[PRICE ERROR] Asus Eee Slate Ep121 Windows 7 Tablet - $122 Harvey Norman
Moved to Forum: Original Link
Found this whilst browsing the site. It seems a lot cheaper than all other retailers so it seems like a good deal.
Comments
+1 voteWell stated greenpossum, fully agree. Harvey Norman is not a small organization yet they seem to skimp on some of the more important parts of infrastructure that it almost makes them seem like a backyard operation.
In fact a backyard operator knows his customer is the most important part of his business so he looks after each and every one of them.
Harvey’s made a big mistake in alienating the customer, by calling them opportunistic Professionals rather than making an unequivocal apology for their error.
Not much we can do about this guys. If you're still angry then either speak up with your wallets and never purchase from them again or make a serious complaint through the proper channels (which is obviously not Ozbargain).
I got my money back. Still not satisfied but will make sure to avoid shopping at HN unless I absolutely have to (will try to price-match etc first).
+1 votecoin saver on 05/01/2013 - 07:33 ¶Seems to me Gerry Norman should keep this quote visible on his desk and in his staff rooms.
“There is only one boss. The customer, and he/she can fire everyone in the company, from the Chairman down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”
Sam Walton (1918-92), founder of Walmart
+19 votesAustralia…
quickly turning into the land of softc***s and whingers…
I don't know why you are all so adamant on getting a personal apology from HN/Gerry Harvey.
The rep here said sorry, their fault 100%. Good enough… move on…In the real world you don't always get an apology.
Maybe you should also apologise for trying to exploit this "deal"…
At the end of the day -
you took an opportunistic chance, you lost out, you are back to square 1 (or will be if money not refunded yet).
Nothing lost, nothing gained.
If your finances are now tight because of this, maybe find a better way to spend your $120.and before people start screaming "REP REP", I am no fan of HN, I just hate whingers (including Gerry Harvey)
HandsomeMonkey on 05/01/2013 - 10:23 ¶True, you will receive your refund eventually after a few emails and calls to the customer service hotline. Not a big deal.
The last time I shopped at HN was when they had the $39 new games sale. I ordered 2 game but was able to pick one up. HN called and ask if I wanted another game or get a refund. I chose refund. 3 weeks afte still no refund. So I called and emailed and complained and to my surprised the refund was put back into my credit card in 2 days.
It takes only 48hours to get a refund, I think HN employees was just lazy to refund $39 since it was only a small purchase. Just sayingBTW DSE is another department store I gave up on. Zavvi, Ozgameshop and eBay FTW :)
+1 voteif you knowning purchase something that is priced in error (in some cases some people bought 2 or 3 of them too) that is pretty much exploitation.
That is not to say everyone that bought knew it was priced in error, but there were many who did.
PS: i personally would have loved to have bought one and exploited the deal, like every good ozbargainer, but i certainly wouldn't whine if didnt get the product, so long as i get a refund.
+1 votegreenpossum on 07/01/2013 - 16:19 ¶Hardly. All online merchants are protected against exploitation by their T&C so there was never any chance of that. The shopper is not obliged to check if the price is wrong or not. The price tag is an invitation to treat and the merchant is at liberty to reject the offer. No way it is exploitation when the possibility never existed.
As for the conundrum whether you are committing exploitation if you think you are even though you are really not, you should ask a philosopher.
+2 votesNot that JB are that much better. I once asked if I could get a price match on something and the hipster salesperson literally kept saying 'why, why, why, why,' (I assume because the price was very low) before I just said don't worry about it and left. A simple no would've sufficed.
+4 votesAlso remember that HN was there supporting your community with a retail outlet for a long time before jb HiFi decided it was financially profitable to open a shop in your area.
It's like how people in rural areas bitch about having to be with Telstra and how Telstra are so expensive.
The reason they have to be with Telstra is because optus and other providers don't value their business enough (e.g. their profit would be in the negative) if they were to install mobile towers in their area.
FYI, I am not related to Telstra either.
