Wickes adding more than 2.5% "VAT"

dmg24

HugoSP wrote: »

In a Focus store the other day I saw a notice on the till to say that shelf prices may differ to that charged on the till due to the VAT rise.

However, if the increase from the shelf price couldn't be justified by the VAT rise alone then I would have thought that it would either be a mistake or they would be breaking the law.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.

I would say that they are on dodgy ground by saying that the difference in prices is solely due to the change in VAT. However, it is up to Trading Standards to take any action on such a misleading notice.

hippey

The contract is made at the point of sale, therefore whatever the price is you have the option of saying 'no' and walking away. However to be honest I suspect Wickes are doing the same as many others are doing, taking the VAT rise to hike those prices a bit further, I bet that tin of paint ends up at £18.99!

I noticed B&Q were altering prices over christmas to meet the new VAT price.

peter_the_piper

Sainsburys are doing it on at least one item, dog food was £1.01 now "£1.05, bet its not the only one nor would they be.

molerat

I bought a pack of plastic containers in Poundland. The old stock was 10 per pack and the new stock is 8 per pack, effectively a 25% price increase.

MissUno

I had a feeling greedy retailers would use the new rate of VAT as an excuse to hike prices, stupid really as in this sort of market, people will go where things are cheaper. Who in their right mind (for example) would pay £10 for something they can get a few quid cheaper in a different store. I think with the economy as it is, businesses that deliberately over charge will be at risk of having to close down, that will mean even more unemployed people, and thus the cycle continues.

Damn Tories. :P

Jeff_Bridges_hair

MissUno wrote: »

I had a feeling greedy retailers would use the new rate of VAT as an excuse to hike prices, stupid really as in this sort of market, people will go where things are cheaper. Who in their right mind (for example) would pay £10 for something they can get a few quid cheaper in a different store. I think with the economy as it is, businesses that deliberately over charge will be at risk of having to close down, that will mean even more unemployed people, and thus the cycle continues.

Damn Tories. :P

yes the tories put the VAt up but - its the shops who are now charging on top of that because everything else for them has gone up.


We used to have one of the cheapest VATs in europe - now we are on par with some but still cheaper then others.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

molerat wrote: »

I bought a pack of plastic containers in Poundland. The old stock was 10 per pack and the new stock is 8 per pack, effectively a 25% price increase.

They have been doing the smaller size thing with a lot of their stock for a long time..

mind you the super offers in supermarkets on bottled beer never appear so great as they are normally 275ml bottle when a regular size bottle is 330ml

biggaz26

MissUno wrote: »

I had a feeling greedy retailers would use the new rate of VAT as an excuse to hike prices, stupid really as in this sort of market, people will go where things are cheaper. Who in their right mind (for example) would pay £10 for something they can get a few quid cheaper in a different store. I think with the economy as it is, businesses that deliberately over charge will be at risk of having to close down, that will mean even more unemployed people, and thus the cycle continues.

Damn Tories. :P

Had an idea?? I think most people new for damn certain that they would!

And it doesnt matter would is in charge they would have all done it!!

G

MissUno

Had an idea is a turn of phrase my dear, don't take it so literally.

As for "they would have all done it" The Tories are well known for taking from the poor and giving to the rich. It's only going to be worse now, the average struggling household will be having to pull hundreds of pounds out of thin air, meanwhile the loopholes available to the well off to avoid paying their taxes (like our very own George Osborne) costs billions each year. So instead of increasing VAT and giving retailers a nifty excuse to over charge more than they perhaps already do, how about making the like of Mr Osborne pay his dues. After all if one of us mere mortals failed to pay our bills, those owed would soon come demanding it paid.

Just to make myself more objective damn Tories, damn Labour, damn those weak willed Lib Dems and certainly above all others damn the BNP :P

wells

Well, it's minefield isn't it? So I mailed Wickes who said
"This department is for online and telephone sales.

We apologise that the store had advised incorrectly that the price increase was Vat increase. This was part of the cost however the rest is a price change on the product.Due to demand in certain products our prices may change seasonally, or with increased demand."

In other words, tough. A phone call to the customer services department gave some interesting information. Apparently, Wickes and every other supplier, are legally allowed to leave incorrect prices on the shelves for up to a month from the VAT change, just as long as there is a catalogue somewhere in the store with the new price stated. They can add what they like (not just an extra 2.5%) and apply the higher price at the till. Strangely enough, they won't confirm that to me in writing. Just spoke to Trading Standards who had never heard of this change in the law either They are pursuing it as we speak, as it seems to be a flouting of criminal law.