It used to be enough for stores to promise discounts of up to 70 percent off to lure shoppers during the holiday shopping season. But the ease of ordering online and the sluggish economy has created more demanding U.S. consumers.
Retailers from Wal-Mart to Macy's are trying to make it easier for this crop of finicky shoppers to spend. Several are opening on Thanksgiving Day. Some are offering free layaways and shipping.
Many are matching in-store prices with cheaper online deals. And others are allowing shoppers to buy online and pick up merchandise in stores.
Target Corp. said Tuesday the retailer, for the first time, will match select online prices of competitors like Amazon.com, during the Christmas shopping season. The offer is on products bought from Nov. 1 through Dec. 16.
Last month, Best Buy announced a similar strategy. The Richfield, Minn., retailer says it is taking these steps to improve the percentage of people who walk into their stores and leave with a purchase.
Some information taken from the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal.
