Spark and Sony TV Promotion misleading

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark and Sony TV Promotion misleading

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97 posts

Master Geek

#2172896 4-Feb-2019 17:24

Tzoi:

When I worked at the Sony Store (and this was quite a few years ago now so I may be mistaken), I seem to remember most mornings we'd check the competitors sites / PriceSpy to see what the lowest price was on the tvs and change them on the displays to reflect those prices (as Sony would price match the major stores). Maybe they've extended that to their website so that it price matches too now? And that is why this seems a bit odd now? Still no real excuse I guess

Not sure the website would as usually it not supposed to directly challenge retail partners, It can however if it is in their retail stores so they don't need to price match.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#2172921 4-Feb-2019 17:57

Valcor:

mattwnz:

I suggest contacting them about it to see what they can do. If I look at pricespy history on that model, September last year it looks to have been that sort of price, but not now.

I find that the times I try to confront the company about something, all I get is long wait times and sent to multiple departments until it ends up turning into a 6 month saga... Usually I get a better outcome for everyone if just to make the right consumer watchdogs aware of the situation.

Had the RRP set by Sony NZ still be relevant today, then they could get away with it, but they have decreased their pricing and so have all of the stores that that have these models and it is a permanent drop in it's price.

Try live chat, it is pretty instant. The sony website does list the product and price, but doesn't state that it is the 'RRP', and can't see anywhere else it lists RRPs. But then again the sony site doesn't say the current price is a special price either. So one would guess it is the normal price. However Noel Lemming are selling the same TV for slightly more than the Sonys price, at $999, and they imply the price is a discounted price https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/televisions/televisions/ultra-hd-4k-televisions/49-59-uhd-tvs/sony-kd49x7500f-49-ultra-hd-4k-hdr-smart-android-television/prod162481.html . It says PRICE OFFER ENDS 6 FEBRUARY 2019.GIANT DEAL; PRICE SHOWN REFLECTS DISCOUNT. OFFER ENDS 6 FEBRUARY 2019.

So there is something a bit odd going on with the pricing of this TV, as you wouldn't expect a discounted price at a retailer, to still be more than the RRP. JBs red hot price is also $993, the same as Sonys.

Valcor

97 posts

Master Geek

#2173086 4-Feb-2019 20:57

mattwnz:

Try live chat, it is pretty instant. The sony website does list the product and price, but doesn't state that it is the 'RRP', and can't see anywhere else it lists RRPs. But then again the sony site doesn't say the current price is a special price either. So one would guess it is the normal price. However Noel Lemming are selling the same TV for slightly more than the Sonys price, at $999, and they imply the price is a discounted price https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/televisions/televisions/ultra-hd-4k-televisions/49-59-uhd-tvs/sony-kd49x7500f-49-ultra-hd-4k-hdr-smart-android-television/prod162481.html . It says PRICE OFFER ENDS 6 FEBRUARY 2019.GIANT DEAL; PRICE SHOWN REFLECTS DISCOUNT. OFFER ENDS 6 FEBRUARY 2019.

So there is something a bit odd going on with the pricing of this TV, as you wouldn't expect a discounted price at a retailer, to still be more than the RRP. JBs red hot price is also $993, the same as Sonys.

From what I see from the price trends is the TV hasn't been over 1700.00 in over 6 months and has been hovering between $900 - $1100 and i imagine $993 is the current RRP because they will be replacing these with the 2019 models before July.

Not sure about Noel Leeming, their prices are often slightly off and usually to account fo the "FREE DELIVERY" or "$5-$10 VOUCHERS" they give out for signing up to their mailing list and Noel Leemings has been having sales every week.

I suppose the worst thing is the claim of saving OVER $800 when the nowhere in NZ sells it for the price they claim is the current RRP and no one has sold it for that since the product launched.

dacraka

766 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2173124 4-Feb-2019 22:43

I can confirm that Sony price match current retail store sales. E.g. of Noel Leeming are doing a huge sale, Sony will change their prices to match.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#2173141 5-Feb-2019 00:02

dacraka:

I can confirm that Sony price match current retail store sales. E.g. of Noel Leeming are doing a huge sale, Sony will change their prices to match.

