Office Depot Rant...

[Pliablemoose]

So, it came to my attention Office Depot was clearancing their D-560's, I call my favorite Office Depot, no luck, called next closest, and they had a couple in stock, asked them to put my name on one & I'd be by to pick it up after work.

Show up, no one knows anything, the person I spoke with has gone home for the day & the manager (heh, manager, my freaking watch is older than him) runs around the store, pointing out to me the empty pedestal where they were on display & making a big show about opening drawers that were too shallow to hold a digicam box, telling me they are all sold, sorry.

We had wandered up to the front of the store in front of a line of customers & I fired off: "I just called, you had 2 in stock & you haven't even checked the lockup. I'd better have a digital camera in my hand damn quick, or my next call will be to corporate."

The guy reaches for another CSR's keys, walks to the lock up area, literally reaches in just an arm's length, barely even looking & grabs my digicam.

I told him I want the 2nd one too (I wasn't going to be greedy, but they pissed me off), & he reaches in & grabs the 2nd one.

Rat bastards:|

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

good deal.

btw, how much are they going for?

 

[SKORPI0]

Good job. I always had trouble with OD employees keeping the closeout items for themselves. Haven't even bothered to visit OD anymore cause chances of finding them would be slim to none. Even if they show in stock in their computer they claim that their inventory is not always accurate. Same situation with Office Max, Circuit City and Best Buy. These hot deals are killing me.

 

[SethK28]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
So, it came to my attention Office Depot was clearancing their D-560's, I call my favorite Office Depot, no luck, called next closest, and they had a couple in stock, asked them to put my name on one & I'd be by to pick it up after work.

Show up, no one knows anything, the person I spoke with has gone home for the day & the manager (heh, manager, my freaking watch is older than him) runs around the store, pointing out to me the empty pedestal where they were on display & making a big show about opening drawers that were too shallow to hold a digicam box, telling me they are all sold, sorry.

We had wandered up to the front of the store in front of a line of customers & I fired off: "I just called, you had 2 in stock & you haven't even checked the lockup. I'd better have a digital camera in my hand damn quick, or my next call will be to corporate."

The guy reaches for another CSR's keys, walks to the lock up area, literally reaches in just an arm's length, barely even looking & grabs my digicam.

I told him I want the 2nd one too (I wasn't going to be greedy, but they pissed me off), & he reaches in & grabs the 2nd one.

Rat bastards:|

Way to be an ass

 

[SethK28]

Originally posted by: SKORPI0
Good job. I always had trouble with OD employees keeping the closeout items for themselves. Haven't even bothered to visit OD anymore cause chances of finding them would be slim to none. Even if they show in stock in their computer they claim that their inventory is not always accurate. Same situation with Office Max, Circuit City and Best Buy. These hot deals are killing me.

Well as soon as employees get wind of a bargain...........sure why not stash them, hell most employees make under $8/hour and have to put up with people like PliableMoose bitching and moaning about everything and threatening to "Call Corporate"...........when I worked at BB and someone screamed that I always laughed inside b/c I knew Corporate could give two chits

 

[SKORPI0]

Originally posted by: SethK28

Originally posted by: SKORPI0
Good job. I always had trouble with OD employees keeping the closeout items for themselves. Haven't even bothered to visit OD anymore cause chances of finding them would be slim to none. Even if they show in stock in their computer they claim that their inventory is not always accurate. Same situation with Office Max, Circuit City and Best Buy. These hot deals are killing me.

Well as soon as employees get wind of a bargain...........sure why not stash them, hell most employees make under $8/hour and have to put up with people like PliableMoose bitching and moaning about everything and threatening to "Call Corporate"...........when I worked at BB and someone screamed that I always laughed inside b/c I knew Corporate could give two chits

Worked at BB for 7 years (inventory) I'm familiar with the way they operate. Now I'm in the other side. I used to do this myself. When closeout/clearance items came in from the district/devo/service centers I usually could pick what I wanted. I've seen too much of these bitching and moaning and Corporate giving a damn. Ouch!!!

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: SethK28

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
So, it came to my attention Office Depot was clearancing their D-560's, I call my favorite Office Depot, no luck, called next closest, and they had a couple in stock, asked them to put my name on one & I'd be by to pick it up after work.

