Jessops - we will give you 110% offer - no they won't

tdiman

I have just returned from a failed attempt to buy a Canon Ixus 850 from Jessops in Birmingham, I took a copy of the Jan 07 copy of 'Digital Photo' and a print out of an offer for the same UK spec, UK based company, available camera online with me. The staff told me they can't do price checks. When I showed them the magazine they told me they had been told to stop the offer just after Christmas. A member of staff pointed out that there would be a 'get out clause' in the advert. On closer inspection - on the opposite page in the smallest print possible is a line stating '....offers and prices subject to change...' Nice one Jessops - what a disgrace. There is no obvious indication in the main text of the offer that restrictions apply. During my search for the best price, I read on several sites that certain Jessops will honour the offer - depends on the manager. I will shop online in future. Shady business in my opinion.

ollym_3

Jessops are good for advice but not prices. That's a great camera. When i bought the Ixus 800IS 6 months ago from amazon.co.uk I went to jessops to see it. The man said good look waiting for it. I quickly told him that i had paid for next day delivery and it was still £130 less than what they charge. His face was fantastic!

Astaroth

Yes, the offer was pulled just after xmas and the "Practical Photographer" mag which came out on the 8th Jan (but is called the Feb 07 edition) or so doesnt carry the offer.

Jessops has always acted very much like a franchise in its pricing/ offers etc and yet I am assured by a number of people I have known that have worked for them that they arent.

Other than getting offers like this occasionally I wouldnt go to jessops for advice or purchasing.

I did get the 24-105L lens for my camera under the 110% offer though and "unfortunately" when I gave my print out of Camera Worlds price they read the excluding VAT price so got the lens for just over £500 rather than jessops normal £900 or so

rjm2k1

Will be interesting to see if Jessops change of policy re price matching affects sales and gets reversed, I prefer to buy from high street shops but only if I get a decent price.

stugib

The one time I tried it he'd only agree to match the Currys high street price (about £20-30 cheaper IIRC) if I agreed to buy a memory card at the same time, which was about £30 more than I could get it for online. They seem to make it up as they go along.

Idiophreak

most of the time I don't think jessops are overly competitive on price, but the gf managed to talk them into matching an online price and throwing in a memory card to boot. There must've been a lot of eyelash fluttering going on that day

tdiman

I must admit to doing a hands on 'check out' at Jessops before. Had a play and bought it off Amazon. I would have gladly paid £15 - £20 more for good service and being from a local shop - but as the price difference was over £70, and I had a few freebies thrown in, they lost my business. I can't see how its ethical to put an ad in a monthly mag and remove it after less than 2 weeks of the publication date. I have emailed Jessops for what good it will do, but at the end of the day money talks and Amazon will get my business again. I have also emailed the mag to let them know of this practise.
Lee