"He went thataway...." (Part 3)

[djonn]

And so I am off to the video-hardware store. (Important background detail: as at least some of the gallery is aware, I'm a non-driver, and get around greater Portland on TriMet, our local mass transit system. This usually works very well.)

I start with a smaller regional chain from which my parents and I have, between us, bought several not-too-fancy TVs and VCRs over the last few years. It's moderately busy, but I happen to land the store manager, who recommends a Toshiba portable player at a moderate price point. Thing is, it's very popular, and this store is out of them -- but there are a few left at the branch of the chain way up at the north end of town, and he can have one of those held for me. Plus, he'll knock $25 off the price for my trouble in going to pick it up. (He is on his cell phone back and forth to the other store a couple of times in the next several minutes, and is arranging for a second customer to get the exact same deal he's offering me.)

Now, the chain has generally treated me well in the past, and such Web-spelunking as I have done has suggested that the Toshiba is in fact a good deal. So I go for it, plunk down my card, and head out, sales ticket in hand, stopping only for a quick lunch en route to the north end of town (a little over an hour via public transit, one transfer).

Except that when I get to the store at the north end of town, it develops that they only had one player left at the moment I walked out of the other store, and the lady who'd been right behind me setting up the same discount/pickup arrangement had gotten there first and scored it.

Needless to say, I am not a happy camper, and I make this clear as politely but firmly as I can to the salesman at the North Store -- for the most part, the situation isn't his fault. At the same time, though, he also can't really help me; the only portable DVD players he does have in stock are significantly more expensive, the entire chain seems to be sold out of the one I've "bought", and at the same time the chain is small enough that the only/fastest way to quickly reverse the charge is in person back at the original store (an hour-plus back across town via TriMet).

Which is where I head next, muttering and growling all the way. This includes a bit of growling at myself, because 20/20 hindsight suggests that I really should have seen the potential for this particular glitch ahead of time....

[to be continued]

Comments

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

This, my dear, means he should OWE you something -- you can mumble about bait and switch without actually accusing anyone of anything and he should have given you a deal on the Desktop set... or guilt him the next time you come in for something else :>

[djonn]

Oh, I agree that at least in theory I ought to have come out ahead rather than even on that exercise. Trouble was, at that point the First Store guy did not have anything I wanted badly enough, and I was more interested in getting the project done in a remotely timely fashion. And the nondriver thing comes in, because it's a strong incentive to get all the Gadgets in one swell foop -- anything I buy, I have to carry around until I get home.

Suffice to say that I am satisfied with the amount of curmudgeoning given and received.