Went to my local FS in BC for a couple of items on sale, they also had a deal on paper shredders $30 off, so I pick one out myself without talking to a sales person, and line up with 3 people ahead of me. After waiting in the line up I am now next to be served by a cashier. A salesperson – not a cashier – approaches me in the line up says they will help me and takes me to a till, their password will not allow them to log on so they try another till same no log on, I have now lost my lineup place, and someone else is being served by a cashier. The salesp. put me back in line but stays with me. After a seemingly interminable wait the cashier is ready. The salesp bags my items but curses when they see the items are on sale and they do not not make commission. Then I notice the price they are trying to charge me is FULL PRICE no discount. Salesp and cashier do not seem to believe me, so with transaction open, I take Sales P 20 paces to display Salesp comes back to tell cashier but the cashier has cancelled the transaction, and is now serving the next person! There is a problem with this next person’s transaction, so I have had enough of being dicked about – I loudly announce the pricing error telling others near me to watch out and so that the lineup can hear it, and loudly admonish the cashier for not waiting the 30 seconds it took to verify their pricing error (read scam).
I walk over to customer service and suggest they correct the computer pricing error, and only when I persist does the customer service person take note of the item details to supposedly to do the price correction.
So slug-like salesperson was only looking for the commission, the cashier was inconsiderate, and worst the PRICE AT THE CHECKOUT WAS NOT AS ADVERTISED! Beware Beware Beware!
Though price variances at the cash are frustrating and often times infuriating, it is something that is relatively commonplace regardless of the store or company. It is no fault of anyone in particular, and is not a scam. Every province has legislation regarding price accuracy, and in some cases when an error occurs the consumer is entitled to an additional rebate. Keep in mind that big box retailers carry hundreds of thousands of items, and the inventory systems that keep track of pricing are complex. A system error or data entry error could often be to blame, and it is naive to think that these things are in any way premeditated.
As for the sales person, while the service was somewhat unprofessional, the reality is that the reps are paid on a COMMISSION scale. For every item they sell under their login a certain amount goes to their paycheck, as opposed to all the profit going directly to the company. This changes nothing in terms of pricing for the consumer. The thing to keep in mind is that they are just trying to do their job, money that goes to pay THEIR BILLS and put FOOD ON THE TABLE.
If you are ever unsatisfied with a reps service, simply take note of their name and speak to a manager, or fill out a customer service survey on their website.
Left by vendor1 on February 2nd, 2012