As the post title states, I received quite the talking to at Deseret Industries the other day. Here is the story.
The kids and I dropped off about $40 worth of stuff at the DI and afterwords I decided that we should take a look around and see if there was anything awesome in the store that day. Tyler and Jacob picked out two toys (neither of which had price stickers stuck to them). Tyler picked this hideous looking man about the length and size of my pointer finger. He also looked like Abraham Lincoln but was white and pale blue. The thing was so repulsive that I actually said "of course you want that" when he showed it to me. Jake on the other hand, picked out a pretty cool looking fire engine that was a pretty decent size. I had about $20 worth of stuff in my cart and we headed off to the checkout counter.
Because I am tired of the outrageous prices at the DI and I feel like everything is negotiable, I have no problem asking for a certain price on an item that I feel is mis-priced. They just randomly make the prices anyway and the stuff they don't sell gets thrown in the garbage. Anyway, I knew that if I let the boys go to the checkout counter and ask how much for the item, the old lady would charge me $2 for the stupid Abraham Lincoln thing (that isn't worth a nickel) and same goes for Jacobs toy. So, I gave Tyler a dime and Jacob 50 cents (because his was definitely worth more) and told them to ask the checkout lady (who happened to be pretty old and grumpy looking) if they could have the toy for the said amount of money. (obviously I thought she would be more likely to give them the toy of they asked than if I did.)
Tyler was up first, he showed her the toy man and asked if he could have it for his dime. she looked at him, looked at me and reluctantly agreed to the amount. Jake came up behind Tyler, put his money on the counter and showed her the truck. She got this look on her face of deep thought, looked at me, looked back at Jacob, and said "You have got to be kidding me!" She looked back at me and I said "Well, can he have it or not?" I was more than willing to put it back with the other toys, there was no way I was paying more than 50 cents for that thing. She took his money. After the transactions, the boys ran up to the door joyfully playing with their new toys. I preceded to place my items on the checkout counter(all of which were marked with price stickers and they seemed reasonable). She looks at me and says: "Good %#& Lady! You have got to be kidding me! I can't believe you would do that! &*$%. First of all (said with attitude), we do NOT sell anything in this store for less than 25 cents! So don't you bring in those nickels and dimes! and that truck would sell for at LEAST $2. I can't believe you would do that!" She rang up my items and I paid her the $20 for my items. She handed me the bag of items and added "Don't come back and do that again!"
I felt horrible that I made her so angry, but come on, she can't be mad at me because SHE sold items for less than they were worth. If she didn't want to sell them for the price they asked, she shouldn't have sold them. Yes, my cute boys are hard to turn down, and maybe I knew that, but I don't know that I deserved the tongue lashing I received. People go to the DI because they don't have a lot of money and they can get things for cheaper than retail. I hope she doesn't talk to people that way who are struggling and they bring in their "nickels and dimes" to buy toys for their kids. I know I'm sure as heck not gonna pay $1.50 for an old McDonald's happy meal toy!
Love this happy friendly looking DI photo. If only it were real.
14 comments:
K but please...negotiating prices at the DI? That money goes to people in need. I'd say don't go shop at DI if you don't want to buy crappy toys for the kids. Go get them a happy meal or just figure you're donating for a cause.
The point isn't whether you should or shouldn't try to talk them down the point to me is she had no right to swear at you or anyone else, that is a church run business. Report her to the manager of the store if their paying customers quit coming there won't be a business at all!
I agree-I'd report her to a manager.
If the items purchased are not marked, what did she expect? Surely not to make them up as she went. Report her!
Hmmm...I certainly don't think she should have sworn at you. I don't think you should have had your kids do that either. That is putting her in a tight spot. As for the prices at the DI, some of them are way overpriced. But I have also gotten some steals, too. I think if you really don't want to pay that much for a used toy, you probably should shop somewhere else. Or better yet, you should donate your time to the DI and price the toys reasonably yourself. Like you said, there are lots of poor people that can't spend $1.50 for a used toy.
Don't feel badly! I would have done the same thing. Maybe she was having a hard day...maybe she was getting sick...or she could have just been in a bad mood and took it out on you. The point being, if you think that what you did was okay (and I think it was just fine) then don't let her weird attitude make you feel badly!
I still think she was completely in the wrong. If she didn't want to sell the toys for that cheap she shouldn't have. You were more than willing to put them back if they were more than you were willing to spend. And I can't believe she was swearing at you! I would have turned her in for sure for that. That is a church-run business. If they don't want people to barter for things than they should put a price tag on EVERY item. I don't think you did anything wrong.
Linds, you don't know me very well. I didn't say that I didn't want to buy crappy toys for the kids. I said I didn't want to spend a lot of money on crappy toys. There is a difference. Plus, why would I spend $3 on a happy meal when I won't spend 50 cents on a toy? Happy meal, talk about a rip off all by itself.
to the rest of you, I guess I should report her, Maybe next time I'm there. I won't get in her checkout line ever again though. (since there aren't prices on everything here, a lot of my friends say they negotiate as well..interesting.)
I am frugal, maybe a little too frugal sometimes; but no matter how much money we make, I doubt that will ever change.
You should have gone Uma Thurman (Kill Bill 2) on her butt. Then started on the rest of the staff.
I guess I don't
I'm sorry. Negotiating is okay anywhere and the only thing they can do is say NO. I've experienced many NO's, but it doesn't stop me someone always says Yes.
Somedays people just take their bad experiences out on other innocent people. Just ask my kids.(I do all the time.)
What a bummer that lady was so rude!!! Your post made me mad at that angry lady, but I had to laugh too as I pictured you sending your two boys up to the counter with their money. I could definitely not say no to your boys - they are cuties!
The lady at DI is completely in the wrong here. Kids should learn to negotiate prices early, you were not putting her on the spot. She works with people all day she needs to get better at handeling it. Maybe she needs to be moved to a less people area of the store or the pricing people need to get better at pricing all items. She is in the wrong, not you.
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