Okay, so Ed Hardy's biography (Wear Your Dreams) came out and got some decent reviews. I go to B&N web site checking for availability and see that it's on sale @30% off. From $27 to $18.90.

I stop in a local Barnes and Noble and it rings up $27. "Look" I say, "it's on sale" and show the clerk the ad on my iPhone.

"We don't price match".

"Dude, it's not a competitor, it's your store."

"It's web site price matching and we don't do it. Doesn't matter if it is Barnes and Noble's web site. It's policy."

Perturbed but not defeated, I continue: "Oh look, it says here that I can order it on-line and it'll ship to any store location for free."

"Okay, order it and we'll call you when it comes in."

Knowing what the answer will be, I still have to try. I point to the shelf and blurt: "Dude, there are six copies RIGHT HERE!"

"...And they're $27. Sorry, it's policy."

Blujax01,

Check back AFTER they do a shift change.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Is it worth the extra money to walk out with it right there??? They seem to think so.
Me, I'd order it. Make them drop ship one copy to the store.

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Forum consigliere

At that rate B&N will follow Borders down the tubes.

Amazon dot com and free shipping. $18.72 total and shows up on my doorstep in three days.

I tried to support brick and mortar, really I did...

Well, it looks as if the local "brain trust" has shifted from working at Starbucks to Barns and Noble. The lack of common sense in this country is appalling, it’s almost as if it is contagious. And what is worst it is becoming acceptable.

I know.

The clerk kept looking at me like: "What part of 'it's policy' don't you understand?"

I have come to realize that statement translates to: "Disengage brain. No further input required."

You Have Your Policy - I Have My Policy

My money stays in my pocket.

Ask your manager where he expect the money for your paycheck to come from.

"Policy" too often is a refuge for idiots and a shield for thieves.

And that's as nicely as I could have put it.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Could be the clerk thinks it's a stupid policy, too, but he can't say so to a customer and keep his job.

I worked in retail briefly, and when a customer gave me a hard time over some rule the store made, I'd just refer him to management. Not always nicely, either.

I agree with RobertJ; some $9.50 an hour guy doing what he's told, and unable to change the mind of anyone above him who cares. What's he supposed to do?

I can say that it is company policy as the clerk stated. If you would have asked for the manager, they would have given you the on-line price. (Manager discretion). The policy does not make sense from a customer standpoint, but from a company perspective, it does make sense. The closest analogy I can provide is that most brick & mortar stores will not price match an on-line price from someone else. The key here is that the website the OP quoted his price from, has the same name, but is a totally separate company from the physical store that he was in.

It doesn't make sense I know, but most every company I have ever bought something from, has at least one policy that doesn't make any sense.

Navarre

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Dum Vivimus, Vivamus!

one of the many reasons that b&n canned the ceo this week.

You think managers at stores are given discretion? Not in the current micro-management business model that is choking the US they don't.

Book 'em Dano ...

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I'm with the banned ...

And the walmart idiots have been let go and now put their time in at HOME DEPOT AND LOWES!!!!!!
JIM.............

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SWCA # L-1911

You're goin' to Hell for that, you know that don't you?

And they still can not be found by a customer needing help.
This skill was perfected at Sprawl-Mart.

The he number of employees on the payroll and the number actually working are seldom the same.

A local grocery has a Deli with invisible help at the counter.
Lots of staff running around in back - visible to customers through door and hand-through window. Customer service seems to be a ow priority.

Soooooo true!! When do you think was the last time 'common sense' was taught (or even discussed) in the school systems? Maybe 1964?

I'm sure you've heard it - they are calling it "The New Normal".

Those are the three second-most infuriating words ever spoken by a human being.

The first-most infuriating must be "Daddy, I'm pregnant."

Well, under some circumstances I think it might be, "Honey, I'm home!"

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Oh well, what the hell.

No, I said infuriating, not terrifying!

I find it hard to believe that customer service people will not bend over backwards to help a paying customer in this economic climate.

They act so smug when they are rude to you. I had a guy at Best Buy tell me to find the item online.

I did, and I can't imagine how these companies think they will continue paying thousands of dollars a month for their lease when most of their business goes online.

And the smug little punks that tell me they can't help or I should look online? I tell them I will go online, and I will buy online, and I truly hope they can keep their job with fewer and fewer sales.

Who's looking to the future? Not the employees or middle management.

.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Point taken.

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Oh well, what the hell.

amazon.com for my books, including used ones-free ship over 25 bucks.

Amazon prime. For about $72 a year I get 2 day Fedex, streamed movies (many free) and other perks. I haven't darkened a brick and mortar bookstore in years now.

I also do all my Christmas shopping there nowadays.

Never accept a "No" from someone who doesn't have the authority to say "Yes".

A Jim rule.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

That's very good.

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David Wilson

Thanks, Jim, I'll stea--uhhh, borrow that one!

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Oh well, what the hell.

That is definitely Barnes and Nobles policy. My wife reads a lot and still buys the real thing and you can order the book and have it sent to your door cheaper than buying in the store. That is what she does. Lots of the retailers do the same thing as far as pricing goes.

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James
On the Llano Estacado