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My retail experience today @ GNC - A true holiday story

kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Just so there is no misunderstanding, I will tell you right now I did not make a move for my gun, or demand for the police to be called.

Wife needed to get calcium supplements and we happened to be shopping in a mall with a GNC store. I was already in a less-than-festive mood because I was hungry and don't enjoy shopping anyway.

Waited 5 minutes for the clerk to finish yapping with a customer who had bought a truckload of protein powder about the relative merits of some caffeine-based pill that magically boosted your metabolism. I was curious to know why these pills cost twice what a can of energy drink did, but I kept quiet.

Eventually I get to haul my single item to the counter.

"Did you bring your Gold Card today?"
No, I don't have one.
"OK, let me sign you up. It's free and you'll save $3 on this purchase."
No thanks, don't need one.
"But you'll save $3 right now and it's free."
I understand, I don't want a card.
"I can sign you up and you don't even need to carry it. I can look you up by your phone number."
No thanks.
"Well, if you don't want to save $3, how about donating $1 to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital?"
No thanks.
"It's only a dollar."
No thanks, I just need this one item.
"If you are going to throw away $3, why not give $1 to St. Jude's?"
No thanks.
"So you think the corporation needs the $3 more than St. Jude's needs $1, I guess."
<blank stare from me>
"I mean if you are going to throw away $3, you could give some of it back to sick kids."
I. Just. Want. To. Pay. For. This. And. Be. Done. Here.
"Oooookay, then. Here you go. <heavy sarcasm>And I sure hope YOU have a v-e-r-y merry Christmas."

If there was a jar on the counter I probably would have thrown a buck in without thinking, but I didn't want to be bullied into it. Do these guys get a bonus for getting people to sign up for Gold Cards? I might find myself at a GNC once every 3 years so I'm not familiar with their operation.

One of the stranger clerks I have encountered.
 
Ugh, hate that crap. Drives me nuts when cashiers make me feel guilty for not giving them extra money.

I've donated hundreds of dollars to other charities throughout the year, but because I don't want to give a $1 to whatever it is they support, I'm the asshole. 🙄

KT
 
I'm just as cool, and maybe cooler than you. I wouldn't want to save the $3 either, screw that. I probably would have turned down $4 also, HA!. I don't hesitate unless we get to $5
 
Caffeine pills are pretty cheap. I buy 100x 200 mg for like $8. They are a good pre-workout pill and apparently have other positive effects.
 
If the OP is overpaying for calcium supplements at GNC, I can understand why the $3 doesn't matter to him.

What I don't understand is why there was no move for the gun. Seems warranted. Why carry a gun if there's no plan to use it?

😀
 
I worked at a Sears and we would get bonuses if we got people to sign up for the credit cards. They wanted us to get a minimum but I hated pestering people about it. I would ask once and be done. Only time I bothered people about it was when my manager was around.
 
As soon as the person tried to sign you up for a Gold Card, you should have assumed your stance of dominance and cried, "COME AT ME BRO." That is the only appropriate response in that situation.
 
I bought some stuff at GNC before, and found them to be like this as well. The guy couldn't understand why I wasn't buy 2 tubs of protein rather than one.

I understand the concept that it's cheaper, but I only needed one and didn't have the money/space for a second.

Some sales people are really stupid...
 
I get what you mean - is it really that unbelievable that someone would rather not go through some annoyingly long sign up process where we give our name, full address, phone number, e-mail address and then probably have to sign a form or two for the sake of a dollar or three?

If anything, the utter lack of tact employees demonstrate when turned down is the really depressing part. It's as if people have no capability to deal with the unexpected. At least save your attempts at snark and remain silent for the sake of being professioal.
 
Rumpltzer said:
If the OP is overpaying for calcium supplements at GNC, I can understand why the $3 doesn't matter to him.

What I don't understand is why there was no move for the gun. Seems warranted. Why carry a gun if there's no plan to use it?

😀
Click to expand...

lol you win the thread
 
I normally give the buck when asked just for the hell of it but I've never seen anybody guilt tripped into it, that's lame.

GNC is an awful place with terrible prices. The one close to me is typically being run by a guy in his 20's with filthy long hair and never shaved nor worked out in his life. He'd fit perfectly at eb games recommending video games, not supplements. The store only stays open because they charge so much that one purchase and they meet monthly break-even.
 
SabaII said:
I worked at a Sears and we would get bonuses if we got people to sign up for the credit cards. They wanted us to get a minimum but I hated pestering people about it. I would ask once and be done. Only time I bothered people about it was when my manager was around.
Click to expand...

I was like that when I worked @ Staples...
Me: 'Here comes the hard sell: do you want the extended warranty?'
Custy: "Nope."
Me: "Good, right this way then. Let's get you checked out."
 
I ended up going to Arby's about 5-6 times last month and gave a dollar their charity of the month a few times. They make me feel guilty as shit because I don't give it every time I walk trough the door.
 
I like the parody added to the real story, bravo! Yeah, it annoys the hell out of me when they try to get you to sign up to this and contribute to that. Good on ya to just pay for what the fuck you went to buy.
 
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