Anaconda Dishonouring Promised Refund for Price Match Guarantee

Head office would be my next step

As TomH said, contact head office. They are the ones that are ultimately in control of company policy.

Other than that the Daily Telegraph Public Defender like stirring up companies that try to twist then truth.

Steve

All I can see on website is a customer service number which is on a continuous voice mail with no one ever answering. Apart from that just one email ID provided for queries. Didnt see any Head Office info. However will send all details atleast on that email and see.

A Google would have revealed this

http://www.manta.com/ic/mvmp2vg/au/anaconda-group-pty-ltd

And this

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spotlight?trk=top_nav_home

Thanks Tom for that Info appreciate it... :-)
Now after opening the packaging I saw multiple holes, and machining defects in the mosquito net of one of the windows and a missing loop to tie the window flap in positon of same window. So now I will have to deal with return of this product. My follow up with them will now have to take a new course...????.... Its getting more and more complicated.

I would have thought it simplifies things, take it back for a refund & do some proper research.

I think that embarrassment, harassment and duress might come into play here. Pity it wasn't captured on your fone...

Good luck

Technically a gift card which is a store credit is not legally a refund.

Had this when I had trouble with an italian named furniture store.

The offered a store credit I refused , they said thats all we do.

I said I dont care I want the cash.

Got my money in the end

RodW I had to forcibly take the credit gift card as there was no other choice at that time. Yes Tom you are right about that gift card not being a refund technically. Bigfish i will be pursuing the matter for the humiliation too.

Seriously though...

Anaconda Head Office would be worth a call and if not successful contact Consumer Affairs in your State.

Yes, it sort of hints to time of purchase price match (or beat), but I read it twice and couldn't see specifically it excluding it.
Maybe I need to read it again ind isolate each word :/
Of course as mentioned in my reply below that is fraught with technicalities of how long after should they price match / beat.

I would say that you are not entitled to the price match as it inferres at time of purchase. You did not bring in the add or give them the shop details so that they could match the price at time of purchase
But given the crap they put you through I would say they will come to the party to salvage some PR

Funny story from a couple of weeks ago
My son works part time in one of these style of stores that offers the price match guarantee
He was on the cash register when a lady came up with a item worth $12, she asked him if they price matched to which he confirmed they did. Her reply was then to ask him to look up the item on his computer to see if anyone had it for a cheaper price to match. She left in a huff when he refused........some people

Mikee5 & AlbyNSW, There is no specific mention of time of purchase in Anacondas policy and hence to clear my doubt I did call Penrith store soon after purchase and spoke to the Personnel in-charge to have a better understanding of the policy. The lady did confirm I was entitled for refund. Only after that did I approach Auburn store. Also Auburn store manager concurred my entitlement for refund and then I went to store to claim refund. Also AlbyNSW I did the ground work by getting competitor advertisement and an email confirmation from a few of them who were selling the same product at a much lower price. Unfortunately my bad luck the same day the manager quit his job without notice and the New Manager that came in didnt want to give any hearing. Point to be noted here is that I purchased my tent at 5.35pm evening at closing time and first thing next morning I called them for the price match. Everything happened in less than first 24hrs so it wasnt like I kept the tent for long and was asking for retrospective refund.

AlbyNSW...
probabally even funnier if he saw her out the front on her SMART PHONE comlaining to her long sufferiing husband about how rude your son was :)

It wasnt a long time after purchase. I purchased the tent at 5.35pm in evening just at closing time and asked for refund first thing next morning. So it was less than first 24hrs. Harvey Norman was offering identical product in store for $247 and kellyscamping too had same tent $245 at Dee Why store. There were many other stores tentworld, snowys etc offering same product for lesser value in their stores. Apart from these there were a few cheaper online offers too but I didnt bother about those as Anaconda wouldnt consider online price.

To Tassy J Perhaps you should have gone home and done the research you obviously did and gone back and bought it in the morning.
Would have saved a lot of grief and maligning the store publicly.

