Confrontation at Blockbuster - Shouting Match Erupts
 

Well it finally happened. I got into a no holds barred yelling match at a Blockbuster in Chicago.

Let me preface this story by the following fact:
1.) I haven't rented at blockbuster in over a two years

I went in last night to buy the Lion King for $14.99. I was going to do a pricematch to Circuit City. The reason I went to blockbuster is that I had a gift certificate to burn and since I don't rent, I wanted to buy a movie.

So, with the Circuit City flyer that showed it for $14.99. I picked up the movie, laid it down and they started to ring up. I said "I want to pricematch it to Circuit City. The guys face turned white. First he said "Well why don't you go to Circuit City" I said I had a Gift Certificate to use here.

So he said "Ah, I don't think we can do this" So his manager came up and said we are not going to do this. And I said its your policy to pricematch.

So he looks at me and says "I was there at Circuit City today, the sale is over" And I respond with, call them up, its not over.

So he calls directory assitance, "talks" to someone at Circuit City and then hangs up. He says it is 19.99.

I call him a liar and call my from cell phone. It takes awhile for someone to come on, and finally they say its "14.99" So I say can you repeat that to this man. So the manager picks up my phone and hears 14.99 then hangs up.

Then he says he isn't going to do it.

So a massive shouting match starts. I call him liar, he threatens me with violence saying "Nobody talks to me lilke that, your not my father, your not my son" So after another 5 minutes of yelling back and forth, he finally says "Give it to him and make sure you get his name"

So I get it for $14.99 and where I was supposed to sign my name I write "F_ck YOU" and leave.

What an ashole.

hahah...good story. I never understand why employees drag their feet when it comes to price matching. Afterall, what the hell do they care? It's not like they get profit sharing.

I bet if you wrote a letter into corporate you'd get a gift certificate or something out of it.

Re: Confrontation at Blockbuster - Shouting Match Erupts
 

Looks like the dude had some relationship issues.

And nice trick with leaving your name! :lol:

Definitely be sure to go up the ladder with this one.

I agree. It never fails how stupid managers can be (though usually it's the ASSistant managers). He could have said he was happy to do it, curried some goodwill, and maybe drawn more business from you down the road. Instead he did this, guaranteed you'd never go there again, and added yet another black spot on BBr's name. Just plain stupid.

the blockbuster near me never pricematches. they tell me if I want that price go to that store and get it.

Wow man, that's pretty f'd up right there!!!

I was curious about the whole price matching thing though, since Blockbuster (and places that generally overprice items) doesn't strike me as the kind of place that would have a price matching policy.

I called up the corporate customer assistance # and asked them if they practiced price matching.
The guy on the phone was like, "Umm, uhh, I guess the only way to find out for sure would be to call up the store you're curious about."

Me: "So you don't know if there is a corporate wide price matching policy in place or not?"

Guy on phone: "Umm.. not to my knowledge"

So it sounds like the kind of issue where YMMV.

But I gotta say, that manager had the wrong attitude right from the get-go with lying to you about having confirmed with the CC employee that it was $19.99.

Damn, i'm so pissed off now that i want to head to MY blockbuster and raise some hell there!!! :mad: :grunt:

I pricematched Lion King at Blockbuster with CC's ad for exactly the same reason, I had a GC to use. The clerks at the Mira Mesa/San Diego store couldn't have been nicer. I've pricematched at a couple of different BBVs in the area and all have been very good about it. I still don't like the store because they never seem to have what I'm looking for when I want to rent, but for pricematching loss leaders they've worked out well. Still have $8.85 left for when I pricematch Nemo.

Here is Blockbuster's Policy:

Price Match Guarantee
For select new movie titles for sale at participating BLOCKBUSTER® stores, we will meet any valid advertised price from a local store stocking the same new item in a manufacturer's sealed package, subject to these terms. Simply bring in the competitor's ad (original only, reproductions not accepted) and we will honor the advertised priced for your purchase. Even after your purchase if you find a lower advertised price within 30 days, we will refund the difference. Bring the lower price ad (original only, reproductions not accepted) and original BLOCKBUSTER receipt to the BLOCKBUSTER store of purchase, and we will refund the difference.

Blockbuster reserves the right to limit quantities. Available on in-stock movies only. No rainchecks will be given. If a competitor's ad specifies a limit on the number that can be purchased, Blockbuster will honor that ad up to the same limit. Ad errors, closeouts, clearance, internet (including blockbuster.com) one-of-a-kind items, offers with only limited quantities available, offers that are subject to conditions (e.g., another product must be purchased, mail-in rebates), or items or prices that include a bonus or free offers and/or competitor's tagged prices that are not advertised, do not qualify. Not valid with any other offer or for purchase by groups or organizations. Policy is subject to applicable law and to change without notice. Titles selected for the Price Match Guarantee are in Blockbuster's sole discretion.


http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/help/f...7633,,00.html?

So this means for any DVD you want a price match on, they can just arbitarily turn around and say sorry Charlie, we're not going to honor it, maybe next time? That's some guarantee.

I haven't been back to Blockbuster in years for a similar reason. Each time I ended up at one their stores I felt close to doing something I might regret.

Re: Confrontation at Blockbuster - Shouting Match Erupts
 

Hakuna Matata

Re: Confrontation at Blockbuster - Shouting Match Erupts
 

Woow! That's real mature!

