why are people so cheap?

Question

at work we have open-box laptops. laptops that were on display and when they are replaced with a newer model, we sell the open boxed laptops for dirt cheap.

a customer brought in a 8 year old laptop that had blue screens, no working cdrom, bad USB ports, and bad NIC.

i tell her we have a laptop for 299. and for over an hour she kept insisting that its "too much" and we should lower it

i explained that the stores cost was 499... and the retail value when it was new was 699.


unfortunately that wasn't enough and she walks out about an hour later saying "i dont think i really need a new laptop anyways"


how cheap can people get? our store is basically losing 200 bucks of the unit, yet she wants it discounted more cuz "its a floor model"........yet it was discounted........


i go through that same scenario every day.

by the way, its not only that she complaiend about the price of the laptop. but she kept insisting i throw in a free wireless mouse, free anti virus, and fix up her old windows 98 laptop for cheap.

oh yeah, and her back also hurt and she had to go to the doctors so "she was in a hurry"


BTW.
this job is alot better than my old job, im a pc tech i only sell once in a while, when the salesmen all are busy.

BTW....... im NON commission, and i explained that the store original price was 699........

the store paid 499.......

the laptop was being sold at 299........

-200 store cost

so the store was basically losing 200 bucks.

Answer 1

I think stores have trained customers to be that way. During the last decade with so much competition everywhere, management at several larger chains has been encouraging the "customer is always right" attitude, and bending over backwards to please any customer - even if it meant taking a loss.

As a result, customers have become so spoiled! I've also worked in retail, and I know first hand that people would ask you to give them the moon for 5 bucks, and gift wrapped just because they know that the store really wants to keep them as a loyal customer.

I think the problem now is that all of this special treatment has backfired, since instead of guaranteeing customer loyalty, it has encouraged customers to run from store to store trying to get as much as they can for as little as they can... The entire industry suffers as a result of this attitude.

I do sense a shift in the retail world now, however. Large department stores are starting to stiffen up their policies (especially on returns) and are taking advantage of loyalty programs like points, and gifts in order to keep customers loyal, as opposed to deep discounts.

Answer 2

It's not necessarily that the customer was cheap. Perhaps the salesperson was not completely effective? If you couldn't demonstrate that the marginal benefit to that customer would justify the original price -- thereby making this now discounted price a true bargain -- then you just didn't relate effectively to the customer's budget and needs.

Also, I myself tend to buy floor models. Personally, this hasn't always worked out too well, but as the item is typically still under warranty, I accept this risk. But I find that I enjoy buying a floor model more than a box model (at least in part) because the negotiations are more interesting. I simply prefer to negotiate than to see some numbers and copy them down in my check book.

Just because you lost out on a small commission doesn't make your customer cheap. It just makes you less effective than you might be if you were enabled to negotiate, and thereby leave the customer with a better sense of value.

...and why is this posted under "mental health" anyway?

Answer 3

Many reason for this such of conflict between human being. Well, I believe this is the nature of market, controlled by the 'invisible hand', making the most competitive things survive. Doesn't it sound as nature's evolution, the fitness survive?

One of the causes is due to other peolple don't know the real situation you're facing. While many people cheating, and many people telling truth, this make people difficult in differentiate truth from fake. Without option, people has to disbelieve whatever the shopkeeper said to them.

Also, people seeking for the cheapest price. Everyone has limited resource (maybe bill gate is the only one has no this limitation), while greedy still been maintain or even been pushed to a high level, through advertisement, promotion, etc. Naturally people react to save more while buy more.

Thus, to decline a deal maybe necessary as a signal to consumer that the price they bargain is too low. This is fact, exactly how the market work.

My opinion is, treat this market activities as extremely normal, and don't let it affect too much on your mood. Keep you clam, at least is good for your health.

Answer 4

Sounds like a real winner. Christ! The new laptop would cost about the same as fixing the old one. Its kinda like a situation i had with my buddy Ted once. One of his kids cut the cord on his computer mouse. He wanted to take it apart and fix it, but i strongly said its better to buy a new one. They only cost 1.50 at the thrift store!

Answer 5

I hear ya, I work in a place where people constantly complain about the prices to me. And/or compare to a simiIair place. I have had about enough lately and I tell them I don't own the restaurant and therefore I don't set the prices. Also, I tell them there is a buffet up the road......or go to the place they are comparing it too! Like I want to hear about it!

Answer 6

It's a negotiation tactic. It's played ALL THE TIME.

Just pat yourself on the back for not buying that act. Some people play this "oh it's too expensive" song and dance whenever they go bargain hunting.

You have to stand firm.

Answer 7

Perhaps, she just could not afford $299. Despite the low price, many people cannot afford the cost of items that we might deem affordable. However, I understand where you are coming from; there are always people you can never seem to make happy. Welcome to the world of customer service.

Answer 8

She'll be back. Where the helll you gonna find 'em that cheap? She'll just wait til you're not there or not looking. LOL. That whole price-conflict thing is why I never got into retail. I don't envy you dude

Answer 9

LOL...I work customer service for a cable company - in a money-driven, greedy society like ours, everyone seems to think that they can get something for nothing.

Answer 10

continuously 21. they have necklaces as low-cost as $3.eighty. also, charlotte russe. often times they have sales 2 for $8 on bracelets and earrings. often however their necklaces are over $10.