Price matching was discussed briefly he



I understand the tactics, and they are used in all industries; tires,
electronics, carpeting, tools, etc.

I thought I'd chime in with my recent experience at BestBuy (BB), in which
the manager confirmed their deceptive tactics.

Back in November, I had to get a desktop for a relative. I checked out
nearby BB and found a Dell that would do. I also checked Dell online. Dell
had a Black Friday 'week' on certain desktops, and the EXACT same model, with
the EXACT same specs., and the EXACT same color, was $120 less from Dell.

The webpage upon which BB listed this EXACT same Dell desktop has a link to
"$ PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE", as they do on every webpage. Clicking on the link
gives you this (crap), which still sounds good if you want to price match:

*********
"Best Buy is dedicated to always offering the best value to our customers. We
will match the price, at the time of purchase, on a Price Match Guarantee
product if you find the same item at a lower price at a Designated Major
Online Retailer or at a local retail competitor's store.
Here's how:•If you find a qualifying lower price online, call 1-888-BEST BUY
and direct a customer service agent to the web site with the lower price, or
when visiting a Best Buy store, one of our employees will assist you.
•On qualifying products, Best Buy will then verify the current price to
complete the price match.

Exclusions apply including, but not limited to, Competitors' service prices,
special daily or hourly sales, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through
the Monday after Thanksgiving. See the list of Designated Major Online
Retailers and full details."
**********

The list of Designated Major Online Retailers includes Dell. But, there is
more qualifying required:

BULLSHIIT BEGINS HERE
+++++++++++++++
"What Qualifies?

Your product may be eligible for price matching if it is:

Identical to the competitor's product.

The product must be a matching brand, model number and color to qualify."
+++++++++++++++

The Dell model number was 1234-5678-B, and the BB model number was 1234-5678-
Blk. Me thinks, ok, both are black in color. I'll try the price matching at
BB, and if for any reason they won't price match, I'll just order from Dell.
Makes no difference to me. I printed out Dell's page and went to BB.

A 'BB guest consultant' said sure, we can price match that Dell desktop. He
looked it up on the Dell site to verify the price, and then rang it up on his
register at BB's full price, and then a credit of $120 to price match Dell's
price. Because the discount was greater than $100, he had to get BB
Management Approval. Dun dah don dun.

The conversation between him and me went something like this:

BB:
Hello, Boris, thanks for coming in today. What can I do for you?

Me:
Well, I just wanted to price match Dell's price on this desktop.

BB:
Of course. I can do that for you. Let me just see what we have here.

Me:
Great. (Wondering if this will go through.)

BB:
That's a nice computer. It also comes with a free subscription to Webroot
Secure Anywhere worth $49.99, which can be used on up to three devices. If
you'd like, we can set it all up for you.

Me:
No, but thanks for asking. I like to do all that.

BB:
I understand. Oh, you know, I see that that particular computer is a
different model number than the Dell model number. I'm afraid we can't price
match.

Me:
But the specs. are EXACTLY the same, and so is the color.

BB:
Yes, that's true. The computer is EXACTLY the same model, but our model
number ends in Blk, and Dell's model number ends in B. That means we can't
price match. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Me:
So, you can't price match, even though it's the EXACT same specs, and the
EXACT same model, and the EXACT same color, but BB just added 'lk' to Dell's
'B'? I sense BB never had any intention to price match on this item, even
though you clearly have "$ PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE" indicated on the same page
as this particular desktop..

BB:
I'm afraid the model number has to be EXACTLY the same. There's nothing I
can do.

Me:
Well, since "$ PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE" is on every BB page, what do you price
match on? Anything?

BB:
We price match on less expensive items, like flash drives and mice.

Me:
So, if I wanted to price match on a washing machine or a TV, you wouldn't do
it?

BB:
We'd have to look at each individual item when you come in. But we always
add a character to our manufacturer's model numbers.

Me:
That pretty sleazy, deceptive, and unethical of you.

BB:
It's not my policy. It's BB's policy.

Me:
Then BB is pretty sleazy, deceptive, and unethical, aren't they?

BB:
(Silence)

Me:
I guess you can't say anything. Thanks, but I'll just order from Dell.

BB:
(Angrily) I will price match this one time only.

Me:
Fine. Sorry if I caused you any inconvenience.


I later wished I had not accepted the price match, based on principle, and
just gone to Dell. But what's done is done.

BB is my last resort of places to do business. Always has been. Office
Depot is two blocks from BB, and I usuall go there. I've prioe matched there
without issue, and they bend over backwards to match prices.