Show up, no one knows anything, the person I spoke with has gone home for the day & the manager (heh, manager, my freaking watch is older than him) runs around the store, pointing out to me the empty pedestal where they were on display & making a big show about opening drawers that were too shallow to hold a digicam box, telling me they are all sold, sorry.

We had wandered up to the front of the store in front of a line of customers & I fired off: "I just called, you had 2 in stock & you haven't even checked the lockup. I'd better have a digital camera in my hand damn quick, or my next call will be to corporate."

The guy reaches for another CSR's keys, walks to the lock up area, literally reaches in just an arm's length, barely even looking & grabs my digicam.

I told him I want the 2nd one too (I wasn't going to be greedy, but they pissed me off), & he reaches in & grabs the 2nd one.

Rat bastards:|

Way to be an ass

Right, they promised they'd do what I asked, had an item in stock, tried to hide the item because they saw what a deal it was & lied to me. I reserve the right to be an ass. & just because someone makes less then me is no excuse for that kind of behavior. IMHO, the saddest part is that what they did was so transparent & they caved so quickly.

Best buy corporate are complete jerks, I've never called OD corp, but I've called/emailed Staples corporate a couple of times & gotten awesome results.

The D-560's were ~$60

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

I've never called "corporate" before. What kind of results are you talking about?

I've always imagined just calling, telling them the problem and getting a response like, "thanks for calling, we'll look into it".

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: SethK28

Originally posted by: SKORPI0
Good job. I always had trouble with OD employees keeping the closeout items for themselves. Haven't even bothered to visit OD anymore cause chances of finding them would be slim to none. Even if they show in stock in their computer they claim that their inventory is not always accurate. Same situation with Office Max, Circuit City and Best Buy. These hot deals are killing me.

Well as soon as employees get wind of a bargain...........sure why not stash them, hell most employees make under $8/hour and have to put up with people like PliableMoose bitching and moaning about everything and threatening to "Call Corporate"...........when I worked at BB and someone screamed that I always laughed inside b/c I knew Corporate could give two chits

if they don't like the fact that they are only makeing $8 an hour they should get there lazy ass out and get an education so they can get a better job.

What the OP did was fine. they tried to hide the item on him. he knew they had it. they wouldnt give it to him so he threatned to call.

you are the reason people hate going to such stores. they have people working there that think they are more important then customers.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
I've never called "corporate" before. What kind of results are you talking about?

I've always imagined just calling, telling them the problem and getting a response like, "thanks for calling, we'll look into it".

I've talked to Staples corporate about some awesome service I've gotten from them, they forwarded my emails within the week & suddenly they know me by name @ my local Staples. (I've dont this a couple of times-the whole complimentary thing).

I've also emailed Staples about service @ a different store I got some particularly bad service & I got a personal apology from the manager & the employee.

Also, I don't think my local OD would have tried this crap on me, I spend too much money there to piss me off by lying like that.

I'll rant about bad service employees & I also like to give attaboys too.

Something from Econ 101 about voting with your dollars...

I never buy anything from BB without a serious pricematch. Have been doing it for years now.

 

[Veramocor]

Office Despot : The tyrannical leader in office supplies.

 

[PingSpike]

Glad you got what you wanted, and I guess you were in the right. But my first reaction was also "Way to be an ass."

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Glad you got what you wanted, and I guess you were in the right. But my first reaction was also "Way to be an ass."

It's my strongest point

 

[Ninepepper]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: SethK28

Originally posted by: SKORPI0

if they don't like the fact that they are only makeing $8 an hour they should get there lazy ass out and get an education so they can get a better job.

What the OP did was fine. they tried to hide the item on him. he knew they had it. they wouldnt give it to him so he threatned to call.

you are the reason people hate going to such stores. they have people working there that think they are more important then customers.

lol!

My wife, who works at Office Depot (and makes considerably more than 8.00 / hour) was reading the above post and said:

"its: 'think they are more important THAN customers'"

she followed it with

"lazy dumbass"

classic!!

 

[brigden]

Threatening to call their corporate head office was childish and would have been an exercise in futility.

 

[SKORPI0]

Originally posted by: brigden
Threatening to call their corporate head office was childish and would have been an exercise in futility.

