From Deals Page - Linksys Etherfast Wireless AP Router with 4 Port Switch for $189.

[billxp]

How good of a deal is this?

Staples (http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/SKU.asp?BCFlag=False&sourceid=00202418742852120050&PageType=1&SKU=457404)

I just ordered mine and used a 30 off 150 coupon to bring it down to $159.

Anyone have this?

[akao]

Well, it is a _very good_ deal, if it is what they say it is. I ordered mine yesterday, and the email invoice (different from the web invoice) stated:


380981 ETHERFAST 10/100 16PORT WITCH Qty: 1 Price: $189.98

After a few emails and getting nowhere, I called them up and asked for Manufacturers Product ID number for item number 457404, and they told me EZXS16W. Looking it up on the linksys website, this turns out to be a 16 port switch.

Not quite sure what to do. I was hoping someone else here has encountered the same things..

[billxp]

Opps I didn't catch that.

Gotta call customer service.

Any ideas if they ship the wrong thing?

[akao]

I have not had a previous experience with ordering online from Staples, so I really don't know how sloppy they are. It seems that the webpage for the product now claims that it is a "Linksys EtherFast Wireless AP Plus Cable/DSL Router with 16-Port Switch". So the number of ports just quadrupled. heh, wouldn't that be nice. If only, Linksys actually made such a product

http://www.staples.com/catalog/browse/sku.asp?sku=457404&PageType=1

[billxp]

Called customer service and was told it was a site error. She told me that they would issue a call tag if I do not want the item when it arrives.

At least I didn't go out and get the pccard for my laptop yet. LOL

[akao]

Does that mean it is not the Wireless AP Router, or does it just mean that they have no idea what the actual item is?

[billxp]

Sounds like its not the wireless router. That was supposed to be 200+.

Maybe its the Linksys DSSX16. (http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=30&grid=7)

Going for $400+ on pricewatch.

I'm going to wait and see what I get.

Maybe they will ship this LOL Link (http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=IM1931745&bcFlag=True&bcSCatId=3&bcSCatName=Technology&bcCatId=18&bcCatName=Peripherals&bcDeptId=1433&bcDeptName=Networking&bcClassId=141032&bcClassName=Switches&bcSSetId=955088&bcSSetName=Linksys+Ethernet+10%2F100+Switches) Its the closet item that meets the email description they sent me.

[Edited by billxp on 04-03-2001 at 07:22 AM]

[billxp]

Ok did some more digging.

They are shipping this Linksys EZXS16W (http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=154&grid=7)

NO DEAL goes for 150+ on pricewatch.

Maybe I can return it at a B&M for full price. ;)

did I say that out loud? :)

[tyler]

hmmmm... that's not cool. staple should honor it.. take a look at it now... it says wireless ap plus with 16 port switch.

http://www.staples.com/catalog/browse/sku.asp?sku=457404&PageType=1

i don't want the switch.. i want the wireless ap... what are our options?

[tyler]

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=456001&bcFlag=True&bcSCatId=3&bcSCatName=Technology&bcCatId=18&bcCatName=Peripherals&bcDeptId=1433&bcDeptName=Networking&bcClassId=141030&bcClassName=Routers

[KikiRio]

where is this $30 off $150 coupon code??

[billxp]

Ok Staples codes are here Codes (http://www.gotapex.com/deals.php?store=5)
I just love this vbcode thing :)

Tyler look at the price in that new link. $299.98

They screwed up.

Go check the Gotapex deals link.

As for options I'm open for some realistic suggestions. ;)

[bobber]

If this deal isn't what it supposted to be there will be a lot of people returing their stuff and a lot of headaches...I think apex should verify this as the actual deal he posted, granted it's not his fault it's Staples' but he should at least update the deals page to the possible problem.....I hate Internet returns!!!

[billxp]

I emailed Apex earlier in the day.

Maybe he's busy. ;)

[brainsmile]

I can't believe that they won't do anything to rectify the situation. I got mine today. Not a wireless.

[revil]

Originally posted by billxp
I emailed Apex earlier in the day.

Maybe he's busy. ;) Or, he was kidnapped by Monkeys! If only Stuart were here, he could save him!

