Difference refunded if a price is reduced immediately after purchase?

[Mattk]

I bought a TV from Play to find it was then reduced by £10 a few days later. I have also experienced a similar situation with Comet where the item was reduced immediately after purchase.

On both occasions I have had the difference refunded after I contacted them.

Are they legally obliged to do this if this is pointed out to them?

[Bobbisox]

it's probaly as a goodwill gesture to yourself as the price was clearly shown on the ticket when you bought it, so I would , No, they are not legally bound to have to do this

[dothawkes31]

No not at all and I cannot believe they have done that, if you returned the item as faulty and they swapped it they should charge you the reduced price but there is nothing in any statute that says they had to give you any money back if you chose to purchase the item at an earlier date. However, if you retrn an item unused and in a saleable condition and they allow a good will refund fair enough, but then if the price is the only issue and you want to buy it back ata cheaper price they probably let you as you sound like a nightmare of a customer.

[another-view]

No they don't have to do this at all. They offered a price which you accepted. End of story.

[dothawkes31]

All advertised offers have an offer expiry date and the store covers itself that way, people being sheeky enough to do what you have done cost the industry money and jobs and personally I find it very annoying.

[dothawkes31]

*cheeky.

[daffy654]

dot, if matt asked for and received a refund for the price difference, how does that make him a nightmare customer? For all you know it could have just been a polite request from matt to the companies.

[Bobbisox]

so did I when I worked in CS dot, they probs think
Oh just give her/him the difference to get rid, I think it's bloody cheek too

[Old_Geezer]

Whty would they have to do it ? One sells stuff at the price one chooses at the times one chooses.
But they have an incentive to gain a reputation as a decent company to do business with, so they may do so as a gesture.

[daffy654]

Jeez! get a grip folks. All these electrical goods are overpriced anyway, that is why you pay less for them in practically every other country. It isn't as if he shoplifted the items.

[dothawkes31]

Because I can't imagine any company just handing back the difference without the customer pushing for it, and certainly not Comet where they are on tight margins anyway.

[Bobbisox]

yes, daffy, but you just can't assume that any company should be legally bound to this

[Mattk]

I fail to see how I am 'cheeky' and cost the industry money when the difference I have asked to be refunded is what the TV is now retailing for.

Why should I pay what I did and then someone comes along a day or so later and gets the same TV for less?

[daffy654]

Many other countries allow you to haggle for the price of goods, in some it is expected. We as a nation are embarrased to do this so the over-charging shops get away with making us pay more than everyone else.

[dothawkes31]

I would like to think that Matt was the epitome of politeness and treated all the staff in the store with the utmost respect at all times during the transactions, I really do, as it was obviosly not their personal decision to change the prices.

[daffy654]

I know they are not legally bound to do it Bobbi.

[Bobbisox]

you entered into that agreement when the transaction was completed mattk

[dothawkes31]

It's called shopping Matt, you pay the advertised price, if it changes an hour later it's tough. I am quite shocked that you don't get that.

[Mattk]

I should add that I havent assumed they are legally obliged. As I have been successful on both occasions I was merely curious if this was a legal obligation or they were simply offering good customer service.

[ChuckFickens]

When you buy something you are making an offer and the transaction is completed when the offer is accepted, play.coms T&Cs say that the offer is not accepted until the item has been dispatched.

So, if the TV has not been dispatched yet you can cancel your order (withdraw the offer) with no penalty to yourself and then place another order at the new price (this will put you at the back of any queue they may have so may further delay you getting the item)

[dothawkes31]

How did you ask? Did you take the goods back into the store and the assistant just said 'oh yes ok that's fine?'