Nowadays, any “wise” consumer chooses to do extensive research before buying any type of product, be it a smartphone, a TV, a computer, or even an appliance such as a refrigerator or a microwave.
After all, if you didn’t know, manufacturers cannot force stores, whether physical or online, to sell a product at a fixed price! This is illegal. They can only recommend a price (PVPr), and then try to manage stocks so that prices are not too different from market to market, or even from store to store.
Let’s go by parts?
Much cheaper products Online. Why? How is it possible? Are there negative aspects? Warranty is valid!?
So, very briefly, each retailer sells at the price they want, with the profit margin they want.
However, in order to get the best possible prices, stores make agreements with brands for some volume discounts, on special items, or else, even stranger, we have some retailers who choose to buy their stock of products in a market with lower prices. low, and then sell here.
For example, sometimes we have a manufacturer announcing internally that it will increase the prices of all its products, due to production difficulties, or due to inflation. A situation that almost always results in retailers with larger budgets moving towards a ‘bulk’ purchase, in large quantities, with associated discounts.
This also means that, in the future, these same stores will be able to “play” a little more with their margins, compared to other stores.
However, in an important and even curious detail, when products appear at “unbeatable” prices in these smaller, more unknown stores, it is completely normal to see Fnacs, Wortens, MediaMarkts, etc… “What is up!? How are these prices possible? Solve it or we don’t buy anymore!”
Fortunately or unfortunately, these are very complicated situations to control from whichever side you look at things. we at Leak, we have already questioned many of the manufacturers, and the answers are always as vague as possible. Because it is what it is. There is not much to control on the manufacturers side, especially the National poles.
Conclusion: Are there any downsides?
In short, it is due to all these reasons that we often see differences of €200, €300 or €400, in mainstream products such as smartphones. However, in some cases, namely those involving cheaper products from other markets, this may bring some difficulties for the consumer, in terms of guarantee.
For example, in recent weeks, we have published news about high-end smartphones at much more attractive prices on traditional price comparison sites, such as KuantoKusta. The most glaring examples were the Galaxy S23 Ultra which, with less than 1 month on the market, is already available 1159€ instead of the RRP of 1449€, or even more incredible, the case of Xiaomi 13 Prowhich on the day it was released, was already available to 1169€instead of the advertised 1399€.
This is something strange, and sometimes even negative for us, the media.
After all, the product is being launched, we say a price, which is recommended by the brand, and out of nowhere, this same product is available in ‘n’ stores, at a much cheaper price. A price that can be found by any consumer with a quick Google search, or any other price comparison tool.
By the way, it happened very recently, the Leak being invited to an NDA (Non-Disclosure) event, and at the event itself, deciding to do a light Google search. For what? To discover that the products supposedly still “in the secret of the Gods”, were already on sale, in several stores, at lower prices compared to those advertised.
Do these huge ‘discounts’ have water in their beaks?
Note 12 Pro // Note 12 5G // Note 12 Pro+
Well, as you can imagine, there are always pros and cons. So, in some of these cases, if you have problems with the device, the manufacturer can simply refuse your guarantee. Stating that the device was purchased outside, and therefore, it is an illegal sale.
Normally, this type of store states that the guarantee is the normal European one of 3 years. But, most of the time, this has to be active with the store, not the manufacturer.
Want an example? We have a documented case of a consumer who reported her problem and experience on the Complaint Portal.
However, fortunately, in this specific case, the store did its part! By quickly solving the problem, being the same to deal with the guarantee. What does it means? Very briefly, if you are going to buy a product, with a very attractive price, in a lesser-known store, it is a good idea, in addition to researching the product, to also research the store a little.
After all, saving 200€ or 300€ on a product, and then being “stuck” in the warranty, without much support… It is an exchange that could go wrong.
