On Sunday, I went to a pets superstore at Heeley. They're offering '12 for the price of 9' packs of Pedigree Chum for £3.96. That ain't a bad price, so I picks a pack up and carts it over to the checkout. The guy behind the till takes my fiver and rings up £4.32.

I says to him, "Hey. It's marked up at £3.96. Why have you charged me £4.32?"

The guy looks at me vacant-like. "Dunno," he says, "I'm a Sunday only kid. I suppose that's the price on the barcode."

I says to the Sunday only kid, "I don't want 'em at that price. They're cheaper in Morrison's. Gimme my money back."

The Sunday only kid says, "I'm not allowed to do refunds. I'll have to get the manager." He rings for the manager. I move away from the till and he continues taking people's money. I keep my eyes open but nobody else is buying the Pedigree Chum.

Five minutes later and still no manager. By now I'm jigging about from one foot to the other, swaying from side to side. The other customers are staring at me as if I'm a shoplifter. I mutter, "In five minutes I start taking the shop apart."

The Sunday only kid goes off to find the manager, leaving the queue scowling at me as if it's my fault.

He returns with the manager. She's wiping breadcrumbs from around her mouth with the back of her hand and earwigging him because he's left the till unattended. I butt in. I says to her, "Can you tell me why the pack of Pedigree Chum's marked up at £3.96 and I've been charged £4.32?"

She keeps wiping the breadcrumbs from around her mouth and says, "They're £3.96. Do yer want your money back or do yer want 'em at £3.96."

"I'll take them," I says.

She serves me without another word then stands there, arms folded, dead-eying me all the way out of the shop. I look back and there they all are, the manager, the other customers, and the Sunday only kid, glaring at me at as if I've just robbed their grandma's pension.

Still, I guess it's fitting. When you go into a pet shop you should expect to be treated like a dog.

Heh, heh, if it was me, I'd go back and buy some more....prepared with the ammunition of knowing that you are in the right. Declare loudly so the whole shop hears that they have got the price wrong and someone there hasn't done their job properly. Even carry the price marker/tag with you - make them all look very silly. Quote sale of goods act. Take friends. Get them to do the same. Form a queue of angry customers.

Enjoy!

is it really worth it for 36p .....:rolleyes:



(unless you were going to buy 5 or 10 or 50 packs. of course, in which case you could negotiate an even bigger discount :D )

I have bought tropical fishes from there for my aquarium at work and Sometimes I have had cause to wonder wether the fish had more brain cells than some of the shop workers.

They give you a guarantee if you buy 3 fishes, but if you buy 4 or more you can't have a guarantee. I said to this kid, I am not bothered about the guarantee. This he couldn't compute and was clearly baffled and explained to me that I couldn't have 4 because the guarantee was not valid. (we are talking about total price of only £5)

I bought 4 and they lived.... :clap:

Originally posted by Classic Rock
Heh, heh, if it was me, I'd go back and buy some more....prepared with the ammunition of knowing that you are in the right. Declare loudly so the whole shop hears that they have got the price wrong and someone there hasn't done their job properly. Even carry the price marker/tag with you - make them all look very silly. Quote sale of goods act. Take friends. Get them to do the same. Form a queue of angry customers.

Enjoy!


You seem to make a habit out of complaining, Does a breaking dog lead ring a bell???

I know you don't get anything without complaining but it could have just been a mistake. You're the kind of customer that makes people's job twice as hard. We don't get paid enough to deal with customers like you who want the odd 30p refunding. I mean is your life that crap and boring that you have to take you anger out on the 'silly' staff?

You know, i work in retail and alot of the things customers complain about are the fault of someone who doesnt even deal with customers in their jobs for example people who work in IT or in the warehouse who put the barcodes on things etc. theres nothing more anoying that customers who have a go at people on tills or floor staff for something that isnt their fault... for example i've had it when somethings been charged wrong or some one's read the price wrong..people like me who are at 6th form or college and only work their free hours aren't allowed to authorise refunds or open the till draw without going through a transaction first, incase they do something wrong or refund the customer for something that doesnt have a good reason for return..i understand you may have been a bit anoyed by what happened but your attitude to it seams a bit bad..it's great when someone comes along and complains and is still friendly and accepts that it isnt necerseraly the person that served you's fault.

could not agree with you more Anymal.

same thing happend with me at the same store with a waterproof dog coat. i was polite, they were polite and it didnt bother me in the slightest.

