Some eager, prospective HD consumers apparently learned a couple of valuable lessons last week: 1) If it looks too good to be true, it probably is; 2) Don't discard your old analog set until you can get your hands (literally) on your new HD monitor.
Due to an apparent pricing error, according to several published reports, Amazon.com had to cancel an unknown number of orders for a Samsung model LNR409D 40-inch LCD, which had been briefly advertised online (and subsequently "sold") for $1,899. The Amazon Web site now shows the old price slashed out, and, instead, features more realistic higher prices starting at $2,955 from Vann's.
Customers reportedly were notified via e-mail that the company could not complete the initial deliveries because the price had been listed incorrectly. Amazon.com apologized for the oversight and cited Amazon's pricing policy which states, in part:
"At any given time, despite our best efforts, a small number of the millions of items on our site may be mispriced. We do, however, verify prices as part of our shipping procedures. If we discover that an item's correct price is higher than our stated price, we will, at our discretion, either contact you for instructions before shipping, or cancel your order and notify you of such cancellation."
One customer had complained online that he had already sold his old TV set in anticipation of receiving the new HD model ordered from Amazon.com. There's no word on how many of the original bidders went ahead and purchased the Samsung 40-inch LCD HD with that extra $1,000 or so tacked onto the real price.
