The Inquisitr » walmart

Black Friday: Wal-Mart carrying awesome game console deals

Chris Greenhough — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:19:33 +0000

If you’re a gamer, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Black Friday bargain hunting, with neat deals at Sears and GameStop, and some okay deals at Toys ‘R’ Us.

If you’re a gamer looking to pick up a cheap console next Friday, there’s only one winner: Wal-Mart. The store will be selling PS3 Slims with an excellent pair of titles – inFamous and Batman: Arkham Asylum – and The Dark Knight on Blu-ray for $299. That’s what the PS3 Slim alone would normally cost: this one comes with about 100 hours of entertainment.

Their Wii and Xbox 360 deals aren’t too shabby, either. $249 bags you a Wii with two games and an extra set of Nyko controllers, while $199 buys you an Xbox 360 Arcade with Madagascar 2 and the first two Madagascar movies on DVD.

Oh yeah, and you can pick up a Nintendo DS Lite for $98 (and the ace Lock’s Quest for $7 to play on it). Everybody should own a DS of some description. It’s the law. Here’s the list in full:

Xbox 360

- 2K Sports NBA 2K10 – $25
- Command And Conquer Red Alert 3 – $7
- Grand Theft Auto IV – $10
- Midnight Club Los Angeles – $10
- Rock Band Special Edition – $50
- UFC 2009 Undisputed – $25
- Xbox 360 Arcade with Madagascar 2 game and Madagascar/Madagascar 2 DVDs – $199

PS3

- Need For Speed Undercover – $10
- Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare – $25
- Rock Band Special Edition – $50
- The Godfather II – $10
- WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2009 – $25
- PlayStation 3 Slim with Infamous, Batman Arkham Asylum, and Dark Knight on Blu-ray – $299

Wii

- Bakugan – $25
- Big Beach Sports – $10
- Carnival Games – $10
- Celebrity Sports Showdown – $7
- Tak And The Guardians Of Gross – $7
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 – $25
- Nintendo Wii with 2 Games and extra set of Nyko controllers (Online Only) – $249

Nintendo DS

- Lock’s Quest – $7
- MX Vs ATV Untamed – $10
- NeoPets Puzzle Adventure – $7
- Nintendo DS Lite Starter Kit – $10
- Nintendo DS Lite – $98

PS2

- Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader – $7
- Madden 10 – $25
- Suzuki TT Super Bikes – $7

PC/Mac

The Sims 3 – $25

Miscellaneous

- X Rocker Turbo Sound Gaming Chair – $35

[BlackFriday.info, via Destructoid]

MI Walmart security guard forced into car, peed on by alleged shoplifters

Kim LaCapria — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:50:46 +0000

How many times have you wanted to pee on those horrible people that expect you to queue to leave Walmart after dropping $200 on pet food and socks because they want to make sure you’re not shoplifting spatulas?

On Halloween night, a Walmart security guard learned the hard way why retail security guards are asked to not aggressively pursue shoplifters, even ones who seem clearly guilty. An incident reported to police by the unnamed guard just before 7:45pm involving $45 of merchandise saw the Walmart guard being headbutted into the accused’s car, sat and urinated on before being driven away with the suspects.

Police say the incident escalated when the women accused of the theft, Marilyn Cole, 35, and Rashieka L. Stewart, 23, broke away after being detained for suspected shoplifting of items including curtains and makeup. The guard ran after the women and attempted to block Cole from entering her vehicle. It was then that the women are alleged to have attacked the guard, who was later released to police before the women were forced out of the vehicle at gunpoint.

Cole was on parole for bank robbery at the time of the incident, and her bail was set at $35K. Stewart’s bail was ordered at $15K. Both women were charged with unarmed robbery, and Cole was also charged with interfering with a police report.

[via Consumerist]

Book publishers, book sellers face being WalMarted to death

Steven Hodson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:35:03 +0000

If there is one thing you can say about the Web it is that it is responsible for the disruption of more businesses than just about any recession. We hear daily about the newspaper industry facing annihilation, the music industry trying to suck out the last dollar it can, and the movie industry trying to constantly stuff the genie back in the bottle.

What we don’t necessarily hear a lot about is the book industry whether it be from the point of view of the authors, or book sellers, or book publishers. Every once in awhile stuff will bubble to the surface but on the whole much of the discussion around books get quickly overshadowed by its more loud mouth industry cousins.

That doesn’t change the fact thought that the book industry is facing a full frontal assault that will have as much an impact on the industry as the ones facing our other entertainment related industries.

Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing, gives a great overview of this assault in a post yesterday. In the post he outlines how companies like Amazon, WalMart, and Target are cutting the prices of books well below that of the publisher price, to the tune of 40-50%, in an effort to shore up their book sales. This is creating a multitude of problems for everyone in the business as this kind of subsidizing isn’t sustainable.

At some point something has to give. Publishers will be forced by retailers right across the board to cut their prices.

Publishers. For right now, publishers are getting paid an amount equal to the customary discount for hardcover books. But no one in the industry I have spoken with expects this to last for long. Amazon, Walmart, and Target are systematically conditioning consumers to expect these lower prices. Eventually, these retailers will be in the position to force publishers to lower their retail prices.

Book retailers, especially the small mom and pop shops, might be willing to discount some of the bestsellers but that is used to bring in consumers who the hope will buy additional books while there. By putting them in a position where they have to cut already slim margins in order to keep those customers hopefully returning this cheapening of their stock will make keeping the doors open even harder.

When it comes to authors Michael Hyatt has this to say

Authors. If retail prices collapse, it will mean that royalties and advances will also fall. You don’t have to be a mathematician to figure out that 10–15% of $9.00 is dramatically less than the same percentage of $25–35. Most authors have a difficult enough time making a living now. This will lower the income of all authors and force many to get out of the business altogether.

Now of course the freetards out there will suggest that this is actually beneficial for the authors in that it could allow them to deal directly with the consumer given the ease of creating ebooks and the availability of self-publishing services. There are also those that suggest that like bloggers, musicians, and newspapers book authors need to find different ways to market their books and provide auxiliary tangible goods to make up for what they might lose by giving away their books.

I don’t profess to know all the ins and outs of the book publishing business and I am sure that someone like Michael Hyatt would be able to provide more accurate numbers but the fact is that the large portion of authors out there aren’t making the big bucks. Not all authors are Steven King or Dan Brown and as much as we might think that all authors are racking in the cash nothing could be farther from the truth.

So when companies like Amazon and WalMart turn around and start slashing book prices to the bone because they are big enough to absorb the losses – for now – in the end this house of cards is going to come crashing down. While we might like to think that this will only affect the already rich book publishers the fact is that the ripple effect is going to me much larger and much deeper than we might think.

Free isn’t the answer for everything regardless of what the self professed experts might have us believe. Sometime paying for something tangible at a fair market price with actual real money is the right thing to do as that money spent often has a far wider effect that just clicking on a purchase button.

WalMart Takes On Geek Squad With New Technical Support Teams

James Allen Johnson — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:01:18 +0000

WalMart has announced that they will be offering technical support teams in their U.S. locations before the end of October, a move that puts them in direct competition with Best Buy’s Geek Squad support teams.

Under the tech support department WalMart will be using NEW Customer Service Companies to provide their technical support which will range from home theater installation to computer networking services.

Depending on the work required users can expect to pay anywhere from $99 to $339 dollars for service.

Give the large amount of success Geek Squad has managed to pull together it doesn’t really come as a surprise that WalMart would enter the market, however it should be interesting to see if their customer base, largely made up of thrifty spenders will be willing to shell out extra cash for services they could attempt on their own.

Palm Pre Now Only $79.99, But Only At WalMart

James Allen Johnson — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:02:49 +0000

We thought the $99.99 price tag on the Palm Pre at Amazon was a great deal, until we got a look at the newest WalMart offering, $79.99 with a two year contact and mail in rebate.

The move comes at a time when the new Palm Pixi has been announced and will more than likely be offered for free with certain contract plans.

The Palm Pre is now available at most WalMart locations in the U.S. and at this pricing they’ll probably move fast. [via EverythingFree]

Man slaps a stranger’s screaming baby in Wal-Mart

Kim LaCapria — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:17:14 +0000

Anyone who’s had to shop at Wal-Mart knows that a cacophony of screeching babies is part of the tapestry of America’s most gigantic retailer.

A South Carolina man decided he wasn’t going to stand by quietly and allow the child to persist in ruining his otherwise pleasant Wal-Mart shopping experience. After threatening the child’s mother, he slapped the 2-year-old girl “four or five times” across the face.

Sonya Mathews, the mother of the 2-year-old child, told police that both were walking in the aisles of the Rockbridge Road store when Roger Stephens, 61, approached and said “if you don’t shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you,” according to a police report.

A few moments later, in another aisle, Stephens grabbed the 2-year-old and slapped her across the face four or five times, according to the report.

