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Price advertised not being honoured on website

  • 17-08-2022 2:53pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭


    I know this issue has probably brought up before but I can't seem to find it

    Went to a website logged into my account and looked up an upgrade option which I was pleasantly surprised showed the the phone I wanted for X which was a very good price because the same offer with a monthly charge twice my current plan was also shown. I selected the current plan I had but at that point the checkout price showed up a different price roughly 65% higher.

    I now there is probably a statement on the website saying prices maybe a mistake and it is an offer to tender which can be refused at checkout but read on for the description of my interaction and it might make a difference. You can skip all the detail if you want as marked

    >>>>skip

    I contact the chat service where the 1st rep doesn't listen and proceeds to try and complete the sale for me as if I just couldn't use the website as opposed to the price being shown to me. He proceeds to check the offers out but doesn't understand I am being offered a price on the website. He basically thinks I am misreading the advertisements on the site and the "from" price is what I am talking about. I found his language a bit flowery but misplaced. For example I am telling him it isn't a "from" price and his response was "sorry you feel that way..." and I asked him not to assume how I felt but he kept doing it. So after asking to speak to somebody else 4 times until he eventually passes me to the supervisor.

    Rep 2 Starts chatting and proceeds to explain how "from" prices work and how he is "Sorry you feel low about the price..." and "People who work here would love to get the phone at that price..." It doesn't matter that I explain it is a "for" price and the guy apparently read the earlier transcript. He offers to have the loyalty team to contact me. That was on Thursday

    Friday rep 3 talks to me and explains the current prices and that he can give me a tiny of money off for customer satisfaction but again explains "from" price. I again explain that is not the case and he says he will get a manger to ring me within 2 hours.

    Tuesday I get an email from rep 4 (not sure if they are a manager) telling me they reviewed interactions and that it had been explained to be a "from" price and there is no fault on their website. I go back to the website and try again and while the route I first went through to the phone was now gone I went another route (nothing sneaky just the advert link I used to get the price had been moved so another click was involved). Again the price I wanted came up and it is said "for" directly above it. Sent the screen shot of the first attempt to buy and the second attempt but the screens were different with one showing a price on my plan and the the other explicitly having the text "for". Now they say sorry for the miscommunication and they will back to me shortly.

    Wednesday no response from them but the website has been changed

    <><><>

    Phone advertised at a price on my plan the reps keep telling me I am misreading the website turns out they never checked. After some days and seeing the screen shot they changed the site and have yet to contact me.

    Do they have to sell at that price?

    As a good will gesture should they sell it to me at that price?



«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,612 ✭✭✭✭bucketybuck


    No. And no.



  • Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    An advertised price is essentially an "Invitation to treat" in contract law and no more op.

    Google is your friend.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Yeah I gathered they would have coverage but many companies have honoured their mistakes. I genuinely think the service I received was terrible and insulting to my intelligence. There was definitely an element of English non native speakers. I worked in a call centre for a few years and we were always careful to say " I think I understand your issue and will see what we can do" as opposed to " I understand your issue and you do not get that price" Huge difference in tone and meaning



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭walterking


    The poster answered your question without any waffle.


    Answer is simply No and No.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,782 ✭✭✭Xterminator


    OP if you feel they are insulting your intellegence and offering terrible customer service, then i would reccomend you take your business elsewhere.

    it has already been made clear that they have no legal obligation to you. I take it you accept the situation for what it is. you can take your complaint to the top and they might relent, and i would say you are within your rights to express your dissapointment at the handling of the situation.

    It seems to me if they get your money you are rewarding them with your business. the strongest card you have is to take your business elsewhere.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,565 ✭✭✭✭lawred2




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,612 ✭✭✭✭bucketybuck


    You asked two direct questions, you got the only relevant answers. Don't cry because you don't like them.

