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A few years ago, I worked in the appliance department one of the big box DIY stores. (Hint: Their favorite color is orange.)
One evening, a young couple wanted to buy one of the low-end dishwashers. We had it in stock and the couple wanted to take it with them. Okay, not a problem. I grab a cart and head back to get the unit.
When I come back, there’s another, older man there with them.
OLD GUY: <mumble> <mumble> <mumble>
ME (looking from the young couple to the old guy): Excuse me?
OLD GUY: How <mumble> <mumble> <mumble>
ME (now looking thoroughly confused): Excuse me, sir?
OLD GUY: Why you gettin’ mad at me?
ME: I’m not, sir. I can’t understand what you’re saying.
OLD GUY: How much is that dishwasher?
ME: $199
OLD GUY: Then they didn’t do a good enough job.
ME (knowing exactly what he’s talking about, but playing dumb): A good enough job doing what, sir?
OLD GUY: Negotiatin’
ME: We don’t negotiate prices here, sir. The price is $199.
Now the guy says something that left me speechless for a moment:
OLD GUY: Well, ain’t this America?
ME (…blink…blink…): Yes, sir, it is. But we don’t negotiate prices. Is there anything else you need folks?
The young couple left, taking the dishwasher, the old guy following them, mumbling about how they should’ve haggled the price down lower.
I wanted to ask the guy if he was the one paying for it. If he wasn’t, then he should mind his frelling business. At the very least, I wanted to tell him that this isn't a flea market or a used car lot.
One evening, a young couple wanted to buy one of the low-end dishwashers. We had it in stock and the couple wanted to take it with them. Okay, not a problem. I grab a cart and head back to get the unit.
When I come back, there’s another, older man there with them.
OLD GUY: <mumble> <mumble> <mumble>
ME (looking from the young couple to the old guy): Excuse me?
OLD GUY: How <mumble> <mumble> <mumble>
ME (now looking thoroughly confused): Excuse me, sir?
OLD GUY: Why you gettin’ mad at me?
ME: I’m not, sir. I can’t understand what you’re saying.
OLD GUY: How much is that dishwasher?
ME: $199
OLD GUY: Then they didn’t do a good enough job.
ME (knowing exactly what he’s talking about, but playing dumb): A good enough job doing what, sir?
OLD GUY: Negotiatin’
ME: We don’t negotiate prices here, sir. The price is $199.
Now the guy says something that left me speechless for a moment:
OLD GUY: Well, ain’t this America?
ME (…blink…blink…): Yes, sir, it is. But we don’t negotiate prices. Is there anything else you need folks?
The young couple left, taking the dishwasher, the old guy following them, mumbling about how they should’ve haggled the price down lower.
I wanted to ask the guy if he was the one paying for it. If he wasn’t, then he should mind his frelling business. At the very least, I wanted to tell him that this isn't a flea market or a used car lot.
). And, my aunt KNEW the sales manager! You know, the guy the salesperson is talking about when they say "Let me run your offer by my boss, see what he says". UGH. We went to our mechanic and picked a truck out of what he had for sale, and it is a Ford 6-cyl auto (not what I would normally drive if I were buying it new; I like late-model Japanese hatchback with manual transmissions), but the sacrifices I'd be making over the long-term are 10,000 times better than having to sit with the dealership for 6 hours.
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