# Dear Customer, we get many customers weekly who think their situation warrents us eating $20 to $100 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630 "2013-08-31T02:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/61 "2013-09-02T02:05:18Z")
In my dental practice I had a potential new patient call for an appointment and then said, “since I’m over 55 I’ll be getting the senior discount.” I explained that I don’t offer a senior discount. He got quite upset and demanded one and wanted to know why I didn’t have a senior discount. I explained that just because he was older my overhead didn’t change and that I offered a fair price to everyone. He kept demanding and I kept refusing until he said to “just cancel my appointment.” I replied that I had done so even before he asked. I have given away a lot of dentistry over the years to many needy and/or nice people, but a surefire way to not get a discount is to tell me that I owe it to you just because AARP has brainwashed their members into thinking they shouldn’t ever have to pay full price just because they are over 55. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/62 "2013-09-02T02:21:30Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > In my 3 previous jobs (retail optical, 15 years total) the manufacurer’s warranty could ONLY be carried out through the store. If someone were to call the manufacturer directly they would be politely told to go back to where the purchase was made. It really depends on the manfacturer, the nature of the product and their arrangement with the retailer. Some cables we sell have a lfe time guarentee with across the counter exchange. Once a month or so we return the defective ones to the manufacturer and they replace them. Great for us and the customer. Other items like electronics have a repair or replace warranty from the manufacturer and they want to deal with it. The paperwork says "DO NOT RETURN TO RESELLER\< {me} CALL THIS NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WARRANTY ISSUES. Another thing is that we need to make sure the customer is returning it because it is defective rather than because they are done using it, or are to lazt to read the instructions and figure it out. Return policies have changed because the % of bad customers who liked to rent for free , use something for a week and then return it, got to high. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/63 "2013-09-02T02:25:53Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > A while back, we used to do a six month long intro program in our Taekwondo school. We had a couple of people who signed their kids up, then apparently ran into financial issues and couldn’t continue. Now, we are willing to work with the folks who come tell us they have to stop because of money. I’ve been known to cut the monthly rate for a while, and in a few cases, I’ve even given a couple of months for free to try and help. > > But when they come in at the end of the six month period and demand a refund because they didn’t like what we taught little Johnny? Nah, not so much. Right. How many times have I seen somethiung like that on those small claim court TV shows? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/64 "2013-09-02T02:43:35Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > In my dental practice I had a potential new patient call for an appointment and then said, “since I’m over 55 I’ll be getting the senior discount.” I explained that I don’t offer a senior discount. He got quite upset and demanded one and wanted to know why I didn’t have a senior discount. I explained that just because he was older my overhead didn’t change and that I offered a fair price to everyone. He kept demanding and I kept refusing until he said to “just cancel my appointment.” I replied that I had done so even before he asked. > > I have given away a lot of dentistry over the years to many needy and/or nice people, but a surefire way to not get a discount is to tell me that I owe it to you just because AARP has brainwashed their members into thinking they shouldn’t ever have to pay full price just because they are over 55. We get asked that all the time. There;s the senior discount, the miltary discount, the profesional musician discount, the student discount etc etc. Every now and then I honor the nice smile and big tits discount. More often it’s because someone knew how to ask in a polite manner. If someone is trying to work in a budjert and we’re pretty close we tend to work with them. When I worked in a college town we offered a 10% discount for a student or a staff ID. Problems arose when somoene would come in, negotiate a lower price and then throw down thier ID expecting an additional 10% off the negotiated price. I’d point out that the discount for ID was 10% off the marked price , not a negotiated price and they could have whichever was cheaper, but not both. Some were annoyed with that very simple and clearly printed concept. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/65 "2013-09-02T02:58:43Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Guilty, usually I don’t try to bargain unless I’m at the flea market or junktiqueing. But thought I would try it at a concert, but the t shirt guy wouldn’t let me have two Gov’t Mule stickers for the price of one, even though I bought a $60 hoodie! Absolutely nothing wrong with some friendly polite negotiating. Accept the answer you get and make your decision about whether you want the offered price. Sometimes I have to try and not laugh or say “Are you serious?” A young lady picked up a plastic waste basket that had swivel top marked $3.00 How much is this? Just like the tag says , it’s $3. I’ll give you a dolllar for it. It’s $3 I know your store negotiates on price. It’s…3…dollars. She walked away in disgust. One young couple made a significant purchase, big screen, surround sound, a few other items, so I gave them a nice discount on the package. Then when we get to the register he says, “wait you said that was tax included” {10% at the time} No I didn’t. I have to charge you sales tax. It’s the law. I’ve given you a nice discount, I can’t go another 10%. No YOU SAID it was tax included. You no sir there comes a time whe you should say, thanks for the good deal and pay the bill, rather than insist I said something I know I never said. So pay up or walk away and the discounts are gone. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/66 "2013-09-02T03:10:20Z")
