Price gouging at Lowes

[transittech]

So yesterday I was in Lowes with my 5 year old, and he declared he needed glasses as we were walking by their safety glasses display. Last week we were talking about ear protection, so I figured it was about time for eye protection. After trying on a few different ones, (all this one size fits most b.s.) I settled on a pair of 3M Virtua for $8, grumbling to myself that they were overpriced. Getting home, I checked 3M's website and found my $8 safety glasses for $1.52.*

3M's website:
http://www.shop3m.com/70071559465.html?WT.z_bynt=1

On the Lowes website:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_166374-98-90789-80025_0__?Ntt=166374&productId=3086641&rpp=16

I could handle double (expected double), but NOT quadruple. Thats a ripoff. They're going back.

*To the best of my ability; 3M makes many different versions of these glasses, and there is no part number on the retail packaging that matches up with 3M's website, however the ANSI rating on the retail package brings you to these glasses on 3M's website.

 

[OEXL16B]

Don't got to a hardware store or home improvement store for safety supplies. Go to a safety supply store. You guys need to start picking up the yellow pages and find out where these places are at.

 

[pattenp]

You're comparing apples to oranges. The Lowes example are mirrored lenses and different model # from the ones you are comparing to on the 3M site. They sell for $6.73 on Amazon.

 

[mmack66]

I guess they figured that no one would pay only $1 for something as important as eye protection.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...R0gs_X3XWTNTKJ9_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d

 

[chadster1]

Does that price include shipping?

 

[EOC_Jason]

The 3M page shows 0.98 cents per pair...

 

[TreePointer]

You're comparing apples to oranges. The Lowes example are mirrored lenses and different model # from the ones you are comparing to on the 3M site. They sell for $6.73 on Amazon.

+1 Different models.

Here's the 3M link for that Lowes model number: 3M™ Virtua® Safety Glasses 90789-80025

 

[pattenp]

The 3M shipping is $7.99. There goes the savings.

 

[pattenp]

The mirrored Virtua AP ones are $2.76 on the 3M site. Gee.. I need to get a life instead of looking up this stuff.

The 3M page shows 0.98 cents per pair...

 

[EOC_Jason]

It's probably better if you shop around to buy a box of them. That way you always have a pair in case one gets damaged, or a friend comes over, or a pair walks away... I wear safety glasses when weed eating and they seem to get beat up quicker than the ones I use in my shop.

 

[kursplat]

it's not gouging, it's what the market will bare. if no one bought them at that price, they'd lower it. a business is still aloud to make a profit, if you don't like how they do it, don't shop there

 

[2oolhound]

You're paying for department store convenience. Who goes browsing at a 3M store? No one because they don't have 10 stores in every city and they carry limited stock. lowes has huge stores stacked full of stuff so people can "shop". They count on you buying more items than you came for. They put the same amount of time in that 99¢ item as a $50.00 item so the mark up shows worse than a $50.00 item.

 

[Erampu]

The 3M page shows 0.98 cents per pair...

Wow! Safety glass for less than a pennie a pair!

 

[powertrip]

Talk about gouging, wonder what snap on wants for their glasses

 

[X1 Mike]

it's not gouging, it's what the market will bare. if no one bought them at that price, they'd lower it. a business is still aloud to make a profit, if you don't like how they do it, don't shop there

+1 The O.P. needs to read the definition of price gouging. Worst case scenario, jump on Wikipedia, it will be real close.

"Price gouging may be charged when a supplier of essential goods or services sharply raises the prices asked in anticipation of or during a civil emergency."

I hope there isn't going to be a civil emergency that requires safety glasses for all......

As far as returning them, is your time really worth that little because if it is I would be willing to hire out some errands to you.

 

[Outlander]

My manufacturing customer has strict security policies. All I need to do is visit a client in the shop and a new set appears in my pocket (quite legitimately). In fact, when I worked for them 12 years ago, they gave all staff a set...administrative folks included so people would use them at home.

To the OP.....regardless of the pricing outcome, good show for discussing this with your son and encouraging safety.

 

[cbracer]

Yeah I found HD and Lowes to both be outrageous when it came to safety glasses! HF is where I went next.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought my last safety glasses at NAPA and paid about 6 bucks a pair. They are tinted and that's what I wear for sunglasses.

 

[sumner52000]

I get my glasses from work. Wear them a while at work then get a new pair and bring the old ones home to mow etc.

 

[PowerGenGuy]

Our WURTH guy gives us safety glasses! He gave me a tinted pair and i use them as sunglasses as well!

 

[EvilWelder]

PPE at the big box stores is a joke, I get better stuff at my welding supply for a pittance of what they charge.