BT Shop Advent Calendar

rogerramjet

Seen the LCD TV in Staples in Swansea recently, cannot remember if it was £279 or £275. Don't know how many they had or if it is just a regional thing. I did try looking at Staples website, but didn't find anything there.

Joints

I have emailed Trading Standards (copy below) with the following query/complaint.  I am not arguing about loss of bargain or any such thing here, just trying to establish whether there practices meet current rules and regulations etc (even though they don't meet any ethical ones )

I have made it clear that I have not entered into any contract with BT, but would just like clarification of the situation.  I'll let you all know how I get on.

Hes

Complaint Details

Complaint received
10/12/2004 Complaint ID  XXXXX

Description of Complaint
ww.shop.bt.com currently have an advent calendar promotion and each day offer a different item with 30% off. It would appear that they are inflating the price just prior to each item being the daily offer. For example, today's item is an HP Iaq rx1710 with Tom Tom wired GPS. This was on their website all week for a cost (incl of VAT) of £269.99 (this does not include any discount - after discount it would have reduced to £188.99). Today it went on their special offer of 30% off and the price magically increased to £329.99 before discount. Apparently BT did the same with an LCD TV/Monitor yesterday and I wondered whether there was any rules or regulations regarding this type of practice. I have screen shots of the items being offered at the lower prices. I was intending to purchase the Ipaq as a Christmas gift and had it in my basket at £269.99 pre discount price, but when the checkout box came up and increased the price I decided not to proceed out of principal. I appreciate that I have not entered into any contract with shop.bt.com but I would be grateful if you could let me know whether this practice is allowed. Many thanks for your help.  

Truth is the calender was cracked when it shouldn't have been and so they have the ability to set the price to whatever they like. Not nice to happen I know, but I highly doubt anything will happen.

Remember, Christmas is about love and making it, not GPS.

old uncle sam might pull the sats away from the public if they think it can be expoited, you nevw know

hesjane

Truth is the calender was cracked when it shouldn't have been and so they have the ability to set the price to whatever they like. Not nice to happen I know, but I highly doubt anything will happen.

Remember, Christmas is about love and making it, not GPS.

'cracked' - yes. Hacked - no. Nobody did anything illegal or wrong in looking ahead at the BT offers. If they had any sense they would have made it more difficult than just adding the date number to the page.

I believe that BT have probably lost more in goodwill sales than these price hikes were worth - maybe I'm wrong, but I certainly chose not to purchase out of principal.

Christmas to me is about sharing and caring and I know that loads of the people on this web have helped others, sometimes whilst bagging a bargain for themselves, and sometimes just going out of their way to help others just because they can. Christmas is nothing to do with BT and their corporate decisions regarding price changes. I merely raised the issue with Trading Standards as I believe that they are probably in breach of some rule or other. If I wanted to take it further, I would have bought the thing and then fought the case properly.................

lenny6582

Anything that is out on the web is free to view, so what if nothing actually pointed to that page. It is just them being lazy as they could easily add the page on the day of the offer, even automate it, hardly difficult!!! They have just been lazy and sloppy.

I bet this is why the pages didn't actually have a price on them and just the discount code, so they didn't look like they were changing the price just before the offer started!

Johnnypanic_2

Ordered the mini dv camcorder, in stock and received dispatch confirmation.

Checked citylink's tracking and it was delivered at 1812 on Wednesday 08/12/04.  Except, guess what, it wasn't  >:(

Contacted BT and they are to call me back.  Credit card has been charged.

Any advice from you knowledgable people would be very welcome.  Quite prepared to go to the police if needed.  But would be grateful for some advice on my rights.

thanks,

Johnnypanic

stavros_2

I wouldn't have thought you would need to go to the police as they won't be able to prove delivery (i.e. the signature won't be yours) and so they'll have to send another one out to you

Also, have you contacted your local citylink branch to find out what's going on?

Johnnypanic_2

Whoever signed for it, signed my surname. So if the police do get involved, it is a clear case of theft.

Have not contacted Citylink, as I thought it best to leave BT to do that.

Still awaiting BT to call back ::)

Johnnypanic

withabix

A common trick that one.

May even have been signed by the driver and

a)nicked by him/her or someone else
or
b) thrown over your fence


I get deliveries that should be signed for left outside or posted through the letterbox.

Even Special Delivery and Recorded Delivery!!!

seaniboy

Whoever signed for it, signed my surname.  So if the police do get involved, it is a clear case of theft.

Have not contacted Citylink, as I thought it best to leave BT to do that.

Still awaiting BT to call back  ::)

Johnnypanic

call police as someone has signed ur signature...that equates to fraud,police deal with citylink and bt will have to replace and claim from citylink

newskiller

Anyone still pursuing the GPS deal? I replied to the fob-off email from them and am waiting to hear what they have to say...

Phoned today to cancel the order. Was phoned back and told I would be refunded £50.