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The V8 Piñata

Wednesday, 1. July 2009, 05:31:16


Everyone is no doubt familiar with the ole saying Let the Buyer Beware. That may be true and it IS. However, a couple of years ago, my oldest niece and I were having a debate as to whether the opposite of that saying could also be true in certain situations. COULD it sometimes be Let the Seller Beware? More at the core of the main issue in our debate was whether it was justified or whether it was wrong.

To my loyal readers, let me refresh your minds. And to those of you new to reading my Blog in recent times or maybe this week, first of all Welcome to my Blog. :smile: Anyway, I'll get y'all up to speed with the deal between my oldest niece and I. For the last couple of years, we've had this hobby … Jousting! :eyes: Okay Okay, so it's NOT exactly really us getting on horses while wearing Suits of Armor and going at it with Spears. :lol: Nope! We'd have to tone it DOWN to have it be only that brutal. :yikes: Just Kidding! :jester: Nah! It's NOT that bad. We're just perpetually E-mail Jousting for one reason or another. If you ask my youngest sister and I, our niece just seems to have the Getting Her Kicks knack for too coincidentally 90% of the time choosing the side opposite my sister and I. The topic doesn't seem to matter. We could be talking about anything. Whatever my sister and I say, our niece is almost assuredly going to gravitate towards the opposing side. :rolleyes: Like recently, my sister and our niece got into a back & forth E-mail debate regarding Baby Car Seats and whether the less expensive ones were safe. I stayed out of that. Finally my sister E-mails me, "Why didn't you join in? I was counting on and waiting for you to join in and help me open her eyes up." I go, "I wasn't in the mood to waste my time Smacking the Piñata when we both KNOW we're NOT going to change her mind. She's going to do what she wants to do." Smacking the Piñata is what my sister, my niece and I refer to when we engage in some big, multi-round debate and nothing is being settled … neither side is changing their stance.

Now that I got y'all up to speed with that prologue, I shall continue with the story that initiated the actual V8 Piñata debate. There is this grocery store chain over here in the USA, Albertson's, which has a policy that if a Scanner at the Checkout Register scans an item incorrectly to the high side, you get that item for FREE. :yes: So, one time I got me a 6-Pack of little cans of V8 juice. I forget the exact price, but I think it was around $2.50 as per the label on the shelf. The Scanner scanned it at something around $2.78. I brought it up to the Cashier. I was as per the policy, given the item for FREE! Woo Hoo! :happy: The following week, I got curious as to whether they fixed the price discrepancy. On the shelf, they still had the $2.50. Ahhh! But, what would it scan? To my pleasant surprise, it again scanned at $2.78. So, I brought it up to the Cashier and for the 2nd week in a row, I got me a FREE 6-Pack of V8 juice. :headbang: The following week, I tried my luck again. I checked the price on the shelf and it was still at $2.50. Just like in the previous 2 weeks, on this 3rd consecutive week, the Scanner scanned the price at $2.78. Jackpot! I got a FREE 6-Pack of V8 juice for the 3rd week in row. :hat: I even went as far as to tell someone in Customer Service that Hey! I had been bringing this up for 3 weeks and no one was fixing the price discrepancy. I told them that really, it didn't bug me since per the policy, I was just gonna keep exercising my right to a Freebie as long as the price discrepancy wasn't fixed. I added that what concerned me was that not everyone was as observant as I was and therefore, those people would get ripped off with the higher price. I went on a 4th consecutive week to see if I would still get lucky and get another Freebie 6-Pack of V8. DENIED! :irked: They finally had the audacity business sense to fix the price discrepancy and put a stop to my string of Freebies. :no: The NERVE! :lol:

My niece accused me of taking unfair advantage of the situation. She said it was wrong. I contended, "What unfair advantage? Why is it wrong? They have a policy spelled out in plain English that if the Scanner scans on the high side, you get the item for FREE. It is the store's responsibility to immediately take action to fix the discrepancy. It is NOT MY responsibility to stop buying 6-Packs of V8 until they fix the price discrepancy." What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to go to another store to avoid justifiably and legally getting a Freebie as per their policy? Nuh Uh! I told my niece, "THEY, the store were the ones doing something wrong. Their dragging of their feet in NOT expediting the fixing of the price discrepancy was no doubt ripping off other people who weren't aware of the higher scanned price. And besides, Albertson's has always been wayyy overpriced. A lot of their items cost twice what they cost at Walmart or Target."

