Computers, Laptops, Notebooks, desktops
Report: Office Depot Employees Altering Computer Price Tags
Wow. Things at Office Depot appear to be worse than we could have possibly thought. In fact, the alleged apparent systematic misleading of customers makes the shenanigans at BestBuy look quite tame by comparison.
Laptop Mag has published a follow up to its initial report of employees being encouraged to lie to customers at Office Depot. It turns out that salespeople at other Office Depot locations across the country are telling Laptop that the the same dishonesty is being encouraged at their stores. Even worse, the lying goes beyond mere fibs about laptop stock -- employees have reported Photoshopping and digitally altering price tags, as well as including the price of extended warranties and protection plans in the cost of clearance items. For example, if a $500 laptop were on sale for $450 and the employees needed to push an $80 extended warranty, the store would list the laptop at $500 and claim to be offering the $80 warranty for only $30.
We'd like to say we're shocked, but it has become increasingly clear that dishonesty and unethical behavior (while not "officially" endorsed) are simply standard corporate policy at some major retail chains. We may not be shocked, but we are certainly appalled.
Check out the read link below for even more tales of dishonesty from one of the biggest office supply outlets in the country. And if you're looking for other stores and companies that have so enraged their customers, take a look at our boycott gallery below. [From: Laptop Mag, Via: Slashdot]
Anti-Corporate Protests and Boycotts
Motrin Ad Pulled Due to Online Protests
In November of last year, mothers took to the Twitter-streets in protest of a Motrin video advertisement that, they claimed, belittled young mothers. In no time, Johnson and Johnson took down the ad, posting a letter of apology.
Apple Pulls "You Can't Be Too Thin" Ads
In 2007, after airing an ill-advised ad campaign for their new line of iMacs that featured the tag line "You Can't Be Too Thin," Apple received innumerable complaints, including one from the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. The ads were promptly pulled.
Boycotting Sellers Dent eBay's Business
In February of last year, eBay sellers banded in a boycott after the Web site laid claim to higher commissions on sold goods and eliminated sellers' ability to give negative feedback to buyers. In just one week, eBay's listings dropped by 13 percent.
Students Stage Virtual Protest on Facebook
Disturbed by HSBC's suspension of their free overdraft protection, collegiate customers of the bank launched a Facebook protest in 2007. Backed by the National Union of Students, the online protest won out as HSBC decided to maintain the policy.
Facebook Lactivists Take Protests to the Street Over Breastfeeding Pictures
Last month, self-described "lactivists" set up shop outside Facebook's headquarters to protest the site's removal of all images containing breastfeeding mothers.
Related Links:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
CK said 8:45PM on 3-17-2009
Golly, and all these years I've been just walking in and buying anything with a price tag on it. What is the world coming to when you have to actually research, price check and compare prices. That's too much work. We need another Federal Agency to do all that for us. Why is that not demanded in this informative article? We need to call congress today to demand that Switched be investigated for not demanding Federal intervention. Congress stands ready to protect you. "Change is coming, yes we can".
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jim russell said 10:48PM on 3-17-2009
We need ANOTHER government agency? Retail pricing and marketing is what it is! The "fact" that Office Depot may or may not charge a total of $530 for a computer with warranty - regardless of the way the end amount got where it is - would be totally in the retail stores realm of responsibility. You people that want the government to intervene in everything is just silly,if not a little assinine.
CK said 2:07AM on 3-18-2009
I was poking fun at the liberal's answer to everything.
Dudley Haas (Wacko, Taxes) said 2:54AM on 3-19-2009
There's nothing wrong with altering price tags. Service Stations do it all the time with gas. It's the american way. In business, if you're honest, you won't make any money. You have to scew people every which way. I'm bald, have a B-9 mole smack dab on my 4-head and am a multi-millionaire. I'm a proud american, especially since Bush done a pretty good job and left our economy is such great shape! I always vote for whoever will scratch my back, even if it ain't itchin'. I have athlete's foot on top my head and am not afraid to step up to the mic.
Jeff said 8:50PM on 3-17-2009
An educated consumer would do the research before purchasing a laptop, monitor, etc. in the way of comparison shopping online, I also believe these major retailers sell these items online at the weekly sales deals as well - including free shipping. Skip the hassle, shop in your boxers... But then again, if we look at all the facts, a backwater CNET-wanna-be website wouldn't have much of an article to publish, now, would it?? Claim to fame - hyperlinked to AOL - sweet.
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Linda Thompson said 8:53PM on 3-17-2009
The incident with Office Depot does not surprise me because there was a time when you would purchase an item and it came with a warranty. Now you have to purchase the warranty after your 90 days were up. Please don't lose your receipt with your extra coverage. They don't keep a record either.
