BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Yes, a very odd topic, but one that has me baffled.

HYPOTHETICALLY, XYZ is a business from which I have bought thousands of dollars worth of equipment over a long period. Recently, for whatever reason, there have been whispers, rumors and even court actions regarding questionable practices on their part, but I have never encountered such practices.

Last week, I ordered camera #12345 from the used camera department. The camera was advertised as being in condition 10. Several days later, I received an email from the company saying they could not find camera #12345, even though their records show they had it. They said they could sell me a new camera at a small discount or they could sell me used camera #67890 with a lower condition rating at a slightly lower price. Given no other options, I ordered camera #67890; I was told it would be here Wednesday. Now it's Friday; my camera is finally out for delivery (I hope!). BUT, today I called the warehouse. Yes, they do have camera #12345 in stock.

Simple question... Was I the victim of a bait-and-switch?

I am NOT accusing XYZ of employing this tactic regularly. My attorney, a golfing buddy, says it appears that I was. I cannot believe that a company I have done business with for years would stoop so low.

I would appreciate your feedback on this HYPOTHETICAL situation. Thank you.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Trust your gut about "can't believe." A simple human error, maybe a misplaced item. You could have waited a few days to see if it showed up, or you could return the one that's being delivered today. Hypothetically...

rcarol

When you called the warehouse, do you know if the person you talked to actually laid eyes on camera #12345 or was he looking at a computer screen?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can understand that situation. I have multiples of almost everything because I keep misplacing things and having to buy another.

XYZ must have thousands of used cameras and everything else. Having it on the computer, either in the office or in the warehouse, is one thing, but actually laying hands on it is quite another. It's not unheard of to have an item listed as "In Stock," but not be able to buy it because they can't find it. If it's sold without telling the computer database, then it's still available for sale.

Switching one used camera for another is not how a company is going to get rich and win over customers. If something like this happens on a regular basis, you might want to switch dealers.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Yes, I'd do this. Order the one they lost. Don't even open up the one they sent unless you want to see if the level of wear on the camera might be worth keeping it. As soon as they say say 12345 camera has shipped, call and get an RMA for camera 67890.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Sounds more like human error than deliberate bait and switch. A lot might depend on what would happen if you then told them you want the original camera at the original price, and for them to pay the shipping to return the second one. An ethical company should have no problem with that.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

It all depends on who we are talking about.

Reputable business' don't waste their time trying to scam people, it's not worth it.


So...who was it?

Selene03

To the OP, I think it is hard to tell for sure. I have purchased many used books for my work, often from other countries. Rarely, but on more than one occasion, the seller has responded that they can't find the book, that perhaps it was sold and not removed from the order list. Sometimes they have another one; sometimes they don't. So, I could see this happening with used cameras too, but it is also possible that it was a bait and switch if the company has that kind of reputation. I typically only buy cameras and equipment from dealers that I know are reputable.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I think you should call them and tell them the warehouse said #12345 was in stock and you would like to return the camera #67890 in exchange for #12345.

Vietnam Vet

If it's BnH they will make it right

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Keeping track of product in a warehouse environment is difficult, if not impossible. What probably happened was the used camera was misplaced and could not be found at the time of your order. In the interval, somebody found it, and put it where it was supposed to be. Mistakes happen.

I never trust anything at the Home Depot if the inventory system has a quantity of less than 10.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Worked in wholesale distribution for a couple of years and can tell you that it is common for warehouse workers make mistakes with inventory, which puts errors in their inventory database. So a pick ticket was created from your order, a picker was asked to pull #12345 off the shelf and send it to shipping. The picker couldn't find it, so the order went to customer service that told you the system shows it, but they can't find it so how would you like #67890 instead. The customer service rep should have adjusted inventory showing #12345 is not there and probably didn't so the system still shows it and they might end up selling it a few times before someone corrects inventory. It might have been a couple of days late because customer service put a rush on it for good will, but the shipper didn't see it and shipped it their normal way.

With that said, if the online reviews of this place are trending negatively and you don't feel they did not satisfy you, then vote with your wallet and buy from someone else because their warehouse might be so screwed up they make many too many errors. One of my responsibilities was to track errors and revamp processes to reduce those errors. The #1 major cause of errors is "process not followed".

nison777 Loc: illinois u.s.a.

This how the bait and switch con goes.
It's always a mistake then that so called mistake is attempted to be made right.
That's how it works.
They know they have your trust.
They are so apologetic, polite and helpful.
They know they have something you want from them.
They think they have you.
Do not play games with them.
Just walk away.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Absolutely they did. The tip is the song and dance they gave you at the beginning and you fell for it hook line and sinker.
If you had said no I bet they would have found the camera you were looking for had just accidentally been on the wrong shelf.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

So who supposedly did this?

You are gathering a LOT of speculation as to their motives when it could be that they made an honest mistake.

I shake my head at these sorts of threads that try and then convict some company of nefarious practices and then in the end we all find out that it was the buyer who either made the mistake or blew the circumstances out of proportion.

You asked: Simple question... Was I the victim of a bait-and-switch?

Nobody can answer that, not here but that won't stop folks who are so ready to explain exactly how they baited and switched you without any actual evidence or knowing who they are.

So...man up...say who they are. If they did it, then the community should be warned, if they are a reputable dealer and you just either misinterpreted what happened, misreported it, or whatever, then that's also something valuable to know.