[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rumor has it Wal-Mart (if you can stand to go there) [snip] I go to my local Wal-Mart SuperStore at least 3 or 4 times a week. It's like going to a temple.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, I am the eternal [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 9:48 PM, Bhairitu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rumor has it Wal-Mart (if you can stand to go there) will have the Magnavox Blu-Ray player on sale for $128 on Black Friday. This is a rebranded Funai player and also the same as the Sylvania. More info on these players here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1026390 If you can't stand Wal-Mart I would expect other retailers to have a similar deal. Wal-Mart has special models (slight variations of the model numbers) made for it, often of cheaper quality, hence Wal-Mart can charge less and other stores can't price match because they don't carry the exact same model. The type of merchandise you refer to is called manufactured to price point. Essentially, Wal- Mart decides what they want to sell the player for to undercut their competition, and then they approach the manufacturers and say, Build us one that we can sell at price X per unit and buy from you at price Y per unit, with a guaranteed purchase from you of Z thousand units. Price Y is often ridiculously low, but some manu- facturers go for it because of the volume of the potential purchase. So they achieve the price point by using cheaper materials on the inside of the case, like cheaper hard drives, disk readers, chipsets, etc. Sometimes the cheaper unit is a good buy. A rule of thumb I was once given on this was to count up the number of moving parts in the product you are contemplating buying. The fewer the moving parts, the better chance you have of not getting burned if those parts are of a lesser grade than the same manufacturer puts into the regular versions of that product it lists in its catalog. The way to tell whether the product you are looking at in a large store that can afford to do this with its suppliers is to note down the model number of the unit and then go look it up on that manufacturer's website. If that model number is not present, what you are looking at was manufactured to price point.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
shempmcgurk wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rumor has it Wal-Mart (if you can stand to go there) [snip] I go to my local Wal-Mart SuperStore at least 3 or 4 times a week. It's like going to a temple. I'm sure no one here is surprised. After all doesn't Wal-Mart embrace your American Dream: cheap labor, cheap goods, right wing management.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
On Nov 19, 2008, at 11:59 AM, Bhairitu wrote: shempmcgurk wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rumor has it Wal-Mart (if you can stand to go there) [snip] I go to my local Wal-Mart SuperStore at least 3 or 4 times a week. It's like going to a temple. I'm sure no one here is surprised. After all doesn't Wal-Mart embrace your American Dream: cheap labor, cheap goods, right wing management. A temple filled with cheap junk--for shemp, that's very fitting. Sal
[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote: Rumor has it Wal-Mart (if you can stand to go there) [snip] I go to my local Wal-Mart SuperStore at least 3 or 4 times a week. It's like going to a temple. *** I've had those boneheads demand to search my shopping cart and see my receipt at the exit. If I wanted to shop in a maximum security prison, I would shop at San Quentin. Costco is another place where I will go only when I have a specific bigticket item in mind that I can save a lot of money on -- they check off every item on the receipt when you exit, which is truly annoying and intrusive. I usually brush off the search requests, but who needs the stress...
