Here is a copy of the sales pitch from their website:
Join now
Special Offer for New Members!
Join Now & Get Over $50 in Bonus Coupons
Great news! As a new Member, you'll receive coupons worth over $50 in total value that's more than the cost of Membership! * It's our way of saying Welcome.
*You must include a valid email address when you enroll in order to receive these bonus savings coupons. Your welcome email with the coupons will arrive in about a week. Offer valid for new Memberships only and is subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Please see coupon Terms and Conditions.
This is what is posted on the website located here:
Http://www.barnesandnoble.com/membership/join.Asp?
When you pay your $25.00 to join and get the bonus coupons they are using to convince you to sign up stating "As a new Member, you'll receive coupons worth over $50 in total value that's more than the cost of Membership!"
Here are the 6 coupons you are sent in the email:
SAVE $5 when you spend $50 or more on books, DVDs, music, and other items in stores and online.
SAVE $5 on one DVD with a minimum B&N price of $20 or more, in stores and online.
SAVE $5 on one music CD with a minimum B&N price of $10 or more, in stores and online.
Complimentary Tall Caffe Latte with Purchase of Another
Stop in today and relax in our Caf. Buy one latte and enjoy a second one with our compliments available in stores only.
Minimum value: $2.55
Buy One B&N Classic, Get One FREE
Treasured classics by Chaucer, Poe, Bront, and other masters available in stores and online.
Minimum value: $3.95
Buy One Quamut Chart, Get One FREE
With our vast selection of how-to charts, you can learn just about anything available in stores and online. Value: $5.95
The total value if you add them up as any reasonable person would is $27.45.
According to customer service how they come up with over $50.00 is that you could "technically" once online and once in the store and that two of them have a "Minimum value" and could be worth more.
How much more can a Buy one get one free Caffe Latte or Quamut Chart be worth? At least over $22.50 by their math.
I found this a deceptive and slimy way to lure new customer to join their program with misleading promises and sneaky math.
Under Delaware Law which the company was formed under and found here
Http://delcode. Delaware. Gov/title6/c025/sc03/index. Shtml
I believe this fales under the definition of a Prohibited Trade Practice based on this definition:
2532. Deceptive trade practices.
Makes false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence of, or amounts of, price reductions.
Illegal... Maybe, Shady... Defiantly, Trustworthy... Never again.
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