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Kmart halts use of in-store facial recognition amid Australian privacy investigation
Kmart has stopped the use of facial recognition in Australian stores following a privacy investigation.
Sears will sell appliances on Amazon as its retail stores dwindle
Sears announced today that its Kenmore branded products will now be sold on Amazon, meaning it's now joining forces with the company that contributed to its downfall. It's no secret that Sears has been struggling -- the company has lost around $10 billion in the last few years and has closed over 200 Sears and Kmart stores this fiscal year. In 2016, Sears said it would explore other outlets for its brands, including Kenmore, and today's announcement appears to be a result of that venture.
Amazon, eBay and others to stop selling Confederate flags (update)
Many prominent online retailers have vowed to remove all items bearing the Confederate flag from their websites following a mass shooting last week at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. So far, eBay, Wal Mart, Sears and Kmart have announced plans to stop selling Confederate flag merchandise online and in their brick-and-mortar stores. CNBC reports that Amazon and Etsy will also remove Confederate flag items from their online marketplaces, though the companies have yet to officially announce any plans. In addition to these online retailers, prominent US flag maker Valley Forge Flag today promised to stop producing and selling Confederate flags, Reuters reports.
Take-Two 'unaffected' by GTA5's removal from Australian stores
Target and Kmart stores in Australia pulled Grand Theft Auto 5 from their shelves last week, following a review of the game's content and feedback from customers, the companies said. A change.org petition with nearly 50,000 signatures decried the game's depiction of violence against women and called upon Australian Target stores to remove the game. Take-Two President Karl Slatoff called the situation "disappointing" at a conference this week, but said it's not that big of a deal. "Australia is relatively small for us and two retailers are relatively small in the context of Australia," Slatoff said. "There are other places for folks to buy Grand Theft Auto in Australia." Despite the low impact of the stores' decisions – both are subsidiaries of retail group Westfarmers – Slatoff had more to say about the situation. A lot more: "It's one thing for someone to not want to buy a piece of content, which is completely understandable," Slatoff said. "And that's really the solution. If you don't like it and it's offensive to you, then you don't buy it. But for a person or a group of people to try to make that decision for millions of people .... We have 34 million people who bought Grand Theft Auto, and if these folks had their way, none of those people would be able to buy Grand Theft Auto. And that really just flies in the face of everything that free society is based on. It's the freedom of expression, and to try to squelch that is a dangerous and slippery slope to go down. So it's really more disappointing for us in that regard than it is in the context of our business. Our business is going to be completely unaffected by this; it doesn't make a difference to us. At the end of the day though, it's not something you want because it's a poor leadership decision." Slatoff said that Take-Two hadn't seen a change in consumer habits in the area. [Image: Take-Two]
Kmart joins Target in taking GTA 5 off Australian store shelves
Kmart became the second major Australian retailer to remove Grand Theft Auto 5 from sale following a 45,000 strong online petition. In a statement provided to Kotaku, a spokesperson for the department store chain said it plans to take the game off store shelves "immediately." "Following a significant review of all content in Grand Theft Auto games Kmart has taken the decision to remove this product immediately," reads the statement. "Kmart apologizes for not being closer to the content of this game."
Kmart's registers were hacked, credit and debit card numbers at risk
Get ready to call your credit card provider again -- another major US retailer has reported that its payment system has been compromised. Kmart's IT team quietly announced that malware has been found in its stores' register systems, noting that both debit and credit card numbers have been stolen. The breach seems to have occurred in early September, meaning any purchase made at the chain in the last month and a half is potentially at risk. Security experts say attackers have enough information to possibly duplicate payment cards, but not necessarily steal your identity: personal information, pin numbers, addresses and social security data have not been compromised. Still, it's a big enough breach that Kmart shoppers will want to call their financial providers. Ugh. Happy Friday news dump, everyone. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
Gaming deals: $200 Batman, The Last of Us PS3 bundle, Xbox One games, Battlefield 4 for PS4 $50
Black Friday is making our wallets cower as it looms in the distance, but why wait until then to start your financial downfall? Kmart is currently offering a 250GB PS3 with The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins for $200. If you've already jumped into the current console generation, Amazon is selling select Xbox One games for $50, including Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and ... Angry Birds: Star Wars. If you'd prefer to play on the PS4 and are generally optimistic, you can also buy Battlefield 4 for PS4 for $50 and hope that its issues are resolved before it reaches your doorstep. Since we're talking deals, Steam users can pick up Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and Rage for $4.99 each this weekend, the latter of which can be played for free until 4pm Eastern Time. The ARMA series and most of its DLC can also be had for 80 percent off, meaning you can pick up Steam's ARMA selection for $18.98. Update: Amazon is also offering select games from the PS4 launch lineup for $50 apiece, including Knack, Need for Speed: Rivals, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Madden NFL 25 and FIFA 14. [Thanks, Jack!]