As by the usual by the numbers Smacking of the Piñata E-mail Jousting hobby of ours, my niece and I both refused to yield to the other and change our stance on the issue. I just went, "WHATEVER! :rolleyes: If Albertson's doesn't want people exercising their right to Freebies, they shouldn't have that policy. Cuz if a Scanner should Fugg Up while on my watch, while I'm on the Prowl … :left: :right: I'm gonna pounce on the Freebie!" :yes:

Butter Up … Works Every Time!Fourth of Jul-Aiy Aiy Aiy Caramba!

Comments

L2D2 1. July 2009, 05:55

Here is where we are different Chuck. I would have taken the first freebie, but notified the store manager. The second time, I would have taken the freebie and gone to the supervisor. The next time? I would just have taken the $2.50 sign off the merchandise so that the customer would never see it and would be charged the $2.78.

L2D2 1. July 2009, 05:55

But I am not saying it was unethical of you Chuck. You were just holding them to their word.

kalynka 1. July 2009, 08:34

It was a nice trick, I bet that V8 tasted better than ever :wink:

SummerAngel 1. July 2009, 12:30

I agree with you Sunny. In three weeks time, how many customers were ripped off buying 6-Pack cans of V8 juice? If you had a way of knowing and took that # x .28, I am sure the store did not lose any money. The customers who did not take advantage of the store policy are the ones who suffered.

I feel you did the right thing by informing the cashiers on three separate occasions...and even took extra time out of your day to complain to Customer Service. Homer: Doh! It was, and is, the sole responsibility of the store to correct all price discrepancies.

PainterWoman 1. July 2009, 12:49

Although I don't shop at Albertson's for the very reason you stated (higher prices), this has happened a couple of times in other stores. Not that I got anything for free (except for the small items at Home Depot), but I got something for 50% off that, in reality, was not supposed to be.

Michael's, the craft store, always has coupons for 50% off certain items. Once they had the coupon for 50% off all canvas. It didn't specify 'canvas boards', 'stretched canvas', or what have you. On the bottom of a shelf, there was a roll of 6ft x I don't know how many feet long of canvas. Usually, people just have it cut and buy pieces of it. I grabbed the whole roll as it was an excellent deal. It did not occur to me that it wasn't part of the sale. Got to the cashier and it came up full price. She keyed in the coupon and it didn't register. She called the manager to key in the right number and he objected, saying that wasn't on sale for 50%. I showed him the ad AND the coupon which clearly said nothing about any specific canvas product. They sold it to me at 50% off. The next Wednesday, when we get all those store flyers in the mail, their ad was much more specific.

Suntana 1. July 2009, 15:15

Peppermint, your logic of progressive steps is pretty similar to my niece's logic. Of course, with her, I have to question whether she didn't actually have the same stance as I did ... but, just wanted to protect her reputation of having to contradict me just to annoy me. :bomb:

I think informing the Store Manager with the 1st Freebie would be overkill. Maybe on the 3rd Freebie would be understandable. With the Scanner Failure policy prominently displayed, I would think all the Cashiers should already be properly trained on what to do when they encounter a Freebie-giving situation so as to immediately nip that price discrepancy in the bud. Thus, the store would not lose anymore profit due to repeated Freebies on that item. If the store is losing profit due to repeated Freebies on the same item, that is NOT MY fault. It is the store's Management's fault.

Suntana 1. July 2009, 15:32

Don't get me wrong, Peppermint. I do have a line, a limit to how much of an advantage I'll enjoy before I decide that it IS wrong and I have to inform someone. If it is a situation where there is a seriously high probability that someone is gonna get in serious trouble and maybe get fired, canned, sacked ... I'll pass on the advantage even though I might have gotten away with it.

