The Daily Dot
"So cooked": Target employee says new products are arriving without price tags …
"I won't buy something if I can't see the price."
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Retailers Removing Price Tags: A New Era of Hidden Costs or Inflationary Pressure?
Retailers Face Scrutiny as Price Tags Disappear from Store Shelves A recent viral video by a Target employee has ignited a public discussion about transparency in retail pricing, as the employee claims that her store, and others like Walmart, are removing physical price tags from clothing and other merchandise. The employee, identified as Kaitlin Sonday, expressed concern that this new practice could allow companies to adjust prices more easily without consumers being aware of the changes. In her video, Sonday showed a pile of discarded price tags, stating, "We are so cooked. We are now ripping out all of our price tags." She explained that while her store previously had price tags on all clothing, new inventory is arriving without them. She also noted observing similar practices at Walmart. Sonday questioned the motivation behind these changes, asking, "Are companies doing this and raising their prices because of actual inflation, or do they hop on this trend where they're like, 'Oh my gosh, we can use this as a really good scapegoat'?" She drew parallels to price increases seen during the COVID-19 pandemic on items like hand sanitizer and toilet paper. She further elaborated on significant price increases, citing a specific electronic item that went up $50 and several makeup products increasing by a couple of dollars. "Every single thing is going up," Sonday stated, adding that she has only seen a few items decrease in price, and even those increases are significant. The video has sparked a strong reaction online, with many consumers expressing frustration and distrust. One commenter stated, "If there is no price then I'm not buying it." Another noted, "I noticed they took all the price tag off this shift in Walmart. But one still has it. I checked out and it was 3-4 dollars more." The discussion highlights growing consumer anxiety over rising costs and the perceived lack of transparency in pricing strategies.
