Why do some merchants not honor their online prices in stores?
A recent Gamestop deal had an online price of $2.99 + shipping. The game is available in the store, but the price in the store is $4.99. I can understand the price difference for the store, since people browsing might pay the extra few bucks if they don't know it's cheaper online, but why not let me purchase it online and pick it up in the store at the online price? The only entity benefiting from me purchasing online is the courier, since I pay more money, and Gamestop gets less money.
They're not the only ones who have this problem either. I've had the same problem with Lowe's and other merchants. Does anybody have any particular reason why this is the case?
by
stark
asked 4 months ago
Is this a downloadable game?
If so, then my rationale would be that when buying online, Gamestop simply has to e-mail you and give you a redemption code. Maybe they can just buy those as they're needed from the game developers while the in-store versions that are cardboard have already been bought and they're simply trying to even out the ratio of "time spent taking up space":"profits actually made". That, or my theory of retailers being evil is being proven true once again.
It has to be a downloadable game. I bought a game online and picked it up in store. =/ there should be an option there for it mate. If you don't see it give me the name of the game and I'll do a step by step with pics if needed.
It is easy to understand once you know this little tidbit: even though the name appears to be the same, an online dot come business is a separate entity from the brick and mortar store. When you purchase something online, even if you are having it shipped to your local store for pick up, you are purchasing it from the dot com business rather than the b&m business.
Please go here and read the brief comments that will explain in further detail: http://deals.woot.com/questions/details/180495f3-b887-432d-b22a-94fe118388bc/how-can-bm-target-does-not-honor-target-com-pricing#8
1. Gamestop sucks! They are just money whores.
2. I agree that it is a BS policy. Toys R' Us is the worst about this. You can order stuff from their site for in-store pickup, at the online lower price. If you go in and get the item off the shelf and show them the print out, they don't care.
A lot of major retailers do this. WalMart and Lowes come to mind specifically. There are two active reasons for this.
#1 - It costs them less money to have the website than it does to have a B&M store.
#2 - Low prices on the website drive customers to stores, they know that once you're there, with the product in your hand, you're more likely to pay and extra couple of bucks to have it now.
Sometimes parts of the business will offer deals that the others does not to drive business towards that particular aspect. I would imagine with this online deal, it is a good way to clear out the copies of discs that they have with no case and no manual.
The only way to guarantee that you will get an online deal through the store is places that offer "site to store" or in-store pickup. This is not guaranteed on everything because of the inventory restraints as well as trying to make sure there is enough product on the shelf to sell to the walk-ups.
Okay here's my opinion of it. The store has limited stock while it seems they have a lot of excess stock internet warehouse side. Thus why it's cheaper online. Sadly this game has "Not available for in-store pick-up " To probably stop people from buying up all the in store stock. It's cheaper to ship to someone paying you to ship to them than it is to pay to ship to a store.
Now what you can do is keep trying if your friends with any of the employee they might be able to help you. Or the easiest solution would be go to bestbuy. They will price match this no problems. Assuming you get used as well there.
Other wise if you want to still get it at gamestop look around for their price match policy and print it out and bring it with you. Again assuming that it says they will price match online.
Also according to "retail me not" use code CAG16 for 16% off. It's an odd % so probably won't work but might help.
@lavikinga: Very interesting to know. And, now that I think about it, it seems kinda obvious.
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