Increasing prices.

[tourdeforce]

Hello Folks.

I firmly believe that it is illegal to have an item for sales at one priice and then simply to cross that price out and to then increase it.

1. Please correct me if I am wrong.
2. If I am correct, please could you direct me to a website that states this in plain english.

I am livid. I have just attempted a purchase an item that was intitally £6.00 but this was was crossed out. I took it to the till expecting it to be reduced but was actually £1 dearer!.

Your help is and always has been very much appreciated.
Looking forward to your answer in anticipation.

Mr DeForce

[factor-fiction]

It is poor business practice but it is not illegal.
For a website just type the following into google "difference between invitation to treat and offer"

[ummmm]

That's like saying it's illegal to make a mistake..!

[jackthehat]

http://www.bis.gov.uk...dance-for-traders.pdf

[ummmm]

Lol....I'd pay someone a pound to read that...

[ojread2]

this was answered a few days ago in the Law section

http://www.theanswerb...w/Question971018.html

[jackthehat]

Not quite.

[dotty.]

The sale is only complete when the item is rung through the till. Whatever the electonic file reads , that is what the customer should expect to pay,

[ummmm]

My SIL bought a blouse from topshop for £45...it wasn't until we got home that she noticed her card receipt was for 45p.

[tourdeforce]

Okay guys, thanks for all replies.

I would just like to point out that this was a T.J. Hughes store, not a small independant shop, and definately not a a mistake. These were factory printed prices prices that were simply crossed out.
On calling the manager, he told me with a 'smelly attitiude' that prices rise and the new stock cost more. On asking where the new stock was, he replied that it had not arrived yet. He even argued that VAT has gone up, more than week before it actually does!

[dotty.]

mmmm Retail is a complex business Mr De Force, not everyone understands the challenges and demands of the job.

[Skyline D]

Regardless of whether it was a mistake or not, it's not illegal. This is about the thousandth time someone has expressed surprise that shops can change price right up to the point of payment at a till. Until contract is formed at point of payment it's merely an invitation.

[ABerrant]

Misrepresentation of goods, including its price, is prohibited by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Trading Standards can enforce fines upon traders where mislabelling has occured.

http://www.tradingsta...usiness-ftbussum3.cfm

[Andyvon]

Hi Tourdeforce,

I owned a chauffeur company for twelve years and we also did courier and taxi work. I could charge whatever fares and prices I wished - I was under no restrictions. In fact, I used to charge the highest taxi prices in the town as I knew we could be selective and avoid the pub work. The cheap companies scrapped for the drunks while I kept my cars clean and my drivers safe and happy. I also knew I would only have those customers prepared to pay higher prices for a quality service.

I think it's the same with shops and their pricing. Purchasing a service or product is a two-way agreement. There were quite a few customers I refused to work for (didn't pay accounts for months etc). I could also charge whatever fares I wanted and that was my right. Similarly, none of my customers had to use my service - they had the right to choose another company.

A shop agrees to serve you as a customer and you agree to pay the price. If the shop doesn't want a customer in their store (shoplifters for example) they have every right not to serve them or let them in the store. They can also charge whatever prices they like. In the same way, you don't have to shop there!

Basically Tourdeforce, if you don't like the price of an item all you can do is leave and go to another shop.

[ABerrant]

In general...
There is no law that says a consumer must purchase from a specific trader.
There is no law that says a trader must sell to a consumer.
There is a law that says all retail goods must be accurately priced.
There is a law that says that deliberate misrepresentation of the price is an offence.

You can charge whatever you like but you cannot deliberately label the goods at another price to that which you intend to charge. There is flexibility with mistaken pricing but in the OP case where a price label is struck through and not replaced with another label then:

a) the item has no accurate indicated price (illegal)
b) the trader has made an invitation to purchase other than in accordance with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (illegal)