I will preface this by saying I don’t generally enjoy shopping, and when I want to purchase something I do research, and verify price and availability prior to going to the store to purchase it.  
 
Being Thursday yesterday, the flyers arrived and I found an article [ a remote car starter] that I decided would be a great Christmas gift and at a very good price, offered by a store in Brandon.  
 
I called to verify the price and was told on the phone, after the person I talked to checked with someone else, that indeed the price in the flyer was the price I would pay and that they had 10 in stock.  
 
Deciding that I didn’t want to miss the deal, I headed directly to the store to purchase the item. On the way down I called a friend who I thought might be interested, and was told to pick up one for him as well.  
 
Arriving at the store, I located the article and a representative, and after discussing having them installed after Christmas, we headed to the check out. The person I was with needed help from 2 other staff members, the process stopped dead when the computer needed a manager password to proceed.  
 
The manager was called and the representative I was dealing with was told the price was actually $100 higher than the price advertised in the flyer. At this point I started to lose my faith in this company. The manager came down and told me that there was nothing he could do, the flyer price was a misprint and the price is $249 instead of $149. I told him at that point I understood that is was a misprint, but that I had called and was assured that that was the price I would pay prior to traveling to the store to buy it and there was no discussion about a misprint during my phone call. I would not have bothered to go to buy it had I known. He told me that there was an internal memo regarding this misprint, and it was also discussed at the morning staff meeting. He also mentioned that there was a sign at the front door of the store. I once again explained to him that one of his staff members had verified the price with myself on the phone prior to going down to buy the item. I also mentioned that I manage a staff of 20 people and when one of us makes a mistake we honor what was said and do our best to make sure the same mistake does not happen again. He just looked at me and said that was all he could do. I knew at this point that any more time spent talking to anyone in this store was only going to increase my stress level and was pointless. I left the store.  
 
I understand that mistakes are made everyday, in business and in life. My belief is to do the right thing when mistakes are made, to learn from them, and don’t make the same mistake twice What really bothers me is the lack of basic business principle, professionalism and integrity, which is displayed by some businesses today. In these times where sales are not as strong as they were and prices are lower than retailers would like them to be, it is hard to understand the lack of commitment to customers.  
 
If I were told on the phone that the ad was a misprint, none of this would have happened.  
But the fact that I called and was treated the way that I was, has made it very clear to me to never consider purchasing anything from this store again.  

I know that misprints happen. What is the law on this? Is the store obligated to sell the product at the advertised price? If they don't, then isn't false advertising?  
 
Any lawyers out there?

I just looked online with the flyers with two retailers. It states that they reserve the right to post correction errors and misprints. Because the company does not produce the flyers themselves they reserve the right to correct any misprinted errors. Judging by what the poster is saying management did the correct thing if it is marked on the entrance as a mistake. If you look in the Brandon Sun today there are corrections to the flyer regarding misprints for Future Shop. I cannot see them honoring a price that they cannot control. It was another parties mistake and with the flyers there is always a disclaimer for errors. If you take a verbal over the phone anyone can come in saying a price. Little harder to argue of a mistake if it is marked at the door when you walk in.

I understand that mistakes are made and the companies need to be able to make corrections as needed  
 
My frustration lies with the fact that I called to verify the price and availibilty of the product and then immediately travelled to the store where I was then informed about the misprint while paying for the item. The managers explanation that it was discussed at the morning meeting and there was an internal memo does not excuse the fact that at least 4 of the stores employees [2 on the phone & at least 2 in store prior to dealing with the manager] were unaware of the misprint and the way in which I was treated. These people seem to live in a disposable world that they seem to think includes customers  
 
If I had of been told during the original phone call that it was a misprint I would not have started this discussion

misprint should have been honored as an employee of the store had told you it would be. I have worked in retail in the past and we were always told to honor any misprints or incorrect prices until the correction had been properly advertised.

RCCDUDE1 said "misprint should have been honored as an employee of the store had told you it would be. I have worked in retail in the past and we were always told to honor any misprints or incorrect prices until the correction had been properly advertised. "

if the posted correct price is posted at the store doors do you still honor the price? Not saying the customer is wrong but do you honor every person that comes in saying they talked with someone and they said it was a certain price? You would have to have names of employees then. I am sure if it would have been different if the OP stated the name of the person they spoke with, then that person backs it up saying they said the price. If I find a too good of a deal and I speak with someone about it I always ask for their name to reference for instances like this.

Please note that the OP has been edited slightly. There are no shortcuts. Specifically naming a business and making statements that make it clear to everyone which business it is are one and the same. The point of a discussion should be to discuss an issue, not use the eBrandon microphone to shame a person or business in a private unverifiable situation.

There was an acknowledgement that they had spoken to me on the phone as only 20 minutes or so had passed from the time the phone conversation took place and I was in the store......I was not trying to scam anyone. And I do know his name

RCCDUDE1 said "misprint should have been honored as an employee of the store had told you it would be. I have worked in retail in the past and we were always told to honor any misprints or incorrect prices until the correction had been properly advertised. "

If the flyer stated it was a $25 remote starter, would you honestly think you were going to get it for that price? The store doesn't print the flyers and must have a way to control misprints.

