Sony Centre - Westfield, Derby AVOID

Tight_Git_3

Right then... A good old rant !!

I was in the Westfield Sony Centre, Derby and hoodwinked into buying a TV after the salesman told me that I had to buy on the day (31st Jan) as from the 1st Feb the wholesale price from Sony was going by a £100, so basically everone would be putting up prices.


I bit the bullet, missing out on a slightly better deal elsewhere (only £30) fearing that I'd get stung by the price increase. So I brought the TV, Bluray player and an AV amp. What did I find a week later - no £100 price increase anywhere....


Not liking the idea of being mislead (lied to?), I went back to cancel my order. After 3 attempts, I finally got to see the manger, who was a complete muppet, just going on about what a great deal I'd got. I couldn't make him see that this wasn't about the price, but the fact that I thought they were not to be trusted with my money. He went on about how that they only found out that the price wasn't going up at the last minute, but in the end refused point blank to refund my money. I wouldn't mind so much if I taken the equipment home, but it won't even be delivered for another 3 weeks at the earliest. He did (rather insultingly) agree to knock a tenner off the £1510 total price as a 'goodwill gesture'.

Just a warning to others to be aware that with the economic slowdown, there might be more of this about.

I know this may seem a bit petty to some, but £1500 is a lot of money to me. I intend to keep my TV for 10 years or so, and it's important that I have confidence with the store if there's a problem over the life of the product. Clearly here I have problem with the Westfield Sony Centre...

Anyway.....

I got through to the head office, and got nowhere.....
Apparently the area manager is backing his staff, stating that he authorised the price change at the last minute, but wouldn't be any more specific. He's adament that as his staff were acting on the information they had at the time, there was no mis-selling involved and there was no way he would cancel the order.

We we asked about their terms and conditions - Well apparently they don't have any, they just ensure that they operate within the law... Never a good sign, and the sort of reply that you see on BBC's Watchdog when the investigators have caught up with some dodgy company.
I've given up and accepted that I'm stuck with them. God help me if there's a problem 4 years down the line

My last thought (which may upset some of you Sony dealers) is go to a Sony Centre by all means, but remember that they aren't Sony, just a shop that happens to sell them so don't expect any more than you would from a local independent store.
Finally, if you live anywhere near a John Lewis, go there and get a price match, you will still get a 5 year warranty but the customer service is second to none. This goes double, if you live in the Notts/Derbys/Leics areas as the Sony Centres here are (from my experience) owned by a bunch of cowbows

Halloway

You could have saved yourself a lot of typing there and just written:

Derby AVOID.

Freddie_Snowbits

At first I thought that people were being hooded and tricked into buying things they did not want in some far out of reach place up north.

Halloway wrote: »

Derby AVOID.

Then I thought, the M6, that avoids not only Derby, but the whole of the Derbyshire and Nottinhamshire Coal fields as well.

As for buying the TV, I would sue them for torture. You could even watch the crap that is on during the day and try and get on a programme yourself to get your money back.

Tight_Git wrote: »

I know this may seem a bit petty to some, but £1500 is a lot of money to me.

Money, fool and Parting. me, I just have short arms and long pockets.

dacouch

Tight Git you could write a review of the company on some of the following link. In my experience companies encourage their customers to leave feedback! lol

Have fun with them...

http://www.cylex-uk.co.uk/company/sony-centre-13012382.html (Friary gate branch)

The amusing thing is this will prob come up first on google when you google "sony + derby" so it will annoy the hell out of them. Make sure you keep your comments legal etc so they can't ask for it to be taken down

Tight_Git_3

Thanks for the review idea - I've done a couple now, just for the annoyance factor

Incidently, I emailed an organisation called RETRA, (they represent the sellers of TV's etc) as the Derby Sony Centre's parent company - Raresupply Ltd. are members. They were fairly helpful, and seem to think that a breach of the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 has occured. They asked for a few more details and are going to take the matter up with Raresupply.

In not sure what will be the outcome - if anything, but RETRA have a good website with a comprehensive list of their codes of practice. So if anyone else comes accross a problem with an electrical store, it may well be worth a look. They also asked me to advise my credit card issuer that there is ongoing dispute with the company.....

vyle

What model/size tv is it? Where I work, the only sony TVs in that price range are the 46 inch W4500 (£1610) and 40Z4500 (1875 i think).

Tight_Git_3

It was the 40in W4500, for £1000, BDPS350 bluray player for £200 and the 2400ES AV amp for £400. Total selling price was £1600, but if I brought the lot as a package, they would discount it to £1510.

I had prices of £940 for the TV (in stock & 5 year warranty) and £540 for the bluray and amp (in stock). Unfortunately I was unable to contact either store on the day as I was in Derby, some distance from home and as I was not expecting to buy, had no details with me.

I agreed to the Sony deal, fearing that my £940 price would become £1040 overnight (I was told it was a wholesale price increase) and I was willing to pay a £30 premium firstly to ensure I didn't get stung, but also as you'd expect good service from a Sony Centre....

As I mentioned, it's not really about the money, but the fact that I simply don't think that they are a trustworthy outfit.

Blacksheep1979

Tight_Git wrote: »

It was the 40in W4500, for £1000, BDPS350 bluray player for £200 and the 2400ES AV amp for £400. Total selling price was £1600, but if I brought the lot as a package, they would discount it to £1510.

I guess the question really is - where did you bring it from?

dacouch

Tight git if we both discuss this thread every day it will keep showing up high in the forum. Are you up for it as it may help warn other people

incesticde

dacouch wrote: »

Tight git if we both discuss this thread every day it will keep showing up high in the forum. Are you up for it as it may help warn other people

just bumping!

dacouch

When you say "bumping" do you mean this?