Culture
Check out the price difference between the brown Barbies and the blonde ones. The same exact doll, in Caucasian, commands almost double the price! Who says Barbie dolls don't supply young girls with a realistic portrayal of womanhood?
UPDATE: We tracked this photo to a website called Funny Junk. It was uploaded by a woman from Louisiana who says she took it at her local Wal-Mart.
Blondes Have More Value
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01 Mar 2010 | 20:26
Comments: 70
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Check out the price difference between the brown Barbies and the blonde ones. The same exact doll, in Caucasian, commands almost double the price! Who says Barbie dolls don't supply young girls with a realistic portrayal of womanhood?
UPDATE: We tracked this photo to a website called Funny Junk. It was uploaded by a woman from Louisiana who says she took it at her local Wal-Mart.
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cindy@guanabee.com
cindy@guanabee.com
Comments
better for me... i do not buy blonde barbies. I stick with the Theresa barbie
ReplyI wonder if the "was 5.93, now 3.00" was a Black Hst Month special, in which case it seems a very odd method for issuing reparations.
ReplySocial comments and analytics for this post... This post was mentioned on Twitter by pamedellapicca: Blondes Have More Value @guanabee http://guanabee.com/fe6xj...
ReplyThe black Barbies are on "clearance" because nobody wants them. Simple business economics. Not even Tiger Woods wanted any of them, all his women were white!
ReplyI think this store got it all wrong and their math is way off. 3/5 of $5.93 is not $3.00.
ReplyI agree nadie quiere pasas. Not even Beyonce! Whatchafunnado.
ReplyI think they missed their mark when they made the black doll. It should look to be about 200lbs complete with prison tats, gold teeth (all 3 of 'em), and a tank top 4 sizes too small with no bra. Had they done that during the design phase, they could charge a higher price.
ReplyYou just described every white girl above the age of fourteen that lives in my home county. God bless Walmart.
Replyprobably fits your "budget" a bit better anyway.
ReplyPretty funny. Well, assuming you were trying to be funny by using a historical reference.
Replythat's a really good case for moving or your suicide. tom-eh-to, tom-ah-to.
Replya regular Rhodes scholar we've got here.
ReplyRhodes scholars can suck me bollocks. I's educated at Kilkarney School.
ReplyMoving, I suppose. God doesn't look too kindly upon those who cut their own life short.
ReplyI'm sure he'd make an exception in your case.
ReplyFeck off with such blasphemy! Everyone knows God is a woman, but whatever. I'll just stay here, in a place where all the white chicks are as obese as the average American.
Replythis is very simple to answer. the black barbies have a different sku number than the white barbies. they are packed in cases based on the sku number. they are not packed together like lets say star wars figures, they come in an assortment case of 12. so if the black barbie's sku number is tracking with poor sales, the store has two options. 1) mark then down to a clearance price to move them out or 2) repack them and transfer them to another location where there are more black people living in that area in hopes they will sell faster. stores like wal-mart have pre-determined turn around times on how fast an item should sell. if an item stays on their shelves for longer than lets say 60 days, then usually they begin to reduce the price on the item to try to move it out. one last thing, wal-mart uses their toy section as a loss leader to get people to come in, buy some toys for the kids in hopes the parent also buys some food or clothes while they are shopping. they can lose money on the toy sale and make profit on the other stuff.
ReplyYes, well, I was going to mention something along those lines, but I was afraid no one who reads this site would understand any of that, and subsequently I would have been burned at the stake.
ReplyI don't see what any of that has to do with the price of beans in tijuana. the point of the photograph is that it's a sociological study in the fact that consumers don't want to buy a black doll. OBVIOUSLY they are marked down because no one is buying them. We're not accusing the store of being stupid enough to mark them down without reason. One thing that always trumps bigotry is greed. So thanks for 300 words with no point.
ReplyFirst, it was only 201 words. Second, yar both right.
ReplyIt is rather amazing that the picture of a toy can upset so many people just because of a price difference. Had the circumstances surrounding the photo been reversed, chance are the picture would not have been taken. Had those been Ken dolls instead of black Barbies would people be screaming sexism, I doubt it. The same thing happens every day with clothing, food, etc. it is simple supply and demand. It is TOY that is not selling in that particular store, plain and simple don't make it more then it is unless you are prepared to research exactly why it is priced the way it is because there tons of possible reasons. Ever consider they were overstocked because a few weeks earlier they were selling out of the black doll and they ordered extra and now demand went down, due to people having already purchased the black doll, and they are stuck with the extra inventory and are trying to rid themselves of the surplus? Unless people know all the facts behind the actions of another party, people should not just assume that the action or choice was done out prejudice against a group.
ReplyI'm sorry, perhaps you are new to the United States. Please tell me about the land you've just come from, where everyone is fundamentally decent.
ReplyDude, father eamon, why are you coming in here trying to instigate a fight. go back to the trailer park you came from assbag
ReplyIt's called a monastery, not a trailer park, you fecking spic.
