A Nordic(ware) Tale

Have you seen these beautiful cake mold pans from Nordicware? Those castle, heart, and maple leaf ones? Especially the maple leaf ones? Those are sooooo cute! Well, I finally did last year at Walmart in one of their clearance aisles. So the stalking began...

In most places, these puppies command a retail of up to $40 (ok, $39.99), but of course Walmart, touted as the "Low Prices" King of retail, managed to slap on a decent $24.97 tag on the maple leaf molds. Did I jump at that $15 difference? Of course not! It's only close to 40% off, but not quite at 37% (see Trade Secret #5), so NO, I didn't get it! (Did you think I would though, huh? Huh?)

Back to Walmart, November 2008... So right after Thanksgiving, I saw three of these Nordicware molds on clearance- $24.97 down to $19.97 ($5 off)- NO!

Almost Christmas, scoped out the last two- $19.97 down to $17.97 ($2 off)- NO! (The beautiful and smart "Brain" firmly set the "grab it" price at $12.50 and lower. I listen to her a lot!)

Yesterday... surprised to see the last one in the clearance aisle in between two badly chipped Autumn ceramic bowls-without a tag (you'll see). I quickly grabbed it ("Brain" said so) and hoped for the nearest price scanner (NONE btw, Walmart is technologically backwards from Target!). Mr. Man and I-Dude, our son, (he needed more meds, so we took him out of the house) head out to grab some windshield wipers for the van. I looked for them and found an associate.

NO, I didn't tell her that I've been stalkin' this one; I was nice and asked if they can find me a price for it so I can decide if I should buy it or not. She was very helpful. After a few minutes (ok, more like 10), another lady approached me and said, "We have no tag, but it's regularly $17.97, $18.00 regular."

("Nope, $24.97, I've been stalkin' remember?" "Shh! Brain, she'll hear you!").

She then told me that since it's clearance she'll give it to me for 50% off or $8.

("Half of $18 is 9!" "Hush Brain!")

I didn't say anything, but considered it so she asked me if I can show her where I found it. Along the way, we met up with the store manager and he was with another associate who addressed everyone as "Honey" (I later found out she was also a manager). She kept interrupting the manager and further explained that Thanksgiving items do not go lower than 50% off. That's just how it's been.

("Wrong again! Texas Walmarts (plural) shopper, I am , I am..." "Brain, shush!")

The store manager asked, "How much was the regular price? My lovely helper, replies, "$17 just like the hearts. I offered her $8, but she won't take it."

("$17? Back there, you said, $18! Which one is it?" "Brain, keep it down- shhh!")

He then says, "Oh right, those heart mold pans, they're similar. I thought they were heart shapes , but no, it's maple leaves, so yeah, it would be on Clearance."

("Hello! This is a Nordicware, don't compare those tin cans to this piece of art! How dare you?" "Brain, stop it! We know that, but they don't!")

(Faced me) "I'll give it to you 50% off, or (looking at my helper) $8, that's about right". The lady who explained things to me about their Thanksgiving clearance policy, she pipes in with, "Honey, listen. If you want to be precise, $7.50 is half of $17. So, $7.50. The store manager and the helper agreed.

("Brain" was waiting patiently for when these people would catch on. Nope, didn't happen...)

("Brain" says, if you can stop yourself from laughing, here's more...)

I said, "No, thank you. I've watched those since the day after Thanksgiving. It should've been marked down to 50% off then, and since it's February now and it's the LAST ONE, it should be marked down more." The "honey, listen" lady starts to walk away and says, "No, 50% is a good deal, I'd buy it for that or $7.50 (from her regular calculation of $17).

What did I do? (with "Brain" laughing in my head?)

I let them all walk away and then I let "Brain" kick in and declare that if they're willing to give it to me for $7.50, "I guess I'll take it." (looking like I gave in because I really want it- I did want it, but I didn't give i-iiinnnnnn...)

So off we go to get approval of the new price and said mold pan was checked out by "Honey, listen" lady, not knowing that "Brain" is celebrating up in my head.

$24.97 down to $7.50; that actually calculates to a...
70% off savings!!! Yeah!

(Thanks, "Brain" for shushing and "Mouth" for keeping quiet.)

And now... (drum roll, please) Presenting... (tan-tan-tan-tannnnnnn!) (pause for effect)


Nordicware Maple Leaf Mold Cake Pan!

(See the shmootz? That's from the missing tag)

She's a beaut, isn't she? All, 7 dollars and 50 cents of her! :-D)

(It's a little fuzzy, but you can see the new price)

Psst! (whispering) "Does this little scenario remind you of a certain TV show? If you knew which one I mean, the answer is... I am! I am!"