The local convenience store

Surfguy · 01-03-2002, 06:46 PM

Alright....so I go to the same "convenience" store in my neighborhood almost daily for my soda fix which is usually a 1 liter of something....like the Dew. However, there is this new management there. They seem okay and they even cleaned up the store, re-arranged displays, and made the aisle spacing better. They greet you when you come in very nicely and do the same when they say farewell. It's like, "hello sir....how are you doing today?" and "thank you sir...you have a great day". So, I'm liking these new people from the other people before who usually don't say anything and have this empty look on their face.

BUT........

going there every day....I know the pricing of a 1 liter of Dew or any other soda. It's $1.19 which is kind of high considering a 2 liter can be had for $.99 but I must have my 1 liter of soda and the convenience factor. I could go to a grocery store but who wants to deal with rush hour at the grocery store for soda. I stock up when I hit my grocery store on the regular schedule. It's when I'm out I hit the "convenience" store. To get to my point

, yesterday the guy charges me $1.30 before tax for my 1 liter. He does this even though $1.19 stickers are all over the refrigerator doors. I didn't think much of it and let it go the one time. But, today I come in and he does it again....$1.30(which comes to $1.50 for a 1 liter(rip-off)). So, this time I'm like thinking I know the prices now for sure so I go, "hey....this is $1.19 before tax (after I'm staring at another $1.50 incorrect ring-up)". He's like, "...oh.....$1.19...like he doesn't even know wasup". So, what does he do after that? He rings it up for $1.20. So, I'm like thinking...it's a penny....he can have it. But, now I'm left thinking "What the puck is this 'The Price is Right' "? First, he's $1.30....next he's $1.20. What next? So, tomorrow I'm going in there and I can almost bet he's going back to $1.30. It's like the guy is up to something. So, after I correct him, I get in my car to leave and look over there....he's staring at me like I busted him with this guilty look on his face.

How does the guy not know the freaking price of a commonly sold convenience store item? Granted, if it's something obscure, then I could understand it better. The store is stocked full of these 1 liter sodas. Surely, someone else has caught this $1.30 ring-up on this item. I'm not sure I trust this guy. Think about it....a dime here....a dime there....at the end of the day, the tickets add up. This dude must be making profits out the wazoo if he's setting the price like I've experienced. What's he doing to other customers? The guy is from India but that's besides the point....I have no reason to not trust someone from India....It's not a factor unless he's having trouble absorbing the convenience store pricing structure.

So, I'm going to keep going in there daily like I do and if he tries to charge me the wrong price on this or any other item....then I'm going to take action. First, I'm going to bitch. Second, I'm going to turn him into the FTC or whomever(price gouging is very serious

). I'm going to watch while they send in their undercover agent to buy some items and experience the price gouging on his/her own. They can do this with a few agents. Then, they can read the guy his rights and write him a ticket or arrest him...something. If I go in there continually and he keeps getting the price wrong on a 1 liter soda, then is the consumer supposed to pay for a naive employee's mistake. And, if he continues to do it, then the consumer must take action. I'll boycott his store and stand out front with a sign! I'll camp out! I'll chain myself to the door! Oh yes...I'll do that...and more.

I'm just wondering if he is pretending to be naive or he honestly doesn't know the price of a common item like 1 liter soda. This isn't a bargaining game where we haggle on a price...I correct him at a $1.19 and he rings up $1.20

. He is in there constantly now and it's been a few months since he's worked there. I will keep up the detective work and let you know how it goes:D. If he messes me, then he's messing with the wrong dude, man...................

.

I think he's playing mind games. I'm a consumer....I AM THE LAW.
It may not sound like much but just think if I were some passive dude who didn't give a crap...I would be out possibly $2 or so a month....$24 a year because he is conspiring against me. Ten years from now....I will be homeless or something wondering where that money went. I KNOW....I'M ON TO YOU! KEEP IT UP! I'LL SHOW YOU WASUP!

I will let you know how the saga continues....

Surf

SirCharlesFan · 01-03-2002, 06:51 PM

The parking lot attendants in downtown Dallas are like that, but worse.

One time I was with my dad and there is a big sign out front that says PARKING $2...And when my dad and I come out the guy is like "four dolla please" and my dad replies "sir, its two dollars."

The guy sits there with a blank look on his face and after a minute of going "huh? what?" he is like "oh yeah, two dolla."

heypartner · 01-03-2002, 07:17 PM

SurfGuy,

If it is any consolation, the tenant law allows you to pay rent late. If the landlord does not complain for a certain amount of months, then he has effectively allowed a change in the lease.

hmmm....maybe I should start sending him 1 penny less, just to see what happens.

rockHEAD · 01-03-2002, 07:20 PM

you can also contact the local Better Business Bureau

rH

cmrockfan · 01-03-2002, 07:32 PM

Post your address, and I will send you 10 bucks, and you can ignore the guy forever, and enjoy your soda.

