What Type of Promotions or Pricing Practices Bug You?

barge-in hunter on 26/07/2023 - 20:14
Last edited 26/07/2023 - 20:15

Companies use lots of different pricing models and styles of promotions to either convince you to buy more, or squeeze that extra dollar.

There’s everything from:
- “buy 2, get the second half price” (at best, 25% off)
- beat any competitor price by 10% - for the same stocked item (but no one else stocks the same exact items)
- dynamic online pricing (the price goes up the more you visit a website)
- members only promotions (data grab)
- location based pricing (higher demand in an area usually means a higher price)

So, which promotions, pricing models or practices bug you the most?

I’ll start;
- Petbarn has member only sales - which, for the products I buy, are always cheaper online than in store. Every time I go into a store, I have to get them to price match the price from their own website.
And every time the staff member says “oh that’s weird. I wonder why the price is different”. Ergh

Financial

Comments

  • sane on 27/07/2023 - 10:47
    +7
    • Online/app only price
    • Stupid RRP so they can then offer fake discounts
    • Anything less than 33% for 'clearance'.
    • Shrinkflation
    • 'Upto'
    • pr0o on 27/07/2023 - 19:11

      online/app make sense. when you download their app, sign up then you will be spending more in the long run :P

  • cuteseal on 27/07/2023 - 11:12
    +7

    Surge pricing.

    Need to get somewhere Friday night in the rain? Sell your left kidney please…

  • bamzero on 27/07/2023 - 11:39
    +5

    eBay sales of course, 20% off that turns out to be 5% at best after price jacks.

    Online booking fees (especially those that have their own system, ie cinemas), topped by those that promote a discount for online booking which is then eaten up by booking fees.

    and while we're at it, CC fees. Was better back when they were just built in to the price. It's not like the majority dropped their pricing by separating CC fees.

  • KaTst3R on 27/07/2023 - 11:47
    +6

    I hate websites/companies that insist you log into their member's area to see the price of an item online and doesnt allow you to register unless you are a "trade partner". TLE Electrical is one culprit. And their pricing is not even great after visiting their showroom. What a waste of time dealing with them.

  • ColtNoir on 27/07/2023 - 11:51
    +3

    Joining fee's and their associated discount.

    Either put it in the product/service price, or don't charge it at all. Quite frankly I think joining fee's should be illegal.

  • 2esc on 27/07/2023 - 12:29
    +3

    Buy 3 tyres get 1 free. Yeah lets bump up the individual prices to cover the cost of the free one. Do people actually fall for that?

  • jrvb42 on 27/07/2023 - 13:46
    +10
    1. Any travel that is advertised per person, but two are required to be purchased. Misleading - just advertise what must be paid!!!
    2. Almost any group tour quoted by number of days - 10 days for $1000, except the first day is your arrival, the last day is your departure, so only 8 days really.
    3. Any sale that advertises "up to" x% off - advertise the minimum discount, not the maximum (which only applies to one item that nobody wants anyways).
    4. Any group tour where local charges and guide gratuities are not included and not optional (completely dishonest and misleading).
    5. In general, the omission of any mandatory charge from the advertised price - totally misleading and dishonest.
      And much much more :)
  • Nickels n Dimes on 27/07/2023 - 14:08
    +10

    Shops that have no prices on display, when you ask the price for each item, the price may vary according to their mood or memory. The customers are guilted/ embarrassed into buying either way.

    • nwa on 27/07/2023 - 22:32
      +1

      The more people that don't buy from such shops the better.

    • photonbuddy on 28/07/2023 - 10:57
      +3

      This is a big one I hate.

      Remember the old adage: If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it!

      It's what really annoys me about the TV only offers. "Call today and get … 50% off!!!!!"

    • Munki on 31/07/2023 - 11:02

      I don't know if it's getting older or not, but I no longer give a shit about being embarrassed. I just ask and if it's not the price I thought, I put it back.

  • ScottEh on 27/07/2023 - 14:46
    +2

    Never shop at Oxford due to their constant 50-70% off sales. Quality is a slight step up from Tarocash.

