Christ-Centered Mall, Fort Myers, FL - attempted to purchase lithograph, but didn't due to price increased

# 10 for June 29, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on June 28, 2003:

From: Anonymous

RE: Christ-Centered Mall, Fort Myers, FL - attempted to purchase lithograph, but didn't due to price increased

Please post this as an anonymous complaint. My complaint is against the following company:

Company Name: Christ-Centered Mall

Contact Person: David H. Boshart, Jr.

Address: P.O. Box #6845

City, State, Zip: Fort Myers Florida USA 33911

The reason for my complaint is a follows:

On their site, they advertised a Thomas Kinkade lithograph, " A Holiday Gathering" 18" by 24" in a Thomas Kinkade frame for $895. I e-mailed them several times to inquire if this litho was available and what the shipping charge was to San Diego. They did not reply to any of my e-mails.

I called them at my own expense, spoke with a person named Ann, and asked her about the availability and shipping cost. She said the litho was in stock and the shipping charge was approximately $60. I asked her for an exact shipping charge and she said she would either e-mail it to me or telephone me.

She called later in the day, told me the shipping charge was $40 and that the price was a "little" higher than that advertised on their website. The price, she told me, was $1095 because this litho was "sold out." This I did not understand because if it is sold out, how can they have an unsold one. She told me that their litho in stock had never been sold and was new. I declined to buy it at this inflated price of $200 over their advertised price.