How do you hold a big box store accountable?
Would burning down a cinder block building work?
I want a new lawnmower. Found a 21" selfpropelled mower on lowes website, $419. Unavailable online.
Called my local store and no humans on the phone, it's a stupid AI assistant?
What are you looking for, it says. So I go thru the whole process with this ai thing, it says it is in stock at my store.
Get there and a big sign over the front door: Gas mowers in stock.
Yeah, but it's only one style and not the one I want and it is $180 more expensive.
Find the guy back there and tell him I want this one. Sorry not in stock all we got is this one. He doesn't really understand why I'm upset and blows me off. Not the kind you're thinking of.
I complain at customer service and get dismissed there also. So I look online, it's still there. I call my local store again. This time the ai thing does not say it is in stock, it says it is Available for Purchase.
I would buy at a smaller local store but there are none of those here.
Anyway. How's your saturday been?
Don't blame the staff, they don't know and probably have no way of checking. I worked for a major supermarket chain for thirty years and saw it go from well staffed by people who knew what they had and exactly what the replenishment rate was to understaffed, micromanaged and not being allowed to think for themselves, bonus - it's all about the dollars.
ReplyDeleteIf I wanted That mower and the System made buying it without human hands involved, and the Employees wouldn't help you Spend your Money with that store, I would get myself in The Most zen attitude I could and go in and talk to someone in management.
ReplyDeleteCan you help me? I've seen that work wonders. Exasperation, righteous indignation, frustration,, if you're Feeling any of that, go for a ride,
Lowes hires people, but doesn't train them. If they can scan a barcode, that's good enough. Our local Lowes had concrete bird bath top pieces, but no bottom pieces in sight. I asked for help and got sent to the section with bird feeders. "Bird feeders not same as bird baths."
ReplyDeleteCheck Amazon. It is amazing what they have that you wouldn't expect (and free shipping too).
If you have it check Facebook marketplace. There are guys on there that buy damaged boxed or year old new mowers and sell them for about half price. I bought a new Toro semi commercial 23 inch(odd size I know),200 CC self propelled mower for 250. He had 21 inch Toro's for 200. This is in Spartanburg SC. There were 2 sellers in Georgia. That's as far as my search radius found. They were fueled so you could test them. Might be worth a search in your area.
ReplyDeleteAmazing aint it? Stores are complaining about losing traffic to Amazon; yet they don't do anything to mitigate that route.
ReplyDeleteCheck with an attorney, If a store actively advertised a product, but refuses to have it available, it is bait and switch. The store's corporate lawyers get real nervous, real quick, in such situations.
ReplyDelete