I've price-matched at least 10 times at the Blockbuster that's a block away from my apartment here in mid-town Manhattan (much more convenient for me than CC or Best Buy) and have NEVER had a problem or any hesitation from the staff.

Who says New Yorkers aren't nice!

That's part of doing business. I've always said shopping was/is a privilage, not a god-given right. That manager has the option to refuse to pricematch. And you have the option to take your money elsewhere.

Would it have been worth it if he called the cops and had you escoted out of the building or worse arrested?

Yeah it would have been. Because the guy lied, pure and simple. I don't tolerate that kind of bullshit. Price-matching may be a privilege, but lying is not a privilege.

Right!

Damn liar. Telling you that he was at Circuit City earlier in the day and that the sale was over and then pretending to call Circuit City and getting a phony price. What a jerk! I say, "Good Job!" they way you handled it.

(He'll probably end up a politician if he ever leaves his job at Circuit City!)

This is why I don't pricematch. Not worth the hassle. I just go to the store that has the best price, or if it's too far I pay the couple extra bucks. No shouting, no anger...I'll probably live longer this way. ;)

That was poor treatment but no reason to get into a yelling match over $5. Even if it was a $100 difference that's crazy to allow the situation to escalate to that level.

chanster, I couldn't be farther from your position on this issue. Perhaps it is a difference in our age or our upbringing. Who knows? I do believe that you are entitled to your opinion. I ask that you please respect mine. But I think it is really something that you feel that arguing over a few dollars is worth this frustration you are going through.

I do have some retail background, and I always use to believe that the customer is always right. But lately, I think too many people are trying to get something for nothing. Your story falls into that category. It is his business, even if he is only a manager who works for a large corporation. The company trusts that he will do what is best for his business and therefore good for the company all together. Now it is my opinion that he did not do that, as price matching can only benefit the company that gets the sale, not lose it. But since that was his call, that is were it should have ended.

It seems you wanted to use your GC and get a cheaper price for the movie. It great that you are a competitive shopper, but if a business isn't going to bend over backwords for you, then you should take your money elsewhere. End of story. Why start a shouting match? You said it would have been worth going to jail over? You would have spent the night in jail and you did not get your movie. That's worth it?

Like I said, you and I just have a difference of opinion. I just can't seem to understand yours. You gained nothing by shouting at this guy.

Instead of getting into that ridiculous shouting match..
 

After that guy did what he did (lied), and then he decided to give you the rebate. Instead of signing F____ you, you should have signed, I love you, smiled at him and left the store. Fight hate with love, hate can never win. Also your blood pressure won't rise over him either. Is it really all worth that for 5 bucks?

Really seems kinda immature to me. I know a lot of people have cheered it, but it just seems to me one of the smaller indicators of what is wrong with the society we live in these days. Manners have gone right out the door. To be proud enough of a shouting match in a public place you participated in to save $5 that you come and post about it is just kinda sad if you ask me.

I'm still on the side of chanster on this one AFTER reading the latest replies of POWERBOMB and badger1997.

Why?

Because this manager went through this whole charade of pretending to go to Circuit City and pretending to talk on the phone to get the price. Why did he have to lie about it? Why not be HONEST?

I believe that one of the MAJOR problems of our society today is that our leaders continually lie to us and we accept it. There is no trust between us (the common people) and the people who are supposed to be setting an example and leading us to a better society. I'm in California and we just outed our governor because he was damn liar and cheat. The guy who won was honest enough to admit his mistakes and apologize for them--he didn't DENY he had problems. It was so refreshing to hear someone tell the truth for a change.

We have Presidents and ex-Presidents who LIE about their conduct and actions; we have major sport stars who LIE about their conduct and actions (they pass themselves off as dedicated family men just to get major endorsement deals); we have heads of corporations (Enron, etc.) who LIE about their business dealings and we suffer for their wrong doings; we have entertainment superstars who get away with murder because they can hire high-priced lawyers who will do their lying for them; we have religious leaders who lie about their sexual misconduct and hide behind the veil of religious righteousness. All of this mistrust and dishonesty and yet we're willing to look the other way and give these people a pass.

I'm well into my forties and I treat people with respect and in most cases I'll get the same in return. But I agree that a lot of people's manners are deplorable these days. However, I can't agree with sticking up for corporations. Especially Blockbuster who tried to create a video-rental monopoly and who essentially drove out almost all of the independent "mom and pop" stores. (Today's corporations would just as soon fire a long-term, dedicated employee because it becomes "cost-prohibitive"--much cheaper to hire a trainee at a reduced rate.)

Back on topic...

Once again I applaud chanster for holding a liar's feet to the fire. Maybe if we demanded more honesty in our society we wouldn't be reduced to shouting matches.

That whole argument is about as brilliant as writing "F@*& You" on a sales slip.

Personally, I would deny the liar my business, try to sell my gift card and never go to Blockbuster again. Or at least try to find one that is more customer friendly. :D
If corporations are full of nothing but evil liars, why not find a nice mom & pop store?


ETA: It is not my intent to demean Franchot's opinion, but I think it's ridiculous to try to justify that kind of attitude.

My local BB down in Charlottesville won't pricematch either. They say it's because they're a franchise and not corporate-owned, so they make their own rules.

Thank god my name is not Mr.F_ck YOU-

Id be flagged at every BB in town:)