    • Munki on 31/07/2023 - 11:03

      At least the materials used are usually 100% cotton or wool, and not 100% polyester like Tarotrash.

  • markathome on 27/07/2023 - 14:49
    +6

    I've been downvoted multiple times for this but I have feeling I might get a few upvotes here:

    Definitely the deals that have unspecified blackout days/dates. Like 50% off hotel stays March until October but it turns out for most of the hotels Saturday night is excluded (and the discount doesn't apply for multi-night bookings that include Saturday night).

    Interestingly I'm more forgiving on the Jetstar-approach where the seats are released but the Saturday ones sell-out really quickly. But one of the big hotel chains clearly had Saturday blocked from the very beginning for the vast majority of their hotels and had the nerve to still advertise "50% off hotel stays."

    I have downvoted these deals. I have had my downvote downvoted out. So annoying though - especially when it is a really cumbersome and slow web interface to work out the magical blacked-out days/dates.

  • muzzamo on 27/07/2023 - 14:49
    +10

    Places that have price beat policies but are full of exclusive stock.

    Or industries that only do exclusive stock e.g. matresss retailers despite them all coming off the same production lines as each other.

    Or officeworks procuring very specific officeworks only printer models with a different letter or something in the model number to avoid price beating.

    • ak47wong on 28/07/2023 - 18:15

      Yep Bunnings does this too

      Mattress shops are the worst. They might all sell the same product from the same brand, but they have different names and slightly different cosmetic finish so you can't compare them.

  • namanuu on 27/07/2023 - 14:58
    +2

    walking into Autobarn to grab a container of their cheap instore only oil to find it's sold out and is a blatant loss leader. i was going to buy other products whilst there but didn't because that practice annoys me

  • rumblytangara on 27/07/2023 - 15:26
    +6

    $x.99

    • cybapete on 27/07/2023 - 21:59

      YES!
      they have been doing this for years just knock it off!!

  • sobriety22 on 27/07/2023 - 15:30
    +10

    More of a marketing one:

    "Closing down sale! Everything must go! Everything on clearance prices!"

    Shop is still there for over 5 years.

    • ozzguy on 27/07/2023 - 20:27

      A rug shop near me has had a closing down sale for the past 20 years. Still trading.

    • jrvb42 on 29/07/2023 - 12:28

      Reminds me of a certain kitchenware shop.

  • barge-in hunter on 27/07/2023 - 15:37
    +3

    Thought of another one;

    "x% off everything sitewide - no exceptions"

    …

    All the good items appear 'out of stock' right when the sale starts

  • grasstown on 27/07/2023 - 15:40
    +6

    50 bonus flybuys points

    15 off 250 Woolworths

    Bonus two points on spend on fruit and vegetables

  • michaelTito on 27/07/2023 - 15:50
    +3

    "housing market is crashing next month" been waiting since 2010

    • barge-in hunter on 27/07/2023 - 16:45

      I'm sure they'll crash to pre 2010 levels sometime soon…? ':)

      • Kangal on 29/07/2023 - 11:46

        The big banks own most of the property, which inturn inflates their value… they'll do everything in their political power to keep it as such.

        Yet if it does come tumbling down, like say Florida Real Estates back in 2009, all the rich bankers would've gotten away with it anyway. By the way, a crash like that here would be massive, but objectively speaking it's "not bad" it is actually a correction. The ones that would be hurt are the everydayman, those who work, and add to the productivity of the market/nation. They will be the ones footing the bill yet again.

        Only people who learned from their mistakes were the viking people up in Iceland.

        • michaelTito on 31/07/2023 - 21:22

          bro watched the big short for the first time

  • surg3on on 27/07/2023 - 15:51
    +7

    Fruit and veg sold in packets is priced at the packet level and not per KG. Thats if you can even get the unwrapped ones (looking at you ALDI).

    • wizzlesticks on 31/07/2023 - 04:55
      +1

      What about Woolworths: Stopped using plastic shopping bags, but now uses plastic to package almost every item of fruit and veg. They now have multiple long aisles of fresh fruit and veg which is all unnecessarily bagged in plastic.

