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NFT: Home Depot Prices - Online vs In Store

gidiefor : Mod : 6/19/2014 1:49 pm
Would you think that Home Depot would publish a price on Online that would different than it's in store price?

We turned on our outside water system this past weekend. The soil is finally warm enough to plant tomaters (about three weeks late this year). We learned that the unusually harsh winter had taken its toll on our outside well pressure tank - which had burst.

One of my fraternal buddies helps us fix these kinds of things and was at the farm yesterday. He calls his usual suppliers and tells me - they are way out of line - look one up on Home Depot's Website to see how much they are charging for it. We found it there for $199 (which was about $50-$75) less than I thought it would be.

Anyway - I go for a drive to Home Depot to pick the tank up today - I had not purchased it online - and there in the store the exact same unit that was $199 online was $239 in the store.

I loaded it up in my cart and went to the service desk and asked them why the unit they had for $199 was $40 more in the store. THe clerk looked it up and without batting an eyelash says to me - "you want to buy it?"

I says, "Yes."

She rings it up and takes $40 off the price.

I haven't done a lot of research on this - but I for one wouldn't purchase anything there again without looking up their published online prices.

It's not uncommon  
kickerpa16 : 6/19/2014 1:54 pm : link
for online prices to be different than brick-and-mortar prices.

It's the nature of the differences in the cost structures.
A lot of stores have sale prices and coupons for online only.  
SoDev : 6/19/2014 1:55 pm : link
In 2014 you should always consider checking online for any large purchase before you buy it at a store, or understand that you could (probably are) be paying more for the convenience of having it now.
Slickdeals - ( New Window )
kickerpa  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/19/2014 1:58 pm : link
I get that - but this discrepancy is Home Depot Online vs Home Depot in Store - they advertise that you can buy it online and pick it up in the store

It never occurred to me that that the price would be different from their online published price
That's my point. Even the cost structures within a company between  
kickerpa16 : 6/19/2014 2:00 pm : link
online and brick-and-mortar are different.

You can find similar discrepancies at Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc.
Happens all of the time  
Scyber : 6/19/2014 2:03 pm : link
In some cases the website is actually run by a different business units then the stores (in some cases the online business is subcontracted out to completely seperate companies). Therefore promotions and pricing differs. Also online prices tend to fluctuate more then in store pricing.
Kicker  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/19/2014 2:05 pm : link
I'm sure folks don't check them on this always - but that's got to bite them in the butt eventually - having a two tiered price structure 15% apart that a customer can easily find and call you on - is not a good business practice
Bite them in the butt?  
kickerpa16 : 6/19/2014 2:07 pm : link
It's been going on for a long time.

Consumers are willing to pay a price premium for quicker delivery of the product (like buying it at the store).

The fact that these differences haven't equalized and that not all stores honor other online prices shows that it's not hurting the bottom line much, if at all.
And private apps have come out for iPhones (perhaps Android?) to  
kickerpa16 : 6/19/2014 2:11 pm : link
see if you can do online ordering with in-store pick-up, or other ways to get the lower price.

Always good to scan the product code to see if this applies.

I think it's called RedLaser (or something like that).
Bricks and mortar  
Rob in NYC : 6/19/2014 2:12 pm : link
and online strategies are almost always managed separately within organizations, so it isn't at all uncommon to see discrepancies. Retailers are certainly willing to make the adjustment.

Nothing nefarious, its just that most online strategies are still in their infancies and the mandate is growth, not consistentcy of message with the physical store. Home Depot almost certainly would have accomodated you had you realized it some reasonable time after your purchase and returned to the store.
The ease of shopping online and the ability to compare prices  
The Natural : 6/19/2014 2:17 pm : link
has made the internet very competitive.

Not so if you are an in-store shopper. Most stores will honor their online prices, but you do have to ask for it.
I work for Golf Galaxy and this happens more often than you think.  
GiantGolfer : 6/19/2014 2:17 pm : link
It's pretty common actually. The website is not run by the same corporate structure as the stores are. In fact, sometimes you'll find cheaper prices in-store on certain items rather than online.

