Macy’s catalog typo could be an honest mistake, sabotage or just a marketing strategy?

A March 2013 “Super Buy” catalog published by Macy’s, reportedly contained a typo that listed a $1,500 worth of necklace for just $47.

WFAA reported on Friday, March 29, 2013 about a mailed Macy’s catalog that contained the jewelry price error.

Macy’s clarified that instead of $47, the sterling silver and a 14-karat necklace set of jewelry should be listed as $479.

A copywriter who made the catalog mistakenly missed typing the last digit. The poor employee was fired recently, most probably due to the error.

The retailer reportedly realized the catalog mistake when a certain Robert Bernard ordered the jewelry. Macy’s canceled Bernard‘s order and a representative explained to him that “The item has the wrong price for $47. The correct price is $479 dollars and because of that pricing error, your order has been canceled and I apologize.”

Succeeding orders of the jewelry set was cancelled and an apology was issued to customers on Friday afternoon through an email to News 8 by Beth Charlton, spokeswoman of Macy’s.

When the mistake was caught, signage did go up in the fine jewelry department and on store doors alerting customers that a mistake had been made

For those customers who bought the necklace at the $47 price, they were fortunate. For the gentleman you spoke with, he was not so fortunate. We are sincerely sorry he was disappointed and unable to buy the necklace at the $47 price for his wife.

As of posting, Macy’s has not given the exact number of jewelry that were sold for just $47.

Fifty Shades Freed book cover
Image Credit: E. L. James via Amazon.com

According to a press release at Amazon.com late last week, Fifty Shades Book 3 was the best-selling book of 2012, and was followed by “Gone Girl: A Novel” by Gillian Flynn, with James‘ Fifty Shades Trilogy (3-volume boxed set) landing on the third spot. However, the exact figures of sales were not mentioned.

“This was truly the year of the billionaire bad boy in romance—Amazon readers just couldn’t get enough of the genre.” Sara Nelson, Amazon‘s Editorial Director of Books and Kindle was quoted in the report, noting that the first two books of the Fifty Shades trilogy were released in 2011, and therefore are not included in the list.

“It’s also interesting to note that four of the five contemporary romance titles in the top 10 list, including the Fifty Shades trilogy, were originally independently published and went on to become huge best sellers.” Nelson added.

On the other hand, for the Amazon‘s best-selling Kids & Teens books for 2012, “The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus, Book 3)” by Rick Riordan landed on the first spot of the top 10, and was followed by “The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7)” by Jeff Kinney.

Below is the list of the Amazon‘s top 10 best-selling books for 2012 overall and for the Kids & Teens category, while the complete list of the 2012 Top 100 Amazon best-selling books can be found at www.amazon.com/bestsellingbooks2012.

* Amazon Top 10 Best-Selling Books (Overall):

1. “Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three of the Fifty Shades Trilogy” by E. L. James

2. “Gone Girl: A Novel” by Gillian Flynn

3. “Fifty Shades Trilogy: Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed 3-volume Boxed Set” by E. L. James

4. “Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel” by Sylvia Day

5. “No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden” by Mark Owen

6. “The Marriage Bargain (Marriage to a Billionaire)” by Jennifer Probst

7. “Reflected in You: A Crossfire Novel” by Sylvia Day

8. “The Racketeer” by John Grisham

9. “Defending Jacob: A Novel” by William Landay

10. “The Innocent” by David Baldacci

* Amazon Top 10 Best-Selling Books (Kids & Teens):

1. “The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus, Book 3)” by Rick Riordan

2. “The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7)” by Jeff Kinney

3. “Insurgent (Divergent)” by Veronica Roth

4. “The Serpent’s Shadow (The Kane Chronicles, Book 3)” by Rick Riordan

5. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

6. “City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments)” by Cassandra Clare

7. “While it Lasts” by Abbi Glines

8. “The Rise of Nine (Lorien Legacies, Book 3)” by Pittacus Lore

9. “Wonder” by R. J. Palacio

10. “Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure (Book 8)” by James Patterson

Apple iPhone 5
Image Credit: Walmart Facebook page

“Nothing is merrier than iPhones on rollback, just in time for the holidays. iPhone 5: Was $189, now $127. iPhone 4s: Was $87.97, now $47. Price valid with a new 2 year contract or eligible upgrade.” A statement reads at the official Walmart Facebook page this Friday, December 14, 2012.

In addition, MacRumors noted that Walmart is also selling the 16GB iPad 3 for only $399, noting that the retail store earlier announced that it was iPad 4 that has a discount, but later corrected their statement and said that the third-generation iPad is the one that has a price discount, not the current iPad.

“Walmart works closely with Apple to secure some of the strongest allocations of their products. That being said, inventory is a first come first serve basis so we recommend customers come early to secure their Apple product.” Walmart spokesperson Sarah Spencer told the paper about in the inventory of the discounted devices.

“We will not offer rain checks but customers should know we will be refreshing our inventory on an ongoing basis.” Spencer added. Walmart will also offer a $30 iTunes gift card bonus with iPad purchases starting Monday, December 17, 2012, with the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S being available in Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint.