+2 votessensible because they help community by selling stuff to consumers? ( i think they are there to make money not help community, Mr Harvey himself said he doesn't believe in charity.) or
That Mr. harvey can call his customers whatever he wants(based on him assumptions?) and not expecting any sort of backlash, after all he did the same in the past to Coles Myer? or
That a 50% price error is morally fine compare to 90%? or
That HN have the right to take the money and send a rejection letter after the money taken out? when they could have not take the money out in the first place? or
That there is no need for HN to improve their systems and procedures to avoid mistakes like this from happening in the future? and stuff the consumers, just let the big corporation get their ways?
tell me which one is sensible again? i must be out of touch with reality. LOL
psychtracker on 08/01/2013 - 03:12 ¶re: years of HN 'supporting our communities'. That's debatable. What about the hundreds (if not thousands) of 'nan and pop' hi-fi, computer, electronic & furniture stores etc.. around Australia, that supported our communities before they could no longer afford to compete against the 'buying power' of the greedy corporate driven capitalistic chain stores ala HN.
- +2 votes
Would a community be better off without a shop selling them goods? Would a community be better off if a supermarket didn't exist in it?
If you happily live in a capitlisitic world, you shouldn't be too unhappy if you live in a small community with a big retailer willing to open a shop nearby.
Sure in recent years (maybe this year and last) the internet has made a lot of retailers seem like theifs in their pricing.
But for decades before that, buying from these retailers were normal. And they are NORMAL. They pay rent, they develop their shops, they hire locals to work there, they pay tax (IN AUSTRALIA).
HN, etc etc etc, have a huge challenge ahead of them to lift their game, but lets not get too hot headed about what we now know coz of the internet and forget 10/20/40 years of prior business before that.
I think thats what i read from modokuns comment, which is an angle i didn't see before.
- +1 vote
now this has enetered the land of the silly talk!
maybe some people have to much time, and troll around forums to find something to argue about something that haven't effected them.
cloudy: "Would a community be better off without a shop selling them goods? Would a community be better off if a supermarket didn't exist in it?"
who are you replying to? because last i read that's not what psychtracker is saying.
cloudy: "If you happily live in a capitalistic world, you shouldn't be too unhappy if you live in a small community with a big retailer willing to open a shop nearby."
it's not a matter of happy or not is it. like it or not we live in that world. we just have to make do of where we live.
we do live in a capitalistic and selfish world, and why do you think the economy is in the brink of a crash? people are too greedy, without regards for others and the impact on the economy.
but that's not HN fault, and I have no problem with HN business model, they are there to make money, not charity, but i can tell you for sure, big businesses are not there to help community just their shareholders. i can get more in depth but this is not the topic of this thread.
Modokun, the small online shops and overseas shops are undercutting HN now, they are complaining now. requesting governmental changes. :) Mr. Harvey have a habit doesn't he. :):)
- -2 votes
Our country has a AAA credit rating and has avoided the GFC better than pretty much every country on earth. brink of collapse? hardly.
I would prefer if online purchases included GST. One of the greatest privileges I have as an Australian is to pay taxes and live in a society that continues to function because of them. Want to see what happens to a country where everyone dodges tax, take a look at Greece.
Are you talking about, AAA credit rating from Moody's and Standard & Poor's? the guys who have NYSE stock code? and have shareholders? and get paid to give a credit rating? and the ones who give credit rating to Lehman Brothers amongst others who went bankrupt, weeks after a AAA rating is given, during the GFC? are they the ones? ;)
don't miss the point here, it is not about paying taxes, the point is don't cry wolf.
uncool: who are you replying to? because last i read that's not what psychtracker is saying.
you
uncool: why do you think the economy is in the brink of a crash?
i dont think its on the brink of a crash, not sure where this came from.
uncool: overseas shops are undercutting HN now
correct. I am chinese and i love the fact my brothers in china are making a mint, but the fact is retailing in australia employees many here, pays tax here, rent our retail space etc. This is all due to regulation (GST, min wage, OH&S) that aussie retailers abide by, that overseas shops don't.
