HD...seems like a scam

[Salty]

Bought a new 13" Ridgid planer today, but almost didn't!
I have been looking at this thing for some time and there is another post I started about the replacement blades. I thought all the issues were resolved, till I got there. In fact, darn it, I forgot to look for the blades. This other thing made me so mad that I completely forgot.
When I got to the section in the store, the price tag had $399.00 on it. What the heck? The web said $369.00 and there was no indication that the price was for web order only. So I asked someone to check it and told her of the web price. She said they have no control over what is quoted on the web!
My first thought was to ask her if they we a different HD then the one on the web. That would probably not have helped the situation.
She calls someone on the phone and then tells me that they usually done match the web price but will this time.
Hey look, I went to the trouble to go to their store, that is the least they could do.
Sure seems like a scam to me!
I know, I know, there is this disclaimer line on their website that says "Local store prices may vary from those displayed." But we are not talking about a few dollars here.

Salty is done complaining now.

[thestinker]

HD's customer service is terrible. I was doing a huge addition to the house and was shopping for new electric for the old part of the house, plus all the electric for the new part. Flooring, bathroom fixtures...tha works. I had asked them if they would knock 10% off.....they had in the past for large purchases, and then refused. Just for yucks I called lowes and told them what I was doing and would they like my business? They replied that they would and would gladly take 10% off to have someone come in and spend a couple of grand. I gave HD 1 more chance ( I was using a rewards card that gave better rewards there) and they told me to go to lowes. That was 4 years ago, and I will still pick lowes over HD if given the chance.

[pack04]

Price differences between the website and their own stores must be becoming a big box retail trend. I've noticed that Best Buy often has lower prices on their website.

I've been able to convince BB customer service reps to honor the website price, but it usually involves explaning the difference in price, waiting to talk to a manager, explain the situation to the manager and finally telling them that I will print the website page and take it to a competitor. The problem is that they have fewer competitors than a few years ago.

[Salty]

If Lowes carried the same planer I would have gladly gone there.
In fact, I almost bought a PC305 that they had marked down to $163.00, but the reviews on it were so bad that I could not do it.
Too bad a good line of tools like Ridgid/Ryobi has to endure such a pathetic retailer.

Edit;
While reviewing their returns policy I found this entry: "-The Home Depot reserves the right to limit or refuse to accept the return of merchandise at any time and for any reason. "
Maybe it is there somewhere but I could not find such wording on Lowes site.

[cgallery]

Price differences between the website and their own stores must be becoming a big box retail trend. I've noticed that Best Buy often has lower prices on their website.

I've been able to convince BB customer service reps to honor the website price, but it usually involves explaning the difference in price, waiting to talk to a manager, explain the situation to the manager and finally telling them that I will print the website page and take it to a competitor. The problem is that they have fewer competitors than a few years ago.

BB got in trouble w/ several states for (I believe) having a BB web site in-store that was different from what the public would see. The only difference: The prices were higher.

So you'd see a price of $250 on the site, and go to the store. There, the price was $270. You'd object and say, "hey, wasn't this $250 on the site?" Then they'd look it up and show you, "nope, $270." That worked until people had cellular Internet and looked it up and saw the $250.

[Salty]

It's a shame that such companies cannot be straight up and honest in their business practices and put more effort into customer service and support.
That model has worked well for the company I work for and I'm sure it has helped us weather the current economic bumpy road.

[woodturner]

I know, I know, there is this disclaimer line on their website that says "Local store prices may vary from those displayed." But we are not talking about a few dollars here.

That's true for most retailers now, including Lowes, HD, Sears, Walmart, etc.

The web site is a different business - really, two companies with the same name. The web business has a different cost and pricing model, and can often give better pricing. For example, I considered purchasing a fridge from Lowes recently. Online price was $100 less than in-store, but Lowes store wouldn't match. Went to HD where they happily price matched the web price, gave me free delivery and installation, and another 10% off for the PM.

Experiences with Lowes and HD seem to vary widely. Around here, I rarely shop at Lowes as a result of the terrible customer service I have received and their higher prices. HD, on the other hand, has wonderful customer service and gives a minimum of 10% discount without question. I posted recently that they gave me a 25% discount on a tankless HWH in response to my "can you do any better on the price" question.

One important point to note between the two, though: HD prices building materials based on their cost, Lowes reprices building materials daily based on the commodities market. So if prices are increasing, Lowes will make greater profit at your expense by raising prices to market, while HD will raise prices when they restock. If prices are falling, Lowes may have lower costs - and if prices drop enough, will be competitive with HD in spite of their higher markups.

