Report: New Jersey Retailers’ “Fake Sales” Fool Us Into Paying More
BANGKOK, THAILAND: A Thai man sits in front of a giant banner to promote discount store at a shopping center in Bangkok, 05 September 2004. Thai Government lowered its economic growth forecast for 2004 to 6.5-7.0 percent, citing the effects of record high oil prices and a first-quarter slowdown. Thailand's economy grew 6.7 percent last year, making it Southeast Asia's strongest performer and the kingdom's best annual performance since 1995. AFP PHOTO/PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL (Photo credit should read PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP via Getty Images)
You may find this hard to believe but many retailers in New Jersey aren’t being totally honest when it comes to holiday sales and sale prices. I’m sure that I’ve probably paid more than I should have when purchasing certain items because they’re “on-sale” or I’m told the item is the “best deal of the year” or “lowest price of the season.”
At least that’s what Consumers’ Checkbook researchers who claim “unbiased reviews and undercover price research on local services” discovered while conducting a study about local sales.
They “discovered that most stores’ sale prices even those that advertise big savings are bogus discounts, with retailers offering the same “sale price” more than half the time. Often, these fake sales never end.” They tracked prices for thirty-three weeks across twenty-five major retailers and twenty-one of the twenty-five major retailers they looked at are having these misleading sales.
Consumers’ Checkbook found that only three of the twenty-five retailers they tracked were found to be legitimate: Apple, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Costco. Retailers found to be “usually misleading” include Amazon, Gap, Dick’s, Nordstrom, and Old navy. Retailers found to be “often misleading” include Best Buy, Home Depot, JC Penney, Lowe’s, and Walmart. Find the full list here.
No matter what a retailer says in regards to a discount or if they say it’s the best price of the year you still have to shop around to make sure what you’re paying is a good price. Another way to check if you’re getting the best price you can get use resources like PriceGrabber and ShopSavvy to compare prices. And don’t be afraid to ask a retailer for a price match if you find a lower price somewhere else. For even more ways to save, surf the web for online coupon codes for extra discounts or even free shipping.
Remember, never assume you’re getting the best price simply because a retailer says so, or an item is “90% off!”
Holiday Gifts for Fans of Popular Girl Groups
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Do you have a major girl group fan in your life, but have no clue what to get them this upcoming holiday season? Looking for the perfect gift for a superfan is hard enough as it is. Luckily for you, we compiled a list of all the major girl groups going as far back as the 60s.
Featuring hip-hop and pop (k-pop, too) groups including Salt-N-Pepa, Fifth Harmony, Destiny’s Child, Little Mix, Blackpink, TLC, Spice Girls, The Supremes, and The Pussycat Dolls, we have something for literally everybody.
Though The Supremes aren’t hip-hop or pop, the Detroit singing group from the 60s featured exceptionally talented artists including the infamous Diana Ross. Fast forward some 20 years and New York City’s Salt-N-Pepa emerged onto the hip-hop scene with classics such as “Push It!” and “Whatta Man.” TLC reigned the 90s with “Creep” and “No Scrubs,” which we often bump to this day. Destiny’s Child also got their start at this time, but it wasn’t until the late 90s/early 00s that they really blew up and seemingly took over the world. Right up there with them was the UK’s Spice Girls, who literally had a world of their own, Spice World — and for superfans, this comedic feature film is gold.
In the world of modern-day pop, as we know it, The Pussycat Dolls had a chokehold on the industry with “Buttons,” featuring Snoop Dogg. Little Mix put UK pop groups back in the mix in 2011, while Fifth Harmony, aka 5H, came about a year later in 2012, giving us such solo artists Camila Cabello and Normani making hits for us today. Finally, the most powerful super-girl group of today single-handedly goes to K-poppers Blackpink. They’ve made amazing collaborations with Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and even Cardi B!
Check out our master list of all the major popular girl groups below:
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at [email protected].
Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.
