Latest news with #Tree
Miami Herald
17 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Dollar Tree's new pricing strategy sparks customer fury
Dollar Tree has long been a favorite of bargain hunters, but that may not be the case much longer. While the store caused some minor upset when it raised prices to $1.25, most people adjusted pretty well to the change – especially in light of the fact that items were still very reasonable, given the inflation occurring at the time. Then, Dollar Tree started to add some items with even higher price tags, with some items selling for $3 or even $5. Again, there was a bit of grumbling about the store losing its focus, but most of these mid-priced items were definitely of higher quality and justified their more premium price tag. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Now, however, customers are being pushed over the edge because Dollar Tree is selling some items for truly exorbitant prices. Worse yet, the items are absolutely not a good value. When customers removed the Dollar Tree sticker on the items, they discovered these products are actually selling for much more than the marked suggested price. This apparent bait-and-switch has left customers absolutely furious as they wonder both whenDollar Tree started selling items that are 20 times as expensive as expected and why the store is marking them up for substantially more than the manufacturer says to charge. The big question is whether this is a one-off or a new trend that consumers need to watch for to make sure they aren't being ripped off. Concerns about the new Dollar Tree pricing strategy came to light as a result of a news article published by 1420 WBSM. Reporter Tim Weisberg experienced the pricing issue personally when visiting a Dollar Tree location in Fairhaven, Mass. Weisberg said that when he visited Dollar Tree, he saw light-up LED inflatables, including a witchy-spider, a ghost, a pumpkin, and a skeleton. Shockingly, the price tag on the items was a very expensive $20 each. That is a significant step up from the $1.25 or even $3 or $5 items that most people would expect to see at the store, given its name. Related: Dollar Tree's new customers spell bad news for all of us As bad as a $20 price tag is, things were even worse than they seemed. That's because Weisberg noted something unusual about the price tags - they were written on red stickers. When he pulled off those stickers, he found that the prices underneath listed the Halloween items for sale at just $10 per item. This means that there was a very substantial 100% markup on the Halloween Decor, pricing them at double the amount the manufacturer had put on the box. Weisberg wasn't the only one who spotted this troubling trend, either, as other shoppers had also peeled off the stickers to reveal the lower suggested price on the products. Customers were not happy with the troubling Dollar Tree pricing issue, with Facebook commenters saying the store should keep the items at the manfuacturer's suggested price, urging others to walk out in light of the high markup, and referring to Dollar Tree as "nuts" with this pricing strategy. Related: Costco adds strict new policy for free samples There is some speculation that the items may have come over from Family Dollar, as Dollar Tree recently sold the chain, so this may be leftover merchandise that resulted from that former partnership. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers Still, no one expects or wants a dollar store to sell $20 items, particularly when those items are only worth $10. Shoppers will need to watch the price tags carefully at Dollar Tree for a while. Hopefully, this outrageous pricing will turn out to be a one-off and not the start of a new, more expensive era at this once-beloved store. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Aussies revolt as American beef makes a quiet return to Australia
Aussies are pushing back against the return of American beef to Australian plates, after the federal government lifted a long-standing ban on US imports. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed calls from the Opposition for an investigation, insisting the decision was made independently. 'There has been an independent review, it took 10 years,' he told the ABC on Sunday. 'The decision has been made, and it was made independently, at arm's length from any political influence.' But the explanation hasn't satisfied everyone, especially not Tasmanian farmer Tree, who took to social media to share her fury. Tree, a fifth-generation cattle producer, said the decision comes as a slap in the face to Australian farmers and is putting unaware consumers at risk. 'It's a betrayal,' she said in a TikTok video this week. 'We raise some of the cleanest, best beef in the world, and they want to undercut us with feedlot rubbish from the States?' Tree fears that American beef will slip quietly into the kitchens of cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets, where country-of-origin labelling isn't required. 'It won't be at your butcher, it'll be in your burger. Your lasagne. Your pub steak. And you'll never know unless you ask,' she warns. She's urged Australians to be vigilant and vocal about the origins of beef. 'Ask where the beef is from. Make it awkward. If we don't, we'll be eating that stuff without realising,' she said. For Tree, the issue goes beyond economics. 'This is about respect. For the land, for our farmers, for the food we put in our bodies. We don't want to eat that beef. And we shouldn't have to,' she said. And the cattle farmer isn't alone. 'Australian meat is internationally recognised as the best. Why would we eat anything else?' one person commented. 'I will not be selling American beef in my cafe!!! I will put a sign up at the front if it helps,' another said. Others were concerned about the impact on local producers. 'This is devastating for our Aussie farmers. Please don't buy USA meat,' one said. 'Time for all of us to fully support our farmers! I'll never buy anything other than Aussie meat' another wrote. The issue has sparked political embarrassment in Canberra, after Trade Minister Don Farrell backtracked on claims that Donald Trump had personally raised the matter with Albanese. Farrell told Sky News the US President had mentioned beef imports on a phone call, before later admitting that no such call had taken place. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley wasted no time slamming Farrell, saying he 'seemed to be hallucinating' over his comments. The US beef ban was originally imposed in 2003 after a US outbreak of Mad Cow Disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, which is linked to the deadly human brain disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob. While the import ban on US-slaughtered cattle raised in Canada and Mexico remained in place until recently, beef from US-raised cattle was cleared in 2019. The Albanese Government says the full reopening follows a rigorous safety review by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and insists Australia's biosecurity will remain protected by strict controls. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has celebrated the move as a trade win for the US, with one former official declaring it would help 'make agriculture great again.'
