Staples phone price match - help needed

[Koslov]

Ok I'll try to make it short and sweet:

I'm trying to price match a laptop from Staples over the phone against Futureshop. Problem is the laptop on the Futureshop website is out of stock but it is in stock in various Futureshop stores in my region (in Montreal). They refuse to price match because it is out of stock 'online' but I keep insisting that I don't want to do an 'online' price match, but a price match against my local brick n' mortar futureshop. They can easily verify that it is in stock online via Futureshop's system.

Can they really refuse to price match it? Should I ask to speak to a supervisor or something? The funny thing is that I asked the lady on the phone if it was possible to price match a brick n' mortar store if you have proof that they have it in stock and she said yes then a few minutes later she said sorry we cannot do the price match blah blah because it's out of stock 'online'. God I was pissed.

What do you think?

[Soulsaber]

Try a different rep?

[Koslov]

Try a different rep?

I tried 2 rep - they now know me and 'blocked' me I think lol

[david754]

"For internet and delivered purchases, the competitor must have the item in stock on their website and next day shipping and handling fees will be added to the competitor’s price to make a fair comparison against our price."

-http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Static/static_pages.asp?CT=1&pagename=help_policy_pricematch

IMHO, if you go to the store and purchase it, then they should honor it. If you are buying online, comparing to a store, then I don't personally think it should apply.

[Koslov]

It's a bit silly though, I mean what's the difference in the end (for them?) eh.
Do they accept "online" coupons in store ?

[bylo]

Do they accept "online" coupons in store ?No.

[sahilz]

Go to a local store to PM a local FS? They will give you some trouble because it is not available online, but do have them look at FS locations. If they say well the closest store doesn't have stock, ask them to look around, as their PM policy doesn't say anything about "local" stores.

Good luck.

[lorax1284]

then go to FS that has stock, tell them which Staples store has it in stock, they can phone and confirm the stock.

It must not be a requirement that the store they PM against MUST have real-time online website stock quantity display.

Good luck!

[Koslov]

Yeah but the thing is that I want to use 3 coupons too and I can't do it in store. That's why I need to do it via phone and they refuse because it's OOS 'online' oh well

[carmaster]

Can't you order it online and then go instore to get the price adjusted?

[Koslov]

little update: I just called 45min ago to price match it again because it came back in stock @ Futureshop :cheesygri . They accepted to price match it but they charged me 27$ extra to cover the shipping charges!!! I was furious, I tried to explain 10 times that Futureshop offers free shipping if you make an order over 39$. What the hell is that crap ... I'm so pissed. Some of my coupons expire tonight too.
rot in hell staples!!

[bylo]

They accepted to price match it but they charged me 27$ extra to cover the shipping charges!!! I was furious, I tried to explain 10 times that Futureshop offers free shipping if you make an order over 39$. What the hell is that crap ...
Staples Price Match Policy (http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Static/static_pages.asp?pagename=help_policy_pricematch)
For internet and delivered purchases, the competitor must have the item in stock on their website and next day shipping and handling fees will be added to the competitor’s price to make a fair comparison against our price.
(My bold.) This has become their standard weasel. They don't care that you don't need the item the next day. They don't care that someone like Dell, who doesn't claim next day delivery, usually delivers smaller items like computer accessories just as fast (and often faster!) as they do. They just quote that sentence then add some ridiculous next day shipping fee in order to stop your PM request dead in its tracks.

(A month or so ago they wouldn't PM a Canon multifunction printer that Best Buy had on sale because "BB is in Vancouver and they can't deliver it to you in Ontario overnight like we can." So I bought it from BB and -- guess what --
they delivered it the next day from their warehouse in Mississauga.)

[Koslov]

Staples Price Match Policy (http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Static/static_pages.asp?pagename=help_policy_pricematch)
(My bold.) This has become their standard weasel. They don't care that you don't need the item the next day. They don't care that someone like Dell, who doesn't claim next day delivery, usually delivers smaller items like computer accessories just as fast (and often faster!) as they do. They just quote that sentence then add some ridiculous next day shipping fee in order to stop your PM request dead in its tracks.

(A month or so ago they wouldn't PM a Canon multifunction printer that Best Buy had on sale because "BB is in Vancouver and they can't deliver it to you in Ontario overnight like we can." So I bought it from BB and -- guess what --
they delivered it the next day from their warehouse in Mississauga.)

Holy crap I didn't know they were so lame - wow.
thanks

[Ohlias]

Buy it at FS, bring the item and bill to Staples, have them match the price, return the unopened box to FS and get your money back. No shipping or web stock to worry about...

I use actual bills to price match all the time...

Good luck