gdgt's best deals for July 22: Nintendo 3DS, RCA HDTV
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long. Today's hottest deals include Nintendo's 3DS at one of the lowest prices we've seen, as well as a hot deal on a 32-inch RCA HDTV. Want the latest deals delivered to your inbox? Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
Wii U selling out fast online, here's where you can still get it (for now)
Nintendo's Wii U is off to a holiday-sales head-start, with pre-orders of the Deluxe and Basic bundles selling out at many online retailers. The Deluxe bundle includes a black, 32GB Wii U for $350, while the Basic system has a white, 8GB Wii U for $300.Below we have a list of stores where both versions of the Wii U are sold out and where they are still available. Though for how long they remain available, we can't predict.Best Buy, Toys R Us, and Target are sold out of both versions online. Sears and Kmart, which belong to the same parent company, are both sold out of the Deluxe version and don't appear to offer the Basic.GameStop is sold out of the 32GB, black Deluxe bundle, but the 8GB, white Basic bundle is still available for pre-order.Wal Mart is holding strong with both versions (Deluxe and Basic) still available on their own or as part of the Wal Mart Solution Bundle, which adds a Wii Remote Plus and a choice of a Wii U game to either system. The Solution Bundle is $400 for the Basic set or $450 for the Deluxe.
Mobile Miscellany: week of June 11th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Cricket found a new retail channel at Kmart and we received news that the HTC One S will soon arrive at Cincinnati Bell. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of June 11th, 2012.
The big, bad Black Friday game deals post: 2011 Edition
It's nearly the moment you've been preparing for all year, savvy shopper. And right here? Here is the page from which you finalize your Black Friday master plan. You'll show those retailers, alright ... or is it the other way around? Here we go again, y'all -- one week 'til Black Friday 2011. In that vein, we've once more compiled our annual testament to post-Turkey retail madness, replete with savings from vendors large and small, brick-and-mortar as well as online. Up above, you can head directly into any of "The Big Six" sections by clicking the individual logos. Down below, some highlights to help guide that process: Best Buy: Consoles on the cheap and the special edition Zelda 3DS [more details] GameStop: Like Best Buy, but you can totally trade in stuff [more details] Kmart: Discounted HD remakes, HD newmakes, and non-HD wagglers [more details] Sears: Mario for the holidays (at home and on-the-go) [more details] Target: Cheapest Mario 3DS bundle, discounted Kinect, in-store Pizza Hut [more details] Walmart: Blue Wiis, the Bats, and so, so many bullets [more details]
Kmart sold Modern Warfare 3 early, copies wind up on eBay [update 2: pre-release probably OK?]
Rumors have been circulating today that Kmart stores have been selling copies of Modern Warfare 3 prior to its official debut next week. It's clear that a handful of copies were definitely sold, as several eBay listings for the game have been popping up (and taken down) all day. At least one listing that is still active does indeed include a picture of a Kmart receipt. It seems the company got wise to the error, as all the locations we called reported the November 8 release. We suppose if you really want MW3 five days early, you might be able to snag one. Of course, that's assuming you're willing to pay upwards of $100 and the listing survives underneath eBay's watchful gaze. Incidentally, if you find yourself with a legitimate retail Xbox copy, don't worry about playing it early. Stephen Toulouse, Microsoft's Xbox Live guru, has given the all-clear on Twitter. Update: Stephen Toulouse has posted a new update on Twitter, stating that Activision has not authorized pre-release play of Modern Warfare 3. According to Toulouse, "Playing early may impact your account!" Seems a bit unfair to anyone who may have legitimately purchased the game from a retailer, but there you go. Update 2: Now Both Infinity Ward Community Dude Robert Bowling and Mr. Toulouse have clarified that players with early copies of Modern Warfare 3 will not be banned or otherwise punished for playing the game online. We think. Who can tell at this point? [Thanks, Mike]
Grab LA Noire at Kmart this week, get $20 credit and a free game
Most of you early adopters have likely already secured your copy of LA Noire, but if you've been holding back, Kmart's deal might just bring you down off the fence. From today through Saturday, May 21, any purchase of LA Noire will secure you a $20 credit good towards a future gaming purchase, good through July 2, the Kmart blog has announced. If you head in-store, you also earn a free game (no accessories or points cards), valued at $19.99 or under. A nice little list is available over on CAG, showing off a wide variety of games to choose from including Alpha Protocol, 3D Dot Game Heroes, Mirror's Edge, No More Heroes and a lot more. There is a catch: you need to be a Shop Your Way Reward member and head in-store in order to get the deal. But, honestly, it's not much of one since signing up is free and you don't need to be a detective to know people always want more for less. [Thanks, Eric]
Portal 2 $35 on 360 and PS3 at Kmart Sunday, $30 on PC at GameStop
If you managed to delay purchasing Valve's gooey, robot-filled puzzler, Portal 2, your patience is about to be rewarded: Two major retailers are significantly cutting the price of the game this weekend. According to the Kmart Gamer Facebook page, the title will be marked down to $34.99 on 360 and PS3 starting May 1 -- an offer that will be running for an undisclosed period of time. A tipster also sent in an unreleased GameStop circular, revealing that stores will have the 360 and PS3 versions of Portal 2 on sale for a slightly-less-discounted $39.99, but will also have the PC version on sale for $29.99 on April 30. No matter how you slice it, the value-to-science ratio here is simply unbelievable. [Thanks, MLC!]