For example, many years ago, I went to give a payment at Montgomery Wards. I thought I'd make it easy on the Clerk. I gave her $200 PLUS some cents. This way, she'd just have to give me X amount of dollars back and no cents in change. I was supposed to get ohhh, maybe $20.00 back or some small amount anyway. Somehow the Clerk got all confused and gave me like $60 and some cents back. Then she confused ME. I was like, "WTF? As far as I thought, I wasn't supposed to get any cents back, much less $60." As the Clerk was doing something else, I redid my Math about 3 times. I finally concluded, "Nope! My Math is correct. She screwed up and gave me too much money. And this is no small change. She CAN and most assuredly WILL get in serious trouble if I were to just walk away." So, it was a no brainer. I told the Clerk that she gave me way too much change. So, I do have SOME scrupples, Peppermint. :lol:

Suntana 1. July 2009, 15:38

Heyyy, Alla! Wait! THERE! Much better now. I had to put my :cool: Shades on what with you sporting your new Golden Blonde hair. :D I didn't want to get blinded. p: Yeah, FREE V8 juice does taste kind of extra good. :jester:

Suntana 1. July 2009, 16:06

Exactly, Annette. There was no way I could get the Freebies without informing an Albertson's employee. I did inform an Albertson's employee on each occasion. The fact that some strict procedure was NOT followed upon me informing them, was a failure on the store's Management's part. Of course, I seriously don't rule out that that was by design ... NOT immediately taking action, that is.

WHY? Because I think stuff like that, by design DOES happen. Just a couple of days ago, I saw what in my opinion, was a deliberate Bait & Switch tactic. I was at Family Dollar. I was going to buy L.A. Looks hair gel. Right next to it, is the Family Dollar generic version. I already knew from previous trips there that the L.A. Looks gel costs $2.25 and the Family Dollar generic gel cost $1.25. I noticed that both brands were very neatly aligned side by side ... in the opposite slots of where they should be. It wasn't even like the bottles were mixed. Nope! All the L.A. Looks bottles were in the $1.25 slot and the Family Dollar bottles were in the $2.25 slot. Frankly, I think that was deliberately done to make people just quickly look at the prices and get the L.A. Looks gel, while more than likely NOT realizing that they're going to get charged $2.25 and NOT the $1.25 they saw on the shelf.

I must admit though, that I'm disappointed that I didn't bring it up. I was about to. Then I believe my thinking was, "It's probably deliberate and it's not like the Clerk is going to go rush over there and switch the bottles while I'm here." Now I'll have to wait until I go there again.

Pusilille 1. July 2009, 18:00

Good for you Carlos :wink:
I THINK I would have done the same as you.
Besides, it is only fair to tell the clerk if she or he gives back way to much in change. They have a busy job, a ungreatfull in many ways too, and everybody, even you can do similar mistakes.
Good for you Carlos :happy:
Your niece is having a great time I see :smile:
Sounds like my daughter in her younger days.. Homer: Doh! :lol: :lol:

SouthernCross 1. July 2009, 18:07

I would've never told them about that mishap. :rolleyes: As a store manager, worker and etc. You have the sole responsibility to keep it running correctly. It's not the customer's problem. The customer's pay you by buying products at your store anyway.

Now, if the store/restaurant/etc. was locally owned and operated, and they had really good service, prices, etc. I would tell them. P:

kalynka 1. July 2009, 18:18

Those glasses look great on you p: :cool:!

