Online price vs. In-store price

Pyellow

A little bit of a query here, to clear up a bit of confusion more than anything.

I was browsing through the new A/W collection on the H&M website and found a jumper I liked at the price of £12.99 (available in 7 different colours for the same price) and decided to see if there were any in store to try on before I decided whether to buy it or not.

Anyway, I went into my local H&M today and walked in to find the jumper being one of the main products advertised as you walked in, at the price of £14.99. I liked the fit and therefore bought it, thinking that maybe I saw the wrong price online. I have come home and I've double-checked to make sure it was the same jumper, as I would have understood if it was a different style, however, it was the same jumper as online yet with a +£2 price tag instore, and it is not stated on the website that it is on sale, or an online exclusive, etc.

I am not too bothered about it as it is a lovely, good quality jumper, however, I would like to know whether I am able to go into store and challenge them as to why the online price is different to the in-store price, without it stating online that it is an "online exclusive" as such?

Thankyou in advance

System

Online has lower overheads eg no rent for store. Therefore is often cheaper than the store.

Owain_Moneysaver

Interesting question.

It is legal, and usual, for online prices to be different from instore. However, websites are now covered by advertising regulations and it is an offence to display a misleading indication of price.

If the web prices were taken to be advertisements of the instore price (as it doesn't say they're online-only prices) then it is possible that there is a misleading price indication.

Fro £2 it's probably not worth taking action, but in future take a printout of the web page with you and ask in the shop if they'll match the online price out of goodwill.

arcon5

You can challenge them, your challenge is unlikely to lead to anything - and rightly so.

A bricks & mortar store as already said has massive rents, massive business rates, bigger wage bills, huge setup costs etc.... an online store can be automated a great deal to keep costs just a fraction of that of a store.... hence the difference in price, not just with H&M, but with many other retailers etc.

In fact many organisations will trade online and in-store as separate entities/parts of the business therefore prices can and inevitably will vary.

Of course the benefit you got from going in store was
a- seeing the item in it's flesh (rather than photos)
b- got to try it on, thus making more informed decision
c- didn't risk having to return an unsuitable item, thus having to pay for return postage costs
d- a friendly face to serve you and for you to approach if necessary (hopefully)

arcon5

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Interesting question.

It is legal, and usual, for online prices to be different from instore. However, websites are now covered by advertising regulations and it is an offence to display a misleading indication of price.

If the web prices were taken to be advertisements of the instore price (as it doesn't say they're online-only prices) then it is possible that there is a misleading price indication.

Fro £2 it's probably not worth taking action, but in future take a printout of the web page with you and ask in the shop if they'll match the online price out of goodwill.

Not stating 'online only prices' does not indicate the price is being promoted for a store... it means their website is offering the product at that price. In the same way if op visits a store the price tag is offering a product at that stated price.

Based on this logic Burger King, Costa and the likes would be in trouble for charging higher prices at service stations for example whilst their other stores charge lower rates.

The website isn't misleading anybody.

Owain_Moneysaver

Burger King state on their websites, TV advertising etc "participating restaurants only", therefore making it clear that the price may not apply to all restaurants.

As far as Pyellow and I can both see, there's no such limitation on the H&M website.

arcon5

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Burger King state on their websites, TV advertising etc "participating restaurants only", therefore making it clear that the price may not apply to all restaurants.

As far as Pyellow and I can both see, there's no such limitation on the H&M website.

Not a great comparison.

Oranges and apples

visidigi

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Burger King state on their websites, TV advertising etc "participating restaurants only", therefore making it clear that the price may not apply to all restaurants.

As far as Pyellow and I can both see, there's no such limitation on the H&M website.

You can't compare a direct owned business with a direct/franchise operation, as the franchisees are able to adjust pricing within margins set by the business owner.

The H & M website doesn't state the price is in store, thats an assumption being made that they should somehow be directly linked.

H & M only offer online deliveries via courier, they do not offer to deliver to store or collect from store.

Therefore, the website and the store can choose to charge what they like. If you make the assumption that the online and store prices are the same thats down to you - they will not refund any item bought online or in store without receipt, so they can ensure you get back exactly what you paid.

Of course, as long as the price charged is equal or less than the ticket attached to the item there really should be no issue.

malchish

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Interesting question.

It is legal, and usual, for online prices to be different from instore. However, websites are now covered by advertising regulations and it is an offence to display a misleading indication of price.

If the web prices were taken to be advertisements of the instore price (as it doesn't say they're online-only prices) then it is possible that there is a misleading price indication.

Fro £2 it's probably not worth taking action, but in future take a printout of the web page with you and ask in the shop if they'll match the online price out of goodwill.

Absolutely agree. And, by the way, for £2, and the argument put that way at the store manager, they will indeed quietly call their head office and make a goodwill £2 gesture for you. So if you happen to walk past the store, have 30 min to spare and it is worth £2 only (like waiting for your firend, for example - wasting time anyway), just ask the store. Those who never ask never get. It is a negligible sum not only for you , but for them even more.

malchish

arcon5 wrote: »

You can challenge them, your challenge is unlikely to lead to anything - and rightly so.

How do you know? Have you tried yourself? Do you know of such challenges being unsuccessful? With which stores then?

bris

malchish wrote: »

arcon5 wrote: »

You can challenge them, your challenge is unlikely to lead to anything - and rightly so.

How do you know? Have you tried yourself? Do you know of such challenges being unsuccessful? With which stores then?

I tried it with Dixons last year on a 47inch telly. The difference was a hundred quid, they wouldn't budge in store so had no choice but to get it online.