Best Buy Announces Store And Online Price Match
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Best Buy is making a big move, announcing that beginning next month it will match the prices of more than a dozen on-line retailers.
Amazon, Apple, Crutchfield, Dell, Frys, h.h. gregg, HP, Home Depot, Lowes, Office Depot, Office Max, Sears, Staples, Target, and Walmart are just a few of the major online retailers the store will price match.
It hopes the price-match will stop a common practice among consumers -- a practice that brings people into the store, but also has them walking out.. empty handed.
It's called show-rooming -- a concept disliked by big box retailers -- but Derek Austin of Apollo admits he does it.
"I go in to see what the product is, see if I like it or not, and then I go on line and buy it cheaper," said Austin.
He's not alone. Many customers say they like to see and feel products in a store before they put money down online.
"I'd rather touch it, see it, and buy it in person. It's just the research end is easier to do -- finding out what products are like from on-line," said Anne Haluszcak of Reserve.
Best Buy hopes to lure more customers through a new policy called Low Price Guarantee.
Best Buy says it no longer wants to be a showroom for Amazon or all those other on-line retailers. They will match the low prices you get on line or any low prices locally.
Why? Because they want you to buy the product right here at Best Buy, make the purchase and walk right out.
Effective March 3, customers who find a lower price at nineteen listed online retailers can buy the identical Best Buy product for that lower price.
"I think it is a smart deal for them," said Point Park University business professor Elaine Luther.
Luther said this should reduce show-rooming on the Best Buy floor.
"There's no incentive once you see something you like to go to any other store to see anything about it," she said.
But customers like Doug Kunst of Bellevue say you still need to scan bar codes to find lower internet or local prices.
"It's a step in the right direction, but you still have to go through the hassle of finding the matching prices," said Kunst.
He'd prefer Best Buy just post the best prices.
"If they want to compete, maybe they should just find a way to lower the prices," he added.
Best Buy also says it will match prices after you buy them if they lower the price within 15 days of your purchase.
RELATED LINKS:
Best Buy Low Price Guarantee Press Release
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