#shopper economics

[satireinfo]

Walmart Rollbacks

Walmart: The Economy’s Funhouse Mirror and America’s Real GDP Tracker As Prices Fluctuate, Shoppers and Economists Alike Look to Walmart for Answers Bentonville, Arkansas – While Washington policymakers endlessly debate interest rates and inflation targets, the real economic action is happening in the fluorescent-lit aisles of Walmart. With its labyrinth of rollback signs, mismatched shelves,…

[atlastv]

"3 Kids, No Wedding - Til Debt Do Us Part - Common Law Competition"

[reasonsforhope]

"Shopping for clothes is already intimidating. There are so many options and styles to consider, as well as factors like sustainability and ethics.

But for people in fat, disabled, or queer and gender-nonconforming bodies, it’s even more arduous.

Nico Herzetty, Emma K. Clark, and Paul Herzetty wondered: What if there was a way people could shop — not necessarily by color or size — but by measurements, materials, and ethics?

So they set off to create their website: Phoria. 

Here, shoppers can set up a free profile, add their body measurements (and “typical fit challenges”) and peruse over 270 brands. Once these data points are entered, users can personalize their pages with “saved,” “recommended,” or “hidden” brands. 

Pages can be totally private, or shared with the community to connect over styles and brands.

Aside from fit, brands in the Phoria database (which claims to be “the largest database of plus-friendly brands”) can also be filtered as “gender-neutral,” “woman-run,” “small business,” or “natural fibers.” Users can also filter for price, preferred styles, and more.

Pictured: A screenshot of the "Fit Challenges" feature on a Phoria user's profile.

Some brands include popular names like Athleta, Levi’s, and Patagonia. Others are small businesses, like Beefcake Swimwear, or Hey Peach.

“For so many people, it feels too damn hard to find and keep clothing that fits in all the ways that really matter. So we’re doing something about it,” the Phoria website reads.

“Unlike most online shopping experiences, we center the needs of plus-size women, nonbinary, and trans people, and prioritize supporting clothing brands focused on sustainability, ethics, and inclusion.” ...

That team — made up of Clark, and Nico and Paul Herzetty — calls themselves “fat, disabled, and very, very queer.” 

“These are some of the main ways we identify, and they’re qualities that have directly impacted our ability to get dressed every day in a way that feels good,” the Phoria team introduces themselves on the website.

Pictured: A screenshot of Phoria's plus-size clothing brand database.

In addition to catering the user experience to women, non-binary, and trans people, Phoria is also a benefit corporation, or a B corp.

“We’ve legally required ourselves to consider the interests of all our stakeholders — customers, employees, the planet, and our shareholders,” the Phoria website explains.

“Our specific public benefit purpose is to reduce people’s dependence on buying mass-produced items made in unsustainable ways and to use human-centered business models to boldly challenge economic systems of inequity.” 

Right now, in the early stages of the company’s business, it doesn’t make any money.

“We’re focused on building something that genuinely solves plus-size people’s challenges around clothes shopping and supports smaller and more sustainable brands,” Phoria’s website states.

So, spreading the word seems to be of utmost importance...

Additionally, TikTok creators @couplagoofs (a queer couple named Morgan and Phoebe), recently shared a video in which they discovered Phoria. They met the website’s creators at a fat liberation event in their city and were introduced to the tool.

Quickly, commenters responded with gratitude and excitement.

“It is so disappointing to sort through pages of plus size clothes that aren’t even plus size,” a TikTok user commented. “This is gonna be such a good tool!” 

Some even shared emotional responses, speaking to the need at the heart of Phoria’s mission. 

“I’m… gonna cry,” another commenter wrote. “I’ve needed this my whole life.”"

