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Best Buy Informative - Best Buy (scammers) Adds Disclaimer To Secret Website.
In response to being sued and humiliated on the internet over their "secret website," reader MK says Best Buy has added a disclaimer that warns customers that the in-store kiosk doesn't display the same prices as the public website.
For those of you new to this issue, Best Buy was caught using a duplicate website to fool customers who tried to compare internet prices with in-store prices.
Customers who asked why the price was higher in the store were often told that "the sale must have ended" in the time it took them to drive to the store. They were then told to "check the website" to see for themselves, then were shown an identical-looking website that displayed different "in-store" prices.
We think Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said it best back in May (right after he sued Best Buy):
"Best Buy gave consumers the worst deal - a bait-and-switch-plus scheme luring consumers into stores with promised online discounts, only to charge higher in-store prices," Blumenthal said.
"The company commonly kept two sets of prices - one on its Internet site and an often higher set on its in-store, look-alike, available on kiosks. The in-store site was an Internet look-alike, commonly with higher prices, which were charged to consumers. Best Buy broke its promise to give the best price - an Internet version of bait-and-switch - a technological bait-and-switch-plus.
"Best Buy used in-store kiosks to conceal lower online prices and renege on its price match guarantee. Consumers seeking bargains were led to believe that lower online prices had expired or never existed. Best Buy treated its customers like suckers, not patrons to be prized."
We hope this disclaimer puts a stop to that sort of behavior.
For those of you new to this issue, Best Buy was caught using a duplicate website to fool customers who tried to compare internet prices with in-store prices.
Customers who asked why the price was higher in the store were often told that "the sale must have ended" in the time it took them to drive to the store. They were then told to "check the website" to see for themselves, then were shown an identical-looking website that displayed different "in-store" prices.
We think Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said it best back in May (right after he sued Best Buy):
"Best Buy gave consumers the worst deal - a bait-and-switch-plus scheme luring consumers into stores with promised online discounts, only to charge higher in-store prices," Blumenthal said.
"The company commonly kept two sets of prices - one on its Internet site and an often higher set on its in-store, look-alike, available on kiosks. The in-store site was an Internet look-alike, commonly with higher prices, which were charged to consumers. Best Buy broke its promise to give the best price - an Internet version of bait-and-switch - a technological bait-and-switch-plus.
"Best Buy used in-store kiosks to conceal lower online prices and renege on its price match guarantee. Consumers seeking bargains were led to believe that lower online prices had expired or never existed. Best Buy treated its customers like suckers, not patrons to be prized."
We hope this disclaimer puts a stop to that sort of behavior.
Comments:
Posted by Mad Eye Moody on 2007-09-28:
Before this practice was stopped, I wonder if anyone used their mobile phone to hook up to the real internet in the store and find that there was a contradiction. This is pretty blatant and super-duper (legal term) illegal. I'm going to follow up on this story and see if there's a resolution in the works. Sounds like a great candidate for class-action. CHA-CHING!
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-09-28:
Bait and switch all the way, but I would bet Best Buy didn't do it for that reasoning. To be competitive online, you have to tend to price with barely any margins. Brick and mortar stores need to have more in a sale for overhead. Having merchandise lower online than in your store becomes a problem real quick. This was their way of trying to pull it off. It's deceptive and frankly a stupid move for a chain the size of BB to assume, with all those internally aware of the tactic, this wouldn't blow up in their faces.
Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2007-09-28:
I was @ Circuit City today, pricing LCDs (Sony Bravia XBR4) and the sales associate was very anxious to answer my questions and show me pricing on the internet. He informed me that any "bargains" that I found on the internet were likely refurbished or grey merchandise and they would not price match that. I'm not sure if that's true, so I asked my neighbor who was formerly in the electronics biz. He told me that tale was likely very true and that if I buy off the internet, I could be in for a lot of trouble to save a few hundred. Every brick & mortar store I've been to says they'll price-match the other, so I guess I'll have to go with whomever will give me the better deal on accessories and or extended warranty if I elect to purchase it.
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2007-09-28:
Still chasing those ambulances, Maddy?
Posted by DigitalCommando on 2007-09-28:
Pretty amazing that a national chain store would engage in such activity just to make a few extra dollars. What's next, pulling hoods over their heads and armed robbing the customers in the parking lot?
Posted by superbowl on 2007-09-28:
Thanks for the comments, everyone got "helpful advice" votes.
Posted by LeeSee on 2007-09-28:
I'm glad someone busted them on this. Pretty scummy behavior.
Posted by Greenmon on 2007-10-12:
Not Surprised about Retail Stores, how could they misjudge intelligent consumers ! Heads will fly.
Now watch out for Funeral Homes, they try and catch yahs when your down and sad with grief.I have a great Bait and almost switch story that i had to rectify for my family-JUST SCREAM ,(not Literally),BAIT AND SWITCH ! And i want to see the manager or have this situation resolved immediately otherwise i am calling the state DA and local DA in regards to this NOW ! Boy , did that get there attention and results too ! they quickly knocked off 7-8 Thousand Dollars off, i was proud of myself, i counldn't swear at them ,because my young son was with me at the time, and i mentioned that to them, HAHAHA now its funny but at the time ,you could see the steam foaming outtta my ears, My SIster thanked me for beating them up calmly but effectively ! GOOD LUCK HUNTING
Now watch out for Funeral Homes, they try and catch yahs when your down and sad with grief.I have a great Bait and almost switch story that i had to rectify for my family-JUST SCREAM ,(not Literally),BAIT AND SWITCH ! And i want to see the manager or have this situation resolved immediately otherwise i am calling the state DA and local DA in regards to this NOW ! Boy , did that get there attention and results too ! they quickly knocked off 7-8 Thousand Dollars off, i was proud of myself, i counldn't swear at them ,because my young son was with me at the time, and i mentioned that to them, HAHAHA now its funny but at the time ,you could see the steam foaming outtta my ears, My SIster thanked me for beating them up calmly but effectively ! GOOD LUCK HUNTING
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