do you think this is unethical?

mlf625 · July 2012

I kind of think it is, but I err on the side of uptightness in these situations. (DH was like "OMG CHEAP DIAPERSSSS!") I'll c&p but the gist is that Kmart misprinted an ad, and it reads that they've got a big box of Huggies on sale for $5.99. Someone posted on 3rd tri and said they've heard of someone successfully getting Walmart to price match. Walmart's website says they will not price match misprinted ads ... but I'd guess it would be tough for them to prove it's misprinted. Or that the average Wally cashier wouldn't care enough to press the issue.

So the question is, Sept 2012ers - do you consider this unethical? Theft? Totally okay? (fyi: I don't plan to try it. I just think it's an interesting question.)

c&p:

5.99 diaper deal!I saw this in another community. marmot had an ad misprint where they're advertising a box of buggies for 5.99! The girl said she was able to price match at Walmart and had issues at target. It's wor a shot! Good luck

https://kmart.shoplocal.com/kmart/Default.aspx?action=printcircularpage&pagenumber=13&imageurl=https://akimages.shoplocal.com/dyn_rppi/600.0.80.0/kmart/large/120626SGPO_13_IP_284236_n544s.jpg&dates=Tuesday, Jun 26th - Monday, Jul 30th&storeid=2421528

MarisaKathleen · July 2012

Someone gets paid big bucks to proof the ads before they go out. And there's a whole team of editors on the back end that review these things. If all these people didn't catch the error, why in the world is it unethical?

It's the company's mistake.

hmp1 · July 2012

I wouldn't have a problem taking KMart up on their mistake, but I wouldn't have another company price match it.

Megroons · July 2012

MarisaKathleen:

Someone gets paid big bucks to proof the ads before they go out. And there's a whole team of editors on the back end that review these things. If all these people didn't catch the error, why in the world is it unethical?

It's the company's mistake.

This. I agree that it's the companies mistake. I do not however agree that Wal-mart should have to price match it, if they are. Like mlf said, I'm sure there is some dumb cashier who will do it but they shouldn't. Is K-mart actually selling the diapers for this price or have they corrected the error? Is it even fixable at this point or do they have to honor the sale price?

linzeek44 · July 2012

Steph+J:
Wait. That ad says $5.99 WITH in-store coupon... so a store should really only price match to $10.99 anyway, right? Unless you have that $5 coupon and Wal-Mart matches other stores' coupons.

Walmart doesn't match other stores' coupons. (Well, it's not corporate policy to accept other store coupons. So if it's $10.99 you could price match it for that, but probably not with the coupon unless your store was super generous and/or didn't know their own policy.)

I wouldn't do it. Yeah, it's their mistake but it's probably not worth the hassle, especially because if the price differential is really different, a WM customer-service manager will be called over to figure it out and then you're holding up the line and it's too much drama for me.

skyejo · July 2012

Not unethical in the least bit in my eyes though I wouldn't try to price match. It's KMart's fault, not that of another store, so I wouldn't try to hold them to that price.

JessAndTrav · July 2012

I wouldn't go to WM to price match, but I would definitely go to Kmart (if we had Kmart here) and take them up on it, but I also wouldn't be upset if the company had already retracted the price.

I'm all about purchasing items for the price as advertised. Just the other day I noticed that ONE package of makeup was marked for a dollar less at Sephora, so I bought that one.

OSUWifey09 · July 2012

Sounds like someone at Walmart didn't read the fine print on the ad close enough [or just didn't care]. I'd definitely hold KMart to the ad [until they printed a retraction] but wouldn't try to price match at any other store.

EDIT: didn't even answer the question. I don't think it's unethical, per say, but like someone else said, I wouldn't be dashing out trying to score this deal.

brideandbreve · July 2012

allierhiana1:
Unethical? I really don't know. But I won't be running out to try to snag this.

Agreed.

TAGSL710 · July 2012

OK so on Sunday I got a few groceries (gag) at Walmart because we got some shower gifts there that weren't my style and I returned them for store credit. I'd rather get cheaper Kashi than have Walmart stuff. Anyway, as I was at the return desk there were TONS of people doing it and many of them were employees. They recommended I do it (but am CDing). The district manager approved it for Sunday only because KMart posted an ad correction later. So, in this case I say it's fine. I will say I was reminded 100% why I do not shop there.

Newt69 · July 2012

I was going to go to the local Walmart(10min away) and try it, but since its sooo frowned upon with my fellow Sept 12 Bumpies I am not going to do it. I was going to go to the local Kmart too but its 45minutes away and really do not want to spend the gas.

chrissymazer · July 2012

hmp&mrj:
I wouldn't have a problem taking KMart up on their mistake, but I wouldn't have another company price match it.

This. While yes, Kmart proofreaders should have caught on to the mistake and as such technically could be held accountable Walmart had nothing to do with it so why rip them off?

hmp1 · July 2012

Steph+J:
This is the same reason why diapers have to be THROWN AWAY if the packaging is ripped at all. They can't go clearance, otherwise employees could 'accidentally' rip one when opening the packages. It was sickening to see brand new full packages of diapers in the garbage pile.

Eek, they can't even donate them? That is really sad. I remember when restaurants were not allowed to donate their left over food (bread, meat scraps...) but thankfully that law was changed.

melody921 · July 2012

I think the original store should have to honor the incorrect price since it was their error. I think it's wrong to make another store price-match it.

jbBeans · July 2012

If you scored at the original store before they retracted it, awesome. But I agree it is definitely unethical if you knew it was a mistake and you tried to get another store to price match. I wouldn't necessarily call it stealing. Cheating sounds right.

Unem · July 2012

auroraloo:
MarisaKathleen:

Someone gets paid big bucks to proof the ads before they go out. And there's a whole team of editors on the back end that review these things. If all these people didn't catch the error, why in the world is it unethical?

It's the company's mistake.

If the company has printed a retraction or posted a retraction it doesn't matter what the ad says.
Unethical.

I agree with Rora

bosha711 · July 2012

Even if the diapers were free, you could not get me to step foot in a Walmart.

INmommy871278 · July 2012

Megroons:
MarisaKathleen:

Someone gets paid big bucks to proof the ads before they go out. And there's a whole team of editors on the back end that review these things. If all these people didn't catch the error, why in the world is it unethical?

It's the company's mistake.

This. I agree that it's the companies mistake. I do not however agree that Wal-mart should have to price match it, if they are. Like mlf said, I'm sure there is some dumb cashier who will do it but they shouldn't. Is K-mart actually selling the diapers for this price or have they corrected the error? Is it even fixable at this point or do they have to honor the sale price?

A retraction was printed and posted at most Kmart stores.

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