-via Goodgoodgood, November 20, 2023

[ginandoldlace]

Historical Significance: Regent Street's Christmas lights tradition dates back to 1954, making it one of the longest-standing Christmas lighting displays in London. Each year, the spectacle attracts locals and tourists alike.⁣ Theme Variations: The lights often follow a specific theme, transforming Regent Street into a magical wonderland. Themes have ranged from classic winter scenes to more contemporary and artistic displays, adding a fresh touch to the tradition each year.⁣ ⁣ Celebrity Switch-On: The official switch-on ceremony is a star-studded event. Celebrities and public figures are often invited to illuminate the street, marking the start of the festive season in London.⁣ ⁣ Global Recognition: Regent Street's Christmas lights are not just a local attraction; they gain international acclaim. The breathtaking display has been featured in numerous travel guides and media outlets, drawing visitors from around the world.⁣ ⁣ Collaborations with Artists: The organizing committee often collaborates with artists and designers to create unique and captivating light installations. This collaborative approach brings fresh creativity to the display, ensuring it remains a highlight of London's festive landscape.⁣ ⁣ Economic Impact: The Christmas lights on Regent Street contribute significantly to the local economy. The festive ambiance attracts shoppers and diners, boosting retail and hospitality businesses during the crucial holiday season.

[desperate-acts-of-capitalism]

Big Things Are Here!

After a long incubation period, our executive team is back and better than ever with a new twist in the product you know and love.

That's right! We here at DAOC have been working around the clock with local growers to bring you the next season of homestyle business and economics comedy podcasting!

Our discerning Patreon subscribers can access this quality product THIS FRIDAY AUGUST 4th!

That also comes with the regular bonus content! Along with a whole side podcast we cooked up during the pandemic and never released!

For our everyday shoppers, the new episode will be posted free-of-charge FRIDAY AUGUST 11th, in all the same places you used to listen to us!

But wait! There's more!

Our R&D department has cooked up a killer new product feature! Thats right! DAOC now has

THREE HOSTS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

That's 30% more podcast per podcast! What a deal! We just know you'll enjoy this new addition to our corporate family! We sure do!

BUY NOW! and remember:

Big Things Are Coming!

[niennanir]

It is Two Days to Christmas and I am in Walmart.

I hate Walmart. I'm not getting into cultural or economic ground here, it's an actual physical problem for me to be in a Walmart. I'm not just hyper observant, I'm hyper perceptive and Walmart assails the senses in a way that borders on the debilitating. The is too much stuff, piled to the ceilings on rows that are engineered in a way that cuts off sight lines, there are too many colors, too many people, and the smells, they're overwhelming and conflicting. The lights are too bright. The lights are too loud. The HVAC and the coolers in frozen foods are also too loud and I can hear all of them in dissonance.

I will avoid Walmart if I can. The longest I've managed to stay out is four years. My schedule used to take me to parts of town where I had more options but my schedule changed this year and now the easiest option is to go the four miles to Walmart rather than the fifteen to somewhere less offensive to my own personal brand of crazy.

It is too days to Christmas and Walmart is three times worse than it is any other time of the year.

I only need a half a dozen things and I zip from aisle to aisle as fast as I can, skirting around shoppers who look dazed beneath the yellow green glow of the humming florescent lights. I slither past a man trying to figure out where he left his wife and rapidly start scanning at the nearest self checkout. I can feel my anxiety ramping up but it's fine, I can get out of here in a few minutes, out into the fresh air and the warm Florida sun. It's fine.

I reach into my bag for my phone, my hand closes around it as I remember that I can't use my phone at Walmart. I use Apple Pay for nearly all my groceries. The less I fumble with my wallet in a crowded store the better. But I can't use it here. I let go of my phone and dig down for my wallet.

My wallet isn't there.

I open my bag wider and stare into its depths. There is an iPhone, a tiny drawing pad with a stub of a pencil. A grape chapstick. My car keys. My sunglasses. And no wallet.

I jiggle my bag ineffectually, hoping for a Christmas miracle that will summon my wallet from the back pocket of my favorite pair of jeans. My favorite pair of jeans is hanging on the back of the bathroom door. I wore them last night to look at lights, and I put my wallet in my back pocket after I bought hot chocolate.

I could walk out of course. I want to. But there are so many people in line waiting, trying to get home to their other tasks. I flag down the nearest self checkout monitor.

"You're going to have to clear my transaction." I say "I left my wallet at home"

"Oh dear, are you sure?" she replies. "I can save the transaction and you can go get your wallet and come back, then at least you won't have to collect everything again."

"It's eight miles there and back in heavy traffic," I say with a sigh. "It would take a miracle to get back here before the frozen vegetables thawed."

"Ma'am, did you forget your wallet?"

