A woman shopping at Walmart was flabbergasted when she the rhinestones she was getting had a 154% price increase. This was without the company updating the price tags.
In a video with over 279,000 views, @taylorpwnz discussed a recent trip to Walmart. It ended with her spending much more than she thought she would.
“I just went to Walmart to get rhinestones,” she said. “This tiny [container] of rhinestones was [supposed to be] $2.98. I get to the cash register and it rings up as $7.50. So I swiftly left and went back to the crafting aisle. I took a picture of the price, and I brought it back up front.”
When she showed an employee her findings, she was shocked by his response. The Walmart employee said they would “honor” the pricing, but that it would be changing to $7.50 in the future. She asked the employee what he meant. He mentioned the fact that Walmart was introducing digital price tags to their store, a plan which is coming to 2,300 stores in 2026. The employee explained that the “price can change at any time.
“We’re not gonna be able to price match any pictures you provide us,” he purportedly told her.
“Robbery, straight robbery,” @taylorpwnz added. “I’m not paying $7 for cheap [expletive] rhinestones.”
A Walmart boycott
Walmart used to be known as an affordable grocery store for everyday consumers. However, more people have felt deterred by the company’s recent policy changes.
Digital price tags—which make it significantly easier to adjust prices at a moment’s notice— pose a potential risk to consumers who want a consistent shopping experience. Despite their functionality, there’s reasonable worry. A digital pricing system could make it easier to hike up prices on any given day. This is instead of having to deliberately change prices. Fluctuating food costs could change at a moment’s notice with the new system, which is currently being tested at a Walmart in Texas.
Many customers have noticed ‘shrinkflation‘ from the company or general high prices. Others are worried that simple products like laundry detergent will get locked in anti-theft cases in stores across the country. Employees at certain locations have already started locking basic goods like baby formula.
All of these things have started to irk some customers. Many want to “cancel Walmart,” as one TikTok commenter put it.
Another added, “Dynamic pricing will be the death of stores. No one wants to shop [go up] to the register [and then have their items double in price]. We are done with these games and [Walmart] blaming [their] greed on everything else.”
@taylorpwnz Dynamic pricing can go to ? ? I was never a fan of Walmart to begin with but I’ll be avoiding it like the plague now!!
♬ original sound – taylorpwnz
The Mary Sue has reached out to Walmart via its press email and digital creator @taylorpwnz for more information.
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