From: David Ross (ross_at_math.hawaii.edu)
Date: Sun Apr 25 1999 - 08:40:31 EDT
As much as I hate to get involved in this thread, I agree 100% with Ray. The ecommerce industry wants to be self-regulating, but
this kind of thing is common, and is too often followed by some sort of weak excuse. I personally think it is even more irritating
online than in a print ad.
Moreover, in the volatile world of computer equipment - especially when looking for closeouts - one often can't predict whether a
price is real or not, and such ads can keep one from placing an order in a timely fashion from another source.
Some of the biggest, cheapest virtual stores engage in a variety of nasty practices which likely contribute to their competitive
edge over other sources. I'm thinking in particular of buycomp, but this might apply in the current case as well.
The company should make some sort of goodwill gesture, e.g. some sort of discount on a future purchase. A bit of pressure (BBB etc
seems very appropriate to me) might make this happen, as well as induce them to put a bit more care in their online catalogue.
- David R.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ray Bay <raybay_at_cia-g.com>
To: Barry Marks <barry_at_fbtc.net>
Cc: <djmusic_at_inreach.com>; thinkpad <thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu>
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 1999 1:56 AM
Subject: Re: $313.95 !!!!!!!!! THINKPAD 560 P2-233 4.0GB
> Normally I would agree with you, but this outfit does this all the time.
> They have such a history of typos and other errors that it appears to be
> more of a bait and swithch.
>
> I don't agree that people should get an outrageously low priced computer,
> but something must be done to stop this. I read in one of the business
> magazines that they had more than $300,000 in "errors" in March and April.
>
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