Wal-mart's screwy pricing

[jackson13]

What is up with new releases at Wal-Mart? The day movies come out, here at least, they are all $19.99 (whether its a 2 disc special edition or no). Then the next day, they drop to $14.99 (the 2 disc stays at $19.99). They stay on sale through the weekend, and then Monday, the day before new releases come out, they shoot back up to $19.99. And stay that way for quite awhile before they ever drop in price again.

This is a total BITCH when it comes to trying to buy something there. I got 'War of the Worlds' last week the day it came out, which means I paid $19.99 for it. But I noticed as I was looking, that EVERYTHING new was $19.99 so I got the edition that came with the Wal-Mart exclusive bonus disc that features an HBO special about the movie for the same price. I went back the next day to do some grocery shopping, and I noticed that the single disc was $14.99 and what I got was still $19.99. Then I was there yesterday, and WotW was back up to $19.99, both editions.

I dont understand it. When new stuff comes out at Best Buy or Circuit City, its on sale that very day, and stays on sale the entire week, until the new stuff the next week comes out. My problem with that is, Best Buy and Circuit City are an hour away for me, so I have no choice but to stay here in town and go to Wal-Mart. And it's also a pain in the ass having to explain it all for christmas ideas for people. I had to tell my aunt and my grandma the movies I wanted, and explain to them that if they get them the day they come out they'll pay full price but if they go the day after, they'll save $5. And that they shouldnt wait until past the weekend to get them because then they'll be full price again. I'm all for saving myself money, and others, but it feels almost selfish saying "I want this for Christmas but you have to go THIS DAY to get it otherwise you're pretty much getting ripped off.

I guess it's just another way a big corporation messes with everyones heads. They are certainly giving mine a headache.

[ChemicalRomance]

One word: strange!

[AJAX]

Don't shop at Wal-mart then, buy online.

[jackson13]

Originally posted by AJAX
Don't shop at Wal-mart then, buy online.

No credit card automatically sends that in the shiiter.

[AJAX]

Originally posted by jackson13
No credit card automatically sends that in the shiiter.

Get a debit/check card

[ilovemovies]

I like Wal-mart. They frequently have the best prices. It's usually where I buy my dvds. Either Wal-mart or Target. Those are the places to go for me.

[therealjohng]

Or how about Bullitt being $14.86 and The Getaway being $14.32? What the fuck??

[The Postmaster General]

What are you doing grocery shopping at Wal-Mart? Don't you know they smuggle illegal aliens in their hams?

Just kidding.

But really, I don't understand the rant totally. It sounds to me like you are getting a good deal. Once you buy the DVDs, I don't see why it matters, especially since you already have their system figured out.

I wouldn't obsess over it too much - the manager might just be stoned or soemthing. I'm not sure there is much to their fluctuating prices.

[cocksmokinclerk]

my wal-mart here is really screwy about this kinda crap too, it used to bother me but i just splurge, spend the little extra and hump it out to best buy (which for me is another 10 min. away) plus i get my reward zone points, but neway, sorry dude, i dont know what to tell ya

[TATU]

Originally posted by therealjohng
Or how about Bullitt being $14.86 and The Getaway being $14.32? What the fuck??

Wow a whole 54 cents more....:rolleyes:

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by TATU
Wow a whole 54 cents more....:rolleyes:


I think he was refering to the odd-cents (.86 and .32), not the price difference.

http://deniskitchen.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/BP_60.B.gif

[TATU]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
I think he was refering to the odd-cents (.86 and .32), not the price difference.

http://deniskitchen.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/BP_60.B.gif

My ass is smarter than your ass....

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by TATU
My ass is smarter than your ass....


http://www.boyacts.com/babin/gallery/unbreakable/pics/UnbreakableSpencerTreatClark8.jpg

[AceD]

Jackson...that is weird. I buy some DVDs from the Wallster occasionally, and usually it seems that of the new releases 2 or 3 are on sale (like 15.88 down from 19.99) and 2 or 3 are the regular price. But the prices last the whole week. I don't know. Maybe your Wal-mart just sucks. That is downright screwy, partner.

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
I think he was refering to the odd-cents (.86 and .32), not the price difference.


Thank you.

[inglourious basterd]

Originally posted by therealjohng
Or how about Bullitt being $14.86 and The Getaway being $14.32? What the fuck??

Having weird numbers in the cent values gives the illusion that the item is cheaper than it is. It also draws attention to the price. If it was priced at $14.99, you wouldn't think about it. You may even think that it is an "average price". But more people are inclined to think that $14.86 is closer to $14 and that it is a "reasonable" price. Sure...there is a $0.13 cent difference, but, like I said, it is an illusion.

I used to sell items all the time on ebay by using weird numbers like that. I found that my items would sell before others' did. And, if you watch TV, you will notice that the "banker" in NBC's "Deal or no deal" uses the same strategy. (In the show, the banker tries to give fair, but deceptively low numbers in order to tempt the players to keep taking risks).

It sounds stupid as hell, but it is very effective.

[inglourious basterd]

Originally posted by jackson13
No credit card automatically sends that in the shiiter.

I'd definitely recommend that you open a checking account. If you open one at Bank of America or Washington Mutual, you will get a free Visa Check Card. And you could use that for anything from restaurants to movie theaters to online stores. It is incredibly convenient.

[This&chips]

Originally posted by AJAX
Don't shop at Wal-mart then, buy online.


Haha. Don't shop period. Burn your Netflix!

[Tyler_Durden_208]

At least your Wal-mart still has them on sale at all. My Wal-Mart stopped doing that after I started buying them on sale. Now they're 19.99 until the price drops a couple months down the road.

[Cunning Visions]

Here's another good example of weird pricing, yesterday I went to Wal-Mart and picked up the Back to the Future Trilogy DVD set (I've always been meaning to pick it up. but never got around to it) What was weird about it? Well for the widescreen set it was only $17! I look over and see the Full Screen set (booo!) and it was $41. Of course I laughed and said to myself "Suckers!!", but still...I found it a bit odd.

[Lost in Space]

Im having trouble with that fact that you would buy war of the worlds
hmmmmm...
that is fucked up none the less