Consumeristas Speak: Lenovo’s Free Thinkpad Battery Bait and Switch

Image courtesy of If they were out of stock they could have sent it when they got some more. It's not like this is a product that is rare. But no, the bait & switch was 'cheapo printer or go to hell.'

B.L. Ochman writes:

This is about a bait & switch by Lenovo, from whom I just bought a $2,500 Thinkpad. I bought the computer from their site, paying $300 more than it would have cost on Buy.com because I wanted to configure it. And Buy.com had a fucked up policy.

Anyhow, when I ordered the computer, there was a promotion on the site that offered free shipping, as well as an extra battery, a cheap printer and some other stuff. I told the salesperson I wanted the battery. He came back and said they were out of them and did I want a printer. No, i didn’t want a damn cheapo printer. I wanted a battery.

If they were out of stock they could have sent it when they got some more. It’s not like this is a product that is rare. But no, the bait & switch was ‘cheapo printer or go to hell.’

Now the guy tells me he can’t do anything about it because that promotion is over. “As for the promotion I do apologize but we are not able to offer it to you since the order was placed after the promotion expired, alternate promotions were offered as was free shipping.”

Bonus Link from the Icy Reaches: Bell Canada, Thy Name is Agony [Woolsock.ca]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.