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Spike89

(1,569 posts)

148. You're right, but this actually helps that 2-tier problem

Thu Feb 21, 2013, 06:06 PM

Feb 2013

Because we have a built in example, I'll use it. Last week, "Granny" goes to Best Buy because that is what Granny does. She buys a 32" TV for $400. A "kid" goes into Best Buy last week, sees that the $400 TV is perfectly acceptable, then goes home and orders it online from Amazon for $350.

Granny loses and has no recourse. Best Buy loses the 2nd sale AND had to pay some money for the sales help/store maintenance that showed the "kid" the TV he/she bought elsewhere. Only the "kid" comes out of this a real winner. It is a true 2-tier pricing scenario, if not a textbook definition.

Under the new paradigm, Granny probably fares no better, BUT she might if one of her kids clues her in to ask. Best Buy has a good chance of making both sales. There is no difference for the "kid" except he/she gets to carry the TV home immediately.

It isn't the perfect world (Best Buy can't do this if everyone asks for the online price), but it is maybe a bit better. It isn't worse.

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Best Buy Says It Has Killed 'Showrooming' For Good [View all] Sherman A1 Feb 2013 OP

I read "Shrooming" for good and thought NightWatcher Feb 2013 #1

Can you imagine dropping shrooms amongst those big flat screen TVs??? Yavin4 Feb 2013 #62

3D TV While shroomed!! IADEMO2004 Feb 2013 #76

"Excuse me, sir, you're melting all over the High Def Camcorders" Warren DeMontague Feb 2013 #97

I prefer your version! Fire Walk With Me Feb 2013 #100

They've always pricematched for me without hassle. I was a showroomer. I actually buy from them Ed Suspicious Feb 2013 #2

My problem is they dont want to match the price on their own website in the store DJ13 Feb 2013 #3

At one point, Best Buy had a fake website JPZenger Feb 2013 #49

omg obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #53

They tried to pull that same scam on me. EOTE Feb 2013 #66

Whenever a customer asks for it? Why not have their computers scanning prices ... GodlessBiker Feb 2013 #4

Because they want as much money as they can get. MADem Feb 2013 #30

Ok, I am NOT a big box store fan Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #52

Granny doesn't have a smartphone. Or a computer. Her TV set is an old RCA. MADem Feb 2013 #68

Why should they give anyone the lowest price Shivering Jemmy Feb 2013 #69

I know how to find the lowest price, but I'm not going to patronize them because they are MADem Feb 2013 #71

Because that's the basis for getting repeat customers NickB79 Feb 2013 #77

Thank you--that's my view, too. When they treat you--and everyone else too--right, you MADem Feb 2013 #84

So all stores "rip you off"? Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #80

They'll keep going broke, too, I'll wager, if they have management that thinks like you. MADem Feb 2013 #81

Gosh, where did I say Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #89

You perhaps don't know that there are people here in the USA who live MADem Feb 2013 #93

I get the feeling you think I must be one of these rich people Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #106

Try being eighty and living on a social security check. That's real poverty--you don't get MADem Feb 2013 #111

As I said, Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #126

A child's benefit, though scant, is often more than what these people live on, depending on the MADem Feb 2013 #127

So, i was poor, but not poor enough for your liking? Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #131

Plenty live on far less, you know. If they are in subsidized housing, their check is reduced. MADem Feb 2013 #133

So, to answer my own question Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #137

No. But your poverty did not teach you compassion. MADem Feb 2013 #138

Who are you to judge my compassion? Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #141

I can only judge you by the words you type, and the sentiments you express. MADem Feb 2013 #144

More complicated than that Spike89 Feb 2013 #145

Well, the point that I am making is that there's two tier pricing happening here. MADem Feb 2013 #146

You're right, but this actually helps that 2-tier problem Spike89 Feb 2013 #148

And yet Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #87

"Caveat emptor" has been the law of the land since 1523. Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #90

I don't live in the jungle--I'm a Democrat and I live in the United States of America. MADem Feb 2013 #128

News for you Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #129

Ah yes, abandon hope, all ye who enter here. MADem Feb 2013 #130

That is ONE definition, but not a requirement. Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #132

