What is bait and switch?

[geo®ge]

Bait and switch advertising occurs when a particular item is priced so low that you have to be lured into the store to get it. This is the "BAIT". Since the offer is so incredible the general public acts like a mob and floods the store; often waiting in line or getting there before the store opens. Once you get in and proceed to purchase the item, it is either sold out, and/or the salesman discourages you from buying the product. He tells you the quality is inferior or there is no guarantee. Then the salesperson tries to "SWITCH" you to a more expensive product.

The truth with bait and switch however, is that the store never truly intended to sell the advertised special. The idea is to kill your desire to buy what is advertised and then try to get you to buy a more expensive item. Many times it is a simple $20 upsell and they play psychological games with you so you are reassured it was the right decision.

My personal experience with retail was that I was paid zero commission on sale items and ONLY received commission on the 'upsold' products. And at the end of the week if my ratio of saled to non-saled items was too high I was punished by my manager. A typical punishment would be to dust televisions or greet people at the door. This, of course, resulted in even less commissions and a smaller paycheck. So I learned the art of "bait and switch" like a pro.

Beware of ads that offer an astonishingly low prices and salespeople who try to switch you from the company's advertised specials.
Deal only with reputable firms. If they have "wacky wacky" commercials with horns and annoying jingles you can expect that same experience when you visit the store. If you have not already done so, contact the Better Business Bureau for a reliability report.
Do not let anyone use high-pressure sales tactics. Give yourself plenty of time to think about what you are getting for your money. Compare prices elsewhere to find out what similar merchandise sells for.
Finally, ask about service after the sale and be sure you understand any warranty that is offered. Pay special attention to who will honor it, what it covers and for how long. I always ask what is the stock manufacturer warranty is.
Remember that a reputable salesperson may try to persuade you to buy the advertised item, a better quality item or even a different brand at a higher price, depending on your needs. There is nothing unethical or illegal about this practice as long as you are given a choice without undue pressure. Your greatest strength and their biggest fear is your ability to walk away.

[duldy]

Bait and Switch sounds like E-Bay to me

[Gnat]

Originally Posted by duldy

Bait and Switch sounds like E-Bay to me

That is funny that you say that. I had a friend order some tiffany Jewelry from Ebay and when it arrived the only Tiffany part was the heart pendent. The braclet was some fake crap.....it took her months to track the guy down and get her money back.........

at least she got her money back ;)

[plm]

Sometimes an item is advertised at a real bargain, but ithe store never had it in the first place. Just want to get you there.

[govirgil]

Originally Posted by geo®ge

Bait and switch

Which is what it seems a certain carpet warehouse is doing here in Brisbane advertising the same discount prices for months on end giving the same and worn out story they have to move or the lease is up, got stock from a company that went bust etc etc etc

And it seems the Government are not at all interested in doing anything about bait and switch ads as I sent a complaint to a state Government dept who said they cannot help and for me to speak to a Australia Government Dept who then said we cannot help try another Australia Government Dept who then said speak to the state Government.



:mad:

[lexx]

and the #1 worst "bait and switch" scam(drumroll) is the we are 18!! and ready to party phone call!!hehe!!you actually talk to 30+cellulite butt housewives who couldn't get a date!hehe!!....P.S. ......a freind clued me in to this!hehe!

[govirgil]

Originally Posted by govirgil

Which is what it seems a certain carpet warehouse is doing here in Brisbane advertising the same discount prices for months on end giving the same and worn out story they have to move or the lease is up, got stock from a company that went bust etc etc etc

And it seems the Government are not at all interested in doing anything about bait and switch ads as I sent a complaint to a state Government dept who said they cannot help and for me to speak to a Australia Government Dept who then said we cannot help try another Australia Government Dept who then said speak to the state Government.
:mad:

Update the company Rugs a Million months and years later is still advertising the same "must end Sunday sale" yeah but what Sunday?

Also duldy please explain why Bait and Switch sounds like E-Bay to you?

[PAYEK]

Originally Posted by lexx

and the #1 worst "bait and switch" scam(drumroll) is the we are 18!! and ready to party phone call!!hehe!!you actually talk to 30+cellulite butt housewives who couldn't get a date!hehe!!....P.S. ......a freind clued me in to this!hehe!

LEXX...................??..............nevermind..

[govirgil]

Originally Posted by PAYEK

LEXX...................??..............nevermind..

What I think Lexx means if you think you are talking to a 18 year old (bait) but you end up talking to an much old person who sounds 18 (switch)

[PAYEK]

Originally Posted by govirgil

What I think Lexx means if you think you are talking to a 18 year old (bait) but you end up talking to an much old person who sounds 18 (switch)

Yea, I got that.......I just worry for him (& his friend)....I'm letting this one go.

**************
Bait & Swich: I've worked for stores in the past, where they actually have us all in a meeting trying to come up w/some ideas for "bait & switch" adds to run. "Action Alley" is what they call the candy/mags/etc. aisle in the check out line....They keep the candy down low to pull in the kids.
This is just some of the stuff they told us at the meetings.

[dr poormouth]

Originally Posted by govirgil

Which is what it seems a certain carpet warehouse is doing here in Brisbane advertising the same discount prices for months on end giving the same and worn out story they have to move or the lease is up, got stock from a company that went bust etc etc etc
:mad:

Oriental/Decorative/Area rug merchants here in the states have been running the "Going out of Business - Closing Our Doors Forever-Deep Discounts" sale scheme for years. (the doctor regularly walks past one store that's been going out of business since 1983)

[Wizywyg]

The problem is however, when to 'recognize' that its a 'scam' on the store's part or if they REALLY didn't get the product that is shown in the ads.

Here in Hawaii, we are plagued by this since it takes time for products to be shipped to our island state. And if the companies do not ship ontime to meet and upcoming sale, the stores here will BE OUt of stock for the advertised items. Working in retail for computers and electronics, I would see this happen all the time.

Many of the advertising materials/ads that show up in our papers will have disclaimers that say "Hawaii and Alaska subject to Shipping Lead times" or something similar, but most time its in small print, at the bottom of an ad that consumers dont bother reading it.

Dont know how many times I've had to console customers that due to late shipping times (or heck, the product is still sitting at the docks cause the guys at thedock were too "long" in unloading a damn ship), that we wont have the product till the middle of the week.

[SmartMPGdotcom]

What is bait and switch?

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