Stephens then told Mathews, “See, I told you I would shut her up,” according to the report.

According to reports, Mathews was detained by a bystander until police arrived. When questioned, the 61-year-old man explained that while he had indeed slapped a strange baby across the face, he apologized to her mother afterwards. He was still booked for felony cruelty to children.

‘People of Walmart’ blog holds up mirror to middle America

Kim LaCapria — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:22:32 +0000

Initially conceived as somewhat of an inside joke between (genuinely Wal-Mart loving) friends, the blog “People of Wal-Mart” has become a viral sensation.

People of Wal-Mart is a photo blog devoted to America’s mightiest retailer, a compendium of the strange combination of OMGWTF and “oh, huh, well- it’s Wal-Mart” that you experience walking through any of the retail giant’s locations across America at any time of the day, evening or middle-of-the night. The newish blog has been hugely popular since its inception, and a new piece in Time means that even getting to the photos is a bit of a challenge with all the traffic. A site founder explained the impetus behind the site:

Andrew, his brother Adam and their friend Luke started People of Walmart after a shopping trip to a South Carolina branch earlier this month. “We turned a corner to see a stripper — at least, I think she was a stripper — with a shirt that read ‘Go F___ Yourself,’ and she had a 2-year-old kid in one of those child harnesses that looked like a dog leash,” says Adam. They turned another corner and saw a guy with a ZZ Top beard.

The guys behind the site are surprisingly respectful in assessing their subjects, employing some basic ground rules and refusing to publish people such as those operating motorized scooters (”I can’t tell you how many people send in pictures of overweight people on motorized scooters. But we won’t post them because some of those people need scooters for a reason,”) the Amish (who are actually forbidden to appear knowingly in photos) and Wal-Mart employees who are “just doing their job(s).”

Just bear in mind that if you’re heading to Wal-Mart today, you might want to forgo the non-existent shorts or Captain America costume.

WalMart DVD Players Recalled, May Burst Into Flames. 1.5 Million Units Involved

James Allen Johnson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:26:30 +0000

WalMart, Inc. has recalled 1.5 million “value” DVD players they’ve sold. The players according to WalMart may burst into flames due to an overheating issue. At the time of this article 12 customers had complained to the company that the players had severely overheated. While 5 of those 12 customers complained that the units burst into flames.

The specific DVD player that WalMart is recalling was sold in their stores from January 2006 until July 2009 for a cost of $29.

The player came with a remote control and had a U-shaped DVD insert area at the top of the player. You can return the device to WalMart directly or call WalMart for return directions and more information if you believe the player your using may be one of these models.

Walmart gang initiation shooting rumors sweep US, Walmart ups security

Duncan Riley — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:24:20 +0000

The Walmart gang initiation hoax we reported on earlier this week has taken America by storm, with police in numerous states investigating, and Walmart stepping up security.

Initially we reported that the rumor had swept Georgia and Florida. We can now confirm that police in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Mexico and Texas have also been involved in investigating the hoax. Search traffic to The Inquisitr indicates that the rumor has also done the rounds in Ohio and New York state.

One notable thing about the rumors is that they are often being customized by location, so that in at least some cases, local towns and cities are named as the location of the hoax Walmart shooting to come.

Walmart officials in Arkansas told local media that they are stepping up security as a precaution.

The hoax dates to 2005, although the current outbreak is the biggest in the history of the hoax. What’s remarkable is that a slew of mainstream media sites are incapable of using Google to confirm that fact, instead asking local police to disprove it.

Wal-Mart Stampede Leaves Worker Dead, Pregnant Woman Injured (VIDEO)

JR — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:37:46 +0000

A Wal-Mart worker is dead and a pregnant woman recovering from injuries following a Black Friday shopper stampede.

Employee Trampled

Police say the employee was trampled as shoppers pushed to get into the Long Island Wal-Mart location just after 5:00 a.m. Friday. The 34-year-old man was “knock[ed] to the ground” as a “throng of shoppers … physically broke down the doors,” a police statement says. The man had been hired for the holidays via a temp agency. He was declared dead within the hour.

Miscarriage Caused

As for the pregnant woman, witnesses say she was knocked out and found on the ground in the same area. She was rushed to the hospital, where reports indicate she suffered a miscarriage as a result of the trauma. At least three other customers were also hurt.

Wal-Mart Death Investigation

The store was closed shortly after the stampede. Wal-Mart says it is working with Nassau County Police to review surveillance video and fully investigate the incident.

