Fridge from John Lewis 3 weeks late. Now price has dropped £200

TrickyDicky

Hi All.

We ordered a fridge freezer from John Lewis 7 weeks ago with an expected "within 4 weeks" delivery - price was £1499.99. On the last day of the 4 weeks, we received an email saying the item was out of stock and would be expeteced in another 3 weeks. When I phoned up I was told to ring back after delivery for a "good will" payment.

We finally received it on friday (at the end of the 3 week window). 

I have now phoned back and the "good will" offer is £20. Too rub salt into the wound, the fridge has now dropped in price to £1299.99

Given the delivery was free, but late, what are my rights? John lewis say they cant do a price match because its over 4 weeks since I ordered.

I am very tempted to return it (because I ordered online) and re-order at the lower price. But the delivery company took all the packaging away. We havent used it other than pluged in (all the internal plastic etc is still on)

Any help appreciated - Im quite annoyed

tacpot12

You have no rights regarding the late delivery unless you mentioned that time was of the essence in the contract, which you didn't. Price Matching is not a consumer right, but part of John Lewis' offer. They can decide when they offer it and when the don't (e.g. after 4 weeks).

If the contract says that that John Lewis will pay for collection if you change your mind, or the contract is silent on who pays to return online purchases, then they will have to collect it for free. If not, it will be your job to pay for the return. Lack of packaging doesn't matter, just that the item is in a resellable condition, i.e. not damaged. It would be as well not to use it or remove the internal plastics if you want to return it. 

It sounds like a lot of trouble for a fridge/freezer that you have already paid for and that you want. Why not just start using the fridge and relax?

If it is an intelligent fridge and connects to the internet you may have a problem returning it as it is currently John Lewis policy to regard items that had a WiFi password entered into them to be incapable of being resold as the password potentially allows the new purchaser to access the previous owner's WiFi network and their data. 

TrickyDicky

Hi @tacpot12

It does have WiFi, but other than turn the power on Ive done nothing else. I do want this, but I could live without in the time being (have a working fridge freezer, but could use some expensive repairs - hence buying new). I suspected I had few rights and might have to just live with the annoyance, but wondered if Id missed something.

mattyprice4004

I'd be pushing the issue via Twitter or similar - the PR teams used for social media communications tend to be (but are not always) better at giving 'goodwill' payments etc.

Aylesbury_Duck

The question is: Is a £200 saving worth the hassle returning, re-ordering and waiting?  If so, and you have a back up, go for it.

Be warned that if you re-order and the new one takes seven weeks, you're into January sale territory and it might go down again!

neilmcl

Have you spoken to someone at JL to ask. Just be polite and explain that it was delivered late and on the day of delivery the price has since dropped. When price matching they normally give you 28 days to sort it from the day your have the item so I don't see this as being any different.