One other note - be sure to check on returns when buying online. HD, like many stores, will not accept website returns at the store, you HAVE to mail them back to the warehouse. Lowes does do in-store pickup and these items can be returned in-store.

[Salty]

Woodturner, that is good info and I will keep that in mind. Thank you. Seems you have done your homework.
I suppose it depends on the store and perhaps the area. I can recall getting good service at a different store when I was shopping for a snow thrower. That store was only about 10 miles from this one but the area is decidedly different.

BTW, does Ridgid run a test board through these things?
This is what the feed rollers looked like before I even turned it on.
Runs OK and the noise is less than what I expected. Seems to be quieter than my shop vac, but that may change once I put some wood through it.

[BrazosJake]

Would it kill someone to walk into store and pay regular retail price for something?

Some folks here seem to think because the BORGs are big and make lots of money, they should give away tools.

So, an employee at a local store isn't aware of a less-than-10% difference between their in-store and internet price? There's a shock. And she has to get manager approval to lower it? There's another shock.

OP got exactly what he wanted, but still needs to bash them.

Man, if I ever open a retail business, I hope you guys stay away.

Here's a radical idea: if you don't like the big boxes QUIT BUYING FROM THEM!

[cgallery]

Would it kill someone to walk into store and pay regular retail price for something?

Disagree.

The big box stores brought this on themselves.

The advertising campaigns of each and every one of them has been and continues to be "we sell for less than the other guy." In fact, they insist that they'll undercut the competition by 10%.

Of course, the implication is that they'll at least match their own advertised prices, whether it is online or not. The entire "the online business is a different company and has nothing to do with us" is a fallacy. Of course they claim that. They want to have their cake, and eat it, too. I can't tell you the # of times I've been in a Lowes and asked a question, only to have them look at their own web site. If it is an entirely different organization, why do they both use the same part #'s, and why are the employees looking there for information?" Why does the web site tell me when the local store has stock or not? The answer: It is the same organization when it suits their purposes, a different organization when it doesn't.

Like I said in my message above, Best Buy had a SYSTEMATIC method of playing this game. They actually went through the cost of developing a web site that showed lower prices for items when people were looking at home, and higher prices when people were looking at the web site from inside a Best Buy store.

I don't know how anyone could think something like that is okay.

I say hold their feet to the fire.

[Hoover]

Locally Lowes has a better selection of tools, hardware, plumbing and electrical than Home Depot. Also the employees at Lowes are around when you do have a question or need assistance. I only go to Home Depot when I am looking for Ryobi or Ridgid items.

[headhunter636]

Price differences between the website and their own stores must be becoming a big box retail trend. I've noticed that Best Buy often has lower prices on their website.

I've been able to convince BB customer service reps to honor the website price, but it usually involves explaning the difference in price, waiting to talk to a manager, explain the situation to the manager and finally telling them that I will print the website page and take it to a competitor. The problem is that they have fewer competitors than a few years ago.

I've never had a problem with the Best Buys in my area, as a matter of fact, they are the ones that told me they match the online prices.

[woodturner]

Would it kill someone to walk into store and pay regular retail price for something?

If you are rich, it might make sense to pay retail - your time to negotiate might cost more than the savings.

For most of us, though, negotiating prices where ever we shop is standard practice. The posted price is a starting point for negotiation, a suggestion. The less-informed just pay that price, the savvy shopper negotiates.

Has nothing to do with the size of the business, though I do often find that smaller businesses are more willing to negotiate, whether it be the one-man excavating company that dug the footer for my garage or the local mom and pop hardware store.

Why would you want to pay more than most other people for something?

[cwsmith]

Salty,

I understand your frustration with the price difference, but at least they "matched" it for you. That is uncommon though, as the store's prices really are separate from the web activity. (Less overhead, etc. perhaps, but the whole structure with web sales is different, I think.)

I ran into this sort of thing years ago with Sears. Catalog prices (at least at that time) were different than store prices and some things were available in stores that weren't available in catalogs, and vise-versa). As it was explained to me, the corporation treated "catalog" as a totally separate entity, with it's own price structure, profit figures, etc.

In any case, it all worked out for you, but it's hard to understand sometimes how these companies percieve themselves.

Merry Christmas,

CWS

[MilDoc]

When I lived in Dallas I loved HD, not Lowes. Here, just the opposite.

BTW, stores are also not responsible for newspaper misprints either.