Shoppers Outraged as Retailers Put Prices Up In Stores Compared to Online

• The same items are more expensive in stores vs online
• Tesco, Asda, Sports Direct found to have different prices
• Brands claim they don’t price match in store, just online
• Do you have the right to the lower price?

Consumers are fuming after finding price differences on the same items online compared to in stores.

Online prices were found to be around £20 cheaper online than the same products were in the high street stores.

Bargain hunters first noticed this difference in their shopping from Tesco, but quickly caught on to other brands doing the same thing.

When questioned about it, Tesco said that its’ online and in store brands are different companies, and its’ price comparison promise only applies to the online company.

One shopper found a price difference of over £20 on the same product.

Chloe Hollinshead said, “I saw a Christmas jumper in my local Tesco, it was priced at £25, but then I checked Tesco click and collect and the same jumper was just 50p!”

In one case, the retailer’s half priced products that are available online, were full price in stores.

One angry shopper, Julianne Dunn, said, “I went in store today after seeing half price stuff online, but every item there was still full price.

“I could even see that some items have had reduced stickers put on them, but I could see marks where they had been removed!

“I’m going to do click and collect, and hope my sizes are available.”

Shoppers also found different sale prices on offer at different Tesco locations.

Jean Gregory said, “The stores don’t even have the same sale prices on things either.

“The Tesco closest to where my brother lives doesn’t do the same discounts as the one near me, and sometimes an item will be on sale at mine, but not as his Tesco.”

Tesco is not the only retailer to be caught out sneaking up prices in stores compared to online.

Sports Direct were also found to be doing the same thing as Tesco.

Jade Bound said, “I found Sports Direct doing the same thing.

“My partner went to Sports Direct to get me a sports bra, they had some in stock that were £8.50 each, or 2 for £13, which seemed like a great deal.

“Luckily, I was looking online at the same time, and saw the same ones for £3.50! Cheeky gits.”

ASDA prices are also cheaper online

Not only does ASDA, the discount supermarket, have price differences on its’ products online compared to in store, but it also has made it difficult for some customers to use its’ click and collect service.

Lisa Scott said, “Click and collect vs in store service has really pissed me off this week.

“I ordered pjs for me and my four kids from George, but one set was missing the trousers for it.

“I called up the helpline, and they said I needed to reorder them, including paying for it, then go down to the store to pick them up, and then go in store the next day to get a refund!

“It was a lot of hassle when all I wanted is one pair of trousers, which it wouldn’t send to me and it wouldn’t change the order so I didn’t have to pay double.

“It might seem petty, but I’ve still got work, Christmas bits to finish, and four kids to look after.”

Claire’s Accessories also offer different deals online compared to in store.

Marie Clover Ryan said, “I spotted Claire’s doing the same as Tesco the other day.

“Online it was buy one get one free, but in its’ store it was buy three and get one free.

“I asked the woman in the shop about it, she said the stores will honour the online offer, but then I went in today and the shop assistant said no; seems it depends on who is serving you.

“I ordered online in the end as I only wanted two items, but it’s annoying that prices aren’t all the same.”

Can I get my money back if it's cheaper online than in-store?

If something is advertised at the wrong price, you may be able to buy it at the lower price, but this is dependant on several factors:

• If you haven’t bought it in a shop yet and are told the price on the tag or label is a mistake, you don’t have the right to buy the item at the lower price, but you can try asking the seller to honour the price.
• If you have bought it in a shop at a lower cost than they meant to advertise it as, you don’t have to give it back.
• If you realise you have paid more for an item than it was advertised for at the time, you can ask the shop for a refund.

For further help on your rights, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06, a trained adviser will give you help over the phone.

You can also use an online form, available from their website, or write to them.

Or, if you feel that a shop is deliberately misleading people, you can report them to Trading Standards.