Bad and kind of Funny Staples Experience

[Scott Hall]

I'm sure all of you have had really bad Staples experiences, which is why they're nicknamed Stooples on here, but let me tell you what just happened to me, because that name is definitely warranted. (For those who don't want to read through everything, I put an abridged version below)

I was on a business trip to Toronto and my hotel was really close to one of the local Staples. I decided to walk around Staples for some supplies (ie: a USB key) and went through the video game section and saw that Modnation Racers was on clearance for $9.97.

For those who aren't familiar, usually Staples has a video game section where you take a laminated card to customer service and they give you the actual game after purchase. Apparently, the people who work at Staples weren't familiar with that practice.

I took the laminated card to the cashier, she greeted me kindly, scanned the game and asked me if I wanted a bag. I said no and she handed the card to me and wished me a good night.



Wait... wasn't I supposed to get a game? Apparently, I had just bought a piece of cardboard for $9.97.
I asked the CSR for the game and she wasn't sure what to do so she went to get someone from the department, or at least, someone who was familiar with video games.

The man and the CSR had a brief chat, something about $9.97 being the wrong price and he eventually came to me and made some excuse about the game not being $9.97 and that he couldn't sell it to me for that price.

After showing him the price tag on the shelf and in the system, he agreed and went to the back to help me look for the game.

You can probably guess what happened next.

"Sorry, we don't have it in stock."

To show some good faith, he even sifted through the clearance video game bin.

The store decided to refund my money for the laminated card and apologized to me as a form of good will.

I was okay with it as it was only a $9.97 item. I know some people might have been more upset, but I wasn't in a hurry that day and mistakes can happen right?

I was flying out the next day and my flight wasn't until 9PM so I had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport. I decided to head to Staples again to pick up some supplies. I went by the video game section (which happened to be near the exit) and guess what? The game was BACK on the shelf for $9.97.

So either they are so incompetent that right after talking to me, they put the game back on the shelf, or they had stock all along and didn't want to sell it to me - either way, the result isn't good.



The abridged version for those who don't want to read:
1) Wanted to buy a video game
2) CSR sold me a laminated card in place of video game because she thought that was the product
3) Asked another CSR for help, he told me that the game is the wrong price and wouldn't sell it to me
4) Showed him he was wrong and decided he would "help" me look in the back for the game
5) Was told there was no stock
6) Refunded money for the laminated card that was supposed to be a video game
7) Went back to the store and saw the laminated card was still on the shelf


Anyone else have any extremely incompetent experiences with Staples?

[booblehead]

Very good story indeed.

You should have asked the cashier the question (when you were just given the cardboard). "Can you show me how to play this game ?" being the cardboard. Do I need a game controller or a bunch of crayons ?

[Spiderpal93]

This happened to me a couple of times too at staples. When it's OOS they put the product(empty box) back on the shelf... Maybe it's their standard practice..haha.

Very good story...LOL..

[kmarcie]

i can almost understand trying to give you the cardboard paper - sometimes a cashier just isn't really paying attention. All that is required of them is to scan and bag everything. There are probably odd cardboard sold at staples to begin with.

But to put the game back onto the shelf is

[Scott Hall]

Just wanted to update this:

I wound up sending this to customer service online, who then forwarded it directly to the manager of the store. He apologized and will personally send me a copy of the game for free. Now... let's see if it arrives or will some mysterious out-of-stock bug strike again

[DavidY]

Just wanted to update this:

I wound up sending this to customer service online, who then forwarded it directly to the manager of the store. He apologized and will personally send me a copy of the game for free. Now... let's see if it arrives or will some mysterious out-of-stock bug strike again

Or he may send you a free laminated card.

Dave

[Supersonicxp]

There are always many angles for the same story. If you have a bit of experience about retail you should know that when you work with a group of people (for minimum wage) mistakes happen.
1) There are some games out there that are product keys only or 'game' cards, you can't expect a cashier to know everything or be a product expert.
2) How did the cashier scan the product, if is a ''demo box'' there should not be a valid upc (it will interfere with inventory)
3) The game is not in stock, for your knowledge items ending in ''7'' at staples like in some other retails means clearance, therefore it also means that most likely there will be no more restock for that item. If they put it back on the shelf it is a mistake but you need to understand that most likely the ''card'' of the game you were trying to purchase was probably left in the service area until closing time, and at the end of the day, the computer guys to what is call ''re-shop'' or ''returns'' which it means all the items found on the service area go back on the shelf. A poor communication between a cashier and a computer associate probably led to someone put it back on the shelfs, but its a minor mistake. Annoying customers like you are what make working in retail so stupid.

