Many years ago (about 45) I was the Controller for Ebonite Bowling in Hopkinville Ky. At that time the lowest quality balls went to the big box stores. Product engraving was the last thing done. Quality was determined by the centering of the inside weight as well as cosmetic. When filing a big box order the lowest quality was first and quality progressed upwards until the order was complete. If you purchased a ball at a pro shop you would always get the best bowling ball. If you purchased at a big box store you might get the lowest quality or a high quality ball.

I agree with those that have focused on the part number/SKU. If a big chain is having a manufacturer build a gun, scope, appliance to a price point by using cheaper woods, etc, there will be a suffix on the item that is different. I'd say it's mostly BS to justify markup by "real" gun stores. That certainly may be worth it if you have a great relationship with a store or they have an expert gunsmith in the back. OTOH: If the plan is simply that they will send problems back to the manufacturer...

I have a great little sportsman 78. Remington 700 in 223. Bolt knob not checkered, cheaper birch stock with no checkering in the wood and no bottom metal release of rounds and pencil barrel. Great little field rifle in that caliber. I have been offered to sell it unsolicited multiple times at the range people think its so nifty and quirky. I think they were sold at Kmart or Gemco for a few years around 85.

Never mind the glenfield /Marlins I have. See those much much more often for sale so cheaply. Starting to thing they made 2-3x as many as marlin branded. I’d love to get a western auto branded 336.

When doing a massive remodel on our prior house we’d go to home depot and lowes and wife would look at the plumbing fixtures and there was subtle differences in what even HD and lowes were selling in same maker Moen for example.

quote:

Do K’Mart and WalMart qualify as department stores?

Other than cheaper merchandise, they are functionally no different, and have replaced quite a few of them. Including Kmart.

I've heard that the tires on new vehicles are inferior to those you buy at a retail store. I doubt it's true. There's always some kind of conspiracy story out there about any and everything you can think of.
There's no doubt that retailers had special versions of products built to different price points, but they were noticeably different and with different numbers.