Shopping Disappointment

[ScotFree]

Today I trucked over to the local Salvation Army store in search of a nice tweed jacket I could have converted. Lo' and behold, there it was. A gorgeous Scottish made Harris tweed with traces of green, grey and blue running through it. Patch pockets as well, a conversion dream. And it fit me almost like it was made for me. But alas, it lacked a price sticker and no how much I argued and reasoned and talked to managers, their policy is no sticker they will not sell it. All their jackets ranged from about $4.00 to $6.00. I offered to give them $20.00, but no dice. I tried to discern when I could come back and get it with the price sticker, but they would not/could not tell me when, nor would consider holding it. No doubt by the time I return it will have been stickered and sold to some other $*%& who could not possibly appreciate it as much as I. I walked out without purchasing the other 7 or 8 other items I was going to get as well.

<sigh> Thanks for letting me get that frustration off my chest. Idiots are maddening.

[Chas]

That does seem to be the general policy here in the UK as well.

I would suggest going back every day and re-looking.

Regards

Chas

[Pipersson]

:-( I feel with you...very frustrating...I hope it'll be there prepared for you next time...

[ScotFree]

That's my plan Chas, in fact I plan on returning later today as well. However, tomorrow is a complete wash as I'm tied up elsewhere from early morning to late evening. Saturday, I'm the designated driver for 5 other out-of-towners up to the Ren Faire in Wisconsin. Also a wash. Closed on Sunday. Next chance at it will be on Monday. So if its meant to be, its meant to be.

Pipersson - I love your tag line. I chuckle to myself every time I read it.

[Pipersson]

Thanks...find it brilliant too. Sadly not my idea...:-)

[James Hood]

Sympathies.

Your offering them $20 for something commonly priced at $4 to 6 just proves that some people, when given even the most minute amount of power, will choose to abuse same to cause consternation to another. Sad means to feel self-important.

Pity you did not encounter a person who chose initiative and made more money than usual for an item, for their employer / charity.

Best of fortune.

[Kiltboy]

That is a suprising story. In the Salvation Army stores near me, they are much more flexible with pricing unmarked merchandise. I guess it depends on the store manager.

[gary meakin]

It boggles my mind to think a store's policy is that it won't sell anything without a tag.
Isn't it the store that tags the items?
Are they afraid they will be court marshaled if they sell something for the wrong price?

[Father Bill]

I don't want to suggest that I know the individual situation, but some thrift shops employ those who otherwise would not be able to find employment. In such cases, due to social, mental, physical, vocational, or other disabilities, there may not be anyone other than the manager who is able to make decisions such as the one that seems obvious here, and the "head office" types may have directed their managers not to do so lest the employees have an example that they would not be able to follow productively. I have a little experience with such thrift shops, and while I'm not saying that this one is or was such a store, I know that the do exist and much as it grieves us not to be able to do what is obvious to us, there just may in some cases, be reasons beyond the obvious.

[gary meakin]

I hope you're not right about that Fr Bill.
Management not being allowed to make decisions because their employees won't be able to follow their example?
That is why managers are (or should be) there. They can make the decisions that the employee can't and shouldn't be making.
This seems to me a case of a manager who shouldn't be in the position he's in.