DVD Prices Virgin, HMV

Is1ldur

This has probably come up before, however just thought I would paste here what I just submitted to the ODCA site. Comments appreciated.

I wonder if you can help me. I have seen quite a number of times Virgin Megastore and HMV change the prices which they charge for specific DVD's and CD's depending upon their particular offer. For a particularly good example. The DVD 'The Wicker Man' originally came out with a price tag of EUR30-40, however it does not appear to have sold very well and the price eventually came down to, at one stage, EUR15 or something (Sorry I cannot be specific, however this is only mean't as an example). Subsequently the outlet in question offered the DVD in a 2 for the price of 1 offer, with the actual price changed back up to EUR 45 or thereabouts. I see this happening regularly and am wondering how it fits in with the following, quoted from elsewhere on the site, or if other laws apply;

FRom ODCA Site
Previous Prices

As indicated earlier, it is an offence to give a false or misleading indication of the previous price of goods and services. Indications of previous prices are given in a variety of ways viz. "Was €10, Now €5"; "Usual Price €20, Sale Price €15". Such an indication may be given merely by crossing out one price and substituting another e.g. €15, €10. Indeed the Act states that anything likely to be taken as an indication of a previous price indication. Thus, the test of a previous is not what the trader says it means but how consumers are likely to interpret it. However a previous price is indicated, the Act requires in effect that such an indication is accurate. In other words a false price-reduction claim may constitute an offence.

If the Act said no more than this about previous price indications it would be relatively easy for an unscrupulous trader to put up prices for, say five minutes and thereafter to claim that prices have been previously reduced from those obtaining previously. Partly to prevent such evasion, the Act sets out the meaning to be attached to previous-price indications in certain circumstances. Unless the contrary is expressed, an indication of a previous price shall be taken to mean that the goods or services were offered openly in the same place for sale at that previous price for at least twenty-eight successive days in the previous three months. In effect, a trader who advertises a reduction on a previous price may be asked to establish that the goods or services were on sale at that previous price for at least twenty-eight days in the previous three months. When the word "Sale" is used in an advertisement, it is usually understood to mean that the advertiser has reduced the prices in comparison with previous prices.

Flash Offers

Manufacturers sometimes reduce the price of their products for limited periods and advertise this reduction by markings on the package - sometimes known as "flash-offers" and expressed by "4c off" or some such term.

If a package contains the words "4c off" or similar terms, the assumption is that the seller (retailer) offered the same goods for sale in the same place for 4c more that the present price for at least 28 successive days in the previous three months. Retailers should therefore exercise particular care with such "flash-offers" and should ensure that prices are reduced appropriately in comparison with the previous price charged by the retailer. If the price-reduction is not as stated (perhaps because the retailer was discounting the price for three months anyway) the retailer should "blank-out" the advertised price-reduction or otherwise make it clear that the "flash-offer" is not correct. In such circumstances manufacturers may wish to advise retailers that they should reduce their prices by the proper amount or take other appropriate action to avoid a breach of the Act.

Koyaanisqatsi

Count666, I think you have a valid point.
I see Lawerence of Arabia at €39.99 in the same 'two for one' offer in HMV.
Lawerence of Arabia was €31.99 in HMV about a year ago without the 2-4-1 offer.
It was never €39.99 in HMV, as I was actually pricing it for the last year.
I eventually bought it at Extravision for €12.50 as part of two for €25.00 offer.

m

previously viewed dvds in xtravision though ?

Gummy Panda

If it was 12.50 then it should've been in the 2 for 20 offer unless you didn't buy it recent.

M,

Lawerence of Arabia would've been a brand new disc as xtra-vision would've only got in one copy for back catalogue.

But xtra-vision also have increased prices for sales. The bond dvds have increased from 15 to 25 for the "buy bond, get bond free" promo. This is a MGM promo though so is not entirely Xtra-vision's doing.

sceptre

Originally posted by Koyaanisqatsi
Count666, I think you have a valid point.

I agree and I wish the count well:D

There was a time when the ODCA was more pushed about the magic word "sale" then any special offers. The 2for1 deals are a sale, touted as such, advertised as such and regarded by most consumers as such. They should fall under the same regulations (which should be enforced). I'll leave it a few days (busy at the mo) and write something similar to the same guys. And I'll try to do some price checking over the next few months. If they're blatantly lying about the amount of previous price, it's open and shut.

Cork

I see some the 2 for 1 offers & I am not blown away.

Normally, In shops - You see 2 for the price of 1 and You'd say great.

gazzer

i went into HMV yesterday as i had got some vouchers for xmas presents. anyway i wanted to get some vinyl for my decks but it turns out that they dont sell any in the HMV in Blanch shopping centre.

I decided to have a look at the so called sale they have on DVD's just to see how much they were. Now wait till you see this comparrison.

Buffy Season Six costs around 50 euro on CDwow.

HMV are selling it for bloody 158.99 euro.

How the hell are they getting away with that??

Have to say that the shop was absolutely packed out. Hopfully it was mainly people that were just using their vouchers.