At Pathetica there's this new promotion where we're lowering prices on thousands of items, none of which (frankly) the stores can afford to do. We also already debuted the new Patheticard, which saves money on gas* purchases at Shell (none of the stations of which are in my area, and the nearest ones have much, MUCH higher prices).
The other day, the next awesome step began.
We started getting coupons for $1, $1.50 and higher off our shopping order...
...upon purchase of QUALIFYING ITEMS.
Eh? What?
So, if it says "qualifying butter or milk", neither I nor my customers know which ones qualify.
I only know the line of text on the screen says "Promotion .00" which necessitates my scrolling up the list to see if any reduction was taken in dairy products. And, upon finding out there is no reduction, on saying, "Sorry, but your products apparently don't qualify."
How am I supposed to know which ones they are? They're not in the sale paper either, even though the promotion is all over the front page. Similarly, the store has a number of posted item savings on various instore displays, but these are already handled and do not require coupons.
Even the desk, that bastion of banality and cohesiveness, is bereft of a clue.** There just isn't anyone to consult on this, and therefore I'm not supposed to consult anyone.
It's causing me to be a bit of a SC (Sucky Checker), because once or twice, to relieve the customer of heartbreak of mouthnoises, I've just tended the coupons anyway.
Eventually, someone is going to realize that this is the absolutely wrong way to handle a promotion, and make the coupons easier to understand or post the right sort of signs. But until then, the bad service beatings will continue.
*For the UK readers, "petrol".
**For the UK readers, "Cluedo".
The other day, the next awesome step began.
We started getting coupons for $1, $1.50 and higher off our shopping order...
...upon purchase of QUALIFYING ITEMS.
Eh? What?
So, if it says "qualifying butter or milk", neither I nor my customers know which ones qualify.
I only know the line of text on the screen says "Promotion .00" which necessitates my scrolling up the list to see if any reduction was taken in dairy products. And, upon finding out there is no reduction, on saying, "Sorry, but your products apparently don't qualify."
How am I supposed to know which ones they are? They're not in the sale paper either, even though the promotion is all over the front page. Similarly, the store has a number of posted item savings on various instore displays, but these are already handled and do not require coupons.
Even the desk, that bastion of banality and cohesiveness, is bereft of a clue.** There just isn't anyone to consult on this, and therefore I'm not supposed to consult anyone.
It's causing me to be a bit of a SC (Sucky Checker), because once or twice, to relieve the customer of heartbreak of mouthnoises, I've just tended the coupons anyway.
Eventually, someone is going to realize that this is the absolutely wrong way to handle a promotion, and make the coupons easier to understand or post the right sort of signs. But until then, the bad service beatings will continue.
*For the UK readers, "petrol".
**For the UK readers, "Cluedo".
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