[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Nov 19, 2008, at 11:59 AM, Bhairitu wrote: shempmcgurk wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozguru@ wrote: Rumor has it Wal-Mart (if you can stand to go there) [snip] I go to my local Wal-Mart SuperStore at least 3 or 4 times a week. It's like going to a temple. I'm sure no one here is surprised. After all doesn't Wal-Mart embrace your American Dream: cheap labor, cheap goods, right wing management. A temple filled with cheap junk--for shemp, that's very fitting. Sal * I don't like Walmart, but it's only cheap, not junk. Their buyers test all the products, and it's rare to find anything for sale there that functions poorly, in contrast to similar types of stores. Because of this quality control, sometimes I will check to see if an item is for sale at walmart.com, then make the actual purchase at Target, which is pretty competitive pricewise, but does not insult people with searches at the exit door.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 3:45 PM, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've had those boneheads demand to search my shopping cart and see my receipt at the exit. If I wanted to shop in a maximum security prison, I would shop at San Quentin. Costco is another place where I will go only when I have a specific bigticket item in mind that I can save a lot of money on -- they check off every item on the receipt when you exit, which is truly annoying and intrusive. I usually brush off the search requests, but who needs the stress... Wal-Mart has tremendous theft problems. People actually race out of the store with unpaid for expensive items in their shopping cart, usually winning despite the cart checkers and security devices. Wal-Mart and Home Depot are noted for people shop lifting items then returning them for refunds. If you're checked or not depends upon where you shop. One Wal-Mart I shop at is on the wrong side of town. The other is in the high tech area of town. In one, I expect to be challenged on the way out. In the other trying to get some one's attention when I leave the store is difficult.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, I am the eternal [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 3:45 PM, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've had those boneheads demand to search my shopping cart and see my receipt at the exit. If I wanted to shop in a maximum security prison, I would shop at San Quentin. Costco is another place where I will go only when I have a specific bigticket item in mind that I can save a lot of money on -- they check off every item on the receipt when you exit, which is truly annoying and intrusive. I usually brush off the search requests, but who needs the stress... Wal-Mart has tremendous theft problems. People actually race out of the store with unpaid for expensive items in their shopping cart, usually winning despite the cart checkers and security devices. Wal-Mart and Home Depot are noted for people shop lifting items then returning them for refunds. If you're checked or not depends upon where you shop. One Wal-Mart I shop at is on the wrong side of town. The other is in the high tech area of town. In one, I expect to be challenged on the way out. In the other trying to get some one's attention when I leave the store is difficult. I know that Walmart has a theft problem. Two months ago, while reluctantly entering WM for a specific item, I was nearly bowled over by a young man who had a laptop under his arm and was moving at an impressive rate across the parking lot, pursued by two civilians (not WM staff) -- the guys ran out of breath and the guy got away (if he tries to sign on to the net, I'm sure he can be tracked). But WM's problem is not my problem -- let them use more electronic anti-theft or whatever surveillance they need to do (which should not cost much because of their low pay, about half what local supermarket union employees make), but do not make me stand there like an idiot while they frisk my basket. It's illegal to insist on such a search, since there is no probable cause, so I usually just keep on walking and ignore the request to search, but it just annoys the hell out of me -- and others, I see people arguing with the exit clerks all the time.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
bob_brigante wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, I am the eternal [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 3:45 PM, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've had those boneheads demand to search my shopping cart and see my receipt at the exit. If I wanted to shop in a maximum security prison, I would shop at San Quentin. Costco is another place where I will go only when I have a specific bigticket item in mind that I can save a lot of money on -- they check off every item on the receipt when you exit, which is truly annoying and intrusive. I usually brush off the search requests, but who needs the stress... Wal-Mart has tremendous theft problems. People actually race out of the store with unpaid for expensive items in their shopping cart, usually winning despite the cart checkers and security devices. Wal-Mart and Home Depot are noted for people shop lifting items then returning them for refunds. If you're checked or not depends upon where you shop. One Wal-Mart I shop at is on the wrong side of town. The other is in the high tech area of town. In one, I expect to be challenged on the way out. In the other trying to get some one's attention when I leave the store is difficult. I know that Walmart has a theft problem. Two months ago, while reluctantly entering WM for a specific item, I was nearly bowled over by a young man who had a laptop under his arm and was moving at an impressive rate across the parking lot, pursued by two civilians (not WM staff) -- the guys ran out of breath and the guy got away (if he tries to sign on to the