Now that we’re in the thick of what may prove to be the best holiday season ever, marketplace researchers Field Agent sent secret shoppers into strip malls across the country this past Tuesday to gauge pricing and stock levels at three leading retail chains.
The undercover agents took stock of at least 12 different Best Buy, Walmart and Target stores for a total of 42 locations, shopping lists in hand. Their mission: to scope out eight specific tech items, toys, and a food mixer. For the most part, post-Black Friday pricing adhered to vendor-mandated retails, although Walmart had the low-price edge and low- and no-inventory situations proved commonplace.
Related: The End Of Black Friday As We Knew It?
Here’s what they found, by product:
Best Buy: $299.99
Walmart: $299
Target: $299.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 8% of audited stores
No inventory: 5% of audited stores
Best Buy: $149
Walmart: $149
Target: $149
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 11% of audited stores
Out of stock: 9% of audited stores
Best Buy: $59.99
Walmart: $49.94
Target: $59.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 11% of audited stores
Out of stock: 8% of audited stores
Best Buy: $59.99
Walmart: $49 (Instax Mini 7)
Target: $59.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 19% of audited stores
Out of stock: 0% of audited stores
Best Buy: $189.99
Walmart: $189 (KitchenAid Classic Mixer)
Target: $189.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 54% of audited stores
Out of stock: 11% of audited stores
Best Buy: $54.99
Walmart: $49.88
Target: $69.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 36% of audited stores
Out of stock: 11% of audited stores
Best Buy: $59.99
Walmart: $48.88
Target: $59.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 34% of audited stores
Out of stock: 0% of audited stores
Best Buy: $11.99
Walmart: $13.88
Target: $14.99
Low inventory (1-2 units available): 5% of audited stores
Out of stock: 5% of audited stores
The full Field Agent report is posted here.
