Controversy on Pricing of Barbie Dolls

Controversy is brewing over reports that Walmart is selling a black Barbie doll for less than the price of what the white doll is being sold for, reports ABC News.

Photos on Guanabee.com show that the black doll, Ballerina Theresa Barbie doll, and the Ballerina Barbie doll, which is white, are sold side by side. But the price of the black Barbie is $3.00, while the white Barbie doll is being sold for $5.93.

The photos were taken at a Walmart in Louisiana, says Guanabee.com

Walmart told ABC News that the chain needed to clear space for new seasonal products, consequently marking down the prices of many items.

In an e-mail to ABC News, Walmart spokeswoman Melissa O’Brien said, “To prepare for spring inventory, a number of items are marked for clearance…. Both are great dolls. The red price sticker indicates that this particular doll was on clearance when the photo was taken, and though both dolls were priced the same to start, one was marked down due to its lower sales to hopefully increase purchase from customers.”

"Pricing like items differently is a part of inventory management in retailing," O'Brien added in the email.

To read more about the topic and how race plays more of an issue in toys, head to ABC News.com