Buyer Beware

[bklass]

I recently went onto the "NEXTAG" comparative shopping site looking for a universal remote control.  I found the best price at "ETRONICS".  They listed that particular remote for $77.20 delivered to my house.  However when I went ahead and purchased this remote, they charged me  $82.94.  When I called them and told them about the discrepency, they politely said that they see the error and  there was nothing they will do about it...mistakes happen!  That was Tuesday and as of today, they have not corrected the price discrepency on the websight.  I'd be careful about purchasing anything from them.  The really wierd thing about this transaction however was NEXTAG's position on this.  These comparative shopping sites like NEXTAG have areas for us purchasers of products to write reviews of the seller that we dealt with.  I have written 2 reviews politely mentioning that ETRONICS prices may not be as published and gave them a 1-star rating (out of 5 stars).  NEXTAG has not published either review.  Apparently they have a policy of not letting us buyers be critical of anything to do with pricing!!!  Is it just me, or does it seem funny to you that a company whose entire existence is based on pricing, would embrace a policy of protecting sellers who misrepresent their pricing on THEIR websight.  Has anyone else had an experience like this?

[borghe]

it is mail fraud. You actually have many courses of action to take. You can either start from a consumer end or a legal end. From a consumer end take a screenshot of their site to start with. Then try calling your credit card company and see if they are willing to do something. Either a straight out full refund or at least a credit to the correct price. Otherwise you can also work with the better business bureau.

If you want to start from a legal end, look for an attorney that works with mail fraud.

[Tarzdan]

Follow up with the BBB for sure. In the global view  ($6.00) of the situation a lawyer will cost you a good amount of $ and may not be worth your time. I would start with the major networks consumer reporters (i.e. WTMJ call for action). Companies hate bad press, sometimes all it takes is a phone call from one of these folks and all of a sudden they will fix the situation.  I've experienced a very positive result in a similar situation...

[brewtownska]

It's probably a little off the subject, but I just wanted to let you guys know I've dealt with E-tronics.com twice now with Car Audio equipment, and both times got correct prices, quick shipping, and they even send the auto email giving the UPS tracking number.  Considering how little some mail-order companies do for you, I felt very comfortable with the transactions as a whole, and to me that is more important than getting the BEST price.

I understand why you're upset with the pricing issue, but I just wanted to throw out my experiences with the company to show people they don't make a habit of screwing with people's orders.

Mike

[bklass]

It's really not the $6.00 that bothers me as much it is the attitude and the unwillingness to correct the incorrect price.  If the money was the issue I would stop payment and refuse the shipment when it gets here (they said it already shipped..within the hour I placed the order?...).  Nextag really bothers me more by "condoning/encouraging" the counterfeit pricing.  If it were truly a mistake why hasn't "ETRONICS" corrected it.

[Greg Oman]

Bklass-- You're absolutely right here, it's not the $6, it's the principle.  You pointed out an error and they blatently tell you too bad?  Obviously, they've lost you as a customer, and many of us that see this may think twice about doing business with them even though they may be satisfactory 99% of the time otherwise.

Find a contact link, and send them a link to this thread, maybe even post up on AVS.  Be polite, but make your point that many people will see your issue, and if they want to continue, so be it.

About as far as I would go is complain to the BBB, but there's only so many people that care about that anyway.  Borge has valid points too, just depends on how much time you want to put into this.

Good Luck,

Greg O.

[jlegge]

Heh.......... guess maybe you should consider a local retailer.

:wave:

Just joshing ya...........

[Pat]

Had to vent, so here goes.

This is one of many instances where marketing has gone wild.  In this case, a company could follow this path until it doesn't work any more, and then change their name (or concentrate on one of their existing other names) and do it again,  The costs of entry are so low, and the consequences of screwing the customer are so low, that you could call it just a cost of doing business.

Another case is rebates.  Forcing the customer to jump through hoops to recover the money the company has collected and is holding.  Hold the money long enough, and the customer will give up.  Make it difficult enough and the customer will give up.  I had one recently where it said clearly to send a COPY of the UPC.  I did and was rejected -- there was no easy way to contact them -- there was no customer service number or contact at the web-site.  Another case -- my rebate was accepted, and I received an e-mail that said it would be 16-20 weeks before it would arrive.  I'll probably forget by then.

Another case is "we'll match any lower price" with sometimes a "and give you 10% of the difference."  Of course this means -- we'll have a higher price than necessary until you catch us at it.  So if all retailers do this, and nearly all do, where's the lower price going to come from?

Given the opportunity, I would support laws to forbid these practices, which are designed to confuse and deceive.

[mhz40]

Originally posted by Pat
clip Had to vent, so here goes.
Another case is rebates.  Forcing the customer to jump through hoops to recover the money the company has collected and is holding.  Hold the money long enough, and the customer will give up.  Make it difficult enough and the customer will give up.  I had one recently where it said clearly to send a COPY of the UPC.  I did and was rejected -- there was no easy way to contact them -- there was no customer service number or contact at the web-site.  Another case -- my rebate was accepted, and I received an e-mail that said it would be 16-20 weeks before it would arrive.  I'll probably forget by then.
/clip

And lets not forget the 'Menards Rebate', where the consumer gets 'money back' in coupon form that can only be redeemed by purchasing items at Menards.