Bernzomatic torch, bought from Amazon, shipped from Lowes, crazy price

[Danglerb]

I've been after the Bernzomatic BZ8250HT for ages looking for a deal and prices have a very wide range, Home Depot typically the cheapest for some options, like $67 with a tank. What I found on Amazon was the no tank, hose/torch belt holder, for $34.95, which is a crazy low price so I almost skipped it assuming pricing error (given the feedback on the third party seller), but what the heck, bought it and waited. Shipped Monday, arrived today from Lowes and its the real deal, bonus amount of weird the Lowes invoice shows me buying it with a gift certificate and price of $14.99 less 10%, $1.05 in tax and free shipping total of $14.54, weird eh?

Checking Lowes right now it shows as $59.98.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/BernzOmatic-Trigger-Start-Hose-Torch-Handheld-Head/50126411

 

[Sonic-Boom]

I've been after the Bernzomatic BZ8250HT for ages looking for a deal and prices have a very wide range, Home Depot typically the cheapest for some options, like $67 with a tank. What I found on Amazon was the no tank, hose/torch belt holder, for $34.95, which is a crazy low price so I almost skipped it assuming pricing error (given the feedback on the third party seller), but what the heck, bought it and waited. Shipped Monday, arrived today from Lowes and its the real deal, bonus amount of weird the Lowes invoice shows me buying it with a gift certificate and price of $14.99 less 10%, $1.05 in tax and free shipping total of $14.54, weird eh?

Checking Lowes right now it shows as $59.98.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/BernzOmatic-Trigger-Start-Hose-Torch-Handheld-Head/50126411

From amazon or third party seller on amazon?

 

[Dh3256]

Shipped Monday, arrived today from Lowes and its the real deal, bonus amount of weird the Lowes invoice shows me buying it with a gift certificate and price of $14.99 less 10%, $1.05 in tax and free shipping total of $14.54, weird eh?

Common scam, unfortunately. Seller steals or "acquires" gift cards, then orders "as you" on the Lowes website and has item shipped to you. If and when they catch on, it looks like you were the one using the stolen gift card.

Watch that seller on Amazon, they probably won't be around for long...

 

[Danglerb]

Third party on Amazon, around too long for it to be a direct scam, but does seem fishy, just not illegal fishy, more some kind of weird loophole drop shipper fishy. Lowes invoice while it has my name and shipping, phone number isn't mine (its some vacation villa finder in Bali with a contact person in San Francisco, weird on weird).

These two bits from their Amazon storefront.

CS GROCERY storefront
4.5 out of 5 stars89% positive in the last 12 months (1861 ratings)
CS GROCERY is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service.

"Did not receive the product I ordered. Bought a $35 torch head and hose. Instead I received a $14 giftcard to Lowe's with no explanation as to what happened. Amazon says the Item was successfully delivered, Lowe's says its not their problem. 1 Star, do not order from this very poor seller they have no customer service, phone, or email for complaints or problems with orders."

By ARG Conservation Services on June 26, 2019

^^^^ I see no reason why the buyer above should not be able to sort this out with Amazon, not the item they ordered. If the deal was this good on another item I wanted, worth taking the risk I think.

 

[Dh3256]

Third party on Amazon, around too long for it to be a direct scam

The scammers hack legit accounts, everything you have posted screams "scam", sorry.

Edit: tried to search for them, looks like all their listings are now unavailable, Amazon likely caught on to the scam.

A sudden drop in ratings is also a "red flag" for a scam.

 

[xjfish]

$61.17 on amazon currently. Assuming deal is dead.

 

[sharkytm]

$61.17 on amazon currently. Assuming deal is dead.

They're was never a deal, just a scam.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

"IF" the price is too good to be true............

 

[Danglerb]

"IF" the price is too good to be true............

OTOH two points, the discount was MUCH less than on the Alfa stuff a week ago, and the hose and torch are in my hands and brand new with a full warranty.

All deals have risk, some will be a scam, some a pricing error, play or don't play.

 

[Dh3256]

OTOH two points, the discount was MUCH less than on the Alfa stuff a week ago, and the hose and torch are in my hands and brand new with a full warranty.

All deals have risk, some will be a scam, some a pricing error, play or don't play.

One risk in this case is that when the scam is detected and unraveled, they will charge you since the order show you as the one using the stolen gift cards. Another risk is that the police will confiscate the stolen property and you will be out your payment and not have the merchandise.

Not sure how likely that is, but there have been some reports online of unknowing buyers being charged in this kind of scam. You would think Amazon would do more to stop it, but they don't seem to care.

 

[Danglerb]

One risk in this case is that when the scam is detected and unraveled, they will charge you since the order show you as the one using the stolen gift cards. Another risk is that the police will confiscate the stolen property and you will be out your payment and not have the merchandise.

Not sure how likely that is, but there have been some reports online of unknowing buyers being charged in this kind of scam. You would think Amazon would do more to stop it, but they don't seem to care.

Never ever happens, not even with all those HF Daytona jacks that got sold on ebay cheap, plus I bought it through Amazon with a valid receipt.

Given what is going on right now with Lowes in other threads, all of the mess up could be Lowes.

 

[Dh3256]

Never ever happens, not even with all those HF Daytona jacks that got sold on ebay cheap, plus I bought it through Amazon with a valid receipt.

Hopefully you will be fine and not be charged like some of the others. Hope it works out for you.