Astral Dog
Member
Thats not cool at all, what happens when they change their policy? its a matter of time.
Wal-Mart scammed into price-matching the bogus 89.99$ PS4 listing on Amazon.
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While I haven't read the entire thread, do YOU think that the people bragging about getting this deal are seriously oblivious, happy-go-lucky consumers who completely stumbled upon the deal and had no idea it was fake? And then proceeded to drive on up to their local Walmart immediately to price-match this so called "great deal." I have reason to suspect that a good 99% of people who took advantage of this knew exactly what they were doing.
There's a strong sense of entitlement going on in this thread as well, as if these people deserve something, since Walmart is such an evil company. That's just not true.
Monster Zero
Junior Member
That's identity theft
I'm really glad that people are getting some insane deals. But I kind of feel bad about this. I know these are major corporations and blah blah. And it was their mistake. But just feels sort of...weird to me, to exploit this kind of thing.
Guess I'm a sucker.
EDIT: Okay, I do think it's kind of bad if people KNOW that listing was a scam. That it was a listing by a scammer trying to rip people off of their info and money. Knowing that the listing is fake/scam and then exploiting other stores for it, is different then Sears or other companies actually selling a product for super low (because they put the wrong price up).
I can understand if a company accidentally puts up an item and SELLS it at a super low price. And people jump on it. But knowing something is a scam, and then turning around and scamming others is wrong.
Guess I'm a sucker.
EDIT: Okay, I do think it's kind of bad if people KNOW that listing was a scam. That it was a listing by a scammer trying to rip people off of their info and money. Knowing that the listing is fake/scam and then exploiting other stores for it, is different then Sears or other companies actually selling a product for super low (because they put the wrong price up).
I can understand if a company accidentally puts up an item and SELLS it at a super low price. And people jump on it. But knowing something is a scam, and then turning around and scamming others is wrong.
But in this case it is obvious that the listing is fake and you know it. It's not an honest mistake on your part. You are deliberately misleading wal-mart into believing that it is a legitimate listing although you know that it isn't. (edit: i.e. you are lying to wal-mart to get a discount)
I am surprised by the number of people who don't see a problem with this. This is exactly why we can't have nice things - you set up something that your customers benefit from with the thought that they'll do the right thing, then it gets exploited and then the thing gets shut down or severely restricted.
The customers are the real losers in this. Walmart is going to pass the cost of this down to the customers/employees by restricting the policy, increasing prices, holding off on price cuts, or deferring pay raises/bonuses. It's not like Robin hood stealing from the rich as some seem to think it is. The rich are going make it up some other way.
The customers are the real losers in this. Walmart is going to pass the cost of this down to the customers/employees by restricting the policy, increasing prices, holding off on price cuts, or deferring pay raises/bonuses. It's not like Robin hood stealing from the rich as some seem to think it is. The rich are going make it up some other way.
Foxy Fox 39
Banned
Its not nearly the same. You are being obtuse.
Astral Dog
Member
Eh,i think is not cool at all. finding a cheap console to match the pricepoint is good, but using false information? they are going to change the system now, maybe they should.
CosmicQueso
Member
You are not a sucker. You feel weird about it because it is wrong, and you have some kind of morality. That is a good thing.
And when something is wrong, you as an individual have every right to say it is wrong.
An unethical act doesn't become ethical just because it is perpetuated against another entity also considered unethical. An unethical act is an unethical act regardless.
There are few, if any, people here saying "poor Walmart". It's more a disappointment in fellow human beings and their not knowing right from wrong.
DoktorEvil
Banned
My sentiment exactly.
I had no prior knowledge that Walmart did a price match on goods. That's a really great policy to draw people into the store. Well, it was a great policy.
I actually edited my post. Because, yeah after thinking about it, I do think it's wrong to exploit a company with a fake price that you KNOW is fake. A scammer put up a fake listing to scam people out of their info and money. Then people turn around and scam other companies with this scam.
That is really messed up. And it really brings you to the same level as the scammer.
prag16
Banned
It's not all that dissimilar from an ethical standpoint. In both cases the person in question was not the one who committed the act which enabled the "deal", but in both cases the person in question DID know that they are taking advantage of the situation.
The intent to deceive on the part of the shopper trying to get this deal is of no consequence to you, and changes nothing from your standpoint? The fact that this was NOT a transaction conducted in good faith by both parties?
If you think there was no intent to deceive, and that this was NOT done in good faith (sure, it's conceivable that some soccer mom saw the price while trying to do some holiday shopping, then took it to walmart to try to get a deal in good faith... but who are we kidding), then.... we're done here, and there is just no talking to you, or others that hold this position.
