So if that is the case why have I read on other forums about Apple doing a price match on items?
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18190060
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18190060
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Apple store selling 3rd party items at registered retail price. Advice wanted.
- Thread starter Artmuzz
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Exactly. This really seems like a case of "a fool and his money are easily parted"
So you are saying that only fools buy from Apple and pay Apple's ridiculous price. Wouldn't that make everyone who buys from Apple a fool
The point of the matter is that I am not usually so stupid with money but I was getting very frustrated trying to buy those headphones and getting told by shops that they don't sell them which resulted in me paying Apple's ridiculous high prices on them when I didn't know that Panasonic could of ordered them for me for half the price.
So you are saying that only fools buy from Apple and pay Apple's ridiculous price. Wouldn't that make everyone who buys from Apple a fool
No, he means most people do a bit of research when spending large amounts of money.
And buying 3rd party products from an Apple store is just a silly idea. I've never seen a product sold for less than MRRP on one.
So Apple just sell 3rd party products to chance their hand with mugs like myself
I have never had any problems with price matching in other stores if I've seen it cheaper somewhere else. I guess its just Apple's typical philosophy of take as much money as possible from the customer and spot the looney.
So Apple just sell 3rd party products to chance their hand with mugs like myself
I have never had any problems with price matching in other stores if I've seen it cheaper somewhere else. I guess its just Apple's typical philosophy of take as much money as possible from the customer and spot the looney.
Look. Apple posted a price on the item. They could have listed the headphones for £500, it doesn't matter. You made the conscious choice to purchase the product at the listed price. Now, after the transaction - you expect a company who conducted a fair business transaction to refund you because you failed to evaluate your options. It's a tough lesson but one that you won't forgot. Don't blame Apple, blame yourself.
Wait, so you KNEW you were overpaying! And now you're complaining because you made the wrong bet? (That you wouldn't be able to find them elsewhere.) Sorry, but you have no right to cop an attitude toward the Apple Store.
The moral of the story is yeah I blame myself for buying from Apple but my point is that Apple should think of its customers instead of its big fat belly (which Apple is very good at) and price check items. I have never had this problem with other companies/stores price checking an item for me and part refunding me if I have seen the same product sell for less. Anyway it wouldn't matter if I stop my loyal custom in buying from Apple because there are millions of other suckers getting screwed by Apple with their ridiculously high prices.
At the end of the day I have learnt my lesson and will not visit another Apple store if I am looking for third party products.
No, that's not the lesson!
The lesson is to visit the Apple store and every other store *then* decide where to purchase
It would be one thing if you went into an Apple store, before buying, and asked if you could get them pricematched. In all likelihood, thy're not going to match a clearance price that you simply tell them about (imagine... "Yes, I saw these $500 Shure earphones for $40 on clearance... just trust me!). But there's no harm in asking or negotiating.
But to call by telephone, after you already paid, is asking a little too much, I think. Apple listed a price. You paid the price and got what was advertised at that price. Now you're asking them to fix your mistake, and you're getting angrier or more frustrated because they don't want to do that.
Think about it, if they sell everything at RRP, and people start doing exactly what you're doing... do you expect Apple to start cutting checks or issuing credit card credits back to every single customer?
Well, if the other stores had sold them then obviously I would of bought from the other stores. The fact of the matter is that every single store I went into didn't sell the headphones apart from the Apple retail store who sold them for that expensive price. I really didn't like the price but had no choice as I thought I couldn't get them anywhere else until I went into my local Panasonic store and the guy there told me he could of ordered them for half the price Apple were selling them which got me mad why Apple were selling them at that price. To be honest the saleman at the Panasonic store didn't even know that those headphones were as expensive as £199.95.
This experience has left me very angry towards Apple. I tried to be polite but I get this in return. At the end of the day its my own fault for throwing my money towards that greedy fat bellied money grabbing Apple company but really isn't the old saying - the customer is always right
I'm far from being an apple defender, but in this case I'm just not feeling any compassion towards the OP.
1) Free Internet. There are 30 computers and 40 iDevices at the Apple Store that are all connected to the internet. It's not the employees fault that you didn't look it up.
2) The Apple Store is a Boutique. Personally, I love the Apple Store but I never buy from there because I can get EVERYTHING cheaper somewhere else. For accessories there is literally NOTHING cheaper at the Apple Store than at Amazon and even Best Buy offers a better return policy (30day vs 10day). People don't buy at the Mall Apple Store because it's a bargain, they buy because it's an incredibly effective place to showcase cool products for impulse shoppers.
3) Apple doesnt pricematch. How can someone expect a pricematch at a store that doesnt pricematch?
4) It's not the employees fault. I've seen those kids at Best Buy completely scam customers into paying triple for memory upgrades, virus protection or extra unnecessary accessories. They're ruthless. Apple employees hardly push at all in comparison so IF someone walks out with something they dont need it's usually the customers fault.
5) Apple is a business. Apple may try to patent everything on the planet, but being greedy or money grabbing isn't a unique Apple, Inc feature. A good shopper will pay what they feel a product is worth, and if it's beyond that limit then it's up to them to walk away.
It's too bad you overpaid for headphones but I doubt you'll ever hear a story where someone underpaid at the Apple Store. These places are about convenience, not bargains. You said you NEEDED these headphones, you had NO CHOICE and you bought them regardless of price. So if you're truly asking for advice then the best advice out there is "Do research, Suck it up and Get over it" because this isn't worth getting this frustrated about and you're deflecting far too much blame in the wrong direction.
