Best Buy Continuing "Bait-and-Switch" Website Tactics?

Iria · Dec 25, 2007, 06:48 PM

Source: Tech-Ex
________
Best Buy continues to hit the news with good (like sending Toshiba HD-A03 players when they sold out of HD-A02s) and bad (like running around trumpeting about the "last" Wii was for sale in a store) news - mostly bad, though.

Recall earlier this year allegations, and eventually a lawsuit (still ongoing), by the Connecticut AG's office over deceptive use of in-store kiosks that went to a "special site," rather than the one on the Internet? This sort of bait-and-switch tactic was supposedly settled, but apparently not. According to reports, the practice is still ongoing.

Necrosis · Dec 25, 2007, 07:05 PM

This is why I always do pickup.

[hobo]eclipse · Dec 26, 2007, 12:47 AM

I can confirm this is still happening in Ohio, last night as a last minute gift my Mom and I Ran to the Best Buy to get a nice full size tri-pod for my camera to replace the smaller one i had. looking online before we left i seen one that had what i needed for $25.49 and another for $44.99, both instock at a local store.

upon arrival i found both tripods $29.99 and $49.99. Already knowing their sceme from reading about it before here before I went to one of the kiosks and asked a young lady if this thing was online and if i could look something up. She hurridly said yes its online for the store here, go ahead, and scurried off. What was onscreen was an internet explorer session open to a www(.)bestbuy.com/.... address with a large bestbuy toolbar attached to IE. i looked up the tripods and both were listed at the shelf price i seen instore.

gathering up another worker i asked him to take me "online" to bestbuy.com, he did with no quarrels and there were the tripods at the price i seen them at home. He confirmed it wast an online only special and the price was given. Go figure

OmegaRED · Dec 26, 2007, 06:18 AM

So even if I surfed the web on my iPod Touch at Best Buy it would be redirected to their intranet instead of of the www url...how sneaky! I hope they aren't pulling this shit in Canada

Dyre Straits · Dec 26, 2007, 06:43 AM

I have detested Best Buy ever since they first opened.

My personal gripe is that they will run ADs in the newspaper for certain items at special prices and then, even if you're the first one in the store on the very first day of the sale, they don't have the product in stock!! It's been this way both here in GA and also in FL. I'm sure it's the same elsewhere.

I don't even frequent the place anymore due to their underhanded tactics. But, I will make them price-match something if I don't want to/or don't have time to drive all the way over to 'the other place' to get what it is I'm after.

Soooo...this current situation doesn't surprise me in the least.

Dec 25, 2007, 06:48 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Best Buy Continuing "Bait-and-Switch" Website Tactics? Source: Tech-Ex ________ Best Buy continues to hit the news with good (like sending Toshiba HD-A03 players when they sold out of HD-A02s) and bad (like running around trumpeting about the "last" Wii was for sale in a store) news - mostly bad, though. Recall earlier this year allegations, and eventually a lawsuit (still ongoing), by the Connecticut AG's office over deceptive use of in-store kiosks that went to a "special site," rather than the one on the Internet? This sort of bait-and-switch tactic was supposedly settled, but apparently not. According to reports, the practice is still ongoing.

Dec 26, 2007, 06:18 AM	#4
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	So even if I surfed the web on my iPod Touch at Best Buy it would be redirected to their intranet instead of of the www url...how sneaky! I hope they aren't pulling this shit in Canada __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Dec 25, 2007, 07:05 PM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	This is why I always do pickup.

Dec 26, 2007, 12:47 AM	#3
[hobo]eclipse ...just bummin 'round Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,907 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	I can confirm this is still happening in Ohio, last night as a last minute gift my Mom and I Ran to the Best Buy to get a nice full size tri-pod for my camera to replace the smaller one i had. looking online before we left i seen one that had what i needed for $25.49 and another for $44.99, both instock at a local store. upon arrival i found both tripods $29.99 and $49.99. Already knowing their sceme from reading about it before here before I went to one of the kiosks and asked a young lady if this thing was online and if i could look something up. She hurridly said yes its online for the store here, go ahead, and scurried off. What was onscreen was an internet explorer session open to a www(.)bestbuy.com/.... address with a large bestbuy toolbar attached to IE. i looked up the tripods and both were listed at the shelf price i seen instore. gathering up another worker i asked him to take me "online" to bestbuy.com, he did with no quarrels and there were the tripods at the price i seen them at home. He confirmed it wast an online only special and the price was given. Go figure