Can a reputable online retailer charge more for the same item with 'free' accessories?

user1977

I agree it's misleading pricing to describe the extras as "free" if they're actually £50, though could just be a c0ck-up - or somebody whose English is poor and doesn't understand that "included" and "free" aren't the same thing...

I can't see it triggers any consumer rights though, it's a trading standards thing if they want to enforce.

TadleyBaggie

Could be the cheaper one was older stock that was purchased at a better discount price.

cymruchris

user1977 said:

I agree it's misleading pricing to describe the extras as "free" if they're actually £50, though could just be a c0ck-up - or somebody whose English is poor and doesn't understand that "included" and "free" aren't the same thing...

I can't see it triggers any consumer rights though, it's a trading standards thing if they want to enforce.

Yes it could just be that nobody has spotted it - to which my message might prompt them to align the prices - but I'll see what comes back when their customer service is open tomorrow. I obviously want the best deal possible - but I'll only buy from established reputable retailers. There are a couple of outlets (including good old ebay) supplying it a little cheaper, but not ones I'd consider. 

TELLIT01

If they were both being sold at the same price it's likely that they weren't selling many without the 'free' tool kit.  If that is the case they will be reducing the unsaleable item to a point where it is worth buying.  They haven't increased the price of the item with the tool kit so aren't doing anything wrong.

zoob

Think suppliers/ retailers have messed up and they leave themselves open to issues with trading standards 
Retailers have to be very careful when using the word FREE because it causes all sorts of problems, better for them to use PACKAGE, BUNDLE etc 

Grumpy_chap

cymruchris said:

Yes it could just be that nobody has spotted it - to which my message might prompt them to align the prices -

They might align the prices upwards...

Are the accessories things you want and / or worth £50?

If not, I'd place an order tonight for the item without accessories - it is a distance sale so you will be able to cancel if the "with accessories" price then comes down to match the "without" price.

cymruchris

Grumpy_chap said:

cymruchris said:

Yes it could just be that nobody has spotted it - to which my message might prompt them to align the prices -

They might align the prices upwards...

Are the accessories things you want and / or worth £50?

If not, I'd place an order tonight for the item without accessories - it is a distance sale so you will be able to cancel if the "with accessories" price then comes down to match the "without" price.

Roughly £75 at retail - and both bits would be nice - but not essential.

If the bundle price including freebies was £649 the same as the stand alone unit - I have a 10 percent voucher that would bring it out at £585 approx.

At the higher price £699 it would be around £630 including the voucher.

Amazon currently have the stand alone unit without freebies at £599 - but the bits are about £75 - so £675 total.

So I'll see how they respond tomorrow - and work out the best option - and update accordingly as to whether they are flexible, or stand firm. 

outtatune

I'd contact them and point out the issue. If they agree to provide the version with the accessories at the lower price then all is good. If they refuse, I'd have all the information I needed about the kind of company I'd be dealing with, and go elsewhere.

cymruchris

Just to update the thread - I'd sent a message to ask why the 'free' items were £50 more expensive, and whether they'd adjust the price accordingly - and they replied with:



To which I replied how poor that was from a consumers perspective - and gave an example of a 400g tin of Heinz beans being 50p, or a 400g tin of Heinz beans with a FREE tin of spaghetti for 75p - and while writing asked whether they'd price match Amazon - (supplied by and delivered by) - and they said:



So as a result of their inflexibility - I've decided to spend my money elsewhere, but there was no harm to ask, and still believe it's not quite the done thing to be selling the same item (identical in every way) cheaper without free items than they do with free items. As discussed in everyone's previous posts  - it's likely they can do it - but just because they can do it, doesn't make it right. Now looking forward to the delivery of my new turbo trainer from another source.

Manxman_in_exile

I'm interested that it's Start Fitness.

I've been buying stuff from them for years and years and never had any issues at all with them.  In fact I've always found them very helpful and their prices generally very competitive (although perhaps not as good as they once were).

I think I can understand why they've priced them as they have, but if you aren't happy with their response I can see why you'd want to spend your money elsewhere.

(I think the problem here is their use of the word "free" in the advert.  As others have said it ought to say "bundled with" or suchlike.  I'm surprised they would say "free" which is, of course, confusing.  Funnily enough I was going to post earlier and use Start Fitness's pricing model for shoes as an example.  They will price identical models of shoes differently according to colour and what sizes are available.  Obviously based on popularity as to what colours are in demand (or not) and what sizes are left.  They simply appear to be saying here that they are getting rid of both old and new stock that they bought at different prices and are therefore selling at different prices.  But I agree that "free" is misleading)