[billxp]

Originally posted by brainsmile
I can't believe that they won't do anything to rectify the situation. I got mine today. Not a wireless.
So is it the Linksys EZXS16W?

A CS rep told me that they would issue a call tag for pickup.

Call your credit card and cancel the sale.

Call Staples and claim bait and switch? Not even close to what they advertised. Check your order history and see what that says.

Am I just ranting???? Mine will be here soon. :(

[tyler]

what's a call tag? =)

[brainsmile]

It's just a 16 port router... they claim that it was just a typo and that there was no bait and switch... but then again who ever claims that it was...

:)




Originally posted by billxp

Originally posted by brainsmile
I can't believe that they won't do anything to rectify the situation. I got mine today. Not a wireless.
So is it the Linksys EZXS16W?

A CS rep told me that they would issue a call tag for pickup.

Call your credit card and cancel the sale.

Call Staples and claim bait and switch? Not even close to what they advertised. Check your order history and see what that says.

Am I just ranting???? Mine will be here soon. :(

[tyler]

Can we bring this to the B&M and exchange it? After all, I printed the confirmation page and have a print out of the page description before this.

How can this be an error if they didn't update it for 2 days?

I think we have a case here.. the website STILL hasn't been corrected to show the supposed correct product.

[G. J. S.]

They initially started with the correct description title and details (wireless/router/4-port), then changed only the term 4-port to 16-port in the title, and now they changed the description details but kept the same erronneous title (wireless/router/16-port).

They are claiming typographical error but the original advertising had the proper title with the exact description from the manufacturer's web site. This is a complete substitution and not a typo.

I too have a printout of the completed order. It has the proper description and the $189.98 price. That is my contract and I expect them to honor it. They cannot send another item.

I did not get a printout of their original (wireless/router/4-port) advertising page. I do have their last two attempted corrections. If anyone managed to capture the original page, please fax (954-796-1248) or scan-n-email ([email protected]).

I'm considering filing for criminal charges if Staples fails to make good on their sales contract.

[tyler]

if anyone wants a scanned copy of the original staples description, let me know. i printed the sucker out before placing the order.

[G. J. S.]

Got one copy!.....Thanks Tyler.

[billxp]

Tyler I'd appreciate one also.

If you could email it to [email protected]

Thanks.

[Bandito]

They can still get out of fulfilling the order. They always do. I don't do Staples deals anymore... this is just a common thing with Staples.

[AnimEva]

well i got my order today and they got it wrong, even though after i got the wrong item in the confirmation and emailed their customer support and they assured me that i would get the wireless router, they still sent out the 16-port router. now i have to return everything...screw staples, now i have to go through the process of returning this shit, i aint going to wait for their sorry asses to get here, i have already filed a report to the BBB...saying that staples did a bait and switch on me.

STAPLES IS SUCK!!!

[tyler]

Bill - I'll send you out a copy tomorrow (the image file is in the office) *smirks* sounds like "oops, i left in my other coat pocket"

[Reyarp Sdrol]

I got my "virtual wireless" switch yesterday, even though I cancelled order on Tuesday. I put it on my AmEx Blue. Anyone know if AmEx could put pressure on Staples to honor their mistake? If they had this sitting on their shelf in their B&M with the wrong price, wouldn't they have to honor it???

[G. J. S.]

Look at your Amex Blue terms. If you have a personal account, this should fall under the purchase protection plan and you might to be able to have Staples ship you the proper item and have Amex cover the cost difference...... That is assuming you promptly contacted the vendor and were unable to resolve the issue to your satisfaction.

[dannyp]

tyler
id appreciate a copy of the original too.

email to [email protected]

thanks alot

[tyler]

on its way.

[akao]

Hey tyler (or anyone who has a copy),

Would you mind sending me a copy of the original description for the product of the web? [email protected]

I think I'm going to go down to a B&M store, tomorrow.

Thanks,
Kao.

[brainsmile]

They don't carry any wireless anymore according to customer service.

Well at least not online. Maybe the B&M can do this... let me know. I'd love to get my hands on one for that price.


Originally posted by G. J. S.
They initially started with the correct description title and details (wireless/router/4-port), then changed only the term 4-port to 16-port in the title, and now they changed the description details but kept the same erronneous title (wireless/router/16-port).

