Help Me Hank: Registry Runaround

The Ariniello household is in baby mode big time - a new son is just days away. So grandma-to-be-Vickie is prepping daughter Karin and the house for the birth of her first child.

Vicki Ariniello
"We painted the room, put down some new carpeting."

Any family knows there is a lot to do - put up the bassinet, get a pile of cuddly outfits, put in a personalized rocking chair, and take a shopping trip to find the perfect stroller.

Vicki Ariniello
"We're very excited about it."

At the store they printed out Karin’s registry wish list-- items Karin already selected and the prices and on it: the stroller.

But at the checkout Vickie found herself in a baby carriage price war.

Vicki Ariniello
"I was like, "Whoa wait a minute, you know that's not right’."

The price rang up as $199, but the problem was the price on the registry they'd just printed out said $139. Vicki pointed it out.

Vicki Ariniello
"They said it had to be a computer error and that they wouldn't honor their price."

Vickie knew the registry specifically said prices were guaranteed the day you printed it. She told the cashier she wasn't going to pay $60 more.

Vicki Ariniello
"I thought this just isn't fair."

Finally, the store did offer ten percent off the higher price - $19 less. So Vickie, under pressure with baby on the way, reluctantly said OK.

Vicki Ariniello
"So I said fine, but you haven't heard the last from me."

She drove home, plunked down the box and picked up the phone.

Vicki Ariniello
"We're gonna get a hold of Help Me Hank and I said she will help us.".

By this time it was three days later, so we sent Vickie on a mission go back to the store and print out a new copy of Karin’s registry.

If the lower price really was a mistake---they should have changed it by now. They hadn't--it still said $139.

Vicki Ariniello
"You know as a consumer you have certain rights."

And state law says that the seller may honor the terms stated or promptly correct the mistake.

The store quickly realized we were in the right: and Vickie was then blessed with two bundles of joy-- a cash refund for the price difference and a new grandson. And look what just arrived in our mail - a video clip of Ryan Michael's debut.

We could help Vicki because she had kept that registry she printed as proof of the price that was offered. Documents like that are your best ammunition in a pricing dispute.