March 9, 2010
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Half Price for a Black Barbie
WalMart is coming under fire for placing a white Barbie and a black Barbie right next to each other and marking the black Barbie at half price. Here is the link: Link
Apparently getting the presidency was not enough. Black people also want to pay full price for their Barbie dolls.
Do you think it is insensitive to mark the black Barbie at half price?
Comments (132)
Not if it wasn’t selling. Discounts are discounts.
HAHAHA. That’s hilarious.
How ridiculous.
@TheModernBunny - I agree. They won’t keep something that isn’t selling at full price just because it’s “insensitive” to mark it down. If they were both selling the same, then yes, I agree that it’s a tad fishy. But if the one isn’t selling as much (for whatever reason…) then I would understand marking it down.
*LOL at the line about black people wanting to pay full price for the barbie doll*
I wonder if the halved price is due to a lesser demand in black barbies…
I think Wal Mart being a business and not even thinking about it any other way. They just noticed that some merchandise was not selling very well, so they cut its price trying to reduce the dead inventory.
Good grief.
Sigh….people get offended over the dumbest things.
Wow.
I agree, a discount is a discount… whatever doesn’t move off the shelves is usually given a lower price. No matter what color it is.
If the white barbies were on sale, I really don’t think I’d take that as insult against my race… but, I can’t speak for all white people.
I guess if it offends you, it offends you… but I really do think people need to lighten up.
@trunthepaige - Right. Cheaper price for an abundance of one product/to get it “moving” out of the store? Nooooo…… that’s “wrong”
LMAO Dan!
I think it makes no sense, yeah. Maybe they were cheaper to make. Maybe the white dye in the white Barbies costs more, so that is as cheap as they can make them…
No. People are idiots, most of the time.
Lol…oh, Dan
@TheModernBunny - yep, it’s not wal-marts fault.
@_@ this is mind boggling.
If it wasn’t selling, it wasn’t selling. Wal-Mart probably didn’t even notice what it was that they marked down
Dan,this I why I love you. You make me laugh.
I have every color Barbie there is. I would be do glad for that sale,the girls who play here love all the different Barbies.
I saw that on acidcow the other day…
There’s probably just less demand for plastic niggers.
Is it the fault of Wal-Mart, or a buying public that just won’t buy the black Barbie?
I don’t blame Wal-Mart. If it isn’t selling, mark it down. Thats just business. But it *is* a sign that we haven’t come as far as we tend to think…
@XxFireXboltxX - So true!
Yeah I think this is just business. MAYBE it’d be a different story if it was not a sale price, but sales are intended to push product that doesn’t sell as much. Dur.
Do black girls even play with barbies?
This story is news worthy? Didn’t you recently post an excellent blog about being thankful for all our modern day conveniences, Dan? And yet, people still find ways to complain.
@WhenHateIsTheOnlyOption - no, they prostitute their bodies.
Depends on the price of Ken. lol
“Apparently getting the presidency was not enough. Black people also want to pay full price for their Barbie dolls.”
LOL. WTF? That was very rude of you, Dan.
@WhenHateIsTheOnlyOption - better question is do black girls prefer black barbies?
oh dear lord lol
As hilarious as that is, the reasons behind it are probably pretty understandable. I’m sure that red tag is a clearance tag. Ergo, said black barbie was not selling and they needed to clear stock, thus they reduced the price. Can’t help it white barbie is more popular >.>
@theacematt2 - No that is how it’s done. Everything is tracked for sales. If they do not sell well they are dumped. Price cuts are done to reduce inventory and it is removed from the selves if sales stay slow. Any good retailer has access to sales information by the day everything is tracked. Wal Mart did not become the monster retailer it is by wasting valuable shelf space on dogs.
hahahahahaha.
This makes economics interesting.
Well.. more interesting.
@trunthepaige - :has worked at grocery store for 3+years: ::nods:: yeah, I know, I know
They reduce prices to get it off the shelves and still gain SOMETHING of a profit… happens to holiday goods every season. X_X
Wally World is evil. ‘Nuff said.
Oh wow. It doesn’t even seem like an issue. People should be happy with the discounts and just leave it at that.
That’s just damn niggardly.
@andfeud - You’re just saying that for the free faggots.
I’m not sure about this, if the product isn’t selling as well as other ones they lower the price so that people will be more likely to buy it, it doesn’t really matter that it is a black or a white barbie.
You’re so racist you’re color blind. It’s the blue dress that isn’t selling.
Walmart is dumb.
They’re bootleg Barbie’s anyways..
Stores are in it for the money they mark down what doesn’t sell. I don’t think it was racist. I’m sure the people who complained would have been just as irate if the price had been twice as much as the “white” doll too.
I agree with the others, if something isn’t selling they will mark it down. But what I do find a bit odd is that they put it right next to the fully priced Barbie. Now, I’m a poor college student, so Walmart is one of my best friends, and every Walmart that I’ve been to has a totally separate section for marked down, discounted things; I don’t remember ever seeing two different items of the same brand with different prices (one being marked down) put together on the same shelf.
