JL Pricematch Rubbish

[anuvid]

So JL want £ 1795 for the Panasonic TH42PE50WAL, with free dvd recorder. I find it online at rgbdirect.co.uk for £ 1332. I phone them for their store price and am told add £ 20, so £ 1352 plus £ 39 delivered. On the phone to JL.

JL come back and say they travelled to the store and there was no displayed price and when they asked they were told £ 1795 plus £ 179 for installation.

Excuse me ?

I ring JL and ask what's going on. I explain that I didn't ask for installation just delivery. They claim they don't price match haggling and I must have haggled to get them down to 1350.

I explain I didn't haggle. In fact I simply asked the price in store.

JL then tell me they have problems with rgbdirect price matches all the time, as RGB chance it with you in store asking for £ 1795 but if you mention you've seen the web price they'll drop their price.

What a bunch of cobblers to wiggle out of price matching.

What's the best price anyone's found in a store for the TH42PE50WAL ? I would prefer JL for the 5 year warranty but I'm not paying Hi Def prices for it.

 

[wildysax]

Hi Anuvid, Av Sales are doing it for £1,612.89 including delivery

 

[anuvid]

Thanks Wildysax. TBH would rather pay 1800 with the 5 year warranty. Was hoping for at least 300-400 off. Most online retailers do it at under £ 1400, but would settle for a bit more - JL insist it's from a shop, not an online retailer.

 

[neilmcl]

Anuvid, what's the problem, John Lewis are quite clear about the price matching policy. They clearly state that they will only match against the "shelf-edge price" of the comparison store not one that's been verbally agreed or otherwise. They're not trying to wiggle out of anything.

 

[anuvid]

The problem, neilmcl is that rgbdirect told me on the phone that £ 1352 was their 'shelf edge' price, and the fact that all online retailers do this set for under £ 1400 and that the three or four department stores that do it offer it at £ 1800 smells of price fixing. I know a thing or two about business. £ 400 is far too wide of a margin. And as you can't collect the item from a JL store or indeed Comet or anyone else, they have no excuse for not having an online price vs an instore price.

Well now I'm wondering why you're rushing to JL's defence.

 

[Faust]

Anuvid, what's the problem, John Lewis are quite clear about the price matching policy. They clearly state that they will only match against the "shelf-edge price" of the comparison store not one that's been verbally agreed or otherwise. They're not trying to wiggle out of anything.

I had the same problem with JL. I even took a picture of an LCD in Richer Sounds complete with price tag, the price being much cheaper than the price JL were asking. The looked at the picture and said that Richer Sounds was not one of the stores they price matched as Richer Sounds prices were unreliable. The store assistant then showed me a list of companies they won't price match, which was just about everyone. I think JL have lost a lot of money on this practice in the past and are now seeking to distance themselves from price matching.

 

[neilmcl]

The problem, neilmcl is that rgbdirect told me on the phone that £ 1352 was their 'shelf edge' price, and the fact that all online retailers do this set for under £ 1400 and that the three or four department stores that do it offer it at £ 1800 smells of price fixing. I know a thing or two about business. £ 400 is far too wide of a margin. And as you can't collect the item from a JL store or indeed Comet or anyone else, they have no excuse for not having an online price vs an instore price.

Well now I'm wondering why you're rushing to JL's defence.

The surely that's the fault of RGBDirect giving you a price that's not clearly marked in store. There is no big conspiracy by JL, I and many others on this forum have managed to get good savings from them of £400 and more by simply following the terms of their published information.

The general rul of thumb is not to deal with the shop assistants and just phone direct and stick to your guns.

 

[the highlander]

i got JL GLASGOW to price-match CRAMTON& MOORE a few months ago and didn't have a problem they have a shop and on line and JL will price-math them .

 

[anuvid]

I appreciate your comments Faust. In fact I think if you have a set list of people you'll price match with, this is definitely indicative of price fixing.

My other objection still stands. The reason you can charge more for having a shop is your overheads. Now I can't walk into JL or Comet or Dixons and pay for a plasma and walk out with it. Therefore, by definition they should absolutely price match the online price of other companies, because they're selling online. In fact they do a deal with the plasma I want and a particular DVD recorder which is only available online.

 

[anuvid]

Good call Highlander. It's £ 1399 on Compton and Moore's site too. Would that be online only or instore too ?

 

[SeaneyC]

Now I can't walk into JL or Comet or Dixons and pay for a plasma and walk out with it. Therefore, by definition they should absolutely price match the online price of other companies, because they're selling online. In fact they do a deal with the plasma I want and a particular DVD recorder which is only available online.

