.

[NickTheGreat]

Not sure this is grounds for a lawsuit, but I'm also glad to see they're getting called out on it.

 

[BoxsterCy]

I don't have a big issue with Macy's and all of their stupid sales stuff cause I use them for most of my clothes purchases. Clearance rack, plus promo coupon percentages off or more for using their card and you can pick up some stuff a some very steep discounts. I figure a regular sale price is sort fair retail and other discounts offered actually equate to a real sale price.

 

[BCClone]

Sear got called on this practice years and years ago.
They would have a price on $350 on a product with a SALE $285 right below it. The trick was it was always priced that way. They never tried to sell the product for $350. It just gave the illusion of a savings.
After they got called on it they needed to actually try to sell it at the regular price at least some of the time. Then they could put it back on sale..

Was chatting with a plumber the other day. He used to sell appliances, but slowing down and quit doing it. He told me sears new deal (just said them but guessed he meant dept stores in general) is selling the same product (think a maytag washing machine) that is identical to the May tag you get from appliances in looks, equipment and such, but built quite cheaper. Besides the shipping discounts (which can be up 60-75$/unit) they get something cheaper built but looks and equipped the same as the maytag at the appliance stores.

 

[dmclone]

Was chatting with a plumber the other day. He used to sell appliances, but slowing down and quit doing it. He told me sears new deal (just said them but guessed he meant dept stores in general) is selling the same product (think a maytag washing machine) that is identical to the May tag you get from appliances in looks, equipment and such, but built quite cheaper. Besides the shipping discounts (which can be up 60-75$/unit) they get something cheaper built but looks and equipped the same as the maytag at the appliance stores.

This is always tricky because electronics stores having been doing something similar for years. Sometimes they put out a product that's identical to a mainstream product but has different number that's only for that retailer. This stops people from comparing prices. It sounds like in the case you mentioned it wasn't the same product or even the same company producing the product. It's kind of like generic at the grocery store, on some items like medicine, you almost always should buy the generic.

 

[Nick]

I think the Menards '11% off everything' sales are more deceptive. They shouldn't be able to say that when you actually have to fill out and mail in a rebate form to get the 11% and it comes in the form of a voucher.

Anybody a fan of Nathan for You? The gas station rebate episode is an awesome parody of rebate models that add in tons of steps to actually get the rebate. I might actually prefer hiking up a mountain to get one rather than fill out the Menards form and wait 2 months to receive the rebate.

 

[BCClone]

This is always tricky because electronics stores having been doing something similar for years. Sometimes they put out a product that's identical to a mainstream product but has different number that's only for that retailer. This stops people from comparing prices. It sounds like in the case you mentioned it wasn't the same product or even the same company producing the product. It's kind of like generic at the grocery store, on some items like medicine, you almost always should buy the generic.

Maybe an easier way to describe it is, you want a maytag 2100 (made up a number) washing machine. You check Fred's appliance and it's $900. You look at sears and you find maytag A6310 has the same maytag stock number as Fred's (maytag xxwb14S or such) for $750. You say wow, I'm saving $150 for the same machine. What you don't know is that Fred's machine was built by maytag using steel parts or other higher quality parts. Sears has a deal for maytag to have theirs built by them or outsourced with some of those parts made of plastic or cheaper metals. Almost no difference except an extra barcode to include sears numbers on the machine. People think they are the same identical product and think Fred is just screwing them over.

 

[VeloClone]

Don't get me wrong, I love the 11% rebates too. It's a good way to buy things you need that are never marked down and get credit to buy more stuff in the future. I'm just saying that Menards makes a killing off these sales because most people don't take the time to fill out the rebates as SCNCY said above. Also, you have a very quick window to use the rebate checks so it is easy to lose track and forget to use it. If you have a huge project, absolutely take advantage of it but if it is a $550 rebate check you are expecting for your $5000 purchase, I would make sure the clearinghouse doesn't "lose it". Pay a few bucks and get delivery confirmation through the post office. I have no idea if that will help your case if they lose it but it doesn't hurt.

You can fill out your rebate entirely on line so you don't have to worry about a lost rebate form. You also save the postage...

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Maybe an easier way to describe it is, you want a maytag 2100 (made up a number) washing machine. You check Fred's appliance and it's $900. You look at sears and you find maytag A6310 has the same maytag stock number as Fred's (maytag xxwb14S or such) for $750. You say wow, I'm saving $150 for the same machine. What you don't know is that Fred's machine was built by maytag using steel parts or other higher quality parts. Sears has a deal for maytag to have theirs built by them or outsourced with some of those parts made of plastic or cheaper metals. Almost no difference except an extra barcode to include sears numbers on the machine. People think they are the same identical product and think Fred is just screwing them over.

then Fred should say that in his product marketing.

