[Unobtainable Deal] Price Beat Guarantee Includes Parallel/Grey Imports from Stores without Local Warranty @ Officeworks

Taegukgi on 30/08/2019 - 08:44
Last edited 30/08/2019 - 17:08 by 2 other users

Moved to Forum: Original Link

It's been 12 months since this monumental deal changed our lives forever. Re-posting this for those that weren't aware or as a reminder.

Mod Edit 30/8/19. Clarification that was sent to Officeworks staff since the initial deal post that has now been passed onto us indirectly:

For clarity, below is what has changed.

"Identical Warranties" will no longer be a condition of our PBG Policy. This is the only change. All other conditions remain the same."
It must be an identical product that is in stock (same model, same specifications same inclusions)

With this information in mind, it is quite clear that the deal description no longer matches what was initially posted on 29/8/2018 or what is in the deal title now ("Price Beat Guarantee Includes Parallel/Grey Imports") or when it was posted before being edited ("Officeworks Price-Beat Now Includes Grey Stock Items"). We are therefore moving it to the forums as unobtainable, as simply updating this deal with new information that has been passed onto us has made the deal description/information and the deal title 2 different things.

As always your experience may vary from store to store, depending on the staff member, item or other factors. This was the case both before and after the policy update.

You can also see further discussion here on this subject.

What's changed?

Old Policy:

Our guarantee applies to all identical products and services with identical warranties that are:

stocked at Officeworks
in stock at our competitor; and
not excluded from the PBG (see below).

New Policy:

Our guarantee applies to all identical products and services that are:

Stocked at Officeworks
In stock at our competitors and
Not excluded from the PBG (see below)

'with identical warranties' is now removed from the policy.

Note: Price beat for overseas models/grey imports may be denied on the basis that they aren't identical.

Full credit to 1112223334

General Discussion

Related Stores

Officeworks
Officeworks

Comments

  • Bellpop on 30/08/2019 - 08:44
    +25

    “It's been 12 months since this monumental deal changed our lives forever.”

    😂😂

    • Taegukgi on 30/08/2019 - 08:47
      +3

      Bad attempt at Friday humour.

      • Bellpop on 30/08/2019 - 09:00
        +12

        Good attempt 👌

        • obi1 on 30/08/2019 - 13:06
          +1

          👌 wP?

  • boku on 30/08/2019 - 08:51
    +2

    If it's stores which have .com.au suffix, I wonder if ebay is included haha

    • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 09:01

      Nah eBay is a market place, not a store.

      • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 09:18
        +1

        Can anybody confirm/Had anybody tried?

        • ozprg on 30/08/2019 - 09:41
          +1

          Yes, i had used price beat to get a Samsung S10e which was for $749 on tobydeals.com.au for $712. This was in July.

          • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 09:42

            @ozprg: I mean from eBay.com.au ?

            • ozprg on 30/08/2019 - 09:43
              +1

              @capslock janitor: Sorry i thought you were referring in general.
              For ebay no, they flat out refuse to price match.

          • incipient on 30/08/2019 - 10:07
            +1

            @ozprg: Generally ow won't match Toby any more, I've tried a few items including calling the office with little luck.

          • alphaoasis on 30/08/2019 - 14:29

            @ozprg: Tobydeals.com.au doesn’t work. There is tobydealsau.com.

  • cheepo on 30/08/2019 - 08:55
    +8

    I didn't know about this. Thanks Dealbot.

    Always hope that the staff member helping you is in a good mood and knows the actual policy.

    • Kamsi on 30/08/2019 - 10:45
      +1

      Exactly.It so frustrating if the staff doesn't know the policy.

      • T-Quizzle on 30/08/2019 - 15:00

        Got a PBG on the weekend - they asked to check the warranty details 🤔

  • Matt P on 30/08/2019 - 08:59
    +2

    Shame about the coupon code thing. It seems thats how all the best deals happen that i want to price match haha.

  • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 09:03
    +56

    With a bit of HTML knowledge you can register a .com.au name and build your own site with your own prices.

    • Ametric on 30/08/2019 - 09:05
      +24

      this is the whole new level of OzBargain Spirit!

    • Retailrecommprice on 30/08/2019 - 09:06

      Username checks out
      You don’t need any HTML knowledge
      Stay off the plants

      • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 09:09

        You're right, you technically don't if you want to make something in one of those bullshit WordPress pages or something. But if you want it to be half believable then you'll need some knowledge.

        • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 09:20

          Is there any free that are just straight .com.au and not .wordpress.

