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

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  • MaccyB_2
    MaccyB_2 Posts: 30 Forumite
    superhoop wrote:
    Again, many MSE readers will know this...

    Don't automatically assume that if an electrical item breaks after twelve months that you cannot take it back for a repair or replacement.

    A retailer has to sell goods of 'reasonable' merchandisable quality. It all hangs on the word 'reasonable', but the point runs something like this:

    If you buy an £800 telly and it breaks after 13 months, you would have a good case to claim that you would expect this to last longer.

    You're only entitled to a full refund up to 30 days after purchase, but in this case of the telly you should be able to claim a repair or a replacement from the retailer

    Mind you, if you buy a £10 walkman and try to return it after 18 months, a retailer (and a court) would likely say that the item had lasted a reasonable amount of time.

    The facts can be found on the DTI (or the DPEI as its now known) website:

    http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/salegoodsact.htm

    Hope this helps someone.

    Steve

    Anyone knows that a consumers idea of common sense and a retailers are in two different worlds. So when we talk about "Reasonable" time scales against the price you paid - are their any guidelines? I ask purely because 2.5 years ago I bought a £450 tumble dryer, I have just written to the manufacturer because it has ceased to dry and I refuse to pay their rediculous call out charges. I personally think that for £450 I have not had the dryer a "reasonable" amount of time to justify it breaking down, but If I try to take it back to comet where I bought it from...(apart from the fact that I have moved since i bought it) I would get laughed at wouldn't I?
  • holstar
    holstar Posts: 826 Forumite
    i used to work at an Millets, selling outdoor equipment/clothing etc...selling what were quite expensive walking boots/rucksacks etc...
    i used ot actively encourage people to come in and try on as many pairs of boots (or whatever) as they wanted to, wear them round in the shop for as long as poss etc make sure they were completely happy with item, then write down the exact name/size and code of the item, then send them home and tell them to get online, as we give 10% off on first orders on the website

    for regular customers, we give 10% in store for: duke of edinburgh (20% for DoE leaders), ramblers association, guides/scouts, police, armed forces, students, Youth hostel association...just take along a valid membership card for any of those discounts. That discount doesnt apply to any sales or offers though.

    This applies to both millets and blacks stores.
    One thing...that sets pulses racing...that gets hearts pounding...for which there is no substitute...only YOU can provide...blood.

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  • Keep an eye on the price "per item" or "per weight" tags on a supermarket's shelf edge - buying larger packets isn't always cheaper!

    Example, Somerfields currently have Cadbury's Mini Rolls in packets of 10 working out to be 20.2p each - but the packets of six rolls work out to be 18p each.

    But equally, if something isn't labelled with the price per item - ask. The same store also had packets of 18 mini rolls (the office like them ok?) recently for less than the same packet of 10.
  • poorcat
    poorcat Posts: 135 Forumite
    superhoop wrote:
    Apologies if this is verging on the libellous, but I hear on the grapevine that Debenhams have been trying to extract themselves from their link-up with the Nectar card loyalty scheme, and therefore are not actively asking customers for cards at the till.

    That was what an assistant in Debenhams told me the other week - that they're not meant to ask for cards any more, and when I asked why, she said she thought it was because it was costing too much money (but I spend my Nectar points in Sainsburys on the big Xmas shop... yes, I know you get double money-for-your-points in Debenhams, but both me and hubby collect the points, and he might be a bit miffed if I spent them all on clothes!)
  • nuttersinc
    nuttersinc Posts: 15 Forumite
    With regards to Jessops. i think they have started to change their codes as too many paople now know their code structure. One thing that i think still that still holds true is that on second hand items if the code starts with any letters then avoid like the plague as it is either returned or repaired stock, not genuine second hand.

    Also Lowepro camera eqiupment, this is all marked up by 100% on cost price eg if it says £100 it cost the shop £50. i know this to be true at jessops and jacobs as a friend used to work for both.

    I once bought a lowepro bag from a camera shop that was marked up at £100 , when i asked if they could do it any cheaper without hesitation £20 came off the price.

    Also jessops don't advertise the fact that they will price match with anybody who is selling UK stock. they only advertise that they will match within a radius of the shop. i got them to match a net company on a camcorder and got the price down by £280!!
    Regards

    stephen
  • nuttersinc
    nuttersinc Posts: 15 Forumite
    House of Fraser

    An assistant quietly pointed me to the fact that if you buy stuff on their recognition store card you get the most amount of cash back points. you then after buying something this way tell the cashier you want to pay off your account the amount of money you have just spent. hence you get the most amount of points and you have paid for the goods in the way you wanted to anyway. if you then pay with a cashback credit card you win again
    Regards

    stephen
  • Smiley_Mum
    Smiley_Mum Posts: 3,836 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    There is a fair bit of information on this link, worth having a read of it. Lot of interesting info in it, some of it I didn't know about it -

    http://www.calderdale-online.org/html/economy/shopping.html
    “Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” - Oscar Wilde
  • tullula wrote:
    A friend works in Thomas Cook and told me they charge basically what they want on discounted hols. Apparently one guy paid nearly £500 over the odds for a holiday.:mad: Will I get in trouble posting this .

    Erm ?? Thats not really true??

    I used to work in Thomas Cook and they dont charge what they want??

    They get a discount sheet every Thursday from head office to say which companys they can discount and what type of holiday they can discount and how much or what percentage.

    Most will encourage you to see these discounts so you feel you are getting a bargain.

    Some crafty agents will tell you they can discount the holiday by eg 10% when actually they can do it by 15%, if you look like you are going to walk out they will then "pretend to have a word with the manager" and offer you an added 5%.

    The best thing you can do is just get a quote from another agent then come back and ask the manager to better it. Martin has said that before though.

    Also when i was at TC the foreign exchange used to charge 2% on travellers cheques, always tell them that the post office have offered you 1% commission on travellers cheques or sometimes you can get away with 0% on currency cheques (not sterling). Also say the post office are doing 0% on currency and they will always price match it.

    Travel agents cant usually offer any extra discounts on late deals (8 weeks before departure) as they are usually at the lowest price for them to make a profit, but do try for an extra £10pp or generally if its over £150-£200 pp they will through in free insurance. Its then worth paying £10 to top the free insurance up to the Premier one, although for a short haul the free is ample.

    Hope that Helps!
  • bigsquirrel
    bigsquirrel Posts: 26 Forumite
    vaderag wrote:
    On a slightly different point, there was much word of an automated trade-in pricing system coming in when i left game, stopping staff doing this fiddle, although i dont know when thats going to happen.


    'GAME' have now introduced this system where they can only give prices for preowned games that are on their computer systems. No deals can be done and the price on the system is final and cannot be altered. Some games do not even appear on there now as they have no or little value to their company.This was more than likely introduced as the staff could abuse the old system and would give the customer less for certain games and dvd's so that they would be able to get them cheap for themselves.

    Many 'GAME' shops do not have a good preowned prices for football and wrestling games when you offer to trade them in and this is purely because they have so many.
  • bigsquirrel
    bigsquirrel Posts: 26 Forumite
    pdrg wrote:
    Bit of an obvious one, but extended warranties...the assistant will push and push you to take one as the shop manager's bonus is paid on his store having a 10% take in warranties (certain large elecrical chain). I once had to sell a £40 warranty on a WALKMAN (admittedly a better than average walkman, but still, that was outrageous

    I think times are changing as I work for a certain company who to be honest have changed things so that the sales person doesnt really benefit from selling warranties. Most people think that staff who work in electrical retail shops are on a killing in commision but this just isnt true anymore, its hardlyt worth the time now
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