Why is Currys so expensive?

showmethemoneyuk

Someone bought be an item (wireless headphones -philips shc5100) from Currys as a present, and after finding out their price online and on amazon (£29-34.99) compared to currys (£59.99!) it makes me feel sad that they can get away with ripping the purchaser off in this manner. What a waste of money. I am grateful for the item, dont get me wrong, and shouldnt even be checking out the price, lol-but even the Currys online store has them at near £60. Ouch. I assume its all because Currys is largely a high st store (it used to be here), so it can sell many items at the original rrp and get away with it, and feel that theres no need to compete with the online market or local stores, but.. what a rip off! The store here isnt even in the town centre anymore, but they should realize that they are losing a fair amount of customers that do actually compare prices. I wish that store would just disappear, and fast!

ps the sound quality from the headphones is better than I expected, fm so passes through walls and I can listen to the music upstairs from the pc or stereo.. but not worth £60

Teahfc

Nice plush shop with loads of rent,rates heating,lighting and staff to pay versus a web site with a warehouse to ship it from .... do the maths !

zagubov

Together with PCWorld (same parent company) and rivals Comet, how much competition is really happenning to keep prices competitive?

Years ago when we had margarine (remember that?), Which? magazine pointed out there were aboout 80 brands on the high street, but only five manufacturers!

I read somewhere that unless there's over six players in any area of economic activity there's no real competition. In our economy, we have a few big players and pay over-the-odds for everything.:(

Oh yeah, and in this country, so few businesses are family-owned unlike in say Germany, part of your hard-earned price money has to be siphoned off to bribe the lovely shareholders to rent their money to the firm.

showmethemoneyuk

I suppose it isnt that hard to work out, but with so many purchasing online than ever, I would imagine their sales might be on the way down. Whether they like it or not, online shopping is competition, although I suppose their may not be many major online stores that focus on electrical only and advertise on television. For just about everything I have to admit I use amazon online. Even if they dont compete online, Im sure they can sell their items for less than their original rrp at least,especially if sales are falling. Im sure the chairman and head staff of currys all get a nice salary, perhaps even with the odd bonus, so needing all that money for their plush shops is only a part excuse lol

George_Michael

it makes me feel sad that they can get away with ripping the purchaser off in this manner.

They advertise a product and the price for that product is clearly displayed.
A potential customer sees the advertised price, offers the payment to a salesperson who accepts the payment and gives the customer the item in exchange for the payment.

Where exactly does the rip off come into it?

zagubov

George_Michael wrote: »

They advertise a product and the price for that product is clearly displayed.
A potential customer sees the advertised price, offers the payment to a salesperson who accepts the payment and gives the customer the item in exchange for the payment.

Where exactly does the rip off come into it?

The unwritten bit where they buy up their competitor who might undercut them and close them down or set their prices too high to be serious competition. So they've got a near-monopoly.

rustyboy21

It is not ripping off.

It is a price which is set with a realistic margin, which involves business rates, Lighting,rent,staffing,insurance,water,electrcity,gas,lease of vending machines in staff areas,training costs ( if applicable with currys, me thinks no ) maintenence of building and car park, the list goes on.

It costs a hell of a lot more to run a shop than a back bedroom at home, with someone else doing all the donkey work for you, which a lot of internet guys do.

Hence the price differential. Also they advertise the price right in front of you,so the onus is on you to do your homework first.

I_luv_cats

It's not worth paying more these days as it is hard to find anybody knowledgeable to help you make the best purchase for your needs and budget.

Vague product descriptions and vague sales staff make it a really annoying shopping experience. The other day I was in PcWorld/Currys combo store and the assistant knew nothing and let me look up the item on their computer!!! (I knew more than them!)

I've said the last decade or more we might as well buy technical gear at places like Lidl or Aldi stacked up to the ceiling after having done the research our self and save money.

shaun_from_Africa

I use Currys, Comet and PC World on a regular basis.

Fair enough, I don't actually buy from them, but I do visit the stores and do plenty of window shopping and then place my orders with Amazon or similar online retailers.

If these big highstreet store improved their customer service, aftersales service and staff knowledge then I wouldn't act this way and I wouldn't mind paying a few pounds extra for the convienience and speed of getting my purchases the same day.

However, as long as they continue to treat their customers and potential customers the way they currently do, I will continue to use them as a browsing and testing facility.

System

you pay a premium for the advantage of getting the product there and then. Plus you don't have to worry about things like being in for the delivery.

Its not a rip off

stephen77

goater78 wrote: »

you pay a premium for the advantage of getting the product there and then. Plus you don't have to worry about things like being in for the delivery.

Its not a rip off

plus you may get some technical help on top.