- Report: #986657
Complaint Review: Wal-Mart - Ottawa Ontario
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Wal-Mart
Richmond Road Ottawa, Ontario, United States of America
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Wal-Mart bait and switch on Christmas Eve - deceptive pricing Ottawa, Ontario
ON display were tower type jewelry cabinets
One display model; the other models were in their oxes.
The price tag on all the oxes was $89.00
We chose the floor model.
The box was obtained from storage
My husand helped putting the cabinet in the box
When checkiing out the ill was $169.00
We politely refused to continue with the purchase, under protest.
This I consider deceptive pricing
The sales clerk did not mention at any time that the pric would be higher. All other models in individual boxes were priced at $89.00.
The assumption is that the floor model has the same price. They were alll different in decorative design with different leg styles and decor, but structurally the same.
One display model; the other models were in their oxes.
The price tag on all the oxes was $89.00
We chose the floor model.
The box was obtained from storage
My husand helped putting the cabinet in the box
When checkiing out the ill was $169.00
We politely refused to continue with the purchase, under protest.
This I consider deceptive pricing
The sales clerk did not mention at any time that the pric would be higher. All other models in individual boxes were priced at $89.00.
The assumption is that the floor model has the same price. They were alll different in decorative design with different leg styles and decor, but structurally the same.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
ottawan
Ottawa,Ontario,
Canada
First lesson learned
#2Author of original report
Wed, December 26, 2012
Thank to the consumer who posted a comment.
Nice point. However, this concerns merchandise in boxes, ready for carrying out, with a display model to show the contents of the box. This is different from a Rolls Royce among Fords. We verified that the decoration varied. Nowhere was there any indication of a difference in quality. Of course this could not be verified since the other cabinets were in boxes.
First lesson learned: Verify the price of the physical item, rather than assuming it is the same, even if it seems obvious.Second lesson learned: Do not assume that what is on display is equal to what is in the box.
My concern here is deceptive pricing or bait and switch, or both.
There are two obvious outcomes:
1. When choosing the display model, the consumer is asked for a higher price, (according to the consumer comment: presumably for a higher value) 2. When choosing the packed item, the consumer gets a lesser value than the display model (the same premise: the display model is of a higher value).
The other outcomes are:
1. The consumer with the display model pays the additional price
2. The consumer who buys the box does not know the difference in value.
Another scenario:- There is no difference in value, only in finish-
Does anyone suffer a loss?
What is the risk to the store of getting an unhappy customer?If there is that risk, at what point is that important to the business, the manager?
I shop at this store frequently
This was the first time I was seriously disappointed.
After spending more than half an hour listening to the sales clerk, waiting for the box and helping with the wrapping, we had to return home.. My husband went back to the store and pointed out the price gap, and was told that the price was on the box. (except there was no box when we looked at it).
I look forward to further considerations, loop holes, assumption gap considerations, etc.
Should I shrug my shoulders?
Striderq
Columbia,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Your argument is flawed...
#3General Comment
Tue, December 25, 2012
"They were alll different in decorative design with different leg styles and decor, but structurally the same."
So as long as the items have the same structure they should cost the same. How about if one is made out of balsa wood and the other out of mahogany? Or one made of tin and the other of platinum? With your argument, since all cars are structurally the same, a Rolls Royce should cost the same as a Yugo.
