JB HiFi - no longer match any Apple products

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JB Hi-Fi

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  Wade on 01/11/2013 - 18:16

  +2

  I think that if they told you on the phone that they would price match, I would certainly be trying to get them to stick to their word on that one.

  In saying that though, in regards to their policy change, there really isn't too much you can do. The business does have to look after itself, and ensure it doesn't bleed money simply because of price matching. The margin on Apple products are particularly small when compared to other products - Down to about 5-10% GP. Other products in the store would be anywhere from 15 - 45%, so you can see why there's less room to move on it.

  Apple however always have price matched and even beaten the price by a few dollars without asking though. Not sure if they would do it on clearance items though.

  Cheers,
  Wade

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  giggles on 01/11/2013 - 18:28

  Sorry I may not have been clear. The salesguy said he didn't think there would be a problem, but then went to CHECK with his manager while I was still on the phone. Then came the change of policy.

  Turns out that when I went to order it online with Officeworks it disappeared from my cart and no stock left. Gotta love their inventory management.

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  hOrny on 01/11/2013 - 19:51

  +2

  What I'm taking in here is that the staff member did not know about this new policy and told you what he thought to be true. That he felt it would go through no problems and he just needed to check with his manager. When his manager informed him of the new policy he simply passed the message on to you. He didn't lie to you in any way and you shouldn't be angry at him. You're anger at JB is justified however, but as Wade said they need to protect themselves from losses from price matching. They originally had price matching because they wanted to show the public that they had the best prices and if you could find a lower price they would match it. This is no longer the case with all the online stores who don't have to deal with the costs of having a bricks and mortar store.

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  giggles on 01/11/2013 - 20:15

  +1

  Yes I understand and agree, and am not in fact MAD at JB.

  It's just that you either have a price matching policy or you don't. To pick and choose what you price match means you don't really have a true policy of interest to the customer.

  I see it this way; Officeworks got a better buy price than JB, perhaps this indicates that JB were asleep at the wheel, and that is a penalty that stores have offered to cop more in the past sort of as a lesson to them to be more vigilant (as Officeworks advertise - being competitor aware) about competitors pricing and ultimately, competitors BUY price arrangement.

  I know it's getting harder to make retails dollars for multiple reasons and I wouldn't want to be in retail at present. However when big players like JB get picky about if they do or don't have a price-matching policy, it gets annoying. Do or don't, and be up front about it.

  • 

    tonester on 01/11/2013 - 23:21

    It's just that you either have a price matching policy or you don't.

    jb hasn't had one for a while

    To pick and choose what you price match means you don't really have a true policy of interest to the customer.

    it's called discretion and negotiation/bargaining :)

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/112127#comment-1525856

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  Holysmoke on 01/11/2013 - 21:16

  Looks like they never did have any official price match policy: http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/98314

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  Geewhizz on 02/11/2013 - 06:24

  +1

  As far as I could tell when I went looking, they don't actually advertise or state anywhere in writing that they will price match, so they have no obligation to do so.

  Went looking for an iPad mini today, and noticed that Officeworks have a great price of $305 (clearance, online order

  .

  It's just that you either have a price matching policy or you don't.

  Even if they DID have an official price match policy, it wouldn't apply to clearance items.

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  nt on 02/11/2013 - 07:51

  wed only I didprice match on mac book pro with dick smith 10% offer

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  golfer dad on 02/11/2013 - 09:14

  +1

  Hi giggles,

  It would be impossible for any retailer to commercially have a price matching policy with conditions/exclusions from competitors' price due to clearance pricing, limited stock, not genuine Australian stock, etc. I was a Buyer at one of these major retail chain and can tell you can never buy cheaper on everything, all the time. O/W could be cheaper because they purchased 10,000 units of a product or they are selling it at a lost to drive foot traffic into their stores. In the case of Apple, there is very little margin and they don't fund price discounting. Hence why most store wide sales excludes Apple products. The recent specials of the ipad4 and Mini is due to the release of the ipad Air and new Mini and Apple would have supported it with a price reduction. Otherwise, specials on Apple products is usually funded by the retailer hence JB's reluctance to price match O/W. Apple is very controlling with retail pricing of their products so if a retailer is silly with the sell prices of Apple products even if funded by the retailer, Apple would stop supply to that retailer. Hope that clarifies and de-myth a few things.

  • 

    rong818 on 02/11/2013 - 13:11

    Thanks for the nice insight

  • 

    t_c on 03/11/2013 - 14:15

    "so if a retailer is silly with the sell prices of Apple products even if funded by the retailer, Apple would stop supply to that retailer. Hope that clarifies and de-myth a few things."

    And that would be illegal as section 48 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 prohibits a corporation from engaging in the practice of resale price maintenance.

    "It is illegal for suppliers to:
    put pressure on businesses to charge their recommended retail price or any other set price, for example by threatening to stop supplying to the reseller"

    http://www.accc.gov.au/business/anti-competitive-behaviour/i…

    • 

      xsacha on 03/11/2013 - 17:37

      +1

      Doesn't stop them from doing it t_c. Apple has lawyers and know what they are doing.
      There is a reason why Apple is always mentioned in any sale. "Excludes Apple products.", "Apple 10% off only." and so on.

    • 

      golfer dad on 04/11/2013 - 09:26

      +1

      Yes but they can always have you low down in the queue for supplying stock, especially the new or most in-demand lines. Also, you would miss out of any official marketing offers/support for not toeing the line.

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  ozf1 on 02/11/2013 - 12:20

  +1

  Giggles, if you are after an ipad mini for a particular price, I would recommend you contact Designwyse, I have found them good, I have just purchased a MacBookPro, on their current clearance sale (http://www.designwyse.com.au/dw-content/sales/Designwyse_Cle…). They are in Keysborough victoria, or with free delivery for purchases over $200.00.
  Contact them via e-mail and attention Daniel S. he is very helpful and maybe able to match or beat that price, you never know (they only open mon-fri).
  By the way the 'surf's up sale' says 6 days only on the e-mail i got, but I can not see expiry date of deal on the online list.

  • 

    ozf1 on 02/11/2013 - 14:05

    FYI, I am not a designwyse REP.

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  p1 ama on 02/11/2013 - 12:45

  +6

  I don't understand why you feel that you're entitled to a price match, if you want it for that price then buy it from Officeworks? It's well within JB's rights to not give you a price match.

  Plus, if you get it from OW you're supporting the company that gave you a good deal in the first place and you don't have to go through this mess of price matching.

  • 

    sparkles on 03/11/2013 - 21:51

    +2

    Agree, price matching is nice, but never a given. If you want an item at a advertised or certain price, first and foremost, give the business to the store that is offering the cheaper price in the first place. I figure this encourages and rewards good deals, as opposed to stores simply reacting to other stores price movements.

    • 

      Geewhizz on 04/11/2013 - 06:37

      -1

      Well said.

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  snappy1234 on 02/11/2013 - 12:56

  They also charge a surcharge on credit cards starting with A.

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  paloverde88 on 03/11/2013 - 12:07

  My local office works have very poor service so now I only use them for diy photocopying. The best they can make off me is a few cents now for lousy service

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  thriftykid on 03/11/2013 - 22:04

  +6

  "If anyone has more experience with this, or if a REP dare show his face, then please go ahead and inform me better than my local store and their manager.

  Oh JB, you've FAILED again!"

  Having worked for a few retailers like JB, it would have given me much pleasure to not offer you a dollar under rrp.