Sometimes, free is not free. For instance, a merchandise promotion may claim that if you buy an HP Ultrabook computer, you can receive a free Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader. Such was the case on Cyber Monday 2012. But when one consumer had to return the Ultrabook, they discovered that Nook is far from free. It went for retail price, $99 plus tax. Let this be a warning to you, as many free Nook offers are available - read the fine print.
Free only to a degree
The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a consumer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He bought an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that included a free Nook e-reader. Everything was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook was not precisely what he was trying to find. When he went to return the computer, Brian was actually charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the cost of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.
Others have had same problem
Brian is not the first consumer to see this kind of issue. The customer does not get charged $99 when getting the computer though HP claimed that this is the way orders are processed. The "free Nook" was really the expense of a Nook and tax. Never believe the promotions you see.
According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the customer "will not receive the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."
Wait, was not it a free Nook?
Not according to HP's small print. The Nook was sandwiched in as part of the laptop purchase price. This information was reportedly well-hidden, but because it was publicized someplace, the consumer was bound by the terms of the transaction.
The Nook can certainly be sold at the consumer's discretion, but it cannot be returned. Consumers should have read the small print before expecting something entirely free.
Free only to a degree
The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a consumer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He bought an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that included a free Nook e-reader. Everything was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook was not precisely what he was trying to find. When he went to return the computer, Brian was actually charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the cost of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.
Others have had same problem
Brian is not the first consumer to see this kind of issue. The customer does not get charged $99 when getting the computer though HP claimed that this is the way orders are processed. The "free Nook" was really the expense of a Nook and tax. Never believe the promotions you see.
According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the customer "will not receive the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."
Wait, was not it a free Nook?
Not according to HP's small print. The Nook was sandwiched in as part of the laptop purchase price. This information was reportedly well-hidden, but because it was publicized someplace, the consumer was bound by the terms of the transaction.
The Nook can certainly be sold at the consumer's discretion, but it cannot be returned. Consumers should have read the small print before expecting something entirely free.
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