Cheers.
RobbieNick
Junior Member
i work at Wal-Mart. Recently, I had to do a (manager approved) Amazon price match for some smaller items, but the difference in price was staggering.She showed me each ad and was honest about that, but then I noticed something interesting. Every item on the list, like a bottle of shampoo for 9 cents, had ridiculous prices on shipping and handling ($10 shipping on the bottle of shampoo for instance). They weren't price matching Amazon, but rather more corrupt independent retailers on Amazon that were faking their prices. I brought it up with our store manager the next day, and he said their wasn't much they could do as it's a new company wide policy. Oh, and for those that don't care that Wal-Mart gets ripped off, please note that this affects my bonus.
Price matching online is the absolute worst idea ever.
Price matching online is the absolute worst idea ever.
For failing to follow the procedure correctly. No one price matches third party sellers, and every price matching policy includes a requirement to verify stock and shipping charges (@RobbieNick, your manager fucked up). Whoever authorized the price match messed up.
You're not wrong. I'd just rather not play a direct role in a person getting fired to get some hardware on the cheap, is all. It's disingenuous to put it all on the person you're trying to manipulate.
ShadowSoldier89
Member
its good the way best buy does it, they match a select list of approved retailers, amazon direct mainly
Haloid1177
Banned
Had friends almost try this today. Reading the Walmart policy, it specifically mentions them matching third party sellers too, so while it's a shit move Walmart's own policy bites them in the ass.
StylesClash
Member
Matching first party sellers/companies makes sense. Matching third parties is just asking to be taken advantage of.
I was thinking about this during the Wii U fiasco wondering if someone just made up a random website with bogus prices with the intent to get retailers to price match. And here you go in the flesh. I'm ok with once in awhile taking advantage of a too good to be true deal, like that Wii U pricematch because overall its not going to really effect a giant like Walmart and hey joe schmoes should get a break once in awhile. The problem is the internet has a tendency to take things to far in response, like this here, and end up ruining a good thing. This won't be the last time this happens now and Walmart will end up changing their policies because of people continually and methodically taking advantage of it which is a shame.
It should be obvious but because
a) Walmart is huge and everywhere
b) Their policies are relatively easy and straightforward and despite the flak they get (which is well deserved) their return and price matching policy has been pretty pro-consumer
c) They are an industry leader so if they change their policies it won't be a surprise when others do as well
d) They stock alot of items that can be price matched, not just video games.
It should be obvious but because
a) Walmart is huge and everywhere
b) Their policies are relatively easy and straightforward and despite the flak they get (which is well deserved) their return and price matching policy has been pretty pro-consumer
c) They are an industry leader so if they change their policies it won't be a surprise when others do as well
d) They stock alot of items that can be price matched, not just video games.
It is retail theft. It is illegal to switch price tags, and then pay a lower price for an item. See People v. Gordon, 2011 IL App (2d) 100313-U for a recent example.
The facts of this case are similar. Someone fraudulently altered the price in order to purchase the item "legitimately" at the lower price. Switching price tags, and fraudulently creating a lower price in order to price match are in effect the same. Both would constitute retail theft.
How heavy is the water I am carrying? I don't understand.
The part that constitutes theft is in this case, the person asking for the price match either (i) created the fraudulent price on Amazon, or (ii) knows it is a fraudulent price on Amazon.
ThatCrazyGuy
Member
I hate walrmart, but this is BS. They are matching scam independent 3rd party sellers on amazon. They should only price match Sold by amazon stuff. I expect them to change it soon.
Conkerkid11
Member
Lol, wasn't the Wii U thread for this posted, and a bunch of you guys were jumping all over the deal?
Now it's suddenly immoral because Kotaku says so?
Now it's suddenly immoral because Kotaku says so?
plutoknight
Member
The policy states no third-party marketplace items, so Walmarts that were doing this were not versed in the policy.
So, basically, par for the course for Walmart.
I think the difference here was that was obviously a mistake, whereas this is people creating fake Amazon seller accounts simply for screenshotting/price matching purposes.
Yeah. The thing is too, most people would look at what the guy did on Amazon as fucked up. Here is this guy, he creates an account that LOOKS like it's Amazon. So he falsifies his identity to trick people into buying this product for cheap. And then he takes their info and their money.
Most would say this guy is a terrible person, and would not condone what he did. But, I don't see how using his scam (that you know is a scam) and going to stores and tricking them into giving you at a low price (using his scam) is any different then what he was doing. You are using a fake thing to get someone to give you something at a price that you shouldn't be getting it at. You are showing these people this falsified thing (that tricks them into thinking it's amazon). It's pretty much the same thing he did.
