JB HiFi refusing to price match to Microsoft Australia

Lazsportza on 26/12/2018 - 10:55

Attempted to match price this Bose Soundlink Micro speaker at JB HiFi (Macarthur Square) this morning against Microsoft Australia.

Microsoft Australia: $89 (Discounted $60)
JB HiFi: $149

I was given the following reasons why they refused to match the offer:

  1. www.microsoft.com/en-au/ - Is not an Australian website (staff clearly don't know how the internet works)
  2. Microsoft does not have a physical store in Australia (Despite their flagship store being in Westfield Sydney, PItt Street Mall)
  3. JB HiFi's own staff pricing is only as low as $120 for the same product (weak excuse)

I spoke with 3 different staff members and a manger who all shut down the price match, despite their policy stating they enthusiastically match prices.

Is this a general problem with JB HiFi were they don't recognise Microsoft Australia as a competitor?

Of course, I told them they lost the sale and then purchased through Microsoft directly.

General Discussion

Related Stores

JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi

Comments

  • bmerigan on 28/12/2018 - 09:20
    +1

    I'm not a fan of price matching anyway, give the sale to the business that deserves it by posting the best price in the first place

    • lord henry on 28/12/2018 - 17:44
      +1

      Price matching is anti-competitive.
      Why try to undercut your competitor if they are only going to take the sales anyway with price-matching - while the competitor can also charge more for the same item from people who don't shop around? So it is a disincentive for other businesses to discount.
      Then if everyone takes the strategy that they have high ticket prices and price matching, then everyone ends up paying more.

      TLDR: you should reward the business with the lowest price - because that in turn incentivises other businesses to actually compete on price and not hide behind price matching policies.

      • Ragnarok1983 on 28/12/2018 - 19:00
        -2

        No it's not, price following a competitor is perfectly acceptable.

  • antmcbane on 28/12/2018 - 11:43
    +3

    Edit: Rather than a direct reply to OP this comment was meant to be more of a reply to the thread.

    Start buying from the retailers that offer the best price - vote with your feet.

    I'll be honest with you, don't take it personally. I worked in JB sales for a time.
    On most days, I'd spend the time with the customers and give them price matches etc to their hearts content.

    But, your price match is not worth my time on boxing day. I'm not making money - everybody is worked off their feet. In the hifi, computers and telco sections I have several customers after high-ips, high value purchases standing around waiting to be served.

    The commission structure (used to be, don't know if it still is) such that every second I spent on a customer with a price match below "cost" was effectively working at minimum wage.
    When you've got sales guys there who it hurts their KPI's (and their managers'), and don't get any financial incentive for doing it - what's their incentive?

    Complaining to head office - Yes I'm sure they'll make it good for you but don't forget they are the ones who set up the wage/incentive structure that the stores work under in the first place.

  • FrugalDealHunter on 28/12/2018 - 15:10
    +1

    I avoid JB all together if possible because of shitty experiences. Their price matching policy is so inconsistent it's not worth the time/effort.

  • Kthanks on 28/12/2018 - 15:33

    I feel like people need to understand that the employee's in the store don't write the rules. They are given procedures and protocols to follow and while sometimes they may not give the most accurate reason as to why they can't do what you're demanding, but the fact is they can't do it. Going in on the busiest day of the entire year which is also a public holiday (meaning they cant just make some calls or send some emails) means that yeah, they're going to have to pick their battles.
    Microsoft have the right to price their product how they like, however retailers buy it for a price and by selling it under cost, its not worth the battle!

  • Donatello on 28/12/2018 - 21:12
    +1

    So according to ex-JB employees, it's best to e-mail JB Head office to lodge a complaint?

  • Repi on 28/12/2018 - 22:09
    +2

    You find a good deal, then you run around to price match before wasting your time complaining your try didn't work. Everything OK?

    • Donatello on 28/12/2018 - 22:23

      Just curious that's all. I just want to know the process. ;)

  • CalamansiTree on 28/12/2018 - 23:53

    isn't price match only for brick and mortar?

  • bbourizk on 29/12/2018 - 11:55

    I had Elizabeth Street camera store match digidirect on two lenses and even gave me a better price. I had some vouchers to use so would led out well.

  • Sttk on 29/12/2018 - 12:48

    Tried to price match The Division at JB Southland once after seeing a post on here that someone did successfully price match there and they said no.

  • Adz81 on 29/12/2018 - 17:44
    -2

    FFS. Who cares?
    Bitching about price matching is ridiculous.
    Don't ask for it and support the store offering the best first up.

  • chaseliu913 on 29/12/2018 - 23:00
    +1

    they never do, I've asked their staff many times, always got rejected.

  • watwatwat on 18/01/2019 - 21:52

    I emailed asking if they'd price match amazon australia, got to some nsw manager who wouldn't confirm anything and would only speak to me further over the phone. Very dodgy practices of smoke and mirrors.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2019 - 22:10

    Leave a review on Google about the store

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join