It would be interesting to see where they are actually being sold for $1799 currently, in order for there to be a real $800 saving. Especially as apart from Sonys own website, which links to the $993 pricing on the NZ Sony shop, there is no reference to this price or the RRP. I couldn't find any online stores at least selling it for the higher price, although pricespy does show it had been that price last year, but not currently.

gzt

17104 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2173156 5-Feb-2019 06:38

Save over $5.99 on this large screen TV!

Valcor

97 posts

Master Geek

#2173288 5-Feb-2019 10:59

gzt: Save over $5.99 on this large screen TV!

I look forward to the updated advert ;)

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Dial111

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2173362 5-Feb-2019 11:55

Basically, that's all they will do is adjust the advert to read "Save $33" *Based off of the Sony Store prices, chatting with Spark they have indicated that they have no plans to adjust the price any lower and $960 is the price.

hio77

12999 posts

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Lizard Networks

#2173403 5-Feb-2019 12:55

Banner has been updated now.

Thanks everyone for raising this so we could quickly get onto it, this was a Genuine oversight.

I don't have any further comments to pass at this stage.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Dial111

978 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2173423 5-Feb-2019 13:28

trig42:

the Spark deal is not a good deal.

I wouldn't say its not a good deal, it's just not as attractive of a deal as first thought.

its fixed now and with that being said I can't see the issue, as its no different to getting a phone interest free on a plan really.

rugrat

3106 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2173426 5-Feb-2019 13:34

The interest free will be the main appeal now.

No incorrect information, that’s the main thing.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#2173454 5-Feb-2019 14:34

Dial111:

trig42:

the Spark deal is not a good deal.

I wouldn't say its not a good deal, it's just not as attractive of a deal as first thought.

its fixed now and with that being said I can't see the issue, as its no different to getting a phone interest free on a plan really.

How is it a good deal in any way? From what I can see, they are giving you a saving of $40 over a store price.

When I signed 24 months with spark, they would give 3 months free, an account credit (can't remember how much, maybe $50 - $100), 1 year free spotify . Around $500 in savings over 24 months.

I suppose if you like to pay things off, the interest free bit might be worth something, but I don't buy stuff on credit.

Valcor

97 posts

Master Geek

#2173505 5-Feb-2019 14:56

Dial111:

trig42:

the Spark deal is not a good deal.

I wouldn't say its not a good deal, it's just not as attractive of a deal as first thought.

its fixed now and with that being said I can't see the issue, as its no different to getting a phone interest free on a plan really.

Well the issue was the claim of saving "OVER $800" regardless if it is changed or not, how many people signed up to this thinking they were actually getting a new 4K UHD TV for under half price, now they have 24 month contract with a telecoms company, not and electronics store which I imagine would be easier to deal with if tv is faulty.

Yes 24 months interest free is nice, but many of the stores offer this too so now this deal is very much less appealing.

I could buy a TV outright easily, i was just almost tempted to go with this deal because of the saving until I found it non-existent. I wonder if anyone else signed on to a 24 month contract due to the savings that were being claimed by the advertiser.

gzt

17104 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2173510 5-Feb-2019 15:02

Interest free store deals come with a bunch of paper to process. Personally I like these carrier deals. Interest free and no paperwork. The rrp thing.. agree.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#2173533 5-Feb-2019 15:51

Valcor:

Dial111:

trig42:

the Spark deal is not a good deal.

I wouldn't say its not a good deal, it's just not as attractive of a deal as first thought.

its fixed now and with that being said I can't see the issue, as its no different to getting a phone interest free on a plan really.

Well the issue was the claim of saving "OVER $800" regardless if it is changed or not, how many people signed up to this thinking they were actually getting a new 4K UHD TV for under half price, now they have 24 month contract with a telecoms company, not and electronics store which I imagine would be easier to deal with if tv is faulty.

Yes 24 months interest free is nice, but many of the stores offer this too so now this deal is very much less appealing.

I could buy a TV outright easily, i was just almost tempted to go with this deal because of the saving until I found it non-existent. I wonder if anyone else signed on to a 24 month contract due to the savings that were being claimed by the advertiser.

One would hope they would contact those affected customers. I contacted them on live chat about the promotion yesterday and the model of tv it was, and they wanted my email address to get back to me once they knew more, but I haven't heard back from them.

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