Price match policy change in DSE stores?

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gnfb

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#116188 21-Apr-2013 15:28

Did I just happen to get a dick salesman or have DSE had a policy change on price matching? I asked them to match a price with Noel Lemings and he said they didnt price match they use to but not anymore

Thats interesting if thats a policy change

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

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#803081 21-Apr-2013 15:33

I'm pretty sure they abandoned the price match policy around 3 years ago. It didn't last long at all after they introduced it.

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mattwnz

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#803097 21-Apr-2013 15:55

Yeap, they haven't done that for some time. It will be interesting ot see if other stores stop price matching too in the future, as there seems to be a bit of a consolidation in the retail space going on. 20 years ago, we didn't really have price matching on electronics like we do now.

gnfb

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#803114 21-Apr-2013 16:34

What I believe we are pretty close to if not in some ways already there with things like pricespy is a scanner app in your phone to identify the item then give you price comparision from other stores in the area. would be nice if that could be integrated with nokias what s it called ..... city lens

Noel Lemings will still do price match just meant in this instance i had to drip another 1000 yards down the road to NL

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scuwp

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#803118 21-Apr-2013 16:44

Had similar experience in HN yesterday. The TV I was looking at buying was supposedly on special but was $300 cheaper at the competitions store (it was their regular shelf price too!) The HN salesman didn't seem to care less and kept just trying to promote their interest free deal as the point of difference (it wasn't). He wasn't interested at all in matching the price or adding any value, and happily let me walk away empty handed.

Not to concerned if price matching disappears. I will just go to whoever is cheapest. The days of customer loyalty are long gone.

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mattwnz

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#803132 21-Apr-2013 16:49

gnfb1234:
Noel Lemings will still do price match just meant in this instance i had to drip another 1000 yards down the road to NL

I have found they are selective, especially if the deal is too good at the other store. So they will only price match on floor stock. Many things that they don't stock in the store and only online, they won't price match on.

P1n3apqlExpr3ss

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#803133 21-Apr-2013 16:51

As someone with a bit of insider knowledge; it really depends on the manager and whether or not the price matching means going below cost

If someone comes along and says Noels/HN/JB will do product X for this price without any proof (ie a vocal bargain not a quote/advertised price) then you just see what you can do in regards to a decent deal for them

If it's an advertised price and it's not below their cost price then they should price match it generally; then go for the upsells as normal: cases, HDMI cables, Applecare etc. Sometimes they will price match below cost but I've very rarely seen this happen

mattwnz

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#803134 21-Apr-2013 16:51

scuwp: Had similar experience in HN yesterday. The TV I was looking at buying was supposedly on special but was $300 cheaper at the competitions store (it was their regular shelf price too!) The HN salesman didn't seem to care less and kept just trying to promote their interest free deal as the point of difference (it wasn't). He wasn't interested at all in matching the price or adding any value, and happily let me walk away empty handed.

Not to concerned if price matching disappears. I will just go to whoever is cheapest. The days of customer loyalty are long gone.

I had a similar experience with HN, they weren't willing to give me a good deal on a TV, that I could get cheaper elsewhere. The only reason I would buy from HN is on price.

It is a bit sad that customer loyalty has gone, but it is a bit of a 'race to the bottom' for these retailers, with them undercutting one another.

JarrodM

962 posts

Ultimate Geek

#803167 21-Apr-2013 17:32

I got a stm sleeve for my MacBook from dse. was $60, at Noel's it was $50 so I asked if they could match it, the guy said it's not usually policy but he did match it anyway.

gnfb

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#803171 21-Apr-2013 17:41

Years ago when Jesus played fullback for the christians I use to be in Electronics retail and we use to make decisions on selling and policy based a lot on volume. If we sold 10 units even at cost we could achieve a rebate . We also use to take the philosophy that at any price the sale was better off in our till than the oppositions also it could gain us a customer where we could make up the profit later. But there are a lot of differences between now and then we didn't have the internet to compete with and the instant price info. But some of the policies remain the same i'm sure.
I really get sick of trying to be upsold on a "better" warranty especially in NZ where the consumer is more protected than the seller. I also find it frustraing that the staff usually dont have clue about the product past its colour (except for Quinton and Glen at NL in wangaas)

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networkn

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#803179 21-Apr-2013 18:00

Not to concerned if price matching disappears. I will just go to whoever is cheapest. The days of customer loyalty are long gone.

Well not for everyone. Pity some have such a selfish view of the world though.

khull

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#803183 21-Apr-2013 18:03

Such a sad thing really, seeing DSE running themselves into the ground - they are in trouble especially in AU. Meanwhile at Amazon, you'd buy something and if the price drops AFTER the item has shipped - they'd even refund the difference.

Finch

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#803185 21-Apr-2013 18:08

Warehouse Stationary (all be not electronics) price match and then cut 10% off the price. I think its them anyway.

eXDee

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#803259 21-Apr-2013 20:39

Not much point for a store in price matching if they are losing money on the sale to be honest.

JimmyH

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#803320 21-Apr-2013 21:35

khull: Such a sad thing really, seeing DSE running themselves into the ground - they are in trouble especially in AU. Meanwhile at Amazon, you'd buy something and if the price drops AFTER the item has shipped - they'd even refund the difference.

Yep - I used to love that place. Now.... meh! I got given $100 of DSE vouchers about a month ago. Have been in a couple of times, but can't actually find anything that I want. Last time I popped in I was swarmed by salespeople, who seemed to outnumber the customers by about 3 to 1. Might just buy an external drive I don't really need yet, just to use up the vouchers while they are still around.

JimmyH

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#803324 21-Apr-2013 21:39

networkn:

Well not for everyone. Pity some have such a selfish view of the world though.

Why is it selfish? It cuts both ways. If they no longer have loyalty to customers and differentiate themselves on customer service and product knowledge, why would you go anywhere other than the best price?

I do have places where, within limits, I will pay more than the cheapest for some things like cameras. But that's because they are retailers who know their onions, and look after their customers. If a retailer can't/won't compete on that, then they have to compete on price in my books.

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