@BB61 - I completely agree! My 3-year-old, Barbie-playing self definitely didn’t want anything blue, blue = boys = cooties. =P
@BB61 - i knew there would be one comment here worth reading
lmao….
Is this serious? why is everyone so sensitive these days? you think they would just build a bridge and get over it.
hahahahahahaha!!!
if it’s not making a profit, then no, it’s not disrespectful. After all, in the end, it’s just a piece of merchandise, like every other item in the store. I think whoever put Walmart under fire in the first place was just angry at the implication that a black barbie isn’t selling as much as it’s white counterpart, hence the discount.
In the end, does it really matter? Barbies are so outdated.
@emberfly_layouts -
I find his comment very rude too, and I thought I was the only one who thinks so.
I don’t believe the store means offense by this. It is just business. But if I were a little girl I think I would notice something like that and wonder if maybe dolls that looked like me were somehow worth less. I remember being ecstatic when Spanish Barbie finally came out and bought it even though I was starting to get a bit old for Barbie dolls, because I had never seen a Barbie who looked even remotely like me. Perhaps if I were a parent, I would turn it into a teaching moment about business practices.
It’s supply and demand. Who wants a black Barbie? Not everyone.
P.S: I lol’ed.
No. This is just stupid. I mean, usually they put something on sale because it’s not selling well… People just need to quit bitching so much. No matter what you do, someone is gonna get butthurt about it.
If they aren’t selling, they aren’t selling!!
er, it doesnt matter what color it is if it’s not selling. that goes for any product. They all get reduced.
Black Barbie dolls! What is the world coming to?
Lovely… I don’t know what to think.
no.
If it’s half price, I’ll take it.
If the white barbie was marked as half price instead of the black barbie, no one would bring up this argument. No one would think twice. If anything, people would be upset that they would have to pay more money for the black barbie. “Why is the white barbie cheaper? Why do we have to pay more for a black barbie?” There’s no solution.
@Axis_of_Doom - I’m sure that’s what it is
You would think the black barbie doll would be more expensive because of the extra ass plastic?
Everyone knows black barbie doesn’t sell as well. Gotta adjust for what the people want. Not saying it’s PC or super awesome but it’s reality. Didn’t anyone else see that episode of The Office?
Who wouldn’t want to buy a black ….aaaaahhhhhh. Wal-Mart, you’re trying to teach us a lesson.
Are people really getting worked up about the fact that a black Barbie doll was priced less than a white one? Maybe the price cut was an ACCIDENT! You know, when things don’t happen on purpose?
A discount is a discount (like many people have said). If the product isn’t selling, it gets sold at a cheaper rate. It’s all part of “supply and demand”. If something is in demand, the price goes up. If something is not in demand, the price goes down. If black people want the black barbies to have full price, price tags, then they should tell all other black people to buy only black barbies … Although why you’d want it to be full price, I have no clue.
Get over it people.
Hm…
I’m so sorry to all the black people, but I would laugh if I saw this, and also if there were Asian Barbies. Oh yea, there aren’t any, because they wouldn’t sell, JUST LIKE BLACK BARBIES.
That’s absurd.
@leanazomg - Actually the KKK would probably be pretty angry.
@ShimmerBodyCream - Seriously, you crack me up. Where do you come up with these responses??
@ShimmerBodyCream - hahahaha… wow. That was good. I laughed so hard my son thought I was crying, he said, “Momma.. what the matter?”
don’t they do it depending on how their sales go? it’s a simple case of supply and demand. the same would go for every other product.
no, they’re just not in demand
@ShimmerBodyCream - Marry me!
$3.00 is not half of $5.93.
Business strategy > Politically correct morons.
@BebstersBlog2 - Epic win.
@PervyPenguin - I want a black Barbie. They make great targets for explosives. Well, so do white Barbies, but they cost more, and I don’t want to pay the premium price for what is a different colored piece of plastic.
I think they’re both cute! But maybe they are coming out with a newer model of black Barbie, and they need to move the old ones quickly.
Kathi
Oh goodness. How silly.
wow…does it even matter? Maybe they should make Barbie a “Mutt” and satisfy everyone.
No, I’m delighted. I was able to buy two black barbies for the price of one.
@WhenHateIsTheOnlyOption - Oh yes. One of my african american friends had like 100!
Uhh…
Wait. Are those even real Barbies?
@andfeud - Andfeud, you’re such a stupid cracker.
hahaha that is so funny
@ShimmerBodyCream - The customers probably couldn’t handle the extra booty.
Back in the early days of the republic, blacks were counted as 3/5ths of a person for taxation and political representation purposes. Walmart only considers them half a person though? That’s brutal.
@wintersdoll - nice tits, nigga
Nice timing. Today on 3/9 in 1959 the Barbie came out. And today in 1994…I was born. Happy Bday Barbie n me!
It’s a frickin doll!
are you serious? what pathetic twat walked into walmart and was like, “how could walmart be so inconsiderate?!” because they need to be punched brutally in the mouth.
