Sneaky sales tactics
Discussion
Needed a new oven, so recently ordered one using a well known online electrical retailer. Plenty of options when booking, one was do I want them to collect my old oven for £15. Probably would've picked this, but last time i bought an oven, I was unloading it from the car and an eagle eyed scrap man driving past stopped and shouted over, asking if I had an old one for disposal. He took it away for free, so thought I'd ask him again.
Couple of days later, I get a call from the company confirming delivery date and trying to push extended warranty etc. Then he asks if I've got an old oven for disposal, as they'll kindly take it away for free!! Cheeky f
kers!!! borderline criminal if you ask me 
What underhanded sales tricks have been attempted on you by the fine retailers of the UK?
Couple of days later, I get a call from the company confirming delivery date and trying to push extended warranty etc. Then he asks if I've got an old oven for disposal, as they'll kindly take it away for free!! Cheeky f
kers!!! borderline criminal if you ask me What underhanded sales tricks have been attempted on you by the fine retailers of the UK?
JS748 said:
What underhanded sales tricks have been attempted on you by the fine retailers of the UK?
False pricing is my biggest annoyance."25% off!"... having been priced at the higher price for the minimal legal time.
Sometimes there is a (relative) bargain to be had - e.g. end of line but they are rare.
2 weeks ago at local motor factor, who also fit tyres.
Got a slow puncture in a rear tyre but only 3mm left on it, so ask them to change it.
Lad Jack's car up and immediately goes to the front of the car "fronts are very shiney mate, you'll be in trouble with law of you caught, I'll fit 3 tyres shall I?"
I reply "very strange, I only had them fitted here 400 miles ago, we better talk to your boss about these crap tyres you sell that can't last 2 weeks"
"I err well ummm"
just put it back on the floor, I'm going elsewhere.
Got a slow puncture in a rear tyre but only 3mm left on it, so ask them to change it.
Lad Jack's car up and immediately goes to the front of the car "fronts are very shiney mate, you'll be in trouble with law of you caught, I'll fit 3 tyres shall I?"
I reply "very strange, I only had them fitted here 400 miles ago, we better talk to your boss about these crap tyres you sell that can't last 2 weeks"
"I err well ummm"
just put it back on the floor, I'm going elsewhere.
LordHaveMurci said:
Try dealing with a certain national double glazing firm ...
I know one of them operates unscrupulously, i wont name names but their preferred technique is to get you to sign the deal, then before they go they get every phone number you have, land line, mobiles etc.Then you have 14 days to cancel but they put your numbers on a blocked list for 15 days, then when you call to cancel it's too late.
I learnt that when i - very briefly - worked in the trade.
cjs racing. said:
2 weeks ago at local motor factor, who also fit tyres.
Got a slow puncture in a rear tyre but only 3mm left on it, so ask them to change it.
Lad Jack's car up and immediately goes to the front of the car "fronts are very shiney mate, you'll be in trouble with law of you caught, I'll fit 3 tyres shall I?"
I reply "very strange, I only had them fitted here 400 miles ago, we better talk to your boss about these crap tyres you sell that can't last 2 weeks"
"I err well ummm"
just put it back on the floor, I'm going elsewhere.
I had that quite a few years back; mate your water pump is not looking good; needs a new one pronto. This was from the manager. Got a slow puncture in a rear tyre but only 3mm left on it, so ask them to change it.
Lad Jack's car up and immediately goes to the front of the car "fronts are very shiney mate, you'll be in trouble with law of you caught, I'll fit 3 tyres shall I?"
I reply "very strange, I only had them fitted here 400 miles ago, we better talk to your boss about these crap tyres you sell that can't last 2 weeks"
"I err well ummm"
just put it back on the floor, I'm going elsewhere.
Interesting as I had it done same time as an MOT three month’s prior….at same place.
Got quote in writing.
Escalated that all the way up to MD of the group.
Free servicing for two years and a new set of tyres.
Nissan 200SX Turbo..pop up headlight version. Before the Barry-boys started buying them.
They didn’t sack the guy though- he was looking daggers at me and swearing under his breath when I had my nice new tyres fitted.
So I complained he was making me and my girlfriend very uncomfortable…maybe Trading Standards was actually the way to go (there used to actually be TS officers back then)…?
GM came to meet us. Got a free service for girlfriend’s Punto. Also made sure the garage manager would not be on site.
He was still working there though, years later….I imagine still running same scams.
Even worse: mate had Aston Martin..always issues. Regular servicing with local AM dealer. Recommended to take it a AM specialist. Had it trailered to them.
Few days later - gets a call, can he come to see them?
Long story short: was shown undertray was still on original clips/bolts (whatever), oil filter original…
They think its only been off maybe once.
Car now drives like a completely different car…they had adjusted suspension, tracking, loads of stuff.
They went through the AM dealer service records line by line….
AM settled out of court.
Red9zero said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Try dealing with a certain national double glazing firm ...
That was 3 hours of my life I'm not getting back. We had to be quite rude to get him to leave.Eventually having had enough he relented and let them come round. My grandad still laughed telling this story until his death.
Salesman came round, my grandad and grandma spent about 3 hours going through the catalogue asking endless questions, made a decision. Got him to measure up. Changed there mind on the type of glass multiple times. Different frame materials etc etc. Askin for multiple quotes.
Then said they needed more time. Made him come back for a second time. Going through it all again. Taking all the expensive options (better locks, extended warranty etc).
Finally with the salesman nearly wetting himself and with all the paperwork drawn up and ready to go all he had to do was sign when he suggested him and the salesman go out front to take one last look at the house front.
At this point my grandad asked the salesman what he saw. They stood there for a few mins whilst the salesman looked puzzled at what the old codger (grandad was asking.
