Get a HP Mini for only $288!

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#285494 27-Dec-2009 21:19

Weve sold out in christchurch, ive had a lot of customers getting very angry that they didnt get any and complaining about it but unfortunately thats it for the minis at that price. If there are more being ordered they will be at the retail cost of 799.90

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LZ

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#285496 27-Dec-2009 21:38

There appears to be no 'whilst stock last' comment on the TV add. Wouldn't that mean that for the duration of the sale (until close of business tomorrow) you're obliged to provide them at that price even if that means ordering in more stock?

nakedmolerat

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#285497 27-Dec-2009 21:41

lxsw20:
sbiddle: I doubt they'd get more - it's an end of line product. I suspect the reason it was so cheap was because they've cleaned all the remaining stock up from HP.

The one my sister got had a manufacture date under the keyboard of November 2009.

Interesting! Maybe HP is trying to dominate the market by selling cheap netbook during this tough time???

sbiddle

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#285498 27-Dec-2009 22:10

LZ: There appears to be no 'whilst stock last' comment on the TV add. Wouldn't that mean that for the duration of the sale (until close of business tomorrow) you're obliged to provide them at that price even if that means ordering in more stock?

I personally believe this could be an interesting case for the Commerce Commission - if people lodge complaints with them, something that is very easy to do if you look here.

Bait advertising

Advertising at a specified price goods or services without intending to supply them at that price, in reasonable quantities and for a reasonable time.

eg, you hear on the radio about a special offer on beds. You immediately go to the shop to buy one and find that there were only two 'on special' and they have been sold. The trader won' get another bed at the advertised price for you, and tries to sell you a more expensive bed.

Note: A retailer can offer you a 'raincheck'. This means the shop will get more of the product they ran out of or a product of similar quality and value and sell it to you at the special advertised price. It's a good idea to ask for a raincheck.

Harvey Norman features these machines as a lead product in their sale circular. They also featured the product on TV including Saturday night and featured it in the Sunday papers today. Most stores had sold out within minutes of opening.

There is NOTHING wrong with Harvey Norman running out of stock of an advertised product. This was a cheap price and would have been expected to sell fast. What Harvey Norman failed to do was make mention anywhere that this product was in limited supply and was while stocks last. Other products in the circular mentioned this - the biggest special in the circular should have had the same conditions plastered all over it. The levels of stock they had were clearly insufficient to last the duration of the sale.

LZ

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#285499 27-Dec-2009 22:12

Interesting insight. I've sent off an enquiry to HN outlining those concerns, we'll see what they come back with. Do you have a copy/link to the adverts in the newspaper?

s.joseph

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#285500 27-Dec-2009 22:17

LZ: Interesting insight. I've sent off an enquiry to HN outlining those concerns, we'll see what they come back with.

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Damager

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#285502 27-Dec-2009 22:38

Does this model have wi-fi?

I was looking at the specs of the Mini 110-1111TU, which has wi-fi, however unsure if the model sold had wifi or not. I'm guessing they're all TU models?

Edit: seen the OP and yes its the TU model.

Aw man, wouldve loved to have got one of those!

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LZ

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#285503 27-Dec-2009 22:39

I think you're missing the point. We all realise that it's very hard to predict demand however if it is a limited stock offer then this should be made very clear as was done with other items advertised. I spoke to someone at one of the stores and they suggested they had about 20 of them - no reasonable person would expect to last through a 4 day boxing day sale (especially at that price) with 20 items of stock.

I would also suggest that you using language such as 'people like you' is inappropriate especially since you're claiming to work for HN.

I'd consider paying for the product now and to take delivery of it when it arrived from the supplier. Once again, not the point.

Will follow up with HN as appropriate.

robbyp

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#285506 27-Dec-2009 22:44

sbiddle:
There is NOTHING wrong with Harvey Norman running out of stock of an advertised product. This was a cheap price and would have been expected to sell fast. What Harvey Norman failed to do was make mention anywhere that this product was in limited supply and was while stocks last. Other products in the circular mentioned this - the biggest special in the circular should have had the same conditions plastered all over it. The levels of stock they had were clearly insufficient to last the duration of the sale.

On Sunday night (27/12) they have still been advertising those $288 notebooks on TV. That is 2 days after they have sold out. Surely they would know that they would sell out within a few hours, so they shouldn't still be advertising them for sale on the 3rd day of the 'sale'. I hope they are offering rainchecks, if they are advertising something that isn't actually available.

HN can actually sell any product for any price they want to, even if it is higher than a RRP, as that is only a guide. They do a similar thing to some other retailers, where there normal product prices for many items, are much higher than you can get them elsewhere for. Many people will still buy at that very high price, so they win their too. Then when they have a sale, they can discount that price by a huge percentage, say 30% off, and the customers is more inclined to buy the item, even if they don't need it, because the deal was too good to turn down. It is psychology 101. It also generates a huge amount of foot traffic. I have often found in stores that run their business this way, that the sale price can still be higher than you can get it elsewhere. Personally I don't like businesses that sell this way, but it appears that it is becoming more and more common, especially now with more an more of the businesses being Australian owned.

robbyp

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#285507 27-Dec-2009 22:48

LZ: I think you're missing the point. We all realise that it's very hard to predict demand however if it is a limited stock offer then this should be made very clear as was done with other items advertised. I spoke to someone at one of the stores and they suggested they had about 20 of them - no reasonable person would expect to last through a 4 day boxing day sale (especially at that price) with 20 items of stock.

I would also suggest that you using language such as 'people like you' is inappropriate especially since you're claiming to work for HN.

I'd consider paying for the product now and to take delivery of it when it arrived from the supplier. Once again, not the point.

Will follow up with HN as appropriate.

I think it would be very easy to predict the sale of a $288 netbook, as they are surely making a fairly large loss on selling it for that price. They were always going to rush out the door.

Lurch

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#285510 27-Dec-2009 22:54

Really wanted one of these as I'm unemployed (was made redundant) and my laptop is failing, looks like I waited too long to go in :-/

Is the deal still going, might try and smaller HN shop, maybe I'll get lucky. :-)

robbyp

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#285516 28-Dec-2009 00:06

Looks like they are taking rainchecks on the netbook, which is good news http://twitter.com/harveynormanNZ

sbiddle

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#285533 28-Dec-2009 07:25

s.joseph:
LZ: Interesting insight. I've sent off an enquiry to HN outlining those concerns, we'll see what they come back with.

Really? a retailer is only required to carry to carry adequate stock for what there sales targets are usually to meet that demand, if more a baught for more demand then that is wha it is.
It is very hard to judge these things. i can not under stand why people like you dont under stand the concept of 1st in 1st served?

Most suppliers are shut aswell till jan 15th! where is the stock going to come from?

I don't think you understand the Fair Trading act. There is nothing wrong with running out. Advertisiging this product to the extent HN have without any notifications that supplies are limited is a totally different scenario.

It's interesting to see Harvey Norman are now officially issuing Rain Checks - something they were not doing on Satursay or Sunday. I'm guessing somebody within the organisation has realised how bad this whole issue is looking.

LZ

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#285542 28-Dec-2009 09:18

Spoke to someone at head office and they confirmed the rain check. I contacted a HN store this morning and got a raincheck. It's not going to be the same model - they are end of life - however they will be looking to source a comparable model. We'll see how it goes.

Damager

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#285545 28-Dec-2009 09:52

I've contacted HN Hamilton and left my details re the HP Mini Raincheck. I also spoke to someone at HN Head office which was closed however i was put through to a manager who confirmed what LZ said. They will contact suppliers on Wednesday re sourcing comparable models.

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