The Soapbox III: the Art of Price-Matching

[TF76]

I never had problems with price matching until I tried price matching Leader Brawl and I approach price matching in the exact same way you do, friendly a partner etc.

The difficulties have turned me off it a little. Maybe it was because how it was written in the Big W catalogue, there was no mention of other styles, it says movie leader as opposed to leader class and it being toy sale.

Every attempt was questioned by them stating it not being the same toy and I was denied almost instantly. On 3 attempts it was taken to the next step and Big W stores were called.

The biggest problem I had was when the Big W stores were contacted they didn’t actually look for stock and said it was only the toy pictured in the catalog or said there was no stock but I had visited the stores prior and seen 10-20.

What has turned me off is I was doing everything by the book, I was not being dishonest I was polite and I was entitled to a price match. I was treated like scum, by most of the K mart staff and made to feel ignorant and left feeling like I was trying to almost steal toys from the store.

I did eventually get to toy for about $57 but it did take 3-4 day of trying, still don’t feel like price matching any time soon.

It was a good read but thank you.

[Fungal Infection]

Whilst I don't have anything against price matching, I do have a problem with people trying to deceive a store - case in point, the movie voyager vs animated voyagers. This just shows that you're actively trying to con a store into giving you what you want rather than giving you what you are entitled to. Its deception, and if you are going to preach this to everyone, then you might as well tell everyone to do a Homer and move to the front of the queue by pretending you've got a disability. Price matching should be done with honesty, not through deception. The only exception to this however would be say if you bought a movie voyager and animated voyager and they charged you a lesser price - thats the store mistake. But to actively go to a store and claim that a animated voyager is the same as a movie voyager - that just shows a lack of moral integrity.

[Paulbot]

I agree that I don't beleive that getting Animated Voyager toys for an advertised Movie Voyager price is the right thing to do, which is why I didn't even try to price match it. My heart wouldn't be in it as I knew it wasn't a fair price match. However going to TRU and buying Movie Voyagers for the BIG W price is fair. The stores using the in stock/in store thing is pushing it, an advertised price should be enough.

[Pulse]

... Its deception...

What did you expect out of the Melbourn-aliens anyway?

Aren't they all secretly "Decepticreeps"?

[MV75]

About price matching and beating it by a % le the kmart mention, I don't really believe in that. It lets a store consistantly sell something for more, and becomes "lazy" to what a competitor is paying. They'll only lower the price to what you should be paying when you come on in and "price match".

I say forget the whole ordeal and order overseas and save even a larger crapload of dollars.

Now THAT is my "global economy" given right, and is what is the thing to send the message that we pay too much locally.
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FIVE HUNDRED

[STL]

About price matching and beating it by a % le the kmart mention, I don't really believe in that. It lets a store consistantly sell something for more, and becomes "lazy" to what a competitor is paying. They'll only lower the price to what you should be paying when you come on in and "price match".

I say forget the whole ordeal and order overseas and save even a larger crapload of dollars.

Now THAT is my "global economy" given right, and is what is the thing to send the message that we pay too much locally.

Ultimately, I think what matters most is you derive the necessary utility from the purchase. I think things like paying too much locallly are never going to send a message (which is a topic I'll explore in another column) b/c Hasbro just don't care enough.

I think we shld order o/s if we can get it cheaper and it's possible if u hang out on eBay or get massive amts of stuff shipped.

Price matching isn't an ordeal though. It's kinda fun.

Whilst I don't have anything against price matching, I do have a problem with people trying to deceive a store - case in point, the movie voyager vs animated voyagers. This just shows that you're actively trying to con a store into giving you what you want rather than giving you what you are entitled to. Its deception, and if you are going to preach this to everyone, then you might as well tell everyone to do a Homer and move to the front of the queue by pretending you've got a disability. Price matching should be done with honesty, not through deception. The only exception to this however would be say if you bought a movie voyager and animated voyager and they charged you a lesser price - thats the store mistake. But to actively go to a store and claim that a animated voyager is the same as a movie voyager - that just shows a lack of moral integrity.

I wouldn't go as far to say that there's a lacking of moral integrity. The letter of the law is "Assorted Styles" which could be construed in broad or narrow sense. A broad sense would extend it to other lines. A narrow sense confine it to the movie line. I think its best viewed as a tactic that's up your sleeve and given the predatory overpricing that we face downunder, I think the issue of morals becomes rather blurry. It's an argument of means and ends so it depends on which side you talk. If you think means are of equal relevance to ends, then there's a problem. If, like myself and others, you believe the result is that you are achieve a just result then it's okay. I'm of the school of thought that we are ridiculously overcharged and preyed upon and have no qualms are employing this as a tactic in my armoury to achieve a fair result. Thus, it depends on perspective so I think we'll just have to agree to disagree.