As I already stated I have no scientific evidence (only anecdotal) that companies substituted items when they were out of stock. But I am betting that you have no scientific evidence that they did not do this. So we are wasting time. But I notice that quite a few people waste time here arguing silly matters.
But I am betting that you have no scientific evidence that they did not do this.argumentum ad ignorantiam
So we are wasting time.Well, at least one of us is. Without any scientific or any other kind of evidence you just threw this out there;
Yes it was quite common for companies to substitute a very similar item in the pre-Internet age.
to give the impression that it was normal for a company like Klein's to send out a different item than the one that was ordered.
I don't consider it to be a waste of time to address such a misrepresentation.