BEWARE - Bait and Switch Experts!
Written: Feb 28 '02
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I found Digital Net Shop via PriceWatch.com while looking for a deal on a Sony DSC-S85 camera. Now, I know what your going to say, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!"
That said, I went ahead and purchased the product through their online store, completed the checkout, and then was greeted with a message stating that I must call up to confirm my order. Immediately I thought, what kind of e-commerce is this!?
So, I right away called their store, waited on hold for 5 minutes, once I had a person on the phone I informed them that I had just placed an order online. He replied "What did you order". Not, "What is your order number". So I told him, then he put me on hold for 90 seconds, came back and again asked what I ordered and what my order number was. So I told him. He again put me on hold, came back, and then asked. "So, you only ordered the camera". I said yes. He then proceeds to tell me that the Sony camera is not a "US model" and that it would not have a US warranty. If I wanted a "US model" then I need to pay significantly more money. I told him that this was a pretty rotten way of doing business, especially since their web site says nothing about the unit not being a US model. Who would think any different since you are ordering from a US store. He told me that "80% of the people know that this is the case" and that everyone online that has a good deal uses this sales technique!
My take is this...their method of business is:
1. Let the user order online at the good price
2. Make them call in so that you can see if you were able to sell them other high-margin items online. If so, they process the order because their profit is secure.
3. If not, discourage the buyer from buying the product since they will take a bath on selling just the leader product.
This is immediately apparent to any site visitor that looks at their outrageously priced accessories.
I am not against anyone making a profit. But, if you want to sell non-US, grey market goods, you should at least say so in the product description. If not, and you want to make the profit on your accessories, sell them as a bundle with the camera.
I am now on a mission to uncover as many of these online pricing scams as possible.
Recommended:
No
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About the Author
Location: SLC, UT
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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