"We'll beat any quote!"... erm, no you won't.

simonwalsh

Anyone else found these promises to be complete lies?

I am shopping for bedroom furniture. I found nearly every site had a price matching/beating promise.

When questioned about this, only one came back and actually beat it.

The main focus of my anger are FurnitureInFashion.co.uk. Here's the short version:

They retail at about £310/320 normally. Well, I can just say that "promise" is total bullsh*t. Here's the short, and more polite (on both sides) version of my dealing with "FashionInFurniture.co.uk" who have such a promise -

Me: I notice your price promise, I have found the same item for £265 inc delivery, can you go cheaper?
Them: No
Them: Well actually, how about £279 + £30 delivery?
Me: Well that's not beating it or matching it as you claim you will is it?
Them: Ok, well £269
Me: I assume that's with delivery
Them: No, delivery is £39.99
Me: So it's the same price as before, you're "Price Promise" is a bit of a scam isn't it?
Them: We will match at £265
Me: With delivery?
Them: No, £30 delivery on top
Me: This isn't very competitive at all, or matching/beating other prices. I have since had a quote form elsewhere for £210, do you want me to email it to you?
Them: No. Good luck getting it for such a low price. Bye.

And I have had similar from other companies who won't even drop to £250.

Bit annoying to be honest. Is there any law that says if they say they'll beat/match that they have to follow through with it?

The products I am asking them about are EXACTLY the same too, not similar, from the same manufacturer including manufacturer code, same colour, package, sizes - everything identical.

The cheaper prices offered elsewhere are not in sales or clearances either or on eBay, as I already know companies won't price match/beat those, which is fair enough.

Nukumai

I don't know about the strict legalities, but you have, at least, taken a positive step in naming them on this forum - others searching for info on this company might be interested in your experience with them.

If their business is so competitive that they must offer price-matching as a feature, they will build a poor reputation over time if they don't stick to their word.

System

erm..........if it's that much cheaper buy it at the other place!!

only time i've used this was when buying bits to build a computer and all the cheaper items had to be emailled to be checked, and they honoured every one - can't see there would be any legal obligation to match a price

suisidevw

Err.... buy it for £210 then?!

Doozergirl

A quick chat with their local trading standards office if you're annoyed enough.
Companies that advertsie things like that don't really like price matching (indeed some won't do it!) but they like advertising it as it infers to people that can't be bothered to shop around that the price can't be beaten.

Doozergirl

Just had a look at www.furnitureinfashion.net

You've had a lucky escape. You can tell by looking at the stuff that it's really poor quality and the prices aren't cheap at all! A quick browse through and I can see bar stools (£59.99) that you can buy much cheaper in a big brand DIY store (2 for £39.99) and a dining chair (£89.99) that you can buy a lot cheaper in Next (£62.50)!!

I'd rather go to Ikea - everyone has it but it looks like it won't fall apart immediately in the flesh whereas that stuff looks rubbish in a 3" square photograph. In fact the wavy mirror (£24.99) you can buy two for £9.99 in Ikea.

simonwalsh

I am buying for £210, I just wanted people to know that some people who say they will beat any quote, more often than not, won't. Or even come particularly close.

Plus I've found this Furniture In Fashion lot to be quite rude and generally not competitive at all, despite all their claims that they are the lowest price around and won't be beaten by anyone, they'll clearly be beaten quite a lot of times.

As I said, I don't know if there is a legal obligation or not, just wondered that usually if you claim you can do something, you better be able to do it if its one of your companies main selling points.

It does say on the website that they uphold the right to not keep the promise if they would make a loss on the item. But as far as I can see:

1. If others can sell so low, how come they can't? They're all made and supplied from the same people.

2. Why not just say during our dialogue that you would make a loss. I can accept that. Don't be rude or come back with ridiculous 'offers'.

ormus

advertisers are allowed to make "puff" in their ads.
its well known in english law. goes back to the victorian period.
anyone who studies contract law will know the case.

the problem is deciding what is "puff" and what is downright lies. only a court can decide.
the lawyers make millions playing this game.

ie
probably the best lager in the world.

suisidevw

but 'probably' is opening it up for debate.

'We'll beat any quote' is a statement?!

iamcornholio

I'ts not what you ask, it's how you ask it.

If the conversatiopn really did go like that, then I'm not surprised that there was not much movement on price

27col

I don't buy from price matching places as a matter of principle. I figure that, if they are prepared to sell an item cheaper when prodded about it, then they are not making any real effort to get my business in the first place.