Budget/shopping vent

[DVCBELLE]

Today Michael's had an event from 4-8 with 25% off your entire order. Included sale and clearance merchandise.

I got the coupon when I was shopping there this week. A 40% off coupon printed as well. The sales girl ringing out told EVERYONE in line, "Bring this in with the 25% off coupon on Sunday and you will get the 40% off and 25% off on your most expensive item. Make sure they ring the 40% off coupon first and then the 25% one." I was b/c I have a YUDU and wanted a new screen. I even asked b/c the coupons said only one per purchase but she assured me I could use both.

So in I go tonight with my coupons in hand, get in line and sure enough I am told that I can't use both. I told her that I was told by the girl who rang me out that I would be able to. She would not budge. She wouldn't try it. I was tired b/c I had just had a birthday party for my son and just picked up my coupons and walked out and didn't have the energy.

I know that employees can only do what the register allows them to do but to be honest - I am sick of going into stores where the employees are not well trained in the store policies. I really feel that if a store is not capable of properly training their employees - then when an employee gives out misinformation - the store should honor it. Maybe if there was accountability they would make darn sure their employees knew the policies. (I am guessing the reason this isn't a policy is b/c dishonest people would game the system then.)

On top of that - Michael's didn't have any sales this week. I feel like I was lured into the store by a misrepresentation of the facts by the sales girl coupled with the fact that there were no sales this week to use the coupon with. How is that a better deal than any other week when they typically have sales and you can always find a 40% off coupon?

Sorry - I just had to vent. I will be heading to JoAnn's to buy my screen out of protest! I won't be crazy and boycott Michael's as I know every store has issues...

 

[disneyfreakk]

I would have just waited for a manager. And yes, I am *THAT* woman that doesn't mind holding the line up. I once had a coupon for free swiffer wets with purchase of a new swiffer and walmart did not want to honor the $7 coupon. So I stood in line and waited for the manager, and only when I requested the GM did they let me have it. The cashier was still trying to argue when the manager finally said that I was right. My sweet, understanding DH just stood there and let me argue the point, lol.

 

[oldbay]

I can totally sympathize. Sometimes the deal finding and trying to hope for a decent cashier gets draining. Here's hoping you have some good luck at Joann's!

 

[Tinkertude]

They say a happy customer will tell 10 people a disgrunteled customer will tell twenty. Man will you top that. Let that be a lesson to you Micheal's DON'T mess with a DISer

 

[Justsyd2]

I'm sorry for your experience! I was there yesterday, and they let me use a 40% off coupon that wasn't supposed to be used until today, so, they aren't all bad. I hope that next time is better for you.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disclaimer: I'm not defending Michael's or disputing the OP; I'm simply presenting likely explanations for why things happened the way they did (or didn't).

I even asked b/c the coupons said only one per purchase but she assured me I could use both.

Okay, first - despite what any employee related verbally, I would tend to rely on the printed information on the coupon. It's apparent, based on this, that the original employee was wrong. In hindsight, it probably would have been reasonable to confirm the cashier's information with a manager and get the manager's name

On top of that - Michael's didn't have any sales this week.

But - this situation excepted - all their coupons claim they can't be used on sale or clearance items, i.e. both categories are considered equal for discount purposes. It'd be unusual to state "X can't be used on clearance items" for a given week or day, because by omission customers would expect it to be valid on sale items - had there been any. Plus, just because there wasn't a sale flyer doesn't necessarily mean there were no in-store or store-specific sales.

I told her that I was told by the girl who rang me out that I would be able to. She would not budge. She wouldn't try it.

Unless you were the very first customer to check out right at 4 PM when the discount started, I would venture that this cashier had already encountered other customers with your same information/claim, and so would have already tried it, or investigated it. Thus, when you checked out, she would have already known both discounts couldn't be combined and there'd be no reason for her to try it.

 

[aprilmommy0205]

I would have just waited for a manager. And yes, I am *THAT* woman that doesn't mind holding the line up.

I will wait for a manager, but I usually ask them to void out my sale so I don't hold everyone else up. Getting a bargain shouldn't inconvenience everyone else.

 

[maxiesmom]

.

I know that employees can only do what the register allows them to do but to be honest - I am sick of going into stores where the employees are not well trained in the store policies. I really feel that if a store is not capable of properly training their employees - then when an employee gives out misinformation - the store should honor it. Maybe if there was accountability they would make darn sure their employees knew the policies. (I am guessing the reason this isn't a policy is b/c dishonest people would game the system then.)

It would be nice if we could always take a customers word for it, but unfortunately, too many of them lie if they think they can get away with it.And that makes it hard for those customers who have an acutal problem.

At the store I work at we constantly have people at the register claiming something is signed on sale, but when we go check it out, there is no sign. I guess they think they might as well try, they could get away with it.

Did you catch the name of the salesgirl who told you you could use both coupons? Maybe she would admit her mistake and the manager would honor her word.

 

[ontariomonkey]

my way around this would have been to ring in stuff on two bills. your expensive item with 40% off, pay for that, then ring in everything else and use your 20% off coupon. If it is one per customer per visit, you buy the first thing, leave your trolley near the door, leave the store then march right back in and get back in line to buy your second purchase of the day. yes I am that cheap if I feel that it is worth my time.

 

[LilyWDW]

Please don't always blame the cashier as "not knowing the store policy". More then once we will receive information that will later be changed. This includes information from corporate and the "fix" won't be communicated until a day or two later. If you run into an issue like this again, please step to the side and ask to speak to a manager and/or get the number for the corporate customer help line. It comes down to that the cashier is told THIS and that is that. They do not have the power to over ride problems.

I will say, with problems that arise from misinformation handed down from corporate we will require proof of when the purchase was. If it was during the time we were giving the wrong info, we will do what we can to accommodate the customer.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I never got rude or mad - just didn't make my purchase.

I get that there could have been a miscommunication of the policy at some point and b/c I understood that I didn't make a fuss and insist on a manager.

My frustration comes from the fact that this is so common in service industries now. I think corporations really should think through their policies and sales and make sure this is clearly communicated across the board to all of their employees. And if they realize a mistake in the policy then they should also realize that customers have already been told the misinformation and should be ready to honor the mistake.

When stores/airlines/rental cars/hotels etc. fail to honor their mistakes then they lose goodwill and credibility. And as long as we as consumers continue to not care and make excuses for them then they will continue this behavior.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My frustration comes from the fact that this is so common in service industries now. I think corporations really should think through their policies and sales

You know (of course you do ), that's an excellent point. You might want to consider writing to the Michael's corporate office about your experience. It's likely they won't do anything for you, but they might make sure their employees are providing accurate information in the future.

 

[auralia]

joanns told me you can use michels coupons there....

 

[iheartdisney]

So...to spite Micheals for not honoring both coupons, you used neither and paid full price elsewhere?
Guess you showed them!

 

[DVCBELLE]

So...to spite Micheals for not honoring both coupons, you used neither and paid full price elsewhere?
Guess you showed them!

No - JoAnn's has coupons out as often as Michael's - I got it there for the same price.