Totally lost my cool tonight at GE....(long)

[jen276here]

From the beginning:

I'm prepping for DS's 1st B-day and decided to order some GE chicken, which if you haven't had it is usually very, very good. I called on Monday and spoke with a woman in the prepared foods department and she told me there was a special deal were the chicken was on sale for $.85/piece when you bought the 100pc mix. She explained the reg prices were up to $2.xx per piece (for breast I think) and how this is an excellent price, etc. etc. She told me I had to order by Weds though for the price. I thought - heck, no problem! I asked if it was all GE's or just this one and she said all, it was in the ad - great!! (I should have looked at the ad....) Anywhoo, I go to one tonight @ about 8:15 (after DS's soccer practice), not incredibly late at night or anything to find the prepared foods has closed - since 7pm... ugh. So I ask CS if there is anything they can do (like a raincheck) No - they know nothing of the department. :shrug7: I say, but it supposed to be in your ad so you should offer a raincheck. No- they have nothing to do with that department :shrug7:. I say, fine, I will go to another GE. I would have stood my ground, but I hate that particular GE as it is and just didn't want to deal with them anymore - they are always difficult.

On to GE #2. I decide to call before driving down. Its about 8:30 now and I am told their prepared foods has closed also as of 8:pm and there is nothing he can do :sad: .... ugh..... I ask for a manager. I'm spent at this point because it is Weds., the ad is still valid, and there is nothing in the ad that says I have to order before a certain time - which is what I tell the manager . He says fine, come on down we will give you the raincheck. Great. I pack up two of three kids and go. I get down there for them to tell me it is not in the ad (See, I told you I should have checked....). I look, don't see it either and now I am a tad more than peeved (partially at me). Meanwhile though the CS guy's phone rings and instead of saying 'excuse me' he just leaves the conversation and answers it - as in just walks away! Now I am very irritable and just spit out "Um, hello, what about me?? The customer you were just waiting on???" He says "When the phone rings we have to answer asap". I say, 'Fine, but you could have said 'excuse me' before you left me talking to myself'. So he barks out this snarky 'excuse me'.... Do you know what it is like to restrain yourself from reaching into someone's throat to tie their tonge to their scanner??? Trust me it is hard. I just stare for a moment and take a breath before I ask his name and for his manager. I am not in the mood for this.

Arrives Manager who explains he looked at ad, its not in there, he thinks the deal was over a few weeks back, and there is nothing he can do for me. Well, I just spew out about how I think it is terrible that an employee mis-informed a customer and that the customer, me, has wasted time an energy trying to take advantage of a sale that apparently isn't even there. I went on and on... like a babbling brook. I just couldn't stop. I kept my tone and everything, but I just kept whining basically about how wrong this all is. Once again I hear how he can't help me, but if I need the chicken that badly I could talk with the store manager tomorrow.... I finally say, fine - thank you for your time and I'll be back tomorrow.

So here is the best part..... ready..... I'm leaving the store and I look above prepared foods - just was looking for a sign or something that says what time they close. Instead I see a huge sign with specials on it. One of the specials was GE mixed chicken 100 pc for $89.99 prices good until 12/31/09. I spent all this time and energy over about $5.00. To my defense I must say the woman I spoke with told me how wonderful of a price I was getting based on the reg price of the chicken. I should have however looked further into this before I went apesh*t on GE as a whole tonight though.

All this for $5.00....

Shame on me!

Of course now I have a bigger problem because I did most of this at my favorite GE....

[sagesonamabuster]

Oh Jen! What a night!! I can't even imagine how frustrating that was. Hopefully, you won't have anymore trouble ordering. I am totally on your side though. That guy was extremey rude to not even excuse himself before answering the phone. What horrible manners and CS.

[jen276here]

Oh Jen! What a night!! I can't even imagine how frustrating that was. Hopefully, you won't have anymore trouble ordering. I am totally on your side though. That guy was extremey rude to not even excuse himself before answering the phone. What horrible manners and CS.

I hate to say it Sage, even I'm not on my side! I didn't check the ad, I went into GE #2 with total attitude because of GE #1, and I waited until relatively late on the last day of the ad. Now of course none of this excuses the woman for giving me bad information nor does it excuse CS guy's attitude, but man to I need to get a grip!

[majestynoel]

This is so my luck it's not even funny. I must say.. I did need this laugh after the night I had! Hopefully your fav. giant eagle will have no hard feelings.

[MJKNEeley]

That cracked me up! What a story to wake up too - and the animations made it even funnier!
Sorry Jen. Not laughing at you, just with you!!! Great story!

[sportsycar]

i had a hard time with my local GE, avoid it now , don't give them any business, go 3 miles up the road where they are nicer and polite. if the store is rude and gives you a hard time they don't deserve your business. your money is yours to spend where ever you want.

[TerryTerrific]

Now, we only can go on what was mentioned in the original post (we were not there) ...

+

After reading the original post, there are at least two things to learn from this experience ...

+

• Large / special orders are not 'an automatic.'
• Do not wait until the last day (last hours) of a sale or a large / special order.

+

Q) Out of this experience, what percentage is the store to blame and what percentage is the customer at fault?

+

Terence in Brook Park, oHIo

[Giovanna816]

hahaha. What a great story Jen276here! Sometimes you just can't help but wait until the end of a sale if that's the way it works out.

I agree I loved the animations, that really made my evening!

If I remember correctly I think you're in my neck of the woods? (North canton area?) I always shop late in the evening/night at Washington Square, and I've never had problems with any managers....and most of the late night cashiers love me too (except now after 11pm only keep SCO's open and no cashiers)

[amys]

My favorite part:

Do you know what it is like to restrain yourself from reaching into someone's throat to tie their tongue to their scanner

Oh, how many times I have felt this way - ROFL

[jen276here]

Now, we only can go on what was mentioned in the original post (we were not there) ...

After reading the original post, there are at least two things to learn from this experience ...
• Large / special orders are not 'an automatic.'
• Do not wait until the last day (last hours) of a sale or a large / special order.
Q) Out of this experience, what percentage is the store to blame and what percentage is the customer at fault?
Terence in Brook Park, oHIo

Oh, Terry, Terry, Terry... If you read my original post and then subsequent posts, you would already know I took responsibility for my end of the snafu.

One of the reasons I posted this story, besides the fact it was just funny in general - more amusing if you were there and saw my poor baby's confused look and my oldest twin's attempt to hide under his hat - is to point out that customers can create unnecessary drama too w/ me being the guilty party this time.

I'm not sure what you meant when you said large/special orders are not an automatic though??

I also don't find anything wrong with waiting until the last day of a sale for a special order like this - if it still is in the ad (which it wasn't this time, lol) you are still entitled to the sale price whether it be Sunday or Wednesday. I also wasn't there late, unless 8-8:30pm is considered late these days.

Thanks for the comments as always!