        • peterpeterpumpkin on 30/08/2019 - 10:58

          I hate to be the person that replies to a reply to an insult that replied to a joke, but I have to say I disagree about the "half-believable" part requiring HTML knowledge, if we're talking about generating sophisticated appearance and functionality (that's ignoring the need for server-side knowledge or perhaps JavaScript to impersonate a one page ecommerce site with a cart). A free (i.e. non-premium) Shopify or WooCommerce template looks more sophisticated than most real websites looked in the 2000s, which is why scamming has become easier than ever.

          If anything, a less impressive website that looks like it was built from scratch with awkward padding and server errors displayed in IFrames would be more believable…even with an exclusive BSB and account number option :)

      • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2019 - 09:28
        +1

        Photoshop only would be funny, particularly when you price match a png, or even better, a lossy jpg.

    • miarn on 30/08/2019 - 09:14
      +4

      I mean, sure, fraud is often pretty easy…

    • FireRunner on 30/08/2019 - 09:41
      +16

      I think we’re all signed up to a least one HTML Udemy course.

      • loku123 on 30/08/2019 - 11:58

        Without actually doing the course.

        • Steptoe on 30/08/2019 - 16:46

          Is there a course on how to do a UDEMY course?

    • lukie85 on 30/08/2019 - 09:53
      -1

      According to my friend work in officeworks, he said they won't match the dodgy site, also they request to take down fake site.

      • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 11:22
        +5

        Your friend in Officeworks would first have to confirm it's dodgy. Your friend could also issue issue as many takedowns as they want but as the site wouldn't be infringing on Officeworks property there's not a goddamn thing they could do about it.

    • OldBugger on 30/08/2019 - 14:43
      +3

      I used to do this regularly using my site. The look on the face of the unsuspecting staff member when they call my store to confirm, and there's me answering the call in front of them. Well, everyone in the store would just start laughing. Some high fives even. Ah yes.. good times alright.

      • Steptoe on 30/08/2019 - 16:47
        +1

        😂

      • Zachary on 02/09/2019 - 00:47

        Did they price match against your own site after finding out it was yours to begin with and not some dodgy scammer site?

    • Zachary on 02/09/2019 - 00:49

      That would either turn out to be more expensive than just outright purchasing the item or you would stress over the fine details of trying to make it look genuine and clean….or both…

  • kopikoo on 30/08/2019 - 09:08

    does the price beat of prices becomes for everyone or just you?

    • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 09:09

      For you.

    • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 09:20
      +7

      What kind of question is that

      • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2019 - 09:34
        +5

        If you read it ten times, it turns into transcendental philosophy.

  • NuclearWessels on 30/08/2019 - 09:09
    +7

    Yeh I haven't felt that it's been a monumental change. Every time I've asked OW has taken the stance "identical products" mean identical product codes (so no grey imports)

    • garage sale on 30/08/2019 - 09:16
      +2

      The sku code is usually different between grey and AU stock so not identical most of the time …. Eg phones or devices with AU power cords or chargers …..

    • Cobalt_ on 30/08/2019 - 09:32
      +1

      This is the default claim they make when they are unwilling to price match something.Even when the item in question has the exact same product number and is in fact Australian stock.

    • Tex Texan on 30/08/2019 - 10:47

      Yep, the 'identical product code' clause is often how they still get around not price matching. Some websites simply don't state a product code or it's slightly different to OW.

      • Jcww on 31/08/2019 - 10:20

        That’s bunning’ MO

        All their power tools are packaged with a different sky/part number even if the tools and kit inside are identical to elsewhere. Removed the need to price match for them!

  • Xinjiang on 30/08/2019 - 09:09
    +1

    damn…how they gonna survive

    • okp on 30/08/2019 - 09:13

      maybe they can starve out the competition.. make the margins too small for other players to bother competing?

      • stockastics on 30/08/2019 - 09:17
        +2

        Could be the other way around if they compete against amazon..

    • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 09:21
      +2

      By being clueless tight a's and not honoring the

    • Satirical on 30/08/2019 - 09:27

      Perhaps they'll just refuse to price match if it's under their cost.

    • Nebargains on 30/08/2019 - 09:39

      Their entire business is about having the lowest price and with $2.2bn in sales and $160m profit for FY19, I'm sure they will do just fine.

  • kickling on 30/08/2019 - 09:23

    WHAT??

    Dear customers,

    We regret to inform you that after 17 years in business, DWI has closed its doors on December 31st, 2018.

