I can't deal with people anymore

[bicker]

SOME sectors. Who doesn't understand the price of french fries at McDonalds or socks at Wal MArt is not negotiable?

You'd be surprised about what little basis some customers have for the expectations they hold.

That's fine. And if they can get away with that, by all means, let them and more power to them. I won't lower a price for a customer simply based on their displeasure with a price. ... I simply don't understand the logic. I mean, to me, business is business. Prices are prices.

I wish every sector of the marketplace was as firm and reliable in terms of pricing as you are.

What do you think would happen if I walked into Best Buy, went up to the cash register with a DVD Player that cost $199.99, and said "Can you do any better on that price?"

To be honest, I don't know. That's the problem. Best Buy, Circuit City, Cambridge Soundworks -- does anyone know their policies about this?

We're a business, not a flea market.

That's an excellent way of putting it!

It's like at Disney, why do they price rooms out at $100 a night, then give them to people with an AP for only $50? Obviously, they don't HAVE to charge $100.

I see a very big difference between offering discounts and rewarding haggling. Discounts are offered publicly, without anyone having to guess how much they should be paying, except in extreme circumstances (circumstances which would make me agree that they're indefensible). Haggling is surriptitious, sneaky, underhanded. One of the best things that ever happened to the purchasing of a new car was services like Edmunds, which exposed just how much we should be paying.

I know after being told there was a special on the pizza at PJ and almost being charged close to double because I almost didn't ask, I lost a lot of respect for PJ.

It's a matter of "the devil you know" versus "the devil you don't know" -- the point is that these aren't individual companies acting this way, but whole industries, so the only difference between PJ and some of its competitors is that you know PJ operates that way and you don't know that the competitors do too.

 

[cardaway]

It's a matter of "the devil you know" versus "the devil you don't know" -- the point is that these aren't individual companies acting this way, but whole industries, so the only difference between PJ and some of its competitors is that you know PJ operates that way and you don't know that the competitors do too.

But IMO it's that kind of thing that makes it OK to ask if there is another price or special going on for almost everything.

For example, imagine this...

These days stores running sales have the computer adjust the price when the UPC is scanned at the register. What if that wasn't the case? What if you were charged normal price unless you asked about the sale? What if the shelf tags remained full price and it was up to you to know the item was on sale?

Would that be OK? Not in my book. When is enough enough? The pizza exmaple is petty, because it was less then $20, but it's a prime example of my scenario. Instead of telling me of the special straight away they were going to charge me full price. Would be the same as if I was to buy a CD at Target and they charged me full price despite the sale price advertised the paper.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've actually had a guy try to get a better price on a haircut. Uh...no, that's the price and if he doesn't want to pay that price then please, go on down the road.
I also had a girl try to tell me that I should charge her far less for a child's cut (she has 3) because she was giving me her business! Excuse me? As a rule, I'd much rather cut an adult's hair than a child's. Sometimes I'd like to charge a child double what I charge!

I understand what you are saying Boomhauer. There is a difference betweening price matching and asking what the special is compared to, "can you do better than this?"

But you know, I have read in a few magazines that you should ask because sometimes they'll come down in price.

 

[bicker]

But IMO it's that kind of thing that makes it OK to ask if there is another price or special going on for almost everything.

It depends on what you mean by "okay" -- If you mean "okay" for a person to do it, that's not what I'm advocating against, but rather I object to the systematized practice, itself -- the fact that it is fostered by businesses. (Yes, I know: They should do what's best for their business. I agree with that too. I just don't like it. That's all I'm saying.)

 

[cardaway]

It depends on what you mean by "okay" -- If you mean "okay" for a person to do it, that's not what I'm advocating against, but rather I object to the systematized practice, itself -- the fact that it is fostered by businesses. (Yes, I know: They should do what's best for their business. I agree with that too. I just don't like it. That's all I'm saying.)

Not sure I understand you comments, so how about this... What about Disney's system of codes and different rates vs. the rack rate?

While I haven't seen a group errupt in discussion over their different rates for the same room I have seen somebody go to the counter and negotiate a better rate knowing Disney uses the rack/discount system. I remember feeling OK because I still got a better deal.

 

[Maleficent13]

Apropos of nothing, but the last thing I want to do after arriving at Disney is haggle for a better room rate. I can think of a billion more fun things to do.

 

[boomhauer]

OK, I think I've got a good way of explaining my point.

Last year, I bought a 57" TV from Circuit City. Their price was $1999. I found it on a bunch of different websites ranging anywhere from $1299 to $1699. I know however, though Circuit City price matches, they will not match online stores. I understand and completely agree with that policy. Online stores have no overhead, therefore, can charge much lower prices.

