Why does this company only honor price matching or price drops for 14 days. Purchased a Laptop on Nov 29 price dropped $50 two weeks later. They would not honor on Dec 17th. I think they are carrying things a bit too far. Most stores offer 30 days price adjustment, if the price drops. I am very dissappointed and wouldn't have bought the item if I thought it was going to be less 2 weeks later. This is ugly. I have been a good customer for years and this is how they treat their good customers. Plus they threatened to call the police when I asked for proof of their policy. The manager Dave would not get me the information I requested and instead stated that he did not have to show me anything. He was awful.

-- (anonomous@anonomous.com), December 17, 2002

Answers

Here's an even worse scenario:

I purchased a laptop from CompUSA which was advertised in their weekly sale flyer for $1,099.97 (less a $50 instant rebate minus a $200 CompUSA mail-in rebate, minus a $200 manufacturer's rebate). The final price to the customer was $649.97.

CompUSA has a price-match guarantee which was printed in the sale flyer states: "We'll match any local retail competitor's price on every product we sell, either at the time of purchase or within the following 14 days."

On the following day, I discovered that Best Buy was selling this exact same item for $499.99 (their base price was $1,099.99 but instead of CompUSA’s instant rebate of $50, Best Buy was giving an instant rebate of $100; and instead of CompUSA’s mail-in rebate of $200, Best Buy was giving a $300 mail-in rebate. The manufacturer’s rebate of $200 was the same for both CompUSA and Best Buy). In other words, by offering a $50 greater instant rebate + a $100 greater mail-in rebate, Best Buy was selling this item for $150 less than CompUSA.

When I returned to the CompUSA store at which I made my purchase the day before to claim a price-match, my request was refused. I was told that, on the instructions of Bob Verhagen of Dallas, Best Buy's price was not to be matched. I tried to reach Mr. Verhagen (whose voice mail promised he would return my call). Four days later he still has not called me back

-- I. Caspi (icaspi@iname.com), December 20, 2002.

The answer to the question about price matching can be found in the terms itself printed in our flyer. The Best Buy pricing was not matched by us because Best Buy was 99% out of stock on this item when their flyer broke, and essentially had none to sell. We only price match items that are in stock. As for the 14 day window, that is in our terms as well. I know it's fine print, but it has always been there. Most retailers of laptops and desktops have 14 days just like us on these items. The main reason is the short product life cycle. Every computer you buy will be obsolete in 30 days. There is no other industry like ours. We all have Pentium I machines that we bought for $2500 that are now good door stops.

-- Ken Gauthier (kenneth_gauthier@compusa.com), January 24, 2003.

According to your answer ----> Best Buy was 99% out of stock on this item when their flyer broke, and essentially had none to sell. We only price match items that are in stock. Technically they had 1 percent in stock therefore you should have given the adjustment according to your so called rules... So why not adjust the price now since on your words this person was in the right and your company was in the wrong about this... Give Them The MONEY back! Damn greedy corporations!

-- non your business (udumdum2@hotmail.com), February 25, 2003.

99% percent as in they had 1 in stock which was a display. CompUSA will not match that. The End. Go to Best Buy or even Circuit City who has crappy service and even worse policies than CompUSA. Hence the reason they're going out of business. Or even better, why don't you look online. Some people just don't know much. You could have probably gotten that laptop for about another 100 bucks cheaper. If you want to complain about corporate companies, talk to Starbucks or Disney who now owns EVERYTHING and charges extreme prices!!!

-- (Zooble@hotmail.com), March 11, 2003.

"The manager Dave would not get me the information I requested and instead stated that he did not have to show me anything."

Actually, yes the manager HAS to show you that information if it deals with a dispute like this. That has better business bureau written all over it, but only if you were within the 14 days. It'd be rather shitty if they try the "that's not our policy" when it in fact IS their policy.

man, i might even stop buying overpriced software from there now...

-- bubba hyde (aaronburro@aol.com), June 02, 2003.

If it has the BBB writen all over it, why are you complaining here? Does the manager have to show you how to READ a flier? answer... no... Try actually READING the fine print before you try to make a complaint

-- (noneya@bussiness.com), July 25, 2003.