Music store rant...that's not about GC

[TheGoodTexan]

I've needed to purchase some acoustic strings for weeks now, but I never make it into any music stores anymore at all. They just don't excite me like they used to.

But last night my wife and I ate dinner at a restaurant that's in the same parking lot as Sam Ash, (Logan's Roadhouse in Rivergate for you locals). When we finished up, I decided to run into Sam Ash to get the strings. My wife went in with me. It's about 7:00pm.

I walk in, browse around for about 10 minutes, looking at the used guitars. Although this Sam Ash is about the same size as the local GC, there were only 2 other customers in the entire store...and only one of them was playing guitar....a very pleasing Stanley Jordan, two-hand style jazz things. The other customer was in the ProSound department.

A fella asked if I needed help. I told him I need two packs of strings. He promptly got them and brought them back to me and said, "When you're ready to check out, just take them to the girl at the front counter." I thanked him and walked around some more.

By the time we made our way to the front counter, the customer that had been in the ProSound department was checking out in front of us. I waited. I waited. Four or five minutes had probably passed. The cashier is encountering computer problems. She called over another employee. I waited.

Then I asked, very politely, "Can you guys ring me up for these strings?"

The cashier said, "We've only got this one computer open, and it's tied up sir." Then she called the store manager over, and all three of them were trying to resolve the computer problem.

I saw that the strings were $4 & some change per pack, so I took out a $10 bill and laid it on the counter and began to walk out.... but the "receipt n-a-z-i" at the door....who had witnessed the whole thing....would not allow me out without a receipt.

So I retrieved my $10 bill.... laid the strings at the counter and left.

I didn't cause a scene. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't even show physical signs of frustration. My wife even complimented me on the way to the car, "You handled that very well."

Problem: I still need strings. There are no mom & pop stores in the area that I'm aware of. In fact, I'm not aware of ANY other music stores on this side of town.

[superbadj]

well, in their defense, if they only had one register open, and it was tied up, they couldn't have rang you up.

HOwever, once you gave the $10, they should have said "no problem sir, we're sorry for the delay, enjoy your strings." and allowed you to leave.

If that place is convenient, go back and get some strings. Likely, they won't have computer issues two times in a row. You need strings. They have strings. Problem solved.

[Jakedog]

If there were two other employees there, one lackey, and one manager, somebody could have logged into another terminal, and rung you up. I think they just got pre-occupied/distracted with trying to figure out the issue with the terminal that was effed up, and got caught up in it.

It does sound frustrating. Good on ya for not going to silly-land and freaking out though. It's just not worth it.

Just get on-line and buy a box of strings. They'll be at your door in a few days, and you'll be stocked for awhile. That way you won't have to worry about the double digit IQ crowd at the local big-box stressing you out.



Jake

[Dennis68]

Well, I wouldn't be too hard on them if the register (computer) wasn't working. It likely wasn't their fault and being Sam Ash, a well known big-box retail music store, it's obvious they have to process sale checkouts on their registers to track inventory like the big wal-marts do... I doubt they were trying to inconvenience you.

I think you did the right thing up until the point of putting your $10 on the counter and attempting to walk out. Even though you probably didn't mean it as such, it's possible that it could have been taken as an in your face gesture, no? Hard to say without being there myself. If I was in that situation and in a hurry to check out, and they had no alternate means for me to pay, I would have just put the strings down and walked out as you ended up doing.

By the way, I rarely shop at the big box stores for anything. It's not that I don't like their stores, staff, or products, it's that I just like the vibe a whole lot more at my local mom & pop music store. And when I go there, I am never in any rush as I usually end up chatting with one of the guys I know there. Anyhow, I hope you found some strings finally.

[Daddy Elmis]

I think you handled that perfectly. Going off on these folks just has no effect -- if they really cared about their careers they wouldn't be there in the first place.

I can't even remember the last time I bought strings in a store -- just too many good online places with exactly what I want in the whatever quantity I want. While a good discount is nice too, I usually more interested in getting exactly the brand and gauge I want -- most of the local big box music stores don't carry much in the way of what I want (DR Blues, Guild phosphor bronze). And none seem to carry nashville tuning sets (yeah, I know I can put those together with single strings, but I prefer just buying a set).

[geddins]

That's the NorthEast Texan in ya comin out!

I order my strings 12 paks at a time nowadays.....it's just easier...although I must admit that there's a local guy here that gives me a great buy on strings as well....so I generally do buy my electric strings from him.

Anyway...I feel your pain....sometimes folks can really really be frustrating in their UNWILLINGNESS to treat their customers like....well, CUSTOMERS!