  • tetsuma on 27/07/2023 - 16:22
    +2

    "fantastic price!"
    Anything with claims to the value of the promotion.

    Its about as bad as blokes on Facebook/Gumtree posting, "First to see will buy".

  • Brianqpr on 27/07/2023 - 17:03
    +5

    JB hifi big yellow "crazy prices" style signeage when they are comparable to their competitors and don't really offer anything special. Seems to work for them though.

    Colesworth specials that rarely offer actual good value.

    Agree on Petbarn. Was in store once buying dog food that was $40 cheaper on their website. Asked them to match and they said no. I then asked if I go outside and do a click and collect order on my phone I can have it at that price, which they confirmed was correct. Basically had to embarrass them into agreeing. They seem to have improved their pricing a bit since then

    Marketplace car ads where despite living in metro areas the car has only ever been on highways.

    Completely unrealistic RRP prices being listed.

  • stedmaster on 27/07/2023 - 17:29
    +2

    Enticing a sale by also including a voucher with the sale.

    But then afterwards you find out the voucher has limitations that weren't disclosed in the sale.

    Recently had this experience with Native Instruments. They advertised a $40 e-voucher along with the purchase of a midi keyboard software package. The voucher was a deciding factor as I planned to use it to upgrade my purchase later to a higher package. However, after receiving the voucher, I was only then emailed additional terms that prevented me from using it for the upgrade at that time. These terms were not disclosed on the sale or order page beforehand, the part that mentioned the voucher just linked to the full Ni Store, upgrades and all.

    I emailed them twice about it as it just seemed like misleading advertising, they never got back to me.

  • kaleidoscope on 27/07/2023 - 17:35
    +5

    Uber's demand / location based pricing, absolute bs… I can walk a bus stop ahead and pricing is all normal…
    House's insane rrps (knife set for $2000 and discounted to $100, yeah right…)
    Processing fee on ticketing websites
    Forex fees

    • nwa on 27/07/2023 - 22:39
      +1

      I don't mind ubers demand pricing, atleast they upfront, taxi is bad because they don't tell you the upfront price and can get a shock bill at the end. What uber did bad was and got fined for it by ACCC was not explicitly telling users they got 5 min which to cancel for full refund. They were sly using words like 'you may get charged'.

      • kaleidoscope on 27/07/2023 - 22:44
        +2

        I'd rather crawl to where I need to go than take 13cabs or some other taxi service. 2 times they cancelled a prebooked taxi for airport drop off at the last minute.

        • nwa on 27/07/2023 - 22:57

          They will also turn up and demand more money. That's why uber is better atleast you know the ripoff if there is one in advance and both agree to it.

  • Ricktheroller on 27/07/2023 - 18:14
    +6

    Some Cashrewards/ShopBack upsized cashbacks recently at First Choice/Liquorland. Big 30% cashback displayed on the home screen then you bring up the cashback rates and the 30% only applies to a very small select range like a few Hahn beers or something I've never heard of, meanwhile the standard rate is 2%. They must know what they're doing…

    • socialistshroom on 28/07/2023 - 13:25

      I signed up with topcashback for their 40% bws deal. For whatever reason, my deal didn't track, and I was feeling hard done by. They just ended up giving me the cashback and referral bonus anyway. So 10/10 for them

      • Kangal on 29/07/2023 - 11:55

        I got piissed off when my deal actually DID track, and when I went to cash-out all of it a couple months later "apparently" there was a problem. Only that no problem was displayed to me (just processing) and I thought everything was hunky dory. Since I've been frugal, haven't needed to use cashrewards for a while. When I logged back in, I realised they never processed it, and the ledger said my cash-back credit actually expired. It was around $70 but it is super infuriating.

  • Sweet3st on 27/07/2023 - 19:10
    +2

    What ever happened to the supermarket policy where they refunded you if the checkout price was higher than shelf? I don't even bother anymore. I may take the item to the checkout and if it's higher I just ask them to delete it. It would be nice to know the price beforehand.

