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We sell, among other things, radio control parky flyers: styrofoam or card foam airplanes that are ready to fly anywhere and can be easily and inexpesively repaired.
This fella comes in with his plane, saying it won't work. He claims he only flew it the once and it worked great, but now it isn't working. He had recently charged the battery for the airplane and changed the AAs in the transmitter.
I was being nice, trying to decypher the problem, but I was pretty sure it was the battery, especially when I opened the battery door and found the battery plugged into the reciever.
For those who don't know, this is no-no. A radio-controlled vehicle should NEVER be turned on without first the transmitter being active. If the reciever picks up a rogue signal from a cell phone, hi-def radio, a walkie-talkie, or a fluorescent light without having the transmitter on for the reciever to double-check with,even then there is no telling what it will do. The motor could start turning full blast and if there is a sharp object (like a propellar) attached, it could cause injury.
I tell this guy this and he says "I didn't read that in the instructions." So I open the book and show him, where it says so in BIG BOLD LETTERS. So I start looking for a charger to test the battery, because I'm certain now it's dead. WHen I ask the boss, he takes an interest.
This is the point at which the guy changes his tune. He claims the plane has "never been used" and that it doesn't work at all. "I haven't ever flown it." says he. I add "but for the once, right?" Sputter, sputter "uh, yeah." I get an unhappy glare.
"I just want to exchange it for a plane that works."
This is the part I hate. We don't warranty the items we sell. We can't. We get in huge trouble with the manufacturers if we take matters into our own hands. AND, once the RC item in question has been opened and used for the first time, it belongs to the customer and cannot be exchanged. I agree with this bit, however: the warranty covers defects only and any damages caused by the customer through use either proper or poor are not covered.
"We can't do that." the boss says, "I can't send it back to get it replaced. They'd tell me to eat the loss. It's not a defective item. You misused it."
SC: "I didn't know no better."
Boss: "Well, it's a perfectly good plane. You need a new battery."
SC: "Well, can you gimme a new one."
Boss: "I can sell you one."
SC: "You can't just give me one. Don't you want my business?"
Boss: "No, I can't just give you one."
SC: "But it's your store, you can do anything you want to."
Boss: "If I gave away parts that people broke I would be out of business next week."
SC: "Well, I'll just take my business eslewhere." This is the biggest statement an SC can potentially make, because they think they are threatening your livelyhood. The best reaction you can have is as follows.
Boss: "Okay." Reason being is that when they realize you don't care to have their business, then they have nothing they can hold against you and thus have no power to influence you. In most circumstances, they retreat to their cave. Unfortunately, this one did not.
SC: "Well, I just think you could cut me a break. I come in and spend this money and I make one mistake and you want to treat me like I'm everybody else."
Boss: "You didn't read the instructions, and you tried to lie to me about it being a defect. I don't take well to that. What reason do I have to give you special treatment?"
SC: "Then I'll just take my business elsewhere!"
Boss: "Then get the hell out of my store."
SC: "Well, sell me the damn battery first."
They make the transaction Boss: "Okay, now get out." The man walks away and out the door, then a minute later runs back in and flings the battery at my boss, who deflects it easily.
SC: "I tell you what, you can have your god damn battery! I want my money back! I know you were talkin' about me after I left so I'll buy it from someone who'll treat me right!"
Boss: "We weren't talking about you. I told you to get out of my store."
SC: "I want a refund!"
Boss: "Get out of my store or I'm calling the police."
SC: "Call them. They'll arrest you for robbin' me like this!"
Boss: "Swordsman, call 911, tell them we have an irate customer who will not leave the premesis."
SC: "I ain't no irate! I'm mad at you 'cause you're being a jackass!" He retrieves his battery.
I pick up the phone and hit the 9, but he is already in full retreat making sure the store knows he's never coming back.
Why do we get more asshats on fridays?
This fella comes in with his plane, saying it won't work. He claims he only flew it the once and it worked great, but now it isn't working. He had recently charged the battery for the airplane and changed the AAs in the transmitter.
I was being nice, trying to decypher the problem, but I was pretty sure it was the battery, especially when I opened the battery door and found the battery plugged into the reciever.
For those who don't know, this is no-no. A radio-controlled vehicle should NEVER be turned on without first the transmitter being active. If the reciever picks up a rogue signal from a cell phone, hi-def radio, a walkie-talkie, or a fluorescent light without having the transmitter on for the reciever to double-check with,even then there is no telling what it will do. The motor could start turning full blast and if there is a sharp object (like a propellar) attached, it could cause injury.
I tell this guy this and he says "I didn't read that in the instructions." So I open the book and show him, where it says so in BIG BOLD LETTERS. So I start looking for a charger to test the battery, because I'm certain now it's dead. WHen I ask the boss, he takes an interest.
This is the point at which the guy changes his tune. He claims the plane has "never been used" and that it doesn't work at all. "I haven't ever flown it." says he. I add "but for the once, right?" Sputter, sputter "uh, yeah." I get an unhappy glare.
"I just want to exchange it for a plane that works."
This is the part I hate. We don't warranty the items we sell. We can't. We get in huge trouble with the manufacturers if we take matters into our own hands. AND, once the RC item in question has been opened and used for the first time, it belongs to the customer and cannot be exchanged. I agree with this bit, however: the warranty covers defects only and any damages caused by the customer through use either proper or poor are not covered.
"We can't do that." the boss says, "I can't send it back to get it replaced. They'd tell me to eat the loss. It's not a defective item. You misused it."
SC: "I didn't know no better."
Boss: "Well, it's a perfectly good plane. You need a new battery."
SC: "Well, can you gimme a new one."
Boss: "I can sell you one."
SC: "You can't just give me one. Don't you want my business?"
Boss: "No, I can't just give you one."
SC: "But it's your store, you can do anything you want to."
Boss: "If I gave away parts that people broke I would be out of business next week."
SC: "Well, I'll just take my business eslewhere." This is the biggest statement an SC can potentially make, because they think they are threatening your livelyhood. The best reaction you can have is as follows.
Boss: "Okay." Reason being is that when they realize you don't care to have their business, then they have nothing they can hold against you and thus have no power to influence you. In most circumstances, they retreat to their cave. Unfortunately, this one did not.
SC: "Well, I just think you could cut me a break. I come in and spend this money and I make one mistake and you want to treat me like I'm everybody else."
Boss: "You didn't read the instructions, and you tried to lie to me about it being a defect. I don't take well to that. What reason do I have to give you special treatment?"
SC: "Then I'll just take my business elsewhere!"
Boss: "Then get the hell out of my store."
SC: "Well, sell me the damn battery first."
They make the transaction Boss: "Okay, now get out." The man walks away and out the door, then a minute later runs back in and flings the battery at my boss, who deflects it easily.
SC: "I tell you what, you can have your god damn battery! I want my money back! I know you were talkin' about me after I left so I'll buy it from someone who'll treat me right!"
Boss: "We weren't talking about you. I told you to get out of my store."
SC: "I want a refund!"
Boss: "Get out of my store or I'm calling the police."
SC: "Call them. They'll arrest you for robbin' me like this!"
Boss: "Swordsman, call 911, tell them we have an irate customer who will not leave the premesis."
SC: "I ain't no irate! I'm mad at you 'cause you're being a jackass!" He retrieves his battery.
I pick up the phone and hit the 9, but he is already in full retreat making sure the store knows he's never coming back.
Why do we get more asshats on fridays?
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