Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
I got a kick out of this... A local retailer is advertising a 2 GHz - 20"imac for $1499. The circular went out to millions in the area ! I'm certain it's a mistake,,, but should I go down there and demand my iMac ??

All their other prices were in line with the Apple Store, except this one.
 

Bear

macrumors G3
Jul 23, 2002
8,088
5
Sol III - Terra
ibook30 said:
I got a kick out of this... A local retailer is advertising a 2 GHz - 20"imac for $1499. The circular went out to millions in the area ! I'm certain it's a mistake,,, but should I go down there and demand my iMac ??

All their other prices were in line with the Apple Store, except this one.
You're taking the time to post.. If I wanted one, I would've been down at the store the moment I saw the price.
 

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
robcts said:
Get down there now! Good price if it's real. :)

True ! And I'm in the market- but do they have to honr the price published? In theory here, I'm not expecting free legal advice. I assume it's a goof! Some poor ad designer is getting fired right now...
 

Sun Baked

macrumors G5
May 19, 2002
14,941
162
Most places will still an advertisement correction somewhere in the store, like the service counter (or next to where they post advertisements.)

The last I can remeber is Sears making a major goof and honoring it.

But most places now just print a disclaimer on the advertisements.
 

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
Sun Baked- Thanks for your experience. I think you are right - flush goes my hopes.

BUT- I feel silly, I just looked at the ad again- it's not $1499 - They are advertising a 20 inch 2 GHz for $1299 ! That's $500 off an iMac !!! Oh man- I should have run down there with the ad - I'm sure they would appreciate me pointing it out,,,
 

Sun Baked

macrumors G5
May 19, 2002
14,941
162
>ibook30

You will probably see a couple errors built into every single grocery store advertisement circulars in the newspapers and mailboxes.

The stores tend to post corrections every week, but you have to wonder why they don't fix these mistakes...

Well Wal-mart grocery and the "other" stores that guarantee to match competitors advertised prices are probably good reasons to sneak in some errors. ;)

If they want to price match and steal business, make it hurt. :D

These grocery stores aren't nailed, as long as they don't keep making the "same error" every week -- if they do, the court tends to rule against them when you take them to court.

Seems a Chevrolet dealer here got nailed and was forced to sell a loaded full sized V-8 truck for the price of a bare bones V-6 -- since no truck never-ever ended up for sale at that price (the old 1 for sale at this price.) Was always just sold, but keep being offered every week for 6 months.
 

Koodauw

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2003
3,952
197
Madison
I think if it is a posted price, they have to honor it. It probably differs from state to state, but I think thats how it goes. If nothing else go resell it on ebay for a profit.
 

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
Koodauw said:
I think if it is a posted price, they have to honor it. It probably differs from state to state, but I think thats how it goes. If nothing else go resell it on ebay for a profit.

Aaaahhhhhh - the sweet smell of profit.... if I bought three I could make like...
I'll let you know tomorrow!
 

Naimfan

Suspended
Jan 15, 2003
4,669
2,017
There are two general possibilities: either the ad is correct, in which case you should go buy one, or the ad is incorrect. If it is incorrect, and it was a mistake, generally the seller does not have to honor the mistaken price. As pointed out above, generally there will be a correction notice posted somewhere in the store.

Best,

Bob
 

TheMonarch

macrumors 65816
May 6, 2005
1,467
1
Bay Area
I think its all a conspiracy, and the "Mistake" is there on purpose so that people come rushing to the store... Muahahahahaha!




*shifty eyes*
 

iJon

macrumors 604
Feb 7, 2002
6,588
230
I don't know if I'm falling for it. There is no way anybody is making 650 off any iMac than Apple themselves. If you actually go down there and it's legit I'll be amazingly surprised. Actually I encourage you too, I would be curious to see their reasoning.

And just a note, don't be surprised if their is a disclaimer included, the base iMac model is $1299.

jon
 

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
iJon said:
I don't know if I'm falling for it. There is no way anybody is making 650 off any iMac than Apple themselves. If you actually go down there and it's legit I'll be amazingly surprised. Actually I encourage you too, I would be curious to see their reasoning.

And just a note, don't be surprised if their is a disclaimer included, the base iMac model is $1299.

jon

You are right on - the base model is the advertised price of the "premium" model described. It's gotta be a mistake. I dunno what Apple charges the retailers, but at 30% off - this company would definitely take a hit.

There was no disclaimer on the portion of the ad I read- but this was a BIG circular- it was distributed by mail - and I have worked in advertising for - too long - and know these things are extremely expensive (I sound cocky - sorry, but it's accurate info !) anyway -- it was a big expensive ad,,,, and maybe somewhere on it it says "Advertised prices not guaranteed ,,,,sucka"
I'll at least give 'em a call tomorrow and post the answer. Appreciate all the response.
 

iJon

macrumors 604
Feb 7, 2002
6,588
230
ibook30 said:
You are right on - the base model is the advertised price of the "premium" model described. It's gotta be a mistake. I dunno what Apple charges the retailers, but at 30% off - this company would definitely take a hit.

There was no disclaimer on the portion of the ad I read- but this was a BIG circular- it was distributed by mail - and I have worked in advertising for - too long - and know these things are extremely expensive (I sound cocky - sorry, but it's accurate info !) anyway -- it was a big expensive ad,,,, and maybe somewhere on it it says "Advertised prices not guaranteed ,,,,sucka"
I'll at least give 'em a call tomorrow and post the answer. Appreciate all the response.
It's probably 1 of 3 things.

a. It's stolen
b. It's a mistake
c. They like loosing money.

jon
 

Decahedron

macrumors regular
Aug 10, 2005
118
0
right as you enter immediatley ask to see the manager. point i tout and seriously spend like an hour or so complaining...say that you are getting it as an early present and you already told your niece/nephew that they would be getting one... seriously if it takes an hour of complainign to save like 600 bucks go for it
 

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
For anyone still interested, I called and sat on hold - had to get back to work. I will check it out tonight in person - but the company is not local - they may have a location in your area - google "micro center".
 

devilot

Moderator emeritus
May 1, 2005
15,584
1
ibook30 said:
For anyone still interested, I called and sat on hold - had to get back to work. I will check it out tonight in person - but the company is not local - they may have a location in your area - google "micro center".
I just checked the website for the one sort of near where I am... I think you might have read incorrectly-- the 20" 2.0GHz iMac is listed as $1799.
 

ibook30

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 4, 2005
815
3
2,000 light years from home
devilot76 said:
I just checked the website for the one sort of near where I am... I think you might have read incorrectly-- the 20" 2.0GHz iMac is listed as $1799.

Yeah - the website is correct,

but a national mailer went out with a price of $1299!!! Silly rabbits,..

Edit: I called it a national mailer, and it has all the hallmarks of one, but I only know for sure it went out to the 2-3 million in my area.
 

Lancetx

macrumors 68000
Aug 11, 2003
1,991
619
In a nutshell, no, they don't have any obligation to honor the incorrect price in the circular. This is from Micro Center's Terms & Conditions policy...

All prices and configurations are subject to change without notice or obligation.
 

wdlove

macrumors P6
Oct 20, 2002
16,568
0
ibook30 said:
Aaaahhhhhh - the sweet smell of profit.... if I bought three I could make like...
I'll let you know tomorrow!

I would certainly go down if I was in the market for a G5 iMac. Would only purchase one and enjoy it myself. Will be interested to hear what you find out.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.