But hey, let me put this out there, i love getting paid 80k a year and buying stuff like im in a 2nd world country.
if you read the sentence clearly, i was saying the "world". are you saying Australia is far from immune?
me too brother, lol, I'm happy for you, that you are getting more the average wage. i wont brag about what i earn, but i run a business too, so i follow those guidelines, and when did i say they (HN on this case) should charge cheaper than what they already charging for their goods?
I'm starting to think i should not take any of your comments seriously.
GreenGuava on 06/01/2013 - 17:57 ¶Well, given that no one is going to be receiving slates from HN for $122, if you're not short any money then there's really nothing more to worry is there?
- -1 vote
Modokun You said in an earlier thread…
I don't understand why people were offended that he called you professionals.
—————- If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck…—————- My reply Modokun - is you look like a rep, you sound like a rep & many here including myself called you a rep, but you don't like being called a rep, why?
- -1 vote
As always your defence seems to include ridicule so you miss the point, you got tired of defending yourself from claims that you are a rep, and again you have just defended yourself with your reply. Why not suck it up? maybe because you feel its untrue.
I am also tired of those who maintain that we should just suck it up, and not take offence at Mr Harvey's comment that we are "professionals" and we took advantage of him.
+1 voteonebutters on 07/01/2013 - 22:25 ¶I saw this post when it first came out and just went through some of the fallout on this thread. Doesn't matter how poorly HN handled it because the brand already has a trashy reputation on this website that can't go any lower. And because this is a bargain website, members will still grab the amazing bargains that they seldom offer (like the $500 ultrabook cashback) with one hand and continue to slap HN for past (and future) transgressions with the other.
At the end of the day, the complaining OzBers would still come crawling back for a bona fide bargain as if nothing had happened and if it turns out too good to be true again then the cycle repeats LOL!
- +5 votesstargalaxy on 07/01/2013 - 23:51 ¶
Sorry, I will never buy from HN online ever again no matter how good the bargain is, however, if the bargain is in store, then I will buy because then they cannot claim it is a price error.
- +5 votes
im not sure why there is such a huge sense of entitlement to a bargain, if its a pricing error, you shouldn't expect to get it.
It wasn't long ago that HN had 50% itunes cards, and all I see here is the rush to get it and at the same time bag the organisation that sold it to them.
Gerry Harvey speaks like an idiot, but lets not forget most of the stores are run by franchises whom i can only imagine are just normal as everyone else, who runs a store and trys to sell goods.
The guy who accidently clicked the wrong price for the tablet wasn't Gerry (he probably sits on his butt watching tv all day), he is probably just another average employee who screwed up, as we all do from time to time.
lets not scoop to the level of GH and accuse people of deliberate mispricing to 'lure' people in store.
- onebutters on 08/01/2013 - 11:45 ¶
Fair enough but I doubt you draw a distinction between the online store and physical stores when it comes to criticising HN. You will still take with one hand while slapping with the other unless you would like to prove me wrong.
Agree mostly with what cloudy says below. The pricing error was a rookie mistake and many people have already suggested failsafes. HN has an opportunity to do something about the constructive (and vitriolic) criticism so for their sake hopefully they are doing something about it other than backhandedly apologising.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sans-souci/other-electronics-...
WTF??? did some of the units ship?
- onebutters on 08/01/2013 - 14:03 ¶
You seem to have made a leap to conclusion. Nowhere does it say that the seller bought it from the [fake] HN deal.
- greenpossum on 10/01/2013 - 12:12 ¶
Exactly the same as mine, except for the last paragraph. Mine reads:
The ACCC does not offer an individual dispute resolution service. However your local fair trading office or consumer affairs agency may be able to help you if you cannot get a refund from Harvey Norman. These agencies also administer the ACL, and are better placed to assist consumers resolve disputes with suppliers.
where yours reads:
Finally, the ACL does not define whether or not you can force a business to complete such a transaction. Whether Harvey Norman are obligated to supply you will depend upon the circumstances of the offer, and you may need to seek legal advice on your rights in this situation.
That would probably be because I complained about learning about the rejection from here from FB, which I felt was unprofessional. LOL!
