If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

Photo by justusbluemer

You know the rest. And so do I, though anyone who witnessed my purchasing behavior this past weekend would assume otherwise.

I let myself be victim to a classic “bait and switch” strategy that left me with a sickening feeling reserved only for really dumb mistakes. Despite my best intentions, I allowed a dubious offer and overwhelming atmosphere to cloud my better judgement. A 14-day return policy is my only solace, along with the opportunity to make public this experience and help others avoid the same mistake.

As a longtime “dumb phone” owner, I understand the appeal of smartphones but never had the intention to buy one. After all, they come with pricey data plans and hidden fees. My husband has one so I can get my fix for free. But this weekend, I was presented with an offer I couldn’t refuse – though I should have.

A wireless carrier who shall remain nameless is currently offer a buy-one-get-one deal on the latest smartphone. As it was explained to me, I could take the second phone and pay only $10 per month for the data plan. That’s a $20 per month savings and just the incentive I needed to join the 21st century.

Despite my flashy new purchase, I was overwhelmed by buyer’s remorse the moment I left the store. I knew something wasn’t right about the offer but chose to wait until I received the electronic receipt for confirmation. Sure enough, the receipt arrived with a $30 monthly charge and my scraggly electronic signature sealing my fate. The $10 they used as bait was actually the cost of an added line I never requested.

The return process was anything but hassle-free, as expected. After three hours and a failed attempt to change my mind, I walked out with my trusty “dumb phone” and a new respect for my instincts.