Exactly, it might work or most likely not. I've tried to establish a good relationship with people who work at this places. I don't blame them if they want to get a piece of the pie. But their first rule should be customers come first. But the way they treated Pliablemoose as a customer, lying in his face, is not a good call on their part. Not sure how far he drove to get the "hot deal" but he wanted to make a point that enough is enough. You treat me like an ass, I'll do the same to you. He just wanted to emphasize that to them. $60 on a D-560 that is amazing.

Which reminds me, got to move my lazy ass and go to CC for a PM with OMax for that WD160 HDD, $15 after MIR.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: brigden
Threatening to call their corporate head office was childish and would have been an exercise in futility.

So I should have:

1.) Punched out the zit squeezing manager?
2.) Gone home without the digicam(s) after a 20 mile out of my way trip home?
3.) Begged?


IMHO, the childish part was lying to me, repeatedly, then caving in when I raised hell, proving they lied to me. I felt like a substitute teacher in a rowdy Jr. High class.

Seriously though, what would have been a more appropriate response?

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: brigden
Threatening to call their corporate head office was childish and would have been an exercise in futility.

So I should have:

1.) Punched out the zit squeezing manager?
2.) Gone home without the digicam(s) after a 20 mile out of my way trip home?
3.) Begged?


IMHO, the childish part was lying to me, repeatedly, then caving in when I raised hell, proving they lied to me. I felt like a substitute teacher in a rowdy Jr. High class.

Seriously though, what would have been a more appropriate response?

Conveying stern, yet diplomatic annoyance and disappointment. Then, explain to them the relationship you have with the other store, the amount of money you spend, and then politely, but sternly ask the manager to check the back. Threatening a retail employee is lame, and generally speaking, does nothing to improve the level of service you will receive.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: brigden

Conveying stern, yet diplomatic annoyance and disappointment. Then, explain to them the relationship you have with the other store, the amount of money you spend, and then politely, but sternly ask the manager to check the back. Threatening a retail employee is lame, and generally speaking, does nothing to improve the level of service you will receive.

Being nice & reasonable didn't work, I knew they were lying & I was right.

I felt like a substitute teacher in a classroom full of rowdy kids.

Do you work retail?

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: brigden

Conveying stern, yet diplomatic annoyance and disappointment. Then, explain to them the relationship you have with the other store, the amount of money you spend, and then politely, but sternly ask the manager to check the back. Threatening a retail employee is lame, and generally speaking, does nothing to improve the level of service you will receive.

Being nice & reasonable didn't work, I knew they were lying & I was right.

I felt like a substitute teacher in a classroom full of rowdy kids.

Do you work retail?

Yes, I do.

I fully understand your situation, from your point of view, as a consumer. Most of the time, people working in retail are morons, and they don't give a toss about you, or your needs. That said, using abusive or threatening language will accomplish one thing: you will get yourself a reputation and the clerks will go out of their way to either avoid you, or make your life difficult.

Yours is a special scenario; having the manager lie to you. You claim to have known he was lying, and perhaps in your situation your tactics were appropriate, but to follow a similar routine in future will most likely be counterproductive and frustrating.

 

[DJFuji]

Am i the only one who doesnt care about the situation nearly as much as getting myself one of those digicams for $60?

 

[CrabAss]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: brigden

Conveying stern, yet diplomatic annoyance and disappointment. Then, explain to them the relationship you have with the other store, the amount of money you spend, and then politely, but sternly ask the manager to check the back. Threatening a retail employee is lame, and generally speaking, does nothing to improve the level of service you will receive.

Being nice & reasonable didn't work, I knew they were lying & I was right.

I felt like a substitute teacher in a classroom full of rowdy kids.

Do you work retail?

go you

 

[hevnsnt]

Whats the SKU? I want one of em!

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: SethK28
Well as soon as employees get wind of a bargain...........sure why not stash them, hell most employees make under $8/hour and have to put up with people like PliableMoose bitching and moaning about everything and threatening to "Call Corporate"...........when I worked at BB and someone screamed that I always laughed inside b/c I knew Corporate could give two chits

I worked at OD for a little while and everyone was pleasant. I went out of my way to help them though. I used to talk people out of buying the most expensive systems. They said that the guy at the other OD said that it would be the last computer they'd ever buy.

I looked at the whiny customers as a challenge.

 

[hevnsnt]

Olympus D-560 $34.04 SKU 421-885
FYI