Monday, January 26, 2015
UK: Argos accused of racism after selling black and Asian dolls for £10 less than white toy despite them being exactly the same
High street chain Argos has been accused of racism after selling black and Asian dolls for £10 less than the white version of the children's toy.
The store has been branded 'unacceptable' for pricing a white doll, called 'Maria', at £34.99 - £10 more than black doll 'Naima' and Asian doll 'Yang'.
Mother-of-three Lisa O'Reilly, from South Killingholme, Lincolnshire, complained to the retailer after noticing the pricing difference while shopping for her two-year-old daughter Darcy.
The 12-inch dolls, designed for children aged 18 months and above, are made my French firm Corolle Calin.
They are described on the maker's site as having 'cuddly soft beanbag bodies, sleeping eyes and supple vinyl skin that is delicately scented with vanilla'.
Mrs O'Reilly, 32, condemned the pricing difference by Argos and said there's 'enough prejudice in the world already without battling against racist toys'.
She told The Sun's Emer Martin, Rob Pattinson and Sam Christie: 'It's unacceptable for children to think white is better or more desirable.
In a statement, he said: 'As a responsible retailer, Argos strongly refutes any suggestion of discrimination with the pricing of the Corolle Calin dolls.
'A genuine online pricing error led to one of the dolls being advertised at an incorrect price.
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7 comments:
Last month retailers were taken to task over charging more for the same type of dolls, citing production costs for lower volume specialty items. You can't win.
The seller sets the price at what customers will mostly likely be willing to pay.
Perhaps there was more demand for white dolls, and so they could charge a higher price. I don't know if that is the case, but I suggest that if they made polka-dotted dolls they might find it difficult to sell them at the same price as the monochrome dolls.
Actually, the minority dolls were priced less so that the oppressed minority members most likely to buy them could actually afford them. Think of it as a targeted subsidy!
Protesters, outraged over this slight took to the streets chanting: "Black Dolls Matter. Black Dolls Matter"
PC nonsense getting out of hand when will it all end?
All valid comments. Unfortunately, logic and common sense do not matter to those who are obsessed with finding offense and fault.
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