Currys Price Promise

[laroc]

Outside my local Currys store there is a large sign which says it will beat any price offered by the likes of Comet, John Lewis and a host of others. Classic Price Promise.

They would even offer 10% back on the difference

I was after a Washing Machine: Currys Price £199, Dixons Price £179.

When I asked the assistant if they would keep to their Price Promise and sell me their Washing Machine at the Dixons Price, I got a flat refusal.

"No" she said, "We do not sell ay Dixons Prices"

I mentioned considering both Currys and Dixons are part of DSG Retail it was ridiculous.

I was told Dixons had just a few shops and were very small, so they could compete with theri overheads.

Not dettered, I asked another sales assistant:- this time I was told " Because Dixons was so large they could buy in bulk, Currys couldnt compete on price.

Two totally different stories.

 

Locally the Currys warehouse is at Thetfod in Norfolk, when I asked the sales assistant where the Dixons warehouse was they didnt know - I suspect its the same place.

So there we are, their Price Promise is not worth the poster its written on !!!

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Hi

Yes I agree these price promises are simply a con, companies won't pay, I expect in small print there will be a reference to terms and conditions

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Spiceskull]

I wouldn't take this lying down...but then again I am a belligerent so and so. Take a photograph of the price promise sign, and check the small print. I seem to remember that the "offer" applies to stores in "...a 20 mile radius..." or something like that...

 

Then take a picture of the price tickets in the two different stores...and show them photographic proof instore. If they still refuse to honour the promise then ask to see the manager...and if he still won't back down threaten to report them to trading standards.

 

Effectively they are offering a machine for sale at a price less than the one on the ticket (original price £199, offer price £179 plus money back)

 

Trading Standards do not like companies that overcharge their customers...

[Bookworm]

You ARE a belligerent so-and-so... but you're also of course absolutely correct, and I would do exactly the same. I am sick of companies trying to lure customers under promises they have no intention of keeping.

[Spiceskull]

Oh, some research:

 

Judge backs Currys

Currys con

 

The moral of the story is that the two products must be identical in EVERY respect.

 

My own (somewhat cynical) guess is that as Currys and Dixons are both part of DSG, then the two stores will offer "similar" products, perhaps only differing in colour, so that one or the other can tempt the consumer and allow them to weasel out of the promise...

 

The absolute cynic in me would back the argument that as the two products are priced differently, then by definition they are not identical, and therefore not included in the offer...that really is a case of cause being effect, a recursive loop, a Catch 22, but logically it is flawless...and an argument that I expect they would try to use, if indeed thay have not done so already...

[Spiceskull]

On second thoughts, it is summed up well on Money Saving Expert:

I agree with Martin completely on this. Price promises are usually just an insult to your intelligence. If there is a retailer who is offering a lower price, then I would rather reward them with my business. Why bother with all the hassle of proving to retailer A that retailer B is selling for £5, has it in stock, is within x miles, etc, etc? If B is cheaper, just buy from them.

[MARTIN3030]

Thread moved here.

[gyzmo]

You mentioned in the OP that the offer related to goods sold by certain stores. Was the store where you saw it cheaper mentioned? If not, then you have no chance.

 

They do have to draw thinks like this to your attention. It is obvious that you are aware of it. I do not see any problem.

But as stated by others, price match promises are, imho, fools gold.

[laroc]

Just to confirm my previous message about Currys - the two machines were identical even down to the description and graphics on their respective web pages.

I personally think Price Promises are not worth the cardboard they are written on.

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Hi

 

Did you purchase the item, you could write a letter of complaint to the branch manager, listing the facts and asking for your discount.

Why not also complain to your Local TS department, if the offers are still running they may be able to take some action.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[UK26]

Hi if you read the terms of the price promise.

 

It only applys to local stores and does not match Internet Prices.

 

Dixon is a online company only now, and at a few airports.

 

However, you can use the reserve and collect on Dixons website, and collect from a currys store at the dixons price.

 

Regards

 

Dave

[UK26]

and yes, Dixons and Currys, PC World stock comes from the same warehouse.

[AsherR]

The Price Promise applies when a local RETAIL store has the EXACT same item in stock either available for delivery or to take on the day.

 

You'd be hard pressed to find a local Dixons store I'm afraid. The reason we don't price match Dixons is because it is now (barring a few exceptions) run online. So yes you will get charged less for your product, BUT here is the catch.

 

Washing machine, Dixons price £259.95, Currys price £279.95

 

That same washer will be £279.95 on Currys.co.uk and more than likely be FREE to deliver. In store delivery charges are £19.95 for your SDA's and £5 for each additional item with no extra charge to take your old item away. If you mention politely that the item can be delivered for free online, we will match our own website.

 

Not only that, Dixons will charge you £20 for the delivery, then £10 for every item you want recycling.

