Bentley And Co. Bait and Switch Rip-Off Lynchburg Virginia
Today I ate in this restaurant for the first time, after having it recommended to me by friends and colleagues. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
There were signs posted in the window and on a chalkboard in the restaurant (which incidentally remained there as long as I did) advertising a special of an 8 oz sirloin steak and mashed potatoes for $5. Since this is a pretty good deal, I entered the restaurant and ordered this special.
After placing my order, washing my hands, and beginning to consume my drink, I was told by the waitress that they were out of the special. This is known as "bait and switch" advertising, as I was then pretty much committed to eating there and they did not allow me to buy the advertised item or any equal substitute.
Instead I had to order from the regular menu. The cheeseburger was pretty good, but I ended up paying $8 for a cheeseburger when I came in expecting to pay $5 for a steak! Needless to say I was not happy about this. The waitress was rather rude about the situation, and said to another waitress that I was "stiffing her".
To top it off, when I checked the transactions on my debit card I was charged $12.04 instead of the $10.03 which I reluctantly authorized.
I was very disappointed with my first (and it may have to be my last) visit to this restaurant.
Mike
Lynchburg, Virginia
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Mike
Lynchburg,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Yes it was bait and switch, but they did correct it after the fact
#3Author of original report
Mon, January 29, 2007
To the credit of Bentley's, I did receive a phone call from one of the owners, JR, shortly after reporting this. He apologized profusely, and assured me that he doesn't do business this way and that his employees were totally in the wrong. He replaced the meal at no charge. I have since returned several times and have had nothing but good experiences there. They made a mistake, a bad one, but corrected it and I'm convinced that they are good people. And the food is really good!
Laura
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Not Bait and Switch
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, January 29, 2007
It's not bait and switch if the restaurant ran out of the special. You think it's odd to run out of a special? Come to Chicago where they run out of specials all the time! I agree that the sign should have been taken down, but I think that was just negligence, not a scam. And why did you stay there if what you wanted was no longer available? Makes no sense to me. I would have left...