Question on price matching.

[guitarman]

My wife and I went to a Cambridge are golf store yesterday to find her new clubs. She tired out a new set of Big Bertha 04s that she really liked. They were on for $699 which I thought was a competitive price. I did try to talk them down but the went in to great detail to tell me how much of a bath they were taking by selling them at this price. So I put a deposit on them to lay them a way along with a 4 wood, driver and putter. Well, I went to GT in Ancaster today and saw the exact same irons for $548. Being it’s a $150 difference this upset me.
My plan is to call them tomorrow and either demand they match the price or just apply my deposit towards the other stuff I bought and put the irons back on the shelf so I can get them at GT instead. My question to those on this forum, especially any of you that may work in golf retail, is this a reasonable action? I sure hate to eat $150 if I don’t have to.

[goshawk]

I've never done the lay-away thing here in Canada, but when I worked in retail in Maryland if someone put something on lay-away and later changed their mind, the money was refunded and merchandise put back on the shelf. So you shouldn't have to eat $150 loss. Just get a refund on your lay-away and head for GT.

[xander.uk]

not sure on the law over there but over here you wouldnt have any problems in using your deposit towards payment of your other items and then tell them you dont want the irons!

when they ask why just tell them.........if they want the sale i would want them to BEAT the price not match it....lol

:)

[nearace]

generally everyone will price match but must be varified talk to a manager if not satisfied imo howie

[goshawk]

I agree with Xander. Use the money you've put down as partial payment on the driver and 3-wood, and let them know that you've found the exact same clubs at a lot less. Ask them if they'll beat the price, and if they do then buy them there. Otherwise, it's GT's deal.

[guitarman]

How much should they beat them by? Really, though I'd just be happy with them matching. Up to now they've been pretty easy to deal with. I would hope they wouldn't give me any trouble on price matching but after they put up such a fuss on how they are taking a bath on these irons and losing so much with them priced at $699 they would look foolish giving me another $150 off.

[nearace]

some match plus 10% dont count on it good luck

[guitarman]

some match plus 10% dont count on it good luck

Yes, that would be nice but I'd be happy with a match just so I know I'm not getting hosed.

[golfer40]

they should match...if not i would return them, and get them at the cheaper place...or go to return them just to prove a point... 150, a new club or a couoke dozen balls deoending on what your playing...

[swaaain]

It is definately well worth saving the $150. I am not sure I would really believe the story of the sales person either in Caimbridge. Callaway gives net downs to their retailers when they have stock that is being closed out. And Golf town will not lose money on the sales price either.

Go to the retailer who will not stretch the truth for you and treat you fairly.

Just my Honest Opinion anyhow.

Jeff
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[guitarman]

It is definately well worth saving the $150. I am not sure I would really believe the story of the sales person either in Caimbridge. Callaway gives net downs to their retailers when they have stock that is being closed out. And Golf town will not lose money on the sales price either.

Go to the retailer who will not stretch the truth for you and treat you fairly.

Just my Honest Opinion anyhow.

Jeff
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Thanks to you and everyone else for the info. Knowing about net down will be helpful.

[Benny]

I myself would take them back and get a refund. Then make a purchase at GT plus they will adjust the lies that would suit your wife. (clubfitting) Goodluck

[xander.uk]

my point was that as they were more expensive i would rather give my money to the company that is keeping its prices lower in the hope that they will continue to do so or that the company over charging will either go out of business or learn that lower prices = more sales = greater profits in the long run!

as they were the higher price to begin with i would want them to knock maybe $25 off the price match or (as i have done over in the u.k) ask then to match the price and throw in a couple of boxes of balls for free as well!

I am sure they are not ripping you off but are merely selling the clubs at the manufacturers recommended retail price which means they are making the maximum amount of profit they can.

[guitarman]

Well I called the store in Cambridge and the would only go down to $620, still only a difference of $70. So I told him to forget the irons and I would pick them up a t GT this morning on the way to work.
My wife got talking to me and said that she really wanted the ones in Cambridge because the shafts are blue which would match her Callaway X 460 driver and 4 wood and the GT BB 04s are burgundy shafted and would not match. I argued it was stupid to pay $70 more for the color. She instructed me to call and ask them to throw a box of golf balls in. So I called back and the owner ended up coming down to $590. So I guess I"m paying $42 more so my wife can have the color shaft she wants. "Women" sheesh. If it were me I wouldn't have done it.

