Con-artists.
I…read morewanted a mat for under my computer chair. Looked at the websites for nearby stores to see who had them in stock so I could go get one in person. Landed on Staples.
The mat was listed at $34.99 + shipping, or "free pickup in store if you order online".
I didn't intend to order online, only to see if it was in stock, but when I looked at the item description it said "Get $3 off by ordering online, and picking up in store" so that's what I did - $32.99 + tax, no shipping.
When I arrived at the store, there was a small line at the service desk and clearly no gigantic mat there waiting. I walked to the back of the store to see where they were kept, and found the exact mat I'd ordered... on the shelf with a price tag of $27.99. Not a sales tag, and not an old tag...
As I was standing there, a guy came and grabbed the mat from in front of me and brought it to the counter. When I got to the counter, I asked about the price difference. I was told "that's the online price, for shipping" and I said it was not... shipping was billed separately. He then said it was a different product, which it was not, and he admitted.
I'm not gonna lie, I went full "Karen" on these people. After asking for a manager, I eventually had 3 people talking to me, and they admitted ALL of the prices on the website are marked up over the store price! And that "pick up in store discount" is actually a markup over the regular in-store price on every single item.
They guy behind me in line was older, wearing ACUs and had his daughter with him... I had offered to let him go ahead of me, since clearly this wasn't getting solved quickly, and he covered his daughters ears with his hands and said "F*ck these people, they're trying to f*ck you - I don't wanna spend my money here" and just left.
The net result was a non-apology apology,and an offer to refund my card for the $32+tax and sell me the mat for the store price of $28+tax. I countered with wanting my $3 off, as promised... $25+ tax... because they'd admitted to running a scam, and it was the principle of the thing. Did I mention going "Full Karen"? They declined.
I'm not often in a "Karen" kind of mood - I'm happy to eat a little crow, cut my losses, and walk away knowing that I'll never do business with a place again... but the level of con job that Staples corporate office has going is STAGGERING. They're pulling a literal "Bait and Switch" scam. So I reported it to the Massachusetts AG office of consumer affairs...
Again, here's the scam.
ITEM - $35 + Shipping to home or office!
or
ITEM - $35 + Free pickup at store + plus $3 off "regular price" (lie)!
or
ITEM - $28 if you walk in off the street and "pick up at store"!