My husband saw a mirror in a furniture store on Thursday with a price tag of $100. When he went back the next day to buy it, he asked if he could have a discount as the mirror was broken in 2 areas. The sales person went and talked to the owner of the store and when she came back, she told him, he couldn't have a discount and that the mirror now costs $199. He drove 50 miles out of his way to buy that mirror and it seems like that this is against the law or should at least be against the law.
2006-10-21 04:03:11 · 10 answers · asked by Sunshine528 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Other - Business & Finance
Was the mirror on some type of limited time promotion? If not, you may be out of luck. Businesses are free to raise prices as they please. If it was a promotion advertised at one price and they are trying to sell it for another, that is deceptive and illegal.
2006-10-21 04:07:30 · answer #1 · answered by Nrvous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE BAIT AND SWITCH TRAP
Unscrupulous merchants often advertise fabulous but fake bargains just to get you to come into their store so they can sell you something more expensive. This scheme is commonly referred to as "bait and switch." It's simple enough: they advertise some item at a price low enough to lure you into the store. But here's the rub: the advertised item is not for sale. The salespeople may give you any number of reasons why you can't or shouldn't buy it . . . "there aren't any left. . ." " many customers who bought it are dissatisfied . . ." "the product just isn't any good . . ." "you can't get delivery for six months . . ."
The truth is that these salespeople never had any intention of selling the advertised special. They kill your desire to buy it and instead try to get you to buy the item they had in mind from the beginning.
"Bait and switch" is an unfair practice and is against the law. Although you can't always spot bait ads in advance or know that the switch is going to follow, there are a few steps you can take to avoid the trap.
First, realize that a good salesperson may try to persuade you to buy a better quality item or a different brand with more features at a higher price. There is nothing illegal or unethical about this. The important thing is that you are given a choice without undue pressure.
Keep in mind, though, that if a product or service is advertised at a price that seems too good to be true, this may be a bait ad.
Then, if the merchant refuses to show you the advertised item, to take orders for it or deliver it within a reasonable time, disparages it, or demonstrates a defective sample of it, take this as a sign that you're probably being "switched."
Try to do business with merchants who want you to buy from them again and realize that a satisfied customer is their best advertisement. And call the Better Business Bureau for a reliability report before you do business.
2006-10-21 04:12:07 · answer #2 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot do anything about it. There is a law against the phenomenon 'bait and switch'. This won't qualilfy under that. It says you cannot addon more to the printed cost when one is ready to buy or take away lot of functions for not paying extra money. In your case he didn't do either. He changed the price tag for some reason only known to him and he can always deny that in Court if you go to a small claims court and file for 'bait and switch'. May be if you really want to get to the bottom of the truth then you can file and see what his explanation is? You could have asked the store manager about the switch and got an answer there itself. May be you don't want to do the former since it costs time. Wait for a sale for the price to come down or buy from somewhere else.
2006-10-21 04:10:54 · answer #3 · answered by Mathew C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was the mirror advertised some where out side of the store?
Did it have a price tag of $100.00 when he went back?
If it had a price tag of $100.00 the store should have sold him the mirror at that price. They wouldn't have to give a discount.
It would seem to me that the mirror might have been miss priced
& your husband may have gotten it for $100.00 if he hadn't asked for a discount. He opened up a questioin about the value of the mirror.
What makes this hard is that it is his word against theirs.
2006-10-21 04:34:36 · answer #4 · answered by Floyd B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most advertisements have a disclaimer that suggests that prices are subject to change without notice. Also they are not obliged to honour and misprints. They can claim that the special offer was on one item only and they can stand behind the claim that the product may not be exactly as shown.
It's not against the law. They can ask for as much as they want and you can drive 50 miles and decide not to buy it.
Caveat emptor.
2006-10-21 04:14:38 · answer #5 · answered by Jack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutly. It's called bait and switch, and it is against the law.
However, (there's almost always a however) if it was on sale, and no longer on sale, then the store is within their rights. Consider also, it may have been mispriced, and they took the opportunity to correct their mistake.
Was it good business practice? Probably not. And, I imagine the bad word of mouth you will be giving them will probably do them much more damage in the long run.
2006-10-21 04:16:07 · answer #6 · answered by Michael 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
was the $100 in print?
did you husband get a written quote?
if the answer is no then where is the proof that it was $100
the price may have been $1000 then discounted to $199 because it was broken
2006-10-21 04:13:50 · answer #7 · answered by exchange 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the mirror had 100.00 on it at the time he went to purchase it they have to sell it fot that price, the day prior doesnt count,since it was cracked I woulnt buy it.also I would talk to the manager directly and bypass the sales person. also if you want to make a stink take a picture of the sale ticket on the item, take the sales persons name who tried to rip you off, then send your complaint to the better business berough.
2006-10-21 04:21:05 · answer #8 · answered by imphilthe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nonetheless they are able to do what the hell they please by way of fact governing bodies have a vested activity interior the corporate in question. it incredibly is a criminal offense so you might commence a company and promote your self by way of fact the biggest, ultimate fatest or besides the fact that it incredibly is obviously a lie, or your opinion. I study that throughout the time of a leaflet on merchandising in electorate suggestion. I walked down the streat and observed a cafeee. Headline accross good of shop. "The Worlds ultimate coffee". I went in for one, it exchange into almost the worlds maximum expencive at £2.10 for a small cup. I then went to my favourite. it incredibly is £a million.20 there for in simple terms as lots and alter into milky coffee. in my opinion the worlds ultimate coffee exchange right into a blatent lie. yet theyre nevertheless there and the sign continues to be a similar.
2016-10-15 06:31:50 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't no if it is legal but it is sure unethical.
2006-10-21 04:13:53 · answer #10 · answered by rjf1961 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