Specsavers 2 for 1 illegal?

spakkaman

I was offered a second pair free yesterday.  Quite impressed until they then said if I just chose one pair then the price on the one would be reduced by £48.  Surely this means they are not offering 2 for the price of one.  It must be illegal!

Browntoa

Were you choosing 2 identical pairs or was the 2nd pair different ? 

[Deleted User]

As always, the detail is in the small print. I cannot see anything that indicates that if you only want one pair that you should get a discount of £50 (which is what I think that you are suggesting).

Terms and conditions

Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below and to the same prescription. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single vision lenses (or 1.6 for £169 rimless ranges). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses in first pair only. Excludes superdigital, superdrive varifocals, superreaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge - extra options.

spakkaman

The second pair offered was included in the price of the one pair.  That’s as per the two for one offer.  Two identical glasses for the price of one was offered. Very good.

 My problem was that they then said if I declined the 2 for 1 offer they would discount the one pair by £48.  Thus they made it cheaper for me to buy one pair thus contradicting their two for one offer.

This must be illegal.

Sandtree

spakkaman said:

I was offered a second pair free yesterday.  Quite impressed until they then said if I just chose one pair then the price on the one would be reduced by £48.  Surely this means they are not offering 2 for the price of one.  It must be illegal!

Unfortunately there isnt a legal definition of "two for one" and so it will be subject to the terms and conditions as set by the retailer. The Advertising Standards Association may consider if such terms are appropriately visible and understandable etc.

The terms listed, match the price or less with standard options doesnt seem that unreasonable and so I doubt anyone will be going to jail.

Aylesbury_Duck

spakkaman said:

The second pair offered was included in the price of the one pair.  That’s as per the two for one offer.  Two identical glasses for the price of one was offered. Very good.

 My problem was that they then said if I declined the 2 for 1 offer they would discount the one pair by £48.  Thus they made it cheaper for me to buy one pair thus contradicting their two for one offer.

This must be illegal.

Why must it be?  It's an offer that doesn't leave you out of pocket, isn't it?

Emmia

The alternative is they charge you full price for just the one pair - that's normally how a 2-4-1 works if you don't take the second item. Or were you hoping for 1 pair to be half price?

E.g. normal cost £100 - 2x is £100 - but if you have one pair it is £52 which is more than half the normal price.

On what basis do you think their offer is illegal?

spakkaman

I worked for a motor manufacturer.  When we offered 0% finance this involved a dealer subsidy.  If a customer chose not to have (subsidised) finance ie they said they would pay cash it was not allowed that the dealer reduce the price.  Reducing the price would effectively put a cost on the finance making the offer of 0% not genuine.  This was deemed illegal.

The Specsavers behaviour is very similar.  They actually offered me a lower price for one pair which makes two for the price of one offer not genuine.

Aylesbury_Duck

Would it be illegal for me to walk into Tesco, find something like a chocolate bar packaged as "25% extra free", snap a fifth off the end of the bar, eat it and walk out?  

user1977

spakkaman said:

I worked for a motor manufacturer.  When we offered 0% finance this involved a dealer subsidy.  If a customer chose not to have (subsidised) finance ie they said they would pay cash it was not allowed that the dealer reduce the price.  Reducing the price would effectively put a cost on the finance making the offer of 0% not genuine.  This was deemed illegal.

But that's under a specific provision in the Consumer Credit Act about disclosing the true cost of finance, nothing to do with a freebie pair of specs.

born_again

spakkaman said:

The second pair offered was included in the price of the one pair.  That’s as per the two for one offer.  Two identical glasses for the price of one was offered. Very good.

 My problem was that they then said if I declined the 2 for 1 offer they would discount the one pair by £48.  Thus they made it cheaper for me to buy one pair thus contradicting their two for one offer.

This must be illegal.

Why?
You could have had 2 pair for the same price of the one you are paying for, but declined. So they very generously offered you a £48 discount on your one pair....

They did not have to offer the discount. As you declined the free pair.
I do it every time I get my glasses from them. As I have extra's & do not need a 2nd pair. So the discount goes towards extra thin lenses & coatings.

God help us if a retailer  offering a discount becomes illegal...🤦‍♂️