Better rethink that one, chief. I know for Best Buy, you can check the stock status of most items online by selecting a local store. It might not be up to the minute, but then, unless you are calling via telephone from outside the front door, you won’t know the up to the minute stock status, either.
I don’t shop at wal-mart, but given how tech-savvy they seem to be, it would stand to reason that they do this as well.
You can’t check the actual up-to-the-minute stock over the phone, either. The person answering is going to look on their computer and tell you whatever it says, they aren’t going to go in the back and verify what is on the shelf.
Best Buy and Circuit City websites will tell you if an item is in stock, put it on hold, or check other locations, probably pulling off the same database that the people in the store use. I have no reason to suspect that Australia does not have access to this technology.
AMEN and AMEN. How many stores heavily advertise their “Morning After Christmas” sales, with “HUGE SAVINGS” and “DOORBUSTER PRICES” and other things like that? So what do you expect when lots of people are getting gift cards or money and then you have a big sale right after Christmas?
“Useful”, you say? In the US, they come with a tiny card that holds maybe 10 pictures or so, just enough to ensure that the camera is operating.
You know what would be cool? I know everyone around here hates Bluetooth earpieces, but this is a situation in which they would be ideal. Yeah, they’d be expensive, but there was a time when retailers thought computerized cash register/databases would be too expensive.
So, no browsing, no calling, and no asking questions? Are you the electronics nazi?
No iPod for you!
Well, the rationale is, for some people–excluding the clueless and unfeeling Peasants referred to in the OP–that, for example, one has adult children who no longer live with one, and who desire to give one a nice Christmas present, but who no longer are in complete synch with what one would actually like for Christmas, and so both parties undergo one of those unpleasant phone conversations that start with the adult child begging one, “But what do you want??” and one racks one’s brain to come up with some not-too-expensive, halfway acceptable item, and finally in desperation one blurts out some specific thing that is merely acceptable and not really what is going to light up one’s eyes on Christmas morning, and which when opened will predictably elicit only a halfhearted, “Oh, how nice”. If the adult child is careful to include the receipt (ideally in a labeled envelope), then the “…ermm…” gift can be happily exchanged the next day, and the adult child can feel like she gave Mommy a nice Christmas present, and Mommy doesn’t have to feel guilty that she never uses the body splash that smells like Pine Sol. We’re all quite adult and rational about it, you see; we tell each other on Christmas morning, “it’s the thought that counts”, and if we all know upfront that it isn’t something that Mommy has just been dying for, but is only a symbolic token of esteem, then no feelings are hurt when Mommy takes it back to Bath & Body Works on Dec. 26.
So that’s why some people at least know in advance that they’re going to return a gift.
And I returned the favor this year with my son-in-law, who I had NO idea what he wanted.
The thing that I thought this was going to be about from scroll-over was returns. People returning gifts always sort of puzzles me. Yes, I understand if the size is wrong, or it’s the wrong software platform or what-have-you; it’s just that we (meaning my family and people I knew) just didn’t return things.
Now, my in-laws attach a gift slip to every single gift they give. I think if they’re going to do that, they might as well just give us a pile of money and say “Here! Go to it!”
I got a Rascal Flats CD. I absolutely hate, hate, hate country music made after, say, 1975, so I returned it and got a Pogues CD instead. What do you propose I should’ve done instead? Jammed out to a CD I didn’t like, or used it as a coaster?
I just hope to Og that you didn’t browse first!
Quite honestly, I have never received music that I didn’t like as a gift. I agree that an exchange, in this case, is warranted. UNLESS, the gift-giver is a member of Rascal Flats and wants you to get to know their music.
And this is why I give gift cards.
That’s why I’m a big fan of gift cards. Although some complain that the gift card is an impersonal gift, I don’t think it has to be; if you know someone is a big reader, you can give them a gift certificate to a bookstore so they can get the books they’ve got their eye on. Big gamer? Gift card for a game store. They’ll probably be happier with that than with a non-gamer trying to guess which game they want. Music lover? iTunes or record store gift card.
In short, what anyrose said. 
I have always found that only the ungrates are that ingrateful.
Today was better, but I stand by my original rant.
The problem with browsing isn’t so much the mere being in the store, it’s that at this time of year there are 100,000 people who know what they want in the store, and we have our hands full dealing with them, without adding even more people who just want “a bit of a look”, with the resultant security issues, space problems, and the “Can I ask you a couple of questions?” directed at harried staff carrying boxes of stock for other customers, who are waiting at the counter, cash or credit cards in hand.
Normally, there’s nothing wrong with browsing- you have to know what’s in the shop in order to know what you want, after all- but at this time of year, really, we (the staff) are just too busy to help you in any but the most basic manner- ie, “yes, we have headphones, aisle four, next to the speakers”. No, we can’t take you to them, No, we can’t explain the difference between Brand A and Brand B, No, we can’t tell you how to wire up the speakers using speaker cable instead of RCAs. Not today, anyway. Why? Because it takes time to do these things, with no guarantee you’ll buy anything- and given the choice between a customer who will definitely make a purchase, and a customer who might make a purchase… you can see why we really don’t have the time to help the browsers, and would be very happy if they could refrain from browsing on the busiest shopping day of the year.
The phones are indeed by the cash register, and has been pointed out, the best we can do is look in the computer and see what that says. And computers tell fibs about stock levels, for a variety of reasons which are the subject of ongoing debate amongst the staff. I favour some kind of Government Conspiracy, but one of the other guys reckons that it’s clearly the fault of The Man, and Computer Senility is a another popular contender.
I realise not everyone is going to get things they like for Christmas- but you don’t have to return them the very next day. Heaven forbid people wait to dispose of their unwanted largesse! Why, the very mention of such blasphemous thoughts could bring a plague of locusts o’er the land, cause the Earth to stop spinning on its very axis, and leave us vulnerable to invasion from the Invisible Flying Saucer Mutants From Outer Space!
