Recently I read about a case that was filed by a consumer against Microsoft over computer manufacturers being allowed to label the computers as ‘Vista Ready’ even though they would be able to run only the very basic features of Vista and nothing more. The claim of the consumer was that how would a normal buyer be able to know the requirements of the various versions of Vista (I believe that the computer was bought before Vista was released).
Though the consumer is right in his/her point the fact remains that the computer when installed with Vista can run it, as they were marketed to be, but not how the buyer thought it would. This type of marketing is very deceptive.
Forget Microsoft, let me take the real life example which I faced. I wanted a printout a few days back, while searching for a place, I came across a cyber center which had a poster on its wall which stated ‘Laser printout Re.1 only’. Happy to read this, I walked in and took the printout. I paid one rupee; the owner told it is Rs.2 and not Re.1. Confused I went out and took a look at the poster again, and protested saying that it is written Re.1 outside.
The shop owner smiled and said that is for 5 printouts and above. I mentioned to him that there is no indication anywhere to state that on the poster which he had put outside, something like a star which most of the people put to indicate that conditions apply was clearly missing. He said you should have asked before taking the prinout. My question is that since it was clearly written how much a prinout would cost, was it necessary to ask him the cost again before printout? Is it worth the effort to argue over that Re.1? What options did I have considering that the shop owner was right since he would have given it for Re.1 if I had taken more than 5 pages.
Not wanting to waste time arguing, I just gave him the other rupee and came out, he may have had the upper hand this time around, but he has lost a customer in the long run. So did you all have any such experience, please share it along by commenting to this post.
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Well, as a matter of principle, you should not have had paid the shopkeeper the extra Rs.1. You have, in turn, encouraged him to continue his cheating ways. You should have kept the Rs.1 on the table and walked off or had a screaming match with him. With a crowd collecting, he may have been embarrassed enough to give in to you. I would have stood my ground. It’s a matter of principle after all.
@out4fun
I totally agree with you, if it was a little bigger amount I would have stood my ground. But since it was just Re.1 and also since he was not totally wrong, since if I had taken 5 prints he would have given it at Re.1 each, it did not make much sense to argue much with him.