What's the point of John Lewis' price guarantee?

TimeToBawl

The most logical answer yet, thank you. It clearly worked on me. Seems like intentionally deceptive marketing though tbh.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82130424#Comment_82130424

An example.

All other things being equal, I prefer to go and collect my £nnn thing from JL rather than waiting for a courier who may or may not turn up and who might deliver a tin of cat food.

oldernonethewiser

John Lewis customer service is generally good. I can go and see the product I wish to buy, which is often tnot he case with in online product.

If JL are matching the price I'd rather buy it there. I avoid using Amazon as much as I can.

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82130425#Comment_82130425

If you feel it is deceptive marketing then report it.

MyRealNameToo

Price promises are fairly powerful marketing messages, particularly the sort that go beyond the actual date of purchase.

Unfortunately having big shops in prime locations is very expensive and its hard to compete with online retailers who can locate themselves in a the middle of know where with much lower overheads and just ship stuff out. As such pricematching terms are normally tweaked.

In fairness to JL, theirs is not the worst behaviour… two well known companies used to have very generous policies with very few limits other than it was the like for like model and the other firm had it in stock. What they didnt tell you however is that they had deals with their big suppliers that the stock provided to them would be given a different model number, in one case it was a small difference… last two letters elsewhere represent what accessories or colour option the model is but they used different suffix, the other brand had totally different names. They could be generious as they were the only ones to be selling the 60LX1231AB because everyone else sold it under 60LX1231BC but they could legitimately point to it not being the same model so not claimable under the promise. Note I've not checked the two retailers in question to see if they are still playing the game or have changed their tact so wont name and shame.

I've generally never liked the idea of price matching, if someone is doing the work to get the prices lower then reward them with your business or pay a premium because you like having a physical shop to go to. I once bought a TV from a firm that used to say "well never knowingly be beaten" so they price matched for me but coincidently the person behind was buying the identical item and they went to charge him full price so clearly the message was nonsense as they did know when they charged him.

Most do use price matching because the company is convenient, quicker delivery, allegedy better service or throw in an extended warranty or such.

prowla

It depends whether the warranty is part of the product you are buying.

If it is, then the items are different.

If it isn't then it's like-for-like.

Now, if JL's 2-years warranty is advertised as "free" then there might be some mileage in arguing that it is immaterial.

But I can't say I'm an authority on the matter.