Buyback bumfuckery...part deux... now with bonus phone fsck ups!! (kinda long...)

[lupo pazzesco]

Oy vey, it just keeps getting worse...and worse... >.<

Wherein students can't add...

Scene I

Me: Ok, it looks like the total for these 4 books is going to be $178. Would you like to play Plinko for a chance at winning some extra cash?
SC: But I have 5 books! Biology, biology lab, english and Chemistry!!
Me: ...Er....that's 4.
SC: No! Number ONE Biology. Number TWO, biology lab. Number THREE English, number FOUR, Chemistry, Number FI--...uh...
Me: ...
SC: So...can I still play Plinko...?
Me: <Hands over Plinko chip and points to the board.> Knock yourself out...



Scene II

Me: All right, these two books are going for $98. Would you like to play Plinko for a chance at some extra cash?
SC: Sure! <Takes chip, drops chip, it lands in the slot that reads $10>
Me: All right, adding that ten to your total brings it up to $108. Let me just print the receipt...ok, sign here, print your name and take this up to the cashiers to get your money.
SC: Waitasecond!! <Glares at the receipt> You're cheating me!! Book A was $39 and Book B was $59!! That's over 100 right there! I should have more than $108!
Me: ...um, sir? 39 plus 59 IS 98, I promise.
SC: Give me a calculator?
Me: ...please...?
SC: What?
Me: The magic word is "please"?
SC: <Mutters something, but does ask for a calculator using the word please and I give it to him> Now, see here. <He slowly punches the keys, exagerrating each word as he does so.> Threeeee. Niiiiine. PLUS. Fiiiiiiive. Niiiiine. EQUALS...uh...
Me: Yes, sir? Equals what?
SC: So...you said this candy here was free, right...?
Me: Enjoy your snickers, sir. I am.


Scene III

This particular customer had a bunch of books she was bringing in specifically for our recycle program because they were several years old, and she hadn't been able to sell them on amazon or half, so she decided something was better than nothing, and playing Plinko would add some extra cash.

Me: All right, so 4 hardcover textbooks, and 7 paperback textbooks, that makes the total $7.50.
Her: I thought it was $1 for every hardcover, and 50 cents for every paperback?
Me: ...er, yes, it is. 4 at $1 each is $4. And 7 paperbacks is---
Her: It should be $11!!
Me: ...no, that would be if it were $1 for each book, but you have seven paperbacks, so--
Her: Look, I can add AND multiply!!
Me: <Thinking Oh srsly..?> Um, ma'am, zero point 5 times seven equals three point five. That's $3.50...
Her: <Huffs and pulls out some scratch paper> No, no, no! See, you multiply, carry the three, and then, when you divide it by fifty cents....
Me: <After watching her convoluted math which I just can't do justice to in this post...> Ma'am? Look. one book. fifty cents. Two books. One dollar. Three books. One fifty. <and so on and so on until I visually demonstrate the total, and she accepts it. She then goes on to play Plinko and adds $20 to her total after going double or nothing. I kind of wish I kept her scratch paper...>


Wherein Karma is my friend!!
Ok, look. I know buyback prices suck. I hear about it every time I start a thread about what I go through with buybacks. Thing is, I don't set the prices, and my store does everything we can to get the most possible money to people, but understanding supply and demand, and depreciation of value is difficult for some of the students at the schools we serve. that said, a lot of times people will find out what we're paying for a book, get huffy because we're essentially not giving them the full refund they feel they deserve and storm out to "go somewhere better", only to find out that yes, we ARE the best prices around. And then they return...


Scene I

SC: <Had given me a hard time because I offered $42 for a book we sell used for $96. She claims she spent $120 on it...and went to find somewhere that would give her a FAIR buyback price...mk then..byeee!!> Hi, I want to sell this.
Me: <Scans book> All righty, it's currently being bought for $32.
SC: WHAT!?!?! It was $42 earlier!!! I demand you honor the price from earlier!!
Me: I'm sorry, ma'am, but since today was the final for this particular class, many of your classmates have sold back their books. As our stock goes up, buyback prices go down.
SC: But I was told $42!!
Me: Yes, and you decided not to sell. Now the price is $32
SC: But I spent $135 on this book!!
Me: I do apologize, ma'am, but this book was $118 new, $96 used, and we go buy the percentages of what our prices are.
Her: I was promised $42!!
Me: No, ma'am, you were offered $42, which you refused. Now, we are currently offering $32, but you will have a chance to play Plinko for a chance to add extra money to your total.
SC: You HAVE to change it to $42!!
Me: I can't change the price that is set in the system.
SC: But they're using it next semester, you said so!!
Me: Yes, ma'am, but we currently have 40 copies of that book in stock. There are only 45 slots open for enrollment in that class. We don't anymore, really.
SC: But it's being taught next semester!
Me: Ma'am, there is a line of 7 people behind you waiting to sell their books, and I'm afraid the price is set. would you like the $32 and a chance to play Plinko or not?
SC: Ugh! FIne! Give me the fucking $32. How the hell do you sleep at night, cheating hardworking students like this!?!?!
Me: I simply smile, hand her the Plinko chip and watch her hit the sorry slot. Sweet, sweet Karma. plus a $10 idiot tax!! Cha-ching!>


Scene II

Had a guy come in to sell this book. Now, new price for us is $162, used is $121.5. We offered him $92 for the buyback.

