Latest news with #consumerissues
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Real issue behind need for retail lockboxes ignored. Don't make excuses.
After reading James E. Causey's piece regarding retail and the need to lock things up, I thought that I would offer up my own personal insight ('Retail theft is on the rise,' May 18). I have worked in retail in some capacity for the last 18 plus years and have seen the changes that have led to more and more things being locked up, sad as it may be. (While he does not condone stealing, Causey mentioned situations where he has sympathy when it comes to essential items), whether it was food stamps not covering as much as a person would like or seniors and their pricey drugs, and that made me think. I tried to remember how many times in my 18 years did I see someone steal who actually needed it, and the answer is once. One time I saw, along with my boss, a young mother try to empty the contents of a can of formula into a bag because she couldn't afford it. My boss at the time stopped her, told her that there were options available and then paid for a new can for her and her child. One time, so in Causey's world that would be justified. Opinion: Retail theft is on the rise. How come we never talk about the real reasons why? But to the person who stole a floor display of Doritos, do we justify his nacho cheese cravings? Or to the person who stole 40 bottles of Tide, do we justify his need to either have his clothes extra clean or to have a side hustle? Or to the diaper girls who stole three carts full of diapers, do we justify wanting to change diapers more often than normal? Or to the man who stole 20 bottles of body wash, do we justify his need to want to be "Zest fully" clean? Also, the lock boxes, locking doors and security measures are not free. The company has to pay for them, as well as the cost of the items that have been stolen. I will agree that, yes, the bigger issue at hand is being ignored here, but not the one that Causey thinks. The issue at hand is not who the president is or whether or not needing security is racist, which it isn't, but rather the issue is why we have allowed people to bring us to this point where things need to be locked up and why we make excuses or justify the actions of some over others. Brian Brehmer, Milwaukee Opinion: Here's what readers had to say about wake-enhanced boating on Wisconsin lakes Letters: Cudahy Farms offers dense urban development that is environmentally friendly Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why make excuses for the actions of some in retail thefts? | Letters
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Quality Conundrum—Luxury Fashion Isn't What It Used To Be
A general exterior view of the Burberry luxury fashion label store in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by) Getty Images As the price of luxury goods continues to rise—a pattern which first emerged post-pandemic but persists due to the impending recession within the United States and the country's shifting tariff policies that affect the way goods are manufactured, shipped and sold—the cost of shopping lavishly has begun to surpass the level of quality consumers expect from their high-priced purchases. Desperate for answers and amendments from the brands they used to love, consumers are taking to social media to speak out against luxury giants as they continue to charge more for less and devalue their once loyal customers. Acting as the unofficial face for such distain is TikTok user Janet Lin. Known by social media users as @janetlinxo, the New York City-based content creator has garnered a slew of attention for her series of recently published videos—the most popular of which currently sitting at 3.4 million views—that detail the dramatic decline of her Goyard Saint Louis GM tote bag. The bag—constructed from the brand's signature brightly colored Goyardine canvas and available for a minimum price just shy of two thousand dollars—was documented by Lin as having fallen apart after being worn outside for a few hours in the heat. In one video, Lin dramatically holds her cobalt blue Goyard tote up to the camera and pulls the leather-bound top handles apart to reveal they've melted together. In another clip, Lin shows off the blue staining on her otherwise clean white T-shirt as a result of the bag's bleeding blue finish melting off in the same mild weather conditions. While some users unleashed their frustrations towards Lin in the form of lengthy rebuttals within the video's comment section—citing the usage instructions found on the brand's product page that advise the wearer to 'Avoid contact with water, greasy or oily products, make-up and perfumes' as well as 'Protect the item from damp, extended exposure to artificial, natural light or intense heat' as logical reasons for the bag's current state—many individuals were quick to come to her defense, agreeing that no item of that price point should become damaged to the point destruction after one wear in the sun. Goyard could not be reached for comment. Despite the videos published by Lin being some of the most popular pieces of content that depict unexplainable damage to designer goods, similar antidotes and visual testimonials are taking up space within the fashion content published online, with each gaining more traction than the last and acting as the catalyst for a larger conversation around the quality of luxury goods—with modern critiques emphasizing the inferiority of such goods in comparison to the high price points they are offered at to the consumer and calling for the boycott of affected brands. While currently newsworthy, this pattern of luxury decline is not new. In an article published in late November of 2024, Forbes cited the Fall 2024 Bain-Altagamma Luxury Goods World Wide Market Study to illustrate the surprising drop in sales within the luxury goods sector, saying, 'For the first time since 2008, excluding the 2020 Covid-19 year, the personal luxury goods market declined, dropping 2% from an historic high of $387 billion (€369 billion) in 2023 to $381 billion (€363 billion) at current exchange rates.' In addition to referencing the study, Forbes included a number of casual effects that impacted the luxury goods market to the point of decline, the most notable of which—especially as it relates to the example illustrated above—was the misalignment of price and value. Similar to Lin's frustration over her pricey Goyard bag depreciating in value as soon as she began to use it, many consumers are frustrated with the luxury market's consistently growing prices for products that stay stagnant in quality. However, despite these challenges, the same market study offered a simple solution for luxury brands to revitalize their businesses and recapture the attention of consumers: get back to basics. 'To secure future growth, brands will need to rethink their luxury equations, re-establishing creativity and blending old and new playbooks,' the study stated. 'This includes rediscovering their essence and embracing the foundational pillars of the industry: desirability fueled by craftsmanship, creativity and distinctive brand values; meaningful, personalized and culturally-resonant customer connections and experiences.' In short, as rising prices for once accessible luxury goods continues as an inevitability, brands not only have the opportunity to secure their customer base with the obvious usage of high quality materials, but with the amplified infusion of heritage, identity and singularity. In this new era of consumerism that amplifies the cost of all goods, shoppers are looking for luxury built off of more than just high prices—leaving it up to brands to demonstrate their value.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Creeping into places it never belonged': Canadians share unexpected tipping prompts