Meanwhile, the end date of this Walmart iPhone price discount promo will depend on the inventory of local stores, noting that they are only on limited quantities. Canada and other territories outside the US are not included, except for Alaska and Hawaii, where 2-4 days are to be added to the usual delivery time.

Best Buy logo
Image Credit: Reuters/Stephen Lam

Schulze reportedly proposed to acquire Best Buy for $24 to $26 per share, or a total of $8.16 billion to $8.84 billion in a bid last August.

Best Buy allowed the bid extension so that Schulze can make a due diligence review of the full-year results of the company. Schulze will also have more time to gather more partners and financing in his Best Buy bid.

The bid extension has allowed Schulze to submit his offer any time during February. Best Buy will reportedly review his bid within 30 days before making a decision.

Schulze revealed that his bid will be funded through private equity, debt financing and reinvestment of some of his own equity in the company.

Reuters reported that an anonymous source revealed that Schulze does not yet have enough financing for a December bid.

The Best Buy founder reportedly remains its largest shareholder with about one-fifth of the company’s outstanding shares.

Matt Furman, Best Buy spokesman said that the company does not expect the bid extension to affect their holiday sales. Furman added that the retailer company is “determined to have a strong holiday season,” both in stores and online.

Amazon Kindle Free Time Unlimited ad
Image Credit: Amazon.com

According to Amazon on its official press site that day, this Free Time Unlimited promo for kids with ages 3-8 will be available on the all-new Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, and Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ as part of a free, over-the-air software update, which will be automatically delivered in the coming weeks.

As noted in the announcement, Amazon Prime members can sign up for the Free Time Unlimited for a $4.99 monthly per child or $9.99 a month for the whole family, which the TV shows available include from Disney, Nickelodeon, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, PBS, Sesame Workshop, and more.

“As a parent it’s hard to predict what my daughter is going to enjoy, or which movie she’s going to watch 50 times in a row—so I buy a range of content and hope for the best—but I get it wrong frequently,” Peter Larsen, Vice President, Amazon Kindle, was quoted in the press release.

“Free Time Unlimited gives kids the freedom to explore age-appropriate content on their own and pick for themselves what they want to watch, play, or read next.” Larsen added, with the new Kindle feature also offering parents new tools like Time Limits, which helps parents manage the screen time of their kids.

Among the noted favorite TV shows for kids that are included in the Free Time Unlimited are Sesame Street, Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, Diego, Yo Gabba Gabba, The Backyardigans, Rugrats, Arthur, Reading Rainbow, Caillou, and Garfield.

Amazon noted that they are working with Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that provides independent ratings of books, movies, television, apps, games, websites, and music; and a lot of them included in Kindle Free Time Unlimited, which can be learned more by visiting www.amazon.com/freetimeunlimited.

W.A.T.C.H.
Image Credit: ToySafety.org

The Massachusetts charitable non-profit corporation came up with its 2012 Worst Toy List during the W.A.T.C.H. Inc.’s 40th Annual “10 Worst Toys” Conference at the Chamberlain Conference Room of the Franciscan Hospital For Children in Brighton, Massachusetts.

According to W.A.T.C.H., their “10 Worst Toys list includes nationally known names, such as The Avengers and Power Rangers, being sold by major manufacturers and retailers, including Toys R Us, Walmart, and Amazon.com.”

The W.A.T.C.H. annual list include “toys with the potential to seriously harm or kill children continue to be found on store shelves, in catalogues, and on e-retailers’ websites.”

Top 10 Worst Toy List 2012
Image Credit: W.A.T.C.H.

1. Magnetic Fishing Game (Manufactured/Distributed by Kole Imports): Potential for choking injuries.
2. Bongo Ball (Toys R Us, Inc.): Potential for impact and other serious injuries.
3. Dart Zone Quick Fire 12 Dart Gun (Prime Time Toys Ltd.): Potential for eye injuries.
4. Spinner Shark 4-Wheel Kneeboard (FuzionNextsport): POtential for impact injuries.
5. Explore And Learn Helicopter (V Tech): POtential for strangulation and entanglement injuries.
6. N-Force Vendetta Double Sword (Hasbro): Potential for impact injuries.
7. Water Baloon Launcher (Water Sports, LLC): Potential for choking and facial injuries.
8. Power Rangers Super Samurai Shogun Helmet (Bandai): Potential for impact and puncture wound injuries.
9. Playful Xylophone (P’Kolino): Potential for choking injuries.
10. The Avengers Gamma Green Smash Fists (Hasbro): Potential for blunt impact injuries.

Small Business Saturday 2012
Image Credit: ShopSmall.com

According to American Express, over 100 million people came out to shop on independently-owned business last year. They are expecting that this year will be even bigger.

Below are some of the Small Business Saturday deals available in different states selected from National Federation of Independent Business website compilation.

Kindly note that these offers are subject to change without prior notice. Customers are advised to check the local stores for more details of these offers.

