as the purchase frenzy in Pdx saga continues...
Today, I took Torsten shopping/exploring at Christian Supply. Desafortunadamente for him, he couldn't see anything. I told him to open his eyes... but it didn't help! How is that possible? you ask! Through the novel invention of technology. I was on the phone with him as I was trekking through the store (mainly the VeggieTale aisles.) Poor kid, I'd exclaim sheer excitement randomly in the middle of conversation (didn't matter if it was him or me talking) about some cool item I'd discovered. I had a blast, don't know about Tor for sure!
Anywho, back to the actual issue: customer service is not that difficult a skill to acquire. I promise you, I could get you up and running in a matter of minutes! However, apparently no one has taken the time to fully train Portland retail employees on this subject!
To make a short story long (I know you were hoping, but no!) I'd discovered a number of tight cds at extremely nice prices. After much discussion and math regarding the prices, discounts, coupons, etc. I'd decided to go with only [there were other items, they just weren't in the purchase or discard pile] the new Grits disc (@ $13.99 with a %50 discount.) Then Jeremiah ["helpful" music dept cashier guy] informs me the frequent buyer card discount is %40 (back in the day they were %50, I swear... it's been a while since I've finished one,) reading the fine print confirms this, I succumb to my reduced discount level. Next he informs me the discount is on the regular price: $16.98. So I switch cd selections... and go for the Kutless cut (@ $13.99, plus my %40 discount card.)
To put things in perspective: Jeremiah actually handed me the cd himself (grabbed it straight off the shelf and everything,) because I'm lame enough I couldn't find it on my own. While still on the phone with Tor (we hung up as I began the attempted purchasing process,) he had mentioned that a coupon would be off of the regular price. Flipping said cd over, the regular label (denoting Kutless with actual words... and a bar-code, n' stuff) also listed $13.99. This being why I was originally leaving the cd, to use Tor's coupon and get it at $9.99...
So, now, Mr. Jeremiah scans in my Kutless cd... and makes faces at the computer screen that clue me into the trouble to come. It's ringing up as $16.98! Grrr-ous maximus, again! Checking other cds, I kid you not, not a one in the store has this God-sent $13.99 label. Every single one is accurately marked $16.99. *taking a deep breath* What followed is what threw me completely of guard. He proceeded to tell/try and convince me that he couldn't adjust things to sell it to me at the listed/marked/in my hand price, plus the discount. Oh, and to make things more intense... all "managers" were gone. I noted I'm from out of town, I had been there the night before... only to find them closed, etc. No love!
After much debate, schmoozing, and encouragement/"don't take it personally", I insisted on talking to someone else. Basically I wasn't leaving without that cd, at that price, with that discount! Of course, he gets on the phone, gets a girl over to us, she hears the dilemma, and without a flinch says "sell it at the price marked!" Duh-squared! Finally someone who knows what "appeasing the customer" is!
Woo Hoo! I got me my Grits, my Kutless, my Jonah, my Larry-Boy, and a free cd hand-out thing!
scribbled by manky @ 21:56:33 
this has been a friends, laugh at me, music to my ears, shopping spree, soapbox rant entry
