When you next step into a Sainsbury’s superstore in the hope of buying a kettle, you might want to look around you.
For it has been revealed that the supermarket giant is almost doubling the price of several electrical products also sold at Argos – which it owns and houses in many superstores.
It has emerged that a Dyson cord-free vacuum cleaner came with a price tag of £320 at Sainsbury’s, while in the same building it was for sale for £189.98 at Argos.
Meanwhile, a Breville Impressions kettle was sold for £45 by Sainsbury’s, and £29.99 by Argos, despite both being ‘bought under the same roof’.
When you next step into a Sainsbury’s superstore in the hope of buying a kettle, you might want to look around you
It has emerged that a Dyson cord-free vacuum cleaner came with a price tag of £320 at Sainsbury’s, while in the same building it was for sale for £189.98 at Argos
a Breville Impressions kettle was sold for £45 by Sainsbury’s, and £29.99 by Argos, despite both being ‘bought under the same roof’
Experts have said the price differences, discovered by Channel 4’s consumer series Supershoppers, will ‘erode’ trust in the Sainsbury’s brand among consumers, and something ‘must be done’.
Retail consultant John Ibbotson told the programme, which airs tonight at 8.30pm: ‘Sainsbury’s bought Argos because over the last 10 years, in common with most supermarkets, they have been having a bad time.
It has emerged that a Dyson cord-free vacuum cleaner came with a price tag of £320 at Sainsbury’s, while in the same building it was for sale for £189.98 at Argos
‘They are losing market share to the internet, to convenience retailing and to the low-cost discounters like Aldi and Lidl.
‘The only way they can grow is by acquisition, that is by taking over another retailer and getting more stores.’
Asked about the price difference, he said: ‘Sainsbury’s may own Argos but they are two different companies with two different buying operations.
‘Argos is the second-biggest retailer of consumer electricals in the UK. They can buy their electrical products for a much cheaper price from the supplier than Sainsbury’s can.
‘As soon as consumers realise that Sainsbury’s own Argos they cannot have different prices. If they do, the confidence in the consumer in the Sainsbury’s brand will erode. So they must do something about it.’
Last year, Sainsbury’s bought Argos for £1.4bn, in a takeover of Home Retail Group, and started rolling out Argos stores on its premises soon after.
There are now several superstores housing both Sainsbury’s and Argos, where consumers can use computers to order products from the Argos catalogue.
Supershoppers presenter Sabrina Grant said: ‘It is not always easy to know where to go to hoover up the best bargains.
‘Take this Dyson v6 cordless hand-stick vacuum cleaner. At Sainsbury’s we found it on sale for £320. But at Argos we paid just £189.98. That’s £130 cheaper.’
Her co-presenter Anna Richardson added: ‘And the shocking thing is the two products were both bought under the same roof.’
They then highlighted five more electrical items they had found that were differently priced at Sainsbury’s and Argos, including an iron, a slow cooker and a coffee maker.