Bait and switch is fraudulent advertising used by retailers to lure potential customers into their place of business, by misleading the customer with an offer (the bait) in order to induce him/her to purchase another product (the switch) that usually cost more.
Bait-and-switch operations have no intention of selling the originally advertised merchandise. They use the lure of attractive or incredible pricing only as bait to entice the potential consumer to the store. Some common bait-and-switch tactics used by fraudulent salespersons and retailers may include refusing to sell or deliver the advertised product, explaining that the advertised product is flawed, noting that the last unit was sold, or revealing that all remaining units have been damaged.
Conversely, a bait and switch does not occur in situations where advertisements specify that limited quantities of the product are available or if the salesperson, who is prepared to sell the advertised product, talks a customer into purchasing something else.