Sellers just don’t like bottom feeders
December 21st, 2005 | by mbhunter |I need to come to grips with this.
Being a customer at a thrift store doesn’t entitle you to world-class service. You get the impression that they’re doing you a big favor by being open, and you had better follow their rules and accept their brusque “customer service.”
Auctions: Sold as-is, where-is, no refunds, lug it yourself.
Liquidation sales: Cash only, and bring your own help.
Go to an appliance store for scratch and dent merchandise or a floor model, and get very little help, and have the employees walk away from you when you ask about what’s wrong with the appliance.
The point is, we’re lousy customers. We cost them money. We don’t pay retail. They’re going to spend time with the customers who buy the shiny, brand-new stuff with the extended warranties and the rust protection — not with the people who want everything for fifty cents on the dollar.
They want as few of us in their store as possible, and probably with good reason — we’re detrimental to their bottom line. So I shouldn’t take it personally.