No, mate. I was annoyed by the 'I can't be bothered with this' attitude of the manager towards my reasonable and politely asked request.

Originally posted by Anymal
You know, i work in retail and alot of the things customers complain about are the fault of someone who doesnt even deal with customers in their jobs for example people who work in IT or in the warehouse who put the barcodes on things etc. theres nothing more anoying that customers who have a go at people on tills or floor staff for something that isnt their fault... for example i've had it when somethings been charged wrong or some one's read the price wrong..people like me who are at 6th form or college and only work their free hours aren't allowed to authorise refunds or open the till draw without going through a transaction first, incase they do something wrong or refund the customer for something that doesnt have a good reason for return..i understand you may have been a bit anoyed by what happened but your attitude to it seams a bit bad..it's great when someone comes along and complains and is still friendly and accepts that it isnt necerseraly the person that served you's fault.

I totally agree, most people always find the time to complain but what about us - the staff that actually work hard and thrive on good customer service, we never get the praise or thanks off of the customers that we deserve. Next time instead of shouting your mouth off why not think of something positive to say instead of putting us down and compliaing to us that is totally not our fault.

Typical. So you lot think we customers owe you lot a living, eh. No wonder Tesco and Wal-Mart are taking over the world. I suppose you think that we should bow and salaam in gratitude whenever you serve us, eh?

Originally posted by Classic Rock
Heh, heh, if it was me, I'd go back and buy some more....prepared with the ammunition of knowing that you are in the right. Declare loudly so the whole shop hears that they have got the price wrong and someone there hasn't done their job properly. Even carry the price marker/tag with you - make them all look very silly. Quote sale of goods act. Take friends. Get them to do the same. Form a queue of angry customers.

Enjoy!


That is just such a cool reply:thumbsup:!




Originally posted by rubydazzler
is it really worth it for 36p .....:rolleyes:



Of course it is.

This "kid" could have been pocketing the 36ps (soon adds up;)).

Originally posted by 367squadron
Next time instead of shouting your mouth off why not think of something positive to say instead of putting us down and compliaing to us that is totally not our fault.


Maybe.

But sometimes it is the only way to get the attention of someone who can actually rectify the problem/issue.

spartacus - it might not have been that she "couldn't be bothered" to serve you or to refund your 30 odd pence, might just have been that it was the first chance she'd had to take a break that day and was just eating her lunch or whatever ... sales assistants are human too, although the way some customers behave sometimes - you'd think they were dealing with some inferior life form.

You're right about the brickbats and no bouquets 367, I was in a shoe place in Meadowhall on a very busy day and the assistant was sooo pleasant and helpful and even when i looked at the eight pairs of shoes I'd tried and said - sorry but I don't think I will today thanks, she mustered up a big smile and took them all away.... when i asked the person who appeared to be in charge if he was the manager, he sort of cringed ... when I said I wanted to compliment him on his staff, as the two people (one male, one female)who'd served me had been extra helpful etc, etc I though he might faint clean away ... he said thank you so much, we very rarely get any compliments ....

Originally posted by sccsux
That is just such a cool reply:thumbsup:!








Of course it is.

This "kid" could have been pocketing the 36ps (soon adds up;)).

I doubt 36p would make one bit off difference to his life.

Originally posted by spartacus
Typical. So you lot think we customers owe you lot a living, eh. No wonder Tesco and Wal-Mart are taking over the world. I suppose you think that we should bow and salaam in gratitude whenever you serve us, eh?

No we don't think you should bow with gratitude. All i'd like is a bit of respect off customers that i serve. If i have helped out a customer and gone out of my way which i do wherever possible it would be nice to get repaid with a compliment and thanks or maybe even a comment to management. You know you could make someone's day if you did this!

spartacus didn't scream and shout from what I've read. they just wanted the goods at the price they were marked at.

Given that the shop was breaking the law (all be it unintentionally, probably), they should have had the good grace to apologise.

Originally posted by Andy
spartacus didn't scream and shout from what I've read. they just wanted the goods at the price they were marked at.

Given that the shop was breaking the law (all be it unintentionally, probably), they should have had the good grace to apologise.