Him: WHAT?!?!? I paid over $200 DOLLARS FOR THIS BOOK!!
Me: Oh, wow, that's amazing!!
Him: No shit, so there's NO WAY that I'm going to--
Me: Amazing that a store would swindle you like that!! List price of that book is only supposed to be $165, max!! You need to report that store for price gouging!!
Him: ...
Me:
Him: On second thought, $92 actually seems like a pretty good deal. I'll take it.
Me: mk!! Here, play Plinko!


Phone call fuctardary
Took some interesting phone calls this week, one of which happened on Sunday but forgot about it in light of all the buyback issues. Woman was in our store looking at diploma frames, the selection of which is actually kind of small, because we're changing out we do things. Now, customers can customize their frames through a website and order through them, and the most we carry are the non-customizable ones, which is only about 1/4 of what we used to carry. So, when we didn't have what she wanted, MOD gave her the brochure and catalog for the frame website and told her what to do. She leaves content, or so we think...

Cue phone ringing
Me: <Opening spiel>
Her: Yes, hi, I'd like to order a diploma frame, how long would it take to get in?
Me: Well, ma'am, if it's one of the frames we have in stock, it will be ready to ship or pickup 24 hours after ordering, once the order is processed. If not, it will take awhile longer, usually a week.
Her: Oh. Well, I need it by Thursday?
Me: ok, well, which frame were you looking for?
Her: Style K. Do you have that one in stock?
Me: Hmm, the computer's telling me no, I'm sorry. We can order it, but it will take a while to get here.
Her: If I rush ship it, will I have it Thursday?
Me: That's unlikely, ma'am, as the vendor has a minimum 48 hour processing time on orders. If you go to suchandsuch website, you can customize and order through them, cut out the middle party, and it might get there sooner, but I can't guarantee anything.
Her: Oh. Well, I'll go ahead and come in, just to be sure. Where are you located?
Me: Oh the corner of Street A and B Road.
Her: But...I was just THERE. You didn't have what I wanted, so I was given this brochure, and told to order from there!
Me: ...erm, yes ma'am, that's a brochure for the suchandsuch website, one of our frame vendors. We order the basic frames from them, but they're allowing customized orders direct from customers as well.
Her: Oh. Well, can you call them, see if they'll ship something to me by Thursday?
Me: I'm afraid that since it's Sunday, they aren't open. If I called and ordered it tomorrow morning, even overnight shipping, it MIGHT go out on Wednesday and get here Thursday morning, but it's highly unlikely.
Her: Oh. Ok, well, thanks for your help!
Me: No problem, have a great day!

Doesn't seem too bad, aside from her overwhelming cluelessness, right? Oh no, that was just the first round, where she tested the waters. She called back a second time a few hours later. Then she moved in for the kill.

Me: <opening spiel>
Her: Hi, I called earlier about diploma frames?
Me: <Grits teeth. Smiles> Yes ma'am, how can I help you?
Her: Can you tell me what styles you have in stock? Maybe I can manage with one of those.
Me: Sure, let me go to the display wall to make sure. All right, it looks like we have Style A, Style B, Style C, Style D and Style E.
Her: Oh...do you have...Style F or G? I could work with F or G.
Me: No, ma'am, we just have styles A, B, C, D, and E.
Her: Hmm...ok...maybe you could check and see if you have style H? That one looks ok in the catalog.
Me: Ma'am, we ONLY have styles A, B, C, D, and E...no F, G or H...
Her: Ok. well...can you check and see if you have Style K? (The one she wanted originally, but was already told we DON'T HAVE!!)
Me: No, ma'am. We JUST HAVE styles A, B, C, D, and E.
Her: You really shouldn't act so rude on the phone, I'm just asking questions.
Me: Ma'am, I've told you the frame styles we have, is there anything else I can do?
Her: <Big, theatrical sigh> Apparently not! <click>
Me:Thank you sweet jeebus crispix!! Gyaaahh!!
CW: <Stares at me. Offers me a cookie> Cookie...?
Me: <NOMS!!>


Just two more days of our super fantastical wondrous buyback promotional week...buh...

