GREAT 'WHAT SHOPS DON'T WANT US TO KNOW" HUNT

hrafndot

deanos wrote:

I would agree that the big chains are a rip off however a little Kinema near me is excellent, its privately run a bottle of water is 65p, large Coke £1.50 (smaller available) , Popcorn £1 ,large bags of sweets (M+M's and the like) £1, and entry is only £5

They even have a organ come up from the floorboards sometimes

http://www.thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/

We LOVED going to Woodhall Spa in my childhood. We would go to the Petwood Hotel with its beautiful gardens and surprising (for a kid) stables full of horses; I was in heaven. I didn't ever go to the Kinema in the woods but I always remembered what it looked like and thought I would go one day. What a memory. Who would have thought to call it a Kinema in the first place. I would like to go back there. And how nice not to have rip off prices!!!!

woohoo_postingid

I used to work as a manager for The Link (DSG), let me see, what can I remember?

As has been mentioned, anything ending in 97p in a 'C' line and is being sold off as no more will be coming in - sometimes these are at a good price and are often as low as the cost price (although if it is very good, the staff will have bought them all!). It is worth asking for more money off, they don't care they just want to get rid of them. If you are buying something else, ask if they will chuck a 'C' line in for free.

Anything ending in 98p is a 'Z' line. This means it is 'End of Line', ie the company will not be buying any more in but it is not yet a 'C' line as they may have stock available. They are not as desperate to get rid of these but, if they are good managers, they will be on the ball and will be aiming to get rid none the less. Worth asking for a discount, you will probably get something.

Never pay full price for the insurance, always ask for a discount (half price). The salesperson will more than likely do it. They cannot discount insurance, but they can discount the phone. So if insurance is £20, ask them to take £10 off the phone. The assistant doesn't make much on insurance but it will keep the boss off their back so they will more than likely do it.

Ask for accessories to be thrown in. Depending on the salesperson, they may or may not do it. Own brand accessories you will usually get for free, or for a ridicuously low amount eg (£1) but it is unlikely you will get any discount on branded gear as the margins are very low.

It is highly unlikely that you will get any discount on a pay as you go phone as they make very little money. Take out a contract and the world's your oyster (within reason).

If your phone is away with a repair centre for 28 days, they will arrange a replacement (although not there and then so be polite)

Managers work on margin targets, not sales targets so just because you are spending a lot of money doesn't mean you will be guaranteed any special treatment. Somebody spending £300 on pay as you go phones is unlikely to receive the same treatment as somebody who is taking one free phone on a contract (which makes loads more money).

If you can't get served, hang around the contract phones - a sales person will be with you in a flash! Most can't be bothered to sell payg phones as they make hardly any commission from it.

The priority network (the one that makes the company the most money that month) is nearest to the door so will probably be the first one the sales person takes you to. This changes monthly.

Clearance contract phones are always the best deal (although the phones are usually older).

If a product is mispriced, they do not have to sell it to you, but more than likely they will in respect of customer service.

With names and addresses, you do not have to give them but it can make your life easier if you have to return goods and don't have a receipt. If you pay by cash and dont give your details and have no receipt, the shop wont be interested in your 'claim' that you purchased it from them.

There is a button on the system when inputting names and addresses which says 'No Marketing'. This is preset as 'not ticked' which means they can use your details etc. Ask the assistant to 'tick the no marketing box' when you give your details - you won't receive any rubbish.

Always take an old phone (as old as possible) with you when you go to buy a new one. You can still get a trade-in on some products and it doesn't matter which phone you are trading in.

Above all, as has been mentioned, be polite and build a rapport with the sales person. You will get great service.

Hope this helps, good luck :money:

gcn504

Is there anyone around who used to work at DFS? I've found a new sofa which has been reduced in the sale (when are they not on sale you may ask?). However, I priced it all up and intend to return to possibly purchased said sofa having measured up at home. I like a barter so does anyone know if they'll take anything extra off: also being leather I'm expecting them to hit me with the "you must have it Scotch guarded" argument.

