Advice for recent purchase

Forums › Off topic › Advice for recent purchase

dt

1152 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#223645 10-Oct-2017 16:44

Recently we purchased an air conditioning package consisting of a ducted system for upstairs and a highwall for the down stairs living area.

The issue I have is the highwall went on promotion 3 days after installation for $1000 less than what we paid for the unit..

When I phoned the company to query about finalising the invoice and asked if they could apply the promotional pricing they flat out refused and basically pointed me at their terms and condition and said that its the price I agreed to and they were within their rights to not offer the new promotional price

Yeah OK fair enough about T&C's but come on.. 3 days and such a big variation in price.. had I waited the weekend to get back to them about going ahead with the quote my family would have been $1000 better off..

The installs were split into two different days.. the high wall first prior to the promotion and the ducted after the promo started

High wall was installed on the 18th the promo started on the 21st and goes through to the end of this month.

Am I being impracticable ? should I pursue them or just cut my losses as in their words im not entitled to the discount..

1 | 2

Smpl Mnmlst
8874 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1880445 10-Oct-2017 16:48

Perhaps you could escalate this - ask to speak to the manager or company owner.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

timmmay

20589 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1880448 10-Oct-2017 16:53

You agreed to buy at a given price. They don't have to reduce that price based on future price changes.

mattwnz

20165 posts

Uber Geek

#1880449 10-Oct-2017 16:53

I think it is just bad luck. Also you don't know that they weren't able to get a supplier discount when they had the promotional price, to allow them to sell at a discount, as they would be selling more of them. Personally I would chalk it down to experience, but you could always ask the manager, and they may just say something similar to above.

mattwnz

20165 posts

Uber Geek

#1880450 10-Oct-2017 16:54

timmmay:

You agreed to buy at a given price. They don't have to reduce that price based on future price changes.

They don't have to if it was already agreed, but some companies will, to keep customers happy. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1880455 10-Oct-2017 17:02

let us know the company so we know not to use them.

seriously, keep yuor customers happy. this is a huge difference, sure they dont have too, but thats just bad business IMO.

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1880456 10-Oct-2017 17:04

It would be more relevant to tell us when you agreed the price rather than when the product was installed. That's the more usual measure for the purpose of asking for a retrospective price drop. That's what Consumer Affairs would be asking you.

If the price went up three days after install then I doubt that you'd think it fair if they charged you the new price. That's protection the sale agreement gave you. Just like the seller is also protected against risks of that sort.

mattwnz

20165 posts

Uber Geek

#1880458 10-Oct-2017 17:08

Hammerer:

It would be more relevant to tell us when you agreed the price rather than when the product was installed. That's the more usual measure for the purpose of asking for a retrospective price drop. That's what Consumer Affairs would be asking you.

If the price went up three days after install then I doubt that you'd think it fair if they charged you the new price. That's protection the sale agreement gave you. Just like the seller is also protected against risks of that sort.

That is a good point. That is why quotes are also usually only valid for a certain number of days.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1880529 10-Oct-2017 18:52

Also the quote would have most likely been made on the assumption that the OP will be getting both the ducted system and the standalone heat pump. Do the quote terms allow the OP to get just 1 of the quoted heat pumps? Or is the quote only valid if the entire quote is accepted?

If the quote only allows acceptance of the entire job, then looking at the prices of individual parts is pointless. As you can't tell if the company has written up the single heatpump at full price. And then given a big discount on the ducted system.

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1880534 10-Oct-2017 19:02

Ill be frank. I think this is perfectly reasonable of the company. I also think it is unfair to treat the company negatively if they don't match this new price that has changed after you have made this commitment.

You agreed to buy it at a set price. I assume by what you have said above you have a contract (which at the end of the day is a mutual agreement), hence you should pay the price agreed.

Just because the price has changed after does not mean you are entitled to a discount. Yes it sucks, but thats the risk you take when you agree to go ahead at a fixed price. As some one stated above, I'm sure you wouldn't be asking for the reverse if the price went up.

How will specials even work if businesses had to retrospectively refund clients/alter prices for those that have paid higher prices?

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1880584 10-Oct-2017 20:17

How much is your credibility to honour your agreed upon price worth to you?

I'm not meaning to sound like a jerk. You need to ask yourself what reputation are you making for yourself.

No harm in asking for the discount, just remain civil. If prices moved the other way I'm sure you'd want them to honour the agreed upon price.

Geektastic

17943 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1880664 10-Oct-2017 23:22

If they had any BD skills, they would at least offer you $500 IMV.

That way, you're probably reasonably happy and likely to tell friends you got a good deal, instead of being annoyed and not recommending them. IME businesses here don't commonly think that way though, especially trade type businesses.

floydbloke

3523 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1880713 11-Oct-2017 07:26

Geektastic:

If they had any BD skills, ....

Off topic, what does BD stand for please?

(Google suggests the following, none seem appropriate:

Baby Dance [trying to get pregnant apparently]

Butadiene [no explanation, sounds like a drug of some sort]

Banda Desenhada [Comic Books]

Broken Dreams

Black Disciples [a gang] )

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

jonherries

1396 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1880717 11-Oct-2017 07:46

floydbloke:
Geektastic:

If they had any BD skills, ....

Off topic, what does BD stand for please?

(Google suggests the following, none seem appropriate:

Baby Dance [trying to get pregnant apparently]

Butadiene [no explanation, sounds like a drug of some sort]

Banda Desenhada [Comic Books]

Broken Dreams

Black Disciples [a gang] )

I expect he means Business Development - it is in common usage in our firm (in the UK) when talking about sales and marketing.

Jon

Lizard1977

2061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1881739 11-Oct-2017 09:37

I had an experience a few years ago which is similar (but not identical) to the OP situation. I bought two appliances from HN on finance, and the day before they were due to deliver they had a sale and the price of one of the appliances dropped by $150. Under the Credit Contracts Act (or whatever its called), it sounds like you can cancel the contract if the goods have not yet been delivered. I went in to speak to the salesperson armed with this knowledge, and asked if they would apply the newly discounted price. I figured if they said no, then I could ask to cancel the contract, and then purchase at the new price. As it turns out, I didn't have to do this, as the salesperson agreed. Maybe they were aware of this or maybe they just saw the opportunity to build rapport with a customer, but either way it was a good outcome. And that same salesperson has benefited to the tune of several thousand dollars worth of subsequent sales - I now seek out that particular salesperson for future purchases - all because they could see the benefit of long term over short term gains.

The situations aren't the same, but the principle is. If there's a real possibility for future business then they should weigh up what the true cost of that discount really is. Unfortunately, I think too many businesses can't think beyond the short term...

dt

1152 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1881841 11-Oct-2017 11:22

Cheers guys, good to get some different point of views.. had been stewing on it myself and got a bit of tunnel vision over it.

just to clear up a few things, I haven't been negative towards the company I didn't want to name and shame, they did do a good job and I kept all conversations with them civil.

We accepted the quote a week before the first install, they delayed both installs several times as they had been waiting on stock.. had they delayed again I could have pulled the pin when the promo started and had them re quote a week later?

I suspect they had been waiting on a bulk order from the supplier as the highwall is brand new to the market and the promo is only for the first 50 units.. (whats the bet mine was one of those 50 units...)

What annoyed me most about the whole thing is that they didn't handle my query well.. they were very abrupt, offered no solution, no explanation as to why and honestly just didn't care.. I guess I just expected a little more after sales service from a company who's parent company did $65 million in turn over last year..

I've decided to cut my losses and put it down to bad luck and timing, thanks for the input guys!

1 | 2