[Cookie]

Ouch. Brain pain. But don't you just love when people who are so adamant about their "math" end up feeling like idiots?

[Amina516]

Me: Enjoy your snickers, sir. I am.

Perfect response.

And i get wayyyy less on selling my books then you offer those kiddies down there. So I wouldnt be complaining and i LOVE plinko.

[Mnemjian]

Geeeeez....... that's pretty a impressive collection of ignorance. I love that they all got totally pwned though And hopefully all the ones who can't count will be selling you some math textbooks next semester...

[Evil Queen]

*also offers Lupo cookies*

[dbblsanta]

What is this Plinko game? When you say a customer went "double-or-nothing" or had to pay a "$10 idiot tax," please tell me the students can't actually LOSE money by playing this game...otherwise that would be gambling and most likely illegal. (Unless I'm missing something.)

[SG15Z]

...the return of Plinko.... *offers poor Lupo cookies*

[lupo pazzesco]

What is this Plinko game? When you say a customer went "double-or-nothing" or had to pay a "$10 idiot tax," please tell me the students can't actually LOSE money by playing this game...otherwise that would be gambling and most likely illegal. (Unless I'm missing something.)

Plinko is a game like on the gameshow The Price Is Right. A student drops a round token on a board where it bounces between pegs until it lands in a slot that either reads $5, $10, PRIZE, SORRY or $10 or double or nothing. The $10 or double or nothing means they can drop another token in the hopes of doubling whatever they land on, i.e. hit another $10 slot and get $20. However if they land in a Sorry slot, then there's no extra bonus cash added to their buyback total.

In regards to the $10 Idiot Tax, I was talking about how the student tried to "show me!", by taking her book elsewhere instead of selling it for the original $42. When she came back, realizing our pricing was better, our need for the book had dropped, which dropped the price to $32. In her sucktastic efforts to get one better on me, she lost the $10 on the buyback price, which I referred to as a $10 Idiot Tax. Or SC Tax, take your pick... Nothing illegal. Guess I just didn't explain myself well. Of course, I'm trying to clarify at 4:30 am after having just woken up. Let's see how much sense this makes.

[Darkforge]

I'm still amazed at the prices that the textbooks cost over there in the US. I'm only two years out of University, and the most expensive textbook I bought at my time there was £40 (about $60*) new, and that was for the book I got in my first year and was still using in my final year.

The other books for individual subjects and specialist fields I got for around £20 ($30) each new. I think some of my coursemates sold some of their books back for maybe £5 or £10 ($7-15), but I kept mine cos they are actually useful and still interesting to read (Most of the texbooks i needed were written by the lecturers themselves and were part of "The University of X Series" which is one of the better series of books out there)

*please note all conversions are rough estimates based on what I remember of exchange rates

[dbblsanta]

Thanks Lupo. That was clear. Your customers have no right to be complaining. Not only are the prices you're showing us seem like excellent buy-back deals (especially compared to my school), but you also allow people a chance to win extra money!

[Magpie]

Gah! They get a buy back, and they're upset? If it's not enough money why don't they gamble at a regular used textbook store like the rest of us? (Granted, all my books sold, but that's because I'm in engineering, and the books I was willing to sell generally had a lot of students enrolled).

[McGoddess09]

What is this thing you call "buyback?"

Let me 'splain why I said that. At my school, we rent our textbooks at the textbook center for $70 a semester, if one is a full time student. That $70 is then tacked onto the tuition bill. They give us our list of books, we go get them, they check them out, like at the library. At the end of the semester, they scan them back in and we put them back ourselves.

[Magpie]

Let me 'splain why I said that. At my school, we rent our textbooks at the textbook center for $70 a semester, if one is a full time student. That $70 is then tacked onto the tuition bill. They give us our list of books, we go get them, they check them out, like at the library. At the end of the semester, they scan them back in and we put them back ourselves.

Ok, that's such a scam. Me, I'd be buying them off ABE or Amazon if they tried pulling something like that. Let me guess - the library won't put the textbook on course reserve either? So you pay AND don't keep the book?

[Sheldonrs]

Ok, that's such a scam. Me, I'd be buying them off ABE or Amazon if they tried pulling something like that. Let me guess - the library won't put the textbook on course reserve either? So you pay AND don't keep the book?

They rent them for a while, crack them open when they need to and then bring them back to where they got them.

Sounds like prostitution to me.

[trailerparkmedic]

Well, if it's $70 for a whole semester's worth of books, that's a pretty good deal. I love renting textbooks through chegg and other websites--most of the time the price of renting is less than what I would lose between buying and selling a used book. The only time I don't think renting is good is if you'll need a book for more than a semester--I'll buy my nursing textbooks but not my art appreciation or government ones.