When is free one thing other than free? When HP weighs a free Nook offer, notes The Consumerist.

Returned Nook makes nothing free

The Consumerist tells the tale of Brian, a customer who was in the industry for an HP laptop. He acquired an Ultrabook as part of a Cyber Monday promotion that incorporated a totally free Nook e-reader. Anything was fine until Brian decided the Ultrabook wasn't precisely what he was trying to find. When he went to return the computer, Brian was really charged $99 plus tax out of the return funds from the laptop. It was the expense of the Nook, which HP wouldn't take back.

Issue seen all over

Free Nook promotions are not entirely free, according to HP, and Brian is not the only consumer to run into this issue. Looking at the fine print of such promotions, it becomes clear that the "free Nook" actually costs $99 plus tax. HP has claimed that the price listing as seems like also on a consumer's receipt is merely the way HP systems process orders - the customer isn't really charged the $99 at the time of purchase.

According to a source within the HP returns department, the business will not take back a totally free Nook obtained through such holiday promotions, and the customer "will not obtain the $106 they were charged for (the Nook)."

Look at the fine print

Not according to HP's fine print. The Nook was sandwiched in as part of the laptop purchase price. This data was supposedly well-hidden, but because it was publicized someplace, the customer was bound by the terms of the transaction.

The Nook can certainly be sold at the consumer's discretion, but it cannot be returned. Consumers should have read the small print before expecting something entirely free.