I turn at the sound of the man's voice. He's a little older than me, an everyman type. Polo shirt shorts and docks, the standard Florida grocery shopping uniform.

"I did," I say with a sigh.

"I do that all the time," he said sympathetically. I'm about to reply that unfortunately that doesn't make me feel better.

"Would you let me buy your groceries for you?"

I freeze.

It's rare that I don't know what to say. I always have a quip or a comeback. But in that moment all I can think of is the eight mile drive, the whine of the lottery ticket machine the way the fourth florescent light from my left is flickering, the fact that I should have been back to work ten minutes ago.

It's only $35 dollars. I have $35. What I don't have is another trip to Walmart in me today.

"Hey!" the self checkout monitor says cheerfully. "You got your Christmas miracle from Santa!"

"Thank you," I say to the man. I can feel my throat closing up as he reaches over and runs his card.

"I do this all the time," he says, shaking his head. "This is the only place I can't use my phone."

"That's how I got in trouble," I admit.

He nods, knowingly. "You have a Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas to you too!"

By the time I've gathered my bags he's disappeared in the crowd.

I couldn't pick him out of a lineup right now if my life depended on it. I notice everything, but he was so unassuming there wasn't a lot to notice. Just a guy, in Walmart, two days to Christmas.

Making the world a little better $35 at a time.

[azspot]

As Rogé Karma lays out in this excellent story in The Atlantic, meticulous new economic research shows that the opening of a Walmart causes incomes to decline in the community where the store opens by more than the amount that shoppers save at Walmart. One research paper says that the average net loss from a Walmart’s opening is about $2,000 per year per person, leading to a 16% increase in poverty locally.

From Walmart to Amazon to Walmart

[britt-kageryuu]

Leo and Donnie are playing Minecraft together. Though the audience is watching Leo's POV.

Their models are in casual graphic shirts, flannel button downs and bandanas. Leo's shirt has a space unicorn, and Donnies shirt has a softshell turtle holding a knife with 'I'm Harmless, I swear".

"So, with Thanksgiving, and Black Friday coming up, I regret to inform you. That I am banned from going out to shop in person. They say smugly." Donnie says, for some reason proud of himself.

Leo just shakes his head, "Dee almost became known as a crazy shopper. Thankfully they were with Red, and purposefully kept away from the more crazy areas."

Leo is seen flying while pulling a couple Villagers in a boat, before landing near where Donnie is setting up a villager farm.

Around the area is multiple farms, both automated and not. With also a large Turtle Sanctuary along the nearby river.

"Bring those two over to the office building. Now the true reason I am not allowed to go out, is because someone attempted to take what I had obtained. So I may have pulled a taser out and lightly threatened anyone who got near me." Donnie explains while bouncing around the redstone and rails that make up the mechanics for their farm.

"Be glad that the security working that day were understandably very I don't give a-" Leo stops before he says what was likely not PG-13, "Even though by technically I could say the phrase, but some people don't like us using 'foul language'. Like I haven't been cursing under my breath in like 5 different languages."

"That can count as an Easter Egg, try to find which vods Blue is using foul Language. There isn't a prize, except bragging rights." Donnie announces while sprinting past Leo and smaking him with a neatherite shovel.

Leo who is very used to this just fires an arrow at Donnie in retaliation. Just barely missing an Iron Golem that his twin purposefully ran close too.

"Anywhozzle! Yeah, some of the security was just so done, they didn't bother with Dee. Just told him to check out and get out. Dee isn't banned from the store either, just told to leave." Leo says while shaking his head.

The two of them get the villagers into the 'Office Building' that will be their Villager Trading Center. Double checking that they can't get out of the building.

The two spend a good bit of time finishing the redstone, while replying to notifications, and occasionally getting a small startle from sound redemptions.

They were being asked about other reasons they can't go out on Black Friday, at least part of the answer was, "Buying things online is just slightly more convenient. Though there are a couple places that don't do deliveries, that we send April to pick up for us."

Then the conversation switched to Thanksgiving, and the spread Mikey was going to be making along side the family friends who are going to join them.

----------------------

Masterpost

I wanted to mention that they don't really do Black Friday aka the weirdest huge discount days of the year, because of economic reasons.

And Donnies cain instinct is at least part of why they don't.

