Occasionally, free isn't free. For instance, a merchandise promotion may claim that if you purchase an HP Ultrabook computer, you can get a totally free Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader. Such was the situation on Cyber Monday 2012. But when one customer had to return the Ultrabook, they discovered that Nook is far from free. It went for retail cost, $99 plus tax. Let this be a caution to you, as many free Nook offers are out there - read the small print.
Nook not really free gift
The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a customer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He bought an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that involved a totally free Nook e-reader. Every little thing was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook was not precisely what he was looking for. When he went to return the computer, Brian was really charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the expense of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.
Not the only customer
Brian is not the first customer to see this type of problem. The customer does not get charged $99 when buying the computer though HP claimed that this is the way orders are processed. The "free Nook" was really the price of a Nook and tax. Never believe the promotions you see.
According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a totally free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the consumer "will not receive the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."
Not really as free as you might think
The terms of the transaction showed that the Nook price was really bundled with the HP price rather than really being a totally free product offered on top of the computer. The fine print is where all the significant information could be found.
The Nook can certainly be sold at the consumer's discretion, but it cannot be returned. Customers should have read the small print before expecting something entirely free.
Nook not really free gift
The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a customer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He bought an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that involved a totally free Nook e-reader. Every little thing was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook was not precisely what he was looking for. When he went to return the computer, Brian was really charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the expense of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.
Not the only customer
Brian is not the first customer to see this type of problem. The customer does not get charged $99 when buying the computer though HP claimed that this is the way orders are processed. The "free Nook" was really the price of a Nook and tax. Never believe the promotions you see.
According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a totally free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the consumer "will not receive the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."
Not really as free as you might think
The terms of the transaction showed that the Nook price was really bundled with the HP price rather than really being a totally free product offered on top of the computer. The fine print is where all the significant information could be found.
The Nook can certainly be sold at the consumer's discretion, but it cannot be returned. Customers should have read the small print before expecting something entirely free.
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