Have to admit, I never (or rarely) look at the prices (unlike my mom) I'll be more concerned from now on. What if I gain a freebie or two :up:

Suntana 1. July 2009, 18:55

Yep, Pam, they really have to be careful when wording Sales / Coupons. One tiny oversight and a loophole will be left wide open and get them in a pickle. Of course, ultimately, THEY have the last say so. If they deem that it'd be a big loss if they have to honor an inadvertently misworded coupon, they can always blame it on The Printer place and stand their ground and refuse to give the customer what the coupon says. Sometimes they WILL risk losing a customer if honoring a coupon like that is too much of a hit on them. I mean, I doubt you could have gone, "NO! LOOK here, you Barney Fife lookalike excuse for a Manager! You are gonna honor my coupon or I'm calling the police!" :lol:

Suntana 1. July 2009, 19:17

Yes, Mette, I swear, sometimes I think contradicting and annoying me is more fun than a Video Game to my niece. :lol:

There was another situation where I definitely knew I had to draw the line and knew what the right thing to do was. As I had cashed a Check, I got the distinct feeling that the Bank Teller gave me too much money. I wasn't sure, but something seemed funky. There was a long line and things were hectic. So, I got the money and went back to my vehicle. I recounted all the money. I redid the Math several times regarding how much I deposited and how much I was supposed to get back. There was now no doubt about it. She had given me $100 too much. Like with the other incident, this one too was a no brainer. It was wayyy too much money. You don't fool around with Banks. Besides, by backtracking, they'd eventually trace things to at what point the $100 disappeared. True, it would be my word against theirs. But, again, I just went, "Nah! This isn't some 6-Pack of V8 at Albertson's. This is $100 that'll guaranteed get the Bank Teller in trouble." So, I went right back in and told the Bank Teller that she gave me $100 extra. :yikes: She must have been relieved at the thought of what could have happened later when the numbers would have been way off.

PainterWoman 1. July 2009, 19:17

:lol: I could have BUT he had an audience. My sale was holding up the line and there were about ten people in back of me all intently listening to what was going on. If I'd been the only person there, I might not have been so lucky.

Pusilille 1. July 2009, 19:23

The truth is allways the best.
Allthough.... taking a tiny little advantage of the situasion can be both fun and saving ones` unforunate in economy :eyes: :lol: :lol:

SummerAngel 1. July 2009, 20:07

We have no place here that will give you the item for free if it rings up higher than the listed shelf price. :frown:

Numbers have always been my thing. I can usually remember the exact price I’ve paid for anything years after purchased. When shopping for groceries, clothes, etc. I can tell you the exact price of each item in my cart. You would be surprised how often you are charged more than shelf price for the items you purchase (especially if they are on sale). I have noticed this happening more frequently in the last year.

I have even had numerous occasions lately where I wasn’t given the correct amount of change at fast food drive throughs and convenience stores. Since each and every occasion has been to the stores advantage, it makes me wonder if it is an honest mistake or dishonesty on the part of the store and/or the employees. :down:

L2D2 2. July 2009, 03:50

Some of it could be intentional, Annette, but from working with a lot of these cashiers, I have discovered that they know absolutely nothing about counting change. They have no idea now what you are even talking about when you ask them if they can count back change without the cash register telling them how much to return to the customer. They are really ignorant.

Suntana 2. July 2009, 04:20

Andrew, the thing is that I HAD to tell them about the price discrepancy as that's the only way I could get the Freebie.

Originally posted by SouthernCross:

Now, if the store/restaurant/etc. was locally owned and operated, and they had really good service, prices, etc. I would tell them.


I hear what you're saying. It really IS a case by case deal as to whether I bring up something.

For example, there was this restaurant at where I was a Regular. Pretty much just about all the Servers even knew my usual order by memory. I always used to Tip in cash. When my credit card statement came, I was matching up the receipts as I always did. I noticed on one of those receipts from the restaurant, the Server had taken the liberty to tack on a $2.00 Tip. The next week when I went to the restaurant, I asked to talk to the Manager. We knew each other pretty well. I told him how whoever was my Server that day, had tacked on a Tip on my credit card, when I always Tipped in cash. I added that I didn't want anyone getting fired or anything like that. I just wanted it known that I did notice the little stunt and it did piss me off. The Manager talked to the Server and I got my meal FREE that day. Had it NOT been a restaurant where I was a Regular, I might have just gone, "I want some JUSTICE! I want someone's Butt in a sling!" :mad: - :lol:

