Saw an article this morning that the Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Noel Leeming for allegedly misleading customers with its “Price Promise”.
I thought was interesting as I often see posts here on Cheapies that utilise Noels. Just wondering what people's personal experiences with price matching at Noel Leeming has been like? Hit or miss?
I've had a couple problems in the past. Usually do most of my price matching online now and the reasons I've been declined have been fair enough.
One time a few years ago I went in instore because I was close by. I was buying a tv wall mount and tried to get a price match with Heathcote's or something like that and the guy refused saying the price was too low. It wasn't really that much cheaper. The Heathcote's price was $199, the NL CSC price was like $220 and rrp was like $280. Anyway, I went online straight away and live chat did the price match and I purchased it straight away, went away and did some shopping for a couple of hours and then went back to pick up the wall mount and ended up having the same guy get it from the back for me.
I feel NL isn't that bad. The ComCom should prosecute Mitre10. I've had way more trouble getting them to honour their price promise.
100% agree with this. NL online have never had a problem = Mitre10 make you jump through a lot of hoops. Every time Ive asked for it, they physically call the store to confirm stock levels, if they dont answer or say theyre too busy, its a no deal.
M10 are painful in my experience.
I was denied the number of sistemas I wanted because it was too many and they excluded trade quantities. Drove to another branch and bought some more.
Warehouse stationary pull the same crap and now they have moved them into warehouses its even worse because you cant just go to the checkout and have them match, its got to be done by one of the warehouse stationary people that seem to be too busy helping people with the photo kiosks or something.
@richms: Yes, I always have issues in M10. The Warehouse were selling 2 Sistemas for $10 so I asked them to price beat the 2 identical Sistemas that I had and they tried to claim that because the Warehouse were selling them in multiples of two it was a different product to if you buy them individually. There was absolutely no difference to the packaging or the product number (you just pick up 2 items in both stores and get them for a certain price). I asked them to show me where in their price promise that particular - totally made up rule - was written, and they couldn't. I spent about half an hour arguing with various staff and eventually had to escalate it to the manager until they finally gave in. Total nonsense and a waste of everyone's time.
They refused to price beat because the competitor was an 'online store' (www.gubba.co.nz) even though it was an identical product, local, in stock and available for same day collection. I had to meticulously point out that every condition of their price promise was fulfilled and had to phone the other store to confirm that I could come and collect it in person. Again a total waste of everyones time over what was probably only about $3.
My assumption is that this related to in store staff wanting commission on things they sell vs online staff just on a wage and don't care either way.
My assumption is that this related to in store staff wanting commission on things they sell vs online staff just on a wage and don't care either way.
Don't the in-store staff get any commission on a 'price-promise' sale?
I realise it might be lower, but I figured anything is better than nothing, so they would still want to make the sale?
They probably do, but I imagine it feels like a personal attack to their income. There would also be a certain point where there's no commission for them at all as a competitor may have some rebates with a manufacturer they don't have for example. They could spend that time trying to sell someone a full RRP TV instead.
They could spend that time trying to sell someone a full RRP TV instead.
If I was getting something, anything at all, just for ringing up a sale, and then moving on, I think I'd just do it, but I appreciate that not everyone thinks the same way :-)
You'd think but tbh having worked at noels, the concern is more about your numbers than what you actually make.
Commission at noel leemign is pretty low without spivs, and if there's a spiv you're guaranteed a price match or price beat.
Commission at noel leemign is pretty low without spivs, and if there's a spiv you're guaranteed a price match or price beat.
You got me flummoxed with 'spivs' - the only use of that word that I am aware of is a small-time, not too serious, criminal, or occasionally, used to mean a bit of an idiot.
Please enlighten :-)
@Alan6984: Sales incentive - Sometimes referred to as a spiff too.
Basically a bonus for selling something
Sales incentive - Sometimes referred to as a spiff too.
Spiff - that I have heard of. I should have realised that was it.
Some time ago, I believe it meant:
Sales
Performance
Incentive
Fund
Formula
but sometimes people come up with acronyms after the event (to fit an existing word), so not really sure.
Thanks :-)
Chemist Warehouse too.
Have had issues with them in the past too. They love to reject price match attempts because "the box looks different at this angle" as they get their jewelery one eye magnifier out to inspect every detail. This was despite, as I confirmed later when I bought my Oral B toothbrushes elsewhere, it being exactly the same box with the same GTIN.
I've resolved to support them less and go to Bargain Chemist more, so it all comes around, I guess.
I've resolved to support them less and go to Bargain Chemist more, so it all comes around, I guess.
This is the way!
I wanted to price match an oral b toothbrush too. Chemist Warehouse lady said no because she has never heard of JB hifi! WTH. I went around store to find another staff and this one said ok, but the limit was just one. This was a few months back. I just gave up and went to JB and bought two units.
I wanted to price match an oral b toothbrush too. Chemist Warehouse lady said no because she has never heard of JB hifi! WTH. I went around store to find another staff and this one said ok, but the limit was just one. This was a few months back. I just gave up and went to JB and bought two units.
I've never really believed in price-matching.
I'd prefer to give my business to the vendor that's setting the lowest price in the first place.
Price-beating is another matter altogether.
Online has been pretty good however instore i've had mixed experiences. Tried to price match something from PB Tech during one of their sales and NL declined due to PB Tech using the words 'limited stock' across all their sale item advertising even though the item was only a couple of dollars cheaper.
I've had that before. So annoying. No retailer is going to have unlimited supply of anything, that's impossible. Very unreasonable.
I'd say online price match has more success because you'd have a transcript to back up on.
Same with warehouse price march
my experience working for noels essentially meant that the rules depended a bit on the manager.
If it would hurt your numbers to take the sale, i.e. it's negative margin or zero margin or low margin with no services, it's against your interest to take the sale so you'll kick a stink. In some stores, managers let you just pop it under them and who cares, customer is happy, you're happy. In some stores that's not happening and it's your fault for daring to be approached by someone shopping around. Quite genuinely, excuses to not take sales that didnt have a particular addon on them were pretty gladly taken by many staff.
Did it a few times in store, no issues. Even matched prices from stores that are not present in my city. Never tried online - there was no need.
Noel leeming isn't the one they should be looking at, i point my finger at mitre 10
Only time i had issues with NL was that i was trying to buy a whole-house-worth of Hue bulbs and price matching Bunnings. They argued that more than 5 bulbs was "commercial quantities". We got there eventually but could have been a little smoother.
Every other price match I've done with them has been smooth-as!
I've used NL price promise a dozen times over the last several years. Until recently, any time we had a big purchase like whiteware or Apple stuff, I'd find the best deal then ask NL to match it plus they'd give you Flybuys. Worked every time. But since they dropped Flybuys I don't see any advantage over using the price promise, I just buy from the cheapest retailer now.
This is the way.
Have done it a handful of times and always online via chat - never in store.
I’ve never had a problem.