Deals too good at Fairbanks' Gottschalks store?
Who says you can't find a true deal at a liquidation sale? Not the customers of Shawn Lee Jones, a clerk at the Gottschalks store in Fairbanks, Alaska.
According to the local newspaper, the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, Jones was arrested Sunday for suspicion of felony theft for allegedly giving free merchandise and unauthorized discounts to shoppers at the department store, one of 58 Gottschalks stores holding going-out-of-business sales in six western states after the chain filed for bankruptcy in January.
Police in Fairbanks estimated the 20-year-old clerk was responsible for about $2,500 in losses, primarily clothing, since April 12.
The Fairbanks store is the farthest outpost from the company's home base, and since April 2 has been in the hands of liquidators tasked with selling off all of the merchandise, fixtures and equipment to raise money for Gottschalks to pay off its creditors.
Some of the Fairbanks readers who've left comments online in response to the story joked that Jones was just compensating for liquidation tactics of marking up merchandise to higher prices so that the clearance discounts are, in some cases, higher than Gottschalks' pre-liquidation sales.
That's the perception in Fairbanks. Interesting timing, given this story today in The Bee about how shoppers can find the best deals at such liquidation events.
What about here in the Valley? Have you checked out the Gottschalks liquidation yet? If so, use the comment link below let us know about your observations and experiences.
Comments:
Went to the Riverpark store and really had nothing.. 10-30% Big Deal... Advertised 60% out on the streets but there were only about 4 racks.... It will be like Mervyn's.. Took too long to get a good deal
Posted by: wannabe at April 21, 2009 12:15 PM
I went to Gottschalks Fashion Fair on Friday and left with one item. I was very dissapointed. No big sales. In fact I had much better luck there during the Holidays (all Holiday's). Also I was approached by a young employee as I headed for the escalator and when I asked if the womens dept. was upstairs she replied "The older womens clothes are over here". I am 37. I asked her about another dept and she said "those are for petite women only" I am not petite however, I am not tall either. So if your a big old woman you won't have any problem just don't head for the escalator or this one will get you. That will be one out of work tactless employee that I won't sympathize with.
Posted by: LilAnx at April 26, 2009 11:31 AM
I visited the Fashion Fair Store this past weekend, and was EXTREMELY disappointed with the "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE." They SHOULD go out of business with these kinds of prices! :(
I did not purchase one item. :( I did inquire about several though, and the way it is working is: There is an "UP to 60%" discount given on the ORIGINAL PRICE. WHOOPEE!!!!!! I was told by an employee "Forget about the markdown price, it doesn't count anymore....you need to take it from the original price."
WOW! I wonder how the liquidators expect to sell all these items before it's time to close. Apparently they do not realize that the consumer will buy more if the price seems "reasonable" to them. On the other hand,they will be insulted and NOT Buy anything, if they feel they're being "played." As at this rate, I am now paying MORE than I EVER did @ Gottschalk's sales!(any sale they had almost!). And we thought it was just Linen's and Things, and Circuit City! Buyer beware, as the same game that was played @ the above mentioned stores is going on here.
It's sad to see an old Fresno store such as this go down this path. ;(
Posted by: Debra at April 27, 2009 8:54 AM
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