BB Admits Secret Website

[Nick]

"...when (a customer) informs a salesperson of the Internet price, customers are
shown the intranet site, which looks identical to the Internet site, but does not
always show the lowest price."Best Buy Confirms It Has Secret Website

March 2, 2007

Under pressure from (Connecticut) state investigators, Best Buy is now confirming
my reporting that its stores have a secret intranet site that has been used to block
some consumers from getting cheaper prices advertised on BestBuy.com.

Company spokesman Justin Barber, who in early February denied the existence of
the internal website that could be accessed only by employees, says his company
is "cooperating fully" with the state attorney general's investigation. ...
Full story HERE (http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-watchdog0302,0,5198012.column?coll=hc-utility-local).

[Stewart Vernon]

The only thing that surprised me about this article... was that anyone (including Best Buy) thought their intranet site was secret?

Every time I go into Best Buy it is obvious to me that they are accessing an intranet site sometimes, and not the external internet site. The Web site inventory check is never in synch with their intranet Web site inventory so the Web site says they have things they don't and doesn't reflect things they do have in stock at any given store... and of course the price differences too.

I just didn't think anyone was fooled and didn't know what was going on.

[Drew2k]

I've had this situation happen before, where the BB web site showed a lower price, so I have done one of two things: drive home, print the page, go back; or drive home, order online for in-store pickup, drive back. Either way got me the lower price, but it was annoying to have to do the extra work.

[Earl Bonovich]

Way back when... I learned the lesson about BB.com.

I just buy it online and pick it up... then if it happens to be cheaper in-store, they will automatically give you that price. (I have had it happen many times) (usually shows up as a credit to my BB card)

But I started that... as Way back when, they had a stated (on the big sign), that they did not match Internet prices... including BestBuy.Com

I know they have relaxed that a bit as of late.

[Nick]

This is merely a hi-tech version of an old retailer scam known as the 'bait & switch'.

FTC regulation 16 CFR PART § 238.2 governing deceptive advertising and sales
practices states, in part -

. (a) No statement or illustration should be used in any advertisement which creates
a false impression of the grade, quality, make, value, currency of model, size, color,
usability, or origin of the product offered, or which may otherwise misrepresent the
product in such a manner that later, on disclosure of the true facts, the purchaser
may be switched from the advertised product to another.

(b). Even though the true facts are subsequently made known to the buyer, the law
is violated if the first contact or interview is secured by deception"

For the purpose of this part 'advertising' includes any form of public notice however
disseminated or utilized.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/baitads-gd.htm#2


It is my interpretation is that BB is clearly in violation of fed regs and should be fined
and forced to give customers refunds which, of course, will be passed on through
higher prices.