[IronJoe]

This is pet peeve #1 for me when shopping anywhere. Any time you've picked out a product and have wallet in hand, the store should be in a mad dash to put your cash in their drawer before you change your mind. The situation you described, putting down the merchandise and walking out with your money is a loser for everyone.

I run into this at Circuit City a lot -- only one person in the store knows how to use the register. On the other hand, the Target around here is great about opening another register when a line is more than 2 deep.

If I ran a retail outlet of any kind, I would have lots of registers and everyone who worked there would know how to use them. It makes all the sense in the world to me.

Pet peeve #2 has to do with retail places that close at 6 PM.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by Dennis68

I doubt they were trying to inconvenience you.

Inconvenience? Nope. They were not trying to purposely inconvenience me at all.

Incompetence? Yes.

And it has nothing to do with Sam Ash being a national chain. I've got very poor service at locally-owned music stores too, which I no longer frequent.

[Dennis68]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

Incompetence? Yes.

I know where your coming from. There are times I like to get in and get out when buying one thing too. Take grocery stores, for example, where they have those 12 items or less express lines. It's usually my luck to get someone in front of me who has that one item that needs a price check on. And the express line is no longer the express line...

Though lately I've been using those self-check out machines that are popping up more and more at different stores like Home Depot and such.

[jonzer]

To be honest since you posted this here, you were kind of a jerk. I wouldn't have laid the money down as that is an "in your face" as in "I have too much money to stand around while lackeys like you encounter technical issues".

Leaving was OK. But if you really honestly didn't have time to wait (and where did you have to be?) you could have just said "I'm sorry, I have to be somewhere else. I'll buy these later". Heck, I would have walked off to toy with some of their guitar inventory while they figured it out. There are worse things to do.

Stores, occasionally, do have honest to goodness tech issues that will make a wait longer. Trust me, the people behind the counter usually don't enjoy it anymore than you do.

[Steve McGinnis]

Originally Posted by jonzer

To be honest since you posted this here, you were kind of a jerk. I wouldn't have laid the money down as that is an "in your face" as in "I have too much money to stand around while lackeys like you encounter technical issues".

Leaving was OK. But if you really honestly didn't have time to wait (and where did you have to be?) you could have just said "I'm sorry, I have to be somewhere else. I'll buy these later". Heck, I would have walked off to toy with some of their guitar inventory while they figured it out. There are worse things to do.

Stores, occasionally, do have honest to goodness tech issues that will make a wait longer. Trust me, the people behind the counter usually don't enjoy it anymore than you do.

I disagree with this entirely. Waiting 1 - 2 minutes OK, but once the Manager shows up he should open another cash register and let you pay. Technical problems at a store are not my problem as a customer, and that doesn't make me a jerk. I also don't get your "you have time to wait" crack, if he doesn't want to wait for incompetence that is certainly his choice.

[Mojohand40]

Originally Posted by jonzer

To be honest since you posted this here, you were kind of a jerk. I wouldn't have laid the money down as that is an "in your face" as in "I have too much money to stand around while lackeys like you encounter technical issues".

Leaving was OK. But if you really honestly didn't have time to wait (and where did you have to be?) you could have just said "I'm sorry, I have to be somewhere else. I'll buy these later". Heck, I would have walked off to toy with some of their guitar inventory while they figured it out. There are worse things to do.

Stores, occasionally, do have honest to goodness tech issues that will make a wait longer. Trust me, the people behind the counter usually don't enjoy it anymore than you do.

mmmm....
..

..sorry...but...


+1!

[jonzer]

It may not be incompetence...it might just be "s*** happens".
Neither one of us knows if they could have opened another register. It's close to closing time. They probably closed them, put the tils in the safe (at some places takes another ten minutes to open) and left one for the end of the night.

You're going to have an inconvenience every now and then in your life. Sometimes it should be handled with patience.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by jonzer

To be honest since you posted this here, you were kind of a jerk.

I was a jerk?

Originally Posted by jonzer

I wouldn't have laid the money down as that is an "in your face" as in "I have too much money to stand around while lackeys like you encounter technical issues".

Well maybe you wouldn't have laid the money down, but I did...IN AN ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR MY PURCHASE.

I didn't throw the money at them. I didn't make a scene. How many times have you seen someone in a convenience store walk in and lay down cash for a gas purchase....with people standing in line....and say, "$10 on pump five" ...?

I see that happen all the time. It's not rude. It's just saying...."hey, here's a quick solution for both of us - you're not ready to check me out, but I want to pay and be on my way. I don't need a receipt...just ring it up at your convenience."

Originally Posted by jonzer

Leaving was OK. But if you really honestly didn't have time to wait (and where did you have to be?) you could have just said "I'm sorry, I have to be somewhere else. I'll buy these later".

What does my itenarary for the remainder of the evening have to do with it?

No one was speaking to me. The cashier only spoke to me once, after I spoke to her first (after a 5 minute wait). She never spoke to me again. Her co-worker never spoke to me. The store manager never spoke to me.

Besides...Exactly how long should I have waited? I waited about 5 minutes before I was even acknowledged, then about 3 or 4 minutes before I tried to pay for what I wanted to purchase. So about 8 to 9 minutes in all.

Maybe 15 minutes? Would that have been long enough? What about 20 minutes?

Originally Posted by jonzer

Heck, I would have walked off to toy with some of their guitar inventory while they figured it out. There are worse things to do.

What if I walked around the store for another 30 minutes, and they were still trying to fix the computer? What then?

Originally Posted by jonzer

Stores, occasionally, do have honest to goodness tech issues that will make a wait longer. Trust me, the people behind the counter usually don't enjoy it anymore than you do.

That's not the point. This is:

Originally Posted by IronJoe

Any time you've picked out a product and have wallet in hand, the store should be in a mad dash to put your cash in their drawer before you change your mind.

[Andy Summers]

Have to admint...I cant hang with ya on this one..Sounds like an honest to goodness issue to me...It happens sometimes....Patience Daniel san.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by jonzer

You're going to have an inconvenience every now and then in your life. Sometimes it should be handled with patience.

You have no idea about my life.

[geddins]

Originally Posted by jonzer

To be honest since you posted this here, you were kind of a jerk. I wouldn't have laid the money down as that is an "in your face" as in "I have too much money to stand around while lackeys like you encounter technical issues".

Leaving was OK. But if you really honestly didn't have time to wait (and where did you have to be?) you could have just said "I'm sorry, I have to be somewhere else. I'll buy these later". Heck, I would have walked off to toy with some of their guitar inventory while they figured it out. There are worse things to do.

Stores, occasionally, do have honest to goodness tech issues that will make a wait longer. Trust me, the people behind the counter usually don't enjoy it anymore than you do.

You know....the recent thread concerning "hostility" comes to mind. Why did you feel it necessary to personally attack here? I'm not trying to start anything up, just to draw attention to behavior. TGT posted about something that actually happened to him....and you respond by calling him a jerk and coming up with some hypothetical EXCUSES for the store's failure to properly serve a customer.

You're free to do as you please when in certain situations; we all are. TGT was telling us what he did....if you disagreed with the way he handled it, you can certainly say so without calling him names, can't you?

I'm just saying....JMO, YMMV

[jonzer]

I'm sure they could have handled it better too. As a manager of a retail store, whenever a cashier is having trouble, computer or human, and there's people in line, I apologize to those in line.

You're right. I have no idea about your life. But if you can't wait, then don't wait. They have every right now wanting you to leave with their product without it being rang up. There are inventory issues.
Yes, I see people at gas stations just lay their money down and walk out, but you weren't at a gas station.

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by geddins

You know....the recent thread concerning "hostility" comes to mind. Why did you feel it necessary to personally attack here? I'm not trying to start anything up, just to draw attention to behavior. TGT posted about something that actually happened to him....and you respond by calling him a jerk and coming up with some hypothetical EXCUSES for the store's failure to properly serve a customer.

You're free to do as you please when in certain situations; we all are. TGT was telling us what he did....if you disagreed with the way he handled it, you can certainly say so without calling him names, can't you?

I'm just saying....JMO, YMMV

Nah....it's all good.

Thanks for sticking up for me geddins....but there's no need.

Jonzer....when I originally read your post...and did get frustrated, which is obvious in my response.

After a few minutes....I realized that there's no reason for me to get upset, and that if all of us were sitting around shooting the bull in person, and I relayed this same story....and you called me a jerk...it would have probably been in a comical way, and everyone would have laughed, including me.

I voluntarily posted something here....which invites a response from others.... I gotta take what's given to me.

[jwsamuel]

So let me get this straight....

You walked around the store browsing, in no apparent hurry to get what you needed and get out of the store.

But as soon as you got in line to pay, you then became very pressed for time and could not wait any more. Is that about right?

Jim

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

I How many times have you seen someone in a convenience store walk in and lay down cash for a gas purchase....with people standing in line....and say, "$10 on pump five" ...?

And you know what happens then? That person can't pump their gas until the clerk completes the sale he was in the middle of doing and then processes the sale for the guy who slapped the money down. No time saved.

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

II see that happen all the time. It's not rude. It's just saying...."hey, here's a quick solution for both of us - you're not ready to check me out, but I want to pay and be on my way. I don't need a receipt...just ring it up at your convenience."

No, it is rude. It's saying "I don't want to wait my turn like everyone else here."

Jim