Since pricematching has come in I never buy anything without researching BEFORE going looking in the shops. If I buy and someone then sells cheaperwell too bad I missed out.

I agree with Les times are really tough out there ATM but saying that once I buy a product that's it, i don't research anymore.Reseach as much as you can beforehand because Murphys law will come play afterwards with cheaper prices a day/week/month later.Be happy with what you have move on. I understand also no one likes to pay more than they have too.

Cheers

TomH & River Swaggie I agree about your point that price research should have done earlier. But I went to the store to claim refund only after calling Penrith and Auburn store and speaking to people in charge. Only after they both easily without argument agreed that I was indeed entitled for refund did I actually go to the store. The problem started only because the manager who promised me the refund overnite suddendly without notice quit his job and the New Manager started to ignore us and humiliate us and dishonoured the previous managers approval for refund.

Totally agree with you Phil.

The OP accepted the Anaconda price by offering his money thus a contract was settled with both parties satisfied. Then later he discovers that he could have done better elsewhere and wants to revoke the contract. Come on!!!

Mind you, I have little rapport with traders who advertise on a 'price match' basis. What they are actually doing is to get as much out of you as they can until caught-out by a competitor. Then, and only then, will they forgo some profit to avoid losing a sale. I will look around and take the lower price in the first place. If I miss the 'best' price, then that is my misfortune and I won't whinge about it, especially anonymously on a public forum.

I would query the meaning of ' a dated receipt' as quoted in their price policy. This would possibly indicate after a sale, i.e. you only get one after the purchase has been made.

here go the bush lawyers.
Hooks would appear to be correct.

I believe Phil is correct..

To me, there is nothing ambiguous about
"a dated receipt or any other official document from the other retail ‘bricks and mortar’ store."

Clearly, the "dated receipt" referred to in this instance is to verify that said "other retail ‘bricks and mortar’ store." is selling/has sold the item at a lower price..

And no, I'm not a "bush lawyer" (whatever that is).........


:)

Yes Ed , read this way I tend to agree with you. However the price policy wording should be made clearer, if this retail chain does not make a refund in the circumstance outlined in this thread. Clearly staff in other stores and the former manager were prepared to provide a refund. This tends to indicate some ambiguity.
At the end of the day, I would not go for a refund once I had purchased a item, unless it was very clear that you could.

To Phil Anacondas policy begins with 'You can redeem the lowest price match guarantee'.... the word redeem can be used for compensation and that can happen after purchase. Also the time of purchase is important here. It wasnt like I kept the product for months and returned it later after I discovered some bargain. Like I mentioned earlier the price was pointed out immediately following morning and Penrith and Auburn Stores former manager; without any argument asked me to visit store and claim refund. The Point is the New Manager should have cross-verified by calling these two people if they had agreed for the refund or not rather than humiliating us in the store. There is something called as customer service and we had visited the store only after the former manager had asked us to do.

Also phill its important to note that the New replacement Manager giving us a credit note is not like hes done a favour on us. The previous manager firstly confirmed that under lower price match guarantee we were entitled for refund. Secondly he went through official procedure of verifying lower price with Harvey Norman. He then called me and informed me that I was entitled for refund of $107.69. He also scheduled my visit to store and explained procedure of refund by saying the full amount of $329.99 would be credited back to my credit card and a new transaction would be done for $222.3. After all these detailed communications I visited the store as scheduled.... So it cant be said that I am pushing the matter too hard or that I should run with credit. We just didnt deserve the humiliation at the hands of New replacement Manager.

Hi Tassy, The new store manager's customer relations from what you have stated leaves a lot to be desired. Anaconda have a further policy called "Change of mind " . This allows up to 28days for a returned purchased item to be refunded, as long as it can be sold again. i.e. unopened etc. However the store has a number of options it can apply e.g. one is a gift card , but also a further option is a full refund. Also a range of products are excluded, but I think yours fits. You can read a full description on their web site.
There has been a lot of interest in your thread and the comments are quite varied. I tend to check prices and products carefully before purchasing and your experience only reinforces this.
Hope all ends satisfactory for you.

