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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWant to know how to lose a customer, for good?
Send them a coupon for 25% off any item and then that customer spends a lot of time waiting in a long line, only to be told that the one item theyve chosen ISNT INCLUDED IN THE COUPON SALE. Perhaps I should have invested in a high power microscope to read the finer than fine, ultra fine black print on the small, dark red coupon. Same thing happened to the guy in front of me, for a different item, so I am thinking the problem is on their part.
End of rant.
And likely the end of my patronage for that store.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Macy's ?
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)I don't think I've ever shopped at Macy's. It was Harbor Freight. I wanted a fire safe for my jewelry. Why the hell safes would be excluded from a sale is beyond my ability to imagine.
Apparently safes and anything electrical aren't included in their sales. The guy in front of me had some sort of welder - they lost a big sale on that one. He, at least, had a few other purchases. Not me. I could have but I was pissed. I'll spend more for what I need, elsewhere.
localroger
(3,629 posts)You have to take any coupon that says "any item" with a huge grain of salt and read the fine print. Most of their bigger ticket items like the machine tools, air compressors, welders, and so on aren't covered; usually there will be other coupons specifically for them.
dhol82
(9,353 posts)They keep sending out coupons that are always worthless.
Managed to browbeat the service rep the last time though. Got a coupon for $3 off any shampoo over $12. Read the damn thing very closely and picked a medicated shampoo that cost $12.57.
Coupon didnt go through. Conversation back and forth about it said any shampoo over $12 versus not good for special kinds. She finally caved and took off the $3.
I think that was the first time a coupon actually worked.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Kohl's,oh just getting started.
Ohiogal
(32,044 posts)and I never buy anything there without a coupon.
Alpeduez21
(1,755 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I am always happy at Harbor Freight.
Siwsan
(26,288 posts)One time they kept telling me I had the wrong item for the coupon, but after repeated trips to that aisle, comparing the numbers, they discovered I had the correct one and there was some sort of 'computer error'.
All they need to do is post a sign as to what is never included in these sales.
Fortunately I didn't waste a lot of gas getting there, since they are right across the street.
MichMan
(11,959 posts)I don't shop there very often, but they issue those 20% off coupons constantly with long expiration dates. Every single car magazine I see seems to have one in it.
I see why they don't accept them on more expensive items like tool chests, welders and air compressors as they would probably lose money on those transactions
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)A lot of manufacturers do not let their items be included in sales/coupons (if the item goes on sale, it will be on sale for the same price at every retailer that sells it). So it could have nothing to do with the store but the manufacturer.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Is however controlled by the store.
brewens
(13,616 posts)it up. DVD player went out and my girlfriend was coming with one of the grandkids. I had to get one that afternoon or I wouldn't have went to Walmart.
The site to store thing looked like a good idea. Just go in and pick it up at the site to store desk they said. Should be in and out real quick. Nyet so fast! The site to store desk it turns out is just the regular customer service desk. I end up in line with everyone and their dog. Literally. One guy had his service dog with him! I'm not making that up.
It would have been way quicker to just go back to electronics and pay for it there, if they still even do that. If they got rid of that, there is no quick way in Wallyworld.
tblue37
(65,483 posts)shop there because of long lines at checkout, and because they don't have enough staff to keep shelves stocked.
California_Republic
(1,826 posts)Croney
(4,664 posts)on a spinning bike at a health club, in a room with a huge screen that took me biking through beautiful countries.
Every time I went, I had to explain why I was there. No, I'm not a member. Yes, I'm here to use the room alone, not with a class. No, I don't want to join at this time. Yes, this is a legitimate purchase I have made through Groupon!
It was worth the hassle though.
Croney
(4,664 posts)their high-end brands are prohibited from going on sale. My Macy's coupons have always worked, and I love the CVS ones.
wishstar
(5,271 posts)since when are socks considered cosmetic. Previously with another coupon, I was short $1 of having enough purchase to use coupon and added a candy bar, but that was excluded from coupon use too. Both times I just put down the merchandise and left.
Eko
(7,336 posts)happens all the time at my job. Some manufactures wont let us advertise that a coupon will work for their product but often it will. The manager may also decide to discount some other item you are purchasing as well if the coupon wont work. Explain your problem and if they are good at their job they will find another way to accommodate you.
Response to Siwsan (Original post)
geralmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
MichMan
(11,959 posts)For instance, they regularly send out these 25% off coupons good for your entire cart.
The problem is that there are a lot of exclusions; no prescriptions (which I understand) but also no over the counter medications that are kept behind the pharmacy counter. That isn't too bad, but it also cannot be used on anything already on sale, even f the sale price is way more costly than having the 25% off full price. Now you are wandering the store trying to find stuff not on sale. Wish you had the choice to take the sale price OR 25% off full price as an option.