Major · 01-03-2002, 07:41 PM

The guy is from India but that's besides the point....I have no reason to not trust someone from India....It's not a factor unless he's having trouble absorbing the convenience store pricing structure.

LOL... The first thing I thought when I started reading this was "I bet this guy is Indian"

(for those wondering, I am Indian, so I say this from experience) I know I'm gonna get blasted for this, but there might be something to it. I know when I go to stores or motels and such with friends and there is an Indian guy running/owning it, I am the one who pays / interacts. Why? Because I have seen it way too many times where an Indian store manager does some sketchy things to my friends -- whether it be overcharging, bad service, etc -- however, they don't tend to cheat Indians and thus don't mess with me. My parents have friends who ran motels and such, and I saw it there too. I don't know why this is, and I don't know how purposeful it is, but I've seen it all the time.

I actually originally learned this when visiting India when younger ... There are lots of street-type shops there, and I was told never to buy things myself, because they would know I was American (accent, clothing) and would blatantly lie about prices to me. I was only to purchase stuff through people I knew. I'm sure this is the case in many lesser-developed countries.

Part of it is the culture. In my experience, Indian families often put a bigger emphasis on monetary success than the average American family, as the success of kids often reflects on the "quality" of the parents. Just a different way of looking at the world, I guess. Anyway, many Indians who come to the US are here for economic success, and customer service and honesty in business isn't emphasized as much in India as here, from what I understand. Again, I'm guessing this is true of many lesser-developed countries.

I know this may sound racist or whatnot, but that's my experience. Obviously all Indians are not like that (I would hope I'm not!), and its very possible I just notice it because they are Indian like myself, but that's just a trend I have seen. I have an automatic reflex to go "on-guard" when dealing with Indians and money.

Surfguy · 01-03-2002, 07:45 PM

Why do I feel like I'm in a "Seinfeld" episode?

:D

DrewP · 01-03-2002, 08:51 PM

Try this Surfguy.... Whatever you have been paying for soda, since you started coming to the store, grab your drink, put the money on the counter, and just leave before he says or does anything. See what happens...........

CriscoKidd · 01-03-2002, 09:05 PM

I thought you were a water freak anyway?

does he give receipts?

Surfguy · 01-03-2002, 09:11 PM

I'm a water freak when I'm in weightlifting mode and cycle/run. However, I'm not doing those things just yet. My New Year's resolutions don't start for a few more days

.

CriscoKidd · 01-03-2002, 09:15 PM

lol surf, I hear ya.

I'm sick, so I have an excuse to not try too hard on my resolutions yet.

Space Ghost · 01-03-2002, 10:06 PM

He's another one I ran into. I walk into the neighborhood convient store to buy a 2 liter bottle of coke. I see a whole rack of them against the wall with a $1.19 sign sticking out of the middle of them. I thought to myself that was awefully cheap for convient store price, so I decided to pick up two.

After ringing it up, he told me it will be a $3.50. After explaining to him that it was a 1.19 (pointing to the sign,clearly labeling the coke products) and it should not come out more than $2.60.

He walks over to the stand and looking confused and says, "oh, thats the price for the 1 liters" Then he turns the sign around to display a price of $1.69.

I told him I would only take 1 instead of two.

vj23k · 01-03-2002, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Surfguy
The guy is from India but that's besides the point....I have no reason to not trust someone from India....It's not a factor unless he's having trouble absorbing the convenience store pricing structure.

lol

As I read this, I was thinking the exact same thing as Major... This guy has gotta be Indian.

I have observed(Note an observation, in no way is this a stereotype, and anyway, I am Indian), that many Indians do little things like that to get ahead... Some even use the fact that they are new/newer than most to the country to gain an advantage. For example, an uncle of mine often says he doesn't understand what his supervisor is saying, so his projects are often assigned to others, so he gets another easier one.

Zac D · 01-03-2002, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Space Ghost
I told him I would only take 1 instead of two.

You tell him...

DiSeAsEd MoNkEy · 01-04-2002, 01:09 AM

i have a plan.

you tell me where this place is and ill get my brother to drive me over there and ill kick his ass for you!!

problem solved dude.

cmrockfan · 01-04-2002, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DiSeAsEd MoNkEy
i have a plan.

you tell me where this place is and ill get my brother to drive me over there and ill kick his ass for you!!

problem solved dude.

I knew you would find something free to do while your brother is in town. :D

SirCharlesFan · 01-04-2002, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cmrockfan

I knew you would find something free to do while your brother is in town. :D

LOL, man thats a good one...

Rocketman95 · 01-04-2002, 01:28 AM

Major, is that why my paycheck is so small?

(j/k, I want everyone to know that I have the greatest job with the greatest boss in the history of the world...seriously)

cmrockfan · 01-04-2002, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rocketman95
Major, is that why my paycheck is so small?

(j/k, I want everyone to know that I have the greatest job with the greatest boss in the history of the world...seriously)

kissass

RocketKid · 01-04-2002, 03:28 AM

Wow, this thread explains soooooo many experiences I've had in the past........

Thank you.