My encounter today at Michaels

[CrystalGeezer]

Okay, so in America there is a national chain craft store called Michael's. They have everything from yarn to scrapbook paper (purpose of my trip today) to framing supplies to beads to God knows what. I think they even carry cake decorating supplies too. Anyway it;s a very handy store and while I try to support the little guy as much as possible sometimes it's unavoidable to go to ginormoville to get your special glue or canvas or whatever. So I'm standing in line with my one piece of paper and in front of me is a woman somewhere between 90 and 100 years old attempting to purchase an assortment of silk flower pieces. So the lady rings her up and gets to one piece and it comes up a penny. She says, "I can't sell you this because it was supposed to be pulled off the stock because it doesn't belong on the floor so I can't sell it to you. It only costs a penny and I'm not allowed to sell things for a penny." Then Miss Follow The Rules takes the flowers away from the lady and puts them aside in a seperate bin to be dealt with later. THe lady was crushed saying it was the only piece she really wanted. So feeling like Super DoGooder Lady I pipe up and say "So are you just going to throw it away?" and the cashier says. "No we send them somewhere." to which I said "Where do you send them? Can't you just override the penny and satisfy the customer who's clearly standing right in front of you and wants to purchase something from you?" to which she relpies "NO I CAN'T I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES." SO standing right there is the manager dealing with some other thing and I bring it to his attention and in like a millisecond he instructs the lady to override the price. Done. Lady gets her flowers. THen the cashier says that the place the flowers were going to be sent to is in the backroom where micsellaneous items are bagged up in trash bags and sold as "Grab Bag" mystery craft items at the front of the store.

What is it with people lately and following the rules? Rules are made to be bent when it's in the interest of the good of the people.

 

[Dave]

 

[5am]

It's unfair to compare the cashier to the manager. Obviously he has more space than her to bend the rules, and possibly more knowledge about the where the unsold items are going to. Maybe she was afraid to get in trouble. The problem is with whoever made the rules, not the regular worker wanting to enforce it.

 

[Dave]

It's the store's fault for not training her to get a manager when there is a problem at the register, and for having things on the shelves that are not properly marked. Sounds like she lost her cool though.

 

[bucks boy]

hey crystal mc d,s last week ,michaels this week ,whos next week, we could do with you here in little england to take on the big retail giants.we have dom littlewood on the one show who loves a fight with any body.i can just see you 2 in a pair taking on the world. the champions of the under dogs

 

[Barking]

Looks like we have to design a costume for CG now... Superheroine CG the Mystery Shopping Avenger.

Hot. (Tight pants! Bustier! Cape! High heeled boots! Mask.)

 

[CrystalGeezer]

hey crystal mc d,s last week ,michaels this week ,whos next week, we could do with you here in little england to take on the big retail giants.we have dom littlewood on the one show who loves a fight with any body.i can just see you 2 in a pair taking on the world. the champions of the under dogs

I think we have a guy like that here named David Horowitz. I used to love that show.

It's the store's fault for not training her to get a manager when there is a problem at the register, and for having things on the shelves that are not properly marked. Sounds like she lost her cool though.

Exactly. It was the taking it away and saying she couldn't have it after she clearly found it on the floor that unnerved me.

Looks like we have to design a costume for CG now... Superheroine CG the Mystery Shopping Avenger.

Hot. (Tight pants! Bustier! Cape! High heeled boots! Mask.)

No mask, otherwise that;s pretty much what I wear everyday anyway so perfect.

You know, because the manager was accomodating I went back to the store that day and bought a frame on their clearance table. I'm all about enforcing appropriate rules and getting the job done, but when it comes to piddly little stuff... if you look out for your customers, they look out for you.

Okay I promise not to plague the threadwaves with my dumb little rants.

 

[Barking]

...Ok CG no mask but can we get you a matching shopping bag with your initials on it?

 

[CrystalGeezer]

...Ok CG no mask but can we get you a matching shopping bag with your initials on it?

Okay. And can my The Mystery Shopping Avenger say "Awwww, hell no!" like an empowered black woman when faced with a villan?

 

[Barking]

Okay. And can my The Mystery Shopping Avenger say "Awwww, hell no!" like an empowered black woman when faced with a villan?

course she can. don't see why not.

 

[Jackie London]

Okay, so in America there is a national chain craft store called Michael's. They have everything from yarn to scrapbook paper (purpose of my trip today) to framing supplies to beads to God knows what. I think they even carry cake decorating supplies too. Anyway it;s a very handy store and while I try to support the little guy as much as possible sometimes it's unavoidable to go to ginormoville to get your special glue or canvas or whatever. So I'm standing in line with my one piece of paper and in front of me is a woman somewhere between 90 and 100 years old attempting to purchase an assortment of silk flower pieces. So the lady rings her up and gets to one piece and it comes up a penny. She says, "I can't sell you this because it was supposed to be pulled off the stock because it doesn't belong on the floor so I can't sell it to you. It only costs a penny and I'm not allowed to sell things for a penny." Then Miss Follow The Rules takes the flowers away from the lady and puts them aside in a seperate bin to be dealt with later. THe lady was crushed saying it was the only piece she really wanted. So feeling like Super DoGooder Lady I pipe up and say "So are you just going to throw it away?" and the cashier says. "No we send them somewhere." to which I said "Where do you send them? Can't you just override the penny and satisfy the customer who's clearly standing right in front of you and wants to purchase something from you?" to which she relpies "NO I CAN'T I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES." SO standing right there is the manager dealing with some other thing and I bring it to his attention and in like a millisecond he instructs the lady to override the price. Done. Lady gets her flowers. THen the cashier says that the place the flowers were going to be sent to is in the backroom where micsellaneous items are bagged up in trash bags and sold as "Grab Bag" mystery craft items at the front of the store.