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Alice Jones said 11:38PM on 3-17-2009
I totally agree. Plus the fact that none of the employees know anything about the business. I have gone in there to inquire about the sales brochures listing special prices on items and no one knows what I am talking about, although the sales brochure came out in the local paper that day. I have called to inquire about items and have been put on hold and then transfrerred six or seven times to six or seven people who still did not know the answer and then they totally hung up on me. I hate that store!
Linda Lou said 3:52AM on 3-18-2009
Oh that's nothing. When my parents household of 55 years was dispersed upon their death, the refrigerator they had when I was born in 1947 was still humming along in the garage. Warranty? Na, just good ol' workmanship and no marketing schemes back then. I find a 90 day warranty a sign of crossed fingers behind the manufacturer's back. If you want another example, I wonder how many of these companies (AIG comes to mind) can honestly enter 'goodwill' on the assest side of their books. Greed and dishonesty was learned where? Home? Getting an MBA? We need to get a grip. Consumerism has reached an all time low. So let's just lay low and count our money.
ARNOLD said 9:43PM on 3-17-2009
I am very confident that almost all the accusations against Office
Depot is planted by competiton to discredit a company. I hope everyone understands that you can not believe anything in these articles about any company because the writers are like a tabloid magazine. They need to get your attention and they do so whether truth or lies. Some of the things reported to have happened are not possible. Also don't let a fired, disgruntled former employee mislead anyone. So don't be fooled by any writer who is attempting to discredit a company in order to get attention. I would like to think the public is much more informed than to believe the trash appearing in some of these tabloid articles.
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nicole said 10:14PM on 3-17-2009
Are you serious?? I bought a laptop at Office Depot that was supposed to come with a $75 rebate and sent it off the same day as the $30 rebate that came directly from HP. HP honored their rebate, but all I got from Office Depot was a postcard telling me that they couldn't read my receipt and I needed to resubmit. How are they going to be able to read my photocopy of the receipt if they couldn't read the original? Needless to say, I never saw my $75. Dishonesty is standard practice at Office Depot. And, no, I don't work at a competitor, I'm a teacher.
Ron said 10:14PM on 3-17-2009
Not True. I found Office Depot helpful until about 2 years ago. They changed. I just had my second run in of the year with them and reported them to the corporate office. I never received a reply much less an apology from them. I have bought 5 computers and thousands of dollars worth of additional products from them over the years. I will NEVER shop at Office Depot again.
Whatever said 10:33PM on 3-17-2009
Though I agree that you shouldn't take what these articles to heart because YES they push an agenda too. Many of these activists that pretend to look out for your own good are really doing whatever they can to enrichen themselves or their friends at the expense of others. I do believe that Office Depot has done some of these things but many other people do this in all walks of life. You can't really single out Office Depot.Do your own research and be informed.NEVER take the MEDIAS word for much of anything. They do not have your best interests at heart!!!
RJM said 8:37AM on 3-19-2009
I don't know why the competition would try to ruin a company that is almost ruined by itself.
Stock went from all time high of $44.00 (two years ago) to just below $0.60 a week or so ago.
... said 7:49PM on 3-31-2009
when are people going to wake up and realize that the rebates are never from the stores but an outside third party?
Panapada said 9:11PM on 3-17-2009
I no longer will walk into a Best Buy. Rain checks were always a problem and the Goon Squad was all it took to write them off for good. The problem for most publicly held corporation, there comes a satuation point when the only way to increase the bottom line is to get more milk out of the cow you have already milked dry.
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Shadow said 3:06AM on 3-19-2009
you are absolutely right. i could not have said it better myself. It sounds as though this company is desperate, and will soon follow circuit city.
Greg said 9:14PM on 3-17-2009
LMAO, Like this is anything new with this company. There's a lot more sneaky crap they pull as well. I stopped shopping with them after they had the nerve to sell my grandpa a defective printer instead of the new one he asked for. Not only was it a return with a blatant "Damaged" sticker on the side of it, they charged him the full price for it and expected for him to pay to have it repaired when he took it back.
I took it back myself and demanded they return his money or give him a new one. I also informed them of what they were trying to pull. I spoke with the manager and grandpa got a nice upgrade for the same price because they knew they had been had not grandpa like they thought. Also beware of their supposed computer warranties. What a rip off that is too!
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Sherry said 9:30PM on 3-17-2009
Now I know why I never shopped at Home Depot. I'm a Lowe's girl...gotta love Jimmie Johnson #48.
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masked blogger said 10:00AM on 3-18-2009
Office Depot is the the culprit, not Home Depot.
Byrdman said 10:15PM on 3-17-2009
shes a jimmy johnson fan, what do you expect?