Holiday Shopping, The Sequel

Sometimes it takes some extra work to save some money, at a store that I'm not a big fan of. However, it really shouldn't be this hard. Oh, and by the way, there's never really an excuse for bad customer service, no matter how low the price, but that is getting ahead of myself.

I had it all scouted out for my new laser printer. I had identified that the Samsung ML-2010 was on sale today from 6 am to 10 am at Staples for a mere $39.99 after the rebate. I even went to the store the other day and saw that they had seven in boxes. As the printer is $139 before the rebate, trust me, no one is buying them at that price unless they just landed on this planet.

I had looked online on Wednesday, and I figured out that if I wanted the printer at that price, I was going to have to be there. I couldn't even find a page for it on their site, and the circular indicated "In Store Specials." Hence, the early ring from the alarm clock.

After driving home on Thanksgiving through that storm last night, let's just say I was a few minutes late for the store opening. I arrived around 6:20 today at my local Staples store. The place was in mayhem. The stack of printer boxes was no longer where it was. I asked an associate, who said that they had been moved to the front of the store. He escorted me over there, only to tell me that they had sold out! I asked him nicely if he could see if they have any in the back, and he scurries off. A minute later, another associate shows up, and asks if he can help. I told him I had come for the Samsung printer, and he tells me that only the folks that were lined up from 4 am were getting one, even though the sale is till 10 am, and "We sold all we're going to sell at that price." I then ask him if he can call another store, and see if they have it in stock. He not only refuses this request, but won't even give me the phone number to another store! He then sees the first associate at the computer and when he ascertains that he is checking on the stock at another store, issues a cease and desist order, again stating "We've sold all we're going to sell at that price."

While I'm not a big conspiracy theory believer, I'm more than a little suspicious at this point. Not only is this sale associate unhelpful, but he is rude, and obviously doesn't want to sell a sales item. I'm wondering if they didn't take the boxes in the back, and only have one available to purchase! Why go through the effort and expense of printing a circular, only to not sell the product, and have an unhappy customer.

Anyway, I reluctantly proceeded to work, printerless. My plan was to go to some other web sites and see if I could find a comparable deal, although at this rock bottom price, I wasn't holding my breath. Anyway, I'm not exactly sure why, but I went back to the Staples web site. To make a long story short the printer was now there, and I ordered one, with free shipping even. The order went through, and it says the stock is "available." I even submitted the rebate online.

Next year, I'll set my alarm clock later, and not deal with the nasty sales help. And if the order gets cancelled for any reason, then my "Staples Conspiracy Theory" will be fully confirmed.

--Jonas

Feel free to relate your own "Black Friday" shopping adventures, on and offline below.