Pricing

Wal-Mart's UK Store Sparks Coupon Stampede
October 11, 2013

Savvy shoppers across Britain are anxious to see if their Asda grocery deliveries will arrive on Friday, after cashing in £50 ($80) vouchers accidentally issued by the supermarket. The Wal-Mart-owned chain launched a deal on Thursday which gave shoppers £50 off online grocery orders. Bargain hunters were quick to take advantage of the offer, adding £50 worth of goods to their basket, paying only for the delivery charge. News of the deal went viral on Twitter — with hashtags including #AsdaGate and #SupermarketSweep becoming popular — and Asda's website crashed as a result of the traffic.

Staples Launches New Price Match Policy
October 11, 2013

Staples is offering an added incentive to drive traffic to its stores this holiday season. Starting Nov. 3, the retailer will match prices on items sold and shipped by Amazon.com or any retailer that sells products in retail stores and online under the same brand. "Staples is committed to offering great products at the best prices," said Alison Corcoran, senior vice president of North American stores and online marketing. "Staples customers will be able to shop confidently during the holiday season and beyond knowing that we're providing them with all the right products and must-have gifts at the lowest prices."

Comparison Shopping Exposes Fab's Huge Price Discrepancies
October 7, 2013

Last week, former flash-sale site Fab.com laid off an additional 101 workers in an attempt to shed its former deal-oriented identity and to help position itself on the path to profitability. It's clear that consumers are tiring of the flash-sale model because what used to feel special no longer does and the sales these sites offer are starting to feel fishy. As one Gawker commenter points out, plenty of "deals" are nothing of the sort. 

Staples Prepares to Take on Amazon With Price Matching
September 4, 2013

It's difficult to think of many retailers with which Amazon.com doesn't compete. Despite what's seemed like a friendly relationship, office supplies retailer Staples may be preparing to take aim at the e-commerce giant during the holiday shopping season. An EcommerceBytes reader forwarded part of a survey Staples is conducting about the effectiveness of various advertisements. One question shows two ads and asks which one would make the respondent shop Staples more often — the ad with the words "price match guarantee" or the ad with the words "We'll Match Amazon's prices."

Rebecca Minkoff Boosts Digital Promotions for Fall Campaign, Rules Out Print
August 5, 2013

Apparel and accessories label Rebecca Minkoff is boosting digital promotions for its fall 2013 collection to target its younger, digital-savvy customers. The label is placing a large emphasis on its digital promotions for this collection, which it has also been sharing on social media. Promoting new collections through digital platforms can help brands reach target consumers in a cost-effective way. "It is not unusual for a brand to focus its attention on one media over another, to measure the results and adjust the

J.Crew Charges U.K. Customers Higher Prices
August 1, 2013

J.Crew has been plotting its U.K. expansion for a while. The company launched a U.K. website in 2011, and later this year it plans to open its first store in London. But the Sunday Times discovered something curious about the British version of J.Crew: the same clothes are offered at prices much higher than at the U.S. J.Crew. Around 40 percent higher, on average. If you browse J.Crew's website with the country set to the United Kingdom, you can see this price difference for yourself.

8 Retail Pricing Strategies to Satisfy Shopper Needs for Thrill of the Hunt
July 23, 2013

When it comes to retail pricing strategies, customers are giving retailers the clear message that they get satisfaction out of tracking and finding the best prices. We may not understand why, but it's enough to know that it exists. Ask J.C. Penney. The retailer "lost" its customers by taking the thrill out of the chase. "Maybe Shoppers Don't Want ‘Fair and Square’ Prices After All," wrote Time's Brad Tuttle in an article about the hard lessons Penney's learned over the last two years. 

Vera Bradley Integrates Web-Based Data Into In-Store Pricing
June 6, 2013

As retail brands evolve into omnichannel organizations, sharing and integrating data across channels has become critical to their success. In a session yesterday at the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, Stephanie Scheele, senior director of strategic intelligence for Vera Bradley, a retailer of fashionable handbags, accessories and luggage, discussed how the brand is using data collected online to dictate in-store pricing decisions. Scheele specifically focused on Vera Bradley's recently launched baby collection.

Amazon Launches 'Coins' Virtual Currency
May 14, 2013

Amazon.com yesterday launched its virtual currency program, dubbed Amazon Coins. To kick things off, Amazon is providing all Kindle Fire owners with 500 free Amazon Coins, which are worth $5. "You can use the coins to buy apps and games, as well as items inside apps and games," Amazon said in a note on its homepage. Amazon also said Amazon Coins are available to purchase at a discount, for savings of up to 10 percent depending on how many coins you purchase.