They are claiming typographical error but the original advertising had the proper title with the exact description from the manufacturer's web site. This is a complete substitution and not a typo.

I too have a printout of the completed order. It has the proper description and the $189.98 price. That is my contract and I expect them to honor it. They cannot send another item.

I did not get a printout of their original (wireless/router/4-port) advertising page. I do have their last two attempted corrections. If anyone managed to capture the original page, please fax (954-796-1248) or scan-n-email ([email protected]).

I'm considering filing for criminal charges if Staples fails to make good on their sales contract.

[billxp]

They still carry it. But its out of stock and doesn't show up on any searches.

Its now under SKU 456001 (http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/SKU.asp?BCFlag=False&PageType=1&SKU=456001)

Also funny when you do a search under wireless the old SKU 457404 shows up with the 16 port description under "Technology / Peripherals / Networking / Switches". Search Link (http://www.staples.com/catalog/search/Search_Sum.asp?PageType=2&SearchPageType=2&cromulent=&Keywords=wireless&Area=All+Areas&image1.x=13&image1.y=9)THEY FIXED THIS

Mine wont ship till 4/9. Gee I can't wait to see what they decide to ship me.
Hope its not a brick. LOL

[Edited by billxp on 04-07-2001 at 08:26 AM]

[tyler]

i just got mine yesterday. it's small.. smaller than a college text book - thank god... i thought i was going to have to carry a load of bricks to the B&M.

any go to the B&M yet?

[akao]

So today I went to the B&M store armed with printouts of my order history and the ad that tyler scanned in.

I first called the store and they said that they _would_ replace the item if they had the proper item on hand. The sales rep was unable to tell me whether or not they had the item since their "system" was down.

I hauled my ass down to the store and they didn't have the wireless router. So I hit two other Staples in the area, and none of them had the product. I decided that I had too much BS, so tried to return the product in the B&M store. The cashier looked baffled, called over the manager. The manager refused to accept the product, saying that the store wouldn't sell such a time so they would take a cut, blah, bah. I told her that the return policy stated that I could return the product to the B&M store, but she didn't care, and that perhaps some other larger Staples store would.

Anyhow, I'm now back home still with a 16 port switch, no wireless router, and completely pissed at Staples. On a side note, a friend of mine (who works at Staples headquarters) said that Staples and Staples.com are actually two separate companies. Even better, two companies to hate for the price of one.

Hope all of you have better luck.

[GeDha]

So they mailed me the wrong thing. Then they go oops... but sorry the thing you ordered is out of stock. Please order later...

So I told them, I placed an order, It was confirmed, I have hard copy, I would like them to back order it and deliver when they get the item. I do not wish to cancel.

I do not think they can get away with crap like this.

I will report them to the BBB AND I will report them to my credit card company as well. If enough of us complain then the credit card companys will do something.

I have not given up hope yet.

[tyler]

akao - which B&M's did you go to? are you in the NY area?

i'm planning to go to a few in manhattan sometime this weekend to get this checked out.

[akao]

How did you get the backorder? Was it for the price of 189 or for 299? How did you do it? I'm still in the process of figuring out how to vent my steam at their customer reps. Pity them. :)

tyler, I'm in the Boston / Cambridge area. For anyone who lives in this area, I went to the one in Landmark Square, and the two in Government Center. The people in Landmark Square seem friendlier, so if you want to get something done talk to them.

[billxp]

For those still interested Buy.com has it for 249.95 Link (http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10273558&loc=219)

[dannyp]

So anyone get this?

[tyler]

Alright here's the deal with what happened to me. I called Staples and they said they'll ship me the correct item for next day delivery and also ship me a UPS label to return the switch. The next day came and not to my surprise, nothing came.

I called them today (two days later), and they tell me the rep I talked to tried to call me but couldn't find me. This is really fishy since I have something called VOICEMAIL. So the woman tells me the wireless AP is no longer being carried and I can't backorder it, but I can try to call back a few days later to see what if it comes in.

Oddly enough, I hang up pull up the website and geez, it's still there - showing one day delivery: http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/SKU.asp?BCFlag=False&PageType=1&SKU=456001

So I call up Staples again and talk to another rep curiosly just asking to see if they have it in stock. He says no, it's no longer in the warehouse and I ask why is it still on the website then? He says probably because "they" haven't taken it off the website yet.

