Unsuccessful Shopping

Wasted a lot of time "shopping" today and didn't end up buying anything! First went to an electronics superstore that I'll call "Worst Buy." Last week, I bought a Creative Zen Micro mp3 player there but today a competing store had it advertised as a Memorial Day special for $20 less. Worst Buy has a price guarantee that refunds the difference plus an additional 10% which would have equaled almost $40 so worth my time to go back to request the refund. We also wanted to look at plasma and projection TVs there as well. They contended that although the item was the same, the competitor was advertising only the dark blue model on sale and not any other colors. Mine is black. I would have to return my black one and buy a dark blue one in order to receive the price guarantee! The manager contended that I was trying to get a price match on an item that I didn't have because of the color!! Needless to say, I didn't even want to look at their TVs and spend another penny there.

Then went to a home goods place that I'll call "Towels 'N Things." Several months ago, I received a coupon for 50% off an item up to $100 that was part of a class action settlement. So essentially the coupon is worth up to $50 if I buy a $100 item. I ended up wanting to buy a $150 patio chair set and inquired if I could still use the coupon but of course only get a $50 discount. The answer was no! I had to buy something that cost less than $100 in order to use the coupon and it could not be applied to a larger item. That makes no sense at all because I would have actually spent more by buying a more expensive item. I ended up not buying anything today at all and left another place in disgust.

It seems ridiculous that employees and so-called retail managers are not empowered to make judgment calls. Instead Worst Buy lost a $3000 TV sale and Towels N Things made $0 on me today as well. These retail stores need to wake up and understand that as consumers we have a lot of choices at to where we buy our products. At the Tustin Marketplace shopping center, there is a Worst Buy, Good Guys, Circuit City and CompUSA and both Bed Bath Beyond and Towels 'N Things all within a 1 minute drive of each other.

At least we still have Target as a good, faithful stand buy!

Total spent Saturday:
$0 lunch at home
$172 misc curtains, organizers for rental property at Ikea
$14 dinner for 2 at Ikea cafe

Total spent Sunday:
$14 lunch for 2 at Mexican place
$170 Asian inspired wall hanging and floor screen at Pier 1 Imports
$102 spontaneous grocery shopping at Albertson's (no coupons!)

Total spent today:
$11 lunch for 2 at Sam Woo Express (much better than your average Chinese takeout)
$0 cooked dinner