Replyur just dumb cindy
ReplyWho knew caucasian was a color? Dumbass writer ...
ReplyWhat a load of bollocks. It cost less because people aren't buying them - why? who gives a steaming brown one.
ReplyBecause of supply and demand. Black people only constitute 13% of the population. Thus, the demand is probably lower. It's simple economics. People need to calm down and use their brains!
Replyexactly
ReplyThis must only be true for majority white areas. I teach in a majority black area and for the Christmas play we had to buy a white baby because we couldn't afford the black baby ... again, with the supply and demand.
ReplyI'm curious as to the reaction had the price points been reversed, but I hope not too many strain themselves trying to figure that out.
Replythis article responds to this post, and in my opinion points out how stupid the author of this post is. http://www.twiceright.com/2010/3/9/wal-mart-gets-heat-from-left-blogs-for-black-barbie-price/in/media/by/alex
ReplyWhat a joke. The story in the link suggest that Guanabee is a "ultra-left blog". Uh, no. Center-Left, maybe. (It would be bad business for the site to be Far-left.) Of course, I assume the two guys who run Twiceright.com probably think that the Democratic party in power in Congress is a liberal party. Ha. Funny. Seriously, no one should be taking advice on economic strategy from these clowns.
ReplyReading the article about the situation, there was one other difference--one is Ballerina BARBIE and the other is Ballerina Theresa--is it possible that the reason the Black Doll is not selling as quickly is not because of its race but because it's Theresa and not Barbie--if I were buying for a kid who specified she wanted a Barbie, i would be hesitant to buy a Barbie BRAND doll named Theresa (just like I wouldn't by Skipper or Ken if they asked for Barbie).
ReplyCindy, your sense logical reasoning is truly lacking and in need of an upgrade. First you declare "the point of the photograph is that itOs a sociological study in the fact that consumers donOt want to buy a black doll" -- so you're saying it IS about race. But THEN you turn around and say "OBVIOUSLY they are marked down because no one is buying them. WeOre not accusing the store of being stupid enough to mark them down without reason" -- which means you're agreeing that the markdown in NOT based on race, but rather for pure business reasons (namely the product just isn't moving). Sorry, but you CAN'T have it BOTH ways. So make up your mind already! So thank YOU for a post of 82 words that ultimately had NO point either. Actually, I take that back -- the original post was factual and explained to people (who aren't familiar with such things) how the retail industry and SKUs actually work. So it at least it was giving information versus your post which is just blowing hot air.
ReplyMaybe you have a point there (I wasn't aware that there were so many different types of Barbie dolls on the market). I do know that Walmart is a very smart and greedy corporation that would not usually cut prices unless there was an economic reason to do.
ReplyPer yesterday's CDC report, 48% of black women are infected w/ genital herpes (compared to 12% of whites). Might that play a factor? I would certainly pay an added $2.93 to not contract genital herpes. Though visiting a Wal-Mart pretty much assures you're leaving w/ an STD of some sort, so may as well save the $2.93 I guess.
ReplyWal-Mart should have just quietly packed them up and sent to their stores down in Mexico where there are no racist doll buyers. They could merchandise them over in the Menim Penguin section.
ReplyTheresa had an affair with Ken!! Stephanie Lugo
ReplyIt's nothing to do with supply/demand and/or racism, actually quite the contrary. It's AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, white barbies have been sold much longer than her black counterpart. In order to increase the number of black barbies in childrens toyboxes and make black barbie an equal, stores MUST sell her at a lower price therefore giving her an edge in hopes of being sold. Don't complain that you want AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, then complain when it gets implemented.
ReplyHa! Best description of affirmative action EVER!
ReplyHowever you slice it...it looks racist...if it is or not, it has that look...
Replyfunny....
Replyno racist in Mexico??? ha....
ReplyAFFIRMATIVE ACTION!! thx u, i was trying to think of this word earlier but I couldnt remember. hate when that happens...or when u forget have an epiphany and then u forget it. meh.
ReplyROFL!!!!
ReplyLol. America is so brainwashed, its ridiculous. Black women look 9999999999 times better than flat ass, stringy hair, white women. Yuck. I wouldn't piss on a white chick for FREE.
ReplyYeah, no. You just have no reading comprehension. Okay, for all the slow people in the class: The consumers are racist. The store is greedy. Got it? No? I can't help you anymore.
ReplyWhat a non-story. Only race-hustlers, professional victims, or pathetic knee-jerk liberals see any significance in this. This one particular store had an over stock of brown barbies. As a result they sold slower than the other model. A price adjustment was made. They do the same thing with different color towels, carpet, pants, etc. GET BRAINS!!