Allan B

Totally with you on this.

The only thing that a price guarantee offers is that it is only available to those who are informed, it doesn’t mean that the establishment you are buying from are the cheapest – far from it, although that is the message it is trying to convey.

In fact, there is research that supports a theory that “price guarantees” could actually assist “cartel” pricing. Effectively, all members of the cartel (price guarantee firms) have a mechanism that can be invoked if one member steps out of line on pricing by reducing the price on an item.

In the long run, price guarantees are anti-competitive leading to higher prices being paid by consumers.

Consumers should demand “first price – best price” and over time support those business’s that, on average, have the best prices.

Cheers, Baz – The Landy

Tassy, thanks for explaining it a bit further - I have a better understanding and perhaps in the same position, I'd do the same as you .......or maybe I'd have just kicked myself and said bugger!!! Anyway I've learnt a bit from this thread.
Cheers, Phil

Thanks Phil for your understanding....Cheers Tassy!

Found it Harvey Norman advertise up to 7 days after purchase

Yeah Tom, and I am sure MOST retailers will honour a price difference within THEIR store system, if they sell you something one week, and it's on sale from them the following week.

Not what was being discussed at all

Read this

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/customer-service/best-price-guarantee.

If you buy something one week and the price drops next week too bad.
You bought it at the price advertised. As far as I am aware even Supercheap only do that for the "Members" of their Club and advertise as that applies.
Recently I bought some oil at Repco with my RACQ card at 20% off.

Two weeks later they had it in the catalogue for 45% off..

Should I have driven 50km to get about $10 back.
Hardly worth the hassle and I bet I wouldnt have got it anyway

No, not what you were saying re HN policy, but certainly relative and a different scenario that does happen often.
Most biz employees would know it's coming on sale by the week previous and managers / owners would allow the sale price difference if they were approached later.

I feel most people would feel pretty deceived if a store sales person / manager / owner didn't say 'look we have that coming out on sale monday for $x, I will give you that now for that price' or 'do you want me to put one aside for you to collect monday ?' etc.
Many of course might not see the sale info later and be none the wiser.

That makes to much sense !..Al,....Just get on with it and try and make up $ 80 on the next few deals i reckon!...lol.
..Business is tough all round these days.

Axle.

AllanB; To be precise it was a difference of $107 including the 10% price beat which came to 30% less price than what I had paid. And I will go through the hassel not for the money.... But for humiliation! We went to the store to claim refund only after the former Manager had asked us to. Agreed that I shud have checkd the price before... But i was only doing what was within my rights. Before approaching them; I not only responsibly verified the ambigious policy meaning with Both Penrith and Auburn stores but also got written email quotes from various lower priced competitors. Now even if all this doesnt satisfy the New Store Manger then what are store policies for then?.... its better to not have such policies rather than misguiding consumers!!!

Just by the by but I rememeber reading about a study which showed, iirc, that people who constantly looked for the best deal were often the most dissatisfied consumers.

There's a world of difference between a PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE (which implies 'at time of purchase') and a PRICE GUARANTEE which SPECIFICALLY provides protection (within a specified time period) where the product is subsequently sold at the same store for less, or in some cases where a consumer subsequently finds a better price elsewhere.

Anaconda's price match gurantee is nothing like any (after sale) price guarantee I've ever seen.

Leigh its not about $50 or $107 to be precise. Its about the Former Manager calling us to store to claim refund and the New Manager humiliating us instead disrespecting not only us but also his own Former Managers and Penrith store personnels decision. Two of them had no problem with Anancondas policy while a new bee who was just 6hrs old in his role understood the policy better!!

