Most retailers will claim that they’re listening to customers and responding to our needs – right before introducing changes that customers clearly hate. JCPenney now has been reduced to begging customers to come back, after more than a year of not listening to them at all. And for a variety of reasons, grocery chains Kroger, Jewel-Osco and Farm Fresh are[Read More…]
JCPenney’s ousted CEO only grudgingly reinstated coupons. His replacement is happy to offer them. And his potential replacement may be positively elated about the idea of coupons – and lots of them. Former-and-current CEO Mike Ullman isn’t saying much publicly, after he returned to his old job that was vacated by the ousted Ron Johnson earlier this week (read: “RIP[Read More…]
It comes as no surprise if you’ve been following the travails of JCPenney, but the man who decided customers should do without coupons and sales is now without a job. CEO Ron Johnson was ousted as JCPenney CEO today. Adding a bit of insult to injury, he’ll be replaced by the former CEO whom he himself replaced – as though[Read More…]
“Fake prices” are back at JCPenney. The company that famously tried to do away with coupons and sales is now reportedly raising its prices, so that it can lower them again with coupons and sales. In theory, it makes little sense. And that was CEO Ron Johnson’s argument when he took over the company and tried eliminating coupons and sales[Read More…]
You know a company is in trouble when a top executive opens a conference by denying that he and his boss are resigning. But as JCPenney brings back sales, coupons and discontinued brands as part of a plan to turn around its turnaround plan, some of its competitors are chuckling, and reminding customers they never did away with coupons and[Read More…]
Finally, officially, coupons are back at JCPenney. A year after doing away with coupons, and after several months of pretending it hadn’t brought them back, CEO Ron Johnson has finally admitted it. “We have brought back sales,” he told investors today. “We have brought back coupons for our rewards members,” though he couldn’t resist adding that “we still call them[Read More…]
It was one year ago this week that JCPenney launched a radical new experiment. Sales and coupons were thrown out, in favor of “Fair and Square” everyday low prices. To paraphrase Dr. Phil – so how’s that working out for them? Well enough, that the chain is now admitting what shoppers have already noticed – sales, and some coupons, are[Read More…]
If everyone’s prices are low, are anyone’s prices really low? While you ponder that, consider this recent prediction from the retail consultant AMG Strategic Advisors: within three years, the vast majority of retailers will largely ditch sales and promotions in favor of everyday low pricing. Super-savers accustomed to collecting coupons and waiting for sales may shudder at the thought; Walmart[Read More…]
Even as journalists and investors continue writing JCPenney’s obituary, you may have noticed that your favorite deals blogger is suddenly very excited about the company. “Have you seen the new JCP?” one asks. “Have you seen the new JCP?” asks another. “The store has a whole new look that I can’t wait to shop!” writes a third. “The store has[Read More…]
Here’s some good news for couponers who have been compared to drug addicts at one department store – at least one of its competitors is more than happy to feed your habit. The Bon-Ton Stores are offering coupons galore, with no plans to let up. The Pennsylvania-based department store chain has more than 270 locations throughout the Northeast, Midwest and[Read More…]
