Retail and the Silly Season
December 28th 2007 12:08
This is probably too late for many of you to read, absorb and then swear an oath to not do any of the things that I am going to write about and describe from the perspective of the other guy behind the counter.
That's right consumers, guys in retail have feelings too.
The first and greatest gripe that I have is that people think that they have some God given right to waste my time. Fair enough, you have found a great price online or you know a guy in a store that is going to let you pay cost for it. Well, here's the thing. I do not care one bloody iota.
I also fail to see how it is my job to show you something that you are not going to pay me for. Yes, I am exceptionally well aware that I am being paid to provide a service. But that is also what you, the consumer, is paying for. You are not simply paying for a product. You are also paying for someone that knows about it, to help you with it, teach you to use it, and listen to your gripe when it all goes pear shaped. Fair enough, this contract, I am more than happy to fulfil. I myself DO buy stuff online. Usually, I buy books from Amazon. But here's the thing, I don't walk into Borders and demand that they match the pricing for me, after telling me all about the bloody thing.
I fear I have turned most of you against me with that simple couple of paragraphs. But, to get some perspective into perspective......
First off, I know about what I am selling. I know quite alot about it. I can use just about every single one of them, can give some great tips and I know which ones to avoid. I am also more than happy to provide after sales service on what I have sold, to the best of my ability. I don't know everything, but I am ready to learn and help you with what I do know. Can a guy online do that? Most online stores are simply a pick up place. Fair enough. That's what your paying for. IF you want that, fair enough. Go grab it. Just don't take me away from people that actually want to give me some money for helping them out.
The second gripe I have is iPODS and Wiis. Not because they are crap. I own a Wii. It's great. Really great. I love my Wii. But here's the thing. Do you know how much we make on them? Sweet sod all. on the Wii there is less than a 10% markup. 360's and PS3's have roughly about the same. We usually only break even selling them. So, when someone comes in saying he wants it for about $50 under cost, my response of "I can't do it." means pretty much that. No, I am not going to through in $100.00 worth of stock on an item that I am making less than $100.00 on. That's stupidity and stupidity doesn't pay bills (unless you write sit-coms, soap operas or self-help books). Also, out of stock means out of stock. Sorry. I don't have any left and asking me to get one for your kids and then cussing me out when I can't isn't going to help matters (this happened a few times this year. Unfortunately, to be a professional, I can't swear back. In order to prove I am a better person, I never have) and may in fact make me quite unwilling to want to help you out in the future.
Well, that's a great weight of my chest, and hopefully a rant that someone will flame me for.
I'll be back soon with something alot more philosophical, interesting and worth reading.
JZ
That's right consumers, guys in retail have feelings too.
The first and greatest gripe that I have is that people think that they have some God given right to waste my time. Fair enough, you have found a great price online or you know a guy in a store that is going to let you pay cost for it. Well, here's the thing. I do not care one bloody iota.
I also fail to see how it is my job to show you something that you are not going to pay me for. Yes, I am exceptionally well aware that I am being paid to provide a service. But that is also what you, the consumer, is paying for. You are not simply paying for a product. You are also paying for someone that knows about it, to help you with it, teach you to use it, and listen to your gripe when it all goes pear shaped. Fair enough, this contract, I am more than happy to fulfil. I myself DO buy stuff online. Usually, I buy books from Amazon. But here's the thing, I don't walk into Borders and demand that they match the pricing for me, after telling me all about the bloody thing.
I fear I have turned most of you against me with that simple couple of paragraphs. But, to get some perspective into perspective......
First off, I know about what I am selling. I know quite alot about it. I can use just about every single one of them, can give some great tips and I know which ones to avoid. I am also more than happy to provide after sales service on what I have sold, to the best of my ability. I don't know everything, but I am ready to learn and help you with what I do know. Can a guy online do that? Most online stores are simply a pick up place. Fair enough. That's what your paying for. IF you want that, fair enough. Go grab it. Just don't take me away from people that actually want to give me some money for helping them out.
The second gripe I have is iPODS and Wiis. Not because they are crap. I own a Wii. It's great. Really great. I love my Wii. But here's the thing. Do you know how much we make on them? Sweet sod all. on the Wii there is less than a 10% markup. 360's and PS3's have roughly about the same. We usually only break even selling them. So, when someone comes in saying he wants it for about $50 under cost, my response of "I can't do it." means pretty much that. No, I am not going to through in $100.00 worth of stock on an item that I am making less than $100.00 on. That's stupidity and stupidity doesn't pay bills (unless you write sit-coms, soap operas or self-help books). Also, out of stock means out of stock. Sorry. I don't have any left and asking me to get one for your kids and then cussing me out when I can't isn't going to help matters (this happened a few times this year. Unfortunately, to be a professional, I can't swear back. In order to prove I am a better person, I never have) and may in fact make me quite unwilling to want to help you out in the future.
Well, that's a great weight of my chest, and hopefully a rant that someone will flame me for.
I'll be back soon with something alot more philosophical, interesting and worth reading.
JZ
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Comment by Lester Caudill