net, I'm sure he can be tracked). But WM's problem is not my problem -- let them use more electronic anti-theft or whatever surveillance they need to do (which should not cost much because of their low pay, about half what local supermarket union employees make), but do not make me stand there like an idiot while they frisk my basket. It's illegal to insist on such a search, since there is no probable cause, so I usually just keep on walking and ignore the request to search, but it just annoys the hell out of me -- and others, I see people arguing with the exit clerks all the time. Fry's, K-Mart and Best Buy also do the door checks. Target has a guard as you exit and most likely they are doing some undercover surveillance too such as people dressed as shoppers who are watching and following people. There is also an aversion to RFID tags as they are being sometimes used for a lot more than theft prevention.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: bob_brigante wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, I am the eternal L.Shaddai@ wrote: On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 3:45 PM, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've had those boneheads demand to search my shopping cart and see my receipt at the exit. If I wanted to shop in a maximum security prison, I would shop at San Quentin. Costco is another place where I will go only when I have a specific bigticket item in mind that I can save a lot of money on -- they check off every item on the receipt when you exit, which is truly annoying and intrusive. I usually brush off the search requests, but who needs the stress... Wal-Mart has tremendous theft problems. People actually race out of the store with unpaid for expensive items in their shopping cart, usually winning despite the cart checkers and security devices. Wal-Mart and Home Depot are noted for people shop lifting items then returning them for refunds. If you're checked or not depends upon where you shop. One Wal-Mart I shop at is on the wrong side of town. The other is in the high tech area of town. In one, I expect to be challenged on the way out. In the other trying to get some one's attention when I leave the store is difficult. I know that Walmart has a theft problem. Two months ago, while reluctantly entering WM for a specific item, I was nearly bowled over by a young man who had a laptop under his arm and was moving at an impressive rate across the parking lot, pursued by two civilians (not WM staff) -- the guys ran out of breath and the guy got away (if he tries to sign on to the net, I'm sure he can be tracked). But WM's problem is not my problem -- let them use more electronic anti-theft or whatever surveillance they need to do (which should not cost much because of their low pay, about half what local supermarket union employees make), but do not make me stand there like an idiot while they frisk my basket. It's illegal to insist on such a search, since there is no probable cause, so I usually just keep on walking and ignore the request to search, but it just annoys the hell out of me -- and others, I see people arguing with the exit clerks all the time. Fry's, K-Mart and Best Buy also do the door checks. Target has a guard as you exit and most likely they are doing some undercover surveillance too such as people dressed as shoppers who are watching and following people. There is also an aversion to RFID tags as they are being sometimes used for a lot more than theft prevention. My local Kmart is unusually stupid, even for a shoddy and disorganized place like KM -- they post somebody at one exit door, but never at the other exit at the garden section, so I just use the unmonitored exit. Target is the least annoying place to shop, plus they never ask for ID when I use a credit card.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 4:48 PM, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My local Kmart is unusually stupid, even for a shoddy and disorganized place like KM -- they post somebody at one exit door, but never at the other exit at the garden section, so I just use the unmonitored exit. Target is the least annoying place to shop, plus they never ask for ID when I use a credit card. I accused the store manager of a Wal-Mart in a marginalized part of town of racial profiling. I said that I was the only one who seemed to be asked for my ID when I used a credit card. I said that the other customers used credit cards and were never asked for ID. He explained to me that the other customers we not using credit cards, they were using Texas Star (welfare) debit cards and the PIN is used for ID.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Black Friday Blu-Ray Deal
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, I am the eternal [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 4:48 PM, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My local Kmart is unusually stupid, even for a shoddy and disorganized place like KM -- they post somebody at one exit door, but never at the other exit at the garden section, so I just use the unmonitored exit. Target is the least annoying place to shop, plus they never ask for ID when I use a credit card. I accused the store manager of a Wal-Mart in a marginalized part of town of racial profiling. I said that I was the only one who seemed to be asked for my ID when I used a credit card. I said that the other customers used credit cards and were never asked for ID. He explained to me that the other customers we not using credit cards, they were using Texas Star (welfare) debit cards and the PIN is used for ID. *** The local WM here in SoCal has many self-service lanes, and I have never had the clerk who supervises the section-of-4-registers bother to come over and ask for ID, while they frequently do so at the manned registers. After all my pissing and moaning about WM, guess where I shopped today? Yeah, but I did use the selfserve lane...