Sounds like a conspiracy to me. I wonder if anyone's bought it from Staples.com and gotten it since the "mistake"?

[billxp]

I just returned the 16 port switch to the B&M.

They gave me full price for the switch 189.98 + tax. I didn't have a receipt just a packing slip with no pricing info.
So they gave me a cash card for the total $202.80
Opps I forgot to mention I used a $30 off coupon.

I'll have to go back and have them make an adjustment. Honest I am really going to go back. ;)

Which to me is fine since I'll just find some other deal to spend my money.

Left the store with a Desk (http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/SKU.asp?BCFlag=False&PageType=1&SKU=394513) for instore price of 77.99 - 15 off 40 coupon = 62.99. Desk is good fits my spare cpu, 15" monitor and 2 networked printers.

[AnimEva]

has anyone reported this to the BBB? I have already, this is to me a bait and switch. I mean I understand if it is a pricing error, it happens. But a totally different item. Then when I emailed their customer service if they will send the right item, and they said YES, they still sent the wrong one. Then when i called and their CSR said all I had to do was send the wrong one in and they will send the wireless router to me, I was like ok, finally.

When they give me the shipping slip to return it, I decided to call just to confirm and they said no they won't be doing that and they don't know what I am talking about. Bullshit, I have everything printed out, I just wish I recorded the phone conversation.

Staples deserves this, they handled this situation very badly and the worst part was that they left that error up easily for over 4 days. That should have been fixed up by that time.

Go to hell Staples.

STAPLES IS SUCK!!!!

[KikiRio]

i STILL have that switch in my shopping cart and it says, "Linksys EtherFast Wireless AP Plus Cable/DSL Router with 16-Port Switch 457404". i have been holding otu on the remote chance they would honor this but i am sadly starting to succomb to the harsh realities here. if order it, they still technically screwed up, but i am not going to put myself through that hell if they don't have the switches anymore. anymore info on the having this gem?

[Reyarp Sdrol]

AmEx wouldn't do anything because of the "...not responsible for pricing errors..." disclaimer on the Staples website. So I held out for a while to see what you clever folks could come up with. I finally decided to try and return it to the B&M yesterday. They refunded the full price, no questions asked! I got my $30 for my "pain and suffering" over this whole deal. Now, what can I get to use that $40 off $200 coupon, hmmmm..... hahahahaha

Thanks, Staples!

[kcrilly]

I have this router and it sux. It doesnt even hardly work 50 feet away. I have tried it at 2 different locations and it just flat out sux chit. Not recommended to even waste you time.

Nice to see people making money off of Staples though. :)

[Reyarp Sdrol]

I was just in the Staples store where I returned my switch and saw the put it on clearance for $120. So I can buy it and send it back to Staples.com (I still have the box and the return shipping docs) and I'll get credited back for $169. I know it's shady, but it's Staples!

[leemaj]

im pretty sure you can take it to B&M and return it there. it would save them time and money. items are shipped from warehouse, which provides B&M merchandise also, so it all goes to the same place.

[brainsmile]

only problem is they don't have it in stock and don't expect more

Good luck!


Originally posted by Reyarp Sdrol
I got my "virtual wireless" switch yesterday, even though I cancelled order on Tuesday. I put it on my AmEx Blue. Anyone know if AmEx could put pressure on Staples to honor their mistake? If they had this sitting on their shelf in their B&M with the wrong price, wouldn't they have to honor it???

[tyler]

Filed a complaint with the BBB and I get a letter from Staples today:

"We appreciate that you forwarded your feedback to us and we have taken the time to research your concern. We will not be able to fulfill your request to have the Linksys Etherfast Wireless AP shipped to you and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We corrected the error as soon as it was brought to our attention and worked to minimize any impact this had on our customers. In addition, an email confirmation was sent listing the Linksys Etherfast 16 port switch as the product that would be delivered. The item was subsequently delivered as per this confirmation...."

I'm down to my last straw now... since at the same time I wrote to the BBB, I wrote to my credit card company disputing the charge with the bait and switch and have aptly gotten a conditional credit. Anyone else do the same?