Stores call this a lost leader, I believe.
They make NOTHING on the sale. But, that's the point: draw people into the store. People rushing to iPads go "woah--TJMAXX has x/y/z and with the money I saved I'll buy it here." Or people will come in for the first time and go "WOAH! TJMAXX is the sorta place I never knew existed, and I need this stuff."
It's a smart move on many levels.
They make NOTHING on the sale. But, that's the point: draw people into the store. People rushing to iPads go "woah--TJMAXX has x/y/z and with the money I saved I'll buy it here." Or people will come in for the first time and go "WOAH! TJMAXX is the sorta place I never knew existed, and I need this stuff."
It's a smart move on many levels.