OddThinking

Getting a Good Deal

I was looking for a printer at a good price, so I went comparison shopping at Chatswood, a major shopping district. I was checking out the various choices, when I stumbled across a stand in the middle of the mall that Canon had set-up in conjunction with a local camera shop. Canon employees who knew their stuff were there to answer my questions, show me the printers in action and negotiate special deals. Looking through my list, I realised their new printer was exactly what I was looking for.

I bartered the salesperson down to $269, and he went to fetch me a printer.

Disappointment

He came back slightly embarrassed. The sales had been great that day, and there was limited room for stock on the stand. He was out. He wrote me a “raincheck” so I could get the printer at the same price from the camera shop three days later.

I wandered off, happy that I had found a good deal, but not happy that I would have to come all the way back to Chatswood, negotiate traffic and parking, just to pick up a printer. Instant gratification was gone too – I had to wait until the following weekend to play with my new toy. However, none of the other computer shops I had visited stocked the Canon printer I had chosen.

Joyful Surprise

So, 15 minutes later, I was delighted to walk past the same printer on display in a major department store. The sticker price was $299.

I presented my raincheck to the sales clerk and asked him to match the price: $269.

A Hiccough

I found his response mildly surprising: “I’ll have to check” he said. This was a major department store, and I had thought they would always simply price match – especially when I had documentary evidence of a competitor’s price.

He looked through his prices book for a couple of minutes, and came back to apologise. “I’m sorry. I can’t match that price. I’m not permitted to go below $271.”

I ummed and ahhed briefly, and decided that it was easily worth $2 to me to have the printer now, rather than driving back next weekend. “Okay, I’ll buy one for $271.”

Surreal Dilemma

“Oh no, sorry, sir,” said the sales clerk, “Our policy is that if we can’t match the price, we charge full-price.”

I was stunned and confused. “So, if this raincheck said $271, you would sell it to me for $271, but because it says $269, you want me to pay $299?”

“That’s right, sir.”

Marshalling my Arguments

I paused again to consider my options.

I was planning on asking to speak to someone with enough authority and perspective to see that this was a silly policy, and that an exception should be made. However, I figured that there was no point having this debate if there were no printers in stock. I asked the sales droid to check on the stock while I cooled down and marshalled my arguments.

The Plot Thickens

He was gone for at least five minutes, probably closer to ten, but I hung around. He came back saying that he had searched everywhere but he didn’t have any of the printers in stock.

An Opportunity!

“Ah! I said. You have one of the printers on the display, but you don’t have any in stock. Will you sell me the display model for $271?”

“No, sir,” he said, “I can only offer a 10% discount on display models.”

This was getting weirder!

Resolution

“Okay,” I explained patiently, “I will take the display model at a 10% discount. $299 with a 10% discount comes to a smidgin over $269.”

He rung up the sale and I went home happy with a new printer, and a new story to tell.