Anyone Besides Me Think The Rollback Program Is A Scam?

[mrdc]

I know that certain items are actually being discounted but it seems like every other item at Walmart has been "rollbacked". Walmart invests a lot of money in adversting and has set precedents in coming up with a lot of innovaive ways to reach buyers. I just see the Rolback program as scam in that they may mark down some prices but are deceiving the consumer into believing that everything marked as rollback has actually been reduced in price. I swear that some of the "discounted" prices are the same prices I have paid on certain items before it was "rollbacked". Anyway...just veting a little this morning.

 

[reefraff]

Are you saying a retailer might be using marketing gimmicks? Say it aint soo Filbert

 

[lovethesea]

roll it back on one thing, jack it up on another. I know the 40oz ketchup is for real, now $1 was $1.69, I know becasue a few weeks ago I had to buy a ton of them.

 

[stdreb27]

I do, this is a real picture, taken by a friend in houston...

 

[mrdc]

I had a feeling you might re-post that picture!

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by mrdc
http:///forum/post/3274862
I had a feeling you might re-post that picture!

Lol seemed appropriate and is always funny.

 

[stdreb27]

I've seen interviews from disgruntled former employees and although the source is questionable the concept is reasonable. This former walmart guy says he thinks the strategy is to place displays on endcaps and in isles with loss leaders or really low margin items that really are good prices. In hopes it isn't quite what you're looking for, so the shopper going down the related isle with the idea in there head that they're gonna find a deal and then buy what they really like want or need on the isle where the items have a better margin.
To me that seems plausible. And in my nonscientific Observation seems to be accurate.

 

[beaslbob]

sound to me like a retailer.
It that's scam then I guess so.

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/3274866
I've seen interviews from disgruntled former employees and although the source is questionable the concept is reasonable. This former walmart guy says he thinks the strategy is to place displays on endcaps and in isles with loss leaders or really low margin items that really are good prices. In hopes it isn't quite what you're looking for, so the shopper going down the related isle with the idea in there head that they're gonna find a deal and then buy what they really like want or need on the isle where the items have a better margin.
To me that seems plausible. And in my nonscientific Observation seems to be accurate.
That is how they do it. If everyone would stick to just buying the loss leader...walmart would lose money. However...you see the cheaper 20 dollar charcoal grill and what do you need to buy with it...the meat, charcoal (chimney or lighter fluid) Utensils and so on...This is where the get you. Just about every Item has other products that need to be sold with it. Home Depot does this very well. Someone comes in to buy a door on sale, we make sure they don't leave without the hardware, door knob, lock, a rekey, stain and what ever else we can think of to along with door installation. I once took a guy just purchasing a cheaper drip line system for 20 dollars...buy the time I gave all the necessary tools for proper installation (first time doing this) his bill was well over 150. still cheaper than a plumber...but more than the 20 dollars he was originally planning on spending.

 

[reefraff]

I guess people are looking for a Miracle on 34th Street Santa Claus to watch over their shopping for them.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3274893
That is how they do it. If everyone would stick to just buying the loss leader...walmart would lose money. However...you see the cheaper 20 dollar charcoal grill and what do you need to buy with it...the meat, charcoal (chimney or lighter fluid) Utensils and so on...This is where the get you. Just about every Item has other products that need to be sold with it. Home Depot does this very well. Someone comes in to buy a door on sale, we make sure they don't leave without the hardware, door knob, lock, a rekey, stain and what ever else we can think of to along with door installation. I once took a guy just purchasing a cheaper drip line system for 20 dollars...buy the time I gave all the necessary tools for proper installation (first time doing this) his bill was well over 150. still cheaper than a plumber...but more than the 20 dollars he was originally planning on spending.
yeah, I'm a young man, I really don't have many tools. I can do alot of the work myself, but by the time I buy the tools and materials needed it is almost as expensive as calling someone. Drives me nuts... Thank god for craigsist...

 

[mrdc]

That is what has happened to a lot of the goods in this country. We have striven for such cheap prices that it’s cheaper to toss out something broke and buy another one. It’s also cheaper to buy something already put together rather than build something on your own. I think the quality of so many things suck now too.
And video game systems is another example of what Darth was referring to. They sell you a stripped down unit for basically cost of making it. They get you on the overpriced games and accessories. Though this is really a Walmart thing but they get you to I sure.

 

[rlablan]

I have to laugh when I see the commercials where they say "saving families money, so they can live better..."
I only shop at walmart at 2am, because it is the only thing open. I work nights and don't usually get off work until 2 or 3am, so if I need something, I have to get it at a walmart.
I love milk and I buy a ton of it. I went to walmart one night about a month ago. I remember I had bought milk at safeway just a few days before and it was $1.85 (not on sale) for 1 gallon of 2%. At wlamart, in the same county, like 2 streets over, it was $2.89!! and it was an off brand!!!
I don't trust them, and I try my best not to spend money there. I just feel like they are cheating the american public and I also feel like they try to run all the little family owned guys out of town.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3274977
I don't trust them, and I try my best not to spend money there. I just feel like they are cheating the american public and I also feel like they try to run all the little family owned guys out of town.
I guess I think this is just a dumb argument, Walmart doesn't hold a gun to anyone's head and force them to shop there. The people who shop there run the little guy out of town... They're the ones who make the decision. Unfortunately today, the average american consumer doesn't value knowledge and information. They are unwilling to pay a premium for individual service and the information that comes with that.
I just don't think that walmart ruins small business, even town I've ever been too, surrounding walmarts are dozens of small business. I used to live in a small town, 15k people and since the walmart has been introduced, it has created much more business, because instead all the rural folks come to that town instead of the next town to do their shopping now.

 

[rlablan]

That's exactly why I said I try not to shop there. lol how is that dumb? I am the little guy and I said that I am trying to make a better choice by shopping at the smaller, family run businesses, rather than the corporate, faceless, monster of a store that is walmart. I'm not saying other can't or shouldn't shop there, I am just saying that I only go there at 2am because there is nothing else open. And personally, as stated by the OP, I don't think there are any special "bargains" waiting inside those doors.

 

[reefraff]

I try not to patronize union businesses so I try to shop at wally world.
Thing is it isn't Walmarts fault people want to buy cheap items. Where's Zmann when you need him?

He often speaks of the "cheap doctrine"

 

[aquaknight]

One way I've noticed the Rollbacks were also BS, were that the prices always seemed made up. Very few products (over $5) it seems aren't like $14.97 or $29.99 anymore. When I see a 'was' Rollback price of $23.38, yea right...

 

[stdreb27]

I was at HEB (the do most of the groceries in S Texas. They even have a store similar to walmart that they're trying to directly compete with them with fancier products.) and they had some big signage showing a discount on some trout, big X through 8.99 LB with a price of 8.97 now. I laughed.

 

[mrdc]

I've actually seen things on clearance before with a very similar discount. If they couldn't get rid of something selling for $X, I doubt clearing something out at $X - $.01 is going to do much. Though I do believe there are folks that will buy stuff just because it says clearance and not even pay attention to the discount.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by mrdc
http:///forum/post/3275499
I've actually seen things on clearance before with a very similar discount. If they couldn't get rid of something selling for $X, I doubt clearing something out at $X - $.01 is going to do much. Though I do believe there are folks that will buy stuff just because it says clearance and not even pay attention to the discount.
I bought it, but it was because I wanted it...