Go visit the People's Republic of North Korea, and then get back to me about how awful we are. MADem Feb 2013 #134

Right. And that changes the fact Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #136

You are very young. Go see the world. Learn. nt MADem Feb 2013 #139

I am 52, have lived in two countries, Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #142

I'm shocked. MADem Feb 2013 #143

No--Granny bought her TV in the seventies, when she was still working. MADem Feb 2013 #94

I still have a TV in one room from the early 1980's Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #101

No--Granny relies on the bus to take her to the mall, now. MADem Feb 2013 #104

I yield Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #107

I do not have a "superior knowledge of all things" but I have seen elderly people MADem Feb 2013 #112

Granny still clips coupons and reads the weekly circulars, however ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #108

Not if she can't afford a paper. MADem Feb 2013 #109

I think you are actually minimizing what most elderly people can do on a fixed budget. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #110

No, I am not. MADem Feb 2013 #114

I'm not talking about the actual money aspect ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #116

I AM talking about the money aspect, which very often PREVENTS Granny from MADem Feb 2013 #118

Whatever ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #119

I will not resort to a childish fit of pique because I find your POV obtuse and unkind. MADem Feb 2013 #122

My point exactly, however Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #115

I've seen so many elderly folks outwit people far younger at getting good deals ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #117

Precisely Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #123

I have an old tube set from the ancient early 2000's!!! ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #124

We moved our old tube 1980's edition set to the basement Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #125

I am not generalizing--I see this every day. MADem Feb 2013 #120

Because price differentiation allows them to pay employees and leases jberryhill Feb 2013 #32

The only time I ever did something like that was in Boston Warpy Feb 2013 #5

is that really the same thing ? JI7 Feb 2013 #11

Yes, that's the problem with buying online. Warpy Feb 2013 #14

we got a 3d tv and a 3d bly ray player from amazon.com d_r Feb 2013 #21

That qualifies as DOA since it fried itself in the first 24 hours Warpy Feb 2013 #22

LG is generally a pretty good brand davidpdx Feb 2013 #95

yeah, the lg tv has been great d_r Feb 2013 #98

We just bought our first HD flatscreen TV in 2011 davidpdx Feb 2013 #99

Costco brick & mortar will take back stuff ordered online csziggy Feb 2013 #34

Why not continue to showroom House of Roberts Feb 2013 #6

don't you have to pay sales tax on products you order also ? JI7 Feb 2013 #12

In some cases House of Roberts Feb 2013 #15

Actually, in all cases. jeff47 Feb 2013 #54

So you break the law and don't pay use tax? joeglow3 Feb 2013 #73

Yes Sgent Feb 2013 #24

I got best but to take off the equivalent of sales tax... Coyote_Tan Feb 2013 #43

Why are trying to avoid taxes? Dreamer Tatum Feb 2013 #61

As long as sales tax can be avoided... tritsofme Feb 2013 #7

in many states, that's not legal. unblock Feb 2013 #26

And the next time you blow a tire on a pot hole, or need EMS, or your kid's school's roof leaks... politicat Feb 2013 #39

Pocket change. It's the multimillion dollars in profits that companies don't pay taxes on, RC Feb 2013 #55

No sales tax here in Oregon at all. It is a regressive form of taxation after all. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #46

Wouldn't you have to find a salesperson u4ic Feb 2013 #8

as it is now you have to go to the service desk. mopinko Feb 2013 #25

We must ooze money pheromones, then... politicat Feb 2013 #38

I've heard from a number of people u4ic Feb 2013 #147

Still boycotting them over their anti-gay donations. n/t Ian David Feb 2013 #9

I would be careful, some companies like Wal*Mart sell proprietary electronics and can have.. Tikki Feb 2013 #10

Reminds me of Crazy Eddie. Anyone remember him? aikoaiko Feb 2013 #13

Heard him on the radio only. Didn't something bad happen to him marybourg Feb 2013 #20

"His prices are INSANE!" musette_sf Feb 2013 #23

He advertised on one of the original superstations. WOR? maybe? TheManInTheMac Feb 2013 #42

