Currys "Always Lowering Prices"

Silent_Bob_3

We've been monitoring the "in stock" status of a Belling cooker on Currys website for the last two and half weeks as they are the only people that stock the model we wanted. Each day I'd go onto the website morning, lunchtime, evening and before bed and type in our postcode to be informed "due to high demand this item is currently unavailable".

The price of the cooker throughout this period was £349 - not a sale or reduction price etc.

Yesterday I logged on as usual to check and yes they have it in stock but low an behold the price has gone up to £499 - a rise of £150. Exactly the same in store.

Customer services were no use and couldn't explain the huge rise - a rise that is £50 more than when they first had the cooker into their stores - my mother in law bought one at £449 last October.

This is the second time this has happened to us as before Christmas there was Daewoo American style fridge freezer that was £549 but out of stock. The minute it was in stock the price went up to £799.

Just show their motto "always lowering prices" is utter garbage.

charlies_mum

Is it worth a call to Trading Standards - you never know, they might be able to do something.

mr_fishbulb

I doubt trading standards will be able to do anything. Currys can charge what they like. And their motto doesn't say they lower the prices of everything.

charlies_mum

I thought Trading Standards might be interested that they are advertising goods they don't have at one price, and then magically increasing the price once they have stock.

mr_fishbulb

Maybe, but Currys would probably say that they sold out of their stock and were unable to get more at the lower price, so put the price up.

charlies_mum

Good point, however Bob says this has happened before - it might be worth the cost of a phone call just to express his disgust.

Silent_Bob_3

mr_fishbulb wrote:

Maybe, but Currys would probably say that they sold out of their stock and were unable to get more at the lower price, so put the price up.

But to put it up £150 is ridiculous and even more ridiculous that its £50 more than when they initially had them in store. Even the price guide (clip folder) in the store had it listed at £449 but the cooker was priced up at £499.

Its the principal of it though that irks with me - and the fact that its been done on two items - one before/after Christmas and one after Christmas until now. How many others items have they done this with? Even if it had gone up £50 I'd still ber irked by it. But £150?

Thinking about it both items have been exclusive items to Currys. Conicidence? I dont think so.

Anyway I've fired off a complain to Currys and to Watchdog about what appears to be happening.

It seems to have been a blessing in disguise though as there's no timer on this cooker - something we couldnt do without. Thats £900 they could have had off us which is has been spent elsewhere instead.

Wig

The option to put the item in your basket was not available at the lower price whilst out of stock?

hjb123

Think this is how they manage to get their good offers - by having it for sale at a higher price in certain shops for certain length of tiem if you get my meaning!

Kzlnd

Currys often do this, hike up the prices a few weeks before they have a sale or promotion.

Hilarious.. 'Always lowering prices'.
Yes Currys of course you are.

Two of my family members work for Currys, not myself, they confirm this (And agree they take the pee).. A lot of their prices change on a daily basis (each morning new price tickets are displayed).

However, it isn't only Currys that does this, I've noticed it in Comet also etc etc so I'm thinking they must be able to get away with it somehow otherwise I'm sure Trading Standards would have been on to them aaages ago.

Silent_Bob_3

Wig wrote:

The option to put the item in your basket was not available at the lower price whilst out of stock?

Yes and no. You click the "add it to your basket" and it immediately goes to a postcode stock checker - in these cases it was always saying "unavailable". But as soon as the price/s went up you could order them. It was the same in store too.