Replyhttp://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/03/10/2010-03-10_black_barbie_sold_for_less_than_white_barbie_at_walmart.html
ReplyIt is about supply & demand, but I for one can say that if purchases are left up to the children and not the parents, you might be surprised. I am caucasian as is my daughter. When she was about 3 years old and cabbage patch kids were all the rage, she told me she wanted a "chocolate baby" (she didn't know black from white at that age), so that's what I bought her for Christmas that year. She named her Sarah and carried that doll everywhere she went for many years. Kids don't notice color unless adults point out the difference.
ReplyBlacks in the united states are a minority and yet if there weren't 'equal' amounts of 'dark-skinned' dolls in this store, then they would have been called 'racist' for not being 'fair' even though 'fairness' has nothing to do with it. Personally, I wish there were more dolls with darkest black skin, wide noses, plunger lips, nappy hair on their heads and a chip on their shoulder but, 'Barbie' was never meant to be 'realistic' anyhow.
ReplyMaybe the black barbie should have come with herpes sores: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0923528620100309 The novelty alone would have made it a collector's item!
ReplyBlack Barbie dolls skyrocket as collectors snatch them off the shelves. http://bit.ly/Black_Barbie
Replywhite barbie can suk my dik
Replywhite barbies suck my dik
ReplyCindy, I know exactly what you're saying. The photo is telling of what consumers are buying, not the store's "racial agenda".
ReplySilly people...the reason "tan" Barbie doesn't sell is because she is wearing blue. Little girls like pink!
ReplyThat comment and is very racist and you should reespect people no matter what color or creed they are. I am white and do not find your comments amusing at all.
Replythat comment is so racist, its not even funny. btw im white and i dont have stringy hair. And i personally think ur jelous about white women because they are skinny and beatiful and u could never even get one ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- re:Lol. America is so brainwashed, its ridiculous. Black women look 9999999999 times better than flat ass, stringy hair, white women. Yuck. I wouldnOt piss on a white chick for FREE.
Replythat comment is so racist, its not even funny. btw im white and i dont have stringy hair. And i personally think ur jelous about white women because they are skinny and beatiful and u could never even get one
ReplyI think you're both morons. Everyone has their own idea of beauty, or what they are attracted to. Not everyone of a certain race looks the same, either. Way to rock the stereotypes and continue to be blissfully ignorant of the diversity reality actually offers. Asshats.
ReplyPosted twice because he's overcompensating for having a wee little "dik" rather than a "dick".
Replyloool I have one small question... dont you americans (in particular blacks) have anything better to do with your life besides complaining about the price of the black barbie? lol
ReplyI find it hilarious that there is even any discussion about this. And Cindy, you are saying consumers are racist? That's fucking retarded. Firstly, you don't know the demographics for the area in which the store is located, so you cannot just assume that they are white and being racist. Secondly, Wal-mart is being greedy? Also retarded. If they were greedy, they would be RAISING prices rather than lowering them. I am not sure how well you are versed in economics (although judging by your intuitive post you must be an expert) but one of the first principles explained in an intro class is the idea of supply and demand. That is what is used to govern prices in an open market, not racist people. Just because it did not sell doesn't mean consumers are racist. I mean I know my sisters and all the girls I know always wanted white dolls when they were kids. This was not because they were racist, but rather that they wanted a doll representative of them. White girls want white dolls, NOT RACIST. Why do you think there are black Barbies anyways. I can assure you it is not because white people demanded them. Obviously black people wanted a doll that was representative of them. Anyways, I hope some of you tards out there maybe can look past the coincidental fact that the product in question is a minority Barbie.
ReplyBrilliant.
ReplyYes. Thank you for helping to restore my faith in the human race.
ReplyIt's funny how there seem to be two main responses to this story. One side seems to be arguing that Walmart's price-reduction reflects is attitude towards black people and the other claims that this is purely an economic issue. No one thinks that it might be an economic issue that reflects a deeper problem in society? No? I guess that would require stepping outside of the "liberal" vs "conservative" arena, huh?
ReplyWhy can't all you people just get on with each other ... it doesn't matter if you're black, white, brown or yellow ?! We need more love in this world !!! A UK citizen
ReplyWe can't all get along because that is an idealist dream that is totally unachievable because our country has absurdly embraced political correctness, which further highlights racial distinction. Everyone is so concerned with accidentally offending someone that they lose sight of reality. Last time i checked, we support freedom of speech and expression, not censoring things to be more pleasant. Liberals need to stop tiptoeing through the tulips with people too stupid and weak to realize that this implementation of bullshit is actually compounding their problems by highlighting racial differences and making the majority resent minorities because of the everyday bullshit they are forced to comply with. Say it how it is; if you're offended, too bad. Deal with it and stop being such a weak, whiny, little bitch. It enfuriates me to the point of nausea that such a large portion of our populace has become a bunch of spineless pussies too concerned with appeasement to actually function efficiently in society. If any good comes out of this troublesome economy, it will be that people will begin to realize that the PC age is the result of some pretentious assholes with an asinine idea of making everyone happy. Clearly this is unattainable and idealist. Hopefully, we will begin to reverse the crippling effects of PC bovine excrement.
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