    Frankly, from your long winded OP it seems clear that every single time you contacted the company they informed you what the correct price was. You already know mistakes in advertising are not binding in law but you want to waste everyone's time looking for a loophole that suits you. They would have been better off just telling you "no" a week ago.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 497 ✭✭PalLimerick


    You just don't like the honest truth. The member although posted a short reply is right. You come across as a bit of a chancer.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 493 ✭✭wpd


    report them to advertising standards if they are a large company

    wont get you the deal but will give them a lot of fustration which it sounds they have caused you



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    I found three faults on their website that they have paid professionals to prevent. Found flaws in their customer service processes. That is worth a lot to the company. What makes me seem like a chancer? The process isn't over I am not sure if it is considered false advertisement as they were given days to address it and didn't.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,675 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    even if it is shown to be false advertising that still wont get you the phone at the price you want.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭beachhead


    a complaint to the ASAI for false advertising will earn them a little wrist slap,won't get you the phone but I would still complain.Maybe they will learn english terminology.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal



    Few problems with your example

    Saying what you say you were told to say in a call centre suggests there is an alternative, its incorrectly setting a customer expectation that they might get the thing they want or maybe a goodwill gesture.

    What you were told was correct atleast.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 320 ✭✭ThreeGreens


    Is it the case that the phone you want is available at that price, but only if you choose a more expensive monthly plan?


    That's quite common with phone offers.


    Can you post a link to the offer website?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    The point is you do not say you are sure of something unless you are. In this case the reps did not understand the issue but repeatedly told me incorrectly they did and didn't listen because they assumed the issue from the start.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    I don't know if you fully read my initial post but you may have missed the point that it explicitly said "For" on my current plan as opposed to "From" which is common in ads. You can't see the offer as it involves my personal account and phone package.

    I am pretty sure I know how the issue arose from an IT perspective. I am on an old plan that they must keep me on until I decide to change. As it involves so few customers nobody tested the pricing model against it. The old plan is been seen by the system as the same as the higher plan so offering that price. Meanwhile the checkout has a different calculation and doesn't put the displayed price into the checkout.

    It is now changed but also not showing the price they will sell at. I have actually since found several other bugs on their website. It turns out I know the head of testing in the company so I may just contact him directly to let him know.

    People make mistakes but the poor customer service without investigation has annoyed me. Their staff repeatedly told me I was wrong without looking up what I was telling them.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,548 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    I think OP you are missing another point here.

    If you were given the item at the price advertised someone would have to admit to management that they made a mistake. Then managers would want to know what went wrong. In some companies and I can think of one mobile phone company in particular it seems that everything they do is right and that they can't be wrong, so its your fault.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    I have worked in IT a long time and know how these things work very well. It really doesn't go in to a blame game as it is very rarely an individuals fault and most often down to a group decision or known risk. It may appear to be a big deal at some lower levels but it really isn't and they have budgets for mistakes and customer care issues. Generally what will happen is some new process will be brought in until somebody doesn't see the point and drops it, happens again and the process is brought back in then risen and repeat. Sometimes the underlying issue is address permanently but if it is too timely/costly they just accept the risks.

    A week is a long time to know your prices are wrong on the website to do nothing about it. From the company's point of view I guess they only knew from Tuesday but that was because their own representatives failed to investigate properly from the start.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Is it possible that the "for" price was linked to some terms and conditions, one of which may have been that to avail of the price you must also signup to a specific monthly plan and for a minimum period? Usually there is T&Cs attached to all offers including, inter alia, a specific plan and minimum contract and the specifics will be linked elsewhere on the site.

    In either case I would say the answer to your questions is 1) No and 2) No. Your options depend on how much more time you want to burn chasing a result that will not get you the price that you want.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    No it is not possible they have admitted I did not misunderstand the screen and that they assumed incorrectly I had. It is a "for" price on my plan.

    I accept that legally they don't have to honour it but I find it strange how quick people are to say no they should not do it as a good will gesture. There is a series of mistakes and bad handling they made not just the price. Having worked in customer service this is not uncommon but obviously other feel differently.

