Thursday, October 02, 2008

Some People!!

This week we traveled to Adelaide to buy a new security screen door. We had seen an advert in the TV guide, and I checked it out on the Net. They are very cunning, as there are no prices on their web page. We finally found the store, and went in to ascertain prices. We saw one door which looked very nice. Just plain steel mesh and no filagree steel at all. We were thunderstruck when the sales assistant told us it would cost, wait for it, over $800.00!! She also offered to send one of the reps to do a measure and quote. I told her that would not be possible as we are from the country. I galls me that city people never consider that we rustics do go to the city on occasion to buy things. Not everybody they serve lives in the city.
We asked about other doors and were equally horrified by the prices. These doors are made on the premises too. The sales assistant told us the same doors would cost as much at Bunnings, ( major hardware chain) so, we decided to test that theory.
We drove halfway across the city to Bunnings and were pleasantly surprised to find a screen door that is also a security door, for just under $130.00
So much for her scare tactics.
There was a dearth of staff at Bunnings and it took a while to get served. I stood at the Trade desk for at least five minutes, with people serving and doing work on computers in front of me, before one of them decided to ask me if I was being served. That galls me too, when it is patently obvious I am not.I wished to find out how much it would cost to have the door delivered before we bought it.This took many phone calls before we were quoted a price.
Finally, a nice chap came and saw to our needs, re the door. Then we had to buy it and get the paper work done for the delivery. We were told that it could be delivered that day. I said no, we would not be home till late that night, so it was arranged for Tuesday.
Tuesday morning, just before lunch, there was no sign of it, so I rang the courier company.
The woman I spoke to sounded as though she would prefer to be anywhere but at work, as she gave the distinct impression life was too hard and everybody but her, is a moron.
She told me in a very pained voice, "I told that stupid girl, the door would be picked up Tuesday, and delivered Wednesday." She said I had better ring the chap who handles the deliveries this end. I asked for his phone number, and that was a huge effort for her too.
The thing that gets me is, we are supposed to be mind readers, and because we are not, some of these people think we are Hay Seeds, and not worthy of their time and expertise.If everything is such an effort for her, why doesn't she get an easier job? For instance, a millionaire's wife and she would have servants to do everything for her.
The door was duly delivered Wednesday and $20.00 less than we were quoted. Nice!

2 comments:

Hammy said...

Gotta get a bargain sometimes. At least you weren't paying for the customer service.

Susan Ham said...

Customer service! Can't complain about the service, there wasn't any.