Shopping Chronicles

In this age of digital everything, a coffee table picture book is still a talking point.  Every year beautiful glossy hardback books are produced in their millions and they are snapped up by shoppers who love to dream.

Weta Digital coffee table book, the Hobbit Chronicles

I had my twinkling eyes set on such a prize when I went looking for Weta Digital's The Hobbit Chronicles, a gorgeous high-quality record of the sets and design for the motion picture.  I'd already checked out the Whitcoulls web site and found that they had it for sale for $45.95 with free delivery.  Rather than order it online there and then, I made a note to call in to the retail store in town to buy one.

However, on arrival I found the sole copy of the book they had on the shelf was marked with the full recommended retail price of $59.99.  I took it to the counter and the ever so helpful assistant confirmed it would cost me $60 to buy the book.  But on your web site it's $45, not $60 - how does that work?  Oh well, Sir, we often sell cheaper through the web site.


After telling the assistant that there would be no sale after all, I headed down to Paper Plus to find that they also wanted the full RRP.  That concluded my options in the mall.  Not a happy shopper.  Not happy at all.

Amazon owned book specialist

So when I got home I checked out the web for comparison.  It wasn't hard - it's not like we have a great deal of local options here in Godzone.  Whitcoulls online was $45.95 as noted earlier, Mighty Ape  higher at $52.99 (+ $3.90 P&P so getting up towards the retail price) and Fishpond was just $41.95 with free delivery.  The Fishpond item proclaimed it was in stock with the NZ supplier (I wonder who they use).  For comparison sake I also checked out my favourite overseas site, Amazon-owned Book Depository, which just squeezed in with the lowest price of $41.61 with free delivery from the UK to New Zealand.

I find this kind of nonsense all the time and I'm getting tired of it.  New Zealand retailers moan about the web, particularly the competition from overseas yet they price themselves out of the market.  Whitcoulls' crazy philosophy of driving their customers online can only hurt their retail stores.  And here's the thing - if I end up buying online I have no loyalty at all.  I will often buy the cheapest option (as long as it looks like the seller is legit and that I will get my order).

So what did I do?  Well, I opted for the Fishpond offer.  I could have gone with Book Depository but why

A smart local web merchant, Fishpond

add to the carbon miles by having it shipped from the UK when it's available here for much the same price? I've been impressed with this local web merchant and they seem very focused on competing with the overseas big boys.  In fact, judging by the number of products they advertise as in stock with their UK and US suppliers, I suspect that they have agreements with the likes of Amazon and/or Book Depository to ship direct to NZ customers.   The best of luck to them.

As for our high street retailers, I recommend you wake up and apply some common sense to your pricing while you still have some customers.

More online shoppers favouring overseas sites (Stuff)