For several years now, Hobby Lobby has been considered the ultimate crafts corner, offering everything from fabric scissors to miniature dollhouse essentials to life-sized home decor. However, some controversy has stirred the hornet's nest recenty.
When one shopper heard a rumor that the products placed at the very front of the shelves were more expensive than the (completely identical) ones behind them, she went to her closest location to suss out the situation. What she found out, is unreal. The rumors are actually true.
In a video, user Marci Poppell posted on her Instagram feed, she located a gilded candelabra for US$ 28.99 in the front—only to find an identical one behind it for US$ 21.99. The same thing happened when she found another candlestick holder (US$ 21.99 in the front and US$ 16.99 in the back) and a milk can (US$ 34.99 and US$ 29.99, respectively.)
Is this right? This pricing model makes zero sense.
Suffice it to say, the internet was pretty upset to hear that they might be paying more for their Hobby Lobby essentials than necessary. "Friends don’t let friends shop there," one person wrote. "She sees savings, I see corruption," another quipped. A third disgruntled shopper asked, "Where are the attorneys in the chat? Is this legal?"
A few Hobby Lobby employees entered the chat to clear up a few misconceptions. "The reason for the price difference is due to inflation unlike other places that do it automatically," one sales associate explained. "We don’t change every tag every time the price changes unless it’s [on] clearance."
According to these insiders, some Hobby Lobby locations require associates to place the most expensive items in front, and others don't. However, no matter what you're shopping for and how much it costs, don't be afraid to ask for a price match. "My store's policy is to give the lower price for all items with the matching [SKU] number," one cashier commented. "It’s technically not what corporate wants us to do, but I would rather us lose a couple dollars than argue with a customer."
That said, employees are begging you not to lash out if a cashier can't grant you a lower price point. "This is down to the manufacturer that hobby lobby receives their stock from, changing their prices," an employee said. "Almost all items come in pre priced, so please don’t be mad at the employees for this; we are barely scraping by with reduced hours." However, with any luck, this insider insight will help you get the best bang for your buck the next time you're itching to get crafty.