Bob_Skurka
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 7,503
Well I went on a search for a new string trimmer for the lovely Mrs_Bob. After some research I had narrowed it down to either a Stihl or an Echo. Both have an easy start system, both have lightweight units, both are competitive on the price.
So I go to the local family owned for at least 2 generations lawn mower/trimmer/chain saw store that is inconvenient to get to with short hours . . . but I like to support local folks, and I like to buy from people who will repair my broken whatever. So I drive past 3 of the big box home centers, past 3 other big box discount retailers, to get to the little shop. I walk in and the sales guy comes up and I say I want to buy this model trimmer . . . point to it on the wall . . . pull out <font color="green"> genuine gummint issued official legal tender style CA$H green money printed right here in the good old U.S. of A.</font> and lay it on the counter.
First words out of the sales guy's mouth are: "what is your phone number?"
I tell him: "It is "unlisted" and I won't give it out because it is a matter of my privacy.
He says: Then I can't sell you the trimmer.
I say: "you need my phone number to sell me something? Just write up a cash ticket, because I don't give out my number"
He says: Can't do it, need a phone number for a cash ticket, says so right here on my computer screen.
I say: What is YOUR phone number? Just put that in there.
He says: I don't give out MY phone number!
I say: "Neither do I!" So I pick up the <font color="green"> 4 brand new, crisp as a dried leaf U.S. treasury printed official $50.00 bills </font> that were laying on the counter shove them back into my wallet, turn around and start toward the door.
I get all the way across the showroom floor and he shouts out: "Hey wait, I can figure this out, it won't be a problem!"
So I turn around and walk back to the counter where I now pry open my wallet and skeptically remove the quartet of bills that had previously been laying within reach of the sales guy. He says he can just set me up as a corporate account and give me an account number! He needs my name, address, but no phone number for that. I rattle off the name and address, he types the address in wrong, I don't bother to correct him. I lay the money on the counter, get my change, he gives me the manuals, some "complimentary" 2 cycle oil, and then sends out "the kid" to carry the trimmer to my car and give me a lesson on how to use it.
I will say I did like the lesson, it is one of the advantages of dealing with a local shop owner over the big box stores. It was nice that I got a free tank of gas too. And enough extra bottles of 2 cycle oil to mix with gas for probably 2 seasons worth of weed wacking was also a nice touch. But why did they have to make it so hard for me to buy something??? It is becoming harder and harder to <font color="green"> PAY WITH CA$H </font> in America and NOT feel like you are a criminal. Pardon me, but I don't like to use checks, and I don't like credit cards, my general policy in life is that if I can't afford it I just don't buy it and I don't want to finance it either. Why can't people just accept CA$H as payment, last time I check it was marked "legal tender."
So I go to the local family owned for at least 2 generations lawn mower/trimmer/chain saw store that is inconvenient to get to with short hours . . . but I like to support local folks, and I like to buy from people who will repair my broken whatever. So I drive past 3 of the big box home centers, past 3 other big box discount retailers, to get to the little shop. I walk in and the sales guy comes up and I say I want to buy this model trimmer . . . point to it on the wall . . . pull out <font color="green"> genuine gummint issued official legal tender style CA$H green money printed right here in the good old U.S. of A.</font> and lay it on the counter.
First words out of the sales guy's mouth are: "what is your phone number?"
I tell him: "It is "unlisted" and I won't give it out because it is a matter of my privacy.
He says: Then I can't sell you the trimmer.
I say: "you need my phone number to sell me something? Just write up a cash ticket, because I don't give out my number"
He says: Can't do it, need a phone number for a cash ticket, says so right here on my computer screen.
I say: What is YOUR phone number? Just put that in there.
He says: I don't give out MY phone number!
I say: "Neither do I!" So I pick up the <font color="green"> 4 brand new, crisp as a dried leaf U.S. treasury printed official $50.00 bills </font> that were laying on the counter shove them back into my wallet, turn around and start toward the door.
I get all the way across the showroom floor and he shouts out: "Hey wait, I can figure this out, it won't be a problem!"
So I turn around and walk back to the counter where I now pry open my wallet and skeptically remove the quartet of bills that had previously been laying within reach of the sales guy. He says he can just set me up as a corporate account and give me an account number! He needs my name, address, but no phone number for that. I rattle off the name and address, he types the address in wrong, I don't bother to correct him. I lay the money on the counter, get my change, he gives me the manuals, some "complimentary" 2 cycle oil, and then sends out "the kid" to carry the trimmer to my car and give me a lesson on how to use it.
I will say I did like the lesson, it is one of the advantages of dealing with a local shop owner over the big box stores. It was nice that I got a free tank of gas too. And enough extra bottles of 2 cycle oil to mix with gas for probably 2 seasons worth of weed wacking was also a nice touch. But why did they have to make it so hard for me to buy something??? It is becoming harder and harder to <font color="green"> PAY WITH CA$H </font> in America and NOT feel like you are a criminal. Pardon me, but I don't like to use checks, and I don't like credit cards, my general policy in life is that if I can't afford it I just don't buy it and I don't want to finance it either. Why can't people just accept CA$H as payment, last time I check it was marked "legal tender."