A Walmart customer suspected something fishy after she had to have an associate correct the price of three different items while she was using the self-checkout. Viewers have ideas on what happened.
In a viral TikTok, CAMBAM (@b0mb.cam) says, “All right, look at this: $12,” while showing viewers the price tag on an item of clothing at Walmart. “That just rang up $13.”
She then shows that two items—a Girls Hoodie and Girls Short—had to be overridden because they were also ringing up at $1 more than advertised.
“Isn’t that kind of weird?” she questions. “How many items are they actually doing this to us?”
An employee then comes to do the third override before the video ends.
Why the price disparity at Walmart?
In the comments section, some viewers blamed tariffs for the price disparities.
One said, “Prices are going up because the tariffs are finally hitting. They’ve run through all the stuff that was stockpiled before hand and now the prices are changing but they haven’t taken the tags off.”
A second wrote, “Thank tariffs. but as a walmart employee, keep looking for the clothes that still have the price on the tags and they should price match.”
However, another argued, “Ppl saying tariffs but the clothes in the store are already bought?!? Tariffs shouldn’t make those prices go up too!” To this, CAMBAM responded, “Ding, ding, ding exactly there is no reason that we should be being charged tariffs on product that tariffs were never charged on! SMH #facts #tariffs #lol #walmart #scam.”
Others claimed that many Walmart clothes no longer have prices on them because Walmart is electronically raising the prices.
One said, “Just saw another video where Walmart and target are taking tags off bc they are electronically changing prices based on tariffs.”
“I work at Walmart,” a second said. “In the apparel department every price tag is torn off & placed with a new price label . Everything is going up 2-3$ .”
Indeed, in a since-deleted viral TikTok, a Walmart apparel worker complains that she has to rip off the perforated part of the tag that includes the price because all prices are going up.
Are tariffs really to blame?
It seems likely. CNBC reports that Walmart announced that it would have to raise prices on goods due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Around two months later, the outlet tracked the prices of 50 items. It found that a dozen of them went up, including a pair of jeans.
The jeans, a pair of Levi Strauss Signature Jeans for Men, went up by $1 from $23.98 to $24.98. Levi’s stated in July that it would be absorbing some of the tariff costs to avoid steep price increases. It also told CNBC that most of its goods come from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. CNBC notes, “Goods from all of those countries currently face 10% tariffs, and Trump has proposed higher rates for some of those nations as of Aug. 1.”
Additionally, a May Investopedia article notes that while Walmart said it would raise prices, it did not say which items would be affected. However, experts stated apparel could be one of the impacted categories.
Still, CNBC reports that it’s unclear whether price increases were due wholly or in part to rising tariffs.
Other customers are taking notice
In a Reddit thread, a Walmart shopper said it was mildly infuriating that, in addition to ripping off the prices, their Walmart has removed the price signs from the racks. They also said there are no in-aisle price scanners. So the only way to find out a clothing item’s price is to track down an associate.
A respondent claimed tariffs were to blame and many others said this was done so Walmart could sneakily increase prices. One Redditor said they work at Target and the company is doing the same.
Is Dollar General under investigation for its pricing?
Yes. According to Morgan & Morgan, “The Ohio Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Dollar General Co. after an investigation conducted by the Butler County auditor’s office found evidence that 20 stores were charging more than the shelf price at the register. The Attorney General also received 12+ complaints from different counties confirming this behavior, which prompted them to pursue legal action on behalf of the victims.”
However, it notes that the accusations of deceptive pricing have not been 100% confirmed.
@b0mb.cam #wtf #walmart #scam #fyp #notok #idgaf ♬ original sound – ?CAMBAM?
Is Target raising prices like Walmart?
It seems so. The U.S. Sun reports that workers at Walmart, Target, Ford, and Mattel have taken to Reddit to discuss price increases.
A Target worker said, “I work apparel and we’ve had to start tearing off the parts on the price tags where they had the original price, ’cause majority went up $5-$10 more.”
The Mary Sue contacted CAMBAM via TikTok comment and direct message. It also contacted the creator of the deleted video via direct message, Walmart via media contact form, and Target and Dollar General via press email.
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