Never knowingly undersold

vyle

On the subject of the panasonic warranty, usually they're not offered by shops anyway, but are redeemed through panasonic with a proof of purchase. In fact in my store (yes, I do work in JL :O) the leaflets are sitting there on the camera display stand and can be downloaded/printed through the website and off of the manufacturer's website, too. That's the thing with manufacturer specific warranties, they're independent of the shop.

It'd be nice if JL could match shops automatically, but if you look logically at the situation, in you're average town, there are probably 50 or more shops all selling the same products as each other. A department store sells what... 50,000 different product ranges if you take everything in the shop into account.

Can you imagine the manpower it would take for ANY shop to check every single product in every shop in an 8 mile radius daily? By the time they'd got half way way (at best) the trading day would be over. Even if they had found a price difference, they'd need to phone back to the shop and print off the price tickets.

JL used to be a lot more accommodating with the price matching, taking people's word for it, but that got abused by liars and idiots who can't tell the difference between completely different products by the same manufacturer. As a result, the undersales team checks the price.

The reason for the service claim on the NKU slogan is basically saying that if you shop in JL you'll be paying more than online, but at least you've got the security of knowing that if you don't know how to tune your tv in, or are just clueless in general, somebody will help you, rather than saying, "Hey, it isn't my problem."

Hell, I even end up helping some people who DIDN'T buy their product from me. they come in with a query about something they bought from tesco and I sort out their problem... people expect it from JL. Would you get help if you went to tesco to ask help about how to use something you bought in Asda?

It's just NOT feasible to match online prices (again, looking at it logically). I could sell something unopened, brand new, for 10p on ebay. Should a bricks and mortar store match my price because I'm selling it on ebay? My only overheads are my broadband fee, my time, and ebay's charges. A department store costs about £200k a day to run.

The thing about matching or not matching package offers is confusing and annoying and a little bit up to a section manager's discretion. I've been told yes and no regarding them... occasionally yes if we sell all of the items in the deal (like for like) and it's a big sale, but usually it's not the case. I wish it was, considering the amount of abuse I get for it.

At the end of the day, it is up to you where you shop, and the policy is true in that a genuine price will be matched in an 8 mile radius (and the item is in stock), but don't get annoyed that they want to send someone out to check the price and that it takes time. If you want to be annoyed, get annoyed at the liars and idiots who ruined the policy for everyone else by going "Well, a sony bravia is being sold for £200, that's obviously the same as the other 78 bravia models at different prices, so they should all be reduced to £200 regardless of size and spec."

Disclaimer: I'm not speaking FOR john lewis, just as a (somewhat drunk) employee who is fed up with being moaned at daily because I won't instantly match a price based on a vague description from customers who aren't even sure what they saw or what the price actually was.

rogercr

Thank you for your honesty. The trouble is a lot of people remember how fantastic John Lewis once was and they are disappointed it has changed. JL continue with the slogan 'Never Knowingly Undersold' and that is where the problem lies. The perception is that the store offers the same low prices as in the past and it just isn't true. They knowingly and deliberately sell many items at much higher prices and get away with it based on their passed reputation and the clever perception (or deception) created by their slogan.

R0bert_Sterling

rogercr wrote: »

Y I built up a trust which I held for over forty years. It is genuinely sad that is now lost.

Forty years worshipping a company, investing many thousands of pounds and now after all this time..... find out other shops have been selling things cheaper!!!

Jeez, you seriously deserve a proper bundle of Compo!

Your life (as you say) has been shattered!!!

Soubrette

As has been mentioned before - John Lewis is a premium shop, it would be naive to expect them to offer rock bottom prices too - you go to TK Maxx or Matalan for that.

I'd love to shop at John Lewis

I don't do price promises - if I can get it cheaper somewhere else then I buy it there, I think price promises encourage big shops to offer poor deals.

Sou

OlliesDad

There is alot more to underselling and over selling than just the cost of the item.

If you take into consideration customer service/reliability/accessibility to stores etc then i think that even though JL may charge a higher price, they are not necessarily "overselling".

wealdroam

vyle wrote: »

On the subject of the panasonic warranty, usually they're not offered by shops anyway, but are redeemed through panasonic with a proof of purchase. In fact in my store (yes, I do work in JL :O) the leaflets are sitting there on the camera display stand and can be downloaded/printed through the website and off of the manufacturer's website, too. That's the thing with manufacturer specific warranties, they're independent of the shop.

So Roger could've got his precious Panasonic five year guarantee from JL then?

Looks like he didn't notice you say that.

Just like he totally ignored post #17. :beer:

rogercr

wealdroam wrote: »

So Roger could've got his precious Panasonic five year guarantee from JL then?

Looks like he didn't notice you say that.

Just like he totally ignored post #17. :beer:

You are mistaken - find the leaflet and you might understand why the 5 year Panasonic guarantee was not offered to me.

vyle

What camera did you get?

rogercr

vyle wrote: »

What camera did you get?

Sorry for the delay in replying - your question only serves to detract from the issue - that is the claim by John Lewis 'NEVER KNOWINGLY UNDERSOLD' is untrue and in the words of a member of its staff - 'IT'S JUST A SLOGAN' - others might say 'A CON'

KeithP

rogercr wrote: »

Sorry for the delay in replying - your question only serves to detract from the issue - that is the claim by John Lewis 'NEVER KNOWINGLY UNDERSOLD' is untrue and in the words of a member of its staff - 'IT'S JUST A SLOGAN' - others might say 'A CON'

Roger, why did you bother to post that drivel yet again?

I am sure Vyle was only trying to help you, but nevermind... no pleasing some people.