Since when was walking into the shop and paying for something considered online? I don't see the problems with JL myself, you get the 5 year warranty, and a delivery company who i have always seem reliable and professional (IE their own) If you don't like the price - Don't shop there. Why are you insistant it comes from JL, is it because you like the fact that it's a bricks and mortar store

 

[tscotsman]

I got JL Aberdeen to price match HIFI Confiential, it was my very first price match, getting 42Pv500 with pedestal stand for £2259 with 5 year warranty, couldnt have been easier, used the advice on this forum, so thanks everyone for saving me £358 thanks.

 

[the highlander]

Good call Highlander. It's £ 1399 on Compton and Moore's site too. Would that be online only or instore too ?

both mate

 

[anuvid]

SeaneyC I understand what you're saying, but what I'm saying still holds water. Comet, Dixons and Currys all have online prices and instore prices. I'm quite happy to order from JL online, the prices are the same both ways. I can see I'm on a losing wicket here - and I am having a think about whether I'm being too harsh with JL, but I'm surprised that so few people have a problem with price fixing.

 

[anuvid]

NeilMCL I didn't deal with an assistant. I phoned JL Bluewater and spoke to someone who passed my details onto undersales.

 

[peterho]

Hi Anuvid,You can walk out with it I pricematched JL with crampton and moore and saved £500 on my hitachi 7200,but they would not deliver as I live 30 miles away,so I borrowed a van and collected it myself from Sheffield.I dealt direct with the undersales team in Sheffield.

 

[the highlander]

go into JL don't phone them tell them you are willing to deal today on the set you are looking at , then bring out a piece of paper with C&M phone number on and the price they are selling it for tell them you will order today if they will price-match for you.( bullsh*t mode on )
also tell them that you really like JL and what it stands for and how they have a good name point out you would rather spend the money here as you like to help the local economy ( bullsh*t mode off ) they will take the paper from you call C&m ask if they have any in stock and then they will ask the price , if it all matches up you will be on a winner ( don't take any **** from them that you will have to return tomorrow to get the answer, point out you will deal today and today only )

 

[Not A Clue]

The problem, neilmcl is that rgbdirect told me on the phone that £ 1352 was their 'shelf edge' price, and the fact that all online retailers do this set for under £ 1400 and that the three or four department stores that do it offer it at £ 1800 smells of price fixing. I know a thing or two about business. £ 400 is far too wide of a margin. And as you can't collect the item from a JL store or indeed Comet or anyone else, they have no excuse for not having an online price vs an instore price.

Well now I'm wondering why you're rushing to JL's defence.

Online has always been cheaper - its the nature of the industy - be it banking or retail. Companies know customers are willing to pay a premium for the face-to-face brick & mortar sale...so they'll charge for it. Its not price fixing, just a fact of life.

Also this price matching thing is a pain the backside - when I tried to get comet to do it the conversation went "Hello JS Camcorders, Hi this is comet and we are phoning about a price match....click...............hello?", I wonder if some of these online retailers state higher prices when they know its john lewis just so they don't lose the custom.

Anyhow I got my 42pe50wal bought & delivered for £1300 from Empiredirect (though that was in a sale a couple of weeks ago)...you may want to have a look there

 

[anuvid]

Thanks all. I'll find the number for the Sheffield undersales office Peterho and HIghlander. Not a clue, JL assured me they don't reveal their identity when asking the company for a price. They claimed they went to the shop and asked as customers. Who knows what's true. Empiredirect obviuously don't have the 5 year warranty, that's my only concern.

Wondering about the PE50 at all now. Maybe I need something with PC input and HDMI.

 

[tjradiohead]

How can it be price fixing when it is only one chain??

I got JL to price match, and it saved me £500.

 

[av2diefor]

Does anyone buy from Crampton&Moore, or are they just used as a lever to get a 5 yr warranty?

TBH i feel sorry for them.

 

[neilmcl]

How can it be price fixing when it is only one chain??

I got JL to price match, and it saved me £500.

Eaxctly, the definition of price fixing is when a group of retailers get together to keep their prices artifiicially high. There's nothing wrong in John Lewis protecting their own pricing structure, like someone said earlier, if you don't like the way the operate then don't shop there. RGBDirect is one of those companies that has been notoriously difficult to price match against but there are plenty of others, like Crampton&Moore that JL will happily use. There is no fixed list.

 

[anuvid]

I think I may be buying from them soon. And to answer TJRADIOHEAD, it's not just one retailer is it ? It's a retailer who claims to price match with a fixed list of other retailers knowing the other retailers aren't any cheaper. Hence it's price fixing.

 

[anuvid]

I don't have an issue with their pricing policy. They can charge what they like. But if they're going to price match only against retailers who charge the same then don't bother advertisinh price matching. It's annoying.

 

[neilmcl]

I don't have an issue with their pricing policy. They can charge what they like. But if they're going to price match only against retailers who charge the same then don't bother advertisinh price matching. It's annoying.

These forums are full of people who have managed to get JL to offer, sometimes quite substantial, price matches. I agree sometimes they're not exactly consistent but I think you're being a bit harsh.