[ad_1]
Shoppers are reminded of the dangers of impulse buying after a muddy machine that sells for $ 49 at The Warehouse was spotted with a price tag of $ 180 at Farmers.
In addition to looking the same, The Warehouse Living & Co Frozen Drink Machine and Farmers Nostalgia Frozen Blender Station have identical model numbers.
The price difference caused a stir on social media after a screenshot showing the machines side by side was shared on Facebook.
Much of the discussion centered on whether The Warehouse was offering an absolute bargain or misrepresenting its machine, particularly since its product carries the Nostalgia brand.
READ MORE:
* Coronavirus: Customers disappointed by Noel Leeming selling out of stock items
* ‘We do not claim to be an essential service’ – Fake tan company stops online sales despite MBIE approval
* Ezibuy weekly sales raise questions about what a sale really means.
But a spokeswoman for The Warehouse said the word “Nostalgia” on her machine reflected the era of which it was.
These muddy machines have identical model numbers but very different price tags.
“It is a type of product that is becoming more popular. Our supplier has a wide range of products in this line and we are pleased that our customers enjoy them ”.
Farmers have been contacted for comment.
Jessica Wilson, head of research at Consumer, said companies were free to set their own prices, and buyers had little chance of getting their money back if they later found an item at a lower price.
“You could only return the item if you were misled, if they told you it was the lowest price, for example,” he said.
“That would be a problem under the Fair Trade Law. Otherwise, they are free to charge what they think they can get. “
Supplied
Head of Consumer Research Jessica Wilson says shoppers have little chance of getting their money back if they later find an item at a lower price.
Wilson said stores frequently request a “private label” product from a manufacturer and that low-cost items are often barely distinguishable from big-brand versions.
“You can find items that look almost identical in different stores, but there will usually be some small differences.
“When you see something like this, the best thing to do is compare prices and take a close look at the characteristics of the items.”