> [@SirGalahad](#): > > Yeah, I kind of got that already, didn’t mean to be rhetorical … thanks for the reply. My friends who either collect vintage instruments, or own high end music stores deal with jerks all the time … they call them customers. I guess if you put up a sign and advertise products and service, the stupid and grumpy will eventually find you. There was a guy in Las Vegas named Ed Roman who had a novel approach to customer service … if you wanted to get into his high end guitar store, you usually had to have an appointment. Even then, unless you were rich or famous, he and his staff would preemptively insult and demean you, unless they happened to be in a rare good mood. Sort of the “French Restaurant” version of a music store. I believe he passed away recently. RIP. Funny, it reminds me of a story I heard i which a high end guitar was on closeout for half it’s original price. A customer kept coming in and trying to negotiate an even lower price. Was told several times, no it’s already a fantastic deal and half it’s original price, but next week he’d be back trying again to get it for less. One day the salesman, manager, or whomever was sick of it, so when he offered a lower price he handed the guy the guitar, walked a few paces away and said , “toss it to me” “What?” “toss it to me” When the customer tossed it he stepped aside and let the guitar crash to the floor. “Now you can have it for that price” ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/67 "2013-09-02T03:15:16Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > In my dental practice I had a potential new patient call for an appointment and then said, “since I’m over 55 I’ll be getting the senior discount.” I explained that I don’t offer a senior discount. He got quite upset and demanded one and wanted to know why I didn’t have a senior discount. I explained that just because he was older my overhead didn’t change and that I offered a fair price to everyone. He kept demanding and I kept refusing until he said to “just cancel my appointment.” I replied that I had done so even before he asked. > > I have given away a lot of dentistry over the years to many needy and/or nice people, but a surefire way to not get a discount is to tell me that I owe it to you just because AARP has brainwashed their members into thinking they shouldn’t ever have to pay full price just because they are over 55. Isn’t it funny how perception works. I’ve used the “we give everyone a good deal” thing lots, but still, if someone is paying what everyone else pays their percepton is it isn’t a good deal. Odd. I’ve had a few men admit that not paying the marked price is just a thing with them. One nice guy buying a guitar for his son asked, “Can you give me $5 off the package so I feel better about not paying the marked price” “Since you were so upfront and honest , sure” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/68 "2013-09-02T03:28:38Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > Yep, “being a good Christian,” is one of those descriptors that are almost certainly not true if you loudly proclaim it to people… No kidding. Anyone else get the missionaries? With them it’s either one of two things: :rolleyes: I’m a missionary/doing god’s work/a good Christian can I have some of the price knocked down? - or - :rolleyes: You know, I could get that done for a dollar in Nigeria. Oh, _really?_ Why don’t you just buy a plane ticket and go to Nigeria to get it done, then? Welcome to America, where our overhead is vastly more expensive than Nigeria. Of course, the mere fact I find proselytizing and missionary work offensive probably doesn’t help my opinion of them at all. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/69 "2013-09-02T03:38:56Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > That’s something that the Pizza Czar demanded and would ask about after the pizza was delivered. If they didn’t tip the driver, no more discounts/free stuff for them. I used to work for Domino’s Pizza in the evenings, after I spent the day as a teacher. On the occasion that we had a snow day, I would go straight there to work, since all the at-home people would find out they didn’t have anything to eat at their house. 