 

Obviously this is just a guesstimation on the prices but it'll be similar, and if you came into a Currys store you'd get a chance to actually see the product before you bought it and have a chat to a collegue about whether or not it's right for you (yes I know no Currys sales assistants know what they're talking about because we just want to take money from you and push you for that 5yr WEH cover, or so it would seem everybody thinks)

[labrat]

On second thoughts, it is summed up well on Money Saving Expert:

 

 

I agree with Martin completely on this. Price promises are usually just an insult to your intelligence. If there is a retailer who is offering a lower price, then I would rather reward them with my business. Why bother with all the hassle of proving to retailer A that retailer B is selling for £5, has it in stock, is within x miles, etc, etc? If B is cheaper, just buy from them.

 

price promises are quite usefull sometimes i always run the gauntlet between gamestation and game winding staff up as i go just to get better trade in prices on games..

 

last set went from £32 - £39 then back to £46 at then first store again

[Renzokuken]

Just to clarify a bit more on what AsherR just said.

 

Local to DSGi means within 10 miles of the store or less. So basicly if your on a retail park, or in a big city you can forget them matching unless you obtain a printout from a store stating it's the EXACT same model, in stock and within 10 miles. Not sure if a printout applies to all stores, but it's standard practice in the one I work in.

 

Most stores will match the currys website, very few will match the PCWorld or Dixons websites not because they can't but because the management frown upon it.

[petert]

On Curry's website Currys shop online for appliances, laptops, televisions, MP3 players, sat nav, digital cameras and camcorders, games consoles and more they say that they will price match Argos's online items which are available for immediate delivery.

I have been trying to buy a new washer dryer from Curry's, and Argos have the hotpoint washer dryer WDD 960 A for about £100 less. Curry's refused to price match because Argos say they will deliver in 7 to 21 days time (but wont provide a delivery slot until ordering) and Currys say, after a very long phone call , that is not an "immediate delivery".

As I understand it, Argos never deliver white goods any quicker than that. Surely this means that Currys will never price match Argos' white goods online - so their policy is a sham...

BTW - I just bought the washer drier from Argos...

[Renzokuken]

On Curry's website Currys shop online for appliances, laptops, televisions, MP3 players, sat nav, digital cameras and camcorders, games consoles and more they say that they will price match Argos's online items which are available for immediate delivery.

I have been trying to buy a new washer dryer from Curry's, and Argos have the hotpoint washer dryer WDD 960 A for about £100 less. Curry's refused to price match because Argos say they will deliver in 7 to 21 days time (but wont provide a delivery slot until ordering) and Currys say, after a very long phone call , that is not an "immediate delivery".

As I understand it, Argos never deliver white goods any quicker than that. Surely this means that Currys will never price match Argos' white goods online - so their policy is a sham...

BTW - I just bought the washer drier from Argos...

 

7 to 21 days for white goods to be delivered is a bit extreme. It seems to me like they were actualy out of stock and had forward ordered you one for delivery hence why they wouldn't give you a date for delivery and why we wouldn't price match. We as a store are told never to price match websites, unless it's one from our company, and even then it's frowned upon unless it's currys own site.

 

Websites operate purely out of warehouses most of the time, therefor don't need shops, have less staff, and lower running costs and can offer products at lower prices. We don't match them because it's unfair to expect a shop where you have people you can deal with face to face, match a warehouse and it's call center. In our defence, if you bought for example a CD player off amazon, and one from currys, who do you think is going to offer you a replacement if something is broken out of the box, us, with our face to face swap, or amazon with there RMA system and restocking fees?

 

I had a woman come in to the shop and have a go at me today because I wouldn't price-match a DVD Recorder from the comet next door without a printout. She then continued to kick off when I told her that she would have to get her own printout because I couldn't leave the shop.. on what is one of our busiest days of the year. What does she expect me to do, knock money off stuff without a shred of proof to show my boss?

 

Just goes to show that it's not just currys staff who are in the wrong here. Most customers don't understand that we will happly match something, so long as you bring some proof of price with you, and it's a shop within ten miles, and not a website. Also, may I add that it's 10% of the difference not just 10% off. The amount of people who have given me grief because they can't read a massive sign properly is unreal I tell you.

Edited December 28, 2008 by Renzokuken

[petert]

Renzokuken - thats fair - a Curry's store wouldn't price match a website. However, what I was saying is that the Curry's website wont price match another website (Argos) for this washer dryer when Argos is listed as an online store that Currys will price match against. I see this as false advertising, but since I didn't buy the product from Currys I don't believe I can go to Trading Standards...

[petert]

An update - Argos are delivering tomorrow - thats 7 calendar days after I ordered from them online over new year, so 3 working days (I'm in Scotland) from order to delivery. I would say that that is "immediate" in anyones book for "white goods"!

[flyingdoc]

My feeling is that if a store can PRICE MATCH another stores lower prices, THEN THEY WERE TRYING TO RIP YOU OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE by charging you more.

It really irritates me when someone says "if you can find it cheaper locally we will match the price" - I immeditaely take my custom elsewhere.