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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why won't they sell me this pushchair?

28 replies

OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 10:29

I'm beginning to think I must be a blacklisted customer or something so if anyone understands business, and the way it works, please can you reassure me Smile

I was looking for a particular pushchair to fit in our car, and came across one in an older model, in our local independant pram shop, on their website. It's quite a bit cheaper than the new version.

It's pink - I have a boy - but the pink bit is changeable to another colour so that's Ok.
I went in yesterday to look at it, and they said they have another in blue but I'd need to buy the 'cocoon' thing with it as it's a package. (these are old new stock I presume, so might be hard for them to get rid of the cocoons on their own?)
Anyway it was going to be another £50 more than the pink one so I said I'd think it over.
I looked on ebay and there are loads of cocoons for sale. So I decided it would make sense to buy the pink one and then replace the pink bit from ebay, too.

I rang them this morning to ask about it and the woman said, the pink one comes as a package now - it includes the footmuff and cocoon in pink, and it's £500 Hmm which is £121 more than the original price.

I don't want the extra bits. I said to her can I not just buy the pushchair? She said no.
So I said it's still on your website, and she said, yes it was changed last week but hasn't been updated yet.

So I said Ok, I'll have to leave it, thanks anyway. It's still on the website and I am tempted to order it and pay!

So is there a plausible reason for this malarkey, or is it just that they hate me and don't want to sell it to me? I would have thought they'd be glad of a sale but maybe I am getting it all wrong.

Thanks if you can explain Smile

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 26/02/2013 10:32

Sounds like shes just chancing her arm with you to get as much money as possible.

I would take my custom elsewhere.

ophelia275 · 26/02/2013 10:33

If you really want it, order it from the website and pay but make sure you pay by credit card so if there are any problems you can do a chargeback. They are mis-selling the item if it is actually a different price from the website. There might be something about it on the Trading Standards website?

KatyTheCleaningLady · 26/02/2013 10:33

If they do have the other stuff to go with it, it makes sense that they'd want to sell it as one lot, as those bits would be useless to them without the push chair.

But, you can certainly order it online and see how it goes!

Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 10:34

Well this is it - they know there are cheaper shops out there. I will just wait for another old model to come up on a website and it'll probably be less.

It just seems bonkers, that it's available for sale on the website - what will they do if someone else buys it? Tell them they have to have the other stuff too or it's no can do?

I really want it. It's so annoying. Ad when I rang about 2 days ago to ask about the pink one, it was still available Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 10:36

Yes I think it makes sense that they would want rid of the accoutrements that go with it - but it's not like they would be useless - people still want spares for this as it's an expensive buggy and lasts well I think.

If someone else wanted the footmuff and cocoon I guess they'd be happier to sell me the thing. But if it's £500 I'd be better off getting the new version.

I don't want to buy it online as that'll mean confrontation and acrimoniousness, and that's not good. The whole point of buying from them is good aftersales and so on. I just don't understand.

OP posts:
SneakyNinja · 26/02/2013 11:52

Why would there be a confrontation if you buy it online?

leeloo1 · 26/02/2013 12:12

"they said they have another in blue but I'd need to buy the 'cocoon' thing with it as it's a package. (these are old new stock I presume, so might be hard for them to get rid of the cocoons on their own?)
Anyway it was going to be another £50 more than the pink one"

For £50 more, why don't you get the blue one then - it'd probably end up easier and cheaper than faffing with ebay, and if you want the aftercare service then you probably wouldn't get that if you'd swapped the seat covers.

Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 13:10

If I bought it online, then went to collect it they would know it was me and that looks really sneaky - that I went ahead and ordered it having been told it wasn't available any more. like I was trying to get round it. iyswim?
They are our only local independant shop and I want to stay on good terms with them.

Leeloo, yes I thought about that - but I just didn't want the cocoon, from there, as they're much cheaper on ebay and you only need it for a few months at most. But I know what you're trying to say and it's not a bad idea.

What I've actually done is gone and bought one from Mothercare instead, they still had one left, and it was £20 cheaper than this one anyway!

I think I've decided that the indy shop is a bit odd.

Thanks for all your help Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 13:13

I mean, bought the pushchair - not the cocoon. I think Mothercare aftersales is probably Ok. Hope so anyway.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 26/02/2013 13:14

She knew you wanted it and shot herself in the foot by trying to get more money out of you. The problem with trying push people is that you risk them walking away. Her loss!

Bogeyface · 26/02/2013 13:15

Please please do go into her shop with your brand spanking new pushchair :o

Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 13:26

Lol, Bogey Grin That would really get her back up wouldn't it! It's a shame - I like to support local retailers, but I remember now why I found her a bit funny last time I went there for something about 5 years ago.

I don't know if she was being pushy and trying to get more money or if it was just unfortunate that they needed to sell off these other bits - but why would they turn down a sale of almost £400, just because of that?

I guess someone might buy it one day. Either they can afford to be picky about their customers or they aren't very good at business, or something.

OP posts:
onetiredmummy · 26/02/2013 13:47

Can't someone else collect it from the shop for you? :)

onetiredmummy · 26/02/2013 13:48

Ha sorry, made a cuppa & didn't update when I got back Blush

IneedAgoldenNickname · 26/02/2013 13:55

What pram is it?

EuroShaggleton · 26/02/2013 14:05

Just buy it online.

babiesinslingsgetcoveredinfood · 26/02/2013 14:05

I'm wondering if you live near me?! We ended up walking out of our only independent pram centre too as the massively opinionated & arm chancey sales lady really got our backs up. I think she thought she'd seen us coming, but we'd done our research.

I'm glad you got what you wanted. I personally hate mother are, but perhaps other stores are ok (hopes Taunton isn't your local store!!!).

Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 14:24

OTM - why didn't I think of that!!! Smile I did think of getting a friend to order it for me from the website, but was a wuss about asking someone else to get involved in my shenanigans.

In the end it's worked out really well, as it's cheaper than it would have been on their website.

No, not Taunton! Smile our Mothercare is pretty much standard with customer service, not awful, not outstanding but I like them better than weirdy shop woman.

I was so excited to be in a pram shop though. I am fascinated with prams. I felt a bit of a fraud actually as I seemed to know as much as, or more than they do about them and I had to act like a 'normal' customer when they were telling me things...you know, 'Oh this model is lovely, because it has such and such' and I wanted to go 'I know! And actually you're wrong, they did have this issue with the wheels, with this model' when she was trying to big it up.

Maybe she suspected I wasn't being entirely upfront, as I just kept nodding and saying 'Oh really' Grin maybe that's why they have tried to BANISH me by putting the prices up. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 14:25

(Ineed - I'm afraid of being identified by the shop - but it begins with a B iykwim) Wink

OP posts:
MrsMushroom · 26/02/2013 14:30

You should ask someone else...your Mum for instance to buy the one online...then have her go in and collect it. Do they not do delivery?

Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 14:31

I'm not sure if they deliver, the ordering process on the site is a bit shifty. No mention of postage etc. But I've got one now anyway mrs M - thanks all the same for the idea.

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 26/02/2013 15:20

Yanbu

What pram is it?

NayFindus · 26/02/2013 15:44

Bogeyface Please please do go into her shop with your brand spanking new pushchair Grin

Ooh to be a fly on the wall of you did...

NayFindus · 26/02/2013 15:50

Wait a minute - it's not across the street from Asda, Argos and a petrol station is it? On the corner? With no windows? And van with a big box on top saying 'B_ - next left' parked nearby?

Original poster
OutsideOverThere · 26/02/2013 15:59

yikes Shock

do I know you?!! Grin

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