Now when they send you a coupon like $6 off $30, it doesn't matter if items are on sale or not. Those are a lot better if you are planning on spending that much.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,209 posts)from places like Amazon was caused, at least in part, by BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE! I don't know if the bad customer service started it way back when, but it certainly helping it along.
I was sick. I went to the grocery store (Kroger) to stock up on Gatorade, Pepto Bismol, bananas, crackers - so you get what kind of sick I was. I had less than 10 items but I did NOT feel like doing the self check out. It was 8:30 pm. There wasn't a single check out line open with a cashier. Not one! And there was a line to wait for the self scanners. WTF!!! This was one of the Super Kroger big stores. I get better service at the smaller one, even though it has fewer items. I won't be going back to the big store.
Siwsan
(26,288 posts)Even though the store is small, it has all of the necessities (for me, at least) no self-check out and the staff I've encountered has always been so helpful and friendly. And their check out speed is so fast - even if I do have to bag my own groceries. I carry my own cloth grocery bags, anyway.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,209 posts)I just happened to be by the bigger store so I went there. Never again!
The Aldis near me isn't run very well. I only go there if they have something really special on sale. My nearby Randall's (Safeway) is good too and they ONLY have cashiers - no self check outs.
Siwsan
(26,288 posts)I've been to all three Aldi's in Genesee County, and they've all been clean, well stocked and well run.
I have a couple of Kroger near me - fortunately none are 'super stores'. I go there to fill my filtered water jug and will check out the 'manager's special' bin. There is a super store near my brother. I went there just once. It was too exhausting.
Ohiogal
(32,044 posts)But any time I go there, theres only one checkout open and about 10 people in line. I only go there when I have enough time to spare.
Siwsan
(26,288 posts)The store is only about a mile, or so, up the road.
One time I got behind a woman with an almost overflowing cart. I was shocked at how fast the checker finished ringing everything up.
This Aldi is right across the street from a Super Walmart, but still does a really good and steady business. When I get there at 9, I see what I think some of the owners of local restaurants stocking up on things like milk and produce.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Dunno how long good service will last, but online amazon is 1,0000 times better than running down to Wally World.
Amazon even has online chat with a rep. which is real handy because poor phone service here.
I know it is popular to bash Amazon here, but a lot of customers, like me, live where mail order is less expensive. or physically challenging than drives to distant stores.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,209 posts)I just wish that the company, that's finally raking in profits hand over fist, would share more of their profits through better pay, benefits and working conditions for their workers. I feel the same way about Walmart. Especially in the case of Walmart, that's still 51% owned by the Walton family, I don't understand why making jobs with LIVABLE wages isn't a priority. Both companies have been getting better over the last couple of years but they still have a long way to go.
WheelWalker
(8,955 posts)make people stand in line to take their money."
Phentex
(16,334 posts)Wish more managers knew this.
WheelWalker
(8,955 posts)sold tickets on site. Hippies not always being tuned to mercantile methods, the Fair grew to 50,000 paid admissions while, Unfortunately, it had only two booths (and VERY long lines) to purchase tickets, but 10 booths to take your ticket and admit you at the gate. Frustration ensued. Eventually tickets were sold off-site to alleviate congestion, and today all admissions must be purchased off-site, in advance. True story.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,494 posts)with their monthly offer mailing when I was still in business. Most were for a limited range of products and others required large minimum purchases. OK for medium and large businesses but not for a small guy like me that needed discounts the most.
At my age, I've mostly concluded that special sales days and coupons just are not worth the resulting anxiety and anger and time wasted considering the little dab saved. It wouldn't be so bad if not for a constant blitz of emails and US Mail fliers from so damn many outlets, so I've started removing myself from many mailing lists.
............
Phentex
(16,334 posts)AND Staples though many of them have closed for good. I tried to use their coupons online and it was mostly a disaster. The website failed and wouldn't apply the savings, etc. I recall the frustration. Now, those coupons go straight in the recycling bin.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,494 posts)I'm long retired and they apparently don't have the good sense to confirm their mailing list every few years, so I get to waste a little right-wing corporate profit! Large catalogs and they mail one out two or three times a year.
I keep their latest version for reference and buy elsewhere.
............
Phentex
(16,334 posts)and I cannot figure out why. We don't need anything out of that catalog. I guess we got on someone's mailing list.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)and by the time you are done reading, there isn't anything that you actually would buy included. I went into Belk once with a coupon and asked them what WAS included. I have to say they were pretty good about "finding" a coupon for you from their own stash just to make you happy. But I'm not much of a shopper anyway so I tend to recycle coupons these days.