Ideal Buy sees ‘bait and switch’ tactics rise once again
Posted by: in Companies Competitive StrategyFiled under: Rumors, Competitive strategy, Best Buy (BBY)
Earlier this year, Best Purchase (NYSE: BBY) was accused of operating an internal website that featured differing prices from its public website. This caused those web surfers who saw advertised prices on www.bestbuy.com to visit local locations only to find higher prices on the shelf. In addition, employees were asked about the discrepancy and pulled up Ideal Buy’s website (an internal-only website, according to many) that supported the higher price.
Although Best Buy saw a lawsuit earlier in the year from the Connecticut attorney general, it appears that the same problem is happening again — in Connecticut. Something is fishy if Best Buy employees are using a “secret” website that looks like the retailer’s official public website that in fact does not have the same pricing information as the Best Purchase public website. What’s the purpose of such a scenario? To eak out a few extra bucks from that contingent of customers who browse on the web only to end up at a store for the actual purchase? Who knows.
Connecticut attorney general stated “we thought Ideal Purchase had addressed this … that’s what they said to us. Apparently that’s not the case.” This may re-ignite the flame under Ideal Buy’s behind to ensure employees don’t reference some internal-only website for current consumer pricing information, but only use www.bestbuy.com as a reference. Is that so difficult? Apparently, it is.
Entries (RSS)