Price mistakes in shops

Difference Engine

kneemos wrote: »

If a product comes with the price printed on the lable is that still an invitation to treat?

Yes it is an invitation to offer to buy it at that price. The retailer can always refuse to accept your offer.

EoghanIRL

All the time in centra

Schism

I remember telling a customer once that the the item they were trying to buy was priced wrong. Immediately they stuck into me, yelling about how they knew their rights, how it's completely unacceptable and they should get the price it was labelled at.

When they finished their little tirade I informed them that it was actually cheaper than labelled.... They had gone too far at this point though for apology so they just paid and left.

They joys of retail!

kneemos

Difference Engine wrote: »

Yes it is an invitation to offer to buy it at that price. The retailer can always refuse to accept your offer.

Is the contract with the manufacturer then?

Thwip!

Price on the shelf is an invitation to treat only not final

I know it's been said in this thread already but given that this thread had to be started in the first place then it bears repeating

Corruptedmorals

Knockout_91 wrote: »

Mum was in Harrods a few years back, looking at a bag priced €1500 but had a tag on it saying €150 (accidentally). Till girl tried charging her €1500, mum refused, demanded to speak to the manager, and got the bag for €150.

I work in retail. What I love, especially at this time of year, is when people purchase stuff before Christmas and then come back in January when the sales are on, refund said item, and try to buy it again at the new sale price.

We definitely do not allow that.

Well in fairness..'tried charging'..there's no trying about it, it was €1500 and would have scanned at that, it reads the barcode, not the price. Taking a €1350 hit on an item that wouldn't have been cheap at cost price to begin with is harsh, especially as legally they could have refused.

sconhome

Voodoomelon wrote: »

As far as I am aware, you are not entitled to a refund if a product is faulty; it's simply one of the options open to both you and the retailer to agree upon.

The retailer is also entitled to repair or replace the item. Who is correct? It's deliberately ambiguous to allow an agreement between both parties. You can't take a retailer to court saying an item was faulty and he would not give you your money back, when he offered to repair/replace it.

That is my understanding of it.

If the product is faulty the warranty is with the manufacturer not the retailer. Most retailers will process a warranty replacement or repair for a customer but they are not obliged to do so. The same applies to refunds. There is no obligation on a retailer to refund a sale. Some may do so as a goodwill gesture to the customer but then they have to battle with the supplier for a credit / refund.

Difference Engine

kneemos wrote: »

Is the contract with the manufacturer then?

No contract with the manufacturer either. A contract needs three things basically:

Offer
Acceptance
Consideration.

You offer to buy the product at the stated price. The retailer accepts (or refuses if the price tag is wrong). Consideration passes between you, you give him money for the product.

No contract with anyone until you initiate things and then the retailer can't be forced to accept.

Think of the price tag as an indication of what the retailer will accept for the product.

krudler

kneemos wrote: »

If something is advertised at a certain price then that's the price I'm getting it,no ifs,ands,buts or maybes.

Ha, you're funny.

Truncheon Rouge

Offer + acceptance.
Agreement to terms.
Consideration.
Exchange of goods.


...least thats what I fink I remeber

Truncheon Rouge

Knockout_91 wrote: »

Mum was in Harrods a few years back, looking at a bag priced €1500 but had a tag on it saying €150 (accidentally). Till girl tried charging her €1500, mum refused, demanded to speak to the manager, and got the bag for €150.

I work in retail. What I love, especially at this time of year, is when people purchase stuff before Christmas and then come back in January when the sales are on, refund said item, and try to buy it again at the new sale price.

We definitely do not allow that.

How do you stop them ??

Voodoomelon

amphkingwest wrote: »

If the product is faulty the warranty is with the manufacturer not the retailer. Most retailers will process a warranty replacement or repair for a customer but they are not obliged to do so. The same applies to refunds. There is no obligation on a retailer to refund a sale. Some may do so as a goodwill gesture to the customer but then they have to battle with the supplier for a credit / refund.

I'm confused, what did I say that was wrong?

Difference Engine

Truncheon Rouge wrote: »

Offer + acceptance.
Agreement to terms.
Consideration.
Exchange of goods.


...least thats what I fink I remeber

Yeah it's amazing how quick you can forget that contract law stuff once the exam is over. I think you pretty much have it there though.

Senna

Truncheon Rouge wrote: »

Offer + acceptance.
Agreement to terms.
Consideration.
Exchange of goods.


