Woman surprised to see clothes ‘better than Nordstrom’ at Tampa Walmart. But people noticed something else: ‘Were those dynamic pricing boards?!?’
A woman took a chance on Walmart and found some “really cute” basics available in store, including dupes for Anthropologie joggers and some Nordstrom basics. But, commenters were paying way more attention to the prices of the basics rather than the cute apparel.
That’s because TikToker Rachael Brownfield (@rsbrownfield) may have accidentally stumbled across the store’s “dynamic pricing boards,” which commenters were extremely concerned about. While the TikTok video garnered 209,000 views, many viewers were focused on the electronic price tags that Brownfield panned over—not the fact that Walmart has “game” now.
So, has Walmart actually implemented dynamic pricing?
How does dynamic pricing work?
Walmart has sought to expand electronic tags across 2,300 stores by the end of 2026, which would inevitably change the way that shoppers purchase items in-store. One of consumers’ biggest concerns is that the implementation of these electronic tags will lead the corporation to adopt dynamic pricing. And while there’s no evidence to say that they have, it still worries many shoppers.
Dynamic pricing is a pricing strategy that thousands of businesses have adopted in recent years, partially because it allows for more flexibility in the market space. Essentially, dynamic pricing means that businesses can adjust their pricing based on consumer trends, data analytics, and other values. Many dynamic pricing models are driven by artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning models, which allow companies to automatically set prices based on contextual and environmental factors.
For instance, a war that affects the price of an item might lead to a dynamic price tag automatically adjusting. If a product is in surplus, that price might also be lower. So, it’s a model that could theoretically save time and labor costs when it comes to pricing adjustments.
But many people see dynamic pricing as a nefarious change that will negatively impact consumers. If a store wants to sell baby formula at a higher price on Tuesdays, for instance, it can technically set it automatically. Consumers interpret this change as giving companies greater flexibility to increase prices for any number of reasons.
Does dynamic pricing actually affect Walmart’s apparel section?
Viewers had every right to be concerned about the electronic tags in Walmart’s apparel section. But, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the store is implementing dynamic pricing.
Electronic tags like the ones seen in Brownfield’s video aren’t necessarily programmed with dynamic pricing. As previously reported, Walmart hasn’t implemented any dynamic pricing initiatives yet. Instead, stores across the country have introduced electronic tags.
What about Brownfield’s original video? Does Walmart have great clothing picks?
For those more interested in the basics, there’s still plenty of information from Brownfield and viewers to learn more.
For one, commenters pointed out that the items Brownfield was eyeing were from a designer called Brandon Maxwell. Maxwell became Walmart’s creative director in 2021, bringing “elevated fashion” to stores across the country for two Walmart brands—Free Assembly and Scoop. Since Maxwell began his role, many people have noticed a noticeable difference in the styling and quality of Walmart brand apparel. The clothing is now considered “designer-driven” and more chic.
Scoop and Free Assembly notably offer affordable options for organic cotton and polyester clothing. That’s something that consumers seem to favor in comparison to higher-priced options.
@rsbrownfield Did not know @Walmart had game like this #fashion #fashiontiktok #shopping #opinion #rachreceipts @Anthropologie @Nordstrom ♬ original sound – Rachael
The Mary Sue reached out to Walmart and Brownfield via email for more information.
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