Promotional Price Fixing (Jessops, PC World, Park Cameras) Illegal?

Takmon

Debt_Tired wrote: »

Annoyed, I tweeted: @PanasonicUK So you decided to offer 20% off lenses! That’s absolutely fabulous. Only one slight problem, namely the offer was only from 24th December until 2nd January, when everyone was either too busy or too skint! Not much of a January sale, was it Panasonic? #ExtendTheSale.

I would say that period during the year is when when the most people would be off work for at least a couple of days so they would have time to go shopping if they chose too.

Being "too skint" is purely a budgeting problem as the poster above said. Everyone knows when Christmas is so it's easy to budget for it. But if your one of those people who spends every penny each time they are paid then you have more to worry about than when a sale is on.

[Deleted User]

davidmcn wrote: »

it's not illegal for Panasonic to lie to you about whatever arrangements they have with their suppliers...

It won't have been an untruth though. As already pointed out, the offer was originally exclusive to Jessops and the other retailers were simply price-matching (not price-fixing). Panasonic will have simply stated what their information was at the time (and basically absolved themselves of any liability)

Debt_Tired wrote: »

money is tight, especially at Christmas.

For the vast majority of people money becomes tight after the Christmas period, not during it.

Comms69

Debt_Tired wrote: »

Need to get this off my chest.

We all love a bargain, especially when times are hard.

Now, from Christmas Eve a number of retailers were offering a 20% discount on Panasonic photographic lenses. But what kind of a sale ends when you’re skint or preoccupied with Christmas. This sale ended on 2nd January!

Annoyed, I tweeted: @PanasonicUK So you decided to offer 20% off lenses! That’s absolutely fabulous. Only one slight problem, namely the offer was only from 24th December until 2nd January, when everyone was either too busy or too skint! Not much of a January sale, was it Panasonic? #ExtendTheSale.

I assumed that it was arranged through Panasonic, because the offer was available from several different retailers. Same dates and same 20% off the same products. But according to Panasonic, who replied to my enquiry:

“I can confirm that this offer was run exclusively by Jessops, and was not in association with Panasonic. Which means that we unfortunately have no control over how long it lasts.”

That’s interesting, because the same “20% off Panasonic Lenses” was also offered from Curry’s and PC World, Wex Photo & Video, Park Cameras, Clifton Cameras, the aforementioned Jessops and a few other retailers I suspect. All independent retailers, all deciding to offer the exact same discount, over the same week!

Am I bitter? Damn right! Buying a new lens isn’t something you do every day, and money is tight, especially at Christmas. And it’s not as if you can pick and choose. If you buy a certain camera, your stuck with that particular lens mount - with limited or no option other than to buy from a single manufacturer.

Question is: was this a case of price fixing? Were retailers colluding with each other - to offer the same discount or special offer over the same period? Is this illegal?

Sorry you're annoyed at the retailers because of your lack of money?....

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

The words of Mr Micawber seem to spring to mind!

sinar

You can also use Olympus micro four thirds lenses on Panasonic cameras, as well as a range of third party lenses such as sigma.

mattyprice4004

Does everything need a hashtag now?
Also I bought lots between Christmas and new year in the sales, not everyone has no money at this time of year!

Great time for bargains, shame you missed the boat

davidmcn

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Also I bought lots between Christmas and new year in the sales, not everyone has no money at this time of year!

Indeed. Some people get money for Christmas. Or might have been waiting to see what Santa was bringing them.