At this point my grandad supposedly pointed out it was a brand new build house (18 months old), with brand new PVC windows supplied and fitted by, yep you guessed it. Said window firm.
At this point he politely asked the salesman to f
k off and stop wasting his time by calling him repeatedly after the firm had been told no and to stop calling. Makes me chuckle anyway.
dieselgrunt said:
If it was a brand new build how did he know who originally installed the windows ?
You get product guarantees and paperwork from the supplying company.My OH is the third owner of the flat we're in and I know who did the windows, electrics, boiler installation alarm - because it's all in the paperwork from the builder, which the previous two owners have kept.
dieselgrunt said:
If it was a brand new build how did he know who originally installed the windows ?
Doesn’t really matter the more important point was that the house was 18 months old. Why the hell would someone be spending a fortune on new windows when the windows fitted were new and under warranty. The more important point was that despite telling them probably a dozen times to stop calling and that he didn’t want there unsolicited business they just kept badgering.
So in the end he had the last laugh.
jdw100 said:
cjs racing. said:
2 weeks ago at local motor factor, who also fit tyres.
Got a slow puncture in a rear tyre but only 3mm left on it, so ask them to change it.
Lad Jack's car up and immediately goes to the front of the car "fronts are very shiney mate, you'll be in trouble with law of you caught, I'll fit 3 tyres shall I?"
I reply "very strange, I only had them fitted here 400 miles ago, we better talk to your boss about these crap tyres you sell that can't last 2 weeks"
"I err well ummm"
just put it back on the floor, I'm going elsewhere.
I had that quite a few years back; mate your water pump is not looking good; needs a new one pronto. This was from the manager. Got a slow puncture in a rear tyre but only 3mm left on it, so ask them to change it.
Lad Jack's car up and immediately goes to the front of the car "fronts are very shiney mate, you'll be in trouble with law of you caught, I'll fit 3 tyres shall I?"
I reply "very strange, I only had them fitted here 400 miles ago, we better talk to your boss about these crap tyres you sell that can't last 2 weeks"
"I err well ummm"
just put it back on the floor, I'm going elsewhere.
Interesting as I had it done same time as an MOT three month’s prior….at same place.
Got quote in writing.
Escalated that all the way up to MD of the group.
Free servicing for two years and a new set of tyres.
Nissan 200SX Turbo..pop up headlight version. Before the Barry-boys started buying them.
They didn’t sack the guy though- he was looking daggers at me and swearing under his breath when I had my nice new tyres fitted.
So I complained he was making me and my girlfriend very uncomfortable…maybe Trading Standards was actually the way to go (there used to actually be TS officers back then)…?
GM came to meet us. Got a free service for girlfriend’s Punto. Also made sure the garage manager would not be on site.
He was still working there though, years later….I imagine still running same scams.
Even worse: mate had Aston Martin..always issues. Regular servicing with local AM dealer. Recommended to take it a AM specialist. Had it trailered to them.
Few days later - gets a call, can he come to see them?
Long story short: was shown undertray was still on original clips/bolts (whatever), oil filter original…
They think its only been off maybe once.
Car now drives like a completely different car…they had adjusted suspension, tracking, loads of stuff.
They went through the AM dealer service records line by line….
AM settled out of court.
The service manager insisted it needed 4 new tyres, new brakes and the timing belt needed changing. The gist of our argument was her insisting that they are professionals and know what they are doing and me replying yes, fleecing you because they did this very same work not six months ago and your car has done precisely 50 miles since then.
Brother and i wanted to have it out with their GM but mum wouldn't have it.
Then i bought a Skoda and they tried the same thing with me.
- rubs hands with glee*
It definitely does sir
No, it really doesn't need them
Yes, it really does sir
Well you replaced both 4 months ago, so shall we have trading standards in to see why it needs them replacing again so soon? Or would you rather i spoke to the group principal about the fact you're blatantly trying to rip people off?
.......cars ready....sir....*click*
I would never say i wouldn't have another Skoda but i wouldn't buy it from them
vaud said:
JS748 said:
What underhanded sales tricks have been attempted on you by the fine retailers of the UK?
False pricing is my biggest annoyance."25% off!"... having been priced at the higher price for the minimal legal time.
Sometimes there is a (relative) bargain to be had - e.g. end of line but they are rare.
£100 for a widget with 60% off code this week
£100 for a widget with 33% off code next week
It's bull. They know what they want to sell for. Many of their special deals aren't even competitive. For example: £5.99 MEGA DEAL for RainX when it's £5 all year round in Asda. Please ferk off with this bull
Go Outdoors is another friend of ECP with their Chav pricing - WAS £999, NOW £29 (for an overpriced piece of poly).
I’ll just leave this link here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Amazon and there incessant need to try and sign people up for Amazon prime who don’t want it by having the webpage design so fking biased to trick you in to clicking yes and making every option to say no the smallest most obscure and well hidden link on the page.
One day some regulator with big enough balls will stand up to these nasty tactics.
They have caught my 70 year old step dad out twice now. He’s so fed up with it he no longer has any dealings with Amazon ever. Simply mention amazons name in the house and you can see him go red and about to go off on a rant.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Amazon and there incessant need to try and sign people up for Amazon prime who don’t want it by having the webpage design so f
king biased to trick you in to clicking yes and making every option to say no the smallest most obscure and well hidden link on the page. One day some regulator with big enough balls will stand up to these nasty tactics.
They have caught my 70 year old step dad out twice now. He’s so fed up with it he no longer has any dealings with Amazon ever. Simply mention amazons name in the house and you can see him go red and about to go off on a rant.
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