"No VAT rises" & "Sales special offers"
Discussion
Just had an email from a travel company that we use regularly (major high street brand) claiming that they weren't going to 'add the VAT rise' to the prices of their holidays and that everything was 'on sale'.....
So I checked the price of the holiday that we booked last year, to see how they compare....
We paid £2750 for our holiday last summer where as the same holiday now costs £4500 according to their web site, whilst claiming prices are lower now due to the 'sales'.
They're just a bunch of lying barstewards really. I for one don't believe any high street companies have genuine Sales these days, you ony have to watch the tools in Next clearing the shelves of good stock on Christmas eve so that they can re fill them with tat at 'marked down prices'.
Why isn't the consumer protected against this kind of practice?
So I checked the price of the holiday that we booked last year, to see how they compare....
We paid £2750 for our holiday last summer where as the same holiday now costs £4500 according to their web site, whilst claiming prices are lower now due to the 'sales'.
They're just a bunch of lying barstewards really. I for one don't believe any high street companies have genuine Sales these days, you ony have to watch the tools in Next clearing the shelves of good stock on Christmas eve so that they can re fill them with tat at 'marked down prices'.
Why isn't the consumer protected against this kind of practice?
How much do you want the consumer to be protected ? They shoyld do their own research and pay what they think the item is worth. Whether the tat is marked down or not, if the consumers are not happy with the price, they are free to shop elsewhere. If they fall for the SALE spiel, their own fault.
As long there is no price-fixing going with different groups involved in big ticket items, it's a free market.
Not changing the VAT for most normal stores means about a 2.1% or so discount, sounds good, and literature does not need to be changed. Bargain.
Travel agents have their own overheads and flights and hotels operate a fluid pricing model. They may have packaged deals, etc, but from year to year the prices for the same package can vary wildly.
As long there is no price-fixing going with different groups involved in big ticket items, it's a free market.
Not changing the VAT for most normal stores means about a 2.1% or so discount, sounds good, and literature does not need to be changed. Bargain.
Travel agents have their own overheads and flights and hotels operate a fluid pricing model. They may have packaged deals, etc, but from year to year the prices for the same package can vary wildly.
sinizter said:
How much do you want the consumer to be protected ? They shoyld do their own research and pay what they think the item is worth. .
So you think companies should be allowed to say what ever they want, and the consumer has to work out if its truthful or not? Interesting. I would suspect that theres a Quango or two funded to regulate this kind of behaviour, or at very least the likes of the Adverting Standards Authority should at least pay a little attention.
There are regulations. For example, look at an Argos TV ad and it will say at the bottom when and for how long the orginal price that has now been discounted was running.
There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
Fezant Pluckah said:
Where was the holiday too? Vat is only payable on the margin for holidays within the EU. Holidays outside the EU are not subject to Vat in any way.
Um, is that true? I've always paid VAT as far as I'm aware on holidays, were ever they are (This was Mexico btw, but all prices seem up substantially).Corsair7 said:
Fezant Pluckah said:
Where was the holiday too? Vat is only payable on the margin for holidays within the EU. Holidays outside the EU are not subject to Vat in any way.
Um, is that true? I've always paid VAT as far as I'm aware on holidays, were ever they are (This was Mexico btw, but all prices seem up substantially).
pokethepope said:
There are regulations. For example, look at an Argos TV ad and it will say at the bottom when and for how long the orginal price that has now been discounted was running.
There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
PC World / Currys do this.There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
The ad will say "NOW £299 - Was £399 14/2/10 - 14/5/2010"
Of course, before that period it probably used to be £299.
Oakey said:
pokethepope said:
There are regulations. For example, look at an Argos TV ad and it will say at the bottom when and for how long the orginal price that has now been discounted was running.
There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
PC World / Currys do this.There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
The ad will say "NOW £299 - Was £399 14/2/10 - 14/5/2010"
Of course, before that period it probably used to be £299.
Fezant Pluckah said:
Corsair7 said:
Fezant Pluckah said:
Where was the holiday too? Vat is only payable on the margin for holidays within the EU. Holidays outside the EU are not subject to Vat in any way.
Um, is that true? I've always paid VAT as far as I'm aware on holidays, were ever they are (This was Mexico btw, but all prices seem up substantially).Oakey said:
pokethepope said:
There are regulations. For example, look at an Argos TV ad and it will say at the bottom when and for how long the orginal price that has now been discounted was running.
There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
PC World / Currys do this.There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
The ad will say "NOW £299 - Was £399 14/2/10 - 14/5/2010"
Of course, before that period it probably used to be £299.
I bought my son a model RC helicopter in Menkind just before Xmas - £24.99. The same toy is now listed at £29.99 but with an amazing 20% off! - errr, ok.
Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Monday 10th January 12:45
You really have to watch 'Next' as they are buggers indeed.
When the VAT went down to 15% most other shops were clearly refunding the difference at the till to save repricing everything.....except Next.
I've stopped shopping in Next TBH as they've gone right down hill over the past few years. Nothing but tat.
Re: the sales thing I'm not sure if all shops/supermarkets are similar but there was an interesting article on Radio 2 before Xmas regarding half price wines. Apparently a supermarket only has to sell a case in a single shop (across the whole country) for a month before it is allowed to discount. An industry expert said that most sell a £2.99 bottle in some far flung shop, in the darkest corner of the wine rack for £12.99 so it can then punt a half price offer at £6.50. Shocking.