Some Canadians are all tipped out. That's the sentiment brewing as consumers navigate high inflation, tariffs and now digital tip screens popping up in more places than ever before. When Vancouver resident Ali Zvjerac was prompted to tip while paying the cover charge to enter a nightclub – he paused. This wasn't for drinks or coat check. It was just to walk through the door. This is one of many experiences submitted by Canadians responding to recent callout asking where they've encountered unexpected tipping requests – and the answers show the line between service and surcharge blurring in real time. has not independently verified all the emailed responses. From self-checkouts and retail counters to cosmetic shops and paint nights, Canadians say they're increasingly being asked for gratuities in places that traditionally never called for one – the latest tip-related irritant known as a 'tip creep.' A recent survey by H&R Block found that 90 per cent of Canadians believe tips are too high and 82 per cent say they're being asked to tip in more places than ever. Almost one in four surveyed say they have been asked to tip 'in places or situations that felt uncomfortable or unexpected.' 'I scanned my item and had my credit card ready to tap,' wrote Robert Bart of Brossard, Que., recalling a quick Canadian Tire stop. 'But there was one extra step: the machine asked me if I wanted to tip … I hadn't even talked to an employee.' A similar surprise struck Donovan Jackson, a Torontonian staying in Quebec City, when he tried to purchase skincare products at a cosmetics store. 'The PIN pad asked if I wanted to leave a tip ranging from (seven) per cent to 15 per cent. I was taken aback and in disbelief.' Tipping rules by province Some provinces are starting to act. In Quebec, a new law requires that suggested tip amounts be calculated before tax, not after, in an attempt to improve transparency in service and consumer tractions. That means a 15 per cent tip on a $100 meal must be $15 – not $17.24, which is inflated by the province's combined sales and federal taxes. The new rules also require restaurants and cafes to display suggested tip options neutrally, with no bolded or highlighted choices. Tipping will also remain optional. As of now, servers in Ontario earn the province's general minimum wage, which is currently set at $17.20 per hour. This rate applies equally to all employees, including those who receive tips. However, that baseline is set to rise again soon – on Oct. 1, Ontario's minimum wage will increase to $17.60 per hour. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians tipped generously, eager to support front-line staff and local businesses. But the wave of gratitude has since receded. As inflation squeezes household budgets, many consumers began trimming non-essential spending, including tips. This growing reluctance has collided with what critics are calling 'tipflation' – the steady increase in both the frequency and suggested amounts of tips. Sue Moser, who lives in B.C.'s East Kootenays, says she's grown wary of digital prompts that pressure people to tip. 'Servers standing expectantly beside you or in front of you,' she wrote. 'Tipping in this country has gotten way out of control.' Moser says she's started choosing 'custom' tip options or leaving cash instead. She says that she was asked for a $3 tip after booking a hotel room on a website. 'On top of that, they made it difficult to find the option to opt out of that ridiculous request,' she added. In Vancouver Island's Comox Valley, Ryan Speckeen was caught off guard when his local self-serve liquor store prompted him to leave a tip. 'I'm not being waited on, I'm not dining in. I simply walk in, grab what I want off the shelf, or from the cooler and bring it to the register — just like you would at any typical retail store,' he explained. 'This isn't about quality of service; it's about how tipping culture is creeping into places it never belonged.' How do Canadians tip? A new Research Co. poll surveyed nearly 1,000 Canadians, offering fresh insights into how Canadians tip. Forty-two per cent of Canadians said they would leave a tip of between 10 to 14 per cent for average service in any environment, while 36 per cent of Canadians said they would leave a tip of between 10 to 14 per cent for below average service when the server is clearly working in an understaffed environment. Meanwhile, 37 per cent of participants said they would leave a 15 to 19 per cent tip for good service when the restaurant is not busy, 40 per cent would leave the same amount for good service when the restaurant is busy, and 38 per cent would leave a similar tip for good service when the restaurant is exceptionally busy. The poll also found that 65 per cent of Canadians say food servers expect a tip, but don't work hard to earn it, while 35 per cent of Canadians believe food servers deserve a tip in all circumstances, even if service was bad. Despite the rise of digital payments, 71 per cent said they disapprove of online retailers suggesting tips, while 65 per cent take issue with coffee shops offering a tip prompt when paying by card. Even in sit-down restaurants where tipping is more traditional, Canadians are pushing back. Fifty-seven per cent disapprove of suggested tips printed on the bill and 53 per cent dislike being prompted when using a credit card. A similar experience unfolded at a Paint Nite event – a company that runs painting sessions with Montreal artists. Diane Tremblay was shocked when the host waved a card machine over guests' heads to request tips. 'I wish I was kidding. As far as I know, creating a painting is not a tipping circumstance,' she wrote. Many experienced concern that digital tip prompts are being built into payment platforms by default – even for fast food, online hotel bookings and retail transactions. Siobhan Deol of New Westminster, B.C. was hit with an 18 per cent tip prompt after spending more than $600 on a graduation dress. 'This is not an everyday purchase,' she said. 'I definitely felt uncomfortable and weird with this request and did not leave a tip.' That discomfort is reflected in the broader conversation around gratuity. While tipping was once tied to direct service – servers, delivery drivers, hairstylists – Canadians say it's now popping in places where little to no interaction occurs.