Bazooka the policy could be read one way or the other. And hence to clear any doubt and understand the policy meaning better I responsibly called Penrith and Auburn stores. I told that I had purchased a product last evening and found an idendical competitors product for a lower price. I checked with them If I could be entitled for a refund under the lowest price match guarantee. Both the stores confirmed I was indeed entitled for refund under the policy. I was asked to bring purchase receipt and advertisement or any written material from competitor which I did. The Auburn store former manager called Harvey Norman and verified the lower price. He called me back and confirmed and told me to visit store to claim refund. He also explained procedure for refund. He said full amount of $329.99 would be refunded back to my credit card. Then a new transaction would be made for $222.3. After all of this communication and confirmation the New replacement Manager refused to listen to anything. That is the main problem. Dishonoring the promised refund and humiliating us in front of everyone.

That part I can appreciate Tassy. But having the new manager advise (correctly, if abruptly and possibly rudely, in my view) that the previous communication was wrong, I think his offer of a gift card to the value of the difference was ultimately a fair outcome.

Two observations.
1 - Anaconda should clarify its policy for those who don't know the difference between a price match and a price guarantee. They also need to train their staff better (that could apply to most big retailers).

2 - consumers who don't do their homework beforehand but still expect post-sale price matching are in most cases being unreasonable. A business MAY choose to offer some sweetener where possible but that's their call. I say in most cases because a regular ("loyal") customer of Anaconda might rightly be annoyed if they find their new purchase on sale the next week.

Bazooka; Anaconda clarified the lowest price match guarantee to me and only after that I approached them. They confirmed post sale price match policy to be valid in my case. There wasnt any ambiguity thereafter about my refund entitlement.

Anaconda also has a change of mind policy under which a store credit is provided to be utilised for upto 2yrs. Under this policy too I could have alternatively returned the product and the Store would have provided me a credit gift card valid for 2yrs no questions asked. So its not a fair outcome when I was promised a refund but instead received a gift card which I could have anyway straight away got. I could have simply returned the product got the store credit to be utilised in 2yrs; gone to competitor bought the cheaper product......problem solved!

But the point is the Lowest Price Match was provided by the New Manager by offering the difference along with additional 10% to beat competitor price in the form of gift card. This itself proves I was entitled for price match even after purchase orelse he wouldnt have provided with the additional 10% discount to begin with... The dispute was because the total amount was provided by way of gift card instead of refund that was approved....And I dont think I was being unreasonable as I seeked all confirmations from them, verified details, followed procedure and only then visited the store after being called upon.

No need to repeat yourself Tassy I've got the picture very clearly. Mistakes were made and you're determined to have your pound of flesh.

Your conclusion about your entitlement doesn't follow however. If this thread is any example I can think of at least one other plausible explanation why the new manager finally gave you the gift card.

Seems you've learned quite a lot about their policies after the event. Could have saved yourself and the company quite a bit of angst had your done that research beforehand.

Sorry to say Bazooka you've missed the point despite my repetition. You CAN'T disregard the fact that I verified the policy and its meaning with Anaconda before visiting the store and NOT AFTER as you are WRONGLY pointing out. You also CAN'T disregard the fact that both Penrith and Auburn stores CONFIRMED my ENTITLEMENT and Auburn store Manager himself approved my refund after following official procedure and then scheduled my visit to store to provide refund. He explained the entire refund procedure to me which I have already pointed out in my earlier follow-up post. Its not like I walked into the store suddenly and started asking for refund without any understanding or basis. I did enough ground work before hand before visiting them. So what research are you talking about and where is the question of saving angst for me or the company..... Will you please explain??

Asking for refund within Rightful means is NOT A MISTAKE. MISTAKE IS when the store dishonours their own policy. I agree a consumer should be informed about pricing before purchase, but sometimes missing out on a good price is not a mistake especially when stores have policies for change of minds, refunds and lowest price guarantees. What are these policies for then if they cant be honoured under such circumstances?? Do you have an answer? Even Anacondas website states Lowest Price Gaurantee and not Lowest Price Match as you pointed out in your earlier post. If they dont honour their own policy its not the consumers mistake but faulty adverstisement misleading consumers. I was'nt determined to have my pound of flesh, I only wanted the New Manager to hear me out and honour the Former Managers decision for refund and NOT credit. Yes a lot of lessons learnt from the store experience and faulty policy...and am sure many of you have too learned a few things about Anaconda.

