I went to Woolworth's in Kahala and saw "virtual pets" being sold for $15, plus 20 percent off. I decided to wait, thinking the price would drop. But when I went back a week later, the same things were being sold for $25, with 20 percent off. So you're actually paying more. Is that legal? Woolworth’s says false
discount not possibleWoolworth's denies that any item has been marked up as it closes down 400 of its stores, including all 13 in Hawaii.
The company has been using a third-party inventory company in liquidating and reducing its stock "through progressive markdowns," said spokesman Andy Romeo from the New York office.
Pricing is handled centrally through a computer system and there is no way of increasing prices as you have charged, he said. "The only way prices are changed, in terms of starting prices, is through the system. We don't have a policy of taking things up, then taking them down," Romeo said.
Woolworth's has no specific date of closing in Hawaii, he said, except that all the targeted stores will close by year's end.
Commenting in general, Jo Ann Uchida, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection, said it would be "inappropriate for a retailer to create fictitious discounts."
One example is where a "regular price" is increased, then marked down. That would be "just an illusory discount which is not appropriate under our advertising rules," she said.
What are the physical requirements for firefighters, especially for eyesight? The last notice soliciting firefighter recruits required general vision to be 20/30 in each eye with or without correction, "with uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 binocular or better" for wearers of hard contacts or glasses.
That standard should still apply, said Ed Yee, administrative officer for the Honolulu Fire Department.
But he emphasized that the department is not now recruiting. The next class to be hired probably won't be until April.
The process for hiring begins with written exams. The city has a general "rule of five," in which five names are provided for every vacancy, Yee said. The personnel office will pick names from those who passed the written test, in the order of scores.
Those chosen will then have to take a physical condition test, consisting of such events as climbing an aerial ladder; running a mile in eight minutes, swimming 100 meters in two minutes, 15 seconds; diving to the bottom of a pool and retrieving an object within 45 seconds of completing the swim; and running with a fire hose.
Those who pass that hurdle then are interviewed by fire officials. The ones finally selected will then have to pass a city medical exam, including drug screening.
To the list published Thursday, make these changes: Better Business Bureau, 536-6956; household hazardous waste line, 523-4774. Corrected numbers
To the people, including the HPD (Honolulu Police Department), who helped find my toddler at Waikiki Beach on July 4. He had slipped away and was gone for an hour. A man fishing discovered him at the end of the dock and a woman who recognized him from my description brought him to me. I don't know what would have happened if not for the kindness of these people. My son is my whole life. -- M.B. Mahalo
To two young gals who gave up their seats for us on a crowded bus near Turtle Bay Hilton. Mahalo
To Iolani School parents who cause a traffic jam by blocking the driveway to Iolani Court Plaza while waiting to pick up their kids. Please have some consideration! Auwe
