Question on C4 Dispatches on Outlet Centres

Legacy_user

Hi

I watched the Channel 4 Dispatches episode on Outlet Centres and discount shops. Very interesting it was too!

It looks like some shops in Outlet Centres are selling copies of their "normal shop" items at Outlet Centres but with certain details changed. This makes the item cheaper to make and the copy in the Outlet Centre is sold for a lower price.

The problem is that the RRP on the item's label is the "normal shop" price.

We were not told which shops were doing this. We were told that it is up to us the consumer to ask the store manager how the item was originally sold, so we would know if it was a genuine discount.

So... does anyone know the question to ask? This may sound like a stupid idea but I was hoping that someone with Consumer Rights experience would know the right thing to say.

I want to buy a shirt or shoes and I want to know if the item was specifically sold at a lower price elsewhere or whether it is a copy or simply not a bargain.

Thanks
J

Moosk

Not sure what is wrong with looking at the item, looking at the price and thinking 'yep, I like this item and think it's worth paying that price' or 'no, I woouldn't pay that for that'.

Personally I don't care what % discount is on the ticket - it's either a good buy for me or it isn't. Simple as that!

forgotmyname

I found the Argos clearance store to be dearer for some items than the actual local Argos stores.

If a buyer cannot be bothered to do their homework and find out the specs and price then thats their own fault.

I went to the clearance store and spotted some large toolboxes on wheels. Didnt buy them there and then decided to pop over to the Argos store 1st. They were on offer and had the spend £50 get a £5 voucher also. So saving even more money.

Yet the TV/Monitor i bought was way cheaper than the Argos prices even with all the offers.

ThumbRemote

I would have thought that a fake RRP was considered a misleading sales practice - no difference to the recent OFT report on furniture stores http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23797882

Equally so claiming an item sold at a previous price when it wasn't the same item at that price.

Esqui

Doesn't RRP have no real meaning? And therefore, no real legal basis. The company can change a few details on a product and 'recommend' its retail price to be the same.


If it is displayed as a "was" price, that might be against the law if it refers to a different product

mo786uk

Yes you shoudl be sceptical of an RRP because it can mean almost anything.

Slowhand

Esqui wrote: »

Doesn't RRP have no real meaning? And therefore, no real legal basis. The company can change a few details on a product and 'recommend' its retail price to be the same.


If it is displayed as a "was" price, that might be against the law if it refers to a different product

From memory you work for DSG... what have you been told/trained regarding this?

ThumbRemote

Esqui wrote: »

Doesn't RRP have no real meaning? And therefore, no real legal basis. The company can change a few details on a product and 'recommend' its retail price to be the same.


If it is displayed as a "was" price, that might be against the law if it refers to a different product

But surely a recommended retail price can only have any meaning if the manufacturer and retailer and independent of one another.

It may have some meaning for branded clothing, where the manufacturer suggests their clothes be sold at a specific price.

I can't be anything other than misleading if the same company both recommends a higher price and sells at a lower price.

Esqui

Slowhand wrote: »

From memory you work for DSG... what have you been told/trained regarding this?

Nothing, as far as I know we don't use RRP on anything, and I don't think I've even seen it on any manfacturer's POS or promotions.


We'll use a "was" price to claim a saving, and I think we once had an "introductory offer" on a new product where it referred to a 'future selling price'. I don't think that went all that well because it's only happened once.

InsideInsurance

To be honest, most of the points you raise were already addressed by the programme itself in terms of what RRP means, that it must be real world etc.

TK Maxx that was accused of using inflated RRPs on third party items or an evidently fake RRP on their own brands goods claimed (a) the third party ones had been supplied to them and vetted independently and (b) store policy is not to quote an RRP on own brand items. Of cause they blamed human error on all items which breached these guidelines.

The two stores that were identified in Bicester both denied the allegations that they were cheap knockoffs of their main store items. They did say they produce items with the intent of them going to the outlet but they were of the same standard quality as the originals.

Ultimately trading standards were involved in the creating of the programme and its not really surprising that we haven't suddenly had an announcement that there is going to be a formal investigation by them nor the OFT.

At the end of the day, look at the price and decide if it represents value to you or not. Its very obvious that a lot of items are not the same as the high street versions but technically that isnt necessarily a bad thing as some may prefer a printed rather than embroidered detail etc. Its silly to pay £50 more than you think an items worth only because the merchant claims it used to be £300 more than that

tinkerbell28

I live near several large outlets.

I always thought that the goods they sold were end of line, end of season, poor selling lines, seconds and stock that wouldn't make into the main lines as they were "using" bits up.

I've never seen that hidden, I always thought that was the case.

Did I miss some important revelations, I haven't seen it yet, going to catch it on catch up.

RRP's have always been a con IMO and if people pay based on RRP savings for anything then more fool them. I look at something, and if i'm happy to pay for it, I will. If I think it's expensive for what it is, I look online for codes, etc.