Almost got $500 worth of glasses for "free"

[Trouble]

In this month's Playboy, starring Leeann Tweedon, I found a "gift card" for $500 of free sunglasses at Red Star Worldwear. Of course it is a ripoff. Free $500 gift card? The glasses must be $300 each and the cost is 9% S&H. Still...

So I went to the site and I was surprised. Most of the glasses were $120 and lower. Not bad I thought. The glasses are cheap, but $9 shipped for a pair of "$100 glasses" isn't bad. Of course the glasses really aren't $100, but I'm sure they are worth the $9. So I load up my cart with 5 pairs of glasses worth almost $470 and go to check out. Way down at the bottom I see the catch, A prechecked agreement for two pairs of glasses shipped every other month and automatically charged $19.99. Nice try and I unchecked it. Price seems a little off though. They want $78 rather than $42. Turns out that even though they say the 9% covers shipping, it doesn't. I'm not paying $78. No new sunglasses for me today.

[freeradical]

There are so many of these pre-checked scams nowadays.

[Trouble]

Ok, I see what is going on. This is a little more insidious than I thought. Here is the 9% fee.

"There is a 9% Service Fee (per item) that pays for all expenses that RedStar incurs to get the product into your hands. This 9% service fee includes: USPS First Class delivery, processing and handling, and general overhead which includes; customer service, order processing, warehousing, labor, cost of goods and materials, profit, and marketing.

This fee is based on the Proposed* retail price of the product (there is a $9.90 minimum service fee) and is charged separately from your Gift Card. Please go to www.refinitycorp.com to understand the full extent of the service fee."

Turns out the glasses have a larger retail price than the "gift card" price.

Proposed Price*: $170.00
Gift Card Price: $102.00

Gift Card holders
While the 9% Service Fee (minimum
$9.90) will be based on this model's
Proposed price*, only the gift card price will be
deducted from your RedStar Gift Card
or promo code credit.

[OWC Jamie]

At least you're not out of cups.

[Buzz]

Two schools of thought:

1- sunglasses are a functional tool, meant to keep sun out of your eyes, a few pair, basically readily disposable, kept at handy locations will accomplish this task... lose or break a pair? no biggie, there's a spare close by.

2- sunglasses are a fashion statement, expense be damned, meant to make you feel better about yourself when you're wearing them (or even just carrying them) because they're so damned cool, and losing or breaking a pair is akin to losing or breaking your Mac laptop or first born child.

Life always seems to be about these big decisions...

///

[GGD]

Does this mean that I have to continue paying for my lunch?

[Trouble]

Buzz wrote: Life always seems to be about these big decisions...

///

I just bought a pair off eBay for $9.99 with free shipping. Sunglasses price is an easy decision for me.

[jardster]

This thread is useless without pics.

[cbelt3]

.. so from reading Playboy, you need Glasses ? :biggrin:

Check your palm for hair !