John Lewis "Never knowly undersold" - annoyed

isplumm

Hi,

Last weekend we went into Southampton JL to look at HD TVs.

We bought one for £800.

During the discussions - which went on for 20 minutes, we were told about the "Knowlingly undersold" policy. We told & I quote "that if we found the item sold cheaper by a shop, within 28 days, then we could have price difference". Also would not match internet prices.

So on this basis, we bought the TV.

Next day, I discovered that a local shop had for £699 - so I thought - good - call JL, get £100. No probs I thought!! How wrong can you be!!:mad:

Turns out that the actually agreement is that it must be on display - no mention was made of this at all!!! I recieved letter inpost, with leaflet showing t&cs ...

My attitude is that what the sales assitant told me at the time of purchase was the contract between JL & me - I don't see how they can add clauses after the event??

I am going to write a letter, but wandering what people thought?

Thanks Mark

stugib

Doesn't help you now, but I believe JL's price match policy is so full of gotchas that it rarely ever gets applied. There's always some reason they can't do it.

Regardless of the problems of actually proving he said it, then personally, I don't think you'll get anywhere. I see it as different to, say, a sales assistant telling you a product is fit for a particular purpose when it isn't, as that would form an additional part of a contract in addition to any terms of the sale. The JL advisor was giving you a summary of the policy, and wouldn't have to power to amend the terms, which were probably available in-store somewhere. It's usually posted up on a wall somewhere.

isplumm

Hi,

Thanks - thought that - but have realised that all I have to do is find any store that has the TV on display & get JL to check. The company who are cheaper are a national chain - so there is hope!!

But I am still going to write a strongly worded letter to boss of store.

Mark

hollydays

Empire Direct have a few stores called edelectrical-they are usually cheaper than JL if you have one near-but there are only a few.jl are known to pricematch with them.

vikingaero

JL's price match policy is sometimes long winded. You have to tell an assistant who fills in some details and this is sent off for approval before the price match is agreed.

But the problem with JL is that they give a good 5 year guarantee on all their TVs whereas most retailers only give 1-3 years so it's hard to price match them because their guarantees/warranties are better.

moonrakerz

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2817915/John-Lewis-changes-Never-Knowingly-Undersold-promise.html

KILL_BILL

i thought the jl policy refers to the item actually being in stock by the competitor in question
some shops down have the floor space to show all the tv's etc like a large store like john lewis is able to

even richer sounds who most of their business is tvs andav equipement cant put out all their tv coz they dont have enough floor space

i would raise that with jl in relating to having floor space to show all tv

Blacksheep1979

Their t&c's state that the item must be in stock, on display and the price must be shown - it's bull really as they know full well that they're always undersold on most of their TV's

Becles

I tried to claim after I bought a home cinema system from John Lewis in Newcastle and saw it cheaper in a store in Gateshead Metrocentre.

For some reason John Lewis sent a staff member to a branch in London and because the home cinema system was not on display in the London branch, I couldn't have the difference.

Next time I was in the Metrocentre, I checked and it was still on sale in there.

I thought that was a bit unfair to be honest.

oilit

as mentioned earlier, JL always gives a longer warranty on many electrical items, so your not comparing the same offering, hence they often are more expensive at sticker price, but the competitor doesnt offer the same warranty - so your claim is invalid.


I actually think this is fair, the JL warranties are very good, and you dont have the BS of dealing with 'warranties with no value are us UK PLC'

Lesson I guess is do your research on prices before you go to the shop!

KILL_BILL

oilit wrote: »

as mentioned earlier, JL always gives a longer warranty on many electrical items, so your not comparing the same offering, hence they often are more expensive at sticker price, but the competitor doesnt offer the same warranty - so your claim is invalid.


I actually think this is fair, the JL warranties are very good, and you dont have the BS of dealing with 'warranties with no value are us UK PLC'

Lesson I guess is do your research on prices before you go to the shop!

but considering the 5 year gurantee is pretty worthless nowadays. people have conned onto the 6 year sales of goods act and that a tv at their prices should last more than the 1 year standard manufacture warranty