Though the visual of the Turtles in baggy clothes fighting off random people for the most random deals, is pretty darn funny.

[ceslatoil]

WIP

Locked Tomb fragment I found in my journal today. Should I finish this?

“I do wish you wouldn’t look at me like that,” sighed Cytherea.

“Like what, exactly?” Dulcinea Septimus continued to keep her voice level. Her face was an immovable mask, neutral as beige comforters in an economically priced hotel room. It so much resembled the Lyctor’s: doll like and fragile, the cheeks flush and glow with fever. The only real difference was in the eyes, they were the color of fresh turned earth. Had her own eyes been that color before? Cytherea could scarely remember, she’d had her own stolen set for so long now.

“You look at me like a cornered rabbit,” said Cytherea, her sword’s point still inches from Dulcinea’s throat. The blood of the cavalier still stained the blade. “You’re looking at me like I’m going to sink my teeth into your neck and drink you dry. You’re acting as if I’m some monster, gosh! I told you, silly, we’re just talking now!”

“You’ve killed Protesilaus and are now holding me prisoner,” said Dulcinea. She was using the slow, careful tone of a put upon customer service worker dealing with a shopper who insisted on speaking with management.

“He would have died regardless if you’d made it to Canaan House.” Cytherea took stock of Dulcinea’s hands; folded neatly in her lap, she could barely see how much they were shaking. “I don’t suppose the invitation said that, but that’s the cost of Lyctorhood— your cavalier’s soul for life eternal.” She didn’t add that God’s own fingers and gestures suspected there were other methods. There were more pressing matters on the agenda, and they were dangerously close to falling behind.

“You must think terribly of me if you believe I’d kill him for something like that,” said Dulcinea with the same gentle tone. Cytherea still caught the barb hidden beneath it. The Lyctor smiled. She liked this girl, what a shame she had to die.

[teentoospoiled]

How & Why Celibacy Works

Ussy Costs Funds, Ick is Free

Level Up Lecture: Xesual Economics 101

Disclaimer: I am an adult cisgender woman targeting a teen audience. I encourage all teens to share and/or include their parents in the conversation of our posts for the sake of transparency on my adult end. Thank you for your engagement.

The Walmarts keep the Targets in business. The Family Dollars / Dollar Generals fill in the gaps where the Walmarts fall flat

Target: Celibate

Walmart: Xesually Active Singles

Family Dollar / DG: Xes Workers or Misc.

I’m not saying if you’re a xesually active single, you’re cheap as a person. I am highlighting how celibacy is the premium product that’s preferred by customers in the market.

There are people who would drive to another Target if their local one is out of something versus heading to the Walmart or Family Dollar within their location.

POV: You’re selling ussy (p or b in front ;)

Everybody sells ussy even if they are poor businessmen. I’m gonna teach you how to market and leverage your coochie correctly.

Men (masculines) marry for the main incentive: in-house ussy.

Pick Up This Gem: This is why you do not move in with them until you’ve at least received an engagement ring.

You are aware of the fact that all masculines want access to your ussy…eventually. Now that you know this, you are going to dangle it over their heads until they give you the things (or lifestyle) you want.

Marriage

Gifts

Business or personal investments, etc.

Choose which ussy you have:

Target Ussy - higher prices, Starbucks, target customer is not on a tight budget seeking steals, strong brand loyalty (driving to another Target versus visiting competitors)

Walmart Ussy - mid range prices, hit or miss with consumers and their affordability thus the wide range of products

Family Dollar / DG -lowest prices, accessible for low income buyers (girls with cheap bfs or baby daddy’s, not SWers) accessible for buyers seeking instant gratification which is affordability.

Answer Now!: Who is your target customer?

MY TARGET CUSTOMER

Disposable income

Regular shopper

Money management, but generous spending

Most likely you listed something that aligns with Target’s target audience, right? It’s ok if you feel like it’s a Target / Walmart (hit or miss remember?).

This is how the Walmarts (xesually active singles) keep the Targets (abstinence and celibates) in business; Target has a competitor to leverage their premium product against.

If you don’t like it, go to our competitors (Walmart / DG). Why?

Because the fact that you can’t afford / don’t prefer Target (no xes until marriage) is the reason why our regular customers shop here, and many of them spend a lot each Target trip.