    Don't worry! We will keep processing any inquiries and pending shipment orders as soon as possible. After-sales services such as warranty claims and limited customer service support, shall still remain open for assistance.
    Check my order status (Registered Customer / Guest) | RMA Form

    Should you have any further inquiries, please contact us through service ticket or email us at [email protected] .

    Thank you for your continued support over the years.

    Digital World International (DWI)

    • crazywacko on 30/08/2019 - 09:32
      +1

      yeah, its a shame.
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/429208

    • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 11:24
      +7

      What the hell does this have to do with the deal?

    • hamza23 on 30/08/2019 - 11:31

      They closed DWI and eGlobal but opened new sites TobyDeals and TecoBuy

      • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 12:33

        Is there malicious intent? Why?

        • lostn on 30/08/2019 - 14:47
          +3

          Most likely, yes.

          If they're owned by the same entity (or rather, their spouse), closing up and opening under a new name will divest you of prior liabilities and obligations.

  • follow on 30/08/2019 - 09:24
    +1

    Good in the early days. Now very strict.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2019 - 09:25

    It's also the two year anniversary of 3 x 2 rolls of the same packing tape being cheaper than 6 rolls.

  • luffyex2010 on 30/08/2019 - 09:27
    +1

    Ok gonna try to see what I can meet and match for a 512gb micro sd for my pathetic storage space switch.

    Thanks, OP, research begins…
    Samsung Evo Plus 512 GB

    Officeworks $263 website
    Mwave $169 staticice
    Amazon $155 Amazon.com.au (mistake…$149 is green colour EVO select micro sd and $155 the Evo Plus red colour micro sd)
    Iothub $175 -20% $140 eBay (this one is an eBay special so it shouldn't count)

    Hmmm so do I just check the Officeworks store stock, walk in, show online AU webprice and get the 5% price match guarantee? Is this how it works?

    NVM should have check stock first…non in Sydney

  • ashftc on 30/08/2019 - 09:31
    +4

    Anytime, every time, I ask to price match with Kogan, grey import, there was always an email from head office advising that store not to honor the deal for whatever reason I have never heard before. They make me feel like I am begging. I think this should be well circulated in store first. Like well circulated.

  • Samsungnote10 on 30/08/2019 - 09:34

    Do they still say no price match for becex?

    • Circly on 30/08/2019 - 12:10

      Was successful for Note 10 plus last week.

    • Scantu on 30/08/2019 - 14:31

      I did it with an s9+ a few months ago

    • kickling on 30/08/2019 - 14:34

      They did not price match becex for me today.

      Tried to get the s10e and the becex site doesn't have the cpu on there. And the officeworks employee said technically they can't match because becex, in the item title, says they offer free insurance where officeworks do not (which is a weak excuse for them to get out of it)

  • itsfree on 30/08/2019 - 09:35

    Huh I didn't know this! Thanks OP!

  • chris666 on 30/08/2019 - 09:38
    +10

    Yet officeworks staff are a pain in the arse to deal with as they haven't learnt this in 12 months

  • Matego on 30/08/2019 - 09:44
    +5

    Tried to pricematch the galaxybuds to kogan and all 3 stores said no. Emailed officework and they quoted me the old policy with the word "identical warranties" clause. In short, experience will vary which is sucks

  • krazek on 30/08/2019 - 09:49
    +4

    Price matching grey imports have never worked for me with Officeworks, even over the last 12 months every time they reject

  • citybargainhunter on 30/08/2019 - 09:52

    Cool

  • ExtraSalt on 30/08/2019 - 09:53
    +3

    Price beats are always better over the phone. Some store managers like to puff their chest and make up outlandish rules to avoid the PBG.

  • steveb123 on 30/08/2019 - 09:55
    +2

    So does this work for amazon ?

    • shep3369 on 30/08/2019 - 11:19
      +1

      Yes, I got them to price beat amazon when they had a sale on Samsung S10

  • aurz on 30/08/2019 - 09:56

    They don't price match Apple products if they don't have the /A at the end (in my experience)

    • ExtraSalt on 30/08/2019 - 10:31

      i got my 2019 MBP PBG on Saturday. So long as the competitor is an Authorised Reseller theres no reason why they wouldnt match

      • aurz on 30/08/2019 - 11:46
        +1

        Who did you match with?

      • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 12:37

        What's MBPPBG

        • lostn on 30/08/2019 - 14:50
          +2

          It's a MacBook Pro that Plays BattleGrounds.. I think.