As an aside, people can read what they want to hear in the paragraphs, but my take is don't place much hope on any resolution than what has already eventuated. What I would like to see in future is clarification on what is a reasonable maximum time for issuing a refund. Especially in these days of rapid online transactions.
- stargalaxy on 09/01/2013 - 22:47 ¶
I support the benchmark of 2000 comments, so this is my contribution.
joannatan on 12/01/2013 - 21:54 Comment score below threshold (-5).- joannatan on 13/01/2013 - 20:33 Comment score below threshold (-4).
HN Professional on 06/02/2013 - 04:18 ¶[firstly, sorry for bringing this nightmare back & for the TL;DR]
Sooooo….
Anyone else not get their refunds back yet? Would appreciate any advice from those involved in the transaction and/or constructive people (eg. <b>greenpossum</b>) Harvey Norman shills need not apply (eg. Gerry Love Child No. 1 Modokun).
1) I didn't scream and shout when Harvey Norman sent me the "you're not getting what you paid for" mail 5 days after they took my money: it was Christmas Season, have a heart (i just want my money back)
2) I didn't scream and shout to demand Harvey Norman honour their offer: mistakes happen, although…it does seem peculiar that they didn't pull the offer in a timely fashion, thereby sucke, er, attracting many more customers to their coffers and database (I just want my money back)
3) I didn't scream and shout when said mail dishonestly stated "Your refund will be automatically processed with(sic) the next 1-2 business days.": given their enormous FUBAR, I expected them to be besieged by rightfully irate customers (I. Just. Want. My. Money. Back)
4) I didn't scream and shout when Gerry Harvey played the victim in the media again, not only dishonestly making it look as though the transactions went through, at a loss to his company (Tony Hsieh, he ain't), but labelling his customers akin to con artists who dared to befoul his store: Gerry has always been a self-pitying cantankerous old bastard; Katie, on the other hand, is quite personable…(I JUST WANT MY MONEY BACK)
but 42 days in (43 according to my HN statement - not only does Gerry want to hobble overseas purchases, he can apparently make purchases travel back in time too), this is beyond the pale. Should I raise a dispute in Paypal (& risk his rep trying to fob off the "Administrative Charges" to Paypal eg. to <b>shaw</b> on Page 20) or contact the laughably named "Customer First Team"? The way I see it, I have a rapidly closing window of 3 (or 2) days. Disclosure: I ordered 2, 1 for me, 1 for my sister (as a birthday gift that will never come).
BTW, is there anyway to Yay or Nay without turning on Javascript? I'm paranoid given the recent Java news. Thank you in advance. (I JUST WANT MY DAMNED MONEY BACK NOW!)
+1 voteOpen a paypal dispute, I only got my refund after the paypal claim, HN CS are too lame to reply, and there are structural problems with their finance and CS, I received a refund confirmation from them, but the refund never happened, I have to lodge a paypal dispute then upgrade to claim to get my money back, even it was only $1.98. Anyway I ordered 5 things (2 tablets) on boxing day,but HN deliveried nothing, I have to using paypal dispute to get all the refund.
- HN Professional on 06/02/2013 - 19:21 ¶
Thanks for your replies, OBs.
r3volt - you're right. After my initial post, I e-mailed a letter to HN and politely asked what steps I should take to get my refund. A few hours later, got e-mails from both Paypal and HN saying a refund was on its way (no "Admin" fees charged, unlike 'shaw''s). A bit peeved tho' that I had to bring it up while they had it for so long; in these days of e-transactions (no matter what Modokun screeches) - what kind of business is this where the customer has to do an 'Oliver Twist' for his own money back due to a mistake of HN's making? No matter…so I jus thought, "Happy Happy Joy Joy!"…until I read…
couger - 's post :o
Sure enough, I got the shady "While we are sorry to hear that the purchased goods were not suitable for you, we would like to thank you for your business and look forward to future transactions with you" refund confirmation, but that doesn't guarantee anything, as evidenced by their first "1-2 business days" letter. Grasping at straws, checked my Paypal and Credit Card accounts just in case…nup, nada, zilch. <cue record scratch>Tas - hmmm…might have to check it out (you make it sound intriguing). My M.O. lately has been to change channels or Mute the sound in disgust every time Shouty HN ads come on. Sigh…until then, the long wait continues for this poor bugger.