...least thats what I fink I remeber

Good old Junior cert business class:D

Thwip!

Senna wrote: »

Good old Junior cert business class:D

Those were the days and yet when you try and pass on that wisdom all you get met with is tutters and naysayers

Senna

Thwip! wrote: »

Those were the days and yet when you try and pass on that wisdom all you get met with is tutters and naysayers

Keep up the good work, Ms (insert old teachers name) would be proud of you.

BOHtox

mfitzy wrote: »

Funny thing is I find 9 times out of 10 when the price is "wrong" it's in the shop's favour...wonder why that could be :rolleyes:

Well the reason for short-term price changes is usually because of a sale. Sales are temporary and the price is reduced. So a mistake would leave the price at its normal retail price as someone on the floor didn't do their job properly.

Mistakes like this happen for reasons.
Mainly they are complete accidents or down to human error. I've never come across a situation where they genuinely did try overcharge me/someone.*



except in a nightclub where the barman was a díck and pocketed the difference and didn't give me a receipt. But that was different.

ViveLaVie

amphkingwest wrote: »

If the product is faulty the warranty is with the manufacturer not the retailer. Most retailers will process a warranty replacement or repair for a customer but they are not obliged to do so. The same applies to refunds. There is no obligation on a retailer to refund a sale. Some may do so as a goodwill gesture to the customer but then they have to battle with the supplier for a credit / refund.

I thought the customer's contract is with the shop and then the shop has a contract with the maufacturer? If an item is faulty the shop is surely responsible for redressing the issue? It doesn't seem likely that a shop can just wash their hands of the issue and tell the customer to contact the manufacturer!?

PickledLime

Yeah, customer's contract is with the seller, not the manufacturer.

Knockout_91

Truncheon Rouge wrote: »

How do you stop them ??

Because we don't give refunds unless it's faulty

Duggy747

Had a customer come into me to exchange heaphones because he changed his mind a few days after he bought them

When I said no he lost his mind and gave me a massive spiel about his rights as a consumer and how I was a con artist.

I then showed him the lump of earwax that was smooshed into one of the earpieces.

Dirty fecker! :pac:

sconhome

ViveLaVie wrote: »

I thought the customer's contract is with the shop and then the shop has a contract with the maufacturer? If an item is faulty the shop is surely responsible for redressing the issue? It doesn't seem likely that a shop can just wash their hands of the issue and tell the customer to contact the manufacturer!?

I don't think I said anything about washing their hands of the issue? I most definitely didn't mean to imply that either.

If goods are faulty it is usually a manufacturing fault, not a retailing fault and as such the warranty is with the manufacturer of the goods not the person who sells it.

Most retaillers will bend over backwards to help customers resolve any warranty issues, as, you are correct, the retailler has to provide redress. The point I was attempting to make (not too clearly, in retrospect) was that the retailler generally sends the product back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement on behalf of the customer.

If there is a persistent problem the retailler then can offer or recommend something different to replace that product where possible. This is outside of a discussion about product being fit for purpose, or if a retailler has recommended something.

I know shops don't have to stand by the price they advertise but they should have to in my opinion.

super_furry

It's all Tesco's fault. Their price promise in the late 90s/early 2000s where they would honour any price mistakes in store lead people to believe it's standard.

Gyalist

Knockout_91 wrote: »

Mum was in Harrods a few years back, looking at a bag priced €1500 but had a tag on it saying €150 (accidentally). Till girl tried charging her €1500, mum refused, demanded to speak to the manager, and got the bag for €150.

She probably told you that, but I don't believe it. Did she also produce the receipt to confirm her story?

TwoShedsJackson

Leilani Delicious Rattlesnake wrote: »

I know shops don't have to stand by the price they advertise but they should have to in my opinion.

Say you were running a shop where the customer exchanges the prices of something that's €500 with something that's €100, which can and does happen.

You going to stand by that then?

pennypocket

ViveLaVie wrote: »

I thought the customer's contract is with the shop and then the shop has a contract with the maufacturer? If an item is faulty the shop is surely responsible for redressing the issue? It doesn't seem likely that a shop can just wash their hands of the issue and tell the customer to contact the manufacturer!?

