Linens n’ Things Closeout Sale – Deceptive Marketing
Today a friend and I went in to Spokane to the closing business sale at Linens n’ Things. The big signs out on the street holler 25% – 50% off! There were even people carrying those signs and waving them at passing cars.
But guess what? We didn’t find anything for 50% off. Everything was 25% off and a few select items were 30% off – but no 50. When we asked the clerk she said there were a couple of small items – nothing anybody wanted. They only included those little items so that claiming 50% off wouldn’t be a lie.
In other words, the advertising was intended to deceive.
After I got home and looked at my purchases I was disgusted again when I saw that I hadn’t paid good attention. I had purchased several items that were made in China, and I’m trying not to do that!
I’ll have to say, trying to avoid Chinese merchandise saves me money. I nearly bought a new pair of winter shoes in another store. They were a bit pricey, but I really could use new winter shoes. I was thinking hard about buying them until I turned them over and saw: Made in China.
Maybe I’m being unfair to the Americans who are earning a living buying and distributing those goods. But I feel like trying not to buy them is my small way of supporting American manufacturers who hire American citizens and pay them a living wage. It means paying a little more for goods – but that’s OK too, because I really don’t need all that “stuff” to move around and dust. If any of us needed all that extra junk there wouldn’t be yard sales everywhere all summer long.
Anyway… back to the marketing. You can bet that hundreds of drivers turned in to check out the prospect of buying merchandise at half off. Especially the ones who have regularly shopped at that store. Not finding the promise fulfilled no doubt made a lot of people cranky and they won’t go back for more.
That’s OK in this instance – the store is going out of business. But I’ve seen other stores make the same kind of promise, not keep it, and expect to stay in business! Not too smart.
A big promise is a good thing – but only if you keep it!
Posted: November 22nd, 2008 under advertising, marketing, truth in advertising.
Tags: advertising, Chinese merchandise, deceptive marketing, Linens n Things, marketing, truth in advertising
Comments
Comment from Marte
Time November 23, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hi William, and thanks for chiming in.
You must have been at a different store than we were. The friend who was with me was hunting for items in those categories – and all were only 25% off.
We spent a couple of hours in there looking around and 30% off was the best we found.
I suppose it varies from store to store…
Comment from Garett Brackett
Time December 4, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Even 50% off at stores like this is a joke. Want to know about deception. I went to the toy store aisle and I noticed on one of the toys there was a clearance sticker, but on top of it was a regular sticker. The regular price $24.99 with 40% off = $14.99. Guess what price was on the clearance sticker. $6.19. How unfair to upgrade the price on an item that was previously on clearance. I’m personally glad this company is going out of business. You get what you deserve, and so does the employee that marked those items.
Comment from Marte Cliff
Time December 4, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Yes, I noticed quite a few items that had clearance stickers partially scraped off. Pretty lazy / stupid of them to leave the clearance sticker underneath for all to see.
I heard several people commenting about the markups before the mark downs.
Thanks for adding your comment!
Marte
Comment from William Mckay
Time November 23, 2008 at 9:51 pm
the store actually has a good bit of merchandise at 50% off. Quilts, Duvets, Bedskirts, Nate Berkus, Decorative Accessories are all at 50% off which is quite a bit. Yes most of the merchandise is 25% off but there is a good percentage that is 50% off.