Flogging a Dead Horse: JB Hi Fi's Price Match Policy

This topic seems done to death, but I expanded my understanding today, and I thought I'd jump on to share my thoughts.

Needed some new in ear headphones with an in-line microphone to replace my old broken pair today and came across a deal for Sol Republic In-Ears — buy 2 for $69 at JB Hi Fi Town Hall — individual price being $49.99.

During my Google Search for reviews, I noted that Dick Smith was doing the headphones for $30.20 + Delivery on their website as part of one of their 24 hour flash deals.

My previous OzBargain experience has been filled with reports of people being told "JB Hi Fi does not match online stores, online sales and does not negotiate with terrorists" so I didn't like my chances to match even the Online Price plus shipping (about $8 for a $38.20 total). As I waited in line behind somebody who was selfishly hogging the service counter with their botched pre-order, I expanded my search to JB's website in hopes of finding their matching policy. No joy — which further hampered my confidence.

However, further up the line there was a laminated sheet that contained their "pricing promise" — here's my impeccable camera work. While there's no real clear mention of "we don't match online stores", I note there's a promise that they will:

"In rare circumstances JB Hi-Fi may not be able to match a competitor's deal or price. In these circumstances we will respond with the best possible negotiated JB Hi-Fi Price …. subject to their "fair play rationale".

So after getting turned away immediately at the counter for refusing to price match the headphones on the grounds that "we don't price match online stores", I just went back to the team member in Audio/Cameras and showed him the Dick Smith Price, the delivery cost and asked him to negotiate. He immediately marked it down $14.99 to $35.00 — cheaper than the Dick Smith sale price and by far the cheapest price online.

So it seems rather than offering a price match promise, JB Hi-Fi is just offering a platform for "market comparable based haggling".

I don't know how much help this is going to be for everybody out there, but it has definitely clarified how I'll approach JB Hi Fi with any OzBargain deals I hope to "price match".


TLDR; Instead of asking for a price match at JB Hi Fi, just "negotiate" a similar/cheaper price than the deal you intend to match.

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Comments

  • +1

    That's pretty much how my experience with them has been. I normally walk in with the cheapest price in mind, and ask them what the best deal they can do is. If the price they come up with is higher than the cheapest, just say something along the lines of "Nah, It's not quite as cheap as I'd hoped, I've found it cheaper at store here"

    Nine times out of ten, they'll at least match the price, if they can. (Sometimes you'll get the "I wish we could do it that cheap", which is when you know you're not going to get the price out of them.)

  • +2

    Nice idea :) That's the salesperson just wanting an easy sale, vs the person at the counter not being paid commission or target bonuses :)

    • That's exactly right, sales person didn't even give it a second thought. But that may also be attributed to the "You're annoying me and I want you gone" reasoning.

      • Likely just 'easy sale, easy extra number'. Hate to think how much they go through, running through different models, only for the person to walk away or price beat you elsewhere!

  • Yeah, the crew in their individual departments are usually much more willing than if you go to the counter. Last time I priced matched my camera from them, the person told me that it was close to their buy price but would be able to do it. (price matched Ryda.com.au)

    You have better chance of getting a better deal if you go to the department and negotiate there.

    • Same with me. I bought a RX100 MK3 last year. The guy walking around with a PDA gave me a extra 10% off (it was partly because I had been waiting for someone for a good 20 minutes).

  • Yeah, it is pretty self explanatory these days that businesses aren't going to price match if they are going to lose a lot of money on the product. Taking any tactic to get an iPhone at 20 or 30% off etc with any business isn't going to yield a result (for example).

  • Generally JB do price match for me

  • Does JB price match (discounted at time of sale, not an advertised price) its own stores if they're from different states?

  • As I waited in line behind somebody who was selfishly hogging the service counter with their botched pre-order

    I don't know why you added that in how is it selfish if JB made the mistake with their preorder? did you expect him to move out of the way so you could price match?

    • Absolutely. There should be a line for people who've got their lives together and a line for people who are living in a daily shambles.
      As well as a line for people who can't identify joking sarcasm. Wait, no, they can join the shambles line.

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