Black Friday (Charlotte, Raleigh: credit, buy, school)

[chicagocubs]

Yesterday, B. B. posted an ad both on their website and on the pre-Black Friday website showing an HP laptop computer & photo printer for $279.99. It was a decent machine (asked the techhie DS) and so I was very excited as I am taking 5 classes next semester..and, boy, would that come in handy! So, I dutifully printed the ad, reading it very, very carefully and planned to make my purchase today. The ad did not say anything about an expiration date, that it was a Black Friday only ad nor that rainchecks would not be issued. I did note, however, that the ad was taken off both sites within 30 minutes and another ad replaced it showing the items at a higher price and giving all the standard disclaimers about being Black Friday, etc.

Today, accompanied by a friend, a school teacher whose other laptop just died, went to two separate B. B. in North Charlotte. Neither store would sell either of us the machine. Talked to both General Managers, who, to their credit, were very nice, just very stubborn and said that it was a "company error" and it was supposed to be a "Black Friday ad only", blah, blah, blah. I was very firm in pointing out that when a price is in print, by law, you must honour that price...even told them that I was filing a complaint with the FTC...no go.

So, I am still laptop-less. Luckily, I have a very nice desktop, but, this would have just been so helpful in school....

Suggest that, unless the deal is just a doorbuster, to forego B.B. this year. My personal choice is that I will not darken the door of a B.B. again and I will pass this request onto my sons (who actually buy a lot of their electronics there). My last store boycott lasted over 20 years.

[charlotte spartan]

I am with you too!! I also boycott B.B. It's only been about 3-4 years though. I have had problems with them time after time after time. Then 3-4 years ago, I was fed up. Ironically my last experience with them was over a laptop as well.

[jenn02674]

Keep after them, they need to honor their mistake. T. had a pricing error on a carseat a week or so ago and after everyone kept bombarding them they gave everyone a giftcard.

Raise a stink!

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by chicagocubs

I was very firm in pointing out that when a price is in print, by law, you must honour that price...even told them that I was filing a complaint with the FTC...no go.

I'm not being a wise guy here, this is an honest question. Is what you said above really true about having to honor the print price "by law"? I never heard that before.

[cball75]

Action 9 and Don Griffin! Send them an email.

[Jake Ryan]

Why can't you go back on Friday? If it's such a good deal, what are you really out here, the gas to get there? Is it really worth the trouble to boycott a store or file a complaint with the FTC?

[Whytewulf]

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

I'm not being a wise guy here, this is an honest question. Is what you said above really true about having to honor the print price "by law"? I never heard that before.

Sort of.. lots of loopholes.. Such as an incomplete ad going up and is corrected right away, etc. If they put a correction out, they can avoid it, which is why you see such disclaimers.

I am not against anyone not going to best buy, the unfortaunate part, they are one of the last few electronic shops.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

I'm not being a wise guy here, this is an honest question. Is what you said above really true about having to honor the print price "by law"? I never heard that before.

Yes, the Federal Trade Commission requires that an item be sold at the printed price...no matter what. since I have it in writing, they must sell it to me at that price.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by Jake Ryan

Why can't you go back on Friday? If it's such a good deal, what are you really out here, the gas to get there? Is it really worth the trouble to boycott a store or file a complaint with the FTC?

Because I have to work on Friday. And, because the NEW ad says that it is a doorbuster and you have to be there at 5.00 am. I cannot sit outside all night for this and then go to work. That was the beauty of the ad. It was good anytime.

[chicagocubs]

They have offered me a $50.00 "digital coupon". Nope. I want the computer.