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Theodore McDonough
February 19, 2010
False advertising / over charging
On Thursday, Feb 18 2010 my girlfriend and I went to Target looking for a TV. They were out of the advertised $299 32 inch TV's so the salesman Keith started trying to sell me another TV. Keith was great and after a lengthy conversation about features and pricing, we decided that a Visio 32 inch TV for $343.85 (Item #008091436) was the best for me. We talked about how the $10 per inch guideline was a good reference for buying HDTV's at a good price. I asked about several TV's and specifically if certain TV's of the same size and features were worth the extra money. We really did talk at length about features and pricing. My girlfriend was very bored. We decided that the Vizio had the connectivity and resolution I wanted for the extra $44. I told him I'd take it. He looked for one but said that they were out but that he'd try and find me one at another store. He typed on a handheld computer for a bit and then made some phone calls while we waited. He located one at another store and they said they'd hold it for 24 hours for "Ted." I thanked him and we went on our way to the store that had my TV waiting for me. Upon arrival at the store he sent me to, I noticed several things. There were a number of signs up in the electronics department with “price matching” in big letters. I also noticed that the same Visio TV here was significantly more expensive (459.99 vs. 343.85 = $116.14 difference! An increase of 34%!). The sales rep said I’d have to pay the higher price. I asked for the manager. Manager Priscilla called the store that sent me and confirmed on the computer that it was the same item but still demanded the extra $116! I said I would not and wanted to take the next step (talk to someone above her). She gave me an 800 number that I called. They were closed. I called the next day and was on the phone for an hour and a half and talked to Abby, Wilona, and Mike (at corporate ref # 1-443178001) and all of them told me that I was out of luck. They would match a competitor’s advertised price but would not honor what was promised to me by one of their own representatives. Unacceptable. All I want is to buy the TV for the price I was promised and already needlessly drove all the way across town for. For my troubles I should probably even be given a discount off of the $343 price!
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