For the record, our promotion is NOT a “Boxing Day Sale”- it’s on for the next fortnight, just like all our other promotions throughout the year. Most other businesses around here are the same- there aren’t any “deals” available on Boxing Day that aren’t available the day after, or even this time next week.
We tried the “HellothanksforcallingElectronicsShopwouldyoumindholdingthanks” approach, which seems to bring about three results:
And I do wish people would stop saying “Get more staff”. We don’t HAVE any more staff to get. There aren’t any. Everyone is working, including the guy who normally only does one day a week. Oh, if there was a magic staff genie from whom we could summon minions as Darth Vader summons Storm Troopers, then we would have enough staff to open all the registers, answer every phone call within three rings, replenish all the stock as soon as it was purchased, provide expert knowledge on everything ranging from the best way to hook up a DVD player to a TV that lacks RCA inputs to whether or not Jack Daniels is really a “Bourbon” in the true sense of the word. Oh, and they could also fill in all the paperwork, send the appropriate things to Head Office, and make coffee for all the other staff as well.
There’s something appealing about the term “iNazi”, though.
BMalion, you’re welcome to work the “drunk hunting dog” phrase into conversation. I’d be fascinated to find out how you manage! 
Martini, may I propose the use of salted cod? It’s quite solid, hits with a satisfying thwack and doesn’t need cold storage.
information about the noise made by salted cod when hitting a solid object is based on its behaviour during the de-salting process. The poster has not ever actually thrown a piece of salted cod at anybody, although she did once throw a big dictionary at her grandfather, who most assuredly deserved having big heavy objects thrown at him. Do you think this disclaimer is long enough?
Haha, ok, if that ever happens I’ll give it a spin :).
They’re called “temp agencies” or possibly, “seasonal hires” meaning students that are looking to earn some quick money over the holidays without committing to a long term of employment. During college I worked at stores in malls that do this with great success. It’s not like it’s a surprise that you’re going to be extra-busy that day, so just plan ahead, so you can put the rental monkeys on the cash registers and stock duty or whatever, and have your more experienced staff on the sales floor, instead of giving customers a shitty customer service experience. You know those browsers that are not a guaranteed sale? Maybe some of them eventually decide not to buy from your store because they couldn’t get an employee to answer some simple questions or to even pay attention to them. It boggles my mind that you’re complaining about people wanting to give you business. There are lots of smaller stores that would love to have the problems that you’re talking about. Of course, if you yourself are little more than a rental monkey and you have no real investment in customer satisfaction, and you can bitch all you want about customers, and they’ll bitch about you right back.
You and I seem to use the word browsing to mean two different activities. When I browse, I don’t require the assistance of a sales clerk. I simply examine the merchandise, taking note of what’s available for sale. Not only do I not need a clerk, I really don’t want one, as I’m not in a buying frame of mind. When I shop, I intend to buy. Sometimes this requires a sales clerk to answer my questions, but I do have money in my purse and I’m ready to spend it.
I don’t browse or shop in person during the month of December except for the most basic and necessary of items. There are too many idjits in the stores at that time, and most of them are accompanied by their hellspawn. This makes it difficult to browse or shop in a brick and mortar store. Or at least, difficult to do so without culling the gene pool.
Martini Enfield, Having worked retail for a number of years I love the rant. I work at an independent music store now and we have no…that’s no extended hours. I love that.
Uncommon Sense When every individual in the building is waiting on live customers in the store it’s hard to man the phones. Since customers have decided low price is better than good service many companies don’t have the budget to hire people just to answer the phone. I agree that customers need to call but when you know it’s the Christmas rush have a clue and keep it brief and consise. This is what I’m looking for? Do you have it? How much? One customer complained to me that he had been on hold for ten{it was probably three} minutes on Dec 22 to which I responded just as impatiently “No kidding? We’re a little busy you know!”
The folks Martini is complaining about are the ones who don’t seem to have a clue that the staff is extremely busy and there are other customers waiting to be served. If you’ve shopped in America in late December before don’t be surprised if stores can’t get to the phones or they don’t have time to check the details of three or four items you might want. The people** in** the store get first priority.
Sierra Indigo on browsing. I have no problem with nice people who like to look stuff over. There are certain browsers who want to needlessly take up the staffs time asking questions when they have no intention to buy. IMHO it’s a matter of consideration. If you see the store is swamped then keep questions to the bare minimum or save them for another day. If you’re considering making a purchase then please ask away but, still keep it to the point. I don’t want to hear about the old digital camera you had years ago and how much they’ve changed. I don’t want to hear about the amazing new one your brother in law just bought. We’re swampesd and I only want to talk about the purchase you’re interested in making. It’s not rude, it’s business. You’d be surprised how many customers just don’t get that and get offended when staff is a little to direct and cuts off their little story.
Let me add my own rant…NO! I can’t hold one for you while the store is full of people who want to but it. I understand that some people drive an hour or more to get to the store. My tact this year was to offer to sell it to them over the phone with a credit card and they could just pick it up when they got there. Most did not do that. They just wanted the option of buying it and fuck everyone else.
I also am not going to demo five or six different items because you don’t have a clue what you’re looking for. I’ll explain the differences and we’ll narrow it down to two. I’ll demo them briefly and you’re either capable of making a decision or not. Remember you can exchange them , and no ones life hangs in the balance. And, Keep your fucking kids off the exspensive gear or get out. Teach them to respect other peoples property and that they {and you the parent} are respopnsible if they damage it.
After years in retail I think the holiday buying binge is the worst tradition a supposedly intelligent race has ever conspired to create. The early bird day after Thanksgiving crap being the worst case.