I control competitor's website

[Rine]

Lady comes in and looks at our Kitchenaid stand mixers. She said that she saw it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond or World Market--some fancier place for a cheaper price.

I said, "great, I'd love to price match. I just need proof, like a copy of the ad or something." That's perfectly fine, right? Legit policy? I really didn't believe her, since those stand mixers rarely go cheaper. Our are 299, plus 10% off, with a thirty dollar mail in rebate on top (for certain models) and the others are like 299 with 10% off afterwards. (sometimes, these stand mixers go to 269, then 10% off...Anyhow...)

She goes to our computer kiosk without another word and pulls up our website. I go to ask her what she was doing and she says she wants to get on the internet to find their ad. Well, to get the "internet," I have to log into the computer completely, which can take a while, 'cause they are slow.

So, eight or so minutes later, she's looking at stand mixers on the competitor's websites but *GASP* they aren't cheaper then ours. Then she says it.

"WELL, you internet is WRONG then. Obviously you have this programmed so I wouldn't be able to get the best price! You CHANGED it!"

I was like..."er, no, you are using internet explorer and I have no control over Bed, Bath, and Beyond's website, JCP's website, etc."

She kept complaining and saying the mixer she wanted was twenty dollars cheaper somewhere else and WHY wouldn't I match it?

She eventually just bought the stupid mixer, though she kept complaining and I told her that if she could bring me an internet print out of the lower price or the sales ad, we would give her the difference back, no worries.

I researched when I got home, because I'm weird like that, and I think my company actually has the best deal on those kitchenaids right now.

[Argabarga]

I think shoppers should randomly be approached and asked "Do you know how the internet works?" and anyone who says "yes" will be promptly escorted off the property

[bainsidhe]

Perhaps she saw it on craiglist?

[Chromatix]

I think shoppers should randomly be approached and asked "Do you know how the internet works?" and anyone who says "yes" will be promptly escorted off the property

Oh please don't. Because that would be unfair on us who *do* know how the Internet works. In intimate detail.

[jackfaire]

My guess is that she saw either an ad for Black Friday from a store or it was a store that could afford to have that price (ordered too many?) but that would be something unique to that store and thus not on their website. She may have been assuming that of course the internet would only show her local stores. After all why would it show prices that also apply across the country the internet "knows" where she lives.

[Argabarga]

Oh please don't. Because that would be unfair on us who *do* know how the Internet works. In intimate detail.

Ah, but I think you'd be smart enough to never ADMIT to that in public

[Green_Fairy]

She kept complaining and saying the mixer she wanted was twenty dollars cheaper somewhere else and WHY wouldn't I match it?

...so why didn't she buy it at the cheaper place?

[draggar]

Perhaps she saw it on craiglist?

Don't joke - I've been witness to people trying to get price matches off of Craig's List ads (and personal blogs).

...so why didn't she buy it at the cheaper place?

99% of the time it is because of one of two reasons:

1) The other place is out of stock (and there's normally provisions stating it needs to be in stock for the price match)
2) They're full of poopie.

[Andara Bledin]

My guess is that she heard about the kerfuffle over some store (I think it might have been Best Buy) that had both an Intranet site that was in use in the store kiosks, and a public Internet site that looked the same, but had different prices, so she was failing in her attempt to scam a discount based on old and faulty information.

^-.-^

[Hibble]

I told her that if she could bring me an internet print out of the lower price or the sales ad, we would give her the difference back, no worries.

Ever get people changing the html code with lower prices. OR better yet just using photo-shop to change the price. At work i would always ring competitor and confirm price.

My guess is that she heard about the kerfuffle over some store (I think it might have been Best Buy) that had both an Intranet site that was in use in the store kiosks, and a public Internet site that looked the same, but had different prices, so she was failing in her attempt to scam a discount based on old and faulty information.

slashdot are running a story that Microsoft's Bing search engine will give you a different price from say Yahoo or Google. http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/...Cost-You-Money

[Broomjockey]

slashdot are running a story that Microsoft's Bing search engine will give you a different price from say Yahoo or Google.

Incorrect. On several points.

The story is that Bing's "Cash back program" was resulting in higher prices. Not Bing itself. Further, TFA has an update with a contact from Microsoft saying that it's due to updated prices not being reflected in the browser for the cashback program, and they're working to clear up any discrepancy like that as it's pointed out to them.

[Mnemjian]

I remember seeing a Costco ad for those stand-up mixers. Maybe that's what she was talking about? I bet Costco could give a ridiculously good price. Though you probably have to buy four of them

EDIT: That is, if you even have a Costco in your area ^_^;;

[Mr Hero]

Don't joke - I've been witness to people trying to get price matches off of Craig's List ads (and personal blogs).



99% of the time it is because of one reason:

1) They're full of poopie.

Fixed it for you.

[tsar]

Ah, but I think you'd be smart enough to never ADMIT to that in public

Well, most of us who know how the Internet operates are socially incompetent like that...

[Can I have a cheeseburger]

I would never trust an Internet printout as "proof". Those would be VERY easy to forge.