John Lewis fridge price match - £400 saved!

rocky80

I just bought an American Fridge Freezer from John Lewis.

After talking to the floor salesman, he suggested that he looked at his computer to look at the specs of two that I'd liked.

He then lead the way to look on the internet to check out the price of the same model on internet only shops.

Within minutes, he had knocked £400 off the shop floor price!!
The best thing is that I had not even suggested price matching anything.

He wrote his offers on a paper to allow me to think it over, apply no sales pressure at all. I spent the evening trawling the internet to find a better deal and couldn't, so I returned a few days later I made the purchase.

That's what I call money saving! Perfect! :j :j :beer:

One more thing is that they can deliver when I want it and get it into position within my kitchen - at least 2mths time. So, so chuffed.

rustyboy21

That's better service than you would get from an internet seller. They would just dump it on your front path! Or offer to bring it in and scratch all your floors and paint work.


OP Just check that you actually have a clear run through to the kitchen for it. This type of appliance are really deep. I had to have the doors of mine taken off to get it in the Kitchen door, it wouldn't fit through the front door. Some places do a survey prior to delivery of this type of FF, to make sure it will fit.

charlotte_rose

I second that. We had to remove the doors else it would have been left outside!

PheoUK

Interesting, I will remember this!

macman

JL won't normally price match online stores only.

cddc

It is almost impossible as a retailer to sell appliances now unless you price match the online boys.

I can see a time coming very soon where kitchen appliances become like music and books, the preserve of the supermarkets and online in most towns.

I am sure that JL and others will soon look at the profit margins on kitchen appliances and call time on them, just as they did on tiles a few years ago.

You cannot carry on providing the service that JL do for the price of an online seller and make any money at all.

Very generous of the salesman, but he might well be putting himself out of a job!

rocky80

He chap mentioned that they only match anyone with a shop, apart from select online suppliers, such as applianceonline.co.uk, or something like that - that is where he price matched.

There's french doors in between the drive and kitchen so no issues with access.

rustyboy21

cddc wrote: »

It is almost impossible as a retailer to sell appliances now unless you price match the online boys.

I can see a time coming very soon where kitchen appliances become like music and books, the preserve of the supermarkets and online in most towns.

I am sure that JL and others will soon look at the profit margins on kitchen appliances and call time on them, just as they did on tiles a few years ago.

You cannot carry on providing the service that JL do for the price of an online seller and make any money at all.

Very generous of the salesman, but he might well be putting himself out of a job!

I understand what you are saying and totally agree with it.


The only thing I can do, is sell my company and the service I offer. Surveys, own fitters, recommendations, offer a year 5 year warranty on the installation ( not the goods) different ways to pay etc. There is margin sometimes to knock a little off, depending on the payment choice, but no where near the prices quoted online at times.


Whether my sales tactic is misconstrued as high pressure ( which I feel it is not) is up to the consumer. I have price matched to online prices in the past, but only on supply only, not installed. If there are any issues later, I refuse to get involved, they can sort it out with the manufacturer, as they would if bought online.


I now offer installation of fires bought online, but I charge double the normal installation charge, take it or leave it, Why should I be out of pocket? A lot of the time, They send the fire back to the retailer and end up buying from me.

cddc

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I understand what you are saying and totally agree with it.


The only thing I can do, is sell my company and the service I offer. Surveys, own fitters, recommendations, offer a year 5 year warranty on the installation ( not the goods) different ways to pay etc. There is margin sometimes to knock a little off, depending on the payment choice, but no where near the prices quoted online at times.


Whether my sales tactic is misconstrued as high pressure ( which I feel it is not) is up to the consumer. I have price matched to online prices in the past, but only on supply only, not installed. If there are any issues later, I refuse to get involved, they can sort it out with the manufacturer, as they would if bought online.


I now offer installation of fires bought online, but I charge double the normal installation charge, take it or leave it, Why should I be out of pocket? A lot of the time, They send the fire back to the retailer and end up buying from me.

You are lucky in that you are in a business where installation is required and a local reputation counts for something. With Kitchen appliances, however, they are little more than commodities. Only Gas Hobs or ranges require specialist fitting. Hence the rise and rise of "Appliances Online" and others. It is easy...cheap warehouse somewhere, couriers for delivery. Low overheads all round. In many cases the manufacturers hold the stock and deliver direct. you may not even need a warehouse!

rustyboy21

If you google some of the addresses that these websites give, you are spot on, they are working from a bedroom in their houses.


Why is it so unfair that they can work from home, most likely not pay any business rates, public liability ( VAT ?) and seem to get away with it?


Government seriously need to look into this type of ' grey' market set up in the past few years. Make it a level playing field for all.