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Fake J.C. Penney Prices Spark Shopper Scandal

Posted: January 25, 2013
Fake J.C. Penney Prices Spark Shopper Scandal

An allegation of fake J.C. Penney prices has been traversing the web after a charged column in a conservative New York newspaper published detailed accusations pegging the retailer as chronically dishonest in their pricing methods.

The allegation of fake J.C. Penney prices follows a year of controversies for the chain, which came under fire and earned conservative ire for hiring openly gay spokeswoman Ellen DeGeneres and standing by the choice, declining to fire her as pressure from anti-gay groups mounted.

The fake J.C. Penney prices allegation also follows a bold move for the retailer to eliminate sales altogether, promising consistent low prices to remain attractive to American shoppers.

The joint moves are said to have harmed the retailer, and now the right-leaning New York Post has claimed that Penney has always misled consumers regarding price, but that the issue has worsened.

The piece cites retail sources as confirming the fake J.C. Penney prices, and writer James Covert begins his piece by alleging:

“Fake prices are coming back at JCPenney, and this time they’ll be more fake than ever … In a fresh bid to highlight Penney’s prices as low, CEO Ron Johnson is pushing some manufacturers to concoct phony suggested retail markups for their clothing, sources told The Post.”

JC Penney Testing Less Sales Strategy

Penney’s move last year away from sales and discounts was framed as one to provide transparency, and CEO Ron Johnson said at the time that sales damaged the brand’s perceived value:

“Now most things are on 60 percent markdown, and every time we do that, we’re discounting Penney’s brand.”

Executives at the retailer have not yet commented on the fake J.C. Penney prices allegations made by the New York Post.



Comments


9 Archived Responses to “ Fake J.C. Penney Prices Spark Shopper Scandal ”

  1. Lela Fiorillo
    Jan 25, 2013

    More love for Ellen and JCPenney.
    Good people

  2. Pete Jefferson
    Jan 25, 2013

    I've shopped at Penny's for years and Kohl's for a few years and prefer Penny's. Kohl's misleads with prices. Last time I bought some shirts, Penny's beat Kohl's by a large amount. I quit going to Kohl's after that. Penny's has good quality merchandise at a fair price. I go when I need to, not when I see their ads.

  3. Georgana Caruthers Schott
    Jan 25, 2013

    All of the stores do this. MSRP is never the actual price of the item. It is a made up price to make the store price look good. Even car dealer do it!

  4. Gwen Gentry
    Jan 25, 2013

    The right wing gay haters are putting out this rubbish.

  5. Nellie Smith
    Jan 25, 2013

    I don't shope any store because of who they hire to advertise. I shop if I like the store and the products they carry.

  6. Anonymous
    Jan 25, 2013

    Who cares who's doing their ads? If your like me I pay no attention to the person talking, just the subject they are talking about. I personally don't care for Ellen, but I don't go all crazy if she's in an ad.

  7. Mel Rab
    Jan 25, 2013

    I had shopped at JC Pennys for years and loved it. I bought most of the clothes there and gifts for others. The new JC Pennys is awful. I tried on at least a dozen shirts and some pants. It wasn't that the clothes didn't fit. They are made for hangers not people. The seams are awkward they, don't lay properly. They are extremely cheap quality. I couldn't even just settle for something and I have a $75 gift I need to spend.

  8. Bob White
    Jan 25, 2013

    I purchased two pillows from JC Penney under their new pricing policy. When I got home, I noticed that the $30.00 stickers could be pealed away. Under that $30.00 sticker was a price of $25.00. That was the last time I shopped at JC Penneys.

  9. Anonymous
    Jan 27, 2013

    Once they went the queer route, that doomed the retailer.