Can they do this (Debenhams)

Magicmerly

Hi there

So the better half and I are in the market for a new sofa.

We found the Fyfield range in Debenhams on Tuesday which was on "sale" (the sales guy said the sale was on indefinitely) from £2400 to £1200 for a pair of sofas, one large, one medium.
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_322004537687MISC_-1

My other half likes to have a think about things so we went home, she looked it up online to find that online they were priced at £960, a saving of £240 !

Ok we though, we'll go have another look at the weekend to be sure and go from there.

Anyway, Friday, online the price goes up to £1200, we were somewhat gutted but went in to have a look anyway on Saturday, to be told they were having a "Mega event" starting Sunday where there would be 20% off the large Fyfield Sofa.

Sure enough online on Sunday the Fyfield went back down to £960 for the pair, but here's the kicker, they bumped the price up by 20% so that they could SAY it was £1200 before knocking it back down 48 hours later to the price it was in the middle of the week before ??

Not knowing the legalities of this that much but can they do that ? I was under the impression that something had to be a price for 6 months prior to reduction or am I mistaken with the sale of "sale" goods ?

I'd be interested to learn if possible.

zenseeker

Looking at the reviews on the site you would be better off finding something else anyway.

Magicmerly

To be fair to them, they are really comfortable and look nice in the shop so we're willing to give them a punt as we've found nothing else like it in our hunt.

I just want to know if they're allowed to chop and change the price of them within 48 hours or not.

Valli

Not quite sure what you are asking here but online prices need not be the same as in store prices; and often aren't, even from the same retailer.

However TS are currently investigating 'false' sales; the guidance that items should have been offered at a higher price for a period is, AFAIK, merely that - guidance. But there is also the issue of misleading customers.

I know my answer is woolly; but so are the regulations; and it's further complicated by the fact that an advertised price is an 'invitation to treat' rather than an 'offer to sell at'.

If you feel that the store/retailer in question are altering prices (and you have evidence) in a misleading manner (to suggest a greater saving, for instance) then inform Trading Standards.

Magicmerly

Thanks Valli, I think that answers my question in a round about way

Valli

You're very welcome; sorry it's messy. AFAIK what I posted is correct; as I have trawled for an answer re the sales pricing before - I know M&S, for example, cite that items have been offered at a price in one of their stores (Oxford St usually, their flagship store) for a period of 28 days prior to reductions.

I do believe that the ongoing TS investigation (and recent Tesco/strawberry prosecution) will lead to either the tightening up of the regulations or, possibly, the introduction of legislation.

If you have proof of the online price/price increase/immediate reduction (Google cache?) I would assume TS would be VERY interested.

Magicmerly

You say google cache ? how does one access that, I can get my viewing history but that just brings me to the latest version of the page (which still says it's 960 at the moment)

If you could let me know that, I'll have a look tonight.

Valli

http://www.googleguide.com/cached_pages.html

sloth

i dont really understand the problem tho? you say it has now gone back down to £960 (which is what you saw and missed out on before)

Magicmerly

Hiya

In my head, the issue is, they put the price up for less than 48 hours so they could reduce it back to its original online price.

In my head, the 20% should have been off the £960 price instead of the £1200 which they bumped it up to for the short amount of time.

Or am I thinking too hard about this ?

sloth

Magicmerly wrote: »

Hiya

In my head, the issue is, they put the price up for less than 48 hours so they could reduce it back to its original online price.

In my head, the 20% should have been off the £960 price instead of the £1200 which they bumped it up to for the short amount of time.

Or am I thinking too hard about this ?

personally i would say yes you are. it was 2400 down to 1200 and then you found it at 960 but missed out. it went back up to 1200 and then this current sofa offer (20% off) put it back down to 960 again. they prob had an extra 20% offer instore the first time but you just werent aware. tbh they are very slippery as the previous poster mentioned, as are pretty much all furniture retailers, but ultimately they aren't going to give it away and it all depends on what you think its worth

btw i love getting a bargain and misprice as much as most people on here do, but i think sometimes you have to be realistic

anyway just my opinion. is your money end of the day