Cell phone video from the scene is below, along with a news report from moments after the trampling. More Wal-Mart stampede video follows beneath that. Please be advised that some of the images may be disturbing.

Past Wal-Mart Stampede Video

Some attorneys say they have handled numerous lawsuits involving injuries from Wal-Mart stampedes on Black Friday. Some speculate there are thousands such cases across the country every year. Most, they indicate, end with confidential settlements with the retailer.

This video, from another Wal-Mart location on a Black Friday morning, shows just how intense and chaotic major retailers’ opening moments can become as eager shoppers rush into the opening doors.

Wal-Mart’s official statement on the Long Island Black Friday death calls it a “tragic situation.”

“The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority,” the company says.

MORE COVERAGE:
• VIDEO: Toys ‘R’ Us Shooting Likely Not Shopping-Related

Report: Wal-Mart to Start Selling iPhone 3G

JR — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:18:47 +0000

You might be able to get a discounted iPhone 3G if you wait till after the holidays. A rumor floating around the Web this morning claims Wal-Mart will start selling the 3G phone on December 28.

The Boy Genius Report obtained what it describes as “internal Wal-Mart correspondence” stating that 2,500 Wal-Mart stores and a handful of Sam’s Club stores across the U.S. will get the iPhone 3G, though no indication is made of how much the devices might cost. Some Wal-Mart stores started selling the T-Mobile G1 Android phone at a discounted rate — about 17 percent less than the T-Mobile cost — a few weeks ago, so the idea isn’t altogether improbable.

Wal-Mart, for its part, isn’t saying much — stating only that no announcement has been made.

The memo printed at BGR follows.

We are pleased to announce that Wal-Mart has reached agreement with Apple to offer iPhone 3G in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart-managed Sam’s Club* Connection Centers nationwide beginning December 28, 2008. AT&T will support Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club with the activation process for iPhone 3G, and we need all National Retail employees engaged to ensure a successful launch.

*NOTE: This product launch DOES NOT apply to SC Kiosks within Sam’s Club managed by Radio Shack.

Wal-Mart has communicated the following launch plans and execution timeline to their employees:

* iPhone 3G will be available in-store only beginning 12/28/08
* New and existing customers in good standing can purchase iPhone 3G with a 2 year contract
* iPhone 3G transactions only will be processed through POS.com, not the kiosk

Execution Timeline:

12/2 – 12/5: AT&T / Wal-Mart MEM Classroom Training for Store Leads
12/3 – 12/19: AT&T In-Store Training
12/26 – 12/27: AT&T In-Store Refresher Training
12/28: Nationwide Launch
12/28 – 12/30: Wal-Mart and AT&T War Room Support

Walmart Epic DRM Fail

Duncan Riley — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:24:22 +0000

Most people would agree that DRM crippled music is bad, and thankfully most retailers have come to their senses (notably Apple aside) and have switched to offering DRM free music sale. But what happens when retailers decide to shut of their DRM servers, disabling music legally purchased with DRM?

Walmart customers have just found out.

In an email to customers, Walmart advises that as of October 9, Walmart will be switching their DRM servers off. Not all DRM services rely on an external server, but the DRM service previously used by Walmart means that songs have to be validated as being legal on the external DRM server. Without the external server, music owners are able to continue to play the music on the machine it is currently on, but are unable to transfer the music to another machine (if they buy a new box, or reinstall the OS). The ultimate in crippled music.

Walmart has this helpful advice

If you have purchased protected WMA music files from our site prior to Feb 2008, we strongly recommend that you back up your songs by burning them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you will be able to access them from any personal computer. This change does not impact songs or albums purchased after Feb 2008, as those are DRM-free.

You read that right, Walmart are suggesting that users circumvent the DRM by burning the music, so that they can later import it back onto their computers. It may be an out of sorts, but it doesn’t overcome the fact that many people may not read the email, and even among those who do, we’re presuming they’ll understand the seriousness of the situation and will act on this act on the advice…presuming they know how to or have access to do so. For example, I can’t recall the last time I burned something to DVD or CD…many people simply don’t use physical media any more.

Cory Doctorow goes as far as saying that Walmart is a great example of why people should download music from P2P services

Hey suckers! Did you buy DRM music from Wal*Mart instead of downloading MP3s for free from the P2P networks? Well, they’re repaying your honesty by taking away your music. Unless you go through a bunch of hoops (that you may never find out about, if you’ve changed email addresses or if you’re not a very technical person), your music will no longer be playable after October 9th.

He has a point.

(image credit)