Customers= Masculines

There are plenty of high spending, high quality, high earning people who shop exclusively at Walmart or rotate stores for the best prices. This is how Walmart balances the market, allowing Target to market as the premium place to shop.

If you chose NO:

Quick Breakdown

This is the best time to remain abstinent or practice celibacy because the market is saturated with free / easy access opportunities for xes. It’s a marketing strategy to reserve your body for exclusive access, especially if you’ve never had xes b4.

Exclusive access has the leverage to insist on getting what they want before entry is allowed.

This leverage is lacked or lessened when you allow xesual access prior to securing your goal(s) at hand-marriage, gifts, investment, etc.

You’re not reserved, which means access to you is not exclusive even if you are rarely used. This is where the leverage of abstinence and celibacy comes in.

Bluntly: the (high quality) masculines who can offer the most fun and funds usually prefer exclusive access. Most people prefer exclusivity to feel special. Dare to tell me I’m wrong

This leverage allows you to make a luxury sale, similar to fashion houses or upscale lounges.

POV: You are a nightclub

You require patrons to book a table and a bottle of champagne before being allowed into the club.

Your “table” and “champagne” is equivalent to requiring a masculine to marry you before gaining entry into your body.

If they don’t like it, point the person to the BYOB or the club that’s more of their style.

Exclusive Access = The premium, preferred product by a higher class/ quality / spending group of consumers.

Now, I hope that made sense.

TIP 2 TEEN SELF: Learn about proper hypergamy early on. Not the SB/ SW stuff even amongst hypergamy content. Take the time out to learn how to date up and build yourself into becoming the woman who thrives in high quality environments instead of shying away or fumbling.

Homework: Listen to this Science of Birds podcast. Take notes on how the “choosy” female bird chooses which male to make babies with

BuyMeACoffee, but I prefer wine ;)

[mariacallous]

There are human activities in which both sides can win. War is not one of them. Either Ukraine wins this war or Russia does. Ukraine’s former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba says bluntly that unless the current trajectory is changed, “we will lose this war”.

To be clear: this is still avoidable. Suppose the roughly four-fifths of Ukrainian territory still controlled by Kyiv gets military commitments from the west strong enough to deter any further Russian advances, secure large-scale investment in economic reconstruction, encourage Ukrainians to return from abroad to rebuild their country, and allow for stable, pro-European politics and reform. In five years, the country joins the EU, and then, under a new US administration, starts the process of entering Nato. Most of Ukraine becomes a sovereign, independent, free country, firmly anchored in the west.

The loss of a large amount of territory, the suffering of at least 3.5 million Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the toll of dead, maimed and traumatised would amount to a terrible cost. This would not be the complete victory Ukrainians have hoped for and deserve; but it would still be a victory for Ukraine and a historic defeat for Russia. A majority of Ukrainians could come to see it as such. In polling the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has shared with me in advance, Ukrainians are asked if to end the war they could (albeit with difficulty) accept the combination of economic reconstruction and EU and Nato membership for the current territory. In just the past six months, the proportion saying yes has jumped from 47% to 64%.

However, to get to this outcome with Donald Trump in the White House would require a European coalition-of-the-willing to make security commitments of a size and boldness not seen so far. There’s a growing understanding of this among European leaders, but the democratic politics in most European countries are miles away from empowering them to do it. To try to persuade Europeans to support the necessary policies, but also to understand the consequences if – as seems most likely – they don’t do so in time, the question we have to ask is: what if Russia wins?

If Russia wins, we should realistically expect the following consequences for Ukraine, Europe, the United States and world peace. Ukraine would be defeated, divided, demoralised and depopulated. The money would not come in to reconstruct the country; instead, another wave of people would leave it. The politics would become rancorous, with a strong anti-western trend. New possibilities for Russian disinformation and political destabilisation would emerge. Necessary reforms would stall, and hence also progress towards EU membership.

Europe as a whole would see an escalation of the hybrid war that Russia is already waging against it, still largely unnoticed by most blithely Christmas-shopping west Europeans. Not a week passes without some incident: a Russian destroyer fires a flare at a German military helicopter; there are exploding DHL packages, sabotage on the French railways, an arson attack on a Ukrainian-owned business in east London; undersea cables in the Baltic Sea are cut; there’s a credible death threat to a top German arms manufacturer. Not all can definitely be traced back to Moscow, but many can.