However, I did find an online ad for a family owned electronic store in New York that had the TV for $1599. So, I printed the ad, and brought it into Circuit City. The manager said he couldn't do $1599, but could do $1699. I bought it on the spot. Wasn't the way I thought it would happen, but fine nonetheless.

Now, to me, a customer doing that, while possibly annoying to employees, isn't doing anything wrong or unexpected.

Now, if I were to walk into Circuit City and see that TV there for $1999, had no ads or fliers and had no other numbers in mind, I would be wrong to say "Can you do any better than that?"

I mean, jeez, where does it end? The reason I think that is wrong is, you're putting the employee in a very uncomfortable posistion. You wanna play that game, talk to a manager. If I give you a lower price than I gave your friend who bought the same item, then your friend comes in 2 days later, makes a stink, and I get into trouble. Then that customer tells another person, and he tells another - Before you know it, the store has a "open for discussion" pricing policy. That's not a proper way to do business, and customers shouldn't expect that.

Those are the reason why if a customer asks me point blank, "can you do any better than that?", I say "No sir/madam. That is the price we charge."

 

[NMAmy]

Apropos of nothing, but the last thing I want to do after arriving at Disney is haggle for a better room rate. I can think of a billion more fun things to do.

Absolutely, Mal. I get that Disney feeling where I no longer care about exorbitant prices--I'll pretty much pay anything when I'm there. I bought dd $12 crayons one rainy day so she'd have something to do in the hotel room!

 

[FSUGrad97]

No, you should not have paid for the pizza. Dominos is huge on customer service, they will do anything to keep a customer. "Whatever it takes" is the motto. In your case, I would of been happy to send you out the pizza free, I would of also thrown in a free side order. When we screw up like that, we are more than happy to do whatever it takes to keep you happy. But things like free food because of a forgotten 30 cent cup of blue cheese? that is when it bugs me how far we have to go.

BTW, thanks for tipping the driver!

Here's the thing - it's not the customer's fault that your store forgot the blue cheese, no matter how goofy you think they are for getting upset about it. Yeah, it may seem minor, but why should the person have to reheat their order when it wasn't their fault?

I worked retail for several years, so I know all about annoying customers.

 

[cardaway]

Apropos of nothing, but the last thing I want to do after arriving at Disney is haggle for a better room rate. I can think of a billion more fun things to do.

I don't want to behind the person haggling for a better room rate either (and I was) but the CM's have a habit of chatting everybody up, so it didn't take any longer than normal.

There's twenty or more people in line, cut the chatter a bit and maybe it wouldn't take hours to check in. I've got a billion more fun things to do.

 

[bicker]

Not sure I understand you comments, so how about this... What about Disney's system of codes and different rates vs. the rack rate?

Yes, you're right -- I wasn't very clear about what I was saying. The implementation of discount codes includes Implication, which I feel is an essential aspect of a pricing model that I can feel comfortable with, as a purchaser. Implication basically means that it isn't up to the seller to decide, on the spot, via their instinct, reconnaissance or prejudices, whether or not they feel you'll buy anyway at the higher price. With legitimate discounts, if you ask the seller for the discounted price and are eligible, then you get the discounted price. That's the critical piece.

 

[mtblujeans]

I am feeling especially that way these past few weeks. Feeling overwhelmed from the holidays, I guess. Everyone is driving me nuts! Those friends & family who are normally clingy and irritating are about to die!! This, too, will pass!

 

[WIcruizer]

I'm still scrathing my head why anyone would order wings from Dominos!?!?

 

[Christine]

I'm still scrathing my head why anyone would order wings from Dominos!?!?

Ha, ha!! I've always wondered that myself!

 

[boomhauer]

I'm still scrathing my head why anyone would order wings from Dominos!?!?

I'm wondering why anyone orders anything from Domino's?

My stepdad used to work there and brought it home all the time.

 

[bicker]

We had two sources of pizza back in college: Dominos and Goodys. Dominos was plastic on cardboard, and Goodys was a pool of oil floating on soggy bread. No wonder we used to make those two-hours-each-way midnight runs to Manhatten...

 

[boomhauer]

Some of the best pizza I've ever had is at places like Pizzeria Regina at the mall (when they don't burn it.) Sbarro's is hit and miss. Papa Gino's which is a New England company, is great on a good day. Sadly, on a bad day, it's awful.

 

[bicker]

Some of the best pizza I've ever had is at places like Pizzeria Regina at the mall

I didn't realize you were a neighbor!

Pizzeria Regina is my wife's favorite pizza, bar none (though there are a couple of specialty pizzas, the Farmer's Market pizza and the Shrimp pizza, at Uno's, that she likes a lot, too.) Pizzeria Regina, burnt, beats the pants off perfectly prepared Domino's pizza.