Occasionally, free is not free. For example, a merchandise promotion may claim that if you purchase an HP Ultrabook computer, you can obtain a totally free Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader. Such was the situation on Cyber Monday 2012. But when one consumer had to return the Ultrabook, they discovered that Nook is far from free. It went for retail cost, $99 plus tax. Let this be a warning to you, as many free Nook offers are on the market - read the small print.
Not really free
The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a consumer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He bought an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that involved a free Nook e-reader. Everything was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook wasn't exactly what he was trying to find. When he went to return the computer, Brian was actually charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the cost of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.
Not the only consumer
It seems ridiculous to someone who got a "free" Nook to have to pay $99 plus tax later. Brian is not the only person who has had this problem before. Obviously the Nook was not necessarily free and cost something. It appears on the consumer's receipt differently too, which is just how HP processes orders, it said.
According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the consumer "will not obtain the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."
Wait, wasn't it a free Nook?
HPs fine print explained that the Nook was priced with the laptop meaning it is not actually free at all. The customer had to cover it based on the terms of the transaction.
The Nook cannot be returned, but it can be sold at the consumer's discretion - albeit at a loss - or given as a gift. That does not take the sting of the "free Nook" away, however. So take the experience of others to heart and be aware that free isn't really always free. Read the fine print!
Not really free
The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a consumer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He bought an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that involved a free Nook e-reader. Everything was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook wasn't exactly what he was trying to find. When he went to return the computer, Brian was actually charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the cost of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.
Not the only consumer
It seems ridiculous to someone who got a "free" Nook to have to pay $99 plus tax later. Brian is not the only person who has had this problem before. Obviously the Nook was not necessarily free and cost something. It appears on the consumer's receipt differently too, which is just how HP processes orders, it said.
According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the consumer "will not obtain the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."
Wait, wasn't it a free Nook?
HPs fine print explained that the Nook was priced with the laptop meaning it is not actually free at all. The customer had to cover it based on the terms of the transaction.
The Nook cannot be returned, but it can be sold at the consumer's discretion - albeit at a loss - or given as a gift. That does not take the sting of the "free Nook" away, however. So take the experience of others to heart and be aware that free isn't really always free. Read the fine print!