Full spectrum hybrid warfare includes election interference. In Georgia, the election was rigged. In the Moldovan EU referendum, about 9% of the votes were directly bought by Russia, according to the president, Maia Sandu. In Romania, the first round of the presidential election will be re-run, because a court found large-scale violation of campaigning rules on TikTok. “Ah, that’s eastern Europe!” cries the complacent Christmas shopper in Madrid, Rome or Düsseldorf. But the head of Germany’s domestic security service recently warned that Russia will try to interfere in next February’s German general election, which is hardly marginal to the future of Europe.

This week we saw Vladimir Putin again supremely confident in his annual end-of-year marathon press conference cum Call-the-Tsar phone-in, despite the recent Ukrainian assassination of his WMD general. His is now a war economy, dependent on military production for sustaining growth, and a dictatorship defined by confrontation with the west. It would be beyond naive to hope that diplomacy can achieve some magical moment when Putin’s Russia will suddenly become “satisfied” with an outcome in Ukraine, and return to peacetime business as usual. When Nato planners say we should be ready for possible Russian aggression against Nato territory by 2029, they are not simply peddling horror stories so as to increase military budgets.

Maga voters in the United States may say “well, what’s all that to us? You Europeans look after yourselves! We have to worry about China”. But Russia is now working more closely than ever with China, North Korea and Iran. Putin may be indicted by the international criminal court, but he still travels half the world as a welcome guest. He himself has talked of a new “global majority” and “the formation of a completely new world order”. In that new order, war and territorial conquest are entirely acceptable instruments of policy, on a continuum with poisoning, sabotage, disinformation and election interference. Victory for Russia in Ukraine will encourage China to step up its pressure on Taiwan and North Korea its needling of South Korea.

That brings us to the most serious consequence of all: nuclear proliferation. Remember that Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994, in return for security assurances from the US, the UK and Russia – and then got hammered by one of the powers that promised it security. In the latest KIIS polling, 73% of Ukrainians support Ukraine “restoring nuclear weapons”. Remarkably, 46% say they would do so even if the west imposed sanctions and stopped aid. In effect, Ukrainians are saying to the west: if you won’t defend us, we’ll [expletive deleted] do it ourselves. On recent visits to Ukraine I’ve been told several times, “It’s Nato or nukes!” But this is not just about Ukraine. Vulnerable countries around the world, also looking at what is happening in the Middle East, will draw the same conclusion. The more countries – and possibly non-state actors – acquire nuclear weapons, the more certain it is that one day they will be used.

In the German election, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been shamelessly and shamefully trying to exploit the fear of nuclear war for electoral advantage over his chief rival, the Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz. In fact, it is precisely the consequences of the west’s self-deterrence for fear of Russian nuclear escalation in Ukraine, personified by Scholz and skilfully exploited by Putin, that are increasing the likelihood of nuclear proliferation and therefore the long-term risk of nuclear war.

The conclusion is clear, and depressingly familiar. European democracies’ reluctance to pay a high price now means that the world will pay an even higher price later.

[phoenixx-news]

Australia's Major Supermarket Chains Accused of Misleading Discount Claims

Australia's two largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for allegedly deceiving consumers with false price reduction claims. The ACCC asserts that both companies violated consumer law by temporarily increasing prices before dropping them to levels that were often equal to or even higher than the original price, while claiming the discounts were permanent.

Coles has vowed to defend itself in court, while Woolworths is reviewing the allegations. Combined, the two chains control roughly two-thirds of the Australian grocery market. Over the past year, both retailers have faced heightened scrutiny amid accusations of price gouging and anti-competitive behavior.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in on the matter, calling the alleged actions "completely unacceptable" if proven true. He emphasized that such behavior undermines trust and is not in line with Australian values. "Customers deserve to be treated fairly, not as fools," Albanese said at a press conference where he also introduced draft legislation for a supermarket "code of conduct."

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb explained that Coles and Woolworths have long used marketing campaigns like 'Prices Dropped' and 'Down Down' to suggest permanent reductions in prices. However, the watchdog's investigation revealed that many of these discounts were misleading, affecting hundreds of products over a span of several months. Woolworths allegedly misled customers about 266 products over 20 months, while Coles did so for 245 products over 15 months.

