UN TED WE S AND
UN TED WE S AND
March, 2003
Recently, I bought a new computer for my wife using the web site from CompBuyCity. It was a set package of features (no changes allowed) from a well-known manufacturer. I had tried to buy this model at the local branch of the store, but they were out of stock and their web site offered it at the same price with no shipping cost.
It’s a nice machine. I went into CompBuyCity today to look at it and comparable models to see what I might buy for myself. The model I had bought through the web site was there on the shelf at the same price I had paid.
The store also has a computer where you can “build your own” machine, adding or subtracting features at will. When I started playing with it, there was a message that I would get a $100 mail-in rebate if I ordered a machine. So, I went through the specs and built a machine exactly like the one I had bought: same manufacturer, same everything. And the price was $10 higher than what I had paid.
When I asked about this, I was told that there is a surcharge of $10 for special orders as compared to “mass-produced packages.” Hmmm. Wasn’t what I had worked up on their computer exactly the same as the model I had bought before? Yes, but it’s a different model number since it would be produced as if it were a special order. Well, I thought, $10 isn’t a big deal since I will get $100 back on a mail-in rebate.
Oh, there is one other catch. There is a $75 shipping charge for these “special orders” as compared to free shipping on the model I bought. So, to buy the same thing as I have (just a different model number), I would save a whopping $15. Woo hoo.
March, 2003
Recently, I bought a new computer for my wife using the web site from CompBuyCity. It was a set package of features (no changes allowed) from a well-known manufacturer. I had tried to buy this model at the local branch of the store, but they were out of stock and their web site offered it at the same price with no shipping cost.
It’s a nice machine. I went into CompBuyCity today to look at it and comparable models to see what I might buy for myself. The model I had bought through the web site was there on the shelf at the same price I had paid.
The store also has a computer where you can “build your own” machine, adding or subtracting features at will. When I started playing with it, there was a message that I would get a $100 mail-in rebate if I ordered a machine. So, I went through the specs and built a machine exactly like the one I had bought: same manufacturer, same everything. And the price was $10 higher than what I had paid.
When I asked about this, I was told that there is a surcharge of $10 for special orders as compared to “mass-produced packages.” Hmmm. Wasn’t what I had worked up on their computer exactly the same as the model I had bought before? Yes, but it’s a different model number since it would be produced as if it were a special order. Well, I thought, $10 isn’t a big deal since I will get $100 back on a mail-in rebate.
Oh, there is one other catch. There is a $75 shipping charge for these “special orders” as compared to free shipping on the model I bought. So, to buy the same thing as I have (just a different model number), I would save a whopping $15. Woo hoo.
posted by Bud Hirsch at 9:31 PM
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