B&M Stores - Delibearately Massively misleading customers?

kevbev321

Hi all,

Yesterday afternoon whilst shopping in my local B&M store I picked up a duvet cover set. It was in "Home Living" Branded packaging, which looks nothing like the B&M Store brand, more like an up-market brand. On the front of the packet was a price sticker in the same branding as the packaging, which said £16.99.

Stuck next to this sticker was another price sticker, this time in the blue and orange B&M branding, with a price stating "£6.99 or 2 for £12".

I looked at the back of the packet for more product details, and then noticed at the bottom of the packet in small writing it stated that the product was actually made by B&M Retail.

I am of the opinion that what is happening here is that B&M Have created this Home Living Brand (I've searched online and can't find it on sale anywhere else), stuck on the inflated price tag in the same branding to make it appear like a more expensive product, and then slapped on their own price tag at a lower price to give the illusion of a bargain!

I've looked around the store at all sorts of other things - from curtains to bedsheets, to homeware, gardening etc and they seem to be employing this method all over the store :eek:.

I just want to run this by you all to get your opinion - Do you think B&M are deliberately misleading their customers??

I have tried calling their head office to ask about this but get fobbed off with the "We'll call you back" response, of course this never happens.

I didn't take any pictures, but I wish I had to show you all!


I also have this post in the Shop but don't drop board - I think it is relevant to both?

Poppie68

kevbev321 wrote: »

Hi all,

Yesterday afternoon whilst shopping in my local B&M store I picked up a duvet cover set. It was in "Home Living" Branded packaging, which looks nothing like the B&M Store brand, more like an up-market brand. On the front of the packet was a price sticker in the same branding as the packaging, which said £16.99.

Stuck next to this sticker was another price sticker, this time in the blue and orange B&M branding, with a price stating "£6.99 or 2 for £12".

I looked at the back of the packet for more product details, and then noticed at the bottom of the packet in small writing it stated that the product was actually made by B&M Retail.

I am of the opinion that what is happening here is that B&M Have created this Home Living Brand (I've searched online and can't find it on sale anywhere else), stuck on the inflated price tag in the same branding to make it appear like a more expensive product, and then slapped on their own price tag at a lower price to give the illusion of a bargain!

I've looked around the store at all sorts of other things - from curtains to bedsheets, to homeware, gardening etc and they seem to be employing this method all over the store :eek:.

I just want to run this by you all to get your opinion - Do you think B&M are deliberately misleading their customers??

I have tried calling their head office to ask about this but get fobbed off with the "We'll call you back" response, of course this never happens.

I didn't take any pictures, but I wish I had to show you all!


I also have this post in the Shop but don't drop board - I think it is relevant to both?

It's not misleading it just happens to be their brand name for software furnishings etc, most stores do it.

societys_child

They're printing the prices on the packages that they'd like to sell them at . . . but are now selling 'em a lot cheaper.:T

Bargain!;)

:rotfl:

kevbev321

Poppie68 wrote: »

It's not misleading it just happens to be their brand name for software furnishings etc, most stores do it.

I agree that having different brand names is perfectly acceptable, but this isn't the issue; The issue is the way that they are marking up the item to look more expensive under this brand by using a price sticker of a higher price that they don't actually charge, and then appearing to reduce it under the normal B&M Brand using a B&M Price sticker at a lower price.

tykesi

How do you know they have NEVER charged that price?

londonpi

Yes this is comon across most retailers now, its maybe a bit more transparent at this end of the market though.

If you look at some of their Christmas Crackers you will see a pack of six with a big £3 on the pacaging and then a small sticker with their own 99p price ticket. Even though those too are produced just for them - I've just had a look at the packaging. (I was looking for some for a chrismas party and when I noticed the £3 ticket I thought no way was I paying that for what they were, but then noticed the 99p one and that was the kind of price I was looking for so great.)

I guess its like everything, its not what you are saving thats important its what you are paying and if you actually need the item at that price.

I've noticed TKMaxx now produce a lot of their own product for example and again list a hugely inflated RRP and then their own price.

vuvuzela

kevbev321 wrote: »

Hi all,

Yesterday afternoon whilst shopping in my local B&M store I picked up a duvet cover set. It was in "Home Living" Branded packaging, which looks nothing like the B&M Store brand, more like an up-market brand. On the front of the packet was a price sticker in the same branding as the packaging, which said £16.99.

Stuck next to this sticker was another price sticker, this time in the blue and orange B&M branding, with a price stating "£6.99 or 2 for £12".

I looked at the back of the packet for more product details, and then noticed at the bottom of the packet in small writing it stated that the product was actually made by B&M Retail.

I am of the opinion that what is happening here is that B&M Have created this Home Living Brand (I've searched online and can't find it on sale anywhere else), stuck on the inflated price tag in the same branding to make it appear like a more expensive product, and then slapped on their own price tag at a lower price to give the illusion of a bargain!

I've looked around the store at all sorts of other things - from curtains to bedsheets, to homeware, gardening etc and they seem to be employing this method all over the store :eek:.

I just want to run this by you all to get your opinion - Do you think B&M are deliberately misleading their customers??

I have tried calling their head office to ask about this but get fobbed off with the "We'll call you back" response, of course this never happens.

I didn't take any pictures, but I wish I had to show you all!


I also have this post in the Shop but don't drop board - I think it is relevant to both?

Don't cross-post. If you want responses, keep it in one place so people don't duplicate effort.
As for 'massively misleading', then it's the same as a lot of companies. They have a brand which they want to appear better so put a large 'RRP' on it, then sell it cheaper. Sports Direct do this all the time, to a far far greater degree.

Poppie68

Sorry I mis read your post...the rrp is the price the manufacturer recommends the retailer sells the product for, the retailer can then either sell at that price or below. They package products in their own brand and tempt you into a 'bargain' by showing you the two prices.

sulphate

TK Maxx do this too - apparently the vast majority of "brands" they sell were made for them. Unless you recognise the brand from elsewhere I don't bother.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/tk-maxx-and-discount-stores-if-it-looks-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is-8993940.html

unholyangel

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/31900/10-1312-pricing-practices-guidance-for-traders.pdf

1.6 Comparisons with "Recommended Retail Price" or similar
1.6.1 You should not use a recommended retail price, or similar, as a basis of
comparison which is not genuine, or if it differs significantly from the price at which
the product is generally sold.

1.6.2 You should not use an RRP or similar for goods that only you supply.

Ivana_Tinkle

Sports Direct do the same thing too.