Amazon mis-advertising 21% off brand new mac mini

[Confuzzzed]

This is relevant to UK buyers, where Amazon is currently advertising Apple Mac mini (Dual-Core i5,2.3GHz,2GB,500GB HD,HD Graphics) ASIN: B005EMLPR6 with a headline discount of 21%. It is not until you actually check that they are selling the product for £449.95 that you realise the deception of this which is at best disingenuous and at worse fraud (mis-advertising). The 21% discount is calculated off an assumed RRP of £570.67.

Clearly the RRP for this machine (and we know Apple's rigid pricing) is £529 so the headline discount should be 14.9%. Obviously people with educational discount can get 14% off from Apple directly (with the extra benefit of extended warranty thrown in for good measure) so Amazon's consumer tricking tactics are despicable. Let this be a warning to all that use amazon and take their 'facts and figures' as gospel.

I would like to give amazon the benefit of the doubt and say that they probably put the RRP mistakenly but when I rang up they refused to take the offer down! The same applies to the Mac mini (Lion server Quad core i7 2.0GHz 4GB, dual 500GB, HD graphics) which is using an assume RRP of £914.66 RRP when the RRP for this product is in fact £849.

Please feel free to share your experiences with regards to this issue or offer advice as I plan on taking this further because my niece was duped into buying one of these machines from amazon.

 

[iStudentUK]

If you feel that strongly email Trading Standards/OFT. Making a mistake is one thing, but refusing to correct it is another. CC Amazon in on the email and see what happens!

If they had been selling it at £570, then reduced it that's fine. However, it clearly says "RRP", which is quite different. Even though it's not Amazon selling it, it is still their site.

 

[Confuzzzed]

If they had been selling it at £570, then reduced it that's fine. However, it clearly says "RRP", which is quite different. Even though it's not Amazon selling it, it is still their site.

You are right. They have recently taken the amazon stock off the website and now only shows third party products only. But over the weekend, I assure you there was amazon stock on there as I described it. I know this because my niece was duped into buying one and it's amazon stock so have plenty of proof. Maybe it took them the entire weekend to fix the issue because it was the weekend but I spoke to them on Saturday morning so who knows how many other customers were also duped into buying from them.

I know it's only £50-60 (what it would cost amazon to 'honour' the headline 21-22% discount from the appropriate pricing point of the Apple RRP) but the thing that I find annoying is that my niece missed out on the 3 year warranty which she would have received had she bought directly from Apple under the educational programme. She bought from amazon so that she can save a few pennies. Obviously she didn't make any saving at all and missed out on the warranty.

 

[iStudentUK]

I know this because my niece was duped into buying one and it's amazon stock so have plenty of proof.

You know she has 7 days (edit, that's working days), starting the day of delivery, to initiate a return? Under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

Sounds like a crappy story though, I wouldn't let it rest! I've found that saying you will inform the OFT (or CCing them into an email) can be quite effective in getting companies to cooperate. My gf tried it with someone and got a quick apology, a refund and compensation! Never tried it with Amazon, but you never know.

 

[Confuzzzed]

Thanks for the advice. I will certainly push on this but regards the 7 day return policy (which I am aware of), they have kind of snookered us because they sent us a snail mail address which they have invited us to write to, which on close inspection arrives with the following disclaimer:

"Please note that for logistical reasons, queries sent by traditional post may typically take 10-14 days for a reply."

So I either appeal to them via snail mail and lapse my 7 day cooling off grace period as afforded by the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 or I initiate the return and then I don't have a leg to stand on because there is no trade to refund or compensate!

Decisions decisions

 

[iStudentUK]

"Please note that for logistical reasons, queries sent by traditional post may typically take 10-14 days for a reply."

As I understand it you only have to "give notice" of your intention to return within 7 working days. If you use the post the notice will be deemed given on the day of posting. See here, especially Regulation 10.

Note I'm not a lawyer, and there are factors like whether and how much the machine has been used that will come into play. All I'm saying is I don't think you don't have 7 working days to actually return it, only give notice.


EDIT- Moreover, I hate it when they try and make you use the post. It's silly. I'd do as they ask, but also send it by email to try and get a quicker response. Again, I'd politely say that for an online company email/phone should be perfectly possible... more grounds for a complaint to the OFT (aka more leverage against Amazon!)

 

[fat jez]

It's not Amazon that are headlining that price though, it's a 3rd party called Digigood. Amazon are charging £509. I don't know how much control Amazon have over what Market Place sellers stick on their product pages.

