screwed by Hewlett-Packard sales

So yesterday I had to do a System Recovery with my HP Pavilion desktop and all goes well except for my network card which does not allow me to connect to the internet. After a few phone calls I am finally directed to HP's customer support. But because my computer is beyond its warranty there is no help to be offered unless I pay some outrageous amount.

But because I am a HP owner I am given a "one time offer" by the sales rep that is only good during this telephone call. The sales rep tells me that he is offering an HP computer (Compaq Presario) that notmally sells on the HP web site for $1,100 to $1,200. This one time special sale price will be only $509. And better yet, shipping will be free. He goes through the whole set-up, dual core processor, Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Office 2007 installed, etc, etc.

I take the bait and go ahead and make the purchase figuring there is a chance my current computer may never work properly again anyway.

This morning I am able to resolve my network card issue and get back on the internet. And I immediately decided to go check out my new HP computer- model number SR5152NX. A link to the computer is below-

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?product_code=GC666AA#ABA

As you can see from the link above, the everyday price is $509 not $1,100-$1,200. And shipping is free on this item. So much for the one time special offer. And actually Frys.com has the exact same model even cheaper-

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5286177?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Needless to say, I called HP today to cancel my order. After going through a number of people who tried to talk me out of cancelling and waiting nearly TWO HOURS on the telephone I was finally connected to a sales rep. and able to cancel.

 

Damn. Sounds like the trouble I had a while back with those AOL people.

 

What, no kiss?