I guess the difference here is, this guy won't give you the product. But I just don't see how people can go from condemning what he did, to saying it's acceptable to use his scam to trick a major corporation. Because they are a corporation, it's okay.
StylesClash
Member
The WiiU was a Sears generated error. This was a fake third party seller. Big difference.
Haloid1177
Banned
That's how Best Buy does it and I don't blame them.
We won losing the right to price match because that's what's going to happen sooner or later.
CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls
Banned
ITT: Bleeding hearts for poor Wal-Mart. How will this corporate giant every move on from such heinous buffoonery?
Conkerkid11
Member
That was a glitch on Sears' website though. It was completely different.
Cornbread78
Member
Well, I must say, while the story is not completely untrue, the "contributor" here is more like the Michael Moore type when it come to writing the story and is completely using the a left-sided slant to the story. Why must everythign written come back to a political party in the US?
The only people that really make good money at Wal-Mart are the Store Managers and positions above that make an obscene amount of money, it completely skews that average salary number for everyone else.
For instince one year a manager got a bonus of over $100K, but the total of the profit sharing money for the store employees was under $400 for the year. Pretty embarassing. Can you imagine how much the district and regional managers made? It's almost like a pyramid scheme....
However, it feels wrong when some employees complain that they only make $16.00 and hour and feel they should be making $20.00 an hour for stocking shelves... This is a retail job and of course they are going to be paid as such. The salary floor should come up and more profits should be shared with employees and start there. However, they should also tie in an employees tenure with the company to balance this out since the turn-over is so high, as it is for many retail employers.
I'd be very surprised if it isn't already in their policy.
So? I took advantage of a corporation screwing up and followed Walmart's price matching procedure. It was an accident on their part, not some intention to delibarelty screw over their competition. I am under no obligation to verify whether the listing on the part of Sears was intentional or not. Here it isn't Amazon screwing up but rather somebody trying to pose as Amazon.
DoktorEvil
Banned
That sucks. At least you were one of the employees to bring it up to a manager.
Hopefully that doesn't hit your bonus hard.
Conkerkid11
Member
I know that, but several users here don't. How many of those who got the Xbox One knew the retailer listing the cheap price on Amazon was fake?
It's only immoral and wrong if we miss out on it, that's how it works here.
binaryrevolt
Member
I hate Walmart with a passion but still don't think I would take advantage of pricematching a fake listing. This sounds fraudulent to me if you are aware that it is indeed a fake listing. Having a clear conscience > saving a few bucks.
At least to me anyway....
At least to me anyway....
AlexMeloche
Member
I remember a few years back I price-matched a Zune (lol) leather cover at BestBuy, from an Amazon sale. They added the shipping and handling fee to the price.
Not sure if they still do that tho. (It was in Canada, around 2006-2007).
ThatCrazyGuy
Member
Really? Damn, them managers dun screwed up, if their bonuses are tied in any way. hehe.
StylesClash
Member
I see that you did. Two posts later. My fault. And what's the deal with the Xbox one? I missed that.
Paracelsus
Member
Capitalism goes both ways, I don't see why for one time the customer can get the upper hand there must be outrage.
prag16
Banned
Isn't it though?
In both cases somebody is taking advantage of something unscrupulous that another party did in order to get something cheaper (or free).
And as I said I could even argue pirating games isn't as bad as this, because pirating games doesn't remove the original (and is only a lost sale if that person would have bought it otherwise... which usually, they probably wouldn't have). This removes the original at an 80% discount.
I doubt they'd go as far as to remove price matching over this.
That's too extreme of a position to take.
Precisely.
I don't take as much issue with price match failures. If Sears was actually selling the system at that low price (even if it was a mistake), they were still selling it. Individually, people could have moral issues with this. But I don't take as much issue, if Sears was selling this to people at that price. Wal Mart chooses to price match what other companies are doing. So, it's just an effect of their system.
But, I take issue with this, because this guy was scamming innocent people using a really shady tactic. And then people turn around and use his scam, to scam these companies. At least to me, it makes you no different then the scammer. Sears was an actual sale, this wasn't. It was a falsified identity to trick people, and people sued the same thing at Wal Mart.
Vestal
Junior Member
How do I know for sure? If I simply don't want to trust the seller listed on amazon and want it through walmart, well then Ill go to walmart and get it. It is on the business to do their due diligence.
The consumer is under no obligation to do the job of the business.
That's not switching price tags. Wal-Mart is offering to match a price. They are pricing their product on their own. They are choosing to base it off a price of what they believe is another store. Just because they're stupid enough to believe it's another store and match it does not mean that the customer has swapped price tags.
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