Babies “R” Us
Babies “R” Us is going out of business for a reason. I have always been disappointed in our local store. I had one good customer experience and it’s the exception that proves the rule, because I shouldn’t be genuinely shocked by good customer service. For the most part the staff is scarce and unhelpful and it seems like doing anything takes forever. We had so many issues with our registry their.
We even signed up for a class once, planned our whole night around it, even confirmed it only to show up and have it cancelled. Others showed up and were milling around aimlessly in search of a sign or something. Most of the staff was clueless. One employee finally let us know that the person who did the classes was a volunteer and was expected to no show. So basically, there was no class and they knew their probably wouldn’t be a class and instead of cancel, or schedule a back up they did nothing.
Going to the Sale
So they are going the way of Blockbuster and just like Blockbuster they are having a going out of business sale. We went to a few Blockbusters at the end, hoping to get some good titles for super cheap and were very surprised how long they held out on premium pricing on a lot of them. I remember picking up The Descendents and seeing that it hadn’t been marked down at all. Soon after, I got it at Costco for a steal.
Likewise, Babies “R” Us is kind of having a fake sale. The marketing implies 30% of of everything, which is actually pretty meager under the circumstances. This sale has been going on for a while. We waited to give the sale time to get really good. We also expected a lot of customers ravaging the aisles. The store was practically empty of customers and full of product.
Also the things we went in for that we hoped to snag a good deal on had a sign posted that said they weren’t part of the sale. Aside from that, most of the product was only marked down 10%. We were a little bit surprised. It was kind of laughable, but also really irritating, because we had no other reason to really be there and buying anything just felt like letting them win at sucking. While we were there another customer really got into it with an employee. She was mad.
The Squabble
So the store had banners everywhere about holding nothing back and everything (up to) 30% off. One woman was very upset and we heard her squabbling with an employee about the sign saying 30% off. The employee rudely pointed out that it was “up to” 30% and had to repeat it several times.
Technically yes. that is what the sign does say, but the “up to” was in much smaller print. The posters were undeniably intentionally misleading if not false. But there was more to it, because the “not holding anything back” phrasing definitely was false. Also 30%is much to low of a ceiling. It really should have been the starting off point, not the cap. The whole thing really was a joke.
Afterward
I was really upset by the whole experience. Sara bought some stuff anyway and so I am no longer speaking to her. Just kidding. Afterward, we went to the Walmart across the street to do some light grocery shopping and Sara got a bunch of diapers at a steal. They were marked down, like 90%. It was crazy.
None of this surprises me. They pay these folks minimum wage and work them to death. They also know their store is closing so what do they care ya know? Customer service is the last thing on their mind.
That’s ridiculous! I guess they are trying to squeeze every penny out of people.