In any matter, we'll always match a price on our own website and I'm glad to hear Home Depot did the same for you.
Pretty common  
Jim in Fairfax : 6/19/2014 2:26 pm : link
I've seen this at many stores that also have an online store.
well thanks for the education  
I Love Clams Casino : 6/19/2014 2:41 pm : link
had no idea.....
Home Depot  
MD Giant Fan : 6/19/2014 3:27 pm : link
gets kudos from me for other reasons. long story, short, i bought a deck for my home in '01 from a company called Deck America and three of the posts are rotting. Company no longer exists but through research i found that they were bought by US Homes who was bought by Home Depot. Called them and they are fixing the deck under warranty. Great Service!!!
I would chalk it up to discrepancies.  
Randy in CT : 6/19/2014 3:33 pm : link
I love HD however their online store is just awful. Not user-friendly at all. I also wouldn't be surprised at price differences between different Home Depots. I'd imagine they change pricing at the store level and therefore are prone to human error.
RE: I would chalk it up to discrepancies.  
SoDev : 6/19/2014 3:43 pm : link
In comment 11735119 Randy in CT said:
Quote:
I love HD however their online store is just awful. Not user-friendly at all. I also wouldn't be surprised at price differences between different Home Depots. I'd imagine they change pricing at the store level and therefore are prone to human error.


There are different prices all over the country at Home Depot, Lowes, Etc.

$30 shovel in Cali is on sale in Minn. for $15 and on clearance in Jersey for $8. Happens all the time.
What's so bad about HD's online store?  
jcn56 : 6/19/2014 3:43 pm : link
I noticed this awhile ago, so I'll routinely check the online prices to see if they're lower than the in-store (and check to see if there are any coupon codes/discounts). HD, Sears and BestBuy are frequently cheaper online than in store, but buying something through HD's online store is very easy, and BestBuy sucks.

I've had at least a dozen occasions where I'll find it cheaper online, buy, browse the store for 15-30 minutes and then pick up the purchase when the confirmation e-mail comes in.
And side note, if you haven't used it yet and have a Lowes nearby  
jcn56 : 6/19/2014 3:46 pm : link
Lowes has an awesome mobile app that will find items down to the aisle and bin. Here in NYC, finding someone in these big box stores that knows where stuff is (and what it is in many cases) can be difficult, this app is pure genius to get around that. Needed 5 relatively obscure items from Lowes this past week (a tee for 3/8" nylon tubing, mosquito dunks, and a few others odds and ends). Quickly searched, found the items and prices, and their locations. In and out in 10 minutes where it would normally take much longer to manually track the stuff down.
I use the HomeDepot online all the time  
VTDAD : 6/19/2014 3:52 pm : link
my Home Depot is a 30 minute drive and I use the online
side to check prices, see whats in stock and what needs to
be ordered. If an item is in stock, it will tell me how many are available
and where its located in the store.

Never encountered a price discrepancy, but thanks for the heads up.
RE: And side note, if you haven't used it yet and have a Lowes nearby  
Jim in Fairfax : 6/19/2014 4:39 pm : link
In comment 11735154 jcn56 said:
Quote:
Lowes has an awesome mobile app that will find items down to the aisle and bin. Here in NYC, finding someone in these big box stores that knows where stuff is (and what it is in many cases) can be difficult, this app is pure genius to get around that. Needed 5 relatively obscure items from Lowes this past week (a tee for 3/8" nylon tubing, mosquito dunks, and a few others odds and ends). Quickly searched, found the items and prices, and their locations. In and out in 10 minutes where it would normally take much longer to manually track the stuff down.

Home Depot's site also lists locations in store for items, but only down to the aisle (no bin location).
Gidiefor: Price Negotiator!!  
Marty in Albany : 6/19/2014 5:59 pm : link
Order online, pick up at the store  
buford : 6/19/2014 8:06 pm : link
I do it all the time.
Yeah  
BigBlueShock : 6/19/2014 8:10 pm : link
I don't know how anyone could say that the website is to confusing. It couldn't be any easier. I just bought and air conditioner, free shipping and all, in about 2 minutes
arghh i hate this  
giantfanboy : 6/19/2014 9:24 pm : link
barnes and noble does this also

which is why i am not shocked that Barnes and Noble stores are closing
They do it all the time  
WideRight : 6/20/2014 6:20 am : link
and then get you on shipping fees and stuff.

Ther profit is probably the same either way.
RE: well thanks for the education  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/20/2014 7:05 am : link
In comment 11735031 I Love Clams Casino said:
Quote:
had no idea.....


Lol - thanks Clams - I posted this because I was incredulous and edumacated by this episode myself.

There's apparently a lot of folks much smarter about this, as is evidenced in this thread, than we are
RE: RE: well thanks for the education  
I Love Clams Casino : 6/20/2014 8:13 am : link
In comment 11735705 gidiefor said:
Quote:
In comment 11735031 I Love Clams Casino said:


Quote:


had no idea.....



Lol - thanks Clams - I posted this because I was incredulous and edumacated by this episode myself.

