Are Harvey Norman ripping their customers off? Is this a case for the commerce commission

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dickytim

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Topic # 124640 15-Jul-2013 07:12

I was in at Harvey Norman yesterday and they had a special on all Logitech - 25% off.

I picked up the K400R keyboard I have had an eye on for a while and took it up to the register.

The attendant scanned it and said $99 please, which was the retail price with no discount, I said no that is not correct, it is 25% off, to which she promptly entered an extra discount (only 20% but I will deal with that separately.

I am a little annoyed as this is not the second time this has happened, and last time it happened I asked if their system had the discount loaded as it was in their flyer, to which I was told that they generally didn't load the specials.

How many people have been to Harvey Norman and purchased something, not checking the actual price and been ripped off?

I am going to call head office today and ask for a refund and explanation, and maybe it is only the Pukekohe store that has this policy.

Anyone else report on the same happening to them?

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Reply # 855590 15-Jul-2013 07:38

I think you are seeing a conspiracy where there is none. It is more than likely slackness on their part (not entering the discount into the POS system) and poor training (not advising the people on checkout of these specials). Nothing more, nothing less.

It is best to deal with at the time (BEFORE you leave the store, saves you a return visit) and usually they'll get someone to go and look at the sale ticket showing the discount. Worst case senario, you drag one of their staff members over to it.

Go back to the store with receipt in hand (and any other evidence) and avoid any falling sky on the way

MikeB4

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Reply # 855592 15-Jul-2013 07:58

I have experienced this at the Tory Street and Lower Hutt stores, I always check now or get a sales person to process an invoice before going to the checkout, quite often get an additional discount doing it that way.

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tardtasticx

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Reply # 855610 15-Jul-2013 09:05

Harvey Norman is the Briscoes of electronics, having 'Once in a life time extravaganza- never to be repeated.... until next weekend' sales. I just try to avoid them unless I can't find the item anywhere else, as you can usually find all the computer gear much cheaper at another store.

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robjg63

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Reply # 855621 15-Jul-2013 09:26

I think the shops are operated as franchises arent they?
I gather that what happens with businesses that run like that is the 'head office' decides on a promotion and the flyers and TV ads happen and the people in the shop seem unaware of them.

Maybe that is just an excuse - but I have heard that 'reason' used before when I have bought something from a shop (not Harvey Norman) and the people in the shop seem to be genuinely surprised when you drag out a mailer and show them the price...

I think its slackness/bad communication rather than a conspiracy - but you have reason to be annoyed....

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robjg63

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Reply # 855631 15-Jul-2013 09:31

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tardtasticx: Harvey Norman is the Briscoes of electronics, having 'Once in a life time extravaganza- never to be repeated.... until next weekend' sales. I just try to avoid them unless I can't find the item anywhere else, as you can usually find all the computer gear much cheaper at another store.

No one is as bad as Godfreys!
Dont know how they arent breaking some sort of laws - Every weekend is a once in a lifetime 'sale'.
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And they have the SHOUTIEST (yes I made that word up) ads on TV at the moment!

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dickytim

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Reply # 855634 15-Jul-2013 09:39

tardtasticx:, as you can usually find all the computer gear much cheaper at another store.

Usually you are correct, and I was going to buy the keyboard at PB on Friday but ran out of time, when I saw it for a very close price at Harvey Norman I thought I would grab it there.

Normally I would buy computer bits and pieces thru PB Tech or get them ordered thru work.

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 855642 15-Jul-2013 09:55

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Mate, this has happened to me at Countdown, New World, Whitcoulls, Briscoes, Pak 'n Save, small retailers, big retailers... POS systems don't always get updated correctly, and it's often unknown by the staff until someone points it out.
There's probably someone in the head office who stuffed up... certainly not a conspiracy. You don't think multi-million dollar companies would risk prosecution over a $75 keyboard do you?
Or do you...?

dickytim

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Reply # 855764 15-Jul-2013 12:10

Dunnersfella: Mate, this has happened to me at Countdown, New World, Whitcoulls, Briscoes, Pak 'n Save, small retailers, big retailers... POS systems don't always get updated correctly, and it's often unknown by the staff until someone points it out.
There's probably someone in the head office who stuffed up... certainly not a conspiracy. You don't think multi-million dollar companies would risk prosecution over a $75 keyboard do you?
Or do you...?

