It's a DISPLAY box, that means we don't necessarily have any

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

We are required by corporate to keep display boxes for games and consoles in various places in the store. The policy stands regardless of whether or not we have said item in stock. I should also point out virtually all of these boxes are marked "DISPLAY ONLY". However, You can probably see where this is going...

I had this exchange about 58 million times this week:

SC: Yeah can I get a Wii?
Me: We're sold out, sorry.
SC: What about them boxes up there?
Me: They are just display boxes. We do not have any Wiis.
SC: No Wiis?
Me: No Wiis.
SC: But you have the boxes!
Me: As I said those are display boxes, they do not necessarily mean we have the product in stock.
SC: Then you should take the boxes down!
Me: I wish I could but corporate requires them to be up.
SC: But you have no Wiis right?
Me: (look douche, the answer will not change no matter how much you ask me) No. NO WIIS. None. Sorry

I've repeated this spiel on many products this week: Used Xbox 360s, DS systems, Wii Fit, etc.

Some people just can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact that just because we have a box on display somewhere doesn't mean we have the product.

[Zeniq]

umm...

What do you mean by display boxes, like the game console itself for demo, or an empty box out of reach somewhere?

[persephone]

What do you mean by display boxes, like the game console itself for demo, or an empty box out of reach somewhere?

My guess, if his store is anything like the GameStop and other game stores near us, it means the packaging the game / console / DVD / whatever would come in, not a working floor model of the console. You know, having boxes of each of the consoles your store sells, not necessarily the ones that are actually there. But the ones you do have or will be getting back in stock at some point in the future.

However, there would be nothing in the box nor anything to GO in the box.

Kinda how Blockbuster or any of the movie rental places will have an empty movie box showing what movie goes there, even if there are none of that movie in stock.

Am I right?

(And why oh why oh why can't I sleep??? )

[blas]

I tend to be the whacko who gets upset that there aren't any small shirts left at a store after a sale, and want to disrobe the mannequin, because I know they always put the smallest sizes on the mannequins. And they won't do it

[Googolplexian]

Yeah, that's about right.
In a game store, it's to promote a console and say that they have that product, or products for it (like games, extensions, ect.)

In a movie rental store, its to denote what movies they keep in stock.

In either event, display cases are used instead of the actual item in box, because, lets face it, if the latter was the case, they would be stolen left and right.

My guess, if his store is anything like the GameStop and other game stores near us, it means the packaging the game / console / DVD / whatever would come in, not a working floor model of the console. You know, having boxes of each of the consoles your store sells, not necessarily the ones that are actually there. But the ones you do have or will be getting back in stock at some point in the future.

However, there would be nothing in the box nor anything to GO in the box.

Kinda how Blockbuster or any of the movie rental places will have an empty movie box showing what movie goes there, even if there are none of that movie in stock.

Am I right?

(And why oh why oh why can't I sleep??? )

[Crazeyal]

Yeah.. Seen those.. actually fooled me for a minute, then I remembered the rare nature of the beast. I *ALMOST* asked the obvious question.. but that nagging semi visible Rapscallion started glaring at me again.. So I shut it..

[Rapscallion]

I'm fearsome, me.

Rawr.

Rapscallion

[Nurian]

I've repeated this spiel on many products this week: Used Xbox 360s, DS systems, Wii Fit, etc.

You have a Wii Fit?? Can you hold it for me? Can I get it before Christmas (ends)?

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I'm fearsome, me.

Rawr.

Rapscallion

Sure . . . manboobs are a force to be reckoned with. But then so are my cats.

[Crazeyal]

Sure . . . manboobs are a force to be reckoned with. But then so are my cats.

OOOH BURN!!!

[simplyanother]

Corporate has an empty box program at the craft store. Mostly for Cricut crap and high theft items (certain art supplies). We are also required to keep the things on the shelf regardless of the status of stock. And that's stupid as hell (IMO, of course), because it just serves to piss off our already unstable customers.

[Mike Taylor]

Back when the system first hit, we had a single display box in the gaming section that sat right next to the display. One day, we had to chase down a lady who took the box down and was determined to buy it. She turned redfaced when we explained it was empty.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Back when the system first hit, we had a single display box in the gaming section that sat right next to the display. One day, we had to chase down a lady who took the box down and was determined to buy it. She turned redfaced when we explained it was empty.

Never had anything quite like that, but I have had plenty of customers offering to buy my Wii demo unit. (Can't be sold)

[Luna Baby]

You have a Wii Fit?? Can you hold it for me? Can I get it before Christmas (ends)?

I actually bargained with my local Blockbuster store that if they had one they could transfer from one store to another, I'd be in within 5 minutes of arrival to purchase said Wii Fit. Needless to say, they never got any in on the truck nor called to tell me that they'd gotten one from another store. I was ready to start other sorts of bargaining for that item! (just kidding!). I did however, go to Walmart with no shower, no makeup and dirty hair when I called and they told me they'd just recieved 12 of them. I just knew that the 5 minutes it was going to take me to get there was going to be just long enough to sell out of them. Was I one lucky girl that day!!

[prb]

See, this is why I like my local Shoppers Drug Mart location, they have the display box, but a sign taped to the front of it saying WII NOT IN STOCK