July 18, 2014
by Anne Miller
We all know times are tough in retailing at the moment but a “clever” marketing ploy by Big W in Kingaroy this week appears to have backfired.
southburnett.com.au understands that staff members from Big W purchased $200 worth of merchandise from a nearby smaller bookstore in Shoppingworld.
Big W then mounted a display inside its premises with a photocopy of the smaller shop’s docket attached, comparing prices.
All’s fair in love, war and the marketplace, right?
But the reaction on Facebook after a local resident snapped a photo of the display was immediate.
The photo has been shared widely and the comments have been fierce:
“It is one thing to ‘compare’ prices but another all together to shamelessly attempt to ruin another business and their reputation! I hope they are told to remove it!”
“SHAME on you Big W and the buying power you have…soon the book shop will close down, jobs will be lost…the sad power of HUGE grocery chains.”
“OMG are you serious. That is terrible. I hope centre management sorted that out.”
“There’s competition and then there’s this. Big chain store buying from the opposition (small shop in regional shopping centre) to highlight price difference. Who does that?!”
“They can’t buy the atmosphere of a bookshop! – we all need to support them as much as we can, they are certainly scarce”.
“In a country town this is especially low.”
“This is so wrong…I just had to share!! This is a great example of how big companies exploit their buying power and make it hard for smaller retailers. But it pays to remember that once they have eliminated all the competition they will be free to charge whatever they like!”
“Competition is one thing but this is unacceptable!”
“That’s a low act. I love that shop.. the people there are lovely.. Big W sucks.”
The owners of the smaller book store, which is a family-owned business, didn’t want to comment publicly about the Big W display.
Big W’s store manager was not available but another staff member said the store would be making no comment.
You’d understand if the smaller business was a company-owned store – this is yet another example of how big business is happily destroying the social fabric for “a couple bucks more in the till”
What a low act by Big W which is owned by Woolworths (or vice versa)! Wonder how Big W would feel if Kmart went and did the same thing to them? I bet they’d kick their heels in and take legal action ….
If the people who live in country towns do not support the smaller businesses in that town, they will close and all we will have left is the greedy giants…they might have higher prices in some items, but they too have to make a living…when complaining about the prices, think of a few years down the track when you will not have a choice….support the small town shops…
Low blow Big W.
Another example of Corporate Thuggery by big chains.
This isn’t the first time Big W has stooped to these tactics in Kingaroy. We should all be used to the “standard” activities of Woolworths. They don’t care about ethics. I hope this time enough people react to bite them in the …..
Shame on you Big W
And let’s not forget what Woolworths have done to our dairy farmers with the “milk price war” they’re having with Coles.