 

[BCClone]

then Fred should say that in his product marketing.

Doesn't probably say for the same reason that John Deere doesn't say that what's not bought in a dealership is lower quality than what they have. Certain brands try to talk themselves as quality products, saying they have cheap products out there is an image hit. JD will stress how their products are an improvement over the crap sold at the nonJD stores, but they won't rip them.

 

[ianoconnor]

Menard's has to make a killing in these "sales". So many things have to happen in order for that 11% to take a hit on Menards. Consumer must fill out form, attach receipt, mail to clearinghouse within 2 weeks, redeem within 2 week window. If one of those don't happen, no rebate and menards pockets more cash. A sneaky thing menard's says is that your rebate becomes property of the clearinghouse. So if they lose it, Menards is not obligated in any way to reimburse you. I had a $15 rebate get "lost" so I never got a voucher for it. Besides that, every other rebate I have received.

I don't believe they have an expiration, & if they do it's way longer than 2 weeks. I've held on to those things for a long time.

 

[CycloneErik]

For those with kids it's the same deal at Carters and Oshkosh. If you pay full price at either of those stores, ever, you're doing it wrong.

You mean, if the grandparents pay full price......
Make sure you're not doing it wrong.

 

[Bret44]

Some consumers really like the idea of getting a deal. It can be a powerful buying motivator. I used to be in software sales. The customer base consisted mostly of doctors, so highly educated, wealthy, intelligent people. And it was shocking how many of them would bite on the "big discount" line. The "retail" price of the software was usually between $30-$40,000, but it was always sold with at least a 40% discount. There was always a "special" running, and about to expire. A summer sale, a Valentines day sale, a Veteran's Day special, etc. None of them were real. The salesperson was allowed to call it whatever they wanted.

It always struck me that people should see through it and just ask why our regular retail price wasn't lower, but very few ever did.

THE STATE FAIR MAY BE OVER BUT OUR STATE FAIR SPECIALS LAST THE REST OF THE MONTH!

 

[isufbcurt]

I know of a business that sends out direct door mailers and if you bring the mailer in you get $25 off the services they provide. The catch is that if you bring in this mailer they just bump their price up $25 so you are paying the regular price when you present the mailer.

 

[jkclone]

I know of a business that sends out direct door mailers and if you bring the mailer in you get $25 off the services they provide. The catch is that if you bring in this mailer they just bump their price up $25 so you are paying the regular price when you present the mailer.

Now this should be illegal.

 

[CycloneErik]

then Fred should say that in his product marketing.

Fred can say it, and customers will assume it's a desperate attempt to badmouth a competitor with better prices. People don't see past that #.

 

[Cyclonepride]

i agree consumers should be informed. but i also agree that there should be laws against deceptive practices.

How do you feel about "buy one, get one free"?

 

[IASTATE07]

I used to see an auto dealer advertise tires for $5 over cost. Who's cost?

 

[ISUAlum2002]

IT'S TRUCK MONTH AT BOB BROWN CHEVROLET!

Wait, wasn't it Truck Month last month too?

 

[Cycsk]

Wow. There are actual laws about this!

"Under California law, retailers are not permitted to advertise an alleged former price of an item unless the alleged former price was the prevailing market price within three months of the advertisement."

Exactly who is being hurt by this practice? Some may not like it, but there are aspects of every store that some people like and some people don't. I fail to see the how the consumer is being hurt. Everyone knows what they are being charged and they agree to pay it or they leave the store and don't pay it. No problem. Has anyone actually filed a complaint saying the there is something unfair about the practice of discount pricing?

I'm more concerned about consumer advocacy for the credit cards they push and all the exorbitant fees that are hidden in the fine print. There is no fine print to the sale prices for items in the store.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Wow. There are actual laws about this!

"Under California law, retailers are not permitted to advertise an alleged former price of an item unless the alleged former price was the prevailing market price within three months of the advertisement."

Exactly who is being hurt by this practice? Some may not like it, but there are aspects of every store that some people like and some people don't. I fail to see the how the consumer is being hurt. Everyone knows what they are being charged and they agree to pay it or they leave the store and don't pay it. No problem. Has anyone actually filed a complaint saying the there is something unfair about the practice of discount pricing?

I'm more concerned about consumer advocacy for the credit cards they push and all the exorbitant fees that are hidden in the fine print. There is no fine print to the sale prices for items in the store.

If the price is X then just sell it for X. If it doesn't hurt the consumer (and thus benefit the store) they wouldn't do it.