Yes, for the customer, redress is with the seller and not the manufacturer. A couple of years ago I bought a lawnmower from B&Q which turned out to be faulty after three months. They tried to fob me off by passing me on to the manufacturer, but I persisted and got my refund under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act (to which you are entitled from the seller, repair, replacement or refund).
I would also argue that display of price in a retail outlet is equivalent to an advertisement. Tesco and other large supermarkets would not have been willing to settle in customers' favour on display prices (even if incorrect), if they they knew the law was on their side (obviously, from practice it was not). Given that they do not even publish their profits in this country (entirely within the law), I can't imagine that they would as a corporation act in any way that would harm their bottom line.

Voodoomelon

^^ Can I ask why you wanted a refund instead of a repair/replacement? Just being nosey.

pennypocket

Voodoomelon wrote: »

^^ Can I ask why you wanted a refund instead of a repair/replacement? Just being nosey.

I didn't have any faith in the company and nor had any faith that the product would perform in terms of the sales description advertised and for the time-period to which it was guaranteed. A customer of any sales or services under the law in Ireland is entitled to those options.

Voodoomelon

What would you have done if they offered you a repair/replacement?

theteal

Kimber Loose Welfare wrote: »

I know shops don't have to stand by the price they advertise but they should have to in my opinion.

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Say you were running a shop where the customer exchanges the prices of something that's €500 with something that's €100, which can and does happen.

You going to stand by that then?

Again, terms are being used incorrectly. Kimber Loose Welfare, a shop does have to stand by an advertised price lest it want to face consequences. a TV ad, a poster in the window etc. are advertisements. a price tag on/beside an item on display is not an advertisement and that's what TSJ is referring to.

pennypocket

Voodoomelon wrote: »

What would you have done if they offered you a repair/replacement?

They did. The motor went due to a known and documented fault with the manufacturer in Germany. It's not my business to contact the manufacturer. My contract of sale is with the retailer. I can't understand why the options for consumers in terms of the three Rs are a mystery to some people. Even if you as the retailer persist in offering a repair/replacement to a customer, the customer is within their legal right to ask for their money back.

O-Deazy

I work in retail and this time of the year is torture. Offers (especially alcohol) are changing regularly and you get people coming in the week after an offer has finished and can't understand why someone that was €8 last week is now a tenner. Then they go off on one about why we're all out to do them and its all my fault!

And whatever gobshíte came up with the phrase 'the price you see, is the price you pay' should be bloody shot. Customers coming in shouting this at you as if its law. Thinking they're fecking solicitors or something when they don't know their árse from their elbow. Retail does really make you grow a strong hatred of people.

pennypocket

O-Deazy wrote: »

I work in retail and this time of the year is torture. Offers (especially alcohol) are changing regularly and you get people coming in the week after an offer has finished and can't understand why someone that was €8 last week is now a tenner. Then they go off on one about why we're all out to do them and its all my fault!

And whatever gobshíte came up with the phrase 'the price you see, is the price you pay' should be bloody shot. Customers coming in shouting this at you as if its law. Thinking they're fecking solicitors or something when they don't know their árse from their elbow. Retail does really make you grow a strong hatred of people.

On the side of the customer here If a product is displayed at certain price that should be the price at the point of sale. I can imagine that pisses you off at the till, but what is wrong with 'the price you see is the price you pay?' If that isn't the case, then get the floor staff to fix the prices. For example, over the Christmas period you and your significant other went out for a meal displayed at the price of 40 euro per head, but as you were paying your bill you were told it was actually 50, how would you feel? That is why we have consumer protection and why displayed prices should be the prices we pay at the point of sale.

theteal

pennypocket wrote: »

On the side of the customer here If a product is displayed at certain price that should be the price at the point of sale. I can imagine that pisses you off at the till, but what is wrong with 'the price you see is the price you pay?' If that isn't the case, then get the floor staff to fix the prices. For example, over the Christmas period you and your significant other went out for a meal displayed at the price of 40 euro per head, but as you were paying your bill you were told it was actually 50, how would you feel? That is why we have consumer protection and why displayed prices should be the prices we pay at the point of sale.

mistakes happen. also the basic premise of offer and acceptance is that the customer makes an offer, the seller can accept or reject that offer.

pennypocket

theteal wrote: »

mistakes happen. also the basic premise of offer and acceptance is that the customer makes an offer, the seller can accept or reject that offer.

True. Mistakes do happen. And the retailer should do their best to rectify those mistakes with grace and with the view to retaining those customers into the future. I don't know what you are inferring to in your second line ; maybe offers can be made but they cannot invalidate consumers' rights under the law.

