Here’s a shocker. Remember the CompUSA Sony 40″ HDTV and PS3 reservation bundle we warned you to stay the hell away from? Well, it was a scam. Reader Mary writes in with her predictably horrid experience. When she reserved her PS3 she was told that she needed to buy a more expensive model of Sony television than the one in the ad because, “the TV that was in the ad wasn’t available.” Sounds fishy, but Mary, being the trusting soul that she is, continued with the transaction. Says Mary:

“I showed up at the CompUSA store promptly as the store opened on Friday, November 17, 2006 as the store opened and request to pick up both my LCD TV and my PS3. The store personnel told me that PS3’s were IN stock, but my TV was not yet in. So I requested to pick up the PS3.”

Did Mary get her TV or her PS3? Nope. The staff told her there was a priority list for the PS3, but couldn’t tell her if she was on it. Then, after Mary left the store TV-less and PS3-less she got a telephone call from the store manager, who informed her:

“that they can’t give me a PS3 AND that my LCD TV wasn’t going to come in for another week at least… he thinks…”

Now Mary would like to know what to do. We say cancel the pre-order call your Better Business Bureau, and next time…listen to the Consumerist. —MEGHANN MARCO

The rest of Mary’s email inside.

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Mary writes:

“To whom it may concern,

As per CompUSA’s ad, I purchased a Sony 40″ LCD TV for nearly $2000 the weekend the ad was effective. I also reserved the PS3 with my LCD TV purchase. The store personnel told me #1, the TV that was in the ad wasn’t available so I had to buy a higher model and #2, it would be available in 3 days.

I showed up at the CompUSA store promptly as the store opened on Friday, November 17, 2006 as the store openedand request to pick up both my LCD TV and my PS3. The store personnel told me that PS3’s were IN stock, but my TV was not yet in. So I requested to pick up the PS3. They told me that I couldn’t pick up the TV because it was first come, first serve basis. Given that I was one of the first to have met their pre-qualifications (e.g.bought the HIGHER MODEL TV) and requested the PS3 which they told me was in stock, I was still denied the PS3. The store personnel told me that there was a priority list but they couldn’t tell me if I was on the list. This is despite the fact that a PS3 was confirmed to be in stock. THey also told me not to worry because at least my TV was going to arrive on November 18, 2006. They then told me I would have to wait for 2 hours for the store manager to return. I obviously left.

I receive a call later in the day from their store manager who then tells me that they can’t give me a PS3 AND that my LCD TV wasn’t going to come in for another week at least… he thinks…

Any opinions on what I can do would be greatly appreciated…”

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