I don't get modern retail
 

Two of the most annoying responses:

1) We don't have it but we can order it for you (duh, I can do that)

2) We don't know when it'll be back in stock

Inventory system designed and perfected by Radio Shack.

3. We can't sell you the floor model....

I blew out a tire in the Suburban yesterday (long story for another thread)I called tire places to see if anybody had the Bridgestone Dueller A/T revo in 265-75-R16 I needed to replace this tire. One about 45 miles from my house said they had the tire in stock. I went there and they told me: "We don't have that tire in stock but we can get it for Monday" I said but you told me you had it in stock on the phone to which they said "We always say we have them in stock over the phone to bring you in." I told them the reason you call in and ask is to make sure that product you wanted is there before you ge in the car and drive. These guys (STS by the way) then tried to sell me a set of FOUR replacements at $300 each. Not Bridgestones but Firestones. I ran away!


The second place I went to also said (over the phone) "Sure we have that tire in that size." I drove about 10 miles from STS to this place only to hear them say "Oh we don't have that tire at all, the guys who answered the phone are selling things we don't have again" Apparently when I called the local number for this second place, it was picked up by an outsourced call center somewhere in the immediate galaxy. Just as I was going to get my tire iron out to gopostal on these guys, they did something amazing these days. They picked up the phone and called the nearest other store in there chain. (Mavis Discount Tire) He MADE SURE that the next store had the tire in stock in the right size before telling me to go there. I went and guess what, They actually HAD the tire! I paid $270 for it (about $100 more than I got it for online 1.5 years ago) but I now have a decent tire on all four rims and can drive back to DC without worrying.

Pushed around to make 3 stops for one tire...thats some serious restraint you showed...

If you don't mind driving around on a spare for a few days, TireRack can deliver exactly the tire you want. People in stores who answer phones are clerks who yesterday might have been selling donuts.

1) My grocery store company I work for can order any product that is sold in
the USA, we go out of our way to get it in for a customer, it just takes a week(depending on what it is).. I'd like to see you contact the distributor, get it shipped, stocked, priced, and all setup for you to have it scanned and give the cashier your money


2) Sometimes it is tricky, if the product is being discontinued due to low sales volume we can order it in and keep it in the back for you and anyone else that would normally buy it. Or the item is going through changes and we as a store have not heard from the company that makes said product when it will be be back again, there is only so much info we get and or too much we get and its a pita to wade through.

Yeah, I bought the tires from Tire Rack originally. The trouble is that Ineed to drive back to DC from NY tomorrow and I will not drive without a spare tire. Also the tires on the truck are on/off rood tires and are wider and taller than the original sized spare. In about a year I will need to replace the original three. At that time I will buy four at TR and use the tire I bought today as the new spare.

I managed to keep from killing somebody by listening to Jimmy Buffett songs!

I would have gone postal if the third store jerked my chain too...

I think its gonna be interesting some day.

some store chain will "specialize" in a large inventory or varied items, where you can go pick it up same day. All other retail will go online or to a "we order everything" system.
stuff will be cheaper at the "we order everything store" but at least if you want to buy something now, you have the large inventory store.
I see this as the progression of retail sales- you'll know when you walk in the door what your chances of having something in stock =)

or at least I can hope =)

-John

Ordered some VCT at Home Depot last month. Told me 10 days for delivery. Over a month later I canceled the order when it still had not arrived.

Modern retail sucks thats why I don't buy anything and when forced to I use Amazon. Modern retail my style, a few clicks and its at my front door in a day or two.

I'm done ordering tires from Tirerack. Every tire place I go to won't mount them or charges an arm and leg. Tireracks official place is to far away.

#1 is the response for folks who don't know how to use a PC or fear divulging CC info on the Internet.

#2 is a response from someone who doesn't give a $#it!!!

I find that some stores are better at this than others.

there's nothing wrong with selling donuts....

True, although it's better to gve them away. :D

In all seriousness, you are now seeing the results of greedy finance weenies running companies staffed by the drones who are the product of the public education system.

Finance says keep no inventory, Marketing says lie to keep customers coming back, Training Dept says just stand there, they'll be back. When all else fails, take some Windex and a paper towel and wipe the counter...

If I can't get it online, then I have previously loocated an independent business that sells it or advises on it. Or I f CL, Kijiji, Ebay, or somewhere.