Morrisons charging more instore than online

keithamara

I wanted to buy 6 bottles of a particular Cava, priced at £8.25 a bottle on Morrisons website. However when I went to the store it was £12!!!!The manager told us that it was probably an online price and would be the cheaper price if it were delivered. However, Morrissons can't be bothered to organise a delivery service in the whole of Cornwall where I live. So they are charging their customers 50% extra for the privilege of driving to a store to buy this product. How many other items are they charging extra for instore?
I wonder if anyone who can get Morrisons to deliver have found they charge less for some items than if they buy them instore. Is this legal ie having one price on the shelf, but when its picked for delivery, charging a different price??

DCFC79

If an item is just an online only deal then its not illegal.


I wasn't aware of 1 price for online and another instore on some products but then I don't go online for shopping.

alanq

A retailer competes with its rivals to maximise profit. If selling online it has to compete with other online traders. If selling in store it has to compete with other stores in the area.

It is not unknown for stores to charge different prices in different areas. Apart from competition there are the different costs of staffing, leasing the buildings, business rates etc.

I wanted something that was cheap from Wilko. In my local store it was dearer. So it cost less to order online with Click and Collect, delivered to the same store, than to take the item off the shelf.

keithamara

This particular item isn't listed online as"an online offer". It would only be if you went instore and compared prices you'd realise it was more expensive instore. I know that Asda and Waitrose sometimes have different prices online but when you take these items to the till they are charged at the online prices. Eg I bought 2 cartons of Tropicana which were 4.49 each instore but were 2 cartons for £4 online.When I took the 2 cartons to checkout in Waitrose they charged me £4 even though they weren't advertising that price on the shelf.
I wouldn't have a problem with a store advertising that something is an "online offer" but I can't go checking every item I buy to make sure I'm not being conned. Especially when , like me, I can't even do an online shop!

Carrot007

keithamara wrote: »

I know that Asda and Waitrose sometimes have different prices online but when you take these items to the till they are charged at the online prices. Eg I bought 2 cartons of Tropicana which were 4.49 each instore but were 2 cartons for £4 online.When I took the 2 cartons to checkout in Waitrose they charged me £4 even though they weren't advertising that price on the shelf.

100% more likely they have forgot to update the shelf label rather than charged the online price.


Online prices are nothing to do with the price you pay in store. Even if they ask for a store (as that is for delivery purposes as to what is available).


I await your next suprise when you find out different branches also charge different prices.


I really thought eveyone knew this 10 years ago.


And yes they can charge whatever they like and have offers per brach or online or whatever as there is no reason they cannot.

alanq

One reason that online and instore prices may differ is that online prices quoted are for the day of delivery not the day of ordering so the online price may indicate an instore price change that has yet to take place.


All the price labels cannot be updated instantly in store. I understand that the best practice is that labels for items about to increase in price should be changed before checkout prices are updated and that labels for items that are about to decrease in price should be changed after checkout prices are updated. That way the customer always gets charged less than they expected.

keithamara

The instore price was correct as it was checked by the manager. I'm only posting this so others might be more wary of in store prices. I wouldn't have minded if it was a few pence or so difference but charging 50% more for an item is ludicrous

pumpkin89

Morrisons is unusual in that they use Ocado for their website and some of their deliveries, so there are two separate systems in play.

Most other retailers pick their online deliveries from store and I would be surprised if the prices differed. For example, Tesco states in its T&Cs that the price you pay will be the price in-store on the day your shopping is picked and delivered, so you would never get a cheaper price online [even their online-only promotions are available in-store, but just not advertised].

MrsStepford

keithamara wrote: »

I wanted to buy 6 bottles of a particular Cava, priced at £8.25 a bottle on Morrisons website. However when I went to the store it was £12!!!!The manager told us that it was probably an online price and would be the cheaper price if it were delivered. However, Morrissons can't be bothered to organise a delivery service in the whole of Cornwall where I live. So they are charging their customers 50% extra for the privilege of driving to a store to buy this product. How many other items are they charging extra for instore?
I wonder if anyone who can get Morrisons to deliver have found they charge less for some items than if they buy them instore. Is this legal ie having one price on the shelf, but when its picked for delivery, charging a different price??

It's not illegal for stores to charge different prices in different branches. A bottle of Fitou might be one price in Sainsbury's Belgravia and another in Sainsbury's Canterbury.

The price differences can be down to several things

1. Actual stores are more expensive to run. Rent, maintenance, staff, bigger distribution area for the trucks.

2. Online offers to get people buying in bulk which is easier to manage via delivery. Online offers for Morrisons as they roll out nationwide delivery. They want people to use their service. They have half an automated warehouse belonging to Ocado which long term will make more profit than stores.

3. Regional offers

4. Higher prices in well-off areas.

PS: Tesco has some 'dark stores' for deliveries. I know that nearest Waitrose and Tesco pick-in store but local ASDA doesn't and Sainsbury's deliveries here come from a store in another town.