Retailers That Are Jumping on The Price Inflation Wagon during The eBay 20% off

frostman on 24/06/2016 - 08:40
Last edited 24/06/2016 - 09:21

It really bothers me to know that various retailers hike up their prices during a global sale/promotion with nothing being done by the competition watchdogs.

We've seen Kogan and Dicksmith in the lime light but the new mob that apparently has joined the cue is PCByte

I was just shopping for an R9 380X on the eBay 20% promotion when I saw this offer:

PC/Money-Byte

I thought nice, with the 20% off I may get it for $510.00

I had a quick search on the net for the same card and MWAVE seem to have it for $459.00 with a free game

Mwave

Gaming

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Comments

  • Nugs on 24/06/2016 - 08:51

    what was their price before the 20% off promotion started?

    • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 08:57
      -4

      NFI, but $638.00 RRP and $459.00 RRP certainly don't add up

      • Diji1 on 24/06/2016 - 09:36

        Don't worry the RRP is not something that has anything to do with value, it's only purpose is to manipulate your own sense of value through an unconscious and automatic process that occurs which may cause you to believe the actual price being asked is better value than you would have had you not seen the RRP.

        You cannot stop this process occurring by knowing it occurs and neither can you know that it has happened so the only rational action is to assume it has.

        All it takes is seeing one number than seeing the actual price asked. Doesn't matter where the number is, doesn't matter what letters are written next to it.

  • Axelstrife on 24/06/2016 - 09:08
    +3

    id wait till the rx 480 is out as prices will drop further.

    • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 09:21

      what is the proposed price for the 480X?

      • scrimshaw on 24/06/2016 - 09:29

        $199 USD for the lowest end 4GB VRAM version.

        $239 for the high end 8g version.

        • Axelstrife on 24/06/2016 - 09:43

          them price are for the standard RX 480 there is no RX 480x yet

    • Diji1 on 24/06/2016 - 09:39
      -4

      I wouldn't count on it, it isn't going to knock any current Nvidia cards from their place on the performance vs. price scale.

      • Axelstrife on 24/06/2016 - 09:44

        I'm sorry but where in this entire post is there any mention of nvidia?

        what are you even talking about?

  • Olokun on 24/06/2016 - 10:00
    +6

    So I am looking to buy an MSI GL62 6QE-845AU laptop.

    All 3 sellers have jacked up their eBay store prices from $1499 to ~$1700. All 3 currently still sell it for $1499 on their own websites.

    Futu Online $1649.
    Wireless 1 $1775 (Price changed from $1499 end of May). Their Website $1499
    PC Byte $1689. Their Website $1499

    All stores not participating in the 20% off sale are selling this laptop for or close to $1499. Quite disappointed I must say.

    • dasher86 on 24/06/2016 - 11:01
      +1

      you should report it to the ACCC like watwatwat who reported Kogan
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/253724
      =P

      • tonsta on 25/06/2016 - 19:37
        -1

        Not sure what the purpose of reporting this to the accc will do? Doesn't seem like Kogan has anything to answer for? I don't like Kogan for various reasons, Other than being greedy and losing customer goodwill with the stunt I cannot see a case for the accc?

        • tonsta on 25/06/2016 - 23:45

          @bigjezza: yes just read it, pretty clear what they did.

          Raise price 1 day before sale.
          Promote the sale.
          Drop the price after the sale.

          On this occasion I don't think they did anything other than raise the price.

          I'm sure they learnt from past events. Bad customer relations on koe's behalf but nothing wrong with raising prices.

          If they drop the price immediately after the sale then accc will obviously have a case of misleading.

    • beesa888 on 29/06/2016 - 01:05

      Wireless1, I was pretty annoyed when I tried to by a R8000 combo with 64GB sdxc card

      they had it for $288 and then the ebay sales started. suddenly its $335…
      I was waiting for my groupon $100 voucher to come through to use on that combo for $288 however before it arrive the price goes up. when i questioned them about it. they blatently lied to me and said the price has always been $335 and the price of $288 was for the R8000 without the 64GB Card.

      well if you look at their own page http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidsLogin&item…
      you can see previous sold items that they did sell it for cheaper before june.

      pretty disgusting to just straight up lie to me like that and make it seem and if i looked at the wrong link

  • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 10:26
    +2

    Doesn't take a genius to know that eBay isn't coughing up the full 20% cost of this sale, and that retailers have to cover part of it. I'd guess it could be a fair chunk of it too.

    And at the end of the day, you go for what's cheapest (that is the idea of this site isn't it?), and you should be checking Static Ice for market prices, as well as the eBay sale.

    • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 10:30
      -2

      Why the hell should we go through the trouble to determine whether or not eBay are honoring the 20% back to the vendors or not, and whether the prices have been marked up. This should all be reported to the ACCC for fkn fraud.

      I understand retailers have slightly difference prices but when one lists a product for $638.00 (advertising 20% off) and another retailer has it for $459.00, something is not right

      • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 10:32
        +3

        How much has this hurt you? Seriously, you price shop and go for where is cheapest, and buy there… It's not exactly a difficult undertaking!

