On December 4th, I ran a price comparison search for a Panini Maker on BizRate.com. My intent was to purchase the gift for my wife for Christmas as many millions of Americans do this time of year.
I came to a final decision that I was interested in the Cuisinart GR4 Panini Maker found at 13 stores/merchants. I proceeded to the comparison and Amazon.com claimed that they had the product in Stock for a price of $99.95, with no sales tax and free shipping.
First Search http://www.bizrate.com/sandwichmakers/product_type—panini_maker/products_att294299—437588-.html
Second Search http://www.bizrate.com/sandwichmakers/cuisinart-gr4-panini-maker—pid156078317/compareprices.html
When I was directed to the Amazon.com, I learned that free shipping was far from the truth. Utilizing a bait and switch tactic they directed me to one of their vendors who was trying to sell the product for $99.95 as claimed and proceeded to a shipping & handling charge of $40.85. $140.80 is a far cry from $99.95 advertised on your site.
Extremely upset, I called Amazon.com's customer service line and was directed to New Deli India. The customer service representative and his supervisor Sumnit S. Area Manager for customer service did not have the authority to resolve my complaint. Their answer was for me to buy the item for $129 as listed on their site with no shipping charges.
I am proceeding to file my complaint with the usacomplaints.com and the Better Business Bureau to warn other retail consumers of Amazon's deceptive retail trade and advertising practices. I am personally shocked that a company with such an image and reputation as Amazon.com would stoop so low to advertise with such unethical advertising practices. The last time I checked, false advertising is against the law, especially bait and switch advertising.
It would be interesting to see if a law firm would like to take on a class action law suit with Amazon.com. Maybe I will get a few calls after I share my story.
A concerned consumer!
Jim *
(ror redacted last name for security purposes)
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