My microwave died. No, it's not the fuse, I checked. So, I decided to go look for another microwave. My first stop, HHGregg.
I entered the store and immediately was struck by how fly by night it appears. Now, I don't usually go shopping. I dread it actually. I'm a commando shopper, in, out, done. Most of my shopping is done online and this was the first time I've been in an HHGregg. Everything looks like it's ready to be wheeled out to a truck at a moment's notice. The next thing I noticed were the sales people standing out from various appliances wearing their smiles like masks hiding their true feelings of their customers as if laying in wait to shiv the next person to enter their area running off with their wallets. I quickly make my way towards the microwaves, a sales person urgently asking me what I'm looking for. I tell him I'm just looking and didn't need help at the moment. After quickly discerning they didn't have what I was looking for in stock I begin making a b-line to the exit. A sales person jumps into my path from behind a double door stainless steel GE refrigerator blocking my escape. I brace myself in anticipation of a knife fight for my wallet. The person says, "Didn't find what you're looking for? I might be able to help". Instead of bolting for the door initiating a chase response I begin the modern equivalent of backing away slowly. "I'm looking for a white 2.2cuft 1250 watt microwave. You don't have one", I say keen not to make eye contact initiating a challenge for dominance. The sales person rebuts, "Ah we probably have one in the back if you don't mind waiting I'll check and see". He strides off into the back. At any moment I'm expecting to be jumped by a pack of sales people, left for dead behind a GE and Kenmore. He returns, "Ah sorry, doesn't look we have one but, I can order it". I tell him, "No thanks", quickly side stepping him and dashing outside back to my car. On to Best Buy....
Best Buys are by far a more pleasurable visual experience than HHGreg. It has more of that permanence look and the layout is easy to navigate. The first sales person to see me says, "Hi!". That's followed by a second, third and forth. Hi fatigued, I just want to find a microwave. I get to the appliance section and the sales woman approaches. She seems nice asking me, "Do you need some help?". "No thanks", I reply, "Just looking. Thank you". I quickly find what I'm looking for, a 2.2cutft 1250 watt white microwave. These seem to be out of style. I suppose many consumers prefer the equally capable yet more expensive stainless steel styles. I load it on my cart and carry it to the checkout. As usual at the Best Buy, you have to navigate a maze of compulsive buying items before you get to the register. Even though I stop and look at the 3 sales people/cashiers and they look at me, their lack of response refuses to let me cart this appliance directly to the register. No, even though I'm the only customer at the registers, I have to make my way through a maze of crap navigating a poorly tracking cart with a microwave on it.
When I arrived at the register the cashier, a young woman not more than 19yo, attractive, asks her first question, "Do you have our member card?". So much for a "Hi, how are you?". "Nope", I quip out. I know what's coming next. "Would you like a membership card?" As if this needs to even be asked. When you asked me if I wanted a member card and I said, "No", don't you think if I did want one I would ask you? Grr, "No, thanks", I reply. I pull my wallet out rifling through it looking the credit card I want to use. The cashier grabs her scanner to register the item asking, "Would you like an extended warranty?". For the love of God, I just want to buy the microwave. You've sold me. So stop selling me! I sigh a reply, "No thank you". I have my card in hand coming down with it to the card reader about to swipe it, "Would you like to apply for our credit card?", the cashier asks with a bit more enthusiasm than her previous questions. Defeated after an interrogation in order to buy a new microwave I tell her I didn't want a new credit card. I make contact with the card reader. The swipe is imminent. Then it dawns on me. There's going to be another question! I bet I'm going to be asked if I want to donate to something or fill out a survey or they'll need my phone number and email address for no good reason other than to spam me incessantly! My brain grabs me by the shoulders slapping the defeat off my face bringing me to a lucid reality that I'm the customer and shouldn't have to be sold anymore when I'm already willing to give them my money and the only way I can voice my distaste at this process is........is.....I look at the cashier and tell her, "You know what....keep it". The cashier becomes completely confused. It exudes from her face. Her head even cocks a little to the right like the look of your pet dog when you do something he can't quite wrap his brain around. "Keep the microwave. I've decided I don't want it", I state matter of factly and walk out of the store. I was half expecting the double sliding doors to lock in place and be confronted by ominous looking sales people interrogating me further about why I didn't want to buy their appliance or that it wasn't allowed and I'd have to go back to the register before I could leave. Thankfully, we consumers still have the right to leave a store without making a purchase, for now.
So, I head over to the nearest Walmart. My expedition to get a microwave started with me telling myself I wouldn't go to Walmart, that it's a dreadful place. I walk in. No one pays attention to me. No one tells me, "Hi", in that cheerful tone that indicates the person doesn't give two flying f@cks. Nor does anyone smile at me like I'm a bag of money that just walked into the store. No, I just walk in, head for appliances and begin looking for a microwave. I didn't find one I wanted. But, I walked right out of the store without being accosted or asked a myriad of required questions that I have no intent on agreeing to. As unsightly as Walmarts can appear, it was by far the easiest experience of my shopping day. I like Walmart. sigh
Submitted February 18, 2015 at 04:59AM by Jagoonder http://ift.tt/1Emabld CustomerService
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