You've said the same thing now to different posters at least a half dozen times Tassy and I have no intention of repeating what I and other forumites have already pointed out in regard to guarantees and pre-sale research.

Suffice to say that this thread shows precisely why the new manager was wise not to waste any more of his time. There are retailers with poor attitudes and probably even more consumers of the same disposition. Neither deserves our support.

Nevermind Bazooka, I mentioned the same thing to few posters as initially they were not aware of the details; but later on explaining many of them were understanding enough to get the point while you continue to repeat jargon about pre-sale research. By not replying to the simple and specific questions in follow-up post above shows you not only have NO answers to them but also doesnt even want to understand. I cant help someone who doesnt want to understand the circumstance as well as technicalities.

You are entitled to your opinions and conclusions about the actions of the new manager, but that doesnt prove anything or change reality. I'd suggest you reserve your precious time, support and comments for something that you can handle. Also appologies if I said something that you disliked. I came on this forum as a genuine person seeking for some advice and many did provide encouraging replies suggesting ways how to get remedial solution....I thank them greatly.

Appreciate the grain of salt advice Tassie. My "not replying" was explained clearly so you're being vexatious - a characteristic I'm sure the Anaconda manager is familiar with.

There's an old Shakespearean adage you might be aware of and this thread is a fine example.

For 'tis the sport to have the enginer
HOIST WITH HIS OWN PETARD, an't shall go hard
But I will delve one yard below their mines
And blow them at the moon.

But, for my own part, it was Greek to me

:-)

Vexatious!!... Now you are doing character assasination. You seem to know the thoughts of Anaconda New Manager very well I think....always talking from his mind. Be judgemental as much as you like.......that doesnt prove anything or change reality. If your own comments and conclusions made any sense you would have clarified better with the replies rather than escaping it and accusing someone.

Sorry to say but it would have been a far better idea to do the research first.
Then go to the cheapest to buy, rather than start a fight from a disadvantaged position.

It may be wiser to say nothing about this thread until a resolution is achieved and only then if the result is unsatisfactory.

However it will be nice to know the result.

I've had NOTHING but good service and products from Anaconda. Then again I consider myself a (mostly) informed consumer and generally know what's a fair price.

Bazooka apart from this issue in General the staff is pathetically rude. They dont respond to queries easily and are particularly very rigid. Have observed some products priced way higher than market. Last time i chd the ice gel pack large size available for $9 in anaconda whereas the same thing was available for $4 in Bunnings!! I bought most of my camping gear from Anaconda but surely wouldnt recommend them to anyone for their poor pricing and sheer lacking of customer relations!

Thanks Tassy. I think we all get the picture now even if we didn't before.

Bigfish I would have done exactly what you've said If I hadnt been promised the refund by former Manager in first place. Please read in detail my original post and subsequent replies that lead me to visit the store for refund. I see people here are in a hurry to read without going through details and understanding the circumstance. What would you do if you were phoned by store manager and asked to visit store to claim refund after following all official procedure in detail; and then upon visiting the store you get a rude shock that the manager concerned has not only left the store but the New Manager refuses the refund and treats you like bleep ???

BarryR1 yes you are right I am a first time poster here and so were you at some point when you would have started out new. But being an experienced member here you chose to not use kind words to a first time poster. You think this is a self-serving rant when inreality I was asking for advice for a problem. Isnt this forum not for asking advice or help??.... If not then I am sorry I think I am in the wrong place. When I posted about what ensued in store You gotta trust me....I think in forums like these people trust each other and build a community for help, advice and contribute as anyone can be in a similar situation. If you dont believe my story you are free to be your own CID and verify details or better still dont respond to the post if you cant contribute anything positively rather than be so negative.