 

[iStudentUK]

It's not Amazon that are headlining that price though, it's a 3rd party called Digigood. Amazon are charging £509. I don't know how much control Amazon have over what Market Place sellers stick on their product pages.

The OP stated Amazon did this at the weekend themselves. Plus, I expect they have a duty to sought out mis-advertising on their site when they are notified.

 

[Confuzzzed]

The OP stated Amazon did this at the weekend themselves. Plus, I expect they have a duty to sought out mis-advertising on their site when they are notified.

I can confirm that. I have to hand an order invoice for one of these with the seller stated explicitly as Amazon EU S.a.r.L.

I like to think that it's a glitch somewhere, and I am comforted that amazon has now fixed this on its own website but I am sure they have to make good for anyone that purchased a product with the erroneous 'discounted rate'. Don't you think?

 

[philipma1957]

I can confirm that. I have to hand an order invoice for one of these with the seller stated explicitly as Amazon EU S.a.r.L.

I like to think that it's a glitch somewhere, and I am comforted that amazon has now fixed this on its own website but I am sure they have to make good for anyone that purchased a product with the erroneous 'discounted rate'. Don't you think?

well I will grant that you are giving an honest account to us. USA Amazon has been very good to me about errors that they made. They sold me a dead mac book pro take handled the return correctly. I purchased a second macbook pro to replace it and they offer overnight shipping to me as I was in need of a fast replacement. The next day there was no notice of delivery at 10 Am so I called them they told me that they screwed up . I told them I had to have the mac book pro that day and would now have to buy it at a local dealer Best Buy. The price would be 185 usd mmore buying it locally. They gave me a 200 dollar credit on my next purchase from them. I found that to be stunning. I said cool. I purchased the macbook pro local for 183 dollars more then Amazon would have charged me then 2 days later I purchased a 32 inch tv from amazon and used the 200 dollar credit. What I found to be amazing is they never asked me for any proof that I paid for the mac book pro at best buy. I would think they would be kind enough to fix the error they made in your case. If you want attach my post in an email and tell the they can contact me to verify my story.

Best regards Phil

 

[Confuzzzed]

If you want attach my post in an email and tell the they can contact me to verify my story.

I appreciate your story Phil and hope that amazon will take some time but will eventually make good the situation. I have been using amazon for years and have never had any problems although I have never had to have a dispute or return anything to the Co. They have a reputation of good customer care, and I rather hope the mis-advertising was related to a system error, erroneously picking the wrong RRP rather than anything more sinister like typical 'retailer' dirty tricks of using the 'wrong' base price on which to apply a discount in order to make consumers think they are getting a better deal. In those cases, they retailers often put the price of an item as $X in their smallest store somewhere in the back end of beyond and then every store nationally advertises subsequently that they are retailing said same product at an XX% discount when in fact they'd been selling the product at a much lower price than $X in most of their stores. Like I said, amazon does not have that sort of reputation so I hope they stand up and be counted on this.

 

[Confuzzzed]

For those still looking, I have the following update. Received an 'off the shelf' response from Amazon, which gave me chapter and verse of amazon's pricing policy (standard issue copy and paste job to anyone that questions a price) but part of the response also included the following statement "The price listed in our website is given by the manufacturer and please note the RRP given for this item "Apple Mac mini (Dual-Core i5,2.3GHz,2GB,500GB HD,HD Graphics)" is 570.67 GBP."

We all know that is a lie because the RRP for this product is £529. Either their buyers gave them the wrong information or misquoting the wrong RRP is rife in order to 'hook' new (usually unsuspecting) customers. Has anyone else had such an experience with amazon before?

 

[justperry]

Hopefully you get it solved, Amazone has a good name and they should consider solving this problem amicably.

 

[elliotn]

I can understand your irritation at the false advertising. But for those of us who aren't entitled to an educational discount, £449 still seems like a very good price for a base Mac mini. Is there a catch (apart from the £1.99 postal charge)? I think I might get one, and use the £80 saved to buy 8Gb of Crucial ram.

 

[Confuzzzed]

I can understand your irritation at the false advertising. But for those of us who aren't entitled to an educational discount, £449 still seems like a very good price for a base Mac mini. Is there a catch (apart from the £1.99 postal charge)? I think I might get one, and use the £80 saved to buy 8Gb of Crucial ram.

Sure it's a good price. But like you say, mis-advertising is not right and we will fight this. Regarding your question, don't think there are any catches.