        • Shaun R on 31/08/2019 - 08:21
          +1

          MacBook Pro on Price Beat Guarantee

  • nubzy on 30/08/2019 - 10:09
    +1

    Tried to match Tobydeal on a phone in store and over the phone and both refused, this was about 6 months ago. I hate dealing with officeworks now, they used to be a lot better.

  • weezlebub on 30/08/2019 - 10:10
    +1

    The lady at my local store was lovely, price matched amazon special to get printer for $99 (handy because i needed it that day)

    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/brother-mo…

  • Privaten on 30/08/2019 - 10:23

    Phones from different countries have different model numbers so price matching grey imports is a no go.

  • Associatedelcheapo1 @ Officeworks on 30/08/2019 - 10:43
    +18

    The information in this post is not correct.

    As far as I know and what I was taught:
    -We do not price match grey imports since it is not an identical product. (even if website ends in .com.au)
    -The only thing that changed is that previously we would only price beat identical stock products with manufacture warranty whereas now we will price beat identical stock products with local/store warranty with identical duration as manufacturing warranty.
    -So not too much change tbh.
    -Kogan: We can only price beat products that are Australian stock and we would need to add delivery cost to product cost before the price beat. Kogan makes it very clear on their site which products are international stock/direct import and which ones are Australian stock so there shouldn't be much confusion with this
    -Amazon: Yes we will price beat Amazon if it's sold by a proper retailer and is shipped and sold by Amazon themselves. We would need to add delivery cost to this if product is below $49.

    However, a lot of people do have success in price beating grey import stores so might as well just give it a shot and hope to get lucky and get an inexperienced(or stupid) employee that would okay the sale.

    I am only a low level employee and just sharing the information that I know, so please don't quote me on this lol. If you needed clarifications you should probably contact head office.

    • Associatedelcheapo1 @ Officeworks on 30/08/2019 - 10:58

      Also no where on the site mentions price beating grey imports so I'm not sure where OP has got this info from.

      • Taegukgi on 30/08/2019 - 11:03

        From your colleague.

        • Associatedelcheapo1 @ Officeworks on 30/08/2019 - 11:20
          +1

          Woah 2000 upvotes

          Seems like the TBA they were mentioning hasn't been A.

        • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 11:29
          -1

          Did mods ever confirm he actually worked for OW?

            • Tacooo on 30/08/2019 - 12:07
              -1

              @ForgotMyAccount: Oh well if the mods confirmed it with an internal memo then that's good I suppose.

              • Associatedelcheapo1 @ Officeworks on 30/08/2019 - 13:07
                +2

                @Tacooo: I have the two memos right in front of me right now lol.

                Series of events:
                -Original OP of previous thread wildy misinterprets Officeworks internal memo and breaches social media policy by posting that to Ozbargain.
                -Leads to ozbargain community and customers in general thinking we price beat grey imports.
                -Customers get upset when their attempts at price matching grey import products are denied.
                -Customers associate negative feelings towards Officeworks when in fact they never claimed to be price beating grey imports in the first place.
                -Gets reposted again which leads to steps 2-4.

                • Associated[Deactivated] @ Officeworks on 30/08/2019 - 14:01

                  @elcheapo1: Found my login details.
                  When I worked at Officeworks, I was told about the change framed in the same way I posted it BY the management of the time.

                  Anyway I said before (but the account was deleted) the original post in its current state is more a product of other users work than mine.

      • ExtraSalt on 30/08/2019 - 11:19

        well you would price match Grey's so long as it's the same product ID (which is the loophole because a lot of big ticket items wouldn't share the same Product IDs). The main draw card would be local warranty is then honoured and you can pick it up same day/next day.

      • capslock janitor on 30/08/2019 - 12:40

        Sucks what you're doing with the 'delivery' costs.

    • sujiferro on 30/08/2019 - 14:04

      I can confirm that this has been my experience. The staff at OW (2 different stores) talk about this along similar lines.

      Staff who actually price match below their "stock price", as I've been told, had been "reprimanded". Even spoke to 3 OW customer service and they mention same thing.

      One time I wanted to price match an electronic item, the staff didn't even bother looking up on his computer, he just looked on my phone and price matched it without adding delivery cost.

      Another time wanted to price match a calculator that would have saved me a mere $5, this "diligent" staff looked up 5 different websites on his end, calculated (no pun intended) the shipping cost to the nearest cent and "helped" me save $2.53 instead. And told me hey better than nothing right, thats a cheeseburger from Maccas right there. Kudos

    • Steptoe on 30/08/2019 - 16:59

      please don't quote me on this

      🤷🏼‍♂️

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