Suntana 2. July 2009, 04:30

Alla, I don't know about in Russia, but here, you REALLY have to look at the prices. There are always price discrepancies and shameless stunts that the stores pull. Like Target had the habit of periodically ridiculously increasing certain prices. And then in 2 or 3 days, they roll back to prices to the original prices ... and have the audacity to announce it as a SALE. :irked: I'd be thinking, "NO! You unscrupulous Fuggers! That is NOT a Sale! That is the normal price and this is a SCAM!" :bomb:

Suntana 2. July 2009, 04:42

Peppermint, I concur that certainly some of the Wrong Change incidents are no doubt due to the Cashiers NOT knowing how to count change.

And I'm with Annette in being very suspicious and very much convinced that a lot of the Scanner Overcharges are by design on the part of Store Management. They probably count on that most people are just too busy to be scrutinizing their receipts.

Suntana 2. July 2009, 04:45

Mette, I cracked up with your assessment that taking a tiny little advantage of a situation can be fun. :lol:

gdare 2. July 2009, 04:54

It is a nice way to attract customers but here no one will do it. Even worse, they would say you saw it wrong and what scanner say is correct. You will have nothing for free awww

L2D2 2. July 2009, 05:08

Chuck I am familiar with the raising of prices, and it isn't just target. Many stores do it now. Exactly as you said, especially around Christmas time. They raise prices before Christmas, then lower them to original price and advertise it as a Christmas sale. Sears does it too. WalMart and others.

gdare 2. July 2009, 05:16

All of the big stores do that here, too. Sometimes, you can pay more than something costed before sales start Homer: Doh!

L2D2 2. July 2009, 05:21

I have seen that too Dare. And these Going Out of Business sales and Liquidation sales are a big joke

L2D2 2. July 2009, 05:22

I have known a store to have a Going Out of Business sale for 10 years!

gdare 2. July 2009, 05:27

:lol:

kalynka 2. July 2009, 07:24

As in Russia store owners learn from American experience, good or bad, the same happens here.
Moreover, apart from the price, we gotta check the receit after the purchase, cause we can find there something we didn't buy but paid for :mad:

L2D2 2. July 2009, 08:35

We certainly know that greed is universal, and so is dishonesty, unfortunately

Pusilille 2. July 2009, 09:05

That is so very true Linda!
We still hope and pray for the world to become more moral aware of how we behave and ruin our own lifs, not to speak about how we deliberateley makes everything go to our own benefit...if we get the opportunety.

Pusilille 2. July 2009, 09:06

Did you understand me now, or was this totaly hocus-pocus-written??? hmmm... Have to get back to schooling :D

lovinmalamutes 2. July 2009, 12:37

I understood you Pusilille and I agree. We do need to get back to a more moral society. Dishonest is dishonest. Little or big!!!
I am a stickler on that, as my two kids could tell you. I have been a cashier, and have on occasion made errors, and was grateful the error was caught by the customer who was kind enough to return and clear up the matter. It doesn't take a huge error to lose your job. It can be a 60 cent discrepancy and based on policy you could lose your job.:worried: As for sale prices, the cashier doesn't make them and most times could care less if the price is incorrect! Or so that has been my observation.:smile:

lovinmalamutes 2. July 2009, 12:41

BTW Peppermint you are so right about how few people can make change without the register telling them how much. I became a cashier long before registers showed you what the change should be. I used to take my new kids and make them learn on a register that wouldn't tell the change to be returned, so then they had to learn to make change by calculating in their head. We had some real laughter on those days.:lol:

SouthernCross 2. July 2009, 14:41

:lol: Wow. That restaurant manager is really nice. How many freebies have you gotten from places? :lol: I might start becoming a regular at this awesome noodle place when I can pay for my own stuff. :jester:

Suntana 2. July 2009, 19:11

What's funny, Darko, is that sometimes my so-called observant nature will fail me. An item will be scanned and I THINK I recall it being a different price. I'll let the sales transaction finish and I'll pay. But, then I'll go, "I'm gonna leave my stuff here. I'll be back. I think this scanned incorrectly." I'll go check and come back and either have to sheepishly admit that I was wrong :o: ... or if the Cashier is busy, I'll just quickly get my items and leave so I won't have to admit my observation / recollection was wrong. :whistle: :lol:

Suntana 2. July 2009, 19:33

Being a Regular like at a restaurant, WILL make it more likely that you can get a Freebie when a situation arises, Andrew. They'll know you're a loyal customer and would hate to have you angry and possibly lose you as a customer.

