It’s no surprise big businesses like to try scummy sales tactics to get you to feel like you just got the better deal (and can sometimes do so legally). What’s new, right? One family in Alabama got a taste of the obvious when they went holiday shopping at Target. Imagine their surprise when they found out people are being deceived by scummy business practices over something as light-hearted as buying a Christmas tree.
Target has been scrutinized (rightfully) and boycotted after recent DEI rollbacks. Not to mention ridiculous policies like 10-4. Now, a TikToker is showing the store being disingenuous about their pricing around the holidays, when families need money the most. TikToker Melanie posted the evidence on behalf of her husband, who found Target playing a sales trick to lure people into buying a Christmas tree.
In the video, Melanie’s husband shows that the Target Christmas tree was allegedly priced regularly at $175. Now, they have it priced at $122.50, which would lead to a savings of $52.50. That seems like you’d be getting a great deal on a tree, right? However, he then pans over to the Christmas tree boxes and sees tags covering up the tree’s original price. It turns out, that tree was originally priced at only $120. Target then plays it off like you’re getting an awesome deal when, in fact, you’re paying more.
Apparently, this tactic is pretty common. One commenter explained, “This is called Markup Markdown. There was a really big push to make it illegal in 2012 but it was fought tooth and nail by Kohl’s, Target, and Sears. Sears is out of business, we’re already boycotting Target, we’re coming for Kohl’s next. It’s pretty much their whole business model.”
Another person said it sometimes happens due to a manufacturer’s “recommended sales price.” In fact, you can see that in convenience stores, where a food item will recommend a price but the store sells it for more.
It seems to me like it all comes back to taking advantage of consumers and their money. And what makes it worse is that it’s in the middle of the holidays. First it’s Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and Santa always comes on Christmas. So, why are we marking up decorations and making the holidays less fun and more difficult for families to enjoy?