Strange how it all works.  
 
I have returned to a store with receipt in hand and asked for the advertised sale price for an item purchased a week or so before. I recouped almost a hundred dollars.  
 

it is at the discretion of the store manager, some managers will honor every claim others will honor none, and some will honor claims of those who have an employee name to reference as you said. I was just stating that the manager that I worked under honored all claims until the company properly corrected the mistake, a sign on the door did not suffice for him. That was just his management style, not saying it was right or wrong it was just how he ran his ship.

months in advance of their sales? I have a friend who was a manager at a Wpg Canadian Tire store and he always had flyers at least 6 weeks in advance. Not saying that they would have necessarily reprinted the flyers, however perhaps they could have been more proactive in ensuring the misprint was identified for staff and consumers, beyond a simple memo or staff meeting. Regardless, it should have been honoured since a sign at the front door isn't always seen.

Cytotech said "months in advance of their sales? I have a friend who was a manager at a Wpg Canadian Tire store and he always had flyers at least 6 weeks in advance. Not saying that they would have necessarily reprinted the flyers, however perhaps they could have been more proactive in ensuring the misprint was identified for staff and consumers, beyond a simple memo or staff meeting. Regardless, it should have been honoured since a sign at the front door isn't always seen. "

I doubt that they receive the flyers themselves that far in advance. They may receive a promotion book telling them what will be on sale, but the flyers would likely come a week before the actual sale.

As I said, I know this is the case for other stores as I have actually seen them first hand.  
 
Anyway, should the store in question not have offered any sort of a compromise or alternative deal to Beef? If it is the retailer that I think it is, there should have been room for price adjustments.  

Most stores receive there sign kits and new flyers only days in advance.  
 
The reason for this is to not have staff advertising a future deal in order to keep current sales going, because if all they did was advertise the next best deal while a current sale is on, everybody would wait.  
 
This is the same reason video game console manufacturers will never confirm a price drop. If they confirm a price drop 6 months prior to the price drop. Nobody will buy there product for 6 months and it would cause a decrease in sales.  
 
Just my 2 cents.  
 
Edited by Smithy225, 2009-12-12 00:58:08

As a business owner for many years, I can understand your frustration. I sometimes made mistakes in pricing and in all cases honored the advertised or labelled price tag. This cost me money but also kept me and our staff on our toes. I cannot comment on another stores policies, but hope you will understand their problems. I believe you handled it well by not ranting at the employee or manager.

Far to often we talk till were blue in the face knowing full well they will not fix the issue. And upsetting and stressing only urself. Best to walk away and move on with your day. I have trouble with that one. It also will bug me for days and I will tell others how bad the experince was.  
 
What is that saying if you have bad service tell us if you have good service tell others.  
 
Unfortunately for the businesses, since they do not fix it we go on to tell others. Even though you dont say their name people can figure it out and know that there was an issue there. As you said in a time when all sales help they lost 2 that day from you and possibly more.

As a sales representative in a store such as the one you are speaking of, I must admit that there are times when our flyer's have a misprinted price on an item. We get our flyer's and signage 1-3 days prior to the date of sale and most of the time we are not to look at them as we can get current sales and upcoming sales confused. When a misprint occurs we get a correction notice posted withing 4 hours of the store opening and are unable to honor the original flyer price once it is posted. I agree with the manager of the store you went to as it is their policy not to honor a price that has been corrected. The store in which I work at has a 30 day price protection policy which allows you to bring your receipt back within 30 days of the purchase to get money back to match a sale price there or anywhere else. It guarantees that you will have the lowest price on that item for 30 days.  
 
You are correct in the fact that mistakes happen, but you have to understand that the only way we as a retail community have to fix it is to post that correction notice and charge the correct price. Also if the sales representative required the help of 2 other staff to give you the best service he could, why would that be an issue. I request the help of other staff members all the time if it results in my customer having the best experience they can, you cant fault the associate for that.  
 
Sorry to have gone on a rant, more people need to look at things like this from the stores point of view and see that we do the best we can to give everyone the best service we can.  
 