First of all you have interpreted the post incorrectly. The point of discussion is not for additional 10%. How about you read the post thoroughly first and my subsequent replies thereafter to understand the post better and then post your wise comments rather than calling someone 'Unbelievable! What a winner you are..... Not!

Just to add, I'm a keen price hunter myself, I always check Ebay first to get a handle on prices and what other items similar are available on the market. So i can see where you are coming from and $80 back in your pocket is better than not. Michael

True Micheal to what you said but I wasnt exactly chasing a price difference. I contacted Anaconda to verify their policy and they confirmed that If i bought a product which was available in store in stock elsewhere they would refund the money. They took my purchase details and asked me to visit store to claim refund. What ensued in store wasnt expected as it was the Manager himself who had called us in store to get refund and explained the whole refund procedure too. The problem started because the New replacement manager disapproved an already approved refund by his previous manager and instead got into a heated argument and asked us to Get Out from store.

Lower prices are definately sending small business broke. We don't sell any more items, just make less on what is sold. In the meantime overheads keep rising. These lower oil prices must be killing some garages.

" I think its called ethics " …… Like common sense 'ethics' is seriously lacking not only by the consumer today but also retailers ...

AllanB I wonder what you would have done if on a $1000 product purchase if you wud have found a competitor product at $700 i.e at 30% discount from original purchase; would you have still kept the product and not checked with the store for refund policy?...And would you have still remained silent if you were within your rights to claim refund and you visited the store to claim refund only after the store had asked you to but were then humiliatingly refused the refund? I wouldnt as an Idiot I am......NOT!

So Tassy J if you buy a new vehicle on a friday and then on saturday you see it as a runout model in the paper to go on sale monday you expect your money back or at the very least the $$ difference from the dealer do you ?

Alloy c/t I dont think you have any belief in policies like Change of mind or Refund or Price guarantee right??...Do you?? Or simply you dont seem to understand the thrust of this post. Orelse you would'nt have posed the question which you just have.

Tassy J,

Sorry for delayed response...... I have been out of contact for several days.

To answer your question "... would I have remained silent?" You may find it hard to believe but yes, I would not have tried to obtain any credit benefit after the sale. As I said earlier, if I accepted their price and purchased the product. End of story.

What does seem interesting about your behaviour is that you bought the product, took it home, then started looking for price comparisons???? Seems to me like the old saying.... that "He protesteth too much".

Life is too short for crap like this
It is like the OP what should be the purchase of an item to be used for leisure and enjoyment will probably make him feel bitter every time he opens it
You may well be technically right to claim all these refunds and rebates etc but you have to weigh up if it worth the grief and anxst in your life for the saving of a few bucks
I think not

I think that Ron is right to chase Europcar ,
If we consumers do not or cannot be , bothered to pull them up on these things then , we are effectively telling them that they are OK to continue doing it !
I can see that Q would buck at something less than a Dollar but ,
if we let them get away with that then , again , they will just keep on doing it .

Well in contrast to your Europcar experience, when we were in Canada recently we had an Alamo car for a week and as we had to be at the airport at 6am we took car back previous day.

The contract said no refunds for early return.
Went in to settle up and he said well arent you lucky you get a days rental refund. I said but it says no early refunds.

"Dont worry about that, we only charge for what you use"

$65 in my pocket is worthwhile.

The Enterprise (part of Alamo group) one we got in Buffalo was crap so we asked for another one with a satellite radio. Ended up with an upgrade worth $12 a day. Okay as hire was for 53 days

So not all businesses are bad. Just thought I would stick up for one LOL

IM pretty sure in australia its illegal to quote and advertise gst exclusive
-- its not America where you have little idea of the actual price

Agree with Ron and Wide ranger, we consumers gotta pull up companies if we are tricked by policies which are ultimately not meant to be. If there is a policy then it should be implemented rather than stay as a fancy wording on the website to fool consumers. One doesnt loose ethics or become a cheapstake or an idiot by following the company policy and protocol. Instead of self blaming; these companies should be taken to task or they will continue to exploit consumers.

