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[personal profile] ashinae
People were weird at work today.

We have a permanent promotion on with our old movies. Any movie (VHS or DVD) that is not a new release, or labelled as a 99ยข rental, is $2.99 for a full week. Or, you get 3 of these older movies, for 7 days, for $5.00. Couple bring up two movies. I cheerfully tell them that, with taxes, their movies will cost them $6.88, including taxes. If they pick up any other of these older movies, their rental will be $5.75.
Man: "What's the catch?"
Me: o_O
Woman: "There's always a catch."
Me: "No, honestly. It's our special deal. We want these older ones to rent, too, rather than, you know, collect dust. So we give you a deal."
Man & Woman: *eye me suspicously*
Me: "If there isn't anything you really want, I can just grab one of the ones I haven't put away yet that are up here."
Man: "*Any* other older movie?"
Me: "Yes, sir. From comedy, drama, thriller, horror, our Top 100 section, or the family section."
Man & Woman: *wander away to get something else, talking amongst themselves*

Another man brought up 3 old DVDs to rent. The computer automatically discounts the amount to bring the subtotal down to $5. Just like magic.
Me: *scanning the DVDs to put them on his membership* "All right, sir, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and Hunt for Red October are due back by ten am next Sunday morning. Your total is five seventy-five."
Man: "What? Five seventy-five? Where did the seventy-five cents come from? The sign says five dollars!"
Me: "Taxes, sir."
Man: "Well, then, the signs are misleading! It should be five dollars even, if the sign says five dollars!"
Me: "Er. I imagine the head office merchandising department imagined that taxes were a given."
Man: "I want your head office's phone number, then! I'm going to tell them that they should specify that your advertised amounts should include taxes!"
Me: *rattles off phone number*
Man: "Hmph. I've never been to any other store that doesn't make sure to specify that their prices are with or without taxes!"

(You know, I'm almost positive that a lot of places DON'T. Fast food, for example?)

We have a limited-time offer right now, rent two new releases, your third is free. (I often do have to explain to people with a lot of these deals, the word "rent" is the equivalent to the word "buy" for retail stores.) So this guy comes up with two new releases, and I smile, and inform him of this promo. He's a fairly regular customer, I think, because he knew our prices.
Twit: "Wait. So these are eleven fourty-eight, with the taxes, right?"
Me: "That's right, sir."
Twit: "But if I pick up a third, it's still eleven fourty-eight?"
Me: "That's right, sir."
Twit: "I don't know if I can watch three movies and have them back by ten on Monday."
Me: "It's up to you, sir. I just wanted to let you know, in case there *was* another title you were looking for." *bright smile* "It's nothing extra, just another movie to watch."
Twit: "But what happens if I can't watch the third one?"
Me: "I'm sorry, sir. There'd be nothing we could do. The third movie is free, you wouldn't waste any extra money on it."
Twit: "What, do people actually take home three movies and watch them all in two nights?"
Me: "Sir, we have people take home up to five or six movies a weekend."
Twit: "Well, they should get off their lazy asses and do something!"
Me: "Probably, sir. Now, did you want to pick out a third title, or should I ring these up for you?"
Twit: "Well, now, I'll have to think about it." *wanders off, sulking*

I think it's sad when people feel the need to argue about saving money or getting free things. Do we live in such a society that we have to question this sort of thing? I mean, it's one thing to argue when you *want* something for free (even though you're often NOT entitled to it), but it's another when it's OFFERED to you. Honestly now.

Date: 2003-10-11 08:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thalassatx.livejournal.com
I thank God I no longer work retail. People are idiots!!!!

Date: 2003-10-11 09:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ashinae.livejournal.com
I think the world would be a better place if those of us who work in customer service positions were allowed to carry around baseball bats. Whenever someone is nasty, stupid, mean, etc., we should be allowed to whack them over the head. And then people would have to be nice to get what they wanted. *EG*

Date: 2003-10-11 09:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] spiritkitty.livejournal.com
Twit: "Well, they should get off their lazy asses and do something!"

LOL. That was the funniest thing I've heard all night.

Date: 2003-10-11 09:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ashinae.livejournal.com
Heh. Can't really take credit for it. Was kind of funny that the lady in line behind him had six movies, albeit they were the older ones she could get for a week.

Date: 2003-10-11 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pixiecatfish.livejournal.com
It is a funny, sad world when people are more suspicious of good tidings than bad.

Sigh.

Date: 2003-10-15 08:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ashinae.livejournal.com
I know. I think people are so used to figuring out ways to screw the "system" that when the system actually gives them something for free, or for a discount, no strings attached, that it freaks them out. And that makes me sad.

Date: 2003-10-12 09:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] delphynn.livejournal.com
It's like that song. People are strange, when you're a stranger...la la la. *hugs*

Date: 2003-10-15 08:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ashinae.livejournal.com
*hugs back* Ooh, thank you :)

I'm afraid I'm actually not familiar with the song though *G*

I can sympathize

Date: 2003-10-12 02:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] my-sanctuary.livejournal.com
I spent 20 minutes at work one day, arguing with a customer who was absolutely insisting that my manager went through the store each morning, looked for what was selling well, and raised the price. I tried to explain that it was not a store conspiracy, that all of our pricing comes straight from the corporate office, and that if he went to any other store in our chain, he would find the same price. He wasn't having it, he raged up and down that *we* put items on sale that no one would buy, and raised the prices on items that *would* sell to even them out...
I'm still pondering his logic...
Sometimes you just have to wonder where customers come from before they enter your store. I can't tell you how many times I've wondered if I was on "candid camera" from customer idiocy.
~Shieldmaiden Elf

Re: I can sympathize

Date: 2003-10-15 08:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ashinae.livejournal.com
Do you work in a place that sells DVDs or CDs? *G* Because generally, it IS the rare or popular or newest stuff that is more expensive, and the crap that is inexpensive. That's just the way it is. People should realise this. And of course, various studios are more expensive than others (*shakes fist at Paramount*)...

And, yeah, I so know what you mean about "candid camera". Hey, are you aware of [livejournal.com profile] customers_suck? *G*

Re: I can sympathize

Date: 2003-10-16 10:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] my-sanctuary.livejournal.com
Nope,I actally worked in one of those national little-bit-of-everything-pharmacy/drugstore chains. And I *believe* the guy was arguing over the price of a bottle of tide, if you can believe that!

On another note, Ashinae, I tried to send you an email, but it bounced, so I'll rave here. I ADORE your LOTR music videos, especially "Hold On" (makes me cry every time). I make videos too, and you kinda inspired me to get better at it. ::sniffles and wipes away a tear:: so thank you, you rock.

~Shieldmaiden Elf

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