🙂 On one of those snow days, across-the-street businesses that usually walked over for their pizza would ask for delivery instead. When I delivered to one and they didn’t tip (I didn’t say anything to the customer), I returned to the store and griped a bit about it. When my manager overheard me, he reached in his pocket, gave me $3 to make up for the no-tip, then edited that business’s customer record in our database. In the manager’s comments, he wrote “Give no over-the-phone specials. All prices to be regular prices.” Love that man… ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/70 "2013-09-02T07:45:05Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > **SirGalahad** there is a big difference asking for a discount and demanding it. You are probably a nice and polite person who would ask for a discount, but when your request was refused, you would continue to be nice and polite. > > Its the ones who storm in demanding us to give them the store and would scream and swear at us because they were our best customer (we’ve only seen them once) and that if we don’t kiss their ass and enjoy it they will have our job. > > Thanks all the gods that I’m not in retail anymore. > > (I do still get it at adoptions at times, some people can’t seem to wrap their minds around the fact that $75 for a well socialized cat who has been fixed and tested and has had all of their shots is a real deal.) About 13 or 14 years ago, we adopted an orphan feral kitten. Momcat had been killed, this was the only surviving kitten, and he wasn’t weaned yet. Within a month or so, I believe that kitten cost us about $300, and he hadn’t been socialized, tested, or fixed yet. Now, of course, he’s perfectly fine, he got neutered as soon as possible, and he loves my daughter (who was the one who did most of his bottle feeding) very much. But that “free” kitten that we picked up in a field was pretty damned expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/71 "2013-09-02T08:59:52Z")
I love this thread and wish to subscribe to it. Some wishes do come true. Others will remain in my very disgruntled fantasies. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/72 "2013-09-02T14:16:31Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > I used to work for Domino’s Pizza in the evenings, after I spent the day as a teacher. On the occasion that we had a snow day, I would go straight there to work, since all the at-home people would find out they didn’t have anything to eat at their house. 🙂 > > On one of those snow days, across-the-street businesses that usually walked over for their pizza would ask for delivery instead. When I delivered to one and they didn’t tip (I didn’t say anything to the customer), I returned to the store and griped a bit about it. When my manager overheard me, he reached in his pocket, gave me $3 to make up for the no-tip, then edited that business’s customer record in our database. In the manager’s comments, he wrote “Give no over-the-phone specials. All prices to be regular prices.” > > Love that man… Hijack: I used to handle food ordering for a university department function. Payment was handled by invoice basically – I would order a dozen pizzas, and hand the delivery guy a purchasing authorization form thingy. All actual handling of money happened somewhere far away from me; presumably somebody in administration would cut a check to the pizza store at some point. Anyways, I always felt uneasy because I couldn’t figure out a way to give a tip in this system. (But I didn’t feel nearly so bad that I was willing to pay $20-$40 per week out of my own pocket!) Still, the usual delivery guys seemed happy enough with the situation. I always guessed that since we were paying full list price for every pizza (mostly “expensive” specialty pizzas), the store manager worked something out with the delivery guy. Is that anything like standard practice? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/73 "2013-09-02T15:09:53Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > If you’re going to jump in at least know what you’re talking about and get the details right. Who the hell said anything about “right out of the box”? The “details” seem to be rather fuzzy. First you gave the example of someone trying to return a defective item six weeks after buying it. Then you said your store will “usually” handle returns made within 30 days. You also asked what a poster thought was a “reasonable” time period for making a return. So it was unclear to me at what point you think it’s on the consumer to deal with the manufacturer, instead of your store handling it. Hint: have a clearly stated, prominently posted return policy and stick to it. Customers can decide whether what’s acceptable, as opposed to dealing with the whims of the clerks/manager. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/74 "2013-09-02T18:26:17Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Oh, so close 🙂 Its the nickname I gave my boss while he was building his 6th pizza store. He loved it and dubbed me his Pizza Minion. While I do think he would like the positive exposure I’ve given him here, I don’t feel comfortable giving out his name and/or business address. Yes, if there’s one thing a person whose livelihood depends on positive customer and employee reviews hates, it’s getting more business as a result of someone giving them accolades in a public forum. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/75 "2013-09-02T19:45:12Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Yes, and I do. > > If I’m sold something damaged or defective right out of the box (an unusual circumstance, sure) I can and have obtained replacements or refunds from the retail store. It’s store policy (at least in the bigger places where I shop). > > Now, I can understand some retailers preferring to have the customers deal with the manufacturer instead. But that’s an excellent way to ensure unhappy customers and loss of repeat business. But isn’t there usually a time limit, say 30 days from purchase? The example above listed 6 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/76 "2013-09-02T19:48:52Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Guilty, usually I don’t try to bargain unless I’m at the flea market or junktiqueing. But thought I would try it at a concert, but the t shirt guy wouldn’t let me have two Gov’t Mule stickers for the price of one, even though I bought a $60 hoodie! I’m not surprised that a concert merch guy wouldn’t bargain. That’s an income stream for the band, more so than record sales. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/77 "2013-09-02T19:55:20Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Every now and then I honor the nice smile and big tits discount. Honor and offer, amirite?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/78 "2013-09-02T20:02:36Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I’m guessing you’re in the US, but this isn’t true worldwide. In the UK, where I am, the contract is with the retailer, not the manufacturer, and if something goes wrong before it could reasonably be expected to, the retailer is liable for replacement or full refund. There may be additional protections offered by the manufacturer, but they don’t override the basic ones. > > The retailer then has to return it to the manufacturer and claim their refund or replacement. What you describe wouldn’t be foreign here in the United States, but it isn’t something the law requires. Most major retailers that I’ve seen have very generous return policies for defective equipment. But it is up to the retailer, while it isn’t hard and fast from what I’ve seen the smaller the chain (down to mom & pop stores) the less likely they are to be generous on refunds and the more likely you will have to use the manufacturer warranty as your first option. That being said, it really depends on the item for me if I try to return to the retailer or go through the manufacturer. Like another poster here, I had a problem with a large (already wall mounted) LCD tv I bought about six months prior. It was a Samsung, I could have returned it under the return policy to the big box store where I purchased it. However, the Samsung warranty service actually sends a certified Samsung tech who comes to your house, fixes it at your home, remounts it for you and etc. That’s much more convenient for me than actually hauling it back to the store and having them do an exchange. For appliances there is also often the concern that big box retailers change their inventory all the time, so the specific appliance you had may not be available any longer, in which case you’d have to accept store credit. That may be exactly what you want (especially if the previous brand/model failed you), but if you actually really liked the model you owned and just want a working one, the manufacturer is much more likely to be able to satisfy you there. But anytime something small is broken, I take it right back to the retailer. I used to get a lot of defective DVDs from Wal-Mart, it’s a very painless process to come in with the disc and case and tell them “this doesn’t work”, they just nod and tell you to go get a new copy and they’ll scan you out. I know at one point if you bought major appliances (like washer and dryer, oven etc) from Sears, they’d actually send guys out to fix it for you if it broke. I don’t know if Sears does this anymore as my memory of that is back from when they were a major retailer / going concern instead of a mismanaged hedge fund property. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/79 "2013-09-02T20:12:17Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Funny, it reminds me of a story I heard i which a high end guitar was on closeout for half it’s original price. A customer kept coming in and trying to negotiate an even lower price. Was told several times, no it’s already a fantastic deal and half it’s original price, but next week he’d be back trying again to get it for less. One day the salesman, manager, or whomever was sick of it, so when he offered a lower price he handed the guy the guitar, walked a few paces away and said , “toss it to me” > > “What?” > > “toss it to me” > > When the customer tossed it he stepped aside and let the guitar crash to the floor. “Now you can have it for that price” I’m unsure as to why the store breaking the guitar and forgoing any profit on it was preferable to telling the guy no further discount. Given that the guitar was not moving it couldn’t have been that great a price. I can definitely see the guy thinking that the store would rather take a minimal profit or even a bit of a loss to get the guitar out the door and free up space for new inventory. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630/80 "2013-09-02T20:47:16Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > I’m unsure as to why the store breaking the guitar and forgoing any profit on it was preferable to telling the guy no further discount. Given that the guitar was not moving it couldn’t have been that great a price. I can definitely see the guy thinking that the store would rather take a minimal profit or even a bit of a loss to get the guitar out the door and free up space for new inventory. Some store owners or managers are quirky … the was a music store owner I knew (he’s retired now) who loved interacting with local heros and celebrities, but was very uneven in his attitude toward the average walk in customer, and his staff were even worse. They often acted like they didn’t need any new customers. Once I remember him getting annoyed by a customer’s demand for a bigger discount, and ironically made the customer this offer: “I’ll give you any one item in the store at my cost … any item.” Strangely, the customer got some sort of unsettled feeling and basically walked out of the store, why I don’t know. I asked the owner, “Why would you make an offer like that, you have a lot of very expensive and profitable pieces of gear in here?” He said, “I don’t like that guy’s attitude, and I gambled that he’s walk out. If he hadn’t, I would have kept my word.” I can’t explain the motive for such an action, any more than I could guess why a manager would allegedly damage a high end instrument to make a point (what point?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-we-get-many-customers-weekly-who-think-their-situation-warrents-us-eating-20-to-100/667630.md?page=5)