Originally posted by Lukinosity This may not be a popular answer, but sometimes it makes no sense to match a price. Some stores will sell items at a loss to discontinue them and just be done with them. If the other seller (Henry's in this case) doesn't plan on discontinuing the item (i.e. - they actually sell it for the price it is supposed to sell for) what would their reason be for selling it to you for a loss? That maybe "in the future" this customer who shops all over for the lowest price decides to maybe buy something else?
Sorry, I own a small business and give discounts pretty often to regulars (usually without being asked). But the scavenger bargain hunter is best served by the online retailer. It's not a value judgment. Many things I want the lowest price on and I shop around. Other things, I'd rather pay retail (or just under) and let the retailer make some money so they stay in business and I have a place to buy stuff in person in the future.
I don't understand the beef anyway. Why not just buy from the advertised lowest price? Or was it a misprint or sold out?
I've been the manager of various retail stores for the last 15+ years and I think in this case it is to do with their advertised price match policy.
I completely agree that sometimes it may not make sense (in the short term) for a retailer to match a price, but they do have an advertised policy to do so. In this case it is not like the OP is just asking for a discount...they are asking the store to honour their own advertised policy. Maybe the OP doesn't "shop all over" for price every time, maybe he prefers the store location, range, past experience etc...there could be many reasons why they have chosen to request the store provide the price match (again, as per their own policy).
As mentioned, may well have been a sales person not wanting to drop commision. I think the best/only course of action to get the result would be to have spoken to the manager on the day and asked them to bring up their policy on their website and ask them to explain why they would not honour it.
Many retailers here in Australia have taken to advertising "Lowest Price Guaranteed" or "Price Match" offers. If this is a company policy and some one calls them on it...the company has to eat the loss or know they are damaging their brand name and goodwill. That's the reason to sell at a loss...honour their own ad, create goodwill and repeat custom (impress with service).
Sorry if a little "ranty"...just having worked in this environment for a while I feel it important that companies live up to their own advertising.
Cheers
Dean