Target plans to cut prices on thousands of consumer basics this summer, from diapers to milk, as inflation cuts into household budgets and more Americans pay closer attention to their spending.

The price cuts, already applied to 1,500 items, will eventually include 5,000 food, drink and essential household goods. Target and other retailers are increasingly catering to customers who are struggling with higher prices for groceries, though inflation has begun to cool. Many of them have switched to private label brands sold by Target and others big retailers, which are typically less expensive than well-known brands.

Target launched one such collection in January called Dealworthy which includes nearly 400 basic items, ranging from clothing to electronics, that can cost less than $1, with most items under $10.

Last week, McDonald’s said that it was planning to introduce a $5 meal deal in the U.S. next month to counter slowing sales and customer frustration with higher pricesWalmart posted strong quarterly sales last week driven by a influx of customers, including households with incomes of more than $100,000, looking for bargains.

  • catloaf@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    Target launched one such collection in January called Dealworthy which includes nearly 400 basic items, ranging from clothing to electronics, that can cost less than $1, with most items under $10.

    So are they really cutting prices, or are they hiking them until it hurts and then introduce a “new brand” of the same stuff in a different box, just with less markup?

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Raise the price on everything, rake in profits till they can’t squeeze any more blood out of the stone, then launch their in house brands as loss leaders to gain market share before slowly raises prices to be where name brand was…

      A tale as old as unchecked rampant capitalism with zero regulation

  • Veraxus@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    …which means they were intentionally overpriced to begin with.

    Way to bury the lede, AP.

  • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Price cut doesn’t mean cheap. Target is basically Walmart products at Walgreens prices.

    They used to sell Tim Tams, but ever since they stopped there hasn’t really been a reason to shop there.

    • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Idk man, Walgreens prices were ridiculous when I tried to go in there last. A half gallon of Milk was something like $8 which would cost less than $4 where I live at Target or Walmart last I knew. They may have jacked the prices up on that day because it was Christmas though. The Christian neighborly thing to do… Use overt greed on food items on a religious holiday to milk the populous out of their last dimes trying to feed their families.

    • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Nah, target has some great shit for cheap. Especially furniture. Their cheap furniture is better than the IKEA/Wayland cheap shit by a long shot. Save with kitchen ware, lots of mid stuff for cheap.

  • thrawn@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Tangentially, some Target brand stuff really sucks. Anything with moving parts seems quite prone to breaking quickly. The food items I’ve tried are extremely low quality. One such item is their shredded mozzarella.

    Truly, it is the worst mozzarella I can think of. Tasted off and the texture was lightly rubbery. It also would not melt. Before they started botting the reviews (I assume; it is difficult to imagine real humans enjoying it), it was rated poorly on their own site. And still the reviews mention how it simply does not melt and is quite terrible.

    That fateful bag of horror made me start paying closer attention to the quality of Target brand items, and I have found it lacking. The foods I tried were bad— there was also a memorable bag of cookies, dusty in texture and taste. Also their foaming soap dispensers break consistently within months, though they’re otherwise quite nice.

    So as they pivot into store brand, I’d urge you exercise caution trying them. Buy a brand you like as well so you’re not left without, should it prove low quality. Walmart brand stuff is way better but there are far more Targets where I live.

    • abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I’ve often called Target “Walmart without the stigma”. They advertise themselves and nice and clean, but it’s just Walmart with clients that don’t want to be seen going to Walmart.

      • thrawn@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Imo the main difference is that Target has tap to pay/QR code payment while Walmart pushes Walmart+’s payment methods. I tried W+ since it was free with one of my credit cards, and it’s still quite inconvenient.

        But otherwise, I largely agree. Targets feel a little nicer and they look better, but that hardly matters. If there were more Walmarts around me I’d go there instead sometimes. As much as I dislike the Waltons, Walmart sometimes has better selections than Target. Truthfully I’m morally for shoplifting from Walmart but don’t like committing crimes myself since there is risk involved.

    • HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Oof. I remember buying some store brand pre-shredded mozz once. I can’t remember what store, it was 20 years ago. We were making a few pans of lasagna or manicotti, probably manicotti I was on a manicotti kick back then. I remember after 45 minutes checking back on the pan. The cheese hadn’t melted. It browned. We’re lucky I have a damn good sauce, because crunchy cheese manicotti is an experience I only want to have once. We had guests too.

    • PraiseTheSoup@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      I’d like to add that their electric toothbrush replacement heads are also pretty crappy. I’ll just spend the extra and get the real deal next time.

  • seaQueue@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Target realizing they delved too greedily and too deep. Too bad they’ve already awoken shadow and flameHHHHHH shopping at Walmart.

  • Coach@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Interesting to see how the ruling class shopping at Walmart seems to be the impetus behind lowering prices. Phony inflation nonsense - just a massive fraud.

      • Coach@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Where do you see the “ruling middle class”? If you’re going to quote me, at least quote me honestly.