Anyone have any insider tips?

HelenD_2

lady_noluck wrote:

Oakley sunglasses have a 100% mark up. If the glasses are selling for £139.99 it means the cost price is £69.99. Not so much money saving but certainly room for a discount I think!

Happy New Year everyone!

Just to let you know that although Oakleys cannot usually be sold for any sort of discount, I have discovered a marvellous Oakley shop at the Gun Wharf in Portsmouth that does sell them at a discount (I got a £50 discount on a pair that should have been £130).

If you are anywhere near the Gun Wharf I highly recommend it as all the shops are discount outlet stores and everything is reduced - Very exciting :j

woohoo_postingid

gcn504 wrote:

Is there anyone around who used to work at DFS? I've found a new sofa which has been reduced in the sale (when are they not on sale you may ask?). However, I priced it all up and intend to return to possibly purchased said sofa having measured up at home. I like a barter so does anyone know if they'll take anything extra off: also being leather I'm expecting them to hit me with the "you must have it Scotch guarded" argument.

Anyone have any insider tips?

Ask them straight out what the best price is. Bear in mind that everybody is shopping for furniture at the moment so they may not be as willing to do a deal as they would at another time of the year.
If they ask how you intend to pay, tell them you haven't decided yet, they will either encourage finance or cash. Whichever they recommend, go with that and once you have secured a discount, pay however you want (ie if you intend to pay cash and they offer you a deal through finance, secure the deal then tell them you intend to pay cash and vice-versa)

Tell them that you have been offered free delivery at another store if they try to charge you delivery.

Scotchguard is up to you. There are pros and cons to the cover, personally I would put the money for the cover into a bank account in case you need it, and if you don't, you will have a nice little bit of money saved up. You can't lose.

RufusA

Was in a store (The Officer's Club) when the shop manager was instructing staff on where to put the latest promotion flyers (A4 pre-printed sheets).

The "Christmas Clearance" and "Sale" posters were to be plastered liberally on anything that they had stock of, ideally full price items. "Head Office want us to sell more of xxxxxx and if customers think they are clearance items they are more likely to buy them".

However the "Price slashed" posters they had to be "careful of" as it had a legal meaning and could only be put on items that had a price reduction (lower than the price show previously for 28 consequtive days in the last 6 months).

So the tip is essentially don't be fooled by posters you see in shops, unless it specifically mentions a price reduction then the wording is there to give the impression you are getting a bargain when you're not. Notice the profileration of "special purchase" items that get wheeled out in stores each "sale" when they are not usally part of the stores normal stock.

HTH - Rufus.

Robert5686

I bought a 20gb ipod in August 2005 costing £175. Now broken and sales person offered to exchange, He then said he had not got any 20gb ones as they had been discontinued. It turns out that the nearest they have to mine is a 30gbte one costing £219. So instead of giving me the £219 one he now wants to give me my £175 back. But i want the £219 ipod. What are my rights?

mrgoof

if an item is faulty i believe they can offer your money back but its more to do with the principal.

realistically a £219 item should cost them £150 + vat so even if they're not making any money surely it would be better to keep you happy?

i would have thought most shops think like that, perhaps try a different sales person

Clowance

Robert5686 wrote:

I bought a 20gb ipod in August 2005 costing £175. Now broken and sales person offered to exchange, He then said he had not got any 20gb ones as they had been discontinued. It turns out that the nearest they have to mine is a 30gbte one costing £219. So instead of giving me the £219 one he now wants to give me my £175 back. But i want the £219 ipod. What are my rights?

When this happened recently to us over a DVD recorder in Currys, we paid them a further £100 for an HDD recorder.

jennybegoode

According to this website, Starbucks in the US sells smaller and cheaper drinks than their advertised smallest size. You have to ask for a 'short' (e.g. a short cappuccino). Might also work in the UK!

The site also goes on about Tesco's Value packaging!