The products involved in the allegations span a wide range, including pet food, Band-Aid bandages, mouthwash, and iconic Australian favorites like Arnott's Tim Tam biscuits, Bega Cheese, and Kellogg's cereal. According to the ACCC, the two supermarkets sold millions of these items, generating substantial revenue through the deceptive pricing practices.

Ms. Cass-Gottlieb emphasized the importance of accurate pricing during times of economic pressure, noting that many Australians depend on discounts to manage their grocery bills. "It’s vital that consumers can trust that discounts are real, especially with the rising cost of living," she said.

The ACCC is asking the Federal Court of Australia to impose substantial fines on Coles and Woolworths, as well as an order that they expand their charitable meal delivery programs.

In a statement, Coles acknowledged that rising costs have impacted product prices, but stressed that the company aims to balance those increases with providing value to customers. Coles also underscored its commitment to consumer law and building trust with all stakeholders. Woolworths echoed similar sentiments, stating that it is willing to engage with the ACCC and that it remains focused on delivering meaningful value to shoppers.

In response to the growing concerns, the Australian government has launched a review of the country's Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. The review recommended strengthening the code and giving the ACCC greater powers to enforce compliance. The proposed new code aims to protect suppliers and consumers alike, with harsh penalties for companies that breach its standards.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case highlights the increasing pressure on Australia’s supermarket sector to operate transparently and fairly in an era of rising living costs.

[man-down-in-hatchet-town]

Paul working a job that he hates and is completely disconnected from in order to survive and later confessing to never being happy.

Emma working a much more shitty job that she hates even more in order to get herself through community college at the age of 30.

CCRP just blithely experimenting on the employees caught powerlessly in their web.

Curt’s working-class shopper going completely feral after his little speech about economic hardship and losing his job.  And all of Feast or Famine.

Everything Wiley says in the Black and White.

Zoe describing 10k as “loaded” and being so proud of being able to afford to live with only two roommates.

Frank agreeing to an ill-advised marriage with a woman he doesn’t know just to keep his business open.

Lex’s anger and constant panic about money throughout the first half of Yellowjacket, letting all the joy and happiness seep out of her life as she struggles to pay off the medical bills for the one person she loves most.

Nick and Matt Lang really fucking get it.

[elektroskopik]

Trump wants tariffs. It could be you paying for them.

Trump has said foreign countries would pay the tariffs. However, retailers and economists say it’s American shoppers who will end up paying more.

A National Retail Federation report estimates $7,600 in additional costs per U.S. household annually if Trump's tariffs are imposed.

A middle-income family could pay an estimated $1,700 more a year, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

A tariff is a tax or levy imposed by the U.S. on foreign-made products imported into the country.

The additional fee is paid by the business importing the item into the country, usually a company based in the U.S.

The money raised by a tariff is called a duty or customs duty. In the U.S., the duty is collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and goes to the U.S. Treasury.

Tariffs target trade deficits

A tariff is used to reduce a trade deficit, the monetary gap that opens when a nation imports more than it exports.

Tariffs create revenue for governments. However, the goal of a tariff is to change the flow of products across international borders and make foreign manufacturers’ products more expensive for U.S. shoppers and businesses, USA TODAY reported.

The extra costs brought on by tariffs "are largely passed on to consumers," according to economists in a report by the Council on Foreign Relations.

Of those paying the price, lower-income Americans are hit hardest, according to a Peterson Institute for International Economics analysis in 2014.

Who ultimately pays for tariffs depends on a number of factors, the Cato Institute says. However, “recent empirical evidence indicates the new U.S. tariffs imposed in 2018 and 2019 were almost entirely passed on to U.S. consumers, resulting in higher prices and reduced export growth,” the think tank reported in April.

[eaglesnick]

“No government that is for the profiteers can also be for the people, and I am for the people, while the government is for the profiteers.”— Rose Pastor Stokes

There is a cost of living crisis and it is not about to end anytime soon.

Food and non-alcoholic drink inflation reached a peak of 19.2% in October 2022. Although food and drink inflation is now much lower, it is never the less still rising, being 1.8% higher than a year ago. Today, the Uk  has the highest core inflation rate among the G7 countries as well as the highest level of food price inflation. A study by BravoVoucher predicts the cost of everyday food items will increase rapidly by 2030.

