Buyer Beware: Big Al's Calgary

[Reef-Geek]

I always wonder why a store sells (way)overpriced items can still exist for years...

[Bloodasp]

Well as long as somebody keeps buying at that price they will keep selling it. They do say they'll beat the lowest price but not everyone shops around to look for something cheaper. I for one only knew of 2 stores that sold saltwater stuff in calgary before I started, and I've bought heck of a lot from them before I found out about cheaper places to buy.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Bloodasp

Actually I think they do have that policy of matching lowest prices. Not sure if there is a policy of returning a refund though after you bought it and found out it was cheaper elsewhere.

I don't know if they do match.... as I mentioned earlier... They had a wicked sale online... but refused to match the price in store.... ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE!!!!!!!

[e46er]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

Yesterday I bought a SWC 160 cone skimmer to play with. Shame on me, as I didn't research price until I got home, but I paid $100 more than any other retailer in Canada.

so you admit you didnt do any research on a product and you are upset that you overpaid after you went to a store you claimed was "expensive" to begin with.... im so lost as to why the store owes you anything?
theres a sucker born everyday i guess it was you that day.
you should have researched what you were buying, laziness is expensive you learned your lesson and dont go back there.

[Zoaelite]

Ryan @ Big Al's has been great to me every time I walk in there, I think you just have to understand that it's a major chain store so you are at there mercy.

That being said the $60.00 you were seeking was appeased with a $25.00 credit, that means your trying to drag someones name through the mud for $35.00. I personally think that's a little over the top but we all have to pinch pennies somewhere.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by e46er

so you admit you didnt do any research on a product and you are upset that you overpaid after you went to a store you claimed was "expensive" to begin with.... im so lost as to why the store owes you anything?
theres a sucker born everyday i guess it was you that day.
you should have researched what you were buying, laziness is expensive you learned your lesson and dont go back there.

Wow, what an attack on me!!!

I guess that you haven't ever worked retail, or owned a business that provides good or services. I can say I have and still do.

Anyways, they do advertise price matching, even after purchase, but try to get them to honor it. They don't!!!! Especially for anything online.

Also, how can any business, sell a product for $100 more than what everyone else does, even the manufacturer... That is just bad business, and thus the reason I am telling you. If you don't care to listen to my comments, then please go to Big Al's and get ripped off. I REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK, AND FIND YOUR COMMENTS IGNORANT!!! So P I S S OFF!!

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Ryan @ Big Al's has been great to me every time I walk in there, I think you just have to understand that it's a major chain store so you are at there mercy.

That being said the $60.00 you were seeking was appeased with a $25.00 credit, that means your trying to drag someones name through the mud for $35.00. I personally think that's a little over the top but we all have to pinch pennies somewhere.

Actually its not dragging someones name through the mud, I am actually giving them the benefit of overhead/shipping and making it $60... If we want to be picky, they would actually owe me more, if we want to call it that.

I actually probably won't even go back for the credit. Just isn't worth it... Remember, realistically $25 of overpriced food, really probably is only $10 out of their pocket, so they are not even giving me $25. If that is the case, then give me it in cash, then it is worth $25.

Oh well, just wanted to tell people to watch out, and guess what happens as normal on this forum. People hide behind the wall of anomynity and bash. Come on people!!!

All I can say as a business owner that actually resells my services. If my reseller was to sell to their customers at 30% higher pricing than what I am at, and that customer finds out, then wouldn't that customer feel ripped off? Yes they would! This is why I offer significant discounts to my reseller, to enable them to make a buck and sell it at the same pricing to their customers as listed on my website. The goal here is to make everyone happy and no ripping anyone off. Now saying that, don't you think SWC operates the same way? yes they do! so that just means that the pricing Big Al's charged me is plain ole gouging.

[kien]

I have often found myself in a pinch and have needed something at say.. 8:55pm at night Big Al's has always come through for me in that regard Or, sometimes I'm out running errands and if I happen to find myself in that neck of the woods and I realize I need something, Big Al's usually comes through once again.

If I don't want to buy something from there for whatever reason (price, etc), that's totally up to me and not anyone else, including the store. If I come home with something and then find it for cheaper somewhere else, well that's my bad for not shopping around or being impatient.

</two-cents>

[globaldesigns]

Lastly, yes I already stated I didn't realize the price was that much higher. So there is no need for further ignorant comments. I am the first to omit my mistake.

This thread was to detail my experience, The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Take it how you want to.

If I save someone from spending too much on a product at Big Al's then I did my job, that is all I am trying to do. Don't read anything else into it!

[kien]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

Lastly, yes I already stated I didn't realize the price was that much higher. So there is no need for further ignorant comments. I am the first to omit my mistake.

This thread was to detail my experience, The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Take it how you want to.

If I save someone from spending too much on a product at Big Al's then I did my job, that is all I am trying to do. Don't read anything else into it!

well, the thread title says, Beware of Big Al's in Calgary!! We all know Big Al's doesn't have the best reputation, but I'm not sure if this is a good example in that regard. I don't see that they did anything wrong to warrant this, but that's just my opinion and if you are going to post something on public forum then you are going to get opinions, the good the bad and the ugly