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Since when did I mention that I blamed the employees? I've never blamed the employess it was the fat cats at Apple for selling other manufacturer's products at high prices. The employees are just there doing their job. The person I blamed for my purchase was myself and I accept that but when I mentioned employees I was actually complaining about the employee on the phone who wasn't very helpful, I wasn't blaming him for my purchase.
They are selling them at the other manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price (which by the way is the correct expansion of RRP, not registered retail price). I don't see how that's "high". That is simply the normal price. Sure, you might be able to find them cheaper with some effort but most branded/premium stores (which Apple certainly are) always sell at RRP.
You said you were "appalled by the attitude of a member of staff I was put through to" because "I told him that I had seen the Headphones sell 50% cheaper at the Panasonic store and everywhere online after buying them and that with me being a loyal customer of Apple I wondering if I could get some of the money back as a price match than return them" and he said to return it at the Apple Store. Obviously you feel you deserved better service, but what exactly is it you want? A $100 credit to reward your poor purchase decision simply because you've purchased a few computers in the last decade? Heck, if that's all it takes then where's the line for free money?
I get why your frustrated but you really have to focus more on learning your lesson than proving you're right. Sorry if thats harsh but some lessons are expensive.
To settle this argument, I'd like to know what the actual RRP price of those Panasonic Headphones were because according to the salesman who works in the Panasonic store (the headphones manufacturers own store) he never knew that they were as much as £199.95. He then phoned Panasonic and they told him that they were only £99 but he would have to order them for me.
I am presuming £199.95 is the RRP because on an eBay sale the seller puts them as that price for the RRP. If the Panasonic Headphones I bought from the Apple retail store weren't the RRP then I smell a rat.
Here are the headphones I bought from the Apple retail store....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-PANASONIC...2afde751270a0aad443b053ffedd842#ht_3725wt_907
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Apple's price included something that has been missed so far.... Instant Delivery.
Your options were
a) Ordering and waiting....
b) Ordering and not waiting....
You pay extra for Instant Delivery [dang - wish I knew how to put a boomy reverb on that]...
In the real world, outside of electronics bought by geeks, people pay for both the product and the service. In this case the service included Instant Delivery. Apple is not an electronics store, as mentioned above they are a boutique.
It costs Apple money to keep that stock on hand, and they are passing that cost on to you. At some point the headphones are discontinued, and Apple then has to sell them at a loss (probably to clearance store - not in house).
You got what wanted - headphones with Instant Delivery. So enjoy the sound and move on.
Your options were
a) Ordering and waiting....
b) Ordering and not waiting....
You pay extra for Instant Delivery [dang - wish I knew how to put a boomy reverb on that]...
In the real world, outside of electronics bought by geeks, people pay for both the product and the service. In this case the service included Instant Delivery. Apple is not an electronics store, as mentioned above they are a boutique.
It costs Apple money to keep that stock on hand, and they are passing that cost on to you. At some point the headphones are discontinued, and Apple then has to sell them at a loss (probably to clearance store - not in house).
You got what wanted - headphones with Instant Delivery. So enjoy the sound and move on.
Blimey what an argy-bargy going on here. To the OP, you bought something and now you realise you don't want them and want to return them. That's OK. Happens to all of us. You're lucky you realised it quickly.
You took the wrong tactic when you rang Apple. It doesn't matter that you found them cheaper elsewhere, and you sabotaged your case when you mentioned that. Stores have a limited set of reasons for accepting returned stock, and for Apple, 'it's cheaper elsewhere' is not one of them.
I presume the earphones are still in their box, unopened and unused.
Ring Apple again, and just say you purchased the earphones and you realised you made a mistake, and you're very sorry but you would like to return them. State very clearly that the box and wrapping is untouched, and you have the receipt and everything. Whatever you do, don't mention that you found them cheaper elsewhere.
Ring them quickly, as you have 14 days after purchase to inform them.
Read this webpage carefully:
http://store.apple.com/uk/help/returns_refund
Note that this webpage applies to the online store. The physical store may have slightly different policies. Check your receipt for more instructions (it may be on the back).
You don't need to ring Regent Street. Any Apple store or their national number will do.
Good luck.
You took the wrong tactic when you rang Apple. It doesn't matter that you found them cheaper elsewhere, and you sabotaged your case when you mentioned that. Stores have a limited set of reasons for accepting returned stock, and for Apple, 'it's cheaper elsewhere' is not one of them.
I presume the earphones are still in their box, unopened and unused.
Ring Apple again, and just say you purchased the earphones and you realised you made a mistake, and you're very sorry but you would like to return them. State very clearly that the box and wrapping is untouched, and you have the receipt and everything. Whatever you do, don't mention that you found them cheaper elsewhere.
Ring them quickly, as you have 14 days after purchase to inform them.
Read this webpage carefully:
http://store.apple.com/uk/help/returns_refund
Note that this webpage applies to the online store. The physical store may have slightly different policies. Check your receipt for more instructions (it may be on the back).
You don't need to ring Regent Street. Any Apple store or their national number will do.
Good luck.
its pretty much a given that anything 3rd party on apples site can be bought cheaper elsewhere, unless they have a good discount on it.
i bought gh3 for mac of the apple website for half price when it first came out and that is the only thing i have ever bought. apple don't really need to be competitive cause of the sheer amount of traffic they get on their website. why charge less when a good amount of people will pay full price.
i bought gh3 for mac of the apple website for half price when it first came out and that is the only thing i have ever bought. apple don't really need to be competitive cause of the sheer amount of traffic they get on their website. why charge less when a good amount of people will pay full price.