Chapter 1: The Bait-and-Switch Encounter

Are you serious right now? HP still represents Hidden Prices!

It’s hard to believe, but just yesterday, I penned a follow-up to an earlier piece I wrote in November regarding the dubious practices of HP. The initial article detailed my experience with HP.com during their Black Friday promotions, where I encountered what seemed to be a classic bait-and-switch tactic involving computer prices.

To summarize, I visited HP.com seeking irresistible deals, and to my astonishment, I found one. An advertisement claimed an i9-class PC (the quickest model available) was priced at $799. I was eager to make a purchase right away. However, after clicking 'Buy and Customize', I was shocked to discover the actual price was $949.

Indeed, HP was not offering the i9-class PC for $799. That price was applicable to the i7-class model, while the i9 was $150 more. What a letdown!

For those interested in the full story, you can read the previous article linked here. Unfortunately, I never did get that i9 PC at the advertised price. Days later, someone claiming to work for HP.com offered me the same i9 PC for $799, but I declined, opting instead for a memory upgrade on our existing computer.

Then something interesting happened.

A few days ago, I received an email from NPR discussing a situation at Central Michigan University. They reported that a computer error led to 58 prospective students receiving incorrect notifications stating they had been awarded full-tuition scholarships. Families likely celebrated only to be crushed when CMU clarified it was a mistake.

However, CMU turned this unfortunate situation around, much like HP should have done. They awarded all 58 students full-tuition scholarships, avoiding negative publicity and creating a win-win scenario. I shared that uplifting story here.

This is how companies should handle issues, right?

Chapter 2: The Latest Developments

Now for the truly unbelievable.

I still receive emails from HP and have been monitoring their activities since the previous pricing debacle. I was curious if they would take any corrective measures for those customers misled during the Black Friday sale. Did they reach out to apologize or inform customers that the advertised i9 PC would not be available at $799?

Did HP take any action?

Just an hour ago, I received another email from HP. I decided to check the price of the HP Omen I had considered back in November. I was eager to see if they still offered the same model and what the current price might be.

HP's advertisement from January 2022 showcased the same graphics as in November 2021.

Yes, you read that right.

HP.com is once again promoting an i9-class PC for $799. While it does specify 'starting at $799', this implies you should be able to obtain an i9-class PC, complete with Windows 11, for that price, right?

Wrong.

To verify this for yourself, click on the link to the Omen gaming box (which looks like this) under the SHOP: Omen gaming box section.

On the Omen Menu, select Desktops: Omen Menu.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom left of the page, and voila! There’s the HP i9 Omen for $799.

Click on the 'BUY NOW' button. You’ll notice the price remains the same on the next page. In fact, the graphic below indicates that this is indeed an i9 PC with Windows 11, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB solid-state drive—all for $799. Incredible!

Finally, click on the 'CUSTOMIZE AND BUY' button. Don’t worry; you’re not actually buying a PC from HP. You should be redirected to a page where you can scroll down and see the i5-class PC priced at $799, but to secure the i9-class PC, you'll need to add $350!

The truth is, if you want an HP i9-class PC with Windows 11 Pro (refer to the first graphic—it offers both Windows Home and Pro at the same price), you’ll need to shell out $1219.99!

That’s a staggering $420.99 above the advertised price.

And it won't ship until March!

Chapter 3: Business as Usual

I don’t harbor any animosity towards HP; in fact, I appreciate their products and have been a loyal user for years. I currently own three HP computers. After the first incident, I attempted to notify HP about the issue and provided suggestions. Yet here we are, three months later, and HP continues to mislead customers.

Why is this happening?

Is the company simply too large to manage effectively? Is there poor oversight of the HP.com website? Or is it something more sinister, like HP operating this as a routine scam against consumers?

I am not a legal expert, but I am familiar with the term 'bait-and-switch.' My research has revealed that this tactic involves a seller promoting an enticing offer for a product they do not genuinely intend to sell. The initial offer serves as "the bait," while customers are redirected to a different product or service that is typically priced higher or has other benefits for the seller. This constitutes "the switch."

Is this practice legal? I can’t say for certain.

Is it ethical? It certainly doesn’t seem so.

Despite my attempts to highlight this glaring issue to HP's leadership (yes, I reached out to the HP Executive Leadership Team) and even speaking with someone from HP, the behavior continues.

Perhaps this isn't just an oversight; maybe it's part of HP's standard business model.

That’s difficult to believe.

Hewlett Packard is a multi-billion dollar corporation with a global presence. Initially, I viewed this as a mistake; today, I see it as a calculated effort to deceive consumers.

In the past, I might have reached out to HP asking for clarification. Now, I plan to escalate this issue to the Attorney General of California, where HP is headquartered.

When companies err, they should be given an opportunity to rectify the situation, as Central Michigan did. However, when companies actively work to deceive consumers, they must be held accountable.

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