(RANT)When a Buck isn't a Buck

The hot new trend in the scrapbook industry is one dollar items. We all LOVE the Dollar Spot at Target. I love how it changes all the time - you never know what you're going to find there. The Dollar Bins at Michaels are fun, too. I bought some patterned blank cards there last week that are just ITCHING to be embellished. They remind me of the DCWV blank cards. They were $1 per pack of 8.

Now some scrapbook companies have jumped on board the dollar train - Outdoors and More, Magic Scraps, Die Cuts with a View and Memories Complete all have products that retail for just a buck! I've blogged about the dollar stuff before. However, in the industry, these products are specifically marketed as being DOLLAR ITEMS. I think some stores missed that memo, though. Oh, and they certainly didn't pass it on to their customers.

I recently saw the DCWV DOLLAR stickers at a local scrapbook store for $1.19. Not a dollar... I have heard reports from ScrapBiz members that the same stickers are being sold at a large, national craft chain for $1.99! Come on - they're priced to be a DOLLAR and that large, national chain got them for less than I can get them for. Talk about ROBBERY!

I'm going to let you in on a dirty little secret of the scrapbook industry. The large national chains OFTEN have higher prices than your local Scrapbook Store and home-based consultant (not on each product but over-all). That 40% off coupon is often NOT really 40% off. Depending on what you buy, it's usually more like 20% off because the prices are inflated to cover the coupon. I often walk into my local chain craft store and find prices pumped by at least 20%. I know the MSRP on many products and that's NOT what they are selling them at. It's not just a few pennies to cover the cost of shipping (a common practice in the industry), it's a BIG increse for many products. They are literally nickle and diming you to death on the prices.

It honestly bugs me that businesses are not selling what is marketed as a dollar line for a dollar. If they want to up the prices a little on other things to cover the shipping costs of the dollar line, then do it. But, they are missing a great opportunity in their stores by not having a TRUE dollar spot! Instead, they are just putting the dollar stickers in with everything else, upping the price and hoping you won't notice.