Thanks again.
- HN Professional on 07/02/2013 - 16:35 ¶
Aye, Tas, I may have just seen it - am not sure, as I was cooking at the time and paying it the attention any HN ad deserves (scant). LOL, mebbe Katie has had a sharp dig into Gerry's ribs to shut up, or mebbe the HN team have taken a leaf out of Modokun's Community Benevolence BS to churn out this 'folksy' ad.
Meanwhile, my refund…hahaha, I'm starting to feel like Robert Neville.
"Prior to throwing up.." :D XD
- HN Professional on 10/02/2013 - 02:48 ¶
Thanks, Tas. Hope I'm the last cursed soul in this disgraceful mess, and let the thread die a dignified death…
although…
can't help but think this should be Sticky'ed as a testament and warning to future unfortunates who would think of stepping into the murky swamp of Harvey Norman's e-commerce. Hmmm…mebbe that's what I'll do if I spot any future HN online offers - just post a link to this thread. Don't suppose it'll be too popular (will probably go down like that "Ol' Gil" from The Simpsons schtick) but it has to be done. Remind Ozbargainers of the contempt with which Gerry views his customers. AND more importantly, the quagmire you're left in when HN messes up.
- HN Professional on 10/02/2013 - 14:39 ¶
Hmm…can't add to/edit post after a certain time, it seems.
Yabba dabba doo! What's mine is now FINALLY back in my hands instead of in Gerry's evil claws. Thanks. Only took like forever in retail-land measurements.
Also, for some reason, can finally vote on comments. Thanks, r3volt, couger and Tas.
LOL, minor aside: when I tried to transfer my (full amount, no 'fees' charged) money from my linked Mastercard back into my bank account, CBA tells me (paraphrase), "This will be counted as a cash advance, you will be charged fees". Haha :-), no matter, left it in there, I'm sure it'll be used up soon enough since I'm now a member of Ozbargain. NEVER EVER on HN online tho'!! >:-(
- HN Professional on 23/02/2013 - 14:05 ¶
Harvey Norman, Still "Winning!" aka Insult Upon Insult
On Friday 22/2/13 12:08pm, got e-mail cheerfully stating (paraphrase) "Thanks for subscribing to Harvey Norman, here's a $5 Discount! (minimum $25 purchase)" - I have never subscribed to HN. I did, however go thru the unpleasant Customer First service of HN in the ASUS Slate shenanigans in this thread. As this was the first, only AND FINAL TIME I dealt with HN online, I can only surmise that our suspicions were right.
On Friday 22/2/13 9:28pm, e-mail stating "We Apologise for our Earlier E-mail", (paraphrase) "We realise you haven't signed up but hey, sign up anyway!", (more paraphrase) "We take our very customer service very seriously…" (riiigghhtt…as this episode and the previous one demonstrates so aptly)
I realise there's a thread about this here http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/94577 but they can both co-exist because the problem originated here.
I've never shorted a stock in my entire life and especially not of Aussie businesses but I have never ever wanted a business to fail so badly as I do HN. Just <MOD removed foul language> off, Gerry!
- HN Professional on 24/02/2013 - 00:03 ¶
Sorry mod <sheepish grin> Evidently, I haven't read T & C and didn't know obscenities not tolerated. Apologies again!
i didn;t get the earlier email but i got the below email
http://www.elabs12.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=55683...
-
Shlomo Scheinbaum on 26/12/2012 - 18:08
-
mrdevil on 26/12/2012 - 02:39
-
meetspin on 26/12/2012 - 09:40
-
HD on 26/12/2012 - 02:37
-
MMM on 29/12/2012 - 04:59
- Login or Register to Join The Conversation
- Top Comments
3
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/89032?page=19#comment-11890...
Modokun on 05/01/2013 - 10:59
I don't understand why people were offended that he called you professionals.
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck…
Then he's called "Gerry". lol _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ +1000 votes