Costco.com e-commerce confusion/bait and switch

Undertoad · 08-01-2003, 08:23 PM

What costco.com said Mrs UT was buying:

What was actually delivered:

The link to the page where the thing was ordered:

http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?t...7&log=&NavTop=

(go to Dawson collection, then click "more info" under Dawson Leather Chair)

Notice the words "ottoman sold separately" which suggest that, OK, you should go to the other link to buy the ottoman. If you go to the page where the other ottoman is, it's different. But my wife, whose eye for inaccuracies located over $6M in accounting problems last month, was not keen enough to pick up the subtle differences...

Undertoad · 08-01-2003, 08:37 PM

We sent a message to costco.com customer service, pointing to this thread for more info. The site promises response in one business day.

Note to wiseasses, costco.com did not deliver the end table, lamp, carpet, bookcase w/ books etc. Wiseasses.

tweek · 08-01-2003, 09:49 PM

The ottoman really makes a difference.

What are the books on that shelf about? I just started reading fiction again. Today I started reading "Bright Messenger" by Gentry Lee. It's part of Arthur C. Clarke's Rama universe.

tweek · 08-01-2003, 09:49 PM

That thing looks unstable man

Elspode · 08-01-2003, 10:32 PM

Looks like someone got cute with Photoshop and "enhanced" the ottoman. You know, they always do that sort of thing in the burger commercials. When was the last time you got anything as tasty looking as what you saw on TV when you went into Burger King?

xoxoxoBruce · 08-01-2003, 10:32 PM

Looks just right. The ottoman and two dogs will be the same width as the chair. That's if you can get the dogs to give up the chair. Heh, heh, heh.
That's the problem with catalogs electronic or otherwise. The need for a reputable source is imperative.
Does the larger ottoman even exist if you could negotiate the web site, or is it just for pretty pictures?
Don't forget to tell them about you're posse.

Elspode · 08-01-2003, 10:32 PM

Oh, hell...nevermind. They aren't even *remotely* similar, are they. More differences than size, there.

juju · 08-02-2003, 12:27 AM

The food they show on tv isn't even real food! Every once in a while there will be a "behind the scenes" show on tv explaining all the stuff they use. The only one I remember is that they use Elmer's glue instead of milk for cereal commercials. It just looks tastier.

elSicomoro · 08-02-2003, 07:04 AM

The Toads have a ton of books. That bookcase you see is actually one of two large ones that are in the "sitting room." Boggles my mind every time I see them.

Man...new car, new chair...you guys aren't buying this shit hot are you?

Undertoad · 08-02-2003, 07:21 AM

Naw! I'm as poor as ever but the wife has put in a literal TON of overtime - much of it finding that afore-mentioned $6M. At one point she had worked an entire month in a row, no days off. So these are sorta the rewards of that. (She's a superior accountant and reconciled their accounts even though the entire company had not been able to do it for many years in a row.)

Undertoad · 08-02-2003, 07:28 AM

Those books: we don't sort 'em much, so there's Dave Barry sitting next to the Home Veterinary Manual next to Ayn Rand next to a James Baldwin novel next to cookbooks etc. Two people accumulating them for 30 years and pretty soon you need bookshelves.

elSicomoro · 08-02-2003, 07:31 AM

Shit, they look better than our weak-ass bookcase.

08-02-2003, 11:15 AM

Man. Jenni and I were getting a pretty nice bookcase built up, and then, one day in December...

The cool thing is, the insurance company was pretty generous there and allotted us <b>$24,000</b> to buy new books. So, we're gonna have an even better library than we did.

Hey, about that, uh, you know... foot thing. Are they going to make it right?

The car, yeah, not special. But I couldn't afford that chair, I bet.

(I have to buy couches 'cause the house is almost finished and we're getting ready to move back. Ikea has some nice ones.)

elSicomoro · 08-02-2003, 11:45 AM

I just got the new Ikea catalog yesterday. I've never actually shopped there, but I'm amazed at how reasonable their prices are...at least in the catalog. I already see our future furniture, waiting for me to buy it.

Undertoad · 08-02-2003, 02:26 PM

When buying Ikea furniture, remember that it's all made of soft pine and will scratch and dent easily and never lasts. Consider buying unpainted furniture, especially for bookshelves, and finishing it yourself. It's not hard to do, although it requires a place where it won't be a disaster if the stain spills, and where it can all dry without gassing the family.

/middle-aged man

08-01-2003, 08:23 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Costco.com e-commerce confusion/bait and switch What costco.com said Mrs UT was buying: What was actually delivered: The link to the page where the thing was ordered: http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?t...7&log=&NavTop= (go to Dawson collection, then click "more info" under Dawson Leather Chair) Notice the words "ottoman sold separately" which suggest that, OK, you should go to the other link to buy the ottoman. If you go to the page where the other ottoman is, it's different. But my wife, whose eye for inaccuracies located over $6M in accounting problems last month, was not keen enough to pick up the subtle differences...

08-01-2003, 09:49 PM	#3
tweek Disorderly Disciplinarian Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 21	Wow The ottoman really makes a difference. What are the books on that shelf about? I just started reading fiction again. Today I started reading "Bright Messenger" by Gentry Lee. It's part of Arthur C. Clarke's Rama universe. Last edited by tweek; 08-01-2003 at 09:51 PM.

08-01-2003, 09:49 PM	#4
tweek Disorderly Disciplinarian Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 21	Get a bigger end table That thing looks unstable man

08-01-2003, 10:32 PM	#5
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Looks like someone got cute with Photoshop and "enhanced" the ottoman. You know, they always do that sort of thing in the burger commercials. When was the last time you got anything as tasty looking as what you saw on TV when you went into Burger King? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-01-2003, 10:32 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Looks just right. The ottoman and two dogs will be the same width as the chair. That's if you can get the dogs to give up the chair. Heh, heh, heh. That's the problem with catalogs electronic or otherwise. The need for a reputable source is imperative. Does the larger ottoman even exist if you could negotiate the web site, or is it just for pretty pictures? Don't forget to tell them about you're posse. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-01-2003, 08:37 PM	#2
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	We sent a message to costco.com customer service, pointing to this thread for more info. The site promises response in one business day. Note to wiseasses, costco.com did not deliver the end table, lamp, carpet, bookcase w/ books etc. Wiseasses.

08-02-2003, 12:27 AM	#8
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	The food they show on tv isn't even real food! Every once in a while there will be a "behind the scenes" show on tv explaining all the stuff they use. The only one I remember is that they use Elmer's glue instead of milk for cereal commercials. It just looks tastier.

08-02-2003, 07:04 AM	#9
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	The Toads have a ton of books. That bookcase you see is actually one of two large ones that are in the "sitting room." Boggles my mind every time I see them. Man...new car, new chair...you guys aren't buying this shit hot are you?

08-02-2003, 07:21 AM	#10
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Naw! I'm as poor as ever but the wife has put in a literal TON of overtime - much of it finding that afore-mentioned $6M. At one point she had worked an entire month in a row, no days off. So these are sorta the rewards of that. (She's a superior accountant and reconciled their accounts even though the entire company had not been able to do it for many years in a row.)

08-02-2003, 07:28 AM	#11
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Those books: we don't sort 'em much, so there's Dave Barry sitting next to the Home Veterinary Manual next to Ayn Rand next to a James Baldwin novel next to cookbooks etc. Two people accumulating them for 30 years and pretty soon you need bookshelves.

08-02-2003, 07:31 AM	#12
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Shit, they look better than our weak-ass bookcase.

08-02-2003, 11:15 AM	#13
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Man. Jenni and I were getting a pretty nice bookcase built up, and then, one day in December... The cool thing is, the insurance company was pretty generous there and allotted us <b>$24,000</b> to buy new books. So, we're gonna have an even better library than we did. Hey, about that, uh, you know... foot thing. Are they going to make it right? The car, yeah, not special. But I couldn't afford that chair, I bet. (I have to buy couches 'cause the house is almost finished and we're getting ready to move back. Ikea has some nice ones.)

08-02-2003, 11:45 AM	#14
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I just got the new Ikea catalog yesterday. I've never actually shopped there, but I'm amazed at how reasonable their prices are...at least in the catalog. I already see our future furniture, waiting for me to buy it.

08-02-2003, 02:26 PM	#15
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	When buying Ikea furniture, remember that it's all made of soft pine and will scratch and dent easily and never lasts. Consider buying unpainted furniture, especially for bookshelves, and finishing it yourself. It's not hard to do, although it requires a place where it won't be a disaster if the stain spills, and where it can all dry without gassing the family. /middle-aged man

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