So. Walmart and 'rollbacks' - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sue · 02-26-2005, 07:18 PM

What the hell is up with the random extra change on the end of the rollbacked prices?

84 cents, 72 cents, 43 cents, 97 cents...

what happened to 95 cents, 50 cents... anything that ends in 5's or 0's!!!

Keep in mind I don't care really, but this was just a random thought after seeing a Walmart commercial on tv.

I'm imagining it's something to do with marketing...

Hardknock · 02-26-2005, 07:53 PM

It's the wal-mart conspiricy that everyone's taking about.

They're taking over the world!!

flstf · 02-26-2005, 07:54 PM

I'm guessing that they are trying to show the public that they are sqeezing every last penny out of the prices and are not rounding anything.

Grasshopper Green · 02-26-2005, 08:13 PM

IMO, and I'm definitely no expert, but if you see something for 7.89, you may automatically think, that is 8 dollars. If you see something for say, 7.67, you may not think "8 dollars" immediately and think you are getting a good deal. Just a thought.

thatoneguy · 02-26-2005, 08:21 PM

It's a secret code developed in Wal-Mart's secret underground headquarters in conjunction with the government... Don't ask about this again... You've been warned.

thesupermikey · 02-26-2005, 10:10 PM

i was ones told by a friend who was a manager at a walmart that the there was in fact a pattern the the prices. I do not remember what that pattern was, but if something is an even $X.00 or $X.50 that it was as low as it could be marked down (ie Clearence price).

martinguerre · 02-27-2005, 12:46 AM

i'd guess the pennies are a way of classing products-what level the discount is, and if it's currently on sale. i know other companies do that...

gar1976 · 02-27-2005, 01:24 AM

Judging on how large the volume of walmart is and the slim margins/profit of a national retailer, the odd cents are probably calculated to give x% profit and turn the inventory y times a year, and rounding to the nearest nickel would throw that off.

shakran · 02-27-2005, 08:23 AM

When I used to work retail, my store would use the last cent digit as a code. normal prices were 5 (ex 9.95), advertised sale prices were 3 (9.93) and markdown to match competitor prices were 7 (9.97)

I never really found out *why* they felt they needed the code, since everything was computerized anyway and the prices would change automatically. Of course, I also didn't really *care* about their pricing schemes

Blaspheme · 02-27-2005, 01:16 PM

Having been management for Wally World at one point in my life, I can tell you that it's just a business practice. They do it to make things look cheaper than they really are. In the case where their price may be the same as a competitor, most other stores have prices that end in 9 so by ending in 7 or 8 they come out looking "cheaper".

The rule when I worked there was that nothing could end in 9, if something came in priced at $1.99 for instance, then you had to change the price to $1.98 or $1.97. Anything that ended in a zero had to be priced for multiple purchase. For instance, an item costing $1.50 had to be placed on display as "2 for $3" or a $1.00 item would go up as "5 for $5". It's all mental games trying to convince people to buy more.

The real trick with the "Rollback" prices, is that if you watch closely most of the time you'll notice that the price in question had been raised a couple of weeks prior, just so they could reduce it again later and call it a "Rollback". Yeah, Wally World's business practices are deplorable, that's most of the reason I don't work there anymore.

Charlatan · 02-27-2005, 03:41 PM

Walmart, IIRC, has a policy of not having sale items. A rollback is a price reduction not a sale price.

02-26-2005, 07:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sue Teufel Hunden's Freundin Location: Westminster, CO	So. Walmart and 'rollbacks' What the hell is up with the random extra change on the end of the rollbacked prices? 84 cents, 72 cents, 43 cents, 97 cents... what happened to 95 cents, 50 cents... anything that ends in 5's or 0's!!! Keep in mind I don't care really, but this was just a random thought after seeing a Walmart commercial on tv. I'm imagining it's something to do with marketing... __________________ Teg yw edrych tuag adref.

02-26-2005, 08:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	IMO, and I'm definitely no expert, but if you see something for 7.89, you may automatically think, that is 8 dollars. If you see something for say, 7.67, you may not think "8 dollars" immediately and think you are getting a good deal. Just a thought. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

02-26-2005, 10:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
thesupermikey I got blisters on me fingers!!! Location: In my stressless expectation free zone.	i was ones told by a friend who was a manager at a walmart that the there was in fact a pattern the the prices. I do not remember what that pattern was, but if something is an even $X.00 or $X.50 that it was as low as it could be marked down (ie Clearence price). __________________ If you are not outraged than you are not paying attention! "Reality has a well-known liberal bias" - Steven Colbert

02-27-2005, 12:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
martinguerre whosoever Location: New England	i'd guess the pennies are a way of classing products-what level the discount is, and if it's currently on sale. i know other companies do that... __________________ For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

02-27-2005, 01:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
gar1976 Custom User Title Location: Lurking. Under the desk.	Judging on how large the volume of walmart is and the slim margins/profit of a national retailer, the odd cents are probably calculated to give x% profit and turn the inventory y times a year, and rounding to the nearest nickel would throw that off. __________________ Blistex, in regards to crappy games - They made pong look like a story driven RPG with a dynamic campaign.

02-26-2005, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	It's the wal-mart conspiricy that everyone's taking about. They're taking over the world!!

02-26-2005, 07:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	I'm guessing that they are trying to show the public that they are sqeezing every last penny out of the prices and are not rounding anything.

02-26-2005, 08:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
thatoneguy Crazy Location: Omaha, NE	It's a secret code developed in Wal-Mart's secret underground headquarters in conjunction with the government... Don't ask about this again... You've been warned.

02-27-2005, 08:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	When I used to work retail, my store would use the last cent digit as a code. normal prices were 5 (ex 9.95), advertised sale prices were 3 (9.93) and markdown to match competitor prices were 7 (9.97) I never really found out why they felt they needed the code, since everything was computerized anyway and the prices would change automatically. Of course, I also didn't really care about their pricing schemes

02-27-2005, 01:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Blaspheme Tilted Location: Oregon, USA	Having been management for Wally World at one point in my life, I can tell you that it's just a business practice. They do it to make things look cheaper than they really are. In the case where their price may be the same as a competitor, most other stores have prices that end in 9 so by ending in 7 or 8 they come out looking "cheaper". The rule when I worked there was that nothing could end in 9, if something came in priced at $1.99 for instance, then you had to change the price to $1.98 or $1.97. Anything that ended in a zero had to be priced for multiple purchase. For instance, an item costing $1.50 had to be placed on display as "2 for $3" or a $1.00 item would go up as "5 for $5". It's all mental games trying to convince people to buy more. The real trick with the "Rollback" prices, is that if you watch closely most of the time you'll notice that the price in question had been raised a couple of weeks prior, just so they could reduce it again later and call it a "Rollback". Yeah, Wally World's business practices are deplorable, that's most of the reason I don't work there anymore. __________________ Faith: not wanting to know what is true. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

02-27-2005, 03:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Walmart, IIRC, has a policy of not having sale items. A rollback is a price reduction not a sale price. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke