old-hack

I just wanted to post my experience with Atriniti while trying to buy an HP IPAQ 210. They offered the device for $406.00 and free ground shipping. I placed this order on March 2nd and received an email confirmation of the order this morning. I called Atriniti to find out the status of my order since their web site was now declaring they were sold out of this product. "Keith" said there were two of these in stock. But because I placed my order with free ground shipping, the next orders that came in requesting and paying for "Express" delivery, before my order was processed, would get those remaining IPAQ 210s. When I confronted "Keith" about this he said they had been doing this type of business for 10 years. I suggested that practicing it for 10 years doesn't make it right. If my order is the next to be processed, it should be processed regardless of shipping type. I told him I would pay a few dollars more to some other business that shipped right away even if it was free shipping. He said I could cancel if I wanted and I accepted his offer. I asked him to send an email confirmation of the cancellation. He did. But in his cancellation email he said the refund/credit would appear within the next billing cycle for my credit card. I wrote back and said "I hope your words don't mean there will be a delay in processing this cancellation and refund/credit." He responded almost immediately and said the cancellation and refund/credit will occur within 7-10 business days.

I guess this is one way to generate revenue - by forcing customers to buy "Express" shipping service to avoid not getting the item they want.