Bauhaus winner of DN's price test 2011 ?

[Mikael_L]

I saw a banner here on the forum.
Checked Bauhaus website, and it also mentioned this info, but no link to the test.

I thought it seemed suspicious.
Bauhaus can hardly be the cheapest in a comparative test; they are more expensive than most in quite a few items.
I'm curious about the test; have they just compared a single item where Bauhaus happens to do well, or has Bauhaus only been compared to expensive stores on the fancy street?

If anyone has checked the test, please post some info.

 

[Ola78]

A little research might provide part of the answer, take a look here http://www.cisionwire.se/byggmax/r/manipulerad-undersokning-lurar-svenska-konsumenter,c9130723. With this in hand, it's a bit suspicious that Bauhaus won.

 

[Mikael_L]

Well, look at that.
I had just found this myself:
http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/din-ekonomi/billigaste-byggkorgen-inte-alltid-bast

When I tried searching on DN's website with Bauhaus as the keyword.

Yes, now I'm surprised, but in a different way... :x
No, not really surprised, rather appalled. :O

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

I blogged about this when it happened. http://www.byggahus.se/bloggar/marlene+eskilsson/2794-bygghandeln-har-mer-priser-att-ta-tag-i.html

 

[Daniel78]

What is interesting is how long it took before Bauhaus raised the prices again? If they are still using the same prices they quoted to DN, then they have made a permanent price reduction.. but if the price was raised again the day after the test, then it is really unfair..

 

[Mikael_L]

Now I have managed to find the tests:
http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/priskriget--en-drom-for-hemmafixaren
and
http://www.dn.se/Documents/tabell bygg-2.pdf

Can everyone who has an errand to Bauhaus bring this list and compare the stated price with the current one, and possibly hold the staff "accountable".

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

They receive information about when the test will be conducted, temporarily lower prices, and then raise them again. That's what grocery stores do for PRO's price test on groceries.

 

[Ola78]

They receive information about when the test will be done, temporarily lower the prices, and then raise them again. That's what grocery stores do for PRO's price test on groceries.

Yes, it is well-known that PRO informs in advance, and ICA usually isn't particularly cheap on many items, but suddenly they become so:x very strange *ironic*

Such price surveys are completely idiotic and actually worthless. Of course, the stores take the opportunity to lower prices if they know they're going to be examined, common sense but it hardly benefits the customer.

No, a proper price survey should be conducted without the store knowing when it will happen to be a decisive test.

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

There was a member this week who wanted me to do an "independent" test of appliance retailers, but I must say that I think the value of such tests is very limited. You don’t buy all building materials at once. If, for example, I’m going to buy windows for my extension and think that price is the most important factor, then I’ll take advantage of an offer somewhere, at that moment. Groceries are one thing, and they should be tested in secret. But building materials, that’s a different story.

 

[Ola78]

You might have a point there; building materials likely fall more under the category of infrequent purchases, and with the help of the internet, it's quite easy to check prices for what you need. However, groceries are purchased quite often, so it's justified, just as you mentioned, to have secret price comparisons there.

 

[myrstack]

However, when it comes to building materials, one should be able to separate the whole thing a bit into a category that is more of a consumable nature (timber by the meter, nails, screws, the most common building boards, gypsum, insulation, mortar, and a bit more) and then those that might be more of an infrequent purchase nature. Price comparison regarding the first category should absolutely be done without prior notice. Price comparison with the latter can perhaps be discussed whether it makes sense.

One thing I think is missed in DN's test is that even as a regular person, there are great discounts to be had, for example, as a member of Villaägarna. For example, Fredells, which was included in the test and usually comes near the bottom as the most expensive, ends up with an average discount through Villaägarna of 20%, very close to or at the top on a large part of the products.

 

[Mats]

on a "real" building market, you can often talk your way into getting a personal discount too.
Because of this, it's tough to even compare the gypsum boards

 

[Alko]

Bauhaus also has its own brands, hard to compare then...

Otherwise, I don't think they belong to the most expensive stores after all. Bought some garden gear there this summer, pesticides and Gardena spray bottle, 40% cheaper on average than Plantagen. By the way, there's a really expensive store for you.

/A

 

[daddydj]

My spontaneous reaction is that I often find Bauhaus very expensive. I hardly believe they are as cheap as they try to fool us consumers into thinking. They may have a few cheap items but the other 20,000 items are expensive.