Barnes & Noble circulated a pre-Black Friday sales circular via e-mail advertising 50% off ANY (italicized in B&N's ad) educational toy or game, in stores or online, on November 25th. When I attempted to purchase the item I wanted from B&N on the 25th, they refused to honor the 50% discount.
Prior to the sale, I contacted B&N Customer Service to ask if the item I wanted would be available at the discount they advertised. There was no disclaimer on the ad, but the product information page stated that the product was not eligible for discounts, except in certain circumstances. However, B&N's ad used the work "any" in italics, presumably taking precedence over the product information page. The advertisement just below the 50% off ad for educational toys and games offered 30% off an extra item, but had a disclaimer stating clearly that B&N's Nook (R) products were excepted. The B&N's customer service representative who answered my e-mail stated that she was not sure whether the discount would apply, but that I should try to order the item on the 25th to see for myself. From this correspondence, clearly there was some confusion about how the advertised discount would apply.
In spite of numerous e-mails since the 25th, none of the customer service representatives will address the meaning of "50% off ANY educational toy or game" in their advertisement. An ad with a disclaimer is one thing. An ad without a disclaimer is quite another and B&N is playing fast and loose with the manner in which they honor, or fail to honor their advertised sales.
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