Stores can be truthful, but misleading.....
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
November 24, 2007 7:17pm CST
I was reading a local stores ad and they had a Vivatar Digital Camera on sale - $69.99 with a $30 mail in rebate. I was thinking of getting one for myself and my son. Just below the picture and price wwas the statement "5,000 purchased".
Now... what would you interpert that to mean? The store bought 5,000 of these cameras, right?
Wrong! After looking at the camera is was so small I didn't know if my son's hands would be to large to deal with the little thing, so I was going to just get one, and if it was okay for him, go get another one and I'd keep this one. I asked how many they had left - thinking Black Friday and all and I was there around 2pm) and she said "only 3 or 4 more".. I said, "Oh my gosh, you mean you sold nearly 5,000 in just these few hours?" showing her the ad in my hand. She said "no, that is how many cameras the store CHAIN bought - that is 5,000 cameras distributed throughout all the chains stores in the state." (i'm in Calif). Nice one! MOral of the story: Ad shopper...beware!
1 person likes this
2 responses
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
27 Nov 07
And they get away with this because it's not a lie. I know Canadian Tire store does this all the time, and it infuriates me. You think you have time to get something only to find out they don't have any and they only had a couple, in the first place. And they don't give rain checks on the sale items. Sometimes I think they only have one of the item, just so they get you into the store. They hope you will buy another brand that is more expensive.
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
28 Nov 07
That surprises me that they wouldn't let you use your atm card. It's just like using cash. It's pretty bad when they will only take cash. i don't blame you for walking out and not every going back to that store again. I know I wouldn't either.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
25 Nov 07
Probably more important in buying a camera is whether it has the features you want than how many other people bought that one anyway. Maybe they don't know that much about camera's and just bought them on impulse anyway. To see which cameras are popular, after looking at a few in stores I always go to eBay and check out which cameras they sell the most accessories for--those are likely to the most popular cameras. Incidentally, if you feel like taking a bit of a chance, it is possible to get a fantastic deal on a digital camera on eBay if buying from a seller with a good feedback rating and a good photo and specifications on the camera. There are so many models out there that it is a bewildering process, but better sitting down at the comfort of your computer than trying to decide with a too eager5 sales person hanging over you. After researching on eBay, then when you go back to the store you will know whether something is a good deal or not. I take a few listings from eBay printed out on paper when I go to the store actually. It helps a lot!
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