Swim clear of bait-and-switch schemes at electronics stores

If you shop for electronics online, be wary of rock-bottom prices from e-retailers. There may be a catch—or a hook.

Bait-and-switch schemes from online electronics retailers can be lucrative for such anglers and frustrating for consumers. As the Consumer Reports Money Blog reports:

Some retailers, especially some online electronics stores, post ridiculously low prices. Shoppers who bite typically receive a phone call from a salesperson trying to "upgrade" them into buying accessories or other products or services, often at inflated prices.

If they refuse to purchase additional items, shoppers find that the retailer cancels the sale, claims the product has been back-ordered for months, or, if they did purchase the additional product, sends lower-quality merchandise or items that were never ordered. Returns can be difficult, if not impossible.

Back in June, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued seven retailers who employed such practices, and won $750,000 in settlements. The New-York-based companies included Best Price Camera, Foto Connection, 1 Way Photo, 86th Street Photo, Broadway Photo, Camera Wiz, and Sonic Photo. A complete list of the 100-plus Web sites they operate can be found here [PDF].

The post on the Money blog gives more information on what to do if you've been swindle by such a scheme, and how to avoid them altogether.

To help find a satisfactory retailer, use our Ratings of places to buy electronics, available to subscribers. —Nick K. Mandle