Bait-and-Switch
Advertising an attractive price, feature or service level to get you in, then making it unavailable and steering you to a costlier version; the commitment you made to the bait carries over to the switch.
An everyday example
The advertised laptop is 'just sold out', but the next model up is right here; the plan's promised feature 'ships next quarter'.
What it can cost you
Paying more than you intended because leaving now feels like a wasted trip.
Warning signs
- I am about to buy something I did not come for.
- Leaving empty-handed feels like a loss.
One thing to do
Treat the disappearance of the advertised offer as the end of the deal, not a detour; leave and price the substitute elsewhere.
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