    • Poor Ass on 28/07/2023 - 00:51

      It's still around

    • SpainKing on 28/07/2023 - 16:08
      +1

      I tried to do that last night because the Coles website said $2.90 for a leek but the ticket in store said $3.00. i asked the self checkout lady and she said "do you have it set to our store?" and I didn't. It updated once I changed my location. I thought they had to have standard pricing/specials between the stores? Instead I ended up looking very foolish

    • Happyd on 29/07/2023 - 14:19

      The policy still exists at Coles and Woolies but I’ve been told that staff are trained to only give the item for free if customers mention this policy to them.

  • Aerith-Waifu on 27/07/2023 - 20:10
    +1

    Sealy Mattress outside the Myer, had 50% of RPP on it. Thing is it's 50% off most of the time. LoL

  • ozzguy on 27/07/2023 - 20:28
    +10

    Credit card surcharges that you only find out about at checkout.

  • pndl on 27/07/2023 - 20:28
    +5

    Services that list prices from without elaboration on scenarios for prices that apply. Biggest culprit are plumbers who lists $99 block drains, but you know they'll show up and quote $300.

  • ozzguy on 27/07/2023 - 21:36
    +1

    Electrical stores that offer cashback on redemption for goods to make the price cheaper but then to find out the cashback has so many terms and conditions that you're ineligible to claim anyway.

  • Archer12 on 27/07/2023 - 21:37
    +3

    X discount for the first 100 buyers…..

  • Blargman2001 on 27/07/2023 - 21:56
    +3

    Anything where you buy two of an item, get a discount only on the second item. The most rubbish promotion imaginable. Buy a second item you don't need and get a lukewarm discount in the process.

  • dimes on 27/07/2023 - 22:29
    +4

    Storewide sales*

    *exclusions apply

    Exclusions happen to be about half the stuff in store

  • nwa on 27/07/2023 - 22:47
    +9

    Credit card international transaction fee even if paid using AUD just because it was processed overseas yet the customer don't have visibility where the transaction is to be done. It should be based on currency alone, if AUD then there should be no fee as sometimes you are choosing this option to avoid the intl transaction fee in the first place.

    Its a bit like calling AU mobile phones and being charged international rates because the receiver happens to be overseas. The caller should not be worried about this as they are not privy to this information it's on the receiver to pay this. Lucky they don't do this but just trying to make a comparison.

  • trapper on 28/07/2023 - 00:10
    +3

    A hate adds that blatantly misrepresent the product.

    Almost every add on Facebook does this. YouTube and Twitter also have many of these too - at least on Twitter they get community noted though!

    ie, the 'military grade' quadcopters which are actually just worthless Chinese junk getting rebranded as a new product every couple weeks. Almost anything with military or 'tactical' branding will be cheap junk.

    Or there are the tiny spy cams that you can 'place anywhere' and it shows it being placed in all kinds of random places, none of them possible of course because you need to plug it into a power supply which they never show in any of the advertising.

    90,000 lumen torches, lol

    Also hate the fake "we're closing down" ones, also all over these sites.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2023 - 20:22

      I learned in less than 5 minutes on Facebook not to buy from ANY store advertising there. If a store advertises on Facebook you know they/their product are awful, and/or they're scammers. e.g. Temu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20_TlrrB3W4

  • virhlpool on 28/07/2023 - 00:17
    +4

    Free delivery*

    *Above minimum $90 spend.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2023 - 20:30

      Saw something like this today. A large electronic billboard advertising $10 off at Spotlight in a HUGE font size… and in tiny font size: "when spending $200." They KNOW most people won't see it because they're driving at the time. Scum!

      It should be ILLEGAL not to list both details in the SAME FONT SIZE, or even better, require businesses state things as concise as possible or else they get fined. e.g. With this example, "Spend $200 pay $190" or "Spend $200 get $10 off."