@Rob_of_the_Sky - Fucking lol’ed. It’s like a 50% off special for targets.
@UR_MUSE - Hey! Civil rights activists made some progress after all! They went from 3/5ths of a person to a HALF! That’s quite an improvement…don’t you think?
@PervyPenguin - Actually, 3/5 > Half.
@Rob_of_the_Sky - Oh wait, never mind *facepalm*. I was doing it in my head and the image came up funny.
FAIL.
o lawd. Insensitive ppl are so annoying!
as though there’s not enough to worry about in life…
It’s definitely the blue dress. Anyone who has ever shopped for a little girl knows that Barbies are found in the PINK aisle…that’s what little girls want. Pink. Everything.
no racial politics, just supply and demand.
I’m personally offended that there are black Barbies. Jokes, children, jokes.
Hahahahaaha you have no idea how hard I laughed at this.
I mean like come on, I’d want to buy Asian stuff at half price!
If they sold small actions figures for half the price, would midgets complain? Give me a break. People are only looking to shake things up with stupid excuses.
YES that is insane and stupid and racist. i cant believe that they would do that!
Dude. Minority Barbies prolly don’t sell as much. Like, I’m Hispanic, and I remember only having a couple of Theresa dolls. The rest were plain ol’ white Barbie. I don’t remember ever owning a black doll… I don’t know. I don’t think I was a racist kid–I guess just had the mindset that lighter skin and stick-straight blond hair was more attractive and acceptable.
http://boingboing.net/2006/10/22/orthodox-jewish-pray.html
Not even Orthodox Jews would buy this Barbie, even if it were $2. With regard to the black Barbie, it probably says more about America than it does about Wal-mart. If I had a daughter I would buy her the black Barbie.
LOL.
business is business, if it’s not selling, then you gotta mark it down!
at least there’s a black barbie available.. i would love to buy an asian/chinese barbie for my daughter.. not a white barbie in a chinese dress.. or not the hawaiian barbie lol.
The concept of overstock relative to dempgraphics is lost on the liberal Demunist Commiecrats, as is all free-market economics.
i don’t think its wrong at all
the ORIGINAL BARBIE is caucasian, of course she’s gonna be a higher price rite?
@thomas_baker - haha wow thats funni…..
if it’s not selling, they’ve got to mark it down. I’d be glad about the discount
Apparently the black Barbie wasn’t selling so like everythign else that isn’t selling it gets marked down.
I think it is so ridiculous for people to be offended by something like that. I sincerely doubt that Walmart would do that to intentionally offend people, thats just stupid. People are offended way too easily these days. A Barbie is just another toy it’s not something to take seriously just because the price is marked down. That probably means it’s not selling very well.
Good thing there are no Asian barbies to come between such drama.
i find it offensive. i see black dolls on clearance all the time. if they’re going to mark it down they should mark down the white doll too
When they print those stickers all they see is item numbers, they don’t even look at the product. Not a big deal, and if it was, I would have already written a blog about it
@BebstersBlog2 - I was JUST thinking that lol
That’s fucking ridiculous. I’m so tired of black people taking offense to little crap like that. They need to come off it. I agree with others– If the white doll was half price would people be complaining? NO. If things aren’t selling, they get marked half price. OBVIOUSLY the doll wasn’t selling.
Idiots.
@gmx0 - Hope u had a happy b-day!
Woooooooooooow.
Oh my dear! Hahahahaha… Seriously.. i see were people are gong with this point…
Why not discount the white barbie … No offence but im pretty sure that most little girls play with white barbie dolls… But who knows maybe its just the store trying to sell more of the black barbies..
i’m not one to rag on black people because I have many close black friends but the ones that get all rowled up over these issues are racist morons. Sounds like some kanye west type of crap. If the white barbie was on sale would it matter to americans? I think not.
I’m confused. Someone tell me how this is insensitive.
Although I’m not black (I’m Asian), I feel offended that black barbie is cheaper than white barbie. But after reading some of the tactful comments here, I also think that Walmart is just trying to promote black barbie, not being racist.
Yes! It’s insensitive to white parents who have to pay double. Boycot!!!
haha thats funny.
Is it “insensitive” to place two name brand appliances next to one another and have one marked down? No. It’s business. If one isnt selling you mark it down to get it out of the store. Simple.
I think that the cheaper the price the better hehehe :]!
So its a + for the public.
@andfeud - I think you are ignorant for using niggers in the sense that you did. I’m extrmely offended by it. And I hope that your outlook in the future has more of an open mind on things. I’m of both races and I believe you and the rest of the people who blogged on this topic need to take a second look and put yourself in another persons shoes, maybe you would think differently.
and I’ve worked retail!! It’s insensitive if the employee did it out of malice! They should have a clearance aisle! If that were the case, Walmart wouldn’t be in the mess that the are in now! Period.
Man if I was a kid I’d just be super thrilled to get TWO barbies for the price of one after showing my mom the sale. Duh.
Some people just wake up griping.