Were my professors SCs?

[rageaholic]

2 of my professors told us stories related to customer service. The first one was for a business course, and the other was for a sociology course. From retailers perspectives, were they being SCs? I'll let you guys be the judge.

1. My business professor was talking about a time he went to Best Buy to purchase a TV. He kept trying to get them to give him a discount and would go from store to store to see who can give him the cheapest discount. He said eventually, the Best Buy guy wasn't able to reduce the price anymore because he didn't have the authority. He said that although the clerk was a "nice guy", that he lost a customer because he didn't have the authority to give him any discounts.

2. Sociology professor went to return a book at some bookstore that was part of a large skyscraper complex downtown. He had to pay for parking by the hour. Well, he went to return the book, but the store had a policy that they only had to pay 5 bucks at a time for a refund. The book was only 8 dollars and they were only going to give him 5 at the time. He let it be known that he was a college professor and could reach a lot of people (there by saying that he could cost them a lot of business by telling people not to shop there).

Now, I agree that the bookstore policy was BS. It would be like winning 2 bucks on a lotto ticket and the store not paying it simply because they "don't have to". However, was he out of line by saying that he was a college professor or was it necessary to get it through the stores head that they were being asshats?

By the way both professors were pretty good professors, despite being opinionated, but I have a feeling they are pretty sucky customers.

[KitterCat]

Business Professor was definitely Suckie, with a capitol “S”. He’d already gone around and checked prices and played the discount me card. No matter who you shop with eventually your going to be told they can’t go any lower in price.

Sociology professor used a legitimate argument on a store that’s practicing something that I don’t see how its legal. If I buy something for $8 and decide to return it, so long as I’ve still got the receipt saying it cost me $8 that’s what I should get. While admittedly he’s got a better line being a college professor anyone could tell these idiots “give me my full refund or I’ll tell everyone I know how you treat people”. Like posting their story on a web board for all to see.

[Teskeria]

My opinion is
#1 Sucky of professor
#2 Store is sucky. what if you bought a $30.00 book? They only refund $5.00?

Professors are both sucky for trying to use thier 'position' to get their way. but the store is #2 wins the sucky contest.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

1. Professor was sucky. Why, oh why do some people still think retail peons can just lower prices on their own?

2.

Sociology professor used a legitimate argument on a store that’s practicing something that I don’t see how its legal.

Maybe not illegal. The bookstore could have a policy of all sales final and that would be perfectly kosher, so I don't see how it would be different if they would only refund part of the purchase price.

That said, it's a screwy policy and I too would be upset. And while I get twitchy about playing the "I'm such and such" crowd, he does have the position to put the bookstore in a world of hurt by henceforth telling all his students not to shop there. As opposed to some schlub with an "important" position who can't reach the number of people a professor can.

[rageaholic]

Just to clarify on professor 2, the return price wasn't 5 dollars no matter what. The store would pay the full price, but only 5 dollars at a time, which I think is complete and utter stupidity on the stores part. The thing is, as sucky as the store is, he came across as arrogant in explaining his response. Also, he said he played the same card in other instances (though I don't remember those as well). I do think sucky or not, the bookstore store got what they deserved.

I figured professor 1 was being sucky though. Why take all that time going back and forth (and probably a lot of money on gas) just to save a few bucks on a TV. I could understand doing that with a car, but a frickin' TV? How much money does he hope to save?

[Broomjockey]

Just to clarify on professor 2, the return price wasn't 5 dollars no matter what. The store would pay the full price, but only 5 dollars at a time,

How does that even work? That makes no sense, unless they're giving it as store credit.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Just to clarify on professor 2, the return price wasn't 5 dollars no matter what. The store would pay the full price, but only 5 dollars at a time, which I think is complete and utter stupidity on the stores part.

So if I buy a book for $30 and return it, I have to come back 6 times to get my full $30 back?

As Husker Du once sang, it makes no sense at all.

[fireheart]

PRetty much echoing the others, yeah Professor 1 was sucky. I'll shop around and find the cheapest price, but I don't expect the retail clerks to lower the prices for me. (things like books and makeup mostly) And I tend to patronize most of the stores equally anyway, so the stores get my money either way (i.e. I'll buy a nice dress/top from one store, a book from another, cosmetics from another).

Number 2.....

[Zippity Doo]

So if I buy a book for $30 and return it, I have to come back 6 times to get my full $30 back?

As Husker Du once sang, it makes no sense at all.

I would get my $5, leave the store and come right back to get the rest of my money. I don't know how sucky a customer could be dealing with such a strange return policy.

[Andara Bledin]

Professor #1 was not only sucky, but he was doing it wrong, too.

I used to know a woman that would never pay full price for anything. Ever.

She would go shopping and get everything she needed. She had trouble walking, so she'd make very few large trips. Once she had everything, she'd go to a clerk and ask to get a discount. If the clerk couldn't, she'd ask for the next person up the chain. And she'd keep going until she got a discount.

I'd never do that myself, but from what I understood, she was always polite about it. Although if nobody was available who could authorize a discount, she'd end up leaving without buying anything. I remember thinking at the time that it would be sucky to have to be the store she shopped at no matter how polite she was.

^-.-^