If you click on this link:
http://gandermountain.shoplocal.com...ad&storeid=2480419&rapid=545364&pagenumber=16
you will see that the local Gander Mountain has Bersa .380's for $249. The ad specifies "compare to $299" which is their usual price for Bersas.
So, off I went, as I've been wanting to get another of these little guns. I waiting awhile (one clerk, three customers, these things happen) and eventually got a clerk to wait on me. I told him about the price in the ad. He said "I'd have to look...I didn't know that." He checked, looked at the picture, and said, "Oh, this is a stainless one. I don't think we have any of these." (It was actually the duo-tone, black slide, stainless base). He went into the back, and came back out a few minutes later. "No. We don't have any on sale."
He got out the all-black Bersa in the counter, and started to talk about how there was only two ounces difference between the two (the black one is supposedly the heavier). He then stated that he could not sell me that one for the sale price....it would be the regular price. I pointed to the ad with the "compare at $299" statement. I said, "this one IS $299, but you're telling me that IT is NOT on sale?"
"No, ma'am. See, the stainless ones, they're cheaper to make, that's why they're on sale."
"But this one is the regular price, it's a Bersa .380."
"Not on sale, ma'am."
I asked if he were getting any in; he was noncommittal, said he ought to be, since they're on sale and all....
When I got home I called the other Gander Mountain up on 290; asked about the Bersas on sale, specifically asking "do you have any of the ones on sale in stock?"
"I.......might......we have several Bersas......"
If I'd been buying a car this would have been considered a "bait and switch". I checked out the two Academy stores in my area; one was out of them entirely, and at the other, the clerk said they'd just gotten some in but they hadn't inventoried them yet.
On my way home, I went to Carter's Country, where I picked up an all-black Bersa .380 for $289. Which was about $20 cheaper than their duo-tone Bersa. Seems the duo-tones might not be "cheaper to make" after all. In one sense, it's a win-win....I support my local store, I got the gun I really wanted, GM loses a sale because they got greedy.
Still, I hate being treated badly by sales people, and I'm considering a letter to the Texas Attorney General. Certainly the manager of the store, and corporate, will hear about it.
And there's all the nice folks on THR that I can spread the word to.
Springmom
http://gandermountain.shoplocal.com...ad&storeid=2480419&rapid=545364&pagenumber=16
you will see that the local Gander Mountain has Bersa .380's for $249. The ad specifies "compare to $299" which is their usual price for Bersas.
So, off I went, as I've been wanting to get another of these little guns. I waiting awhile (one clerk, three customers, these things happen) and eventually got a clerk to wait on me. I told him about the price in the ad. He said "I'd have to look...I didn't know that." He checked, looked at the picture, and said, "Oh, this is a stainless one. I don't think we have any of these." (It was actually the duo-tone, black slide, stainless base). He went into the back, and came back out a few minutes later. "No. We don't have any on sale."
He got out the all-black Bersa in the counter, and started to talk about how there was only two ounces difference between the two (the black one is supposedly the heavier). He then stated that he could not sell me that one for the sale price....it would be the regular price. I pointed to the ad with the "compare at $299" statement. I said, "this one IS $299, but you're telling me that IT is NOT on sale?"
"No, ma'am. See, the stainless ones, they're cheaper to make, that's why they're on sale."
"But this one is the regular price, it's a Bersa .380."
"Not on sale, ma'am."
I asked if he were getting any in; he was noncommittal, said he ought to be, since they're on sale and all....
When I got home I called the other Gander Mountain up on 290; asked about the Bersas on sale, specifically asking "do you have any of the ones on sale in stock?"
"I.......might......we have several Bersas......"
If I'd been buying a car this would have been considered a "bait and switch". I checked out the two Academy stores in my area; one was out of them entirely, and at the other, the clerk said they'd just gotten some in but they hadn't inventoried them yet.
On my way home, I went to Carter's Country, where I picked up an all-black Bersa .380 for $289. Which was about $20 cheaper than their duo-tone Bersa. Seems the duo-tones might not be "cheaper to make" after all. In one sense, it's a win-win....I support my local store, I got the gun I really wanted, GM loses a sale because they got greedy.
Still, I hate being treated badly by sales people, and I'm considering a letter to the Texas Attorney General. Certainly the manager of the store, and corporate, will hear about it.
And there's all the nice folks on THR that I can spread the word to.
Springmom