        Your ranting uses up more time and effort than finding the cheapest price for that card, going through checkout, signing into Paypal and buying it…

        • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 10:34
          +4

          Garbage.

          When you name & shame, it actually hurts the crook vendor more than you think. The fact that Kogan was caught in price fixing during a sale which he admitted to has made me never shop with Kogan again. Same for PCByte, when retailers employ these tactics, it tells you a lot about their business model.

          Bogan

          Now there is a huge difference between honest price shopping and difference prices due to difference circumstances, vs a stupid price hike on a product not deemed that expensive for the sole reason that with the discount it's sold at the retailers expected RRP

        • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 10:37
          -2

          @frostman:

          expected RRP

          Wait what? There's an 'expected' RRP? I think you're getting confused with RRP and Market Price here, and totally derailing any argument you were trying to form.

          Honestly, it appears you need more life lessons with the rant you're 'attempting' to make. Or do you always blindly purchase things when you see a '% Off' sign?

        • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 10:40
          -1

          @frostman:

          I want you to think about this sale for a second…

          Ebay promotes 20% off, but doesn't cover the full 20% value of the products. Now, you own a business, you decide to list something on eBay. You want to set a competitive price, and leave some profit in there… after all, you're running a business. Now eBay doesn't cover the full 20%, let's say they cover half that. So you need to list your product at more than you would normally, because you're going to lose 10% profit because of the sale. So you do, you push the price up to cover that loss.

          Again, no high IQ required here to work out the scenario.

        • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 10:43
          +1

          @Spackbace:

          Wait what? There's an 'expected' RRP? I think you're getting confused with RRP and Market Price here, and totally derailing any argument you were trying to form.

          Doubt it, have a look at StaticIce and the first 3 results are $130 cheaper with the more expensive retailers at $100 cheaper for the same product. that's the $100 that you're going to be saving in the 20% off.

        • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 10:45

          @Spackbace:

          Ebay promotes 20% off, but doesn't cover the full 20% value of the products. Now, you own a business, you decide to list something on eBay…

          I'd stop you there before you continue, at what point did eBay force this retailer to participate in their 20% off when there are all sorts of talk about ebay potentially not honoring it? Stop trying to jump into the defense bandwagon with weak arguments. It's a sham!

        • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 10:46
          -1

          @frostman:

          $649 + Post

          Oh, but there's an 'expected RRP' isn't there…

        • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 10:49
          -2

          @Spackbace:

          Nice comparison,

          Rather than use StaticIce to compare prices of GFX cards sold by Computer Merchants in Australia such as IJK, PCByte, PCCG, UMART and MSY.

          You decide to look for a grey-importer that sells everything from toasters, to candles… nice try.

          Spackbace, i think you should stop now, you have now badly damaged your reputation here. You used to be a good debater but now coming up with b-grade, bottom-shelf arguments.

        • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 10:53
          -1

          @frostman:

          Rather than use StaticIce

          Ah, that was on SI… I just chose to grab the 2nd most expensive retailer listed on there.

          You decide to look for a grey-importer

          If you clicked the link, you'd find it's Australian stock, not imported.

          Spackbace, i think you should stop now, you have now badly damaged your reputation here. You used to be a good debater but now coming up with b-grade, bottom-shelf arguments.

          Interesting, asking for an argument to stop is a roundabout way of admitting defeat. I'm still yet to see your reasoning, besides this whole 'expected RRP' notion, of which I already blew out of the water.

          How about this - $702.10 + Post, with an advertised $46.90 saving.

          Oh that's right, 'expected RRP'

        • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 11:07

          @Spackbace:

          Interesting, asking for an argument to stop is a roundabout way of admitting defeat.

          Not always, if the other side it throwing a flurry of blind punches and arguments including jumping to various conclusions, you can ask to stop in the interests of saving time and sanity.

          Here are your arguments in response to my single statement of the apparent inflation of the price:

          • How much does this hurt you, shop elsewhere
          • Retailers will do this to recover costs where eBay don't honor the 20%off
          • Here, I found an expensive source at Kogan, see they're not inflated
          • Here, I found another source,
        • dasher86 on 24/06/2016 - 11:26

          @Spackbace:
          "Ebay promotes 20% off, but doesn't cover the full 20% value of the products. Now, you own a business, you decide to list something on eBay. You want to set a competitive price, and leave some profit in there… after all, you're running a business. Now eBay doesn't cover the full 20%, let's say they cover half that. So you need to list your product at more than you would normally, because you're going to lose 10% profit because of the sale. So you do, you push the price up to cover that loss."

          Well there is something wrong with doing this if you had the items already listed at a price before the sale and then jack it up.
          If Ebay is advertising 20% off 'current prices' should apply.
          If you jack up the prices in this so you don't make a loss, well you're misleading consumers.
          Regardless if you're making a loss or not you should fulfill the the advertising or don't participate!

