TESCO PRICECHECK is a con

robby2k9

Went looking on the web for a Nintendo DSI XL on New Years Day.
I was amazed to see that Tesco were claimimg to be 99p cheaper than Argos at £159 when Argos was actually charging £139.99.
The reason was that Tesco hadn't updated their price checks since 23rd Dec!
So you'd think when they did update the pricecheck list the price would drop to match Argos, NOT!
Yesterday the site was updated & the price remained the same, but Argos mysteriously vanished from their pricecheck list to be replaced by a different retailer charging £159.99.
This makes their pricecheck promise worse than useless in my view.

RadoJo

I don't get it - surely the pricecheck isn't a guarantee that they will reduce their price to match those of their competitors, just that they will show how they compare. I don't think Argos disappeared off their list 'mysteriously' - they probably removed them as they could no longer offer a competitive price compared to them, and so replaced them with a retailer whose prices they could beat. They aren't there to provide an independent comparison, but as a marketing tool to encourage people to shop with them.

If you want an unbiased pricechecker, there are plenty around, but you can't expect Tesco to consistently offer prices below those of their competitors on every item?

robby2k9

The point is only certain items are 'PRICECHECKED' by Tesco, so as to offer a competitive price on that particular item.
Here is their promise:

We compare our prices to Argos, Asda, Amazon, Comet, Currys, John Lewis, PC World, Dixons, Sainsbury's, Toys R Us, Wilkinsons, Homebase, B&Q and Halfords to ensure we are providing our customers with great value you would expect from Tesco - saving you time AND money!

If they simply remove a retailer when the price falls below their own then there is no point to the pricecheck in the first place.
On checking the site again they have gone with quoting Comet, Dixons & Currys, all charging £159.99
They have ignored Amazon, Argos, Toyr R Us & John Lewis who are ALL cheaper (under £145), I rest my case.

mr_fishbulb

robby2k9 wrote: »

Here is their promise:

We compare our prices to Argos, Asda, Amazon, Comet, Currys, John Lewis, PC World, Dixons, Sainsbury's, Toys R Us, Wilkinsons, Homebase, B&Q and Halfords to ensure we are providing our customers with great value you would expect from Tesco - saving you time AND money!

There's your answer then. It doesn't say anything about being the cheapest - it just says about great value which they could argue includes good service, a positive shopping experience, yadda yadda yadda.

It's just a marketing gimmick designed to make people think they are getting the product at the cheapest price, and it obviously works.

marleyboy

There is a simple solution, nip to Argos and buy one.

Sharon87

What do you expect its TESCO Pricechecker - designed to say they're the cheapest. As said before it's a marketing tool, and you experience proves it.

samroo

Asda price guarantee is the same. It only seems to find comparable foods if the asda price is cheaper. One shop I bought 3onions in a net - a completely standard product on sale at all supermarkets. Was surprised that the comparison site couldn't find any matches until i popped into tesco and saw their onions on half price offer

paddyrg

Tesco have a website just to say "see, it could be worse", not "we are the cheapest"... after all they have to make the money to pay for the website somehow ;-)

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Can we not have a dictionary sticky up here to let people read and understand before they scream con or scam?