Allan,

The same bloke who sold you the turbo enfabulator shares :-)

Cheers

Allan & Alby, you're comparing apples to oranges with your comparison between road signs and consumer purchases.
The road sign variation means no loss to you, except perhaps 45 seconds of your time. All road distance signs are merely "indicators", anyway.

However, with the retail industry and major businesses, consumers are faced with prices that are "jacked up" seriously at nearly all times, aided by misleading advertising, misleading labelling, misleading offers, and T&C's written by smart-ar$e Philadelphia lawyers - all designed to utterly bamboozle purchasers and make them pay more than they should.

On top of that, they deliberately make it extremely difficult to contact anyone in their company, to register a complaint, and to deal with someone who has the ability to handle that complaint.
Oftentimes, consumers with a genuine complaint are fobbed off, diverted down blind alleys, handed delaying tactics, and even escorted from stores because they are "disruptive".

We have Australian Consumer Law in place, purely because of the greed and deviousness of the corporate sector.
This sector would walk all over us as consumers, and deprive us of any rights, every time they got a chance.

I always have a good chuckle every time I hear of "corporate ethics and morals".
This section of our society is totally bereft of ethics and morals, they operate on greed alone, and by stepping on peoples heads and fingers to make vast profits and get ahead.

I have no problem dealing with an individual business owner who is straightforward and tells me he's done his best on pricing.
Many a time I've purchased from these people, and they will regularly deal with genuine complaints, on the spot, with fairness.

However, the opposite is true of large companies and global corporations, they will ride roughshod over their clients at every opportunity.

I've been escorted from the local Casino because I kicked up about being treated like a fool, when I was ordering food from their food hall.

This Casino advertised a "Steak Special" which I decided to order, and I joined a long line to order at the counter where the sign was positioned.
After a 20min wait, I reached the counter, only to be told, "I was in the wrong line - "the steak special is only available at the next counter along."

Furious, I left the counter and went to the back of the line for the next counter.
After another 20 mins, I reached the counter, only to be told, "No, you're in the wrong line, the steak special is only at the next counter" - and the employee indicated the counter I had previously left!!

Naturally, I was pretty enraged by this point and started a row, and I must admit I was pretty angry and loud.
A large "security person" promptly took hold of me and escorted me from their premises - without any attempt to settle the dispute.

I can assure you, I've never returned to that premises, and I never will, as long as I live. I also bad-mouth that business to anyone I meet. Their interest in the their clients satisfaction is zilch.

It's no coincidence that one of Australias richest men owns that casino, and his interest in his clients only revolves around how much he can suck out of them.
This attitude is prevalent all through the corporate kingdom - I know, because I've sat in boardrooms when dealing with large public companies, and seen the deviousness and selfishness, firsthand.

Cheers, Ron.

I totally feel the pinch of staying in two queues for so long only to be pushed away in an infinity loop.... And then to be escorted out.... Pains me to hear!.... You should publicise this unfortunate incident as much you can.... serves them right! Australia should have more consumer friendly laws particularly where there is faulty advertisement or policy violation

they probabally did you a favour as a butcher maybe I am fussier about steak than most but ive never had a steak on special that was worth eating - even most steak not on special, lifes to short to eat tough steak.
ive been at a restaraunt and everyones raved about the steak I found tougher than an old boot

Mate it has to be someone else's fault, that is what we are taught these days
Are you really expecting the OP to be responsible for his own actions and hasty purchase decisions without doing his own research ?

Disco Driver you are so old school, nobody thinks like that anymore ;)

Disco Driver agreed its always better to shop around before purchase..... But all of us do get caught up in missing good pricing many a times. But how would it amount to fault and stuffing up if the store policy permits you to claim refund.... Will you please explain? What are these price match, change of minds and refund policies for then if the company doesnt want to honour them??....Is it just for show-casing without application? Are you saying once you make a wrong decision about any purchase its a one way and point of no return?