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Nita Ambani's BIG launch, opens Reliance Retail's new flagship store under brand named as…, will celebrate…
Nita Mukesh Ambani has opened the flagship store of Reliance Retail's Swadesh brand at Mumbai's historic Eros Building in Churchgate. It will bring India's artisanal legacy into the mainstream retail space. It was opened to the public on July 25and has the iconic art deco structure which shows beauty of Indian craft and textiles. What Is Reliance Retail's Swadesh? Swadesh isn't just a store, it's a tribute to India's handmade heritage. It has a collection of handwoven saris and artifacts to indigenous textiles and home decor. The idea is to celebrate the skilled artisans behind each piece, and to spotlight their stories, rooted in India's diverse cultural landscape. After the public launch, a traditional puja was performed on July 22 in the presence of Nita Ambani, her daughter Isha Ambani, and daughters-in-law Shloka Mehta and Radhika Merchant. The ceremony showed the brand Swadesh as a tradition, spirituality, and artistic expression. Nita Ambani Launches Swadesh Nita Ambani was wearing a handwoven Madurai cotton Gharchola sari from Rajshrudra in Rajkot which took ten months to craft. It was made by designer Manish Malhotra with a silk blouse adorned with antique gold embroidery. It matched with the spirit of Swadesh. Reliance Foundation collaborated with a newspaper to release a special edition fabric front jacket which showed the Kantha-inspired Tree of Life motif. It was an open invitation for all to reconnect with India's rich craft heritage in their everyday lives. Swadesh shares its cultural vision with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre to preserve, promote, and pass on India's artistic legacy. The Eros Building with its architectural heritage and culture also was the perfect location for the store.
Korea Herald
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Infinite's Nam Woohyun to drop 5th solo EP
Nam Woohyun of Infinite is slated to return with his fifth solo EP on July 30, agency Billions Entertainment announced Monday. The soon-to-be-released project is titled 'Tree Ring,' a nod to the singer's nickname, Tree, and his official fandom community, Tree World. The album comes about 10 months since his third solo digital single, 'Boyfriend,' and almost two years after his first full solo album, 'Whitree.' Meanwhile, the singer and songwriter is set to appear on Taiwanese reality show 'Secret Journey on Narrow Mountain Road.' Alongside actors Kim Ha-neul and Lee Jun-young, he will embark on the longest natural trekking course in Taiwan over 10 days. Next week, he will also make a guest appearance for the four-day extended run of musical 'Dream High.'
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Hans India
Empowering Digital Legacies: How Organizations Are Using AI To Redefine Social Media
In a world where technology moves faster than ever, it's easy to feel like real human connection is being left behind. But the team behind the social platform 'i' is changing the script—using AI not just to innovate, but to bring people closer together in meaningful ways. In an in-depth conversation with The Hans India, the creators of the social platform talk about the inspiration behind features like the Family Tree, i-films, and video swaps—tools designed to help people tell their stories, preserve memories, and stay connected across generations and geographies. So, whether it's making content creation easy and fun, protecting user privacy, or building trust in an AI-driven age, the vision behind 'i' is clear: social media should be creative, inclusive, and above all, human. What inspired the Family Tree feature, and how is it helping users connect across generations? At 'i' we wanted to build something that goes beyond just sharing moments, something that helps people hold onto their family stories and memories in a meaningful way. The Family Tree feature was born from that idea. It's amazing to see how it's helping families, even those spread out across cities or countries, stay connected by preserving their shared history. It's about creating a digital legacy that future generations can look back on, keeping those emotional bonds alive no matter where life takes you. How do i-films and video swaps reflect your vision for AI-driven social media? We believe social media should be a place where everyone can get creative without needing fancy skills or equipment. Features like i-films and video swaps make it fun and simple for people to tell their stories in fresh, dynamic ways. AI helps take the complicated parts out of content creation so users can focus on expressing themselves and connecting with others. It's about making creativity accessible and turning social media into a space where people can truly co-create and have fun. With AI-generated content on the rise, how can platforms ensure authenticity and user trust? Authenticity is key, especially as AI becomes more involved in content creation. Platforms need to be upfront about what's AI-generated and give users control over how their content is made and shared. At the same time, AI should be a tool that enhances human creativity, not replaces it. Building trust means being transparent, educating users about AI's role, and making sure there are safeguards to protect people's digital identities and keep interactions genuine. How is AI shaping the next wave of personalized content without compromising privacy? AI has huge potential to personalize our online experiences but privacy has to come first. That's why we focus on privacy by design processing data locally on devices when we can and always asking for clear consent. People should feel safe knowing their information isn't being misused. It's a balance between delivering content that feels tailored and respecting user privacy and that's a responsibility every platform needs to take seriously. What role will AR, VR, and voice AI play in social media's growth, especially in smaller cities? Technologies like AR, VR, and voice AI are opening up amazing new ways for people to interact online, especially in smaller cities where access to tech can vary. Voice AI can break down language barriers while AR and VR bring stories to life in exciting, immersive ways. These tools help people express themselves more fully and connect with others in ways that feel natural and fun. It's about making social media more inclusive and giving everyone a chance to be part of the digital conversation.
