Goodwill !!!!!!!!! Update post #49 page 4

[babiesX2]

I'm so mad! ​

I go in my local Goodwill daily and buy toys and clothes for my 3 girls. Today, there was a Little Tikes playground with slide for $5. I pulled the ticket off and had a worker load it onto a dolly for me. As we were walking to the front, the cashier was coming back and she saw the ticket in my hand. She said another customer was at the register wanting it and had sent her to get the tag. I've always been told whoever has the tag gets the item. I told her that and she called her manager. She told her manager that I was there wanting the playground and I had the ticket, but the other customer was at the register and didn't get the tag. The manager said whoever is at the register first gets it -- the tag doesn't matter. I reminded her that I'm a daily customer who spends. She apologized but said the other person "had it first." I got home and called back to get the name and number of the district manager and the cashier wouldn't give it to me. I yahoo searched and found the number for a larger store. They gave me the manager's number. I told the girl on the phone my story and she said it is whoever has the tag first. I called and left a message for the manager. The girl I spoke to that time said the same thing, it is whoever has the tag first! I'm so mad, mad, mad!

Do loyal customers mean anything anymore?

 

[summerrluvv]

That stinks! I have read a few posts of yours about wanting the LT toys and making regular trips to the Goodwill

 

[mking624]

Hmmm, I can see both sides to the story. If I had the tag first, I would expect to get it...however, if I was at the register first and ready to pay, I would also expect to get it, regardless if there's another person who happens to be more loyal than me.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i didn't know of any rules so if i were the customer at the register first i would have been expecting to get it, since i had no clue about the whole tag business.

 

[babiesX2]

That stinks! I have read a few posts of yours about wanting the LT toys and making regular trips to the Goodwill

It stinks, big time! ​

Hmmm, I can see both sides to the story. If I had the tag first, I would expect to get it...however, if I was at the register first and ready to pay, I would also expect to get it, regardless if there's another person who happens to be more loyal than me.

The "rules" are whoever has the tag. I know this because I'm a regular. If the rules are going to be thrown out the window, don't throw them out for a newbie against a regular customer. I had a worker load it on a dolly in addition to having the tag.

 

[rparmfamily]

Well, if it's too large to carry, then I would assume whoever took the tag up first to buy it is the one buying it.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Your Goodwill sells decent items that cheap??

Heck, newer Barbies that are dirty with no clothing sell at our Goodwill for $2.50 each. I saw a newer all plastic Cabbage Patch Kid that someone drew on with marker for $10. $10!!
Used jeans sell for $7.50 per pair unless they are name brand. They are used!

Your Goodwill has good deals.

 

[babiesX2]

Your Goodwill sells decent items that cheap??

Heck, newer Barbies that are dirty with no clothing sell at our Goodwill for $2.50 each. I saw a newer all plastic Cabbage Patch Kid that someone drew on with marker for $10. $10!!
Used jeans sell for $7.50 per pair unless they are name brand. They are used!

Your Goodwill has good deals.

Yep, it is the best one around. The get lots of items donated so they sell cheap to move quickly. The playground was like brand new! I guess it is because we are a college town so the college kids donate alot. I buy my DD13 cool name brand clothes all the time. I buy stuff and save it for birthdays and Christmas. Occassionally, I find something to eBay, but not very often. 95% of what I buy is for us to use. I don't shop in malls or Target or Wal-Mart or any places like that. I buy our stuff at thrift shops.

 

[Tigger2252]

I totally understand how you feel! I had it happen at our local animal shelter. I went in, found the puppy I wanted and filled out the application. They told me that I couldn't adopt him until I came back with my husband, children and other dog. Because it was the end of the day, I wouldn't have time to go home, get everybody and get back. We were so excited. We had him named and everything. So, we went the next day after work. When we got there, there was another family ahead of us and THEY GAVE THEM MY PUPPY! When I spoke up and said "Hey wait a minute, I was here yesterday and filled out all the paperwork on that dog and you told me I couldn't adopt him until today!" They told me, "Well they got here before you today." I couldn't believe it! I was sooooo mad !

 

[Kay1]

That's just rotten. It should have been yours. That's why people carry around what they'll buy at garage sales and other stores, actually. The other buyer could have seen you take the tag and ask the employee for help, then decided, Hey, I'd like to have that toy, and beat you to the cash register! If we are expecting a hurrican here, and the shopper in front of me at Publix notices I've got the last flashlight in the store on the conveyor belt, can she just tell the cashier she wants to pay for it? I don't think so. The story about the puppy is alsowrong.

 

[CTdiznymom]

I . They told me that I couldn't adopt him until I came back with my husband, children and other dog.


Just curious...why did they want you to return with your family and your other dog in order to adopt the pupppy? Hope it went to a good home, but it should have gone to yours. Sorry.

 

[DawnM]

If you have been a loyal customer and know the rules (as it sounds like you do) I would not only call but write a letter.

I would have been FUMING too! That is just crazy!

Dawn

 

[Vickie46]

I would have raised a fit.. in front of everyone!!!!!!!!

 

[mking624]

The "rules" are whoever has the tag. I know this because I'm a regular. If the rules are going to be thrown out the window, don't throw them out for a newbie against a regular customer. I had a worker load it on a dolly in addition to having the tag.

