Ollie's Bargain Outlet — Local services in Town of De Witt

OLLIE’S DECEPTIVE MARKETING: WHY IS OLLIE’S COMPELLED TO USE HYPERBOLE AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, FABRICATION AND FRAUDULENT MARKETING PRACTICES TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS?

Simply because, among other things, who wouldn’t trust “Ollie”––the “humorous caricatures throughout its stores' interiors, merchandising displays and on its logo and exterior signage.”

WHEN DO BARGAINS BECOME BAD BARGAINS? ––CAVEAT EMPTOR!

Ollie’s has regularly practiced deception. The Polaroid LED shock hazard bulb was egregious. On or about April 30, 2018, Ollie’s blitzed their stores with two bulbs, Polaroid daylight LED bulbs, totaling over twenty thousand on hand to be sold to Ollie’s shoppers. There was an issue, however –– the bulbs presented a shock hazard.

I would argue that Ollie’s knowingly permitted the marketing of a bulb with “an unauthorized UL Mark for the United States . . .” The bulb, a known shock hazard since 2016, Polaroid 20 Watts 1600 Lumens 120 VAC 5000K PLOA21-100.1600.20.2D was sold –– no warning.

In essence, it can be suggested that Ollie’s objective was to sell as many defective bulbs to the unsuspecting consumer then issue an internal recall removing the dangerous bulbs from Ollie’s store shelves. Ollie's allowed sales for nearly two months.

Notably, unlike online reviews to rely on, Ollie's shoppers had no warning of the dangers. Clearly, Ollie's chose not to share the risk for the sake of making money. Deception.

Ollie’s paid pennies for each bulb from Vivitech Solutions (CA).Arguably, Ollie’s knowingly sold thousands of “bad” bulbs at a 70% mark-up before removing the dangerous bulb(s) from their shelves.

The “recent” Bath Sheet Buyout (in the September flyer) regarding towels, see for example, the CHECKERED 36x70 BATH SHEET with a 47% markup realizing Ollie’s $6.00 orange sticker price, are falsely advertised. Arguably, these did not come from calls from a mill.

The bath sheets came from LF Centennial Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Li & Fung, Ltd., the former is based in Singapore, Republic of Singapore, and essentially that company moves the towels to Ollie’s; and not by any stretch of the imagination, via a phone call from any mill per se prompting Ollie’s to “buy ‘em all.” Yet, it does tickle one’s buying impulse! And Ollie's does that best.

On some towels one will see on tags, “Distributed by OBO, Inc., Baltimore, MD.” This is a corporation owned by Ollie’s and it was created just a couple of months ensuing their IPO i.e. going from a private company to public company.

Notwithstanding, the towels appear to be nice. And who doesn’t appreciate an oversized bath towel. Indeed, it seems that many may only get a chance of such a luxury while vacationing from (at least) a three star hotel! These are nice towels. Why lie about how and where one bought them from?

Clearly, as suggested, such marketing tactics tickle the impulsiveness within most of us insofar as to not pass up a deal vis-à-vis “So hurry in before this deal runs dry - cause when they're gone they're gone!” Not so! To be sure, it is highly doubtful that this particular “deal” will wash out, inasmuch as, Ollie’s receives regular replenishments (see March image and images elsewhere on Google reviews).

One might recall the great “GE” LED bulb “buyout” –– Ollie’s advertised them in their August 9, 2018, flyer and GE had to send Ollie’s a cease and desist letter to remove the sales pitch of buying GE out. The online ads were changed and stores had to remove the signs with GE.

Ollie’s purchased the bulbs not from GE, but from Regent Products Corp., River Grove, IL., East Coast International, Inc., Closter, NJ, G&S Investments, LLC., Conway, SC, at $0.60-1.00 per unit and retailing in Ollie’s for $2.99.

To be sure, Ollie’s does offer great buys. Moreover, the twenty percent employee discount does help many supplement, among other things, their overall living expenses, as it does the overall shopper. And that is good. Ollie's need not deceive, however.

HOWEVER, EMPLOYEES, LIKE CONSUMERS, ARE NOT BARGAINS. OLLIE’S NEEDS TO BE REMINDED...

Ollies carries a really good variety of merchandies that is often overstock and liquidation from a number of different stores, warehouses,etc. I really love there interesting assortment of books that you wouldn't find at other local retailers and their prices are amazingly low. This time I attempted to find a certain type of book for a gift. I was somewhat disappointed to find almost the entire assortment missing? I guess they could have sold them or moved them. I'll try again. They could have been resetting to get ready for another new shipment. They have a decent assortment of stationary and crafting supplies for your back to school list. I didn't have enough time to checkout some of the other departments I usually shop in. Pet supplies & their food department are usually. good to shop in. I will have to go to the other store to look for books and other items I wanted when I have more time. You can often find items that you don't see in other stores at great prices. They have a decent selection of housewares...

Please fire the older man with bald head and i believe he had on glasses a bit tall! He was on evening shift. As I entered the store he didn't greet me, I said excuse me sir because i had a question.. he looks to the side and ignored me. So I walked over to him and said excuse me do you have paper towels...his response was a very irritated NO! then I was checking out, 200.00 dollars worth of stuff, I asked the young male cashier if I could have ones instead of a 5 dollar bill in which he replied yes no problem... the older bald tall man rudly storms over in a hurry and tells him that we don't give change! She can go to the bank for change.....like what. I replied excuse me I am a paying customer and change for a 5 should never be a problem. He said nothing just walked away!! He is absolutely the wrong person to work with customers. He was also following people around and made us all in the store very uncomfortable! Fire him!! He is bad for business. Also the store is very messy and floors and...