pat@pyuxqq.UUCP (Pat M. Iurilli) (05/29/85)
On April 16, 1985 I telephoned SMC Train Center, 47 Greenleaf Ave., Staten
Island, NY, to ask how much they were selling the new Lionel Hudson steam
engine #783 that had recently been issued. I was quoted a price of $850.00.
This was at about 2:00 in the afternoon. Since I live in NJ I could not
make the trip till the following morning. I arrived on April 17, 195 at
approximately 11:00 AM and was informed that the price had "gone up" to
$1000.00, which I didn't even have enough money for. The owner told me
that items like this one don't occur frequently so he had to make as much
money as he possibly could on this one. He admitted he was ripping off the
collectors just for his own selfish satisfaction. Now no one begrudges
a satisfactory profit, but this is terrible. Prices that weren't even good
for 24 hours? What kink of a parasite is this guy? In my opinion, this is
just another permutation of the old "Bait and Switch" technique to lure
unsuspecting collectors into the store and then try to suck as much out of
them as possible. He probably never intended to sell me one at the lower
price, but there is no way I can prove that. This is not only intolerable
business practices but inexcuseable and disgusting as well.
I think that all collectors should boycott this establishment and show this
guy what we think of unfair and unethical business dealings from an
unreputable store. I know I'll never go there again. Why should collectors
tolerate these kind of money-hungry, opportunistic people?
COLLECTORS UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pat Iurilli Bell Communications Research Piscataway, NJ
{allegra, ihnp4}!pyuxqq!pat