What is it with people lately and following the rules? Rules are made to be bent when it's in the interest of the good of the people.

This time I agree with you. That's bad service. When it's someone that old they should take the money and just solve it, if it's someone young and healthy then they can go and pay at the right place, but not with someone old. At least the manager was helpful.

 

[CrystalGeezer]

Something interesting happened today...

So my mom who has no idea about my McDonald's and Michael's escapades and quest to be the Mystery Shopping Avenger woke up this morning and went to Macy's. (The following is proof that my powers are active. THough she cheats a tad which I don't condone.) In her shopping bag were two pinstriped lady's suits squiffy that she bought me four years ago. My mom;s weird, she gets these ideas in her brain then saves the gift of clothing for important events. She thought that someday I might become a young business professional and might need a suit or something, I can't explain it. I guess something recently communicated to her that I wouldn't be wearing a suit anytime soon. ANYWAY, she paid cash for them FOUR years ago. Macy's has a 180-day return policy. So the lady rings them up and they say one cent each. So the lady calls her manager and the manager takes a look at the suits which have been in plastic in her closet and at the receipt and says "I don't normally do this, but I'm going to give you the cash refund." $75 back to my mom.

 

[Barking]

And the story goes... on

...So yesterday I went and bought a kettle (yes, dogs enjoy a cuppa too now and then.)

As I pay the very young salesman enquires, " do you want this special cleaning product to clean it?"
I says "Well no thank you, I think you can use vinegar to clean kettles".
Him: " No you can't it damages the element."
Me: "But the element is hidden in this one?"
Him "Still damages them."
Me "It does?"
Him "You can't use vinegar, it's written in the instructions."
Me: "Oh. In that case...Ok. -How much is it?"
Him: "Two euro"
Me "Oh allright then".

As I pay the total, I mention my grandma who told me you could get rid of limescale with vinegar and it's a shame it doesn't work anymore blah blah as he nods and smiles...


Back home, I carefully read the instructions, and sure enough:

Cleaning: Fill the kettle. Add white vinegar

I had to laugh.

The guy probably makes a tiny commission on this, it must be like a little tip or something.

If it had been more than 2 euro I would have called The Mystery Shopping Avenger. She would have flown over and got my money back.

(...I don't think they have Morrissey's security's number in that store CG. )

 

[[email protected]]

Thank you Barking!!!! THAT'S where I have been going wrong!!!!

"White Vinegar"...... Information Now processed and stored.....

My Steam iron has been spewing out filthy brown "Gunk" instead of Steam for a while lately...I tried the Dark Vinegar...which didn't help much.....

another sort of "Linked" sales staff story......
I was in a Record store a few years ago ( when they actually existed...) and noticed a Newly released "Dance explosion Volume 14" or somesuch CD at a ridiculously cheap price...So I thought I would pick it up as a surprise gift for a friend.
Upon taking it to the counter, the assistant said " Oh, I'm sorry, this has been Mis-Priced...it should really cost a lot more...".
before I could even begin to debate the mistake, the store manager appeared, and said "Sell it to him for the price that is on it....it's not his fault...it's ours..."
As I was leaving, I heard him shouting for the "Stock price labeller", or whatever they are called, to have some rather strong words....
Hope no-one got sacked....we all make mitsakes....

 

[Barking]

Who'd of known a dog could help with household issues? Not me.

I NEVER iron (obviously, since I don't wear clothes) (that and the fact that I loathe ironing) so hope that works. Don't forget to dilute it tho.

...Ah the Mispricing Manoeuvres. Also lost 2 euro yesterday when buying something else. "6 euro? But it said 4", I just sighed at the till.

Another wasted opportunity to call MSA. (there you go cute little logo for ya CG)

2 euros here, 2 euros there, I might have to get a loan from the Morrissey bank if this goes on!

 

[[email protected]]

My old landlord used to run a second-had records/cds/electrical goods shop, and he insisted Everything had a price tag on.....He used to be really sarcastic when somebody would ask "How much is that Stereo in the window" ? (...the one with the waggly tail...sorry.....couldn't resist....)
and reply in his best "School Teacher-y" voice "... If you looked Properly,you would see that it has a prce on it"....he was a miserable old sod, and I don'tknow why people ever shopped there...His general attitude to his customers stank...(...and his tenants...)

 

[PregnantForTheLastTime]

Once, I was at Goodwill (big charity shop chain) for something--I think I was looking for funky vintage vases or something. In the same aisle I spotted a pretty chalkware gold-leafed rose plaque--I sort of collect chalkware plaques (by which I mean, I have two pairs) and I wanted to buy it. But it didn't have a price tag, and the shop would not let me buy it. According to their policies, no one on the sales floor can price goods, it has to be done by a pricing specialist in the back. This is to prevent people making up crazy low prices for their friends or whatever. They took it away from me and put it in the back, and told me I could come back and buy it when it came back around in a few days. I was pissed. I would have given them ten dollars for it, which is definitely more than they were going to charge for it. I wasn't able to haunt the store until they put it back out, so I never got it.

I understand their policy, but it was disappointing--and strange to go into a store and be told, "no, you cannot buy that!"