I'm convinced...

[DrasticSarcastic]

Hey all... new to posting, but I've been reading forever... anyways, today's guy was so funny, I had to post...

I work for a computer franchise... lets call it PC Baroque.... anyways, we are independantly owned, and our owner only has the one store. Now our store, like other smaller stores, has to charge a little more for it's systems to stay in business. The big box stores like Best Buy can charge less because they can buy so many systems in one run that they get a rediculous price, whereas we can only afford a max of 20 computers per order. Therefore, we charge more and we have been told "No price dickering."

This morning though...

DS = me
SC = do the math
TS = my manager who is not present.


I'm flying solo while my coworker is in the restroom. I've worked my way through 3 other customers finally getting to this guy who has been waiting for about 15 minutes.

DS: Mornin' sir. Sorry for the wait, can I help...
SC: <cuts me off> Yeah, I'm with an infrastructure management company and I've just been looking at your EMachines towers and they are OBVIOUSLY priced way too high... <pauses>
DS: ... ok...
SC: ... and I need two systems. Is your manager in?
DS: No... he won't be in until 10.
SC: And what's his name?
DS: It's TS.
SC: <Furiously scribbling on a piece of scrap paper.> Great. I want you to give TS this... <SC hands me a folded peice of card stock and his card> and let him look at it and then have him call me and I'll come in and buy these at a better price cause I'm buying two.
DS: <Speechless> ...Ooook. I'll make sure he gets...
SC: <cuts me off again> Great. Bye.
DS:


So, I write the note, and place it on the manager's desk. About 30 minutes later the curiosity is killing me. What could be so important that it would make us drop our price? I go back and open the card stock and what is listed in this top secret document?

A printout from Dell for a similarly speced system for $229. Our Emachine is listed at $299. Ah... yes. Seeing that Dell can sell you a similar system at cost is going to make us sell it that much cheaper. Shame into deals. Good plan.

I tell the manager later and he quickly scans the deal and says...

TS: Ah... yeah... look here. Shipping $99. Grand total $329. Sounds like our prices are just fine. <Turns and sticks the quote and the card in the shredder>

I'm kinda hoping he comes in just so I can say "Yeah... the manager wasn't impressed."

[cj1991]

I have a friend who I believe used to work for the same franchise (though maybe not the store you work at) if I've deduced the name correctly.

I just had someone try to negotiate pricing with me today on something that was already deeply discounted. We advertised heavily that it was "damaged" (for lack of a better term) and that it was deeply discounted thusly. And he tried to tell me that because he was "going to have to take something damaged" that he deserved a further discount. Yeah right. I said he didn't HAVE to take this item, and quoted him on how much it cost new. He said "thanks" and hung up.

You gotta love it when people don't read all the details before they grumble about something. I'm sure you've played the "Do you price match?" game more than I have. And I LOVE it when I can say that no, I won't price match because the product is far inferior to ours.

[lupo pazzesco]

First of all,

Secondly, ah, the old shame 'em into selling for cheaper gambit. I get that a lot at Textbook Hell. My favorite argument is when people try to tell me they get a better deal at online stores, such as Amazon.com. Hrm, sure. You get a better deal because you're buying direct, without a third party retailer, and you expect a price match. You're so funny.

Or, claiming it's cheaper at <University Campus> store. Really? Because, I'm looking at their website right now, and apparently our history book package is actually $20 cheaper...

I kinda hope the guy comes back, too, and want to see what his response is when you do tell him bossman wasn't impressed. teehee.

Again,

[jackfaire]

I was selling a car that had expired tags and a dent for almost a grand less than it was worth and I made it clear in the ad that it was discounted for the dent. I had these people come to me and ask for more off my asking price because of the dent.

[EricKei]

to !

If that guy does come in, maybe just mention that you'll be glad to match Dell's price. The systems will now cost him $329 each instead of $299. Plus tax

I had these people come to me and ask for more off my asking price because of the dent.

Well, there's your problem -- they know from reading the ad that you're willing to reduce the price for a valid reason...so naturally, why wouldn't you reduce it even more just because they asked ^_^