-Brittany Hennis-
Cousins!
We do need more dolls that represent MELANIN BEAUTY but this ain’t the way!
Yahoo reports that a mom is exposing Walmart for allegedly overcharging for the purchasing of Black dolls.
Sources have confirmed that Walmart has issued an apology in regards to the charges of $15 or more for a Black doll as oppose to a white doll.
Kentucky resident and mom Asheria Brown, attempted to purchase her daughter a Kid Collection doll set from Walmart when she noticed the price difference.
Now @Walmart, we are sick of this!!! Why is the black doll soooo much more expensive than the others 🤔 pic.twitter.com/t4GUrd86nI
— Khai (@KhaibTweetin) December 14, 2021
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The mom compared Walmart’s price to another online store’s price when she discovered the difference. The black doll ran for $39.97, and the white doll was being sold for only $25.00.
Asheria explains that she wants to teach her three children their African American heritage and finds it difficult when you have consumers like Walmart overcharging for black dolls.
“They were 14 dollars and 97 cents more expensive than the white babies I saw in the store. There are seven Black babies and there are seven white babies,” she continued. “But one set is $39.97; the other is $25
This is crazy! Even if you are letting a third party use your stores why not at least make the price point comparable?
Or better yet if you don’t have the same black doll find another third party who has it for the same or similar price?! @Walmart pic.twitter.com/ygS5aGzHJ7— Sicily!!! (@Sicily25) December 22, 2020
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Since word of the incident Walmart has issued a statement insisting that the entire ordeal was the result of a system error.
Walmart issued a statement claiming that the price difference is tied to a “systems error.”
“The price difference in the two items was the result of price changes made systemically. We lowered the price on a select group of toys, including only one of these dolls, to help drive sales. Unfortunately, we overlooked the impact these changes would have on similar items whose price did not change. This was an unintentional error on our part and we sincerely apologize to anyone it may have offended.”
Duke University Professor Dr. Sabrina Thomas says that while racism does play a part in the price increase, economics is the real problem.
She says that, that Black dolls are less common, while white dolls are more common for consumers. Black dolls being less common is the reason for the price increase.
Walmart is not the only consumer with this issue. Back in 2014 target received the same complaint when a 6-year-old girl noticed the price difference reports CNBC. While both consumers have issued an apology and fixed the pricing, Deb Britt, founder of the National Black Doll Museum of History and Culture in Boston, says that pricing discrepancies will end only when enough consumers complain. “People have to go like this woman did, and address it with store managers, to make sure this doesn’t happen again!”
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