O-Deazy

pennypocket wrote: »

On the side of the customer here If a product is displayed at certain price that should be the price at the point of sale. I can imagine that pisses you off at the till, but what is wrong with 'the price you see is the price you pay?' If that isn't the case, then get the floor staff to fix the prices. For example, over the Christmas period you and your significant other went out for a meal displayed at the price of 40 euro per head, but as you were paying your bill you were told it was actually 50, how would you feel? That is why we have consumer protection and why displayed prices should be the prices we pay at the point of sale.

But if you're going to adopt this policy of the price you see is the price you pay its has the potential to cost you a lot more than benefit you. Whats stopping a customer from swapping a price from a cheap product and replacing it on a significantly more expensive one? Or moving a special offer sign in front of a product that isn't on offer? In both cases you would have to honor your silly policy costing the shop money!

pennypocket

O-Deazy wrote: »

But if you're going to adopt this policy of the price you see is the price you pay its has the potential to cost you a lot more than benefit you. Whats stopping a customer from swapping a price from a cheap product and replacing it on a significantly more expensive one? Or moving a special offer sign in front of a product that isn't on offer? In both cases you would have to honor your silly policy costing the shop money!

Why would a customer do that ?? (If I'm reading what you are saying properly). This is taking the question to the point of tautology and beyond. Plus, it's not my 'silly policy'.

bohsman

lounakin wrote: »

I keep reading reviews and hearing people saying they wanted to buy an item at the advertised price only to find out it was a mistake at the till. Why are people under the impression that by law the shop has to sell this item at the lower price? I've seen people defending this urban legend of a law tooth and nail!

I seem to remember one or two of Tesco/Dunnes/Quinnsworth getting massive fines at some point in the late 90s where in the aftermath most of them gave you a full refund and let you keep the item if you got overcharged.

edit - a quick google tells me that the supermarkets regularly get fined for charging more than the advertised amount.

Thwip!

pennypocket wrote: »

True. Mistakes do happen. And the retailer should do their best to rectify those mistakes with grace and with the view to retaining those customers into the future. I don't know what you are inferring to in your second line ; maybe offers can be made but they cannot invalidate consumers' rights under the law.

He's talking about the elements of a contract between a customer and a retailer. The price tag on the shelf is viewed as an invitation to treat legally where the potential customer can see that price and then offer the retailer that price in exchange for the item in question. It is then up to the retailer if they want to accept or refuse that customer's offer. Most retailers will accept obviously because most of the time the price is right and the retailer is happy to sell it. However sometimes an item may have a wrong price tag by accident, it could've been left by a customer or staff member in the wrong section when they decided they didnt want it (leading another customer to pick it up thinking the price tag there is the right one.......freakishly common occurrence), or the item may show up as the entirely wrong price on the system i.e a €150 euro jacket scanning in at €15. It is then entirely in the rights of the retailer to refuse the customer's offer, obviously politely

pennypocket wrote: »

Why would a customer do that ?? (If I'm reading what you are saying properly). This is taking the question to the point of tautology and beyond. Plus, it's not my 'silly policy'.

Because in this day and age not every customer is honest and Cries of Retail is full of stories about such chancers. Minority of customers are like this but still it happens

seven_eleven

I remember them teaching us something like this in secondary school Business class.

I also remember treaching us what RAM meant. What in the flying fúck was that about? Just a random paragraph in the business book about RAM. It didnt even explain it much, just that it was "Random access memory". WHAT THE FCUK WERE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE?

pennypocket

Thwip! wrote: »

He's talking about the elements of a contract between a customer and a retailer. The price tag on the shelf is viewed as an invitation to treat legally where the potential customer can see that price and then offer the retailer that price in exchange for the item in question. It is then up to the retailer if they want to accept or refuse that customer's offer. Most retailers will accept obviously because most of the time the price is right and the retailer is happy to sell it. However sometimes an item may have a wrong price tag by accident, it could've been left by a customer or staff member in the wrong section when they decided they didnt want it (leading another customer to pick it up thinking the price tag there is the right one.......freakishly common occurrence), or the item may show up as the entirely wrong price on the system i.e a €150 euro jacket scanning in at €15. It is then entirely in the rights of the retailer to refuse the customer's offer, obviously politely

Perhaps so, but practice has changed in the last view years towards offering the difference between the display and advertised price in the multiples. I have no horse in this race, I have never been in a situation where the display price was lower than that charged at point of sale. I would only wish to defend the rights of customers, including myself, against large conglomerates who would choose to ignore Irish consumer legislation if they could.