Having said that, the amazon deal was pulled after the weekend so what you are seeing on the website now is a machine offered by 3rd party distributor Digigood. I can only speak for the amazon product which my niece received and it's all boxed up and carries with it the usual amazon customer protection. If I were you, I'd read some reviews on this 3rd party distributor but I can't imagine there will be any trouble because I have bought many things from 3rd party distributors on the amazon network and have never had any trouble.

 

[Confuzzzed]

latest update for those still looking (and trusting). Being told by amazon that don't price match! Clearly obfuscating, as that was not what was asked of them. I asked them to honour the headline discount of 22% but use the appropriate RRP. Then told that their current price is higher than the price I purchased the product at!!!! As if the two events are linked.

They have thankfuly now changed the RRP on the website so not conning other innocent customers but I detect what seems to be a persistance on Apple product RRPs, clearly designed to catch the casual buyers out. I shall not be dropping this.

Trading standards is next.

 

[CrAkD]

I just ordered one as a gift from amazon. $521 shipped with black friday discount and my discover card rewards.

 

[Confuzzzed]

@ CrAkD. Thanks for your contribution and good luck with your new purchase. There is no argument that if you use amazon selectively and keep your wits about you, some good prices can be had. But that is hardly the point. The point of this thread, amazon should NOT be using the wrong RRP to confuse customers. It's illegal in this country.

 

[Confuzzzed]

If anyone is still looking, I have an update. After 2 reviews, eventually the company's 'buyers' confirmed the error so amazon has reached out and offered me 20% off the official RRP. Which is an admission of wrong-doing of sorts and I am tempted to take it given that the difference to the 22% I was looking for is only £15. Although I am tempted to go back to them on principle and say no. Any thoughts?

 

[iStudentUK]

If anyone is still looking, I have an update. After 2 reviews, eventually the company's 'buyers' confirmed the error so amazon has reached out and offered me 20% off the official RRP. Which is an admission of wrong-doing of sorts and I am tempted to take it given that the difference to the 22% I was looking for is only £15. Although I am tempted to go back to them on principle and say no. Any thoughts?

If I were you I'd be quite pleased with myself. You have taken on Amazon wth determination and won! I'd grab the 20% immediately, don't let a mere 2% spoil it, right it off as a rounding error and enjoy your victory!

 

[Confuzzzed]

If I were you I'd be quite pleased with myself. You have taken on Amazon wth determination and won! I'd grab the 20% immediately, don't let a mere 2% spoil it, right it off as a rounding error and enjoy your victory!

Thank you for your good wishes and your excellent advice earlier on in the process. It helped give me extra determination, which as you say resulted in getting close to what I wanted. I have accepted their offer but need to note that on MANY apple products the wrong RRP is still displayed on the company's website. Is this something that is so systematic with amazon or is it 3rd party retailers who choose to use the 'fulfilled by amazon' tag so that it would appear to be amazon when in fact it is not? I don't have the answer to that because amazon refused to provide their evidence for the erroneous RRP on their website in the first place. The company's procurement team was contacted by amazon customer service but their conversations remained private. Needless to say, people SHOULD really double check before they believe RRP quoted on the amazon website.

 

[Confuzzzed]

Ha! As it happens, amazon just contacted me again apologising that they'd used the wrong discount rate but on reviewing the file, it was obvious that I had requested 22% off. Which the have now fulfilled with a further refund!!! Woo hoo!! I can take the machine out of its box now!!! Hurray

 

[fat jez]

It's still showing an RRP of £570.67

 

[Confuzzzed]

It's still showing an RRP of £570.67

Buy it and then go through the process I did to get legitimate discount rate off the appropriate RRP. Sadly the discount been offered has dropped to 11% but I reckon you will be able to get them to refund you the difference if you do what I did and get the product for £470 rather than what they are advertising which is £507...But I can not believe that they have not fixed the RRPs yet. It's outrageous. They fixed it on the Mac mini Lion server which is now showing RRP of £849 vs £913 previously

 

[Confuzzzed]

It's gone back down to £449.95 *** showing 22% off the WRONG RRP so if anyone wants to buy a Apple Mac mini (Dual-Core i5,2.3GHz,2GB,500GB HD,HD Graphics) ASIN: B005EMLPR6, I would order one from amazon right away and then go through the process I went through to get the 22% off the CORRECT RRP of £529 rather than the £570.67 stated on the amazon website. I know it doesn't affect me any more because I have been refunded but it's not right to have the wrong RRP