How many ways can I tell you the same info? (LONG)

[Mara-chan]

I don't know if anyone else gets customers like this, but I've gotten quite a few. And not to sound racist, but they all have been the same nationality, so maybe it's a culture thing.

This is NOT an exaggeration. A version of this conversation has happened to me at least 5 times.

<SC> How much is this printer? *points to sign that says 'NEW LOW PRICE $99'*
<me> $99
<SC> For this printer?
<me> Yes.
<SC> And that's the price?
<me> yes.
<SC> It's not on sale?
<me> No, that's our new low price.
<SC> So it's not on sale?
<me> No. That's the NEW... LOW... PRICE.
<SC> So it's $99?
<me> Yes.
<SC> And it's not on sale?
<me> No.
<SC> Which ones are on sale?
<me> *shows the ones that are on sale*
<SC> *points to first one* This one's not on sale?
<me> no.
<SC> Is it going on sale? ((This conversation took place early in the week))
<me> I don't really know.
<SC> How much is it when it's on sale?
<me> I don't know.
<SC> So it's $99 now?
<me> YES. ((count to 10... count to 10...)) That's our new low price.
<SC> And it's not on sale?
<me> NO. ((need to kill rising...))
<SC> Hmmm... *stares at it*
<me> ... So... would you like to get it today?
<SC> No, I think I will wait for it to go on sale. Is it going on sale soon?
<me> *clenched teeth* I... don't... know. Sorry. *walks off*


I am dead serious. And I know he wasn't doing it just to piss me off, because it's happened to me a couple of times before. Usually it's this one guy who insists on calling me "Doctor" or "Professor" (if ONLY I were Dr Who!) because a local doctor has the same last name I do. ANd I've told him every time he asks that I am NOT related to him! And neither guy I mentioned was old/senile/crazy.

[Mr Hero]

I didn't think such a conversation would happen in real life. I see it all the time on the Simpsons, but I laugh at Homer because no one is that stupid in real life. Or so I thought.

[Hobbs]

On the doctor thing, my dad's first two initials are DR and when he was living at an apartment complex once, he was listed as DR [last name]. he gets woken in the middle of the night by a frantic woman who wants him to treat her child. kinda funny...

Oh, and I hate those people too. "No, it's 40-60% off department store prices The products are priced as marked!"

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Don't you just love it when people don't listen?

I'd rather be the judge at an Italian tube-farting competition that wait on such people.

BTW, Italian tube-farting does exist. I saw it on one of those World's Dumbest... specials last night. Apparently, in this city in Italy, they have a contest where people fart into the end of a big plastic tube, and somebody at the other end of the tube smells it and rates it on how bad it smells.

Enjoy the thought, kids.

[RetailWorkhorse]

*Claws out eyes*

Irv, I stayed AWAY from channel episode for a reason.

So much for my idea of not watching TV last night.

[dalesys]

When I was a teenager a buddy (LongSahm) was demonstrating his dad's WW2 gas mask, sans canister but with hose. Rubber (not plastic) straps around head holding it on. Long 60's hippie hair...

Very good friend (not I) toots in hose...

LongSahm damn near removes own head...

Rest of pals and buddies:

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Think of it as a breathalyzer for your butt.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Think of it as a breathalyzer for your butt.

Now that's a mental image I really needed burned into my brain today . . .

Thanks, Irv. Nobody does it quite like you do.

[Department stores *sigh*]

Conversations like that I have a little comeback stored in my brain ready to use.....

SC: So it's $99?
ME: Yup
SC: Are you sure?
ME: Positive, its $99.
SC: It's not a different price?
Me: Nope it's fifty bucks for sure.
SC: Fifty!? *runs and pays for it and gets mad as it rings up at 99$.

But unfortunately I haven't had anyone stupid enough to not believe me after the third time I say something in awhile so that conversation has yet to take place......

[Dips]

What the customer is doing is a wear-down technique (if you think about it, little kids do this to their parents successfully all the time). The hope is that you'll get sick of answering questions and give him a better price or maybe slip up and give him a better price. It is a well-used haggling technique in some cultures. There's nothing wrong with it in itself, but it can be tough if you're not used to dealing with it.

If you keep answering the same question in the same way with the same tone, they will usually give up.

Or, if you feel you've got a good rapport going, you can try pushing back in a good-natured fashion. I don't recommend that if you aren't confortable doing it or if the customer seems like he's not in a good mood.