Sears offers new twist to book price wars; gives coupons even to those who buy at other sites
By APTuesday, October 20, 2009
Sears tries to get own piece of book price wars
NEW YORK — Sears Holdings is becoming the latest retailer to throw itself in the heated price war on books expected to be top sellers. But the merchant’s promotion has a twist.
The company, which operates Sears and Kmart, says it will reward customers who buy a book from its list of ten highly anticipated book hits on Sears.com, Walmart.com, Target.com or Amazon.com with an online credit equal to the purchase price — up to $9.
That can be used toward a purchase of $45 or more on Sears.com.
Customers need to e-mail their receipt to Sears. But the move seems almost to direct customers to Amazon.com or Walmart.com, since both are selling the expected bestsellers for about $9. Sears’ prices are higher. Dean R. Koontz’s “Breathless,” for example, costs $17.98.
