Best Buy used to pull that stunt with their Black Friday sales, and got fined a LOT of money for illegally bundling products. If there are Verizon/Sprint stores doing this, they might want to be prepared for possible fines from the FTC
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Sprint store required me to buy accessories with iPhone 5
- Thread starter docprego
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Best Buy used to pull that stunt with their Black Friday sales, and got fined a LOT of money for illegally bundling products. If there are Verizon/Sprint stores doing this, they might want to be prepared for possible fines from the FTC
In my defense I didn't settle for the package and argued it down to $39 from the $79 imposed minimum. Actually the manager told me he would bring it down to $50 for me. The case was priced at 34.99 and the screen protectors were $14.99 for a total of $50 that he "accommodated" me down to rather than the $79 minimum. Then on my receipt the case rang up at 39.99 and the screen protectors weren't priced at all. Very fishy business.
Agreed. I would have said point blank that I didn't see anywhere that requires accessories to purchase an iPhone 5. If they still persisted, I would have said let me talk to your district manager or someone from corporate right now to verify that this is a corporate wide policy. Problem solved because you just then cornered them back in return.
Each wireless provider does what they want to push accessories. I used to work at an ATT cor store and at one time we actually changed the price tags and spec sheets under each phone and added an additonal $40 to the price of the phone. When ppl asked why the phone was higher there than somewhere else, all we told them was that it came with their chose of two accessories. Such as a car charger and case. Basically at that time i remember ppl either bought the phone with a bundle pack there, or went somewhere else. We weren't allowed to sell the phone by itself.
They actually had a somewhat professional looking sign printed out detailing the packages. It was at reception and behind the counter with the rep. They aren't trying to hide it at all. It was so openly talked about and visible that I began to assume it was corporate policy. The manager dealing with me because I was protesting so severely said that all employees were required to do this.
Why do you keep saying "in your defense"? I mean seriously we're all trying to help you out but if you keep defending yourself on your purchase, you're essentially defending the bully's that sold it to you. I'd have more respect for you of you could admit point blank that you messed up and just file the complaint already. You're screwing over the others that go to that store and get bullied. You can be the one to make things right for all. If its very fishy to you, stop defending yourself and help other fellow future iPhone 5 customers.
Wow that is so worng, I have sprint and I got my phone with no accessories at all. They never said I had to buy anything other then the phone.
How is it "playing by their rules" if they can't force you to buy added items with the phone? You are a salesman's wet dream!
Story sounds a bit fishy.
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Each wireless provider does this. See my post above. When i worked at ATT we had to sell the phones with accessories. We couldn't offer the phones without accessories. The price tags reflected that also. We had alot of ppl walk, instead of buying the phones there. It is just a way for them to get their accessory numbers up. You either fall for it, or you don't.
Man have you seen one person on this board or anywhere for that matter go through this? Nope. Second, was this the policy at checkout for the online pre-order from Sprint? Nope. You even said so yourself that the person next to you was buying te same phone and wasn't required to purchase an accessory package. They cornered you and not the guy next to you buying the same thing? That wasn't your clue to ask to speak to higher powers that a STORE manager? Should have gotten corporate involved. They might have just given you the accessory package for your troubles.
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Exactly! When I got my phones, AT&T offered a package for a car charger, case, screen protector and AppleCare bundled together for a low price. They preached how it was a great deal that I shouldn't pass up and they highly recommend but I was given a choice to accept or decline. They didn't hold my two iPhones for ransom.
More than likely if that store was anything like the COR store i worked for everyone was already prepped to sell the with accessories. So basically you corner everyone the same way. And were trained to try to convince ppl how it was more for their benefit to buy the bundle and phone at the store etc. If you were an employee there you basically had to act like that with each customer. It was either they got it, or they walked and went somewhere else. I wouldn't be surprised if the place the OP went to had the same policies.
Let the poor Guy be. I love saps like him, they subsidize products for those who don't like paying retail
I'm hardly a sap. Just caught up in the moment.
I'm a mistreated customer, I didn't mess up anything.
You guys are brutal. I've been at this phone game since the beginning and never encountered anything like this before. I fell victim to the excitement in the moment, simple as that.
That's called "bundling" and it's illegal. Apple and Sprint clearly advertised the price of the phone, and it wasn't contingent upon buying accessories you may or may not need. Write a letter to your state's attorney general complaining about it, and cc: the CEO of Sprint, Tim Cook, and the manager of the local store. You will get a response very quickly. Include any specific statements you recall. If you know anyone else who got the runaround, all the better.
Apple wants its re-sellers to follow the rules. I'm sure Sprint corporate does too.
I never said it wasn't going to be addressed, it most certainly is. Just deciding what my approach will be.
I would have threatened to call up Sprint and report him and would have told him that he will be fired for his actions
Take some pics of the displays and the store too and threaten to call the local TV station to feature a story about the particular stores shady and unlawfull practices.
See how fast he sells you just the phone
Take some pics of the displays and the store too and threaten to call the local TV station to feature a story about the particular stores shady and unlawfull practices.
See how fast he sells you just the phone
I hate to say it, but you don't sound very convincing. You've been given sound advice (return the accessories, file a complaint, contact HQ, etc).
Good luck!
Corporate can give managers as many targets or incentives as they want for add-on sales. However, when the CEO of Apple says the phone is $199 on contract, Apple and Sprint say on their websites for 9 days that it's $199 on contract, and have ads to the same effect, a rogue manager in a corporate store can't add conditions to a customer who comes in with $199 and is willing to sign a contract.
Definitely. Also consider a letter to the state attorney general if you get no reaction from corporate.
Reminds of the scene in The Shawshank Redemption when the sisters finally got Andy Dufresne.
Just act sooner rather than later. Given all the excitement about the launch and the long lines at stores, I can't blame someone for getting caught up in the moment with the phone in hand. However, you shouldn't let the store get away with shady tactics.