God no i'm not distputing that, if thats how much it says the Pedigree chum is then thats the price i'd expect it to be and i would gladly refund the money. It's just the way classic rock suggested the totally outragous way of making the staff look 'silly' that annoyed me.

hmm. it seams to be that people are far to kean to complain but hardly ever to thank staff for customer service. working in a shop really does change how you shop, you appreciate how people serve you alot more. and to you who says we shouldnt be asking praise to do our job well im not asking people to, i'm just asking for people to be polite, its my job to be polite and to provide good customer service but whether im in my job or not, if im polite to someone i expect them to be polite back. with all these people far to eager to complain about staff in shops it makes the managers think that the staff aren't giving enough customer service however this is just because people phone up or write a letter only if they aren't happy and hardly ever to express the good points. however there are the odd few people that will go out of their way to tell the management how good the staff and service is, but i'd just be happy with people being polite to me and thanking me for the service that myself and my fellow shop assistants are providing for them.

oh and just so you know, it isnt ilegal any more to charge someone more or less than the marked price for a product. i have had this argument many times when the price labeler has broken and printed tags saying that the price is £0.00 when its not. the law was changed a few years ago so that if a product is marked wrong then the retailer does not have to sell it at the wrong price.

retailers have never had to sell at the marked price ... it's merely an "invitation to treat" as they say ... otherwise no one could ever haggle could they ... if you HAD to sell at the marked price ...

Originally posted by 367squadron
You seem to make a habit out of complaining, Does a breaking dog lead ring a bell???

I know you don't get anything without complaining but it could have just been a mistake. You're the kind of customer that makes people's job twice as hard. We don't get paid enough to deal with customers like you who want the odd 30p refunding. I mean is your life that crap and boring that you have to take you anger out on the 'silly' staff?

My God, that was over a year ago. How on earth did you remember that? Bit obsessive of you.

A shop that has made an error and then makes the customer feel bad is in the wrong. An apology would have been suitable. The purchase was made because of the offer and the saving was the reason for purchase. Taking the offer away makes the saving non existent and therefore just makes the purchase there an every day run of the mill one. Nothing special or to be pleased about. 36p can buy a bar of chocolate, a pint of milk, a bag of crisps, a newspaper, and why should a shop have it when they've made a mistake?

There are too many people prepared to turn a blind eye to errors like this.

Originally posted by Classic Rock
My God, that was over a year ago. How on earth did you remember that? Bit obsessive of you.

It's not obsessive at all just was blown way out of proportion by the looks of your letter from the solicitors. I'd be really interested on how you went on with the case, did anything every come out of it?

Originally posted by Classic Rock
A shop that has made an error and then makes the customer feel bad is in the wrong. An apology would have been suitable. The purchase was made because of the offer and the saving was the reason for purchase. Taking the offer away makes the saving non existent and therefore just makes the purchase there an every day run of the mill one. Nothing special or to be pleased about. 36p can buy a bar of chocolate, a pint of milk, a bag of crisps, a newspaper, and why should a shop have it when they've made a mistake?

There are too many people prepared to turn a blind eye to errors like this.

I agree with you, if the SHOP has made an error that's fine, it's not when you take it amongst yourself to blame an individual. Don't you think making the staff feel 'bad' is wrong too by making them all 'look silly'??

I dont think anyone, not even spartacus, said that the shop wasn't going to charge him the advertised price ... he said that he had to wait for the manager to be fetched from her break - to key in the override code i suppose.

If the IT support had allocated the wrong price to the bar code, not a lot the till operator can do about that. Especially if weekend staff aren't normally allowed to do overrides or refunds anyway.

How much IS chum these days .. i'm sure it was more than 36p a tin when i had dogs which is about 3 or 4 years ago now ... so even the "inflated" price he was asked for at first, seems a bargain.

Classic Rock, as a publican, I'm sure you had awkward and difficult customers too ... public service is a problematical field to work in these days.

Originally posted by rubydazzler
Especially if weekend staff aren't normally allowed to do overrides or refunds anyway.


Why is this though? Why would a shop employ people they don't trust? Why should we, as customers, have to suffer because the shop doesn't trust its employees?

Originally posted by Andy
Why is this though? Why would a shop employ people they don't trust? Why should we, as customers, have to suffer because the shop doesn't trust its employees?

oh come on Andy ... It's not a matter of employing people they don't trust .... does your bank "trust" the office junior to fill the cash machine unsupervised ...

and btw spartacus might not have screamed and shouted but he did "I mutter, "In five minutes I start taking the shop apart." no wonder the other customers were looking at him warily!!!