  • PurchaseAnxiety on 28/07/2023 - 01:35
    +2

    While it’s nothing new, stores that are constantly having a sale annoys the hell out of me. I was watching a mattress site around EOFY in the off chance they actually had a decent deal. They had a crap sale on that “had to end June 30”. Then July 1st rolls around, and the sale is extended due to “popular demand”. Then 4 days later, they extend it another 3 days, but it “must end” after that.

    Another one that bugs me (mostly because my wife keeps falling for it) is the use of larger price tags for everyday pricing in supermarkets, making something look it’s on special at first glance.

    • grasstown on 28/07/2023 - 08:31

      “Everything I bought was on special sweetheart”

  • RefusdClassification on 28/07/2023 - 05:28
    +5

    BOGOF for items where normally only one is needed eg Prescription Glasses. Just give us 50% off instead.

    • jason101 on 28/07/2023 - 09:57

      Whats worse is the 50% is just off the glass and frames, but not any additional lens treatments, ie/ Thinning, coatings etc at full retail on both pairs.

    • ak47wong on 28/07/2023 - 18:12

      Especially when you can't choose any pair of frames you like for the "free" pair (up to the value of the first one), but you have to choose from a smaller, crappier range.

  • BargainCowboy on 28/07/2023 - 08:09
    +2
    • Kathmandu's constant summer/winter sale
    • CW bright neon signs with % off regular prices
  • solidice on 28/07/2023 - 09:51
    +4

    I hate when places like JB HiFi say they cannot price match a competitor because its below their cost price. Or in my instance they claimed that the competitor must have advertised the item in error as it is far too cheap.

    • Powershopz on 28/07/2023 - 10:31

      Funniest thing about this is that "pricing at cost price/minimal profits" was one of JBHIFI's key strategies in the 90-00s to decimate other store chains and Mom and Pop music stores.

  • Powershopz on 28/07/2023 - 10:29
    +1

    I've seen a lot of bait and switch style advertising via both google or other meta-shopping sites.

    Lead in/base model of an item advertised for a really good price e.g. 30-40% off. You click through and it's not available but you can buy the model up for 15-20% off.

  • add-delay on 28/07/2023 - 10:33
    +5

    Websites that hide the shipping price until the very last step of the checkout process. I know this is usually just because it's the default of whatever eCommerce platform they're using, but it's annoying to have to fill out an entire forms worth of bogus information just to know what the actual cost will be.

    • wizzlesticks on 31/07/2023 - 05:01

      I always enter a fake email address and details for websites that do that: abuse@theirdomain works a treat!

  • rumblytangara on 28/07/2023 - 10:36
    +3

    All the repeat Ozbargain deals - e.g. those Macpac down jackets which pop up at exactly the same price week after week. Not only is that just 'normal' pricing by now, but they're also just not very good jackets anymore. It's like rebadging Kmart stuff.

    • Smol Cat on 30/07/2023 - 02:34
      +1

      Yes to annoying deals, but I have to say the Macpac puffer has passed my quality test. I will admit I bought my Halo Down 6 years ago and don’t know what they are like today, but I’ve extensively worn mine and have only had to patch one tiny hole on the inside in 6 years.

      Still going strong and very comfy and warm. Best value jacket I’ve ever bought.

  • Dack Smith on 28/07/2023 - 11:59
    +1

    Shitty eBay % off promos that applied to (profanity) all

  • garetz on 28/07/2023 - 12:14
    +1

    Computer sales that say "price starting from $x" its always bullshit, any good configuration always costs alot more than that

  • miicah on 28/07/2023 - 12:32
    +2

    Sales that "end" in 10 hours, to pressure you into buying. Or when they say "only two left in stock!"; nah you have thousands for sure.

  • T1OOO on 28/07/2023 - 13:02
    +4

    up to 99% of!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    CLOSEING DOWN SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    50% off RRP - that has never been full price

    • Vancomycin 1000mg on 28/07/2023 - 13:37

      House uses this tactics

      Along with Matress shops.

      • kbargainz on 28/07/2023 - 17:57

        The one in Top Ryde has had at least 5 closing down sales this year.

  • Jacked on 28/07/2023 - 13:24
    +3

    'Clearance' ticketed items at supermarkets when the item is only, say, 10% off.