          If you didn't have the item listed on ebay list the item for any price you want.

          It's like when price matching and guarantees came into place and a lot of companies wouldn't match because it was below their cost prices. Well bad luck! put a disclaimer in there - we will not match if it is below our cost price.

        • nicksinternet on 26/06/2016 - 09:52

          @Spackbace:

          Do you know this for sure, that ebay don't cover the 20%?

        • spackbace on 26/06/2016 - 10:32

          @nicksinternet:

          Yes

        • nicksinternet on 26/06/2016 - 10:39

          @Spackbace:

          How?

        • spackbace on 26/06/2016 - 10:42

          @nicksinternet:

          If I could say, I would've mentioned it a while back to help my argument!

        • nicksinternet on 26/06/2016 - 10:48

          @Spackbace:

          Then you have no argument. You've been trashing frostman based on this, yet you have no argument.

          You do not know for sure, at this stage it's your assumption and theory.

        • spackbace on 26/06/2016 - 11:07

          @nicksinternet:

          Just because I can't divulge my source, doesn't mean it's an assumption.

          But nice of you to weigh in.

        • nicksinternet on 26/06/2016 - 11:18

          @Spackbace:

          They are hiding aliens they found on Mars. I can't divulge my source but it's true.

          Anyway it may be true what you are saying (wouldn't suprise me), but since there is no evidence of it I think you shouldn't trash someone else's very valid view based on it.

          And even if it was true, it still doesn't take away from what frostman is saying.

        • spackbace on 26/06/2016 - 12:30
          -3

          @nicksinternet:

          Lol in his own words, let's agree to disagree, but feel free to keep neg voting my comments, it affects me greatly.

        • nicksinternet on 26/06/2016 - 12:33

          @Spackbace:

          Ok, to both.

        • tonsta on 27/06/2016 - 13:10

          @nicksinternet: Is it important? Knowing this doesn't benefit us at the end of the day does it? Price not right.. Don't buy.

      • dasher86 on 24/06/2016 - 11:04
        -1
        • I understand retailers have slightly difference prices but when one lists a product for $638.00 (advertising 20% off) and another retailer has it for $459.00, something is not right

        There's nothing wrong with this.
        What is wrong if they jack up their own prices during the 20% off sale.

        • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 11:10

          What is wrong if they jack up their own prices during the 20% off sale.

          Case study for you, young dasher86

          http://www.news.com.au/technology/australian-online-retailer…

          Go out there and learn my little grasshopper, there is more out there than what meets the eye

        • dasher86 on 24/06/2016 - 11:17
          +1

          @frostman:
          if you read that article properly they were fined for raising their own prices.
          This article has nothing do to with comparing retailers to each other.

          a lot of retailers advertise RRP and then discount to get to market value.
          some retailers advertise on market value.

        • spackbace on 24/06/2016 - 11:18

          @frostman:

          Kogan's court case, and the eBay sale, don't fall under the same banner.

          Not that you're going to be convinced otherwise though.

        • nicksinternet on 26/06/2016 - 09:53

          Ummm misleading consumer who think they are getting 20% off based on ads/promotion of the offer???

  • frostman on 24/06/2016 - 11:27
    -6

    I think it's time to agree to disagree.

  • badg3rz on 25/06/2016 - 20:15
    +2

    There is a point here.

    When I bought tablets through the 20% off sale, the retailer had the full price on the invoice.

    Even paypal had the full price, it seems ebay are paying for this out of their pockets, and retailers jacking up prices are taking advantage of the situation which isn't fair.

  • 2025 on 25/06/2016 - 23:27
    +2

    If this is true, certain retailers are making customers think they are getting 20% off with their banner ads, paypal promos etc.

    Thing is, maybe they aren't offering 20% off. Its a lie.

    People seem concerned that they inflate the price, then take 20% off. That isn't 20% off the usual price.

    Lets break it down real easy.

    $100 before & during sale. 20% off - $80 sale price. Yay
    BUT here is what people are alleging is happening
    $100 before sale. $110 during sale. 20% off equals $88 sale price.

    Effective discount is 12%. Not the 20% they are advertising. They are lying by saying its 20% off. Its not. Kogan has already been fined for the same thing regarding ebay sales.

    A consumer in Australia is entitled to honest claims and dealings from/with a retailer. If they can lie about one aspect of the sale, eventually they can lie about any aspect of the sale. This must stop.

    It would be interesting to see some before sale and during sale screenshots.

    • frostman on 26/06/2016 - 21:51

      Correct,

      Online retailers are in a dog-eats-dog world, So one way to recoup losses is to lie at major discount offers

      Many people out there don't have the time to fumble with browser extensions and StaticIce comparisons, hence when they see a $680 - 20% off, they buy it out of impulse as in yay! I saved $140.

      Not enough is done by the consumer watchdog to protect consumers like us. Fines are petty so online shops will continue to do it, unless people like me name & shame them at forums where people simply don't trust them anymore.

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