Originally posted by rubydazzler
oh come on Andy ... It's not a matter of employing people they don't trust .... does your bank "trust" the office junior to fill the cash machine unsupervised ...


No, but there's a bit of difference between tens of thousands of pounds and 35p. And our cash machine procedures don't inconvenience our customers.

The point is, by not trusting their staff to use a refund button, the shop is causing inconveninece to their customers.

Originally posted by 367squadron
It's not obsessive at all just was blown way out of proportion by the looks of your letter from the solicitors. I'd be really interested on how you went on with the case, did anything every come out of it?

Do I know you? Is this something I've discussed with you in the CRB? Its not something I've discussed in public and therefore it's my private business and not something to tell the world about. Now that you've put my business in the public light, yes a lot did come of it thank you for asking. If you'd like to pm me and tell me who you are and how you know all about this I'll be interested.



I agree with you, if the SHOP has made an error that's fine, it's not when you take it amongst yourself to blame an individual. Don't you think making the staff feel 'bad' is wrong too by making them all 'look silly'?? [/B][/QUOTE]

Didn't they all just make the author of this thread feel silly, awkward and embarrassed? They made and error and passed on the guilt. They have evidently made an error but instead of rectifying it when it was pointed out they made the author feel bad. Bad enough to make him write about it here. That shows the level of feeling. Perhaps if the tables were turned on them then they may learn to not act in such a way. Of course he's unlikely to do this, but it's worth a thought.

:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Andy
No, but there's a bit of difference between tens of thousands of pounds and 35p. And our cash machine procedures don't inconvenience our customers.

The point is, by not trusting their staff to use a refund button, the shop is causing inconveninece to their customers.

Well not saying your bank procedure does but at my bank actually they do inconvenience customers quite a lot .. as they lock the bank doors while they mess about with the cash machine, and sometimes it's a lot more than five minutes.

But, the customer's are always right, of course ... :D

Originally posted by Classic Rock
Do I know you? Is this something I've discussed with you in the CRB? Its not something I've discussed in public and therefore it's my private business and not something to tell the world about. Now that you've put my business in the public light, yes a lot did come of it thank you for asking. If you'd like to pm me and tell me who you are and how you know all about this I'll be interested.



I agree with you, if the SHOP has made an error that's fine, it's not when you take it amongst yourself to blame an individual. Don't you think making the staff feel 'bad' is wrong too by making them all 'look silly'??

Didn't they all just make the author of this thread feel silly, awkward and embarrassed? They made and error and passed on the guilt. They have evidently made an error but instead of rectifying it when it was pointed out they made the author feel bad. Bad enough to make him write about it here. That shows the level of feeling. Perhaps if the tables were turned on them then they may learn to not act in such a way. Of course he's unlikely to do this, but it's worth a thought.

:thumbsup: [/B][/QUOTE]

I've sent u a PM!

i cant believe a few have jumped on spartacus because of this.

He was spot on, he wanted to pay the advertised price and rightly so. the staff behind the counter didn't appear to be interested and left him waiting. I cant see how spartacus waiting made the shop staff look silly.

That the manager was still wiping crumbs from her face showed that spartacus would have been waiting even longer.

His comments were more directed at the store that the staff although good customer service would have meant that he didn't have to wait nearly 10 mins to get his Chum at that price.

To me 36p does matter as it would have bought a further tin of food for my pooch. And to a big labrador..that is a big deal :D

More and more stores are using young staff at the weekend as key time staff. This saves on paying premium rates out to full timers and the younger ones need the hours as it's the only time some can work.

Cheers to all of you for your interest in this post - whether for or against. It did happen, but I tried to write it as a "story" from a first- person objective viewpoint rather than a rant. That is, to tell it as it happened, leaving out any subjective gasps of indignation, condemnation, personal insult, etc, and to leave readers to use their own shopping experiences, whether as shoppers or shopworkers, to interprete its message as they see fit.

Finally, I would like to say that I despise those who go out of their way to make the professional lives of shopworkers, call centre operators, council staff, etc, miserable. In general,I've found these men and women and boys and girls, to be hard working and often underpaid people who have to work in uncomfortable and stressful jobs.

I repeat, it was not the money nor the frustration of being charged extra at the till for a product whose price was being bragged off as a bargain by a banner hung at eye-level half way across the shop floor. It was the couldn't care less, you shouldn't be bothering me with this attitude of the manager.

Again, thanks for reading it.

My friend works in said shop...It doesn't sound like her though...