There's apparently a lot of folks much smarter about this, as is evidenced in this thread, than we are


Maybe they're just more bored than we are to notice these details in life?
saving money/not getting ripped off  
YAJ2112 : 6/20/2014 8:38 am : link
is never boring
it's so cute  
M in CT : 6/20/2014 9:09 am : link
when old people figure out how to use the internet.
RE: RE: And side note, if you haven't used it yet and have a Lowes nearby  
jcn56 : 6/20/2014 9:12 am : link
In comment 11735254 Jim in Fairfax said:
Quote:
In comment 11735154 jcn56 said:


Quote:


Lowes has an awesome mobile app that will find items down to the aisle and bin. Here in NYC, finding someone in these big box stores that knows where stuff is (and what it is in many cases) can be difficult, this app is pure genius to get around that. Needed 5 relatively obscure items from Lowes this past week (a tee for 3/8" nylon tubing, mosquito dunks, and a few others odds and ends). Quickly searched, found the items and prices, and their locations. In and out in 10 minutes where it would normally take much longer to manually track the stuff down.


Home Depot's site also lists locations in store for items, but only down to the aisle (no bin location).


Thanks Jim - just this morning I checked this out. I didn't know that they had the location info, and (at least in my case) they had both aisle and bay.
This thread reminds me of a reality show I've always wanted to pitch:  
Cam in MO : 6/20/2014 10:03 am : link
"Old Guys vs Teh Internets"

Basically find 5 or 6 oldsters, buy them a laptop and a smartphone and force them to use the Internet for all communication, shopping, and entertainment. The only tech support they're alowed to use is what would be available to anyone else. No special help.

Would be incredibly hilarious and entertaining. I think there's a few that would make great participants on this thread.

RE: This thread reminds me of a reality show I've always wanted to pitch:  
jcn56 : 6/20/2014 10:06 am : link
In comment 11735879 Cam in MO said:
Quote:
"Old Guys vs Teh Internets"

Basically find 5 or 6 oldsters, buy them a laptop and a smartphone and force them to use the Internet for all communication, shopping, and entertainment. The only tech support they're alowed to use is what would be available to anyone else. No special help.

Would be incredibly hilarious and entertaining. I think there's a few that would make great participants on this thread.


Call my parents. If you find better entertainment than that , I'll sign up for it.

Some dumb bastard gave my mother, who can't copy a file to her desktop, a copy of Photoshop which she intends to use. That's like giving a five year old an arc welder.
RE: it's so cute  
I Love Clams Casino : 6/20/2014 10:35 am : link
In comment 11735796 M in CT said:
Quote:
when old people figure out how to use the internet.


Except that's not me....I provide Tier 3 support for enterprise wide web based medical applications....and I don't think I'm "old" yet, although my first connection to the internet was on a 2,400 baud rate modem on an O/S called PCGeos.

I just wasn't aware of this marketing practice...

I, however DO think it's cute when young people with no experience think they know everything.
Okay  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/20/2014 10:43 am : link
Well I officially qualify as old - but what's my excuse - I run an internet business and am tech savvy

Savvy!
RE: Okay  
Cam in MO : 6/20/2014 1:59 pm : link
In comment 11735964 gidiefor said:
Quote:
Well I officially qualify as old - but what's my excuse - I run an internet business and am tech savvy

Savvy!


You definitely are for an old farmer.
OK, let's not get carried away here  
jcn56 : 6/20/2014 3:40 pm : link
Not picking up the phone and saying 'Operator, connect me to the Internet' doesn't qualify someone as tech savvy.
RE: OK, let's not get carried away here  
Cam in MO : 6/20/2014 4:14 pm : link
In comment 11736639 jcn56 said:
Quote:
Not picking up the phone and saying 'Operator, connect me to the Internet' doesn't qualify someone as tech savvy.


Hence the condition, "for an old farmer."

RE: RE: it's so cute  
M in CT : 6/20/2014 4:40 pm : link
In comment 11735946 I Love Clams Casino said:
Quote:
Except that's not me....I provide Tier 3 support for enterprise wide web based medical applications....and I don't think I'm "old" yet, although my first connection to the internet was on a 2,400 baud rate modem on an O/S called PCGeos.

I just wasn't aware of this marketing practice...

I, however DO think it's cute when young people with no experience think they know everything.


that was enlightening, but... i was talking about gidiefor. no idea why you would think that was addressed to you.

gidiefor may be old, but at least his sense of humor still works.
RE: OK, let's not get carried away here  
gidiefor : Mod : 6/20/2014 10:11 pm : link
In comment 11736639 jcn56 said:
Quote:
Not picking up the phone and saying 'Operator, connect me to the Internet' doesn't qualify someone as tech savvy.


d@mn it jcn.. , you swore that those cups and wire you gave me were going to work
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