When the VAT went down to 15% most other shops were clearly refunding the difference at the till to save repricing everything.....except Next.
I've stopped shopping in Next TBH as they've gone right down hill over the past few years. Nothing but tat.
Re: the sales thing I'm not sure if all shops/supermarkets are similar but there was an interesting article on Radio 2 before Xmas regarding half price wines. Apparently a supermarket only has to sell a case in a single shop (across the whole country) for a month before it is allowed to discount. An industry expert said that most sell a £2.99 bottle in some far flung shop, in the darkest corner of the wine rack for £12.99 so it can then punt a half price offer at £6.50. Shocking.
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Oakey said:
pokethepope said:
There are regulations. For example, look at an Argos TV ad and it will say at the bottom when and for how long the orginal price that has now been discounted was running.
There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
PC World / Currys do this.There is no excuse these days with the market information readily and easily available to consumers for them to claim they've been conned when retailers manipulate their prices.
The ad will say "NOW £299 - Was £399 14/2/10 - 14/5/2010"
Of course, before that period it probably used to be £299.
I bought my son a model RC helicopter in Menkind just before Xmas - £24.99. The same toy is now listed at £29.99 but with an amazing 20% off! - errr, ok.
Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Monday 10th January 12:45
The supermarkets are being sneaky about larger amounts costing 'less' per unit too.
I tend to buy a lot of sugar for homebrew purposes.
You would think that 1x5kg bag of sugar would cost less then 5 x 1kg bags?
Nope. last time I bought some it was cheaper per kg to buy 2kg bags than 1kgs, but a 5kg bag was the most expensive per kg.
I've found the same for coffee, tea, cereal, rice etc.
I tend to buy a lot of sugar for homebrew purposes.
You would think that 1x5kg bag of sugar would cost less then 5 x 1kg bags?
Nope. last time I bought some it was cheaper per kg to buy 2kg bags than 1kgs, but a 5kg bag was the most expensive per kg.
I've found the same for coffee, tea, cereal, rice etc.
Corsair7 said:
sinizter said:
How much do you want the consumer to be protected ? They shoyld do their own research and pay what they think the item is worth. .
So you think companies should be allowed to say what ever they want, and the consumer has to work out if its truthful or not? Interesting. I would suspect that theres a Quango or two funded to regulate this kind of behaviour, or at very least the likes of the Adverting Standards Authority should at least pay a little attention.
The only place the quangos would be able to regulate this would be into the dump.
Edited by sinizter on Monday 10th January 15:33
stackmonkey said:
The supermarkets are being sneaky about larger amounts costing 'less' per unit too.
I tend to buy a lot of sugar for homebrew purposes.
You would think that 1x5kg bag of sugar would cost less then 5 x 1kg bags?
Nope. last time I bought some it was cheaper per kg to buy 2kg bags than 1kgs, but a 5kg bag was the most expensive per kg.
I've found the same for coffee, tea, cereal, rice etc.
Jesus, what kind of homebrew takes sugar,coffee, tea, cereal and rice! I tend to buy a lot of sugar for homebrew purposes.
You would think that 1x5kg bag of sugar would cost less then 5 x 1kg bags?
Nope. last time I bought some it was cheaper per kg to buy 2kg bags than 1kgs, but a 5kg bag was the most expensive per kg.
I've found the same for coffee, tea, cereal, rice etc.
If you shop with the big companies eg Thomas Cook holidays, Currys, B&Q, Next etc, by walking in off the street, generally You Will Be Shafted.
They are counting on no real knowledge of prices - the twice-last-year's-price holiday is a classic example.
They put a sign up saying 'woohoo it's cheap', and people fall over themselves to buy.
Works in every single aisle in Tesco.
Everything in the above shops can be bought cheaper/better/easier/pleb-free via internet or just 'doing your research'.
They are counting on no real knowledge of prices - the twice-last-year's-price holiday is a classic example.
They put a sign up saying 'woohoo it's cheap', and people fall over themselves to buy.
Works in every single aisle in Tesco.
Everything in the above shops can be bought cheaper/better/easier/pleb-free via internet or just 'doing your research'.
eccles said:
stackmonkey said:
The supermarkets are being sneaky about larger amounts costing 'less' per unit too.
I tend to buy a lot of sugar for homebrew purposes.
You would think that 1x5kg bag of sugar would cost less then 5 x 1kg bags?
Nope. last time I bought some it was cheaper per kg to buy 2kg bags than 1kgs, but a 5kg bag was the most expensive per kg.
I've found the same for coffee, tea, cereal, rice etc.
Jesus, what kind of homebrew takes sugar,coffee, tea, cereal and rice! I tend to buy a lot of sugar for homebrew purposes.
You would think that 1x5kg bag of sugar would cost less then 5 x 1kg bags?
Nope. last time I bought some it was cheaper per kg to buy 2kg bags than 1kgs, but a 5kg bag was the most expensive per kg.
I've found the same for coffee, tea, cereal, rice etc.
coffee - Tia Maria
tea - Qi Black or Green tea liquer
cereal - whisky
rice - saki
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