[emmafb]

Haha, I have a similar experience in Sony Store.

I bought a game at Sony Store, paid & went home.

Kids were so excited, they ripped all the plastic & found "NO DISC" - just an empty box!! Store was closed, I shoot Sony Canada an email. Got an email back the next morning (before the store open) that took the box back to the store.

Went to store when it was open, the sales gave me the game yesterday apologize profusely. They used an empty box with original package & seal (don't ask me how they took out the disc) instead of a cardboard.

[xalex0]

Annoying customers like you are what make working in retail so stupid.

Seriously?

[pete_rfd]

Or he may send you a free laminated card.

Dave

lol

This story reminds of a case on Judge Judy

[brunes]

lol

This story reminds of a case on Judge Judy

I cant' stand this blabbermouth (judy). She makes instant judgements with no legal basis, all the time.

The "scammer" is actually in the right here, and the "scammee" should take this as a lesson in not being a tool their whole life. If this was a real court, the person brining the suit would lose.

This used to happen on eBay all the time, people selling photos and empty boxes, banking on the fact that the person did not read the ad (which they did not). It's their own damn fault IMO.

[iridium001]

There are always many angles for the same story. If you have a bit of experience about retail you should know that when you work with a group of people (for minimum wage) mistakes happen.
1) There are some games out there that are product keys only or 'game' cards, you can't expect a cashier to know everything or be a product expert.
2) How did the cashier scan the product, if is a ''demo box'' there should not be a valid upc (it will interfere with inventory)
3) The game is not in stock, for your knowledge items ending in ''7'' at staples like in some other retails means clearance, therefore it also means that most likely there will be no more restock for that item. If they put it back on the shelf it is a mistake but you need to understand that most likely the ''card'' of the game you were trying to purchase was probably left in the service area until closing time, and at the end of the day, the computer guys to what is call ''re-shop'' or ''returns'' which it means all the items found on the service area go back on the shelf. A poor communication between a cashier and a computer associate probably led to someone put it back on the shelfs, but its a minor mistake. Annoying customers like you are what make working in retail so stupid.

How is this customer annoying?? The store was clearly at fault for their incompetence and stupidity.

Oh wait, *looks at post again* so how long have you been working at Stooples?

[ChoW_MeiN]

There are always many angles for the same story. If you have a bit of experience about retail you should know that when you work with a group of people (for minimum wage) mistakes happen.
1) There are some games out there that are product keys only or 'game' cards, you can't expect a cashier to know everything or be a product expert.
2) How did the cashier scan the product, if is a ''demo box'' there should not be a valid upc (it will interfere with inventory)
3) The game is not in stock, for your knowledge items ending in ''7'' at staples like in some other retails means clearance, therefore it also means that most likely there will be no more restock for that item. If they put it back on the shelf it is a mistake but you need to understand that most likely the ''card'' of the game you were trying to purchase was probably left in the service area until closing time, and at the end of the day, the computer guys to what is call ''re-shop'' or ''returns'' which it means all the items found on the service area go back on the shelf. A poor communication between a cashier and a computer associate probably led to someone put it back on the shelfs, but its a minor mistake. Annoying customers like you are what make working in retail so stupid.

The manager of the store already admitted fault by apologizing AND sending the game to the OP for free, and yet, the OP is the annoying one? Spun a different way, well retail employees and their managers should be better trained to avoid mix ups such as this one.

Annoying retail employees who are incompetent and self-righteous like you are what make shopping at a retail store so stupid.

[NG]

Annoying customers like you are what make working in retail so stupid.

When you cut out annoying employees like this and buy it from Amazon stuff like this doesn't happen.

Just saying...

[Supersonicxp]

Good... good luck find it at a clearance price. lol