Are these rules actually written? Because if it's not a written policy, then you really don't have a lot of recourse here. I understand the frustration, but if it's not a written policy, then it loyal customer or not, the person who is giving them money right then and there typically "wins." Not the favored result, but that's how typical retail works. For all you know, that person could be a regular as well. I've checked a few different cities Goodwill FAQ and and they even stated that merchandise is a first come/first serve basis. Also, don't forget that different Goodwill managers may runs their stores differently, so calling around to find out what their "rules" are may not be relevent to what happened at the store you shopped at (this is how it is where I live...there's a few Goodwills here, each run differently). Now if it IS a written policy, then by all means, complain to a higher up. And perhaps look aruond for another Goodwill to shop at (if there's another in your area).

I'm not trying to debate you on it...mostly just playing devil's advocate. I've been on both sides of the coin...and I've been on the side where there was no written rule, but I was pushed to the side for someone who was more regular than me. I was very unhappy about it, wrote the company, was sent a gift card (which I gave away because I had no intention of returning) and was emailed saying they were sending their DM over to coach them on treating ALL customers equally. So I'm just trying to share a different perspective. I've been in all situations and seen all situations (having been in retail for the last 9 years)...and ultimately there's always someone who comes out of this in a bad spot.

 

[babiesX2]

I've been in all situations and seen all situations (having been in retail for the last 9 years)...and ultimately there's always someone who comes out of this in a bad spot.

That's fine. They put me in the bad spot.

I used to donate items to them, but not anymore . . .

I used to shop there daily, but not anymore . . .

My loss, in reality, is their loss. The purchaser was not a regular because she didn't know to get the ticket off the item. She didn't know the employees well enough to know to ask what she should do. She didn't know the employees well enough to ask them to get the platform cart. She didn't know anything because she doesn't shop their. The cashier looked at my baby and said, "I'm sorry, Madeline." I've never been in a Goodwill that did it any differently than take the ticket if it is too big to carry without assistance.

 

[mking624]

That's fine. They put me in the bad spot.

I used to donate items to them, but not anymore . . .

I used to shop there daily, but not anymore . . .

My loss, in reality, is their loss. The purchaser was not a regular because she didn't know to get the ticket off the item. She didn't know the employees well enough to know to ask what she should do. She didn't know the employees well enough to ask them to get the platform cart. She didn't know anything because she doesn't shop their. The cashier looked at my baby and said, "I'm sorry, Madeline." I've never been in a Goodwill that did it any differently than take the ticket if it is too big to carry without assistance.

Speaking from experience, the Goodwill that is nearby me does not do the ticket thing while another one in our city does (we purchased a desk from there and all we had to do was go up to the register and let them know we wanted to purchase it, no "rules" about tags). If I were to go to your Goodwill, and the policy was not a written rule, I would expect to receive the item that I was ready to pay for. Sorry, but again, this comes down to a written policy. Like I said, if this is their written policy that would be one thing (and I would fully support you with that), but if it's not then it's at their discretion who will purchase the item. Sounds like they did a first come first serve with it...which many times is the way with thrifting. You got the bad end of the deal in this apparently isolated case, but the way I view life is that we win some we lose some. See if you can find out from the manager what their specific store's written policy is on selling merchandise. Filing a complaint with them may go farther if you find out their actual policies and not something that is merely a verbal agreement (because those never go anywhere...it just becomes a "he said/she said" unfortunately).
Sorry you missed out on the item you wanted...hopefully you'll be able to find it again in the future.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I shop at Sam's Club, and they have the tag system also. If it is a large item like Furniture, you are supposed to pull the tag and take it to the register to pay, just like at Service Merchandise.

Sometimes I pull the tag and continue shopping. If its the last one, I would expect to get it over a customer that goes to the register without a tag. If you need assistance with an item, short of He-manning it over your shoulder, what else can be done?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

If the place has tags, then we can only assume they are to *hold* the item before you pay/pick it up. Why else would they even have tags if they wanted you to go to the reg. and say what you want? I would be so sad. It doesn't even make sense!

I also think it's kind of presumptuous to go to the register and tell them to get the tag. I mean, either she/he can't pick up a little slip of paper on his/her own or he/she was trying to outbeat you. Either way, I'm not impressed with them.

I hope you state the problem with the proper higher ups. Unfairness bothers me a lot.

 

[jessica52877]

i didn't know of any rules so if i were the customer at the register first i would have been expecting to get it, since i had no clue about the whole tag business.

Me too! I had no idea to take the tag off the item. I would assume to go and pay for it and then get the item, not take the tag. Since you are a regular guess you know the ins and outs.

Sadly enough I don't think a regular customer means much to anyone anymore, but also if they know you sell on ebay they could have had more heart for the other person, assuming it was for her, not necessarily meaning you planned on selling it but I can see where the cashier might think that.

 

[snowwite]

Well, if it's too large to carry, then I would assume whoever took the tag up first to buy it is the one buying it.

Makes sense to me. BTW it is the same policy BJs wholesale and the local toy store use. Ex I got a bike for my DS and I had the last ticket so I got the bike even though there were two other people asking about it at customer service when I went to get it.