Chapters / Indigo has a nice 'check store inventory' function, and since I knew I was going past a Chapters / Indigo the next day I thought I'd drop in. Sure enough, the store had one listed as being in stock. I went in the next day, found the book, and brought it to the cash desk. The cashier told me the price, and I said that the website had it at a cheaper price. And she explained that the online store was different, and that they couldn't and wouldn't match prices. And yes, I had seen the note posted on the website that instore prices might not match.
Think about it though. I wasn't asking them to match someone else's price. I was asking them to match the price on their own web site. It's the same company, and I'm sure they pay the same wholesale price for the books. And they had me in the store, willing to spend money, only to tell me that I should buy it online.
Now I'm no genius, but I know a bit about retail. I know enough that in these economic times, you don't let a customer walk out of the store when they're willing to pay the same price for a book that you're selling online. That's the sign of a bad business, and a business that is going to fail.
I did take the cashier's advice and I bought the book online. From Amazon. And I guarantee that I won't be doing any more shopping with Chapters / Indigo.
I did write and complain, and got the following corporate stock reply.
"At Chapters Indigo Online we go to great lengths to offer our customers great selection, value and savings. We realize that online pricing often varies from our in-store prices, and have attempted to provide some clarification here.
It probably goes without saying that many of the benefits offered in-store, including an inviting environment, helpful, friendly staff, the ability to place orders at our in-store Kiosks and more, all come at a cost.
