Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Buyer Beware: Big Al's Calgary

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- - Buyer Beware: Big Al's Calgary (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=69909)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMikey (Post 565587)

If Big Al's advertises in the store that they do match prices after the fact of purchase, I believe they are obligated to honour that promise. It sounds to me like it's a bilateral contract: you agree to pay their advertised price on the assumption it is at (or below) a competetor's price. Their guarantee to you, then, is that if you find a lower price they are obligated to match it.

However, it becomes a problem with the internet. If you can, find a store that advertises the price you say your product is worth: a brick and mortar store in Calgary. Nextly, look on Big Al's website to see if there's a disclaimer that says they do not have to respect their online prices in their retail outlets.

Like you said, the problem is that online stores don't have to worry about paying employees, shipping, lease on property, etc. so they can do it cheaper than a brick and mortar store. With this in mind, I would never honour a price brought in from the internet if I were working in retail (and I did, for nine years). It's like printing off a price from eBay and trying to get Futureshop to match it.

Great points, but then what about places like some of our sponsors, they sell these skimmers for almost $100 less and they also have storefronts, employees, and overhead. It is all relative, and when comparing strictly online shops to the other, you can take into account such overheads, shipping and hopefully still do business. And then hopefully both sides are happy.

Retailers offer things like price protection in order to reassure the customer they are getting the best product for the best price. Thus taking the onus off us the customer, and if we impulse buy, we should be protected. But if the retailer isn't willing to come to the plate after the fact and honor their promises, then shame on them.

My understanding in talking to this shop is that they do NOT price match against online stores. And let's be honest, they do something right, or they wouldn't be in business. They've been around a long time. My local LFS charges 3x what online places do, yet they are still going, year after year. If people pay the price, they will continue to charge it. That's how lots of businesses work, especially retail. And people obviously pay the prices, as per this thread. Sure, you may not be happy about it, but I don't see where they've done anything wrong. Ultimately, you as the consumer need to speak with your dollars. Don't shop there. Once the demand is lowered, the pricing will follow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns (Post 565599)

But if the retailer isn't willing to come to the plate after the fact and honor their promises, then shame on them.

I think this is the only one of your points I really agree with - and please take no offence. Everything I said, though, is contingent on what Big Al's promises. I haven't been into the Calgary store, nor have I visited their website so I really have no idea what their promises are.

Look at what their customer agreement is. If they agree to match "local, advertised prices" or their own website prices, go and argue it. They cannot tell you no. However in a capitalist/materialistic society it is buyer beware. It's all about getting the most money out of a product.

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns (Post 565599)

Retailers offer things like price protection in order to reassure the customer they are getting the best product for the best price. Thus taking the onus off us the customer, and if we impulse buy, we should be protected.

That's just wrong. Unless this store advertises in writing that they offer price protection, then they don't. I can't for the life of me see why any of the responsibility for impulse buying falls to the store. The onus is entirely on you, and unless you verified before the impulse that they offer price protection, you entered into and completed a transaction on goods you both agreed on at the time. Deal done.
If I post a $50 item here for sale and ask $500, and you then buy it, that's not my issue. You made the decision and I made a great profit. This is really not a store issue, it's an impulse buy issue that you regret and aren't taking the responsibility of....

Here is the link to Big Al's Best Price Gaurantee (for online website):

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/staticPag...eGuarantee.jsp

If the stores support the same rules, but only storefronts (not online shops) then they can call many of our sponsors with storefronts. Of which I told them about. These canreef sponsors have them in stock, have storefronts, and qaulify for the Price Gaurantee. So again what gives?

Like I said, buyer beware... And take their price gaurantee's and ignore them as they don't have any merit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro (Post 565603)

Well back at you, as I think you are wrong, as the Big Al storefronts also give Price Protection. This is something they promote, they have documentation in pamphlets and so on. Actually, when I signed up for their bonus program, it even had it in the pamphlets for that, they promoted price protection.

I myself use to run Visions Electronics stores and other major chain electronic stores... All these stores had Price Gaurantee's of which I used as the manager and also as a saleman to get customers to buy, sometimes making them impulse buy... It works!!!! But I can tell you that I did support my price gaurantee... Rule was bring in the add, or if we could phone and verify, they got it... Very easy simple, and it made people buy that maybe wouldn't

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns (Post 565605)

Like I said, buyer beware... And take their price gaurantee's and ignore them as they don't have any merit.

I'm sorry, but you're incorrect. That policy is strictly for online retail. Go see what the Big Al's retail policies are.

If they have it documented that should you find a lower price on the same product, in stock at a local competitor, you then have legal recourse. I'm not familiar with the wording, but they apparently feel it doesn't apply to this transaction. So either details are lacking here, or you need to call your provincial consumer protection agency.
What exactly is their reasoning for refusing to honor this policy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMikey (Post 565609)

I'm sorry, but you're incorrect. That policy is strictly for online retail. Go see what the Big Al's retail policies are.

That is also my understanding...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMikey (Post 565609)

I'm sorry, but you're incorrect. That policy is strictly for online retail. Go see what the Big Al's retail policies are.

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey... If you are going to quote my entry, please quote it all, as I stated I posted the online store policy, NOT the retail store... please don't try to make me look like an idiot. AS I AM NOT!!!!

So my post you are referring to still stands. GEEZ, this is what irritates me.