Kmart offers $25 off 3DS game alongside 3DS system purchase
If you're still trying to decide where to drop your cash on a Nintendo 3DS when it launches this weekend, Kmart's vying for your purchase. Anyone who drops $250 on the handheld can knock $25 off the price of an accompanying launch title. Super Street Fighter IV for a cool $15? Don't mind if we do.
Kmart wants to send you to E3
You were all set. You had cleared your schedule for the week of E3, you had sharpened your preview-writing pencils and even sprung for a fedora with a card that said "Press" in it. Everything was in place ... until you learned that the 27 rabid fans visiting your site daily weren't enough to get you into the show. Though your blog may have been too small to satisfy the ESA's now stricter requirements for entry, you just might have one last shot at getting into E3, courtesy of an unlikely source: Kmart. The retailer's gaming blog KmartGamer is using its heft to bring three lucky writers to the event (including paying for airfare and hotel). Writers will cover the event for their own outlets, though their work will be reposted on KmartGamer. Those who think they're blue light special enough can apply by commenting on the KmartGamer post before March 30.
Launch week deals on Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Test Drive Unlimited 2 at Kmart
Unless you lucked into one of those half-off coupons from Amazon, you're unlikely to find a better deal on Marvel vs. Capcom 3 at launch than the one Kmart's offering right now -- albeit a deal contingent upon your continued Kmart shopping. From Feb. 15 through 19, the retailer is offering its "Shop Your Way Rewards" members $25 worth of points for in-store purchases of the game. Kmart is also giving away an exclusive poster (above) with MvC3 purchases -- supplies are limited, of course. In addition, Kmart is throwing a pile of deals at people interested in Test Drive Unlimited 2. Through Feb. 12, the retailer is giving away a free code for a Ferrari 612 Sessanta. In-store purchases for 360 will come with free copies of the PC version of Test Drive Unlimited 1, and PS3 buyers get the first game on PSP thrown in. And if you're a member of that rewards program, you get $10 worth of points. With this kind of bribery, Kmart's making a pretty good argument for becoming a member and getting into a Kmart habit.
Two Worlds 2 marked down to $40 at Kmart, buyers get hammered
If you're looking to try out the sure lock for 2011's "Most Improved Game of the Year" award recipient, Two Worlds 2, Kmart's making a pretty compelling case for your dollars. The retailer has the game for $40 this week, which will also net you a download voucher for the powerful "BattleHammer of Kroll."
Sears, Kmart launch Alphaline Entertainment movie download service
After Wal-mart, Best Buy and Amazon jumped on the digital delivery bandwagon it's clearly evident that just offering discs for sale isn't enough, and right on schedule Sears and Kmart are launching Alphaline Entertainment, a new venture created for the sole purpose of selling downloadable movies online. Powered by Sonic's RoxioNow backend just like Best Buy and Blockbuster, it's all very familiar, down to the $3.99 rent / $19.99 new release purchase pricing that we love to hate (with the Blu-ray version often on sale for less, why bother?) with plans to embed the service in a variety of connected Blu-ray players, mobile devices, TVs and more. It doesn't appear that Sonic's sale to Rovi or the addition of DivX to the company's fold has affected the deal at all, but here's hoping they plan on introducing a Blue Light Special pack-in like VUDU or Disc+ to make things a little more appealing.
Kmart discounts some hits (and misses) through Jan. 1
Looking to burn some of that Christmas cash? Kmart's discounted a number of recent and decent (and not-so-decent) console releases through New Year's Day. If you somehow failed to stockpile games following the season's gift-getting climax this past weekend, you may find some of your wished-for titles in Kmart's aisles. While a number of the retailer's game discounts are available online (and generally competitive with the going rate), it seems most of Kmart's best deals are subject to in-store availability. If you don't see the sale prices reflected at your local store, just show the manager this post on the MyKmart Blog. Check out complete details, by console, after the break.