[Louie]

Hahaha, O well at least she's happy.

[ondadl]

"Women" sheesh. If it were me I wouldn't have done it.

I'm sure there are many gentlemen on this board who'd pay a lot more than that to get the specific colour they were looking for to match the rest of their set. A tell tale sign of a future club ho. You've been warned. :D

[BowmanvilleJim]

I agree with you. If it was for me I wouldn't spend extra just to get the colour I want BUT for the wife....well she puts up with me so she gets what she wants.

[Greensinreg]

Everybody knows that you have to keep the little lady happy.....because if she is happy everybodies happy!!!!!!!

[danscustomgolfshop]

Well I called the store in Cambridge and the would only go down to $620, still only a difference of $70. So I told him to forget the irons and I would pick them up a t GT this morning on the way to work.
My wife got talking to me and said that she really wanted the ones in Cambridge because the shafts are blue which would match her Callaway X 460 driver and 4 wood and the GT BB 04s are burgundy shafted and would not match. I argued it was stupid to pay $70 more for the color. She instructed me to call and ask them to throw a box of golf balls in. So I called back and the owner ended up coming down to $590. So I guess I"m paying $42 more so my wife can have the color shaft she wants. "Women" sheesh. If it were me I wouldn't have done it.

Are they the exact same shaft??
Maybe these are an uplevel shaft - justifying the difference.

[nearace]

Well I called the store in Cambridge and the would only go down to $620, still only a difference of $70. So I told him to forget the irons and I would pick them up a t GT this morning on the way to work.
My wife got talking to me and said that she really wanted the ones in Cambridge because the shafts are blue which would match her Callaway X 460 driver and 4 wood and the GT BB 04s are burgundy shafted and would not match. I argued it was stupid to pay $70 more for the color. She instructed me to call and ask them to throw a box of golf balls in. So I called back and the owner ended up coming down to $590. So I guess I"m paying $42 more so my wife can have the color shaft she wants. "Women" sheesh. If it were me I wouldn't have done it.get the ones she wants if not every time one comes out of the bag you will feel her eyes burning a hole in you lol small price to pay.

[rgk5]

My question too, as all GBB 2004 ladies irons had burgundy shafts. We may have an "apples 'n oranges" scenario here.

[guitarman]

Are they the exact same shaft??
Maybe these are an uplevel shaft - justifying the difference.

I don't know. I never really looked. I just saw ladies flex. You could be right as they are the only Ladies BB04 irons that I have seen with a color other than Burgundy.
I do know that while she was trying these irons she had absolutely no problems getting the ball in the air. That has always been a problem for her. You think that the store owner would have said something though, if it was a better shaft, justifying the extra cost.

[Samick]

My thoughts are that they arent the same model (BB '04), or they just plain have a different shaft. In either case, it could be an apples to oranges as somebody put it. Perhaps the Cambridge Store was justified....perhaps not.

Either way, you got the deal you wanted. (or at least close)

I have dealt with those guys a fair bit and have never had a problem.

[guitarman]

My thoughts are that they arent the same model (BB '04), or they just plain have a different shaft. In either case, it could be an apples to oranges as somebody put it. Perhaps the Cambridge Store was justified....perhaps not.

Either way, you got the deal you wanted. (or at least close)

I have dealt with those guys a fair bit and have never had a problem.

I have not ever had a problem with these guys either. They have been great. Which is why I was a little upset at the thought of possibly being over charged for a product. I feel I have been over charged if I buy something from one place and another place has it ($150) that much cheaper. I'm going to have to do a little research on the shafts when I pick them up. I have a feeling that they are the same shafts just a different color. I could be wrong. If color is matching is that important to my wife then I guess its worth the extra $42. She now says she can color coordinate for her new bag. And the new spring clothes collection she plans on buying. I swear this is the only reason she golfs.
The story from the retailer is that someone special ordered these then changed thier mind. In any event, I didn't pay too much attention She hit them fairly easy they are much better than the crappy Wilson hope set she's been playing with end of story. I bought a set of mens Big bertha 04 for my son and he loved them.

[Greywolf]

Hahaha, O well at least she's happy.

Yep, and that is worth more than $42!:)

[xander.uk]

yes sir i think you have a different shaft on those irons hence the price difference too!
but i know if my wife had wanted them i would have had to go along with it too:D .
because if i hadnt everytime she hit a bad shot it would have been because they were the wrong colour!

(women cant live with em dont want to try living without em:shhh: )