“This research provides a scary look into the future of food prices if current inflation trends continue. The dramatic increase we’ve seen in prices for everyday essentials like olive oil and baked beans is particularly concerning. It highlights the urgent need for effective economic policies to stabilize inflation and protect consumers.” (Social Equality: 22/07/24)

While food inflation is set to rage, super markets continue to make record profits. 

Asda reported  £1.1bn in profit for year ending 31st December 2023, a 24% increase on the previous year. Tesco reported raking in a massive £2.83bn in profit, a 12.7% increase on the year before. Simsbury’s is predicting profits of £1bn in 2024, and Waitrose has reported a 17% increase  in profits.

The lower end supermarkets are making even bigger profits. Lidl reported a quadrupling of profits for the year ending February 2022, and Aldi tripled their profits over the same period.

The point I am making is that while the cost of living crisis continues unabated the major supermarkets are busy increasing profits for their shareholders. There are many reasons the cost of food has increased, from global supply chain disruption, a rise in energy costs, to increased food production costs, but one that is never mentioned is the massive spike in supermarket profits.

Yesterday I talked about dynamic pricing – the practice of changing prices to match demand and supply – the most ridiculous example of this new form of greed being walking into a Stonegate pub at 8pm and being charged 20p more for a pint than if you had ordered the exact same drink a few hours earlier.

Tesco already use dynamic pricing for their online shopping platform, to allow:

“the company to optimise its pricing for maximum profitability” (The Strategy: Tesco Marketing Mix)

OK, so dynamic pricing is employed for Internet food sales. Most of us still prefer to go to the supermarket in person and “feel the goods” as it were. So we are safe from dynamic pricing. NOT SO!

More and more of British supermarkets are introducing dynamic pricing to the “in-store” experience in the form of electronic shelf-edge labels. (ESL’s)  Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda and M&S are all reported to be experimenting with ESL’s using Artificial Intelligence to generate algorithms to determine price minute by minute. Electronically displayed prices on the edge of shelving means prices can be changed minute by minute depending upon demand and supply.

Gone is the notion of value for money. The only thing that will matter  will be how much the customer is willing to pay for any particular item at any given particular moment in time, regardless of what it cost to produce.

If price is going to be determined by how much people are willing to pay, how long before we have the scenario of the  sole remaining can of baked beans on a Tesco shelf being sold not at its current price of  £1.40 per can but at £2.50 simply because one shopper has more money than another?

Profiteering has been described as:

“The practice of making or seeking to make excessive or unfair profit, especially illegally or in a black market”

Profiteering now has another definition: dynamic pricing.

[shadowmaat]

No ethical consumption, etc.

I've been noticing more articles and commentary about clothing. There's all the high-minded "fast fashion" vs. "slow fashion" thinkpieces as well as contempt for "fake" materials that are toxic to the environment.

Look, I want the environment to be salvageable just as much as the next person, but the idea of trying to put ALL of the onus on individuals instead of corporations or "how the world works" has already been proven as wrong and only gets more irritating the more people hammer on the dead horse.

Are there things you can do to help? Absolutely. But there are also limits, and it'd be nice if we stopped acting as if everything was easy to do for everyone.

I've taken a look at some of the "slow fashion" sites where clothes are sustainably sourced and designed to last for years and there's just no goddamn way I can afford it. Same goes for clothing materials in general: the "evil" synthetic stuff is FAR cheaper and more readily available than natural fibers and "eco" materials. While I'd love to have a complete wardrobe made of environmentally friendly cloth, it just isn't going to happen. And that isn't my fault. Keep the blame on the corporations who've decided it's far cheaper and easier for them to mass produce synthetic materials than to find more sustainable sources. Blame economic systems who refuse to pay workers fair value for their labor so people can't afford to house themselves or eat, let alone wear the "right" kind of clothing.

There's no shame in wearing synthetic fibers. Even if it's for the simple reason that the synthetic stuff looks pretty/sparks joy, there's no reason to feel guilty about it. And there's no reason to shame people for choosing synthetics, either. Condemn the megacorps, not the shoppers.