If you're NOT a Regular, Ehhh, you'll win some and lose some. Sometimes you'll get a Freebie and other times you'll just get a "We're really sorry." :lol:

One time at TGI Friday's, my Philly Steak Sandwich SUCKED! It was full of gristle. I just couldn't eat the Sucker. I ended up just eating the Fries and got some dessert to finish filling me up. At the end, the Server inquired, "So, how was everything?" I go, "Well, now that you mention it, my Philly Steak Sandwich was horrible. As you can see, I couldn't even eat it. It was full of gristle." The Server went and told his Manager. The Manager came over and said, "You're all set. You're meal is taken care of. No charge." I wasn't a Regular there and never went back.

Suntana 2. July 2009, 19:36

Peppermint, the 10-year Going Out of Business Sale reminds me of the EAGLES' Farewell Tour they've been on for, I guess about 10 years, right? :lol: But, of course, by now, both they and their Fans treat it as just a tongue in cheek thing.

L2D2 2. July 2009, 19:47

Old bands never die Chuck, they just fade away for awhile or go to other bands. If I have to choose a band I had rather see stay around though, I would pick the Eagles over Rolling Stones any day of the week. At least they can sing.

Suntana 2. July 2009, 19:48

They'd fire you over a one-time 60¢ discrepancy, Lucy? :insane: I guess I could see it from some Managers. Some Managers ARE dictators and will grant ZERO leniency for anything that deviates from their expectations.

I wonder if Bank Tellers have Mega Stress? I mean, after all, day in, day out, week in, week out, they're constantly dealing with huge amounts of money. The potential for a major screwup is constantly there.

SummerAngel 2. July 2009, 23:51

I love the Eagles. I hope their Farewell Tour lasts another ten years. p:

L2D2 3. July 2009, 03:25

Me too, so there. Chuck doesn't have a wide appreciation of good music Annette. If it isn't Tejano or Jazz he doesn't care for it. Probably because he doesn't know how to rock 'n roll.:devil:

Suntana 3. July 2009, 03:28

Peppermint, Annette, I'm right there with y'all. The Eagles can stick around. The Rolling Stones on the other hand, Aiy Aiy Aiy! Does the United Nations have the legal authority to force the Rolling Stones to pack it up, shut down, retire, turn out the lights - the party's over?

L2D2 3. July 2009, 03:30

I have made the statement that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards will just become petrified during an appearance and there will be ready made statues in their memory. They'll never die. :eyes:

Suntana 3. July 2009, 03:32

No, Peppermint, you misunderstood me. I just meant your Comment reminded me of the Eagles' perpetual Farewell Tour. I didn't mean to imply I didn't like the Eagles. The Eagles are awesome! They Rule! They Pwn! :headbang:

L2D2 3. July 2009, 03:36

Well, look at me when you make statements like that then. Let me see what kind of look you have on your face when you say that. See, we all took that to be a put down of the Eagles. Guess I'll let it slide then......this time

Suntana 3. July 2009, 03:37

I believe you're right, Peppermint. There's a good possibility that onstage Mick & Keith petrification just might happen. :eyes:

L2D2 3. July 2009, 03:48

They won't even be transported like Elijah (or is it Translated?) They will just stick around in rock form forever. We will never be rid of them.

L2D2 3. July 2009, 03:53

I just noticed that I need seven more comments and I will have 1000 on my welcome post Chuck. Woot!

Suntana 3. July 2009, 04:24

Let's go see what we can do about that. :yes:

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