TW doesn't price match Babolats?

[snoflewis]

I tried to order some APDs today by price matching to a local shop. I was told by the associate that TW does not price match Babolats, even confirming it with the supervisor. This was rather surprising considering 1) it's not a current model 2) you guys have discounted the same racket last year when it was the most recent model simply by me asking for it 3) i have price matched rackets from all brands when ordering from you guys and this is the first time you guys have refused to price match

The shop I was planning on price matching was an authorized dealer. The reason the TW employee gave me was that the shop should not have been selling it at that price. This is nonsense because you guys have sold me the same racket at a lower price than what Babolat suggests.

Is this some sort of new policy? if so, why guarantee the lowest price when you can't honor it?

 

[Bartelby]

A price matching guarantee is also a way for manufacturers to find out if retailers are adhering to policy, so presumably one authorised dealer will be getting a call from Eric Babolat.

Unauthorised deals from authorised dealers are not in the script, but a guarantee of lowest price should mean that just the same.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

So this just affects Babolat?

Phew, fortunately I use real tennis gear.

 

[snoflewis]

A price matching guarantee is also a way for manufacturers to find out if retailers are adhering to policy, so presumably one authorised dealer will be getting a call from Eric Babolat.

Unauthorised deals from authorised dealers are not in the script, but a guarantee of lowest price should mean that just the same.

im presuming you are referring to MAP policy, which all retailers have to adhere to. afaik, MAP policy doesnt apply to in-store prices unless things have changed. regardless, when there's a $50 difference between TW and retailer on a racket, i dont care how awesome TW is, i would choose the other retailer every time.

 

[Bartelby]

So what would be the reason for TW saying they shouldn't be selling for that price?

im presuming you are referring to MAP policy, which all retailers have to adhere to. afaik, MAP policy doesnt apply to in-store prices unless things have changed. regardless, when there's a $50 difference between TW and retailer on a racket, i dont care how awesome TW is, i would choose the other retailer every time.

 

[snoflewis]

What the sales rep said was that babolat has a list of rackets they set pricing on and doesnt allow retailers to sell below a certain price. ive heard of this for MAP on websites but not for in store prices. If that were the case a babolat rep can walk into any store and see who is violating contracts.

anyway, i got my rackets but just wanted to see what the real reason was before wasting my time calling to price match in the future.

 

[TW Staff]

snoflewis,

In regards to price matching, we love to do everything we can within our contracts as authorized dealers of all of the brands we carry. If I am thinking of the same shop that you are referring to, I do believe that they are no longer an authorized dealer of Babolat products due to their pricing policies over the years. While we definitely do not want to dictate where you make your purchases (hopefully many of them will be at Tennis Warehouse), if you purchase your tennis racquets with a dealer who does not adhere to their contracts or isn't an authorized dealer for that brand, the manufacturer reserves the right to refuse warranty coverage if your racquet were to break due to defect.

Our price matching guarantee still stands for any products that are being sold by an authorized dealer of the equipment, and many times we even try to be lenient when there is grey area, but we would be breaking our contracts with Babolat in this instance so we regretfully wouldn't be able to accommodate.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to our customer service department and we will be happy to help.


Aaron
TW Customer Service

 

[snoflewis]

They are an authorized dealer according to both Babolat and the retailer, but thank you for confirming.

 

[Bartelby]

An authorized dealer gone rogue. Il faut en profiter before Eric strikes them down!

 

[langdon0555]

My local shop has the new Pure Aero's for either $189 or $199...I can't recall. I also recall my local shop having the textreme 95 at least $15=$20 dollars cheaper when those first launched.

So I wonder if they are breaking some kind of rules...

 

[snoflewis]

My local shop has the new Pure Aero's for either $189 or $199...I can't recall. I also recall my local shop having the textreme 95 at least $15=$20 dollars cheaper when those first launched.

So I wonder if they are breaking some kind of rules...

supposedly it's only for babolats. but i was under the impression it was only for current models, not older ones. This store lost their dealer agreement w/ babolat a while back for refusing to back down from the pricing policies, but eventually became an authorized dealer again. I was just surprised as the APD is not the most current model. i think other manufacturers just have to follow MAP pricing which is for online advertising. i've seen RF97s when they first came out at $160 and even the yonex dr 98s are $160 atm

 

[JohnBPittsburgh]

Prince also requires Authorized Dealers to do this as well. MAP Minimum Advertised Price. I have seen companies go lower when they are in a slump or trying to generate sales, but they can get their account terminated by doing so. One has to wager if they are willing to risk it, just to get a sale, where they are making less money. I have found it is easier just to adhere to the rules, and I sleep better at night Also, the manufacturer decides on when something goes off MAP, not the store. I am sure there are a lot of factors that go into deciding on when to take it off MAP. It isn't always the newest model (for instance, the Premier 105 is still on MAP, and the Textremes are newer)