Timothys Merchandise bait and switch

First, there was the "bait":

I ordered a Uniden EXS-9650 phone which they had on their web page selling for $59.95. They confirmed my order:


Item List
Uniden EXS-9650 900MHz Cordless   Qty=1, Price=$59.95

Subtotal: $59.95
Shipping: $10.95
Tax: $0.00
TOTAL: $70.90

and after a few days sent me the following email:


From:   sales@timothysmerchandise.com
Subject: Uniden EXS-9650 900Mhz Cordless phone
Date: September 6, 2004 12:12:21 PM PDT
To:   raj@cisco.com
X-Mailer: AeroMail (http://the.cushman.net/reverb/aeromail/)

Mr. Johnson

     We here at TimothysMerchandise.com would like to think you for you order and 
apologize for the delay. The Uniden EXS-9650 is no longer in stock. Your credit 
card has not been charged for this item. I have been authorized to offer you two 
new items at the same price.

 1. Uniden 2.4GHz Cordless Phone with Digital Answering
         Features include: 
                 2.4GHz extended range 
                 Digital answering system 
                 Call Waiting/Caller ID* 
                 Speakerphone 
                 One-touch RocketDial 
                 100-number memory 
                 10 distinctive rings 
                 Last three number redial

For optimum performance, it is recommended that you charge this phone for at least 
18 hours before use. 

*Caller ID and Call Waiting require a telephone company service subscription. 

 2. Uniden EXI2926 900MHz Two-line Cordless Phone
         Features include: 
                 900MHz operation 
                 Two-line functionality 
                 Call Waiting/Caller ID* 
                 80-number Caller ID memory 
                 Redial/pause/flash/intercom 
                 Line 1 and 2 buttons on handset and base 
                 40-number memory dialing 
                 Keypad on handset and base 
                 Headset compatible 
                 Speakerphone on handset and base 
                 Two-way intercom 
                 Three line backlit LCD 
                 Belt clip 
                 Rechargeable battery

For optimum performance, it is recommended that you charge this phone for at least 
18 hours before use. 

*Caller ID and Call Waiting require a telephone company service subscription. 

     Once again We apologize for the inconvenience. If you would like to change you 
order to one of these phones, or cancel you order, please let us know.
sales@timothysmerchandise.com

You'll note that these phones are really not equivalent to the one which I ordered. The one I ordered was a 900Mhz DSS (Digital Spread Spectrum) phone. The "DSS" is the important part. It means the sound is much more clear than using analog 900Mhz. After I told them that I wanted, specifically, a 900Mhz 2-line DSS phone, they came back with the "switch":


Mr. Johnson,

   After checking all our suppliers, we did find the Uniden EXS-9650. The problem 
is that the cost is higher. The lowest price we can offer $79.95. If you would 
still like to purchase it, or cancel you order, please let us know. We apologize 
for the inconvenience.