shopping news stories on Newser

Why JCPenney's No-Coupon Experiment Is a Bust

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:04:31 CDT

JCPenney’s new plan —stop offering huge markdowns on inflated, “fake prices” in order to offer “fair and square” pricing—sounds good in theory. Prices start at least 40% lower than they had been, with no need for customers to take advantage of sales or coupons to get the lowest price....

11 Insane Celebrity Shopping Sprees

Evann Gastaldo — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:54:05 CDT

Jennifer Aniston ended up denying that she spends $8,000 per month on her health and beauty regimen, but she did spend $20,000 on lights for her mansion earlier this month. The Frisky rounds up 10 more insane celebrity shopping sprees: Kim Kardashian : In Paris, spent $100,000 on...

JC Penney's New Plan: an End to All Those Sales

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:26:44 CST

After attempting to woo bargain-hunters with 590 sales last year, JC Penney is officially doing away with them. But penny pinchers don't need to fret. The struggling chain's plan is to essentially make every day a sale by marking down all of its merchandise by 40% or more—permanently. "Every...

Man Robs Store on 'Shop With a Cop' Night

Kevin Spak — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:44:05 CST

We don’t want to imply that there’s a right time to shoplift, but there’s definitely a wrong one, and that wrong one is on "Shop With a Cop" night. David Sherman, 49, tried to make off with a $79 DVD player from a Nebraska Walmart on Wednesday, apparently unaware that...

Macy's Worker Bars Transgender Shopper From Changing Room

Matt Cantor — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:34:05 CST

An employee at a Texas Macy's says she was let go after she told a transgender shopper she couldn't use the women's changing area. Natalie Johnson noticed a teen she thought was male shopping for women's clothing. When the customer headed to the women's dressing rooms, Johnson, who says her...

Occupiers to Black Friday Shoppers: Go Local

Matt Cantor — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:51:38 CST

Occupy protesters have a Black Friday message: If you’re going to shop, hit up mom-and-pop stores, not big-box chains. Taking action across the country, protesters are voicing support for small businesses and opposition to shopping binges, the AP reports. In Washington, Occupiers are setting up a “really, really free market”—...

America's Most Shopaholic Cities

Mark Russell — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:15:05 CDT

Despite news like this , experts say the US is home to about 18 million shopaholics, who spend more than the rest of us on clothes, shoes, and other wearable goods. So where are these compulsive shoppers (and their closets) located? Surprisingly, not in New York City (despite what Sex &...

What Did Michelle Buy at Target?

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:02:57 CDT

You might have been wearing dark glasses, Michelle, but we saw you shopping at Target. What were you after? One of the two-for-one bikini bargains? The White House isn't talking, but a source tells People magazine that she picked up toys and food for First Dog Bo in the Virginia...

How to Buy Happiness

Evann Gastaldo — Sat, 07 May 2011 13:03:41 CDT

Money may not be able to buy happiness, but if you spend wisely, you can at least avoid purchases that make you un happy. SmartMoney lists eight tips for happy spending, based on new research published this month: Buy experiences, not things : People overwhelmingly report that they get more happiness...