Buy.com Offers $15 Off Anything Coupon, Changes Mind, Charges Recipients Extra $15

The online electronics site Buy.com mistakenly offered a $15 off *any* item coupon, a deal that was picked up by online deal forums like Slickdeals and customers rushed to place thousands of orders. Buy.com tried to stop the orders but couldn’t stop them all. Those who did receive their products also received a surprise on their next credit card bill: an additional $15 charge.

While Buy.com should be able to cancel the mistaken orders, we don’t think they have the right to pass on the charge for items they failed to stop from shipping. Smells like a case of bait and switch.

Buy.com should refund the $15 fee and apologize to the affected customers, who have filled over 70 pages in one forum thread alone complaining about the issue. Customers should not have to pay for Buy.com’s mistake, twice.

*DEAD* Buy.com $15 off ANYTHING!! New Accounts, Cannot combine w/ Google Checkout [SlickDeals] (Thanks to Matthew!)

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