From a local retails sales associate.

trudel101 said "As a sales representative in a store such as the one you are speaking of, I must admit that there are times when our flyer's have a misprinted price on an item. We get our flyer's and signage 1-3 days prior to the date of sale and most of the time we are not to look at them as we can get current sales and upcoming sales confused. When a misprint occurs we get a correction notice posted withing 4 hours of the store opening and are unable to honor the original flyer price once it is posted. I agree with the manager of the store you went to as it is their policy not to honor a price that has been corrected. The store in which I work at has a 30 day price protection policy which allows you to bring your receipt back within 30 days of the purchase to get money back to match a sale price there or anywhere else. It guarantees that you will have the lowest price on that item for 30 days.     You are correct in the fact that mistakes happen, but you have to understand that the only way we as a retail community have to fix it is to post that correction notice and charge the correct price. Also if the sales representative required the help of 2 other staff to give you the best service he could, why would that be an issue. I request the help of other staff members all the time if it results in my customer having the best experience they can, you cant fault the associate for that.     Sorry to have gone on a rant, more people need to look at things like this from the stores point of view and see that we do the best we can to give everyone the best service we can.     From a local retails sales associate. "

I deal with customers on a daily basis and have for over 30 years. I currently manage a staff of approx 20 people  
 
I understand that mistakes are made, I've made my share. IMO when a mistake is made the proper course of action is to firstly make the current situation right and then implement a system that does not allow the same mistake to happen again. A mistake is a learning opportunity  
 
I called the store to verify the price in the early afternoon of the second day the flyer was valid. I was told by the person on the phone, who checked with a colleague, that the price was correct. I travelled to the store and was dealing with three different people [by my count that's five people from the store involved] before the manager decided the price would not be honored.  
 
I have stated that I understand and agree that stores need to be able to protect themselves from misprints, however I really believe my situation was mishandled. If I had been told on the phone that the price was a misprint I never would have gone in to the store.  
 
The store wanted the correct price which was $200 more than the price advertised in the flyer. Based on the current cost of adversing and my experience in business it is much less expensive to keep customers than attract new ones.  
 
I will continue to support businesses that respect and earn my business and will not support businesses that think they can make mistakes and not do the right thing. In essence for $200 they have lost a customer for life.

Is there a proprietor involved here?

Call head office or email them. I had a similar situation and it was resolved by contacting head office. I was given the advertised price.

beefer39 said "I will preface this by saying I don’t generally enjoy shopping, and when I want to purchase something I do research, and verify price and availability prior to going to the store to purchase it.     Being Thursday yesterday, the flyers arrived and I found an article [ a remote car starter] that I decided would be a great Christmas gift and at a very good price, offered by a store in Brandon.     I called to verify the price and was told on the phone, after the person I talked to checked with someone else, that indeed the price in the flyer was the price I would pay and that they had 10 in stock.     Deciding that I didn’t want to miss the deal, I headed directly to the store to purchase the item. On the way down I called a friend who I thought might be interested, and was told to pick up one for him as well.     Arriving at the store, I located the article and a representative, and after discussing having them installed after Christmas, we headed to the check out. The person I was with needed help from 2 other staff members, the process stopped dead when the computer needed a manager password to proceed.     The manager was called and the representative I was dealing with was told the price was actually $100 higher than the price advertised in the flyer. At this point I started to lose my faith in this company. The manager came down and told me that there was nothing he could do, the flyer price was a misprint and the price is $249 instead of $149. I told him at that point I understood that is was a misprint, but that I had called and was assured that that was the price I would pay prior to traveling to the store to buy it and there was no discussion about a misprint during my phone call. I would not have bothered to go to buy it had I known. He told me that there was an internal memo regarding this misprint, and it was also discussed at the morning staff meeting. He also mentioned that there was a sign at the front door of the store. I once again explained to him that one of his staff members had verified the price with myself on the phone prior to going down to buy the item. I also mentioned that I manage a staff of 20 people and when one of us makes a mistake we honor what was said and do our best to make sure the same mistake does not happen again. He just looked at me and said that was all he could do. I knew at this point that any more time spent talking to anyone in this store was only going to increase my stress level and was pointless. I left the store.     I understand that mistakes are made everyday, in business and in life. My belief is to do the right thing when mistakes are made, to learn from them, and don’t make the same mistake twice What really bothers me is the lack of basic business principle, professionalism and integrity, which is displayed by some businesses today. In these times where sales are not as strong as they were and prices are lower than retailers would like them to be, it is hard to understand the lack of commitment to customers.     If I were told on the phone that the ad was a misprint, none of this would have happened.   But the fact that I called and was treated the way that I was, has made it very clear to me to never consider purchasing anything from this store again.   "

I happen to know that this item in question went on sale the day you posted this. Only so many places it could be so it doesn't take a genius to figure out what store your reffering to. You would have had the flier for around 12-24 hours ahead of time MAX and in less than 5 hours of the actual sale your complaining? Think on this, how many people actually work there? How many would be at this 'morning meeting'? How many were late for work that day? How many came in cause their shift started later than first thing? Now you have to think, christmas season, places are busy, there is extra staff, were they informed? Should have yes, but think about my questions. Might it be possible you called a different dept and didn't realise? I mean why would a tv sales person know about car stuff? Also did you cross reference the flier with the website? Then did you look at what the competition was selling that EXACT make/model for on their websites or fliers? That would have tipped you off long before a silly rant on an obscure web portal.

not the posters problem people might have missed the meeting, been late for work, too busy, etc. By the way, of I saw something on sale in the flyer, I would not be running to the computer to check it out on the website either. What about the thousands of people that do not have computers? They too, must go by what the flier says.  
 
I would be contacting had office also.