I reckon OVERCHARGING customers is the new way to turn a profit…! Dont take my word for it; check out my situation below:
So, after my DVD player and DVD/HDD recorder die at the same time, and my Fiancée throws the remote at the wall just in case there was a glimmer or hope it may still work; i decided to research a little and see what i should get to replace them… So, after checking the usual JB HI-FI, Hardley Normal, Big W (Not sure why i tried them, but needless to say ill never get those 4 1/2 minutes back) i tried my luck with The Good Guys.. After looking for 10 mins, i decided to dual screen their site and Google and match up features and benefits of each product, pros/cons and then come up with the product i will choose…
Everyone does that; right…?
So, I set my heart on this little $404 number… An LG (They have always been good to me before, usually lasting 4-5 years..) HDD/3D Blueray player… It was on clearance (HOT DIGGITY) and looked like the best model for what I needed it for…. To keep my fiancée occupied whilst i play League of Legends of course… :S
We go into the store; locate the department and find the same model for $489… Ummm, What the Fuck…? I look around… No hidden “Gotcha” camera’s, nobody really taking alot of interest, so i grab my phone and try to find it online again… After 5 mins, i confirm i was right; and approach the Staff member.. He confirms the Internet price, and gives it to me for that… No fuss… After getting that and some Wavey Hair Iron thing my missus grabbed, we’re out the door…
But… BACK THE TRUCK UP……! Why was their internet price different to the in-store price…? The Internet page was set to the store i went into. It was the same Company. Same Model. Same EVERYTHING.. Why the price difference…?
I have come to the conclusion; that it is their attempt to rip people off that dont investigate their options before coming into the store… It scanned at $489… It had to be manually overridden.. It required intervention to fix… Ergo; they tried to rip me off. I wonder how many other times people have stolen straight from my mouth/pocket….? Next thing i know i will need to consult choice magazine to see who has the cheapest tinned tomato’s…
For the record… Coles…
What do you reckon…? Am I delusional???
This gives me the shits… Imagine how many people are being caught out (ripped off) by paying the “asking price.” If you hadn’t seen the online price, you would have asked “hey mate, what’s the best deal you can do on that LG?” He would offer it to you for $450, and you walk out thinking you got a good deal. Criminals…
It would be like going to Bali and paying their asking price of $200 for a Bintang singlet. I ended up paying a buck fifty and probably still could have got it for less.
That’s what I reckon.
It’s funny how these department stores are now plugging all their low prices, like is something special. It’s only that thanks to online shopping, more and more people are becoming aware that we have been taken for a ride for so long.
A canon 5D M3, a DSLR that I want but havent yet decided I need, is $4000 at Ted’s camera house, and a similar price at other camera stores around the place. Online, through my favourite grey-market importer, it is $3500. No points for guessing where my $500 is going.
The same goes for my running shoes, that Mikey knows love so much (even <3 them). How can they be $220 at athlete's foot, when I can order them from a UK website for just under $90? and at $90, they are still making money.
We have been taken for a ride for too long, good to know people are realising.
The only way to afford shopping at Athlete’s foot is to chop off your left foot; trade it into the nice person behind the till; then just pay for the shoe you need… You will still end up paying $100…