Was this woman an SC or did she have a legit complaint?

[PepperElf]

Not really--clearance items are almost never advertised for obvious reasons. Shoppers don't know about them until they're in the store.

Unless, of course, some "savvy shopper" blog puts up a post saying "OMG X store has this item really cheap on clearance!!!!" But you can't make a charge of bait and switch stick off of a blog that isn't affiliated with the store.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one though. I mean sure it wouldn't be a VALID charge but I've read enough at PFB to know that o yes, people would probably try it anyway.

[TheSHAD0W]

I think the consensus is, don't call an item "clearance" unless you actually want it cleared out. If you're limiting sales to bring more customers in, call it a "doorbuster", or "super deal", or whatever.

[Titi]

From reading the article it seems that this particular store put a limit on them. They weren't even marked as clearance so she bought one to be sure. (I guess another reseller tried to buy them all before and someone complained so they made the limit and removed the clearance sign.) The fact she says her husband went in "ready to battle" screams SC to me because while he was battling she was on the phone with corporate and was told that Yes, the store could set limits (which is probably why the other store only had 5 on hold for her). I am also guessing that it was the husband going to battle with the manager that cause all of the stores in the area NOT to sell to them (because they were called and told what had happened.)

[Lace Neil Singer]

Reminds me of the woman who tried to buy all the milk in the local Texaco a few years ago, back when I was still living in the village and stuck there while the blizzard raged. She insisted that it was there to be sold, so she should be allowed to buy all of it. The cashiers refused to let her buy more than two bottles, on the grounds that everyone else wanted milk, not just her. She stormed off in a tantrum without buying any.

The store might have already had people in the store expressing interest, but wanting to complete the rest of their shopping first. Or like was said before, they don't want to sell to a reseller and pissing off one customer as opposed to many is the option they're taking.

[Mystic]

If there is no limit posted, I don't have a problem with it. It may be douchy to take all the stock but it's the stores fault if they don't have posted limits. Plus, who knows? Maybe she makes her money by ebaying items she finds on discount because she can't find any other job?

I always joke with my wife because she can only drink decaf tea since we just had a child. It's hard to find decaf tea where we live so when we do find it, she buys all the stock save for one box she leaves. On one hand, I know how hard it is to find so when it's not in stock, it can be annoying. On the other hand, it's the fault of the store for not stocking more and she needs her tea or she turns into the wildebeest from hell.

[starsinthesky]

I am the side of the store. They aren't in business to help someone else run their business. Unless she has 26 friends who are going to pay her back exactly what she paid? If she has clients, then she charges them a little extra than what she paid to cover the time and expense to get it.

[wolfie]

I always joke with my wife because she can only drink decaf tea since we just had a child. It's hard to find decaf tea where we live so when we do find it, she buys all the stock save for one box she leaves. On one hand, I know how hard it is to find so when it's not in stock, it can be annoying. On the other hand, it's the fault of the store for not stocking more and she needs her tea or she turns into the wildebeest from hell.

If you find it at an independent (probably wouldn't work at a corporate) store, have you considered talking to the manager, telling them that it's an item you go through at roughly "x" rate and that's hard to find, and asking that they order a "shipping unit" (i.e. if it's shipped in cartons of 12 boxes, order 12 boxes) for you? Best results all around - you get the quantity you need, other customers don't get "starved", and the store makes extra sales.