a 56? (I think - definitely in the 50s). The 64 comes in a box (with two bags inside) and the smaller comes in one package. Maybe some people don't like boxes, but I'm not sure why people would buy the smaller package. When my wife recently noticed this, she asked that very question - and I didn't have a good answer. /rant I honestly think they are just clueless. I see the strangest pricing at our local Target. At one point, the 120 count bottle of a med I was taking was CHEAPER than the 80 count – and these were the regular prices. I don’t mean less per pill, I literally mean that the 80 count bottle was ~$10 and the 120 count was $9. Exact same medicine, exact same brand, and it was something I bought somewhat frequently. Obviously, I’d buy the 120 count. Until they ran out for about 8 consecutive weeks (not exaggerating). Their excuse was that they had not control over what was on the truck. Nice … well, Wal-Mart had the same med.

Their toilet paper pricing is funny, too. Some times the 30 count has the best per unit price, sometimes the 12 count does, sometimes it’s in between.

They also (consistently) have a 64 pack of diapers at the same price as a 56? (I think – definitely in the 50s). The 64 comes in a box (with two bags inside) and the smaller comes in one package. Maybe some people don’t like boxes, but I’m not sure why people would buy the smaller package. When my wife recently noticed this, she asked that very question – and I didn’t have a good answer.

/rant

]]> By: Kate http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-691 Kate Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:50:01 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-691 Oh I will, I'll have fun with that. Does he really think his hair looks better than mine? 12 times as good? ;) On topic, I have heard of the "marking up so we can mark it down" scam. A lot of super frugal divas advocate having a master price book for the stuff you buy. I think it's a great idea but I have never been motivated/organized enough to do that! Oh I will, I’ll have fun with that. Does he really think his hair looks better than mine? 12 times as good? ;)

On topic, I have heard of the “marking up so we can mark it down” scam. A lot of super frugal divas advocate having a master price book for the stuff you buy. I think it’s a great idea but I have never been motivated/organized enough to do that!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-664 Kelly Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:24:11 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-664 Kate, meet Bob my fancy husband. He spends more on "beauty" products than I do! You can talk to him about it next time we see you. :) Kate, meet Bob my fancy husband. He spends more on “beauty” products than I do!
You can talk to him about it next time we see you. :)

]]> By: Kate http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-663 Kate Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:46:50 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-663 12 dollars for shampoo??? I'm flabbergasted! White Rain, 99 cents, and gets a good rating at www.beautypedia.com :) 12 dollars for shampoo??? I’m flabbergasted! White Rain, 99 cents, and gets a good rating at http://www.beautypedia.com :)

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-582 Kelly Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:55:38 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-582 That's a great idea to do an end cap check. I usually do it when I'm there, but should really try to do it once a week. I generally think that Target is cheaper for most items, but I have to make sure to double check my prices now! That’s a great idea to do an end cap check. I usually do it when I’m there, but should really try to do it once a week. I generally think that Target is cheaper for most items, but I have to make sure to double check my prices now!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Kelly Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:48:47 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-581 MB, it will definitely save you money! I will caution you not to comparison shop for paper towels and TP though, the math on those 2 items is mind boggling to me! MB, it will definitely save you money!
I will caution you not to comparison shop for paper towels and TP though, the math on those 2 items is mind boggling to me!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-580 Kelly Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:47:41 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-580 That is odd! I wonder if it's due to the different locations? Is one in a "nicer" area than the others, etc? You definitely need a price book if you don't have one! That is odd! I wonder if it’s due to the different locations? Is one in a “nicer” area than the others, etc?
You definitely need a price book if you don’t have one!

]]> By: Courtney http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/money/spending/target-scams-aka-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Courtney Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:04:03 +0000 http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/?p=476#comment-558 I am close to three Targets and they all have different prices on the same items so it gets really confusing... I have never seen that "as-advertised" being more than the actual prices though. That is laughable and hopefully will be brought to their attention! I am close to three Targets and they all have different prices on the same items so it gets really confusing… I have never seen that “as-advertised” being more than the actual prices though. That is laughable and hopefully will be brought to their attention!

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