pennypocket

Thwip! wrote: »

He's talking about the elements of a contract between a customer and a retailer. The price tag on the shelf is viewed as an invitation to treat legally where the potential customer can see that price and then offer the retailer that price in exchange for the item in question. It is then up to the retailer if they want to accept or refuse that customer's offer. Most retailers will accept obviously because most of the time the price is right and the retailer is happy to sell it. However sometimes an item may have a wrong price tag by accident, it could've been left by a customer or staff member in the wrong section when they decided they didnt want it (leading another customer to pick it up thinking the price tag there is the right one.......freakishly common occurrence), or the item may show up as the entirely wrong price on the system i.e a €150 euro jacket scanning in at €15. It is then entirely in the rights of the retailer to refuse the customer's offer, obviously politely



Because in this day and age not every customer is honest and Cries of Retail is full of stories about such chancers. Minority of customers are like this but still it happens

I have worked retail also. I know the cries. (I couldn't be arsed emailing whoever I should to get access to that forum either). But consumers have rights under the law. I have witnessed too many occasions in which they have been wilfully compromised.

dan1895

I've had customers take photos of prices on products then give out when they get to the till that they are being overcharged even though they are buying something completely different. Unfortunately when it comes to retail, the general public aren't all that honest

pennypocket

dan1895 wrote: »

I've had customers take photos of prices on products then give out when they get to the till that they are being overcharged even though they are buying something completely different. Unfortunately when it comes to retail, the general public aren't all that honest

Well that would be easily counteracted with the given dates for a particular offer. I don't think anyone is crying over that.

dan1895

pennypocket wrote: »

Well that would be easily counteracted with the given dates for a particular offer. I don't think anyone is crying over that.

Nothing to do with offers, just being a scabby, dishonest prick.

Atavan-Halen

pennypocket wrote: »

For example, over the Christmas period you and your significant other went out for a meal displayed at the price of 40 euro per head, but as you were paying your bill you were told it was actually 50, how would you feel? That is why we have consumer protection and why displayed prices should be the prices we pay at the point of sale.

Yes but say for example the price tag on something says €15. It gets brought up to the till and scans in at €10 and the sales advisor says "€10 please". Would you or anyone else kick up a fuss and demand to have it sold to them at €15? I'd doubt it but it's the same thing as having the price marked higher.

I've been working in retail since I was 16 and the place I'm currently working in has constant price changes every week. Sales, offers, price increases, price decreases etc. It does happen that we do forget to reprice some products in between serving customers (especially at this time of year), stock replenishment, merchandising and all that. But it's human error and we all make mistakes, people have to allow for that.

Conmaicne Mara

lounakin wrote: »

I keep reading reviews and hearing people saying they wanted to buy an item at the advertised price only to find out it was a mistake at the till. Why are people under the impression that by law the shop has to sell this item at the lower price? I've seen people defending this urban legend of a law tooth and nail!

Urban legend my eye. I went into Smyths in Galway to buy an item for my nephew. The marked price on all the boxes was €107.99, Argos across the road was €119.99. So I took it to the till in Smyths where the girl (customer service leaves a lot to be desired in Ireland) mumbled something about €119.99. I said no, sorry, the price marked on all boxes is €107.99. Off she went and got the manager while the rest of the people in the long que wanted to publicly hang me Manager arrived at the till and asked me for €107.99 which I happily paid, as he dispensed said future PR guru to the relevant aisle to reprice a lot of boxes.

If I had no leg to stand on, he'd have charged me €119.99.

Thwip!

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Urban legend my eye. I went into Smyths in Galway to buy an item for my nephew. The marked price on all the boxes was €107.99, Argos across the road was €119.99. So I took it to the till in Smyths where the girl (customer service leaves a lot to be desired in Ireland) mumbled something about €119.99. I said no, sorry, the price marked on all boxes is €107.99. Off she went and got the manager while the rest of the people in the long que wanted to publicly hang me Manager arrived at the till and asked me for €107.99 which I happily paid, as he dispensed said future PR guru to the relevant aisle to reprice a lot of boxes.

If I had no leg to stand on, he'd have charged me €119.99.

Or maybe he did it out of guaranteeing future business, rather than actually being obligated to do so

jdooley28

good to see basic contract law doesn't apply to some people!