Currys/PC World poor treatment since Comet demise - coincidence?

whitegoods_engineer

I'll try to be succinct.

Reserved a tablet pc from PCW Apsley Mills, Hemel Hempstead Monday. Couldn't make it Tuesday, got there Wednesday about 10am and it had just been taken from the reserved cabinet and put back into stock.

No problem (I thought), the reservation had expired so I asked for one from stock.

"That'll be £149.99 please" said the assistant. I showed my email stating that it had been in reserve for me up until the previous day at £129.99, but was then told that the price had gone up overnight and I would have to pay the new hiked price.

I insisted on speaking to the manager, and first I spoke to a young man who said he was the manager and I asked him if he would honour the price as I hade come in specially to buy that particular tablet. He refused.

I then asked for his superior (who it emerged was the older man standing beside him dealing with a till problem). Again, I asked that they honour the price but he flatly and dismissively said no. I left without buying.

What I find interesting is that the price hike came on the very day that Comet closed its doors for the last time. Some coincidence eh?

And since Comet (which was just across from Currys) was now closed, it seemed that the staff were not at all bothered with helping a customer since their competition had effectively ceased.

Ok so it is just £20 difference but since I had a reservation active the previous day, I don't think it would have been too much of a stretch for PCW to honnour the price I was given. I think it is just poor customer relations and shoddy treatment of a regular customer.

Now that Comet have gone, I expect we should all get used to higher prices and indifferent treatment from Currys/PC World management.

Helix

What nonsense, you turned up after your reservation had expired and still expected to pay the reservation price. I'm sure exactly the same thing would have happened before Comet closed.

jizzler

Exactly as above what rubbish, the fact is you never picked up the reserved item on time so it was put back ! If anything you would of thought currys would of accepted your request as there sales figures must be dire at the moment with comet ( then ) closeing down sales.

And your lesson is :- Dont reserve something if you cant pick it up on time

Slowhand

What they ^^ both say.

timbo58

Sorry: can't see your theory on that one.

Even if Comet have gone there are 100's more companies in direct competition to currys/pcw online and on the high street, I'm sure this isn't a considered strategy of even this store let alone currys/pcw as a whole.

Not worth the stress for £20 IMHO though in any case, although I accept thats just my opinion in my own circumstances.

The price hadn't gone up overnight at all: it was offered to you at a discount provided you complied with the timescale of that discount: which you then didn't.

spacey2012

Just wait a Week and the £20 will be back off. It a sales trick so they can claim it was previously £149.99. Now £129.99 ! save £20
They know the Christmas Mugs will pay it if it were £500

melbell

If you reserved it for £129.99 and it went down to £109.99 Would you still be happy paying the price you reserved it at or would you want the current selling price?

You can't have it both ways.

whitegoods_engineer

The earlier posters are missing the point here! Sure - the reservation expired and yes, Currys can be real jobsworths and stick by the 'letter of the law' if they want to.

The point is, they could have had the decency to honour the price in the circumstances. No they didn't have to, but they could have done so.

It is just a bit of flexibility, discretion on the part of the store manager and maybe even Christmas goodwill that was needed.

It wasn't asking much, just that they honour a price of just a few hours earlier.

The store manager chose not to do so and that's his perogative.

However, this has now resulted in negative publicity for Currys PCW.

As spacey2010 says, the price hike is doubtless preparation for a £20 'saving' in the forthcoming sales! PCW faking reductions by pre-hiking!

System

Not really negative publicity. Everyone thinks they acted reasonably and you are being ridiculous.

If anything it would encourage there customers to ensure they pick up reserved items.

whitegoods_engineer

Ok goater, I take it back, it's good publicity for them and they will doubtless be happy. I find your comment stupid. And it's 'their customers' by the way.

antrobus

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

The earlier posters are missing the point here! Sure - the reservation expired and yes, Currys can be real jobsworths and stick by the 'letter of the law' if they want to.

The letter of the law is explained here:-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3277262

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

The point is, they could have had the decency to honour the price in the circumstances. No they didn't have to, but they could have done so.

Well, you could have had the decency to honour your commitment to turn up on time and hand over the £129.99 as you promised. You didn't have to, but you could have done so.

In the circumstances it would appear a tad hypocritical to complain about the other party's lack of 'decency'.