Websites and stores not the same?

I recently wanted to purchase a book and checked two different stores and decided to go with the one at Chapters as their was a $7 difference. To my surprise when I got to the store the in store prices are not the same as the online prices :eek:. I wanted the book for a gift so didn't have time to wait for the shipping so I purchased it after questioning why they are two different stores but have the same company name.

Why are some stores like Future shop always the same or will match the online pricing and others different?

I think the website is cheaper because they don't have to pay rent on stores, or pay staffers.

I agree they should be consistent.

At least the difference was only $7. I've seen $30 difference before.

I hate this! Its not just Chapters either, Old Navy, Gap and The Bay are terrible for this too. Why can't the prices be the same across the board? So frustrating to find something online and go to store to get it and have it be more.

I used to work at a bookstore owned by chapter and the reason they dont match their online price is because they view it as a different market. Basically, the online store is competing with Amazon- where the physical store is competing with other physical bookstores. They pretty much assume that the clients who shop online are a completely different group than those who shop in the stored (and, to be honest,that is usually the case).. Pretty much just business reasons- the demand is higher for real stores and therefore the price is higher. I guess for electronics ppl are more likely to go online and stay there

i had same experience with walmart online instore price shows 5$ and when i check in store it is 9.99

use bookdepository.com for books, cheaper, if not cheapest, and free world wide shipping...

The frugal shopper in me refused to accept that answer so when I got home I ordered the same book online saving me the $7 then got something for a Christmas present to be able to have free shipping then saw the used a $5 off promo code which more than covered the taxes!!! I ordered it on a Friday night and in was at my door Monday morning!! Then the original book was returned. It all worked out in the end but really wish websites were more in line with the stores.

I usually go to chapters to buy a gift card so I can buy my books online with the better prices and a coupon code. I don't have a credit card so any online shopping is done with gift cards bought in the store. (So if the store won't let me use their gift cards online they lose my business to another store that does. And then I don't pick up impulse buys to get my gift card there either.)

Its less expensive to sell online then in the store..A few of my experiences have been the following.. washing machine from Costco $100 cheaper online and free shipping... Winter coat (Sears) currently $200 in store, 100$online .. Computer/tv combo $150 cheaper online than at Future shop.. discovered it was cheaper after buying in store at Future shop so went back the next day with my receipt and they gave me the $150 plus tax back.

the reason websites and stores have different stock is because it costs more to carry items in store (because of the middle men and employees involved in running a store) and you'd have to sell them for more to make the same profit, therefore to keep the site and the store from having drastically different prices they create a different inventory for their online store.

It's frustrating but actually a cool way to get fans to shop in both places.

.