GNC General Nutrition Centers, GSI Commerce Solutions, an Ebay Co., GNC Live Well SWITCHING TERMS OF SPECIAL OFFER DURING CHECKOUT IS DIRTY DEALING! Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

While GNC and many online stores, and businesses, clearly state in their, "Terms & Conditions, " that they have the right to change prices, at will, and virtually do what they want, when they want, there is a clear lack of ethics, in GNC's online check-out practices. 

GNC advertises "Special Offers" and ""promotions" daily.  On this particular day, 02/23/2013, at 9:15pm, GNC's promotion offered "free shipping with $75 purchase."  I purchased (10) items, on this day, totaling $79.90.  Clicked on the promotion, to engage the "free shipping with $75 purchase," reviewed my shopping cart, to visually see that the shipping costs had been removed, and continued shopping.

When finished, I proceeded through the checkout process, only to find my "free shipping" had disappeared!  It not only disappeared from my cart, but from the site all together!  My purchases were directly correlated, to comply with the terms, of the $75 free shipping offer. 

When I called GNC about this matter I was given several different stories as to "why" a promotional offer would be removed from my cart, during a transaction.  I was told, "promotions change," and yes, they do, but DURING the checkout process?!  The 'free shipping promotion' was now available with a $99 purchase!   

Someone not as vigilant, as I, might have just gone forth, with the purchase, assuming because they'd already seen it, it would still be there.  After all, any company, with any type of ethics, morals, or respect for their Consumers, would never pull such a shady switch, in mid-stream of a sale!

Big companies can afford a legal department, to manipulate the lax, barely existent, legal rights afforded to online consumers.  It's about time for more stringent laws, to protect consumers, and bring ethics to the online arena!