    I wouldn't be so sure I won't get the price as this is not my first time dealing with bad customer service and got the price I wanted. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. I haven't mentioned the company nor publicly done anything. I won't do anything publicly because I know people working there but companies don't like bad publicity. It boils down to huge failures in the company and an innocent customer being told they were being stupid for not understanding. It seems people think that is fine and I am just being unreasonable along with making the same claims as the company that I don't know how to read a website.

    It's been a week of failures to address the issue. Not sure why people seem so accepting



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Must be a very significant discount to waste so much time on it even if it's possible that you might be right about it! Are we talking €500, €600 discount or that region? Good luck with your crusade anyway.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,612 ✭✭✭✭bucketybuck


    I still haven't seen any bad handling, just a customer who didn't like the answer.

    "A week of failure to address the issue". It was addressed day one. You contacted them, they immediately told you the correct price, you want it to be something else so you are calling it bad service.

    The worst part of business continues to be the customers.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    It amuses me at this point. So silly to call it a crusade I am not a push over that is all. Little more than that amount Doesn't take that much time at all. Spent more time here talking about it so little effort. It is also not a discount it is the price I was/am offered. While some people get angry and upset I am not either so it is very easy just to state facts.

    They contacted me just now to effectively ask me to write up a bug report with screen shots for them. The customer service is appalling



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Sounds like you got a series of agents that weren't adequately trained in how to quickly deal with an awkward customer. They really should have been able to close you down on the initial query rather than burning time on escalating it! When the sense of entitlement is strong the scripts rarely are sufficient and that's where training kicks in!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    How was I awkward? They misunderstood because they ASSUMED I couldn't read a website and did no investigation. Ever rep did the same thing which was 4 including a manger who read and investigated everything according to them. They didn't investigate it. How would they have been able to close it down at the start?

    Who has a sense of entitlement here? Do you think it is unreasonable to ask why a price advertised is not going into the checkout basket when selected? There are a lot of people out there using phrases they don't understand



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Yes, I think that anyone that feels entitled to be provided with an item that is obviously priced too low by mistake, or otherwise, at the lower price has a sense of entitlement! A "sense of entitlement" is a simple enough phrase to understand, ie when one feels entitled to something! Are you now saying that you don't feel entitled to the item at the price and terms that you originally perceived it to be?

    Asking why the price is different is one thing. Insisting that it be honoured, or expecting that it be honoured, to me, would seem as though one feels entitled to it!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,802 ✭✭✭Doodah7


    And you wonder why staff in call centres hate their job when they have to deal with the likes of the OP on a daily basis...



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,548 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    They must hate me as well as I make a habit of making a complaint when something is wrong. The fix is simple all that the call center staff have to do is their job without condescendingly ignoring what the customer is telling them. If they can't check the voracity of the customers statement then they need to tell the customer that and to be able to escalate the issue to someone that can.

    The problem is the call center reps are screwed by their own management who often don't give them anyway of escalating a genuine issue.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    It certainly wasn't obvious it was under priced and is one of the reasons I keep the old plan that is you assuming something. The staff didn't acknowledge the price I was being shown instead said I was wrong without looking. They didn't say the website was wrong

    By your overly broad definition of "sense of entitlement" I am certainly that but your definition covers practically everything including expecting customer service listen and check what the customer is saying as opposed to just tell them they are wrong. So I am entiled but you said I was awkward without any explanation. Can you explain because what is awkward about telling a rep that they are not talking about the issue I was having while they insisted they understood?

    You have your view but are actually acting similar in that you are making up your own narrative without paying attention to what I am saying. I was extremely polite to the staff at all times they just didn't do their job and investigate the issue. Why would you excuse that?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    What do you think I did to the staff? I worked in a call centre myself and am always polite to them no matter how they are. All I ever did was report an issue and when they ignored that issue tried to explain to them that the issue they think I have is not what I was saying. Should I just agree with them?

    You see you are just assuming I am the issue when 4 different people failed to read plain English and accused me of being unable to read a website. Do you think that is my fault?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    OP is right, he is armed with "facts" therefore all of our opinions and every customer service agent is wrong. Ticket closed. Please open a fresh ticket if you have further queries.



  • Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    OP will come back triumphant.

    Samsung better watch out.



  • Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The last line is corroborated going by TWO YouTube gadget repair shops in north America.

    Irish customers are in a world of their own



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Well it certainly isn't a world where your assumptions and disregard for information make you right. You joined this thread with the same assumption as the reps because your first thought was I misread the website. You and the reps were wrong there is no debate on that fact. Maybe you can explain why your first reaction to me was that I didn't know how to read a website after me explaining clearly that was not the case? You accuse me of being entitled but what would you call yourself for disregard to the information given to you and assuming something else?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    I asked you a question as my first reaction, that is not an assumption. The fact that you believe that a question is an assumption would now lead me to believe that your comprehension of a situation isn't to be relied upon 100%... that is an assumption, for the record, based on the evidence that you've presented.

    I then provided my opinion in answer to both of your questions. In no case would my answer to both questions change regardless of the "facts" that you presented and my answer was not based upon any assumption or pre-empting your answer to my question. I don't think you should ever be entitled to the lower price based on the company's mistake on the website nor do I believe they should offer it as a gesture of goodwill, even if in fact the website was the issue rather than your own interpretation of the terms.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Why did you disregard what I stated in the first place? That shows your comprehension is the issue not mine.

    Why ask a question already stated? Well there is no point in discussing it further with you as you made up your own views regardless of facts as you stated.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    At no point did you specify in your post whether any T&Cs were referenced anywhere in the page. I find it hard to believe that you dealt with any reputable retailer that did not link to a cafefully worded T&C page that would caveat a price so hence why I asked the question! If a price states "for €999" but there is a link somewhere on that page to a T&C page that states prices may vary at checkout based on factors such as the plan chosen then that is in effect a from price and has been clearly stated as such. That was my question, not an assumption. But in general, the main problem is becoming more obvious the longer I interact with you.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Yes you made that assumption and still making it. I told everyone that the price was with my plan selected. There are no such terms and conditions about the price changing at checkout. I have clearly stated a "for" price yet you seem confused, the company acknowledges it is a "for" price but you in your arrogance and assumptions want to keep asking a question that was answered before you even asked. Maybe you should go work there you would fit right in. You aren't adding anything here.

    You are not a rep there currently so I have no need to put up with you not reading the information and making claims that you don't know. Don't believe me, have your own opinions, wildly speculate and insult me some more in your sly way but it really means nothing to me. I will do as I please and you go on your merry way



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    That's an assumption right there! How do you know that I don't work there and haven't been reviewing your case notes? Not many people in a similar situation or attitude to yourself on that small island!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Yes because that would be very clever on a public forum discussing a very specific and pedantic issue and all opinions expressed are solely my own without misreprenting anyone else.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Poor trolling is really what it is. Again why would you be asking these questions if you know the answers already? You had your fun but don't worry about it for now I'll post an update later



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Yes I know the answer and I know the T&Cs and the general law is not in your favour for getting the fully reduced price. A reduced price on the higher plan is not a reduced price but the purchase price deferred across the life of the contract so therefore you're unreasonbly asking the business to take a loss based your intrepretation of how their system should work since it didn't suit you when you saw the final price displayed to form the contract. You'll need to pin your hopes on grinding someone down to get a favourable result more out of appeasement than anything else.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer



    Well I am sure people will be delighted to hear that I am getting the phone at the price they advertised to me



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    So you know i didn't have to grind anybody down they accepted their mistakes and apologized. Now I will say they are giing it in the form of credit against my account instead of directly off the phone. This is better for me as the phone cost is tax deductible but only part of the bill is but this way my complete bill is being written off so the phone only ends up costing me €150 as opposed to the retail price €1500 on bill pay.

    Seems worth my time after all



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,548 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    Noticeable silence here once the company agreed with you.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,523 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Yeah noticed that. I mean I just could read a website was what I was being told




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 440 ✭✭antfin


    Fair play! I still wouldn't be putting in that much effort a few hundred € saving but each to their own.



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