We just drove all over the place to find the last piece of the inexpensive dining set that we’ve had our eye on – and it’s the last big expense coming out of the tax return – and the ONLY place I could find it was the Kmart closest to us. This might sound fabulous! However!
It was FIFTEEN DOLLARS more expensive at that one. WTF!!!!
I am doing my best not to be completely pissed, because after all it’s still cheap. It’s just that I shopped around, and we’ve talked about it for over a month, and I had to call several different Kmarts and be put on hold for interminable amounts of time just to find out if they had any of the pieces at all. I even rented a truck to bring it home because it’s far too large to fit in our car no matter how wishful the thinking is.
When I complained to the Service Desk Guy at Closer Kmart, I said, why is it that this table that I have been looking everywhere for is more expensive here? Can you do anything about it? And he said, with that please-don’t-make-me-help-you look they get, “Well, we’re in a different district here, so we have different prices.”
A different district? Closer to the poor side of Genesee County than the one I got the bench and chairs from earlier today? Really? A different district that apparently marked everything up about ten to fifteen dollars since I was there two weeks ago?
ARG.
We also used the truck to take the old heavy table and chairs to Goodwill, and also a dresser we don’t need any more. So it was productive.
I’m still pissed. :p I think I need some chocolate to calm me down.
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{ 14 comments }
Hi! I never have understood the different pricing either. At least they had it in stock and you didn’t get the truck for nothing!
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‘m gonna let ya’ in on a little secret, Rachael. K-Mart sucks.
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@Ray, that’s true. And that’s why I’m trying (not real hard) not to be all pissy.
@cajun, AUGH. I know. I got what I paid for. :p
I wonder if you could have had them transfer it to the cheaper store and then buy it there. Although then you would be wasting more than $15 in time. Either way, it sucks.
Unfortunately districts sometimes do fall in odd spots… like the middle of a city. Had this item been on sale two weeks ago? Watch your circular to see if it goes on sale with in a week from when you bought it. If you bring your receipt in, they will be happy to adjust the price for you.
In any case, I hope you like your new table and I feel badly that you have such a distaste for Kmart.
Ah, yes. The please-don’t-make-me-help-you look. I get that all the time. Are all Kmarts vaguely disgusting and poor-looking on the inside, or is that just here?
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Most Kmart stores do have a similar layout to them, however they are not all stuck in the 70’s any more.
As far as associates go, if you are having a bad time with one in particular, ask to speak to his her manager or call the customer comment line. As associates, we are there to take care of the customers needs to the best of our abilities. If you feel that is not happening, let someone know in management or on the customer service line.
I do find it hard to believe that Kmart is the only store that you find this issue at though.
@Duchess, I had thought of that as well, but I didn’t ask because I figured it wouldn’t be a savings for me at all.
@Fraulein, LOL. That look, which I have certainly gotten from more people than at Kmart, is so frustrating to deal with.
A few of the Kmarts around here are dirty and/or old-looking inside, but most of them just have a worn look about them. After all, they WERE built quite a while ago. (At least around here.)
@John, I am getting the distinct feeling that you are a Kmart employee, or you might not be quite so offended. I appreciated your insight about the ad, although unfortunately that table set has not gone on sale again (I know this because I have checked it every week).
I actually never did say that Kmart is ‘the only store’ that I find this issue with (the issue of unhelpful/tactless salespeople). I realize that there are plenty of Kmart associates that ARE very helpful, and the woman at the first one I stopped in is a prime example of that. However, I know that all the Kmarts around here are understaffed and that their associates generally are made to cover several different areas at a time that they are not necessarily familiar with. I also can see that most of the associates I have encountered have that very tired-out, worn-down, I-wish-I-was-anywhere-but-here look on, and when I am actively trying to purchase something from a store chain that cannot seem to keep all the pieces that go together at each store – instead of spread out all over the damn place – I get frustrated.
I am the consumer, and I deserve to be treated better than a nuisance.
I haven’t even gotten into how difficult it is to get anyone on the phone to look something up in the back room without taking at least ten to fifteen minutes of me waiting on the phone. Kmart, in particular, has a bad problem with understaffing and outdated tools, which forces their employees to be overworked and unable to perform their job duties even if they WANTED to.
/end rant (for now, lol).
Rachel,
You got me. I am an employee of SHC. You say I am offended. That is not true. In fact, concerned would be the better way to put it. Our goal is to help every customer even when it has already been a long day.
When I hear stories of this sort I get very concerned for the sake of the company. You were not wrong to want to buy the table and chairs in one location. And you are certainly not wrong to want to get customer service without that “I don’t want to be here” attitude. That is understandable. I would in fact want the same things.
You said the first ladies that worked with you were very helpful. That is good, but should not be out of the ordinary. the fact that it is not happening every time is a problem that needs to be addressed.
I really do hope you are enjoying your table. Is it a Martha Stewart or an Essential Home set? and which model? I do think for the price we have some very nice tables at Kmart.
Well, I am off to work. have a Fabulous Friday.
I used to really dig Kmart. Then I met my current love, Target. Suddenly, Kmart’s blue light special was just plain blue.
Being a kmart employee isn’t exactly a fun thing either. Work very hard and try to spread yourself thin and the management still doesn’t appreciate you or see how much help you are giving. I worked in a department during the day where they had hardly anyone working and I had to do many different things other than my assigned post. Then I got yelled at because I left my area to help customers. Something I had always done since I worked in that area. Then customers complain and constantly talk about going to walmart. After the countless days of stress it is hard not to get upset by the customers comments, on top of being an employee treated shabbily by the management. I quit, it was too much and I couldn’t deal with it any longer. That was my experience.
Ed, I feel for you. Maybe there is more than meets the eye as far as how you are treated. I can only speak for myself and my store in Las Vegas. This store is out of control. The employees that know what is going on have no incentive to perform. Our hard work seems to be overlooked. They know if they say anything they will be fired. The store manager (Frank) is using the store and his power to have sex with the employees. The most recent one I know about is Ralinda. In a time of layoffs and hours being cut, she is moving up. I too have almost reached the end of my rope. Your not missing anything. Good luck
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