Best Buy-Pricing Error?

[vetteguy]

I've been looking at a new TiVo unit that has a DVD burner built-in. I've narrowed it down to 2 models:

Humax DRT800 Link 80GB Drive

Toshiba RS-TX20 Link 120GB Drive

There are 2 main differences between these models (they are essentially the same hardware): the Toshiba has a larger hard drive and comes with free TiVo Basic included. The Humax requires you to pay the $13/month for TiVo Plus. Both have an available $100 mail-in rebate (only when you activate TiVo Plus though). Best Buy has the DRT800 for $449 before Rebate. It is selling the Toshiba for $599 before rebate. Here's what's odd: most places have about the same price for the Humax, but almost EVERYWHERE else is selling the Toshiba for around $499 BEFORE REBATE. Wal-mart.com has it for $474, buy.com has it for $499, etc. I realize these are online dealers, but usually there is not that large of a price discrepancy. My question is, do you think this is a price mistake at BB? Do you think there's any chance of them coming down to $499? The rebate is good through the end of the year, but the sale on the Humax (actually Circuit City has it for $424) is only good through the end of the week. Any thoughts?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Why is it a price mistake? They don't care to lower the price to what everyone is selling it at. You could try to PM it. What do other B&M retailers sell it for?

 

[Mr N8]

It's exactly what BB wants to do. They crave the uninformed customer.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
It's exactly what BB wants to do. They crave the uninformed customer.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Why is it a price mistake? They don't care to lower the price to what everyone is selling it at. You could try to PM it. What do other B&M retailers sell it for?

I'm not saying it IS a price mistake, but like I said usually their prices are fairly close to online ones, not $100 more for something in this price range. I'm going to print off a bunch of sites that have it and show them, but I know they won't PM. I haven't been able to find any other B&M stores that are carrying it right now.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: vetteguy

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Why is it a price mistake? They don't care to lower the price to what everyone is selling it at. You could try to PM it. What do other B&M retailers sell it for?

I'm not saying it IS a price mistake, but like I said usually their prices are fairly close to online ones, not $100 more for something in this price range. I'm going to print off a bunch of sites that have it and show them, but I know they won't PM. I haven't been able to find any other B&M stores that are carrying it right now.

I don't know about TV equipment, but for most everything else, BB seems a lot higher than their online counterparts. And like you said - no other B&M retailer carries it right now. BB can sell it higher b/c no one else does. It seems like you're unwilling to buy it from an online dealer and you'd rather buy it at BB.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: vetteguy

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Why is it a price mistake? They don't care to lower the price to what everyone is selling it at. You could try to PM it. What do other B&M retailers sell it for?

I'm not saying it IS a price mistake, but like I said usually their prices are fairly close to online ones, not $100 more for something in this price range. I'm going to print off a bunch of sites that have it and show them, but I know they won't PM. I haven't been able to find any other B&M stores that are carrying it right now.

I don't know about TV equipment, but for most everything else, BB seems a lot higher than their online counterparts. And like you said - no other B&M retailer carries it right now. BB can sell it higher b/c no one else does. It seems like you're unwilling to buy it from an online dealer and you'd rather buy it at BB.

Yes, because my wife is out of town and I'd like to start using it tonight, something I can't do if I have to wait for it to be shipped, plus with the mail-in rebate, if I wait for it to come back in stock at buy.com I may miss out. I'll probably end up with the Humax.

 

[vetteguy]

A little update for anyone who cares-I went to BB tonight and asked someone (who turned out to be the store manager who was working on the floor) about the unit. I asked him why it was so much more expensive than other places. He asked for an example and I told him about walmart.com He looked it up, saw it was $474, and told me he would match the internet price! But...his Best Buy was out of stock (oh, cruel fate). But, the other store in town still had 2, so he said to go down there and if they gave me any trouble have them call him. I did, and told the person working there what the deal was. He didn't question me at all (he didn't even verify w/walmart.com, just asked me how much it was) and adjusted the price for me. This was a total shock, considering that this was the same store that once would not match Circuit City's ADVERTISED price on an XBOX game (for like $5 less, even though Circuit City is down the street and had the game in stock).

I guess it helps when you talk to the right person.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
A little update for anyone who cares-I went to BB tonight and asked someone (who turned out to be the store manager who was working on the floor) about the unit. I asked him why it was so much more expensive than other places. He asked for an example and I told him about walmart.com He looked it up, saw it was $474, and told me he would match the internet price! But...his Best Buy was out of stock (oh, cruel fate). But, the other store in town still had 2, so he said to go down there and if they gave me any trouble have them call him. I did, and told the person working there what the deal was. He didn't question me at all (he didn't even verify w/walmart.com, just asked me how much it was) and adjusted the price for me. This was a total shock, considering that this was the same store that once would not match Circuit City's ADVERTISED price on an XBOX game (for like $5 less, even though Circuit City is down the street and had the game in stock).

I guess it helps when you talk to the right person.

Or the n00b BB employee! :evil:

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: vetteguy
A little update for anyone who cares-I went to BB tonight and asked someone (who turned out to be the store manager who was working on the floor) about the unit. I asked him why it was so much more expensive than other places. He asked for an example and I told him about walmart.com He looked it up, saw it was $474, and told me he would match the internet price! But...his Best Buy was out of stock (oh, cruel fate). But, the other store in town still had 2, so he said to go down there and if they gave me any trouble have them call him. I did, and told the person working there what the deal was. He didn't question me at all (he didn't even verify w/walmart.com, just asked me how much it was) and adjusted the price for me. This was a total shock, considering that this was the same store that once would not match Circuit City's ADVERTISED price on an XBOX game (for like $5 less, even though Circuit City is down the street and had the game in stock).

I guess it helps when you talk to the right person.

Or the n00b BB employee! :evil:

Or you missed the first part of my post:

who turned out to be the store manager who was working on the floor

 

[HonkeyDonk]

Originally posted by: vetteguy

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: vetteguy
A little update for anyone who cares-I went to BB tonight and asked someone (who turned out to be the store manager who was working on the floor) about the unit. I asked him why it was so much more expensive than other places. He asked for an example and I told him about walmart.com He looked it up, saw it was $474, and told me he would match the internet price! But...his Best Buy was out of stock (oh, cruel fate). But, the other store in town still had 2, so he said to go down there and if they gave me any trouble have them call him. I did, and told the person working there what the deal was. He didn't question me at all (he didn't even verify w/walmart.com, just asked me how much it was) and adjusted the price for me. This was a total shock, considering that this was the same store that once would not match Circuit City's ADVERTISED price on an XBOX game (for like $5 less, even though Circuit City is down the street and had the game in stock).

I guess it helps when you talk to the right person.

Or the n00b BB employee! :evil:

Or you missed the first part of my post:

who turned out to be the store manager who was working on the floor

I think he was referring to the other BB employee working at the store with the 2 units instock. He might have been a noob and just rang up wahtever you said or didn't know the policy or whatever.