I hope it works out wilt the stilt Feb 2013 #16

There is still the sales tax issue (in most states) Motown_Johnny Feb 2013 #17

amazon is having to charge sales tax in more and more states d_r Feb 2013 #19

Georgia just now put its foot down on all online sales taxes. RebelOne Feb 2013 #70

I remember years ago d_r Feb 2013 #18

I get most of my equipment from NewEgg. lpbk2713 Feb 2013 #27

I'm a reverse showroomer riverwalker Feb 2013 #28

Me too! abelenkpe Feb 2013 #29

Well, now I'm just going to 'showroom' for the hell of it RedCappedBandit Feb 2013 #31

And yet... when I try to buy something at Best Buy I usually leave empty handed Sen. Walter Sobchak Feb 2013 #33

Best Buy claims you can buy online and pick up at the store csziggy Feb 2013 #35

Did you wait for them to send you the email that the item was pulled? DotGone Feb 2013 #37

Yes, had the email. Nope they had not pulled the order. csziggy Feb 2013 #40

I had the exact opposite. Sheldon Cooper Feb 2013 #44

It is probably the local store csziggy Feb 2013 #65

You can and I have done that tabbycat31 Feb 2013 #57

Best Buy has 2 problems: Terrible staff and returns aren't 100% of price. lindysalsagal Feb 2013 #36

Most electronics stores have the restocking fee for some items. LeftyMom Feb 2013 #50

That's understandable but they'll charge the fee even if the return was the same day. Gormy Cuss Feb 2013 #79

They got rid of that fee, supposedly, but they shortened the return time. MADem Feb 2013 #82

Hmm... Interesting strategy, but I don't showroom. I watch youtube and pick the lowest price ecstatic Feb 2013 #41

Probably a huge paragraph of fine print to go with it durablend Feb 2013 #45

I avoid Best Buy for a number of reasons Mopar151 Feb 2013 #47

If the employees knew what they were talking about, that would be a step in the right direction Maeve Feb 2013 #48

They don't bother to train anybody, because their pay is shitty and their turnover is high. LeftyMom Feb 2013 #51

That's my complaint Jeff In Milwaukee Feb 2013 #56

We just made a major purchase at Best Buy Greybnk48 Feb 2013 #58

Here's the online retailers they'll match (this could be good): sir pball Feb 2013 #59

i don't like the 30 day return limit. i'm a bad procrastinator. ellenfl Feb 2013 #67

You will like it even less now, as they have cut that to fifteen days. MADem Feb 2013 #83

i know. how's office depot/max? i usually buy online but that doesn't help my community. eom ellenfl Feb 2013 #102

I don't know, but if you can shop at a Costco, they give to Dem candidates. MADem Feb 2013 #103

i know. however that doesn't help me much with my computer accessory purchases. eom ellenfl Feb 2013 #105

They'll match CircuitCity.com? Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #121

The big chains used to get their own model numbers, so you couldn't use price matching JPZenger Feb 2013 #60

I believe mattress stores do the same thing. nt Skip Intro Feb 2013 #63

I bought my flat screen from Blockbuster online, and it was cheaper. Yavin4 Feb 2013 #64

I just had a nice price match on a Blue Yeti microphone at Staples... SidDithers Feb 2013 #72

Threads like this are useful because DonCoquixote Feb 2013 #74

Well, Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #78

Geez, that's the first time I've been "accused" (and thank you very much) of being MADem Feb 2013 #85

let me clarify DonCoquixote Feb 2013 #91

I completely took your meaning--no worries! MADem Feb 2013 #92

Wait, you're supposed to *buy* things at stores?! Prism Feb 2013 #75

Best Buy is such a piece of shit company why would anyone even walk in a store? DainBramaged Feb 2013 #86

Going there tomorrow Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #88

Because the salespeople are local Greybnk48 Feb 2013 #113

Precisely Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #135

I think in the long run Best Buy along with JC Penny's and Sears davidpdx Feb 2013 #96

They've been matching prices of brick and mortar stores for more than a year. TexasBushwhacker Feb 2013 #140