It is with a tinge of sadness that we lament the passing of hundreds more Sears and Kmart stores following their filing for bankruptcy last week. However, some of the dumb things that they have done can turn off consumers. For example, when retailers advertise a sale or reduced prices, shoppers expect to save money and be offered a good price. Sometimes, however, that wasn’t always the case at Sears and Kmart.
Example 1:
Just when Sears announced they were filing for bankruptcy last week, the local Sears in Cambridge, MA which had just started its own store closing sale, was adding an extra incentive — an extra 10% off your total purchase.
Great, except for one thing — the fine print on the coupon.
*MOUSE PRINT:
What, you can’t use the coupon in the store and this is a store only coupon?
As it turns out, who knows what that really means because the Sears in Cambridge was automatically giving folks the extra 10% at the register, even without the coupon.
Example 2:
A couple of months ago, Sears MasterCard offered an unbelievable “month long” deal — get 20% back in points if you use the card at gas stations.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Apparently February has been displaced by August as the shortest month of the year.
Example 3:
People think that shopping online will generally save you money. These items at Kmart.com from marketplace sellers, however, challenge that assumption big time.
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Thanks for nothing, Sears and Kmart, for all these “deals.”
If you spot an outrageous or funny offer, please submit it to edgar (at symbol) mouseprint.org .
