van929 Posted November 25, 2005 Posted November 25, 2005 I am looking for others who had a similar experience as me. I sat outside of Circuit City at Whitman Square in Philadelphia last night for 5 hours. When the associates finally came outside to hand out the claim vouchers for the advertised $199 Toshiba laptop, they first began offering "pre-installed" laptops. These were the laptops that they had installed with Spy Sweeper, Anti-virus and whatever else they decided to add. They were selling it at an additional $100-200 cost. As it came closer to store opening we continued to ask for vouchers for the "basic" model that was advertised in the circular. We were told that someone came through with those vouchers and that there were no more advertised laptops available. There were now at least 20 very cold and angry individuals standing in line. The store opened at 5am, with more than several individuals in the back of the line with vouchers for laptops that were selling above the advertised price and no evidence that there was ever a laptop at the advertised price available. We took it into the store and after lots of yelling and screaming were able to speak to a store manager. We were "assured" that there were 20 "basic" models and 15 "pre-installed" models. He stated that the only thing that he could do for us was take our names and phone numbers and try to do his best to provide us an answer, but that it would not necessarily be the answer we were hoping to hear. He said he could not offer any kind of substitute value. I do not understand how this happened and how a store could allow this kind of blatent lack-of-respect for its customers to occur. We do not know if these "basic" models ever existed or if a store associate screwed up royally and started handing out vouchers in the back of the line without offering to those in the front. Nonetheless, I know that someone knows the answer to this questions and that this issue has not be resolved to the satisfaction of any of the customers involved. I know that this is not the first time that this has happened, but if this is a true case of false advertising or bait-and-switch (and those "basic" laptops never existed) I want to do something about it. Please, if there is anyone who experienced something similar, share it with the rest of us or feel free to email me personally. I want to get to the bottom of this. Thanks!
hong2221 Posted November 25, 2005 Posted November 25, 2005 I am looking for others who had a similar experience as me. I sat outside of Circuit City at Whitman Square in Philadelphia last night for 5 hours. When the associates finally came outside to hand out the claim vouchers for the advertised $199 Toshiba laptop, they first began offering "pre-installed" laptops. These were the laptops that they had installed with Spy Sweeper, Anti-virus and whatever else they decided to add. They were selling it at an additional $100-200 cost. As it came closer to store opening we continued to ask for vouchers for the "basic" model that was advertised in the circular. We were told that someone came through with those vouchers and that there were no more advertised laptops available. There were now at least 20 very cold and angry individuals standing in line. The store opened at 5am, with more than several individuals in the back of the line with vouchers for laptops that were selling above the advertised price and no evidence that there was ever a laptop at the advertised price available. We took it into the store and after lots of yelling and screaming were able to speak to a store manager. We were "assured" that there were 20 "basic" models and 15 "pre-installed" models. He stated that the only thing that he could do for us was take our names and phone numbers and try to do his best to provide us an answer, but that it would not necessarily be the answer we were hoping to hear. He said he could not offer any kind of substitute value. I do not understand how this happened and how a store could allow this kind of blatent lack-of-respect for its customers to occur. We do not know if these "basic" models ever existed or if a store associate screwed up royally and started handing out vouchers in the back of the line without offering to those in the front. Nonetheless, I know that someone knows the answer to this questions and that this issue has not be resolved to the satisfaction of any of the customers involved. I know that this is not the first time that this has happened, but if this is a true case of false advertising or bait-and-switch (and those "basic" laptops never existed) I want to do something about it. Please, if there is anyone who experienced something similar, share it with the rest of us or feel free to email me personally. I want to get to the bottom of this. Thanks!can you post up the voucher?
Ninasnewborns Posted November 25, 2005 Posted November 25, 2005 They took my voucher when I got my laptop. I also had to pay for the upgraded package. They charged me 99.99 plus 59.00 to install it. But I had been out there in the cold since 1:40 and was bound and determined to come home with a laptop! It was worth it!~
Ziptar Posted November 25, 2005 Posted November 25, 2005 Stats from my Store..... They offered 19 of the $199 Basics (I got voucher #19), They had 28 of the $399 "Anti-Virus" Ones. I know because the guy next to me was handed the voucher for one of the $399 models marked 1 of 28.
mugs Posted November 25, 2005 Posted November 25, 2005 Contact the Pennsylvania state attorney general and tell him the same thing you told us.
Hmbre97 Posted November 25, 2005 Posted November 25, 2005 I had the same issue at Best Buy. They told me they had sold out of the basic config systems.... except I had voucher #5. The guy that was first in line (He got there at 7:30PM) said he was having the same issue. I asked the lady how they could have sold out of the minimum 10 basic systems before the FIRST PERSON IN LINE GOT HIS. Long story short, the manager took off all the charges on the 3 machines I got and they gave me all the software anyway since it was already installed on the machines. Now I have some leverage to sell these bad boys!
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