    I think 'Clearance' should only be for items that are at least 50% off.

  • PlushToys on 28/07/2023 - 13:35
    +3

    Up to 90% off*

    *Only one of the items is 90% off.

  • Vancomycin 1000mg on 28/07/2023 - 13:36
    +2

    JW computers shows ads on Ozbargain with upto %80 discount on RAMS, motherboards and CPU.

    When you click on it, its the same price as everyone else.

  • Seraphin7 on 28/07/2023 - 13:51
    +1

    Buy one, get the second one half price is a classic eye roll for me. Often on items where you'd really only buy one in any event!

  • godofpizza on 28/07/2023 - 14:24
    +1

    • Chemist Warehouse 'discount' pricing off the RRP. If you peel off the label you can see what their normal price is. Surprise! surprise, it the same price.

    • having to buy 2 items to get the discount, looking at hunrgy jack coupons.

  • dasher86 on 28/07/2023 - 14:38
    +1

    Advertising prices where the price can't be obtained due to credit charge surcharges, with no other way to pay (illegal btw).
    Eg. Pancake Parlour $10 Winter Parlour when there is actually a credit card surcharge on all app purchases, and no option to pay cash because it is a app exclusive.

  • SlushyDrop on 28/07/2023 - 14:56
    +1

    Item/service price continuously being discounted, while the "admin" fee gets adjusted to match original "full price" value.. hint; a particular gym

  • ak47wong on 28/07/2023 - 18:09
    +1

    1. <do/buy something> for the chance to win <x>

    2. Anything at Myer that says in the fine print "Offer excludes <list of 50 brands including all the most popular ones>"

  • 2025 on 28/07/2023 - 20:15
    +1
    • Software subscriptions
    • Bonus or discounts that are only applicable to new customers - why the hell aren’t loyal customers rewarded too
  • c9 on 28/07/2023 - 22:05
    +4

    EBay price shows way under price in multiselect items because the way how the seller includes something stupid like a cable or a cover. Made the site unusable and can't buy from other legit sellers

  • Ozbargainasaurus on 28/07/2023 - 22:31
    +1

    The small print "up to" at the start of any disvount

  • cheekymonkey97 on 28/07/2023 - 23:05
    +2

    Dynamic pricing and most recently ridiculous T&C's by cashback sites. They'll do anything to try invalidate your cashback to keep your commission.

  • Plasma on 28/07/2023 - 23:08
    +2

    Spotlight, Nic Scali, Harvey Norman and get a crappy gift card for their overpriced crud

  • Meowcat on 28/07/2023 - 23:44
    +1

    not sure if it qualifies but (profanity) self serve machines asking for donations, and worse yet making it the same colour as the 'next' etc buttons (maccas does this). It (profanity) shits me to tears

  • CuteWittleCorgi on 29/07/2023 - 00:25
    +1

    Hurry!!! Don’t miss out!!!

  • bigbadboogieman on 29/07/2023 - 00:31
    +1
    • Price match (if I wanted to match I would buy from original place)
    • X% surcharge on weekends and public holidays
    • Tipping jars
  • BartholemewH on 29/07/2023 - 06:35
    +1

    Robins Kitchen and their bullshit sale. On top of that, they go into receivership every few years and bone all the customers with gift vouchers.

    • ColonialBoy on 29/07/2023 - 10:07

      They are the same company as House, and most brands are home brands with a European-sounding names but made in China. Their Baccarat brand is a home brand and NOT the French Baccarat brand which costs 10x more.

      Its run by the son of billionaire Solomon Lew of Premier Investments

  • shinkenred on 29/07/2023 - 08:47
    +1

    Flybuys bonus points offers (particularly the Liquorland ones) where you’re spinning the wheel as to whether the points actually come through. The onus is left on you to track and document it all in case you need to call and spend half an hour on hold just to get them to adhere to the promotion they ‘forgot’ they ran.

  • Leeeroy on 29/07/2023 - 09:25
    +1

    30% increase in RRP so a 60% off sale looks good.

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