Not just about the keyboard, but the last 2 time I have shopped at Harvey Norman, would they risk fines for a $99 keyboard? probably not, but if they did it across their ranges then it may be a good money earner.

As to your comments about other retailer making mistakes, I accept that yes mistakes happen, but others have already said they have this happen at Harvey Norman, also I was told previously by a staff member that they don't know of specials and they they don't come up on their system as a special price.

ajobbins

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Reply # 855771 15-Jul-2013 12:21

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robjg63: No one is as bad as Godfreys!
Dont know how they arent breaking some sort of laws - Every weekend is a once in a lifetime 'sale'.

The worst thing about Godfreys are they sales are 100% a scam. I've been into a Godfrey's a number of times when I have seen something decent advertised on 'sale'. Every single time the store has admitted that they don't usually stock the product, can't get any and no other stores have any. But seeing as they have you in the shop, they will try and sell you something else instead.

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khull

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Reply # 855772 15-Jul-2013 12:22

The Tory St Harvey Norman are notorious - most recent was a cordless phone and scanned in at $44 - the price was marked $24 clearly. And they treat all their customers like criminals for some reason.

Just keep your eyes peeled really. Retailer is not doing anything illegal from a contractual perspective - the price on display may not be the price they have to commit the contract at.

Which is why for most electronics, I just siphon it to Amazon

sbiddle

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Reply # 855777 15-Jul-2013 12:29

The biggest sham with Harvey Norman are their white ticket prices.

Most white stickers are the RRP of the product - on occasions where it's not the RRP it's something that resembles the RRP with 50% added on top!

The result is large numbers of white stickers in stores that have the price crossed out and typically red vivid indicating the cheaper price. The fact this happens in multiple stores and common use of red pen to me indicates this it's a policy, and not a random occurrence.

trig42

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Reply # 855787 15-Jul-2013 12:41

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The issue with Harvey Norman (and others) is that those 25% off sales, are 25% off basically their maximum price (or RRP). It's not that good a deal, as you will often find it selling lower everyday elsewhere - Briscoes is another culprit of this.

I think that is misleading.

For example, on this keyboard: http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/computers/accessories/logitech/k400-wireless-touch-keyboard-sku-31688/ and that is without them having 25% off Logitech.
Of course, this could be different to the K400r, they look the same.

freitasm

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Reply # 855813 15-Jul-2013 13:05

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Logitech k400r prices...

I don't understand why the OP accepted 20% discount and left the store. Why not complain right there at the moment, before paying?

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Dunnersfella

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Reply # 855814 15-Jul-2013 13:10

You're incorrect - the advert clearly states that the listed price is INCLUSIVE of the discount... making it slightly over $1 cheaper at Harvey Norman.
JB's = $76
HN = $74.25 (rounded up to $74.30 if paying with cash?).

Computer Lounge have it for about $5 less, including shipping... so if the OP had wanted to wait, they could have bought it there? But I'm assuming they wanted it there and then, so paid a slight surcharge?

To my eyes, the issue is that the people in charge of the pricing in-store, had not changed their point of sale software to show the discount... of course, had the OP talked to a sales person it would have been sorted on the spot. Or, if they had asked in the store to talked to a manager it would have been sorted, or, if he had simply pointed out the correct math to the cashier - we wouldn't have to read another 'big business is a conspiracy that is out to get us' thread...
Maybe take the ticket that notes the '25% off Logitech' up with you when in-store?

netspanner

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Reply # 855827 15-Jul-2013 13:28

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For those in Chch, A staff member told me that HN staff consider customers at Tower Junction to be stupid and gullible, more so than the ones they get at Morehouse Ave.

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