Don't you hate it when...

[grinningghost]

...you go into a store wanting to buy an item in their ad, and they do everything and anything to talk you out of it, and into something more expensive? Went to Circuit City because they had a nice, simple computer at a price we can afford, for our DD's birthday. We would have walked right out of the store with it - but we got a bonehead sales guy that told us we didn't want that one. Duh! Yes we did. He lost the sale. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[philaround]

This is called "bait and switch" and is illegal in most, if not all, states. I would report this to your local BBB and your state Consumer Protection office.

 

[helenabear]

I hate sales people like that. I have found many who act like that and it drives me bonkers. I rarely go to Best Buy because they are always trying to do that to me. I walk out of there often because of it or I walk away until the person is busy and I get someone else to help me.

 

[princesstommi]

I hate that too.

I'm with philaround.

Guides against bait advertising
From the Federal Trade Commission site (bolding by me):

Sec. 238.3 Discouragement of purchase of advertised merchandise.

No act or practice should be engaged in by an advertiser to discourage the purchase of the advertised merchandise as part of a bait scheme to sell other merchandise. Among acts or practices which will be considered in determining if an advertisement is a bona fide offer are:

(a) The refusal to show, demonstrate, or sell the product offered in accordance with the terms of the offer,

(b) The disparagement by acts or words of the advertised product or the disparagement of the guarantee, credit terms, availability of service, repairs or parts, or in any other respect, in connection with it,

(c) The failure to have available at all outlets listed in the advertisement a sufficient quantity of the advertised product to meet reasonably anticipated demands, unless the advertisement clearly and adequately discloses that supply is limited and/or the merchandise is available only at designated outlets,

(d) The refusal to take orders for the advertised merchandise to be delivered within a reasonable period of time,

(e) The showing or demonstrating of a product which is defective, unusable or impractical for the purpose represented or implied in the advertisement,

(f) Use of a sales plan or method of compensation for salesmen or penalizing salesmen, designed to prevent or discourage them from selling the advertised product. [Guide 3]

I would at least call the store and let the manager know what kind of sales tactics his salesman was attempting to employ. It's one thing to try to upsell, but it's another to try to talk you out of the advertised product. Even if he didn't know *he's not supposed to do that*, he needs to know that he can't and the store probably needs to know that he needs a refresher course on the law. If the manager is not helpful, I would go higher on the chain, or make a report.


edited to fix broken link

 

[grinningghost]

I'm taking your advice and contacting the store manager and the BBB. This guy was way out of line.

 

[kayeandjim00]

I had the EXACT same experience when we bought our new computer last year. I went to Circuit City knowing exactly what I wanted and he kept telling me how it wouldn't "fit my needs" even though he didn't know what they were and trying to talk me into a more expensive model. So, I left and went to Best Buy, paid $100.00 more for the computer but it was worth it because there was no way I was buying anything there! In fact I haven't bought anything since then from there. The others have posted good advice, I never thought of contacting the BBB at the time.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

When it happens to me - I just turn around and leave the store