Kmart won't match Kmart.com prices!
One of our users scanned an item in a West Anaheim Kmart and determined that it was $30 cheaper on Kmart’s own website. He talked to Carlos, the manager on duty, who indicated they they would do not match online prices. Our user, as a dedicated ShopSavvy user, brought this to our attention and I decided to get to the bottom of the problem.
I called the store and talked to Tammy, the manager on duty, and she explained that Kmart and Kmart.com are actually separate businesses – they do not share a P&L and they have no control over one another’s prices. Wow, I did not know that (I think Kmart closed down in Texas so I didn’t even realize they were still in business). She also explained that Kmart.com charges VERY high shipping costs that often make an instore purchase equal in cost. Tammy is not a fan of Kmart.com – it makes her life hard (i.e. having to listen to customers complain).
Tammy concluded that Kmart does not match prices whatsoever. Good to know. Having problems with retailers and pricing? Email sales@biggu.com and we will get to the bottom of your problems!
This is the same for most retail stores and their branded websites here in Australia. It would be very rare for a store to match “their” website’s pricing, and from what I have seen most have a disclaimer on the website saying as much.
To my mind it’s bad business, but then I guess that’s why stores like Kmart are struggling.
[...] Big in Japan – Developers of ShopSavvy or Shop Savvy » Blog … [...]
Typical example of the differences between the online shops and offline shops. Shopsavvy creates a great opportunity to compete with offline retailers in the shop, this is very normal online (having your competitor one click away) but a shock to offline Retailers. Transparency even between the Kmart on- and offline is still far away. I would say offline retailers with Shopsavvy have to move quick and combine price comparing with location based services and offer better prices when a price is scanned in the shop nextdoor….
I think what the writer from Australia describes for his country is fairly similar to here in the States. Some retailers have a tightly integrated multi-channel strategy, such as Best Buy, while others don’t, don’t have a policy of price matching, and don’t give their managers the discretion to do so when asked.
All of which underscore the value of handheld shopping comparison tools such as ShopSavvy.
Every major retailer in the US will match their online prices. Best Buy, Circuit City – they won’t do it unless you ask, but if you do they will.