Alabama

Things 4 Your Dog
N987 Vinne Haha Rd, Fort Atkinson, AL 53538
things4yourdog.com
Offer of 10% off all items on Nov. 24, 2012. Use Discount Code 11-24-12

Arizona

Dei-Zinz Silk Floral
7848 East Redfield Rd., Suite 4, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
25% off any regular-priced merchandise. Come in November 24 to receive coupon – use within 90 days. Cannot combine with other sales or offers.

SlimMe1 LLC
2036 N Gilbert Rd, Suite 2-161, Mesa, AZ 85203
Use promoCode BIZSMALL for 10% off through 12/31/2012.

Panther TEK
1450 E. Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85022
Receive a 20% discount on our computer repair and troubleshooting services on Small Business Saturday. We offer Valleywide service.

Arkansas

MyLord Florals
7550 Old Seward Hwy Anchorage, AK 99518
Celebrating Small Biz Saturday with our Christmas Open House! Up to 75% off store wide. Free photos with Santa Claus from 12pm to 4pm.

California

The Bird Shop
5553 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95841
Come shopping on Small Business Saturday and we’ll pay the sales tax. That means an 8% discount on your entire purchase.

Sierra Hay and Feed
150 Flocchini Circle, Lincoln, CA 95648
10% off all pet collars, leashes or harnesses on Saturday, Nov. 24.

Complete Ponds
1052 Melody Lane Ste 210, Roseville, CA 95678
Get 15% off your entire purchase.

Rainbow Ag
235 E Perkins St, Ukiah, CA 95482
Wrangler, Carhartt, Justin: Buy one get one 50% off on all clothing and footwear. Free gift wrapping.

J.D. Luxe
20929 Ventura Blvd. Suite 470158
Woodland Hills , CA 91364
Deals up to 75% Off.

According to reports, mannequins from Italy‘s Almax called EyeSee, has a camera installed in one of its eye sockets with a facial recognition software. The software logs the age, gender and age of passers-by, enabling the shops to profile their customers and adjust to their needs.

The EyeSee Mannequins
Credit: Almax

According to Almax, one of its customers introduced a Chinese-speaking staff by the entrance after the EyeSee mannequins showed that one-third of their patrons after 4pm were Asians. Meanwhile, another unnamed retailer introduced a kid’s clothing line after EyeSee showed kids made up more than half of its afternoon visitors.

Reports said that the technology worries privacy advocates, saying that the system is “creepy.”

“Keeping cameras hidden in a mannequin is nothing short of creepy. The use of covert surveillance technology by shops, in order to provide a personalised service, seems totally disproportionate,” Emma Carr, deputy director of civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

Benetton is one of the retailers currently using the technology, reports said.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. filed an unfair labor practice charge against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, or UFCW late Thursday, November 15, 2012, to stop months of protests and rallies outside Walmart stores as reported in huffingtonpost.com.

The move was made a week before the expected strike on Black Friday, November 23, 2012, as reported earlier. Black Friday Sale event is the busiest shopping day of the year.

“We are taking this action now because we cannot allow the UFCW to continue to intentionally seek to create an environment that could directly and adversely impact our customers and associates,”  Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar was quoted saying.

Meanwhile, Communications Director Jill Cashen said that there’s nothing in the law that gives an employer the right to silence workers and citizens.

Wal-Mart counsel Steven Wheeless sent a letter on Friday, November 16, 2012,  to Deborah Gaydos, assistant general counsel of the UFCW stating that numerous activities have caused disruptions to Wal-Mart’s business.

Report further said that OUR Walmart Union group, a subsidiary of the UFCW as of 2011, according to a filing with the Labor Department, is reported organizing its most public displays against the Walmart chain, with 1,000 protests such as strikes and what it calls “online actions” that began this week and will culminate on Black Friday.

Wal-Mart intends UFCW to be held accountable for any injury or property damage that may occur as a result of the actions led by the UFCW, OUR Walmart or any of its other affiliates.

Wal-Mart filed its charge against the UFCW late on Thursday, November 15,2012,  with the NLRB regional office in Little Rock, Arkansas. The case number is 26-CB-093342.

Macy’s logo
Image Credit: Facebook

Business analysts say that pressure is mounting on Macy’s as this may affect the retailer during its 2012 Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday Sales. Macy’s stores have exclusive rights to sell Trump merchandises that include suits and perfumes.

In response to increasing clamor for to remove Trump from its advertisements and products from all its stores, an email statement was issued by Jim Sluzewski, Vice President for Corporate Communications and External Affairs for Cincinnati–based Macy’s, Inc.

Below is the statement issued by Sluzewski through an email.

Macy’s marketing and merchandise offerings are not representative of any political position. Many of the individuals associated with products sold at Macy’s—or at any retailer, for that matter—express personal opinions that are not related to the merchandise we sell or to the philosophies of our company.

A longtime focus of Macy’s holiday advertising has been to celebrate the season’s spirit of generosity and goodwill through our ongoing ‘Believe’ campaign, and that is the sole message of our holiday television commercials.