Anaconda first acknowledging the lowest price match policy and entitlement for refund, then calling the consumer to visit store to claim refund and later dishonouring own staffs approval for refund and not only that to top it humiliating consumer instead...... still not Anacondas fault? Think about it, probably you will get the answers.

Alloy c/t - No, you cannot compare your scenario to Tassy J's complaint - because the restaurant is NOT offering a "price match" deal.

In Tassy J's case, he is justified in his complaint, because one Anaconda manager agreed to settle his "price match" complaint in his favour, then another Anaconda manager welched on the agreement.

The fact that two different managers cannot agree on the precise terms of a "price match deal", gives a good indication of the overall poor management of the company, if senior management cannot thoroughly articulate precise T&C's of "price match deals", to store managerial staff.

Cheers, Ron.

Ron N , have you never heard of 'tongue in cheek' ,

Alloy c/t I am sure everyone has heard of 'tongue in cheek'. But that wasnt witty nor funny!! And failed to convey any point across!!

Tassie, you know what you have to do.

Go to another store not involved. Get a refund. Let your conscience wrestle with whether or not to keep the gift voucher.

Cheers

I'm now ROFLMAO , Karma strikes , if when you found out you could get the tent at a cheaper price elsewhere had simply returned it instead of chasing an extra 10% discount ,you would have saved a billion bits of the internet and bought the same tent at the cheaper price …. Karma.

Allan c/t what makes you think or give that opinion that I was chasing the 10%???......that 10% along with difference is already given to me in the form of gift card. How about reading the post again? The dispute was because the former manager approved refund but the new manager provided a gift voucher instead. I wasnt infact bothered for the 10% at all; All I wanted is the price to be comparable to Harvey Norman. At that time do you think by simply returning it would solve the problem? It would mean getting a gift card for change of mind return. Anaconda doesnt refund for change of mind. That meant keeping $329.99 with Anaconda for 2yrs plus spending $247 at Harvey Norman.... doubling my spend upfront for a tent!.... Its always easy to laugh at others without understanding the details.... Delve deep and you wud be sorry!
And yessss do remember Karma...I am a believer!

Yes disco driver I will return tent now that its not fit for purpose. As far as courts is concerned am not really thinking that far, however for now I will complaint about the humiliation part to the head office and put in my word about their poor customer relations.

pretty sure your incorrect there Disco its not not fit for purpose its just damaged or faulty (there is a difference )
they can refund replace or repair at thier discretion

Where's the Bantam ? I thought we would have had a response to this one. :)

Hahahaha Hooks that is the winning post on this thread :)

Well said Landy, I am amazed that the Moderators allow these sort of threads, there is a website called Not Good Enough for these sort of things!
MySwag has already had legal issues over this sort of thread & it must only be a matter of time before the same happens here.

Hi Shaker

The problem with this type of thread is that it is simply a “he said, she said” with no possibility of anyone being able to add any value other than to express a view point on what “he said, she said”.

How can anyone form a reasonable opinion on what actually transpired.

2,800+ views, 28 replies, and 84 follow-ups might be good for “traffic” to the site, but I find it disappointing that a topic like this, which has little relevance to most on here, gets so much attention, when good topics of relevance to travel in Australia, or four-wheel driving generally, seemingly slide by with little interest…

Cheers, Baz – The Landy

Unfortunately it is the way the forum has been allowed to degenerate over the last 10 years, & most likely why so many viable contributors have left.

I have no intention to make comment on the op, replies or followups of this thread.

If people feel it contravenes the forum rules as set by the forum owners, all you need to do is let them know.

I am sure that the moderators don't read every thread - how many who have complained that it is defamatory, off topic or a personal attack have pushed the button?

If not - don't complain about the ''denegration' of the site! It is a public forum and you make up the public. If you want quality, you have to take some responsibility for it as well.

And yes, I have now pushed the button as this thread has denegrated into a farcical slanging match.

Cheers

Anthony