Do I have a right to be furious?

Question

I was shopping at kmart tonight. I guess I picked something up that did not have a price tag on it. When I was checking out at the register, this silly teenager spent five minutes looking for a tag, then said "Hmm, here's what we can do. You can pay for all of your other stuff and then go back and get one with a price tag and then go through line again." I was a little confused and taken aback at first and didn't really respond because nobody ever told me that before. Then, I snapped. I said, "Listen, why do I have to go back and get it? Why can't you call someone? I have two jobs already. It is not my responsibility to make sure everything in the store has a valid price on it." He responds by saying, well that is the way it is. Now, I worked in retail in high school, about 10 years ago. I can recall paging someone from the dept when an item did not have a tag on it. Is that the old way of doing things? Was it right that I had to haul my stuff out to my car. Then go back in and buy the

item that did not have the price tag on it. I had to wait in line yet AGAIN. I was livid. Do you think I should have talked to the manager. I feel like sending an email through Kmarts web site about my experience. Am I over-reacting?

I kind of really needed the item that I went back in for...that is why I went back. Also, this young clerk really made me mad...but I don't want to get anyone fired...just corrected.

Answer 1

I expect customer service and courtesy when I go to any store. If the check out guy didn't want to do his job, then he needs to quit and go home. I don't care how long the line is, I don't care how hard the guy has worked, we all have our problems when we work. When we take the pay, we need to do the job. Call the manager and whatever trouble the guy gets into is his problem. If he had behaved properly, he wouldn't be in trouble. Do not ever let anyone get away with mistreating you. You deserve good service and it is unreasonable to tell someone to go get one with a price tag and go through the line again. That kinda assumes you have nothing better to do with your time. And if the manager didn't back you up, I would call the national number and B*TCH. Whenever I get stuck waiting in a line for someone to price something, I just turn to everyone in line and start talking-explain the situation, apologize that you ALL have to wait to get that price or in this case I would just say sorry everyone. This kiddo doesn't want to get a price so now I'm going to have to waste your time and mine to demand the manager come over. Can you imagine that this guy said. . . and tell the story and tell it loudly. Get the whole line behind you. . .and they will be because we've all had to wait to get a price or had an idiot check us out. Don't get mad-Get even!

Answer 2

I would call the store and ask to speak to the manager. Explain that you are very upset and feel that you were not taken care of by this young person with an attitude! Anyone in customer service has no right to treat a customer this way! It's not old school...it just shows that the requirements of employers have changed. The manager has probably not been made aware of the situation....you should call because this person might get the impression that this is the way to handle him/her self if you don't.
I would have left every bit of merchandise sit on his counter and said forget it punk- put this stuff away!

Answer 3

No,you're certainly not over-reacting. It is their staff's responsibility to make sure that their customers are always satisfied. Customers dont have to go through so much hassle because they missed to tag an item. If they don't have the price list on hand, they can always page someone. If I'd experienced the same scenario, I would've done exactly the same thing, and probably even asked to see the manager if the staff can't be reasoned with.

Answer 4

I wouldn't have gone back.

You have every right to be angry. You went through the system, only to find that it was a waste, then had to take the time to do it again because of their screw up.

I would have asked to speak to the manager when the clerk said "that's just how it is". That's not how it is, and you know it. Anyone who has ever been in a store knows that they page someone to go look.

I don't think you'd be out of line going to the manager and telling him what happened. At the very least, the clerk needs to be told the correct way to handle that situation.

Answer 5

I would ask the store Mannager what the polocy is at their store when this happens, Ive never heard of this. if the manager says that the check out kid was right then i would then write to the coorperate office for k-mart. My guess is that this kid was new and wasnt trained on what to do in this situation. A more expeienced cahsiere would have known to call for a price check. So mant people just dont get the propper training any more. I wouldnt really get mad at the casheer, I would be angry at the store for not enforcing these polocies or for not having a propper training program on hand. whatever the case may be, I think its the stores falt.

Answer 6

yes you do have a right to be upset...there is no customer service any more.....the clerk should have called someone and then asked them to find the price. They do that at the stores i have worked at.

Too many people are lazy and do not want to do their jobs. It is sad. i would call the manager tomorrow and find out the policy.....hold onto the receipt and have all the information. If you do not get a good response call on Monday when the real managers will be there and go as high as you have to, to get a response.

Answer 7

Why not send a letter to the Manager of the local store and ask them if it is the store policy to sent a customer back to find an item that is tagged with the price. Point out that it did happen to you and if it's not store policy then all their staff should be made aware of what to do in a case such as this.

I would not I.D. the young man as this may lead to him being dismissed (do you want that?).

Make sure you sign your letter with your address and ask for a written reply. A letter is more likely to receive a reply than an E-Mail.

Answer 8

You have all the right to be furious. Good customer service should not even be exclusive to the high end supermarkets or department stores. The least he could have done was, like you said, page someone from the department to check the price for you. Next time maybe shop in Costco.

Answer 9

I would have been very mad too! I've never heard of anyone having to do that! I can't believe you did it! I would have demanded to see a manager & if that didn't work, I think I would have left everything there & walked out! I would write to whoever I could & complain about it! You pay good money to these stores, you should be able to expect to be treated better than that. It seems like we pay more & more for things & get less & poorer service in return, not to mention the attitudes we are given by the employee's!

Answer 10

I would have told him to put the rest of my items back on the shelves and walked out, because that would have been more trouble (to credit what was rung up etc.) than to have found a price for you. That was totally rude/lazy on behalf of that employee. Customer Service is EVERYTHING these days. I won't tolerate lazy employees and neither should anyone else. I have worked in Cust. Serv. for over 20 yrs. and I would never think to say or do such a thing as that young man did.