Wal-Mart bait and switch on Christmas Eve - deceptive pricing Ottawa, Ontario

Thank to the consumer who posted a comment.

Nice point.  However, this concerns merchandise in boxes, ready for carrying out, with a display model to show the contents of the box.  This is different from a Rolls Royce among Fords. We verified that the decoration varied. Nowhere was there any indication of a difference in quality.  Of course this could not be verified since the other cabinets were in boxes.
First lesson learned:  Verify the price of the physical item, rather than assuming it is the same, even if it seems obvious.Second lesson learned: Do not assume that what is on display is equal to what is in the box.

My concern here is deceptive pricing or bait and switch, or both.

There are two obvious outcomes:
1. When choosing the display model, the consumer is asked for a higher price, (according to the consumer comment: presumably for a higher value) 2. When choosing the packed item, the consumer gets a lesser value than the display model (the same premise: the display model is of a higher value).

The other outcomes are:
1. The consumer with the display model pays the additional price
2. The consumer who buys the box does not know the difference in value.

Another scenario:- There is no difference in value, only in finish-

Does anyone suffer a loss?

What is the risk to the store of getting an unhappy customer?If there is that risk, at what point is that important to the business, the manager?

I shop at this store frequently

This was the first time I was seriously disappointed.

After spending more than half an hour listening to the sales clerk, waiting for the box and helping with the wrapping, we had to return home.. My husband went back to the store and pointed out the price gap, and was told that the price was on the box. (except there was no box when we looked at it).

I look forward to further considerations, loop holes, assumption gap considerations, etc.

Should I shrug my shoulders?

"They were alll different in decorative design with different leg styles and decor, but structurally the same."

So as long as the items have the same structure they should cost the same. How about if one is made out of balsa wood and the other out of mahogany? Or one made of tin and the other of platinum? With your argument, since all cars are structurally the same, a Rolls Royce should cost the same as a Yugo.