Bad salesmanship

By , January 5, 2011 5:13 am

What comes in a box this size?

Not something for Data!

My new snowshoes!!!

Or shall I say, air guitar?

One more:

It looks like this outside:

But I know (sadly) we will get more snow. And I am going to embrace it!

I just hope that snow comes in time for the Frozen Zucchini Snowshoe Adventure I signed up to “run” on January 30th.

Okay, enough photos. I have two interesting stories to tell about these snowshoes. The first is when I tried to buy them. My brother-in-law, Andrew, gave me a Sports Authority giftcard for Christmas, and took me to Sports Authority in Kansas City to look at snowshoes. I though they sold them there, since the Sports Authority in our town does. So…

Sales Dude: Can I help you find something?
Me: Hi, where are your snowshoes?
Sales Dude (with sarcasm): Do you mean boots for walking on the snow?
Me: No, I mean snowshoes for snowshoeing.
Sales Dude (being a d-bag): We don’t sell those here! You have to be close to the mountains to use those! Muah ha ha. (Chuckles at me) I think there is another place that sells them… (tries to remember)
Me (the bitch comes out): That’s okay. You DO sell them online, so I will buy them THERE.

I am not good at re-telling stories, and Andrew may remember the exact words better than me, but basically this guy was MAKING FUN OF ME for asking him if they sold snowshoes. And being a dick by saying you can only use them near the mountain…? It was weird.

BAD SALESMANSHIP!!!

Do you have any bad salesmanship stories?

The second interesting story – I immediately went back to the house to order snowshoes. I was bummed to have to order the 8×25 Women’s Version:

because the Men’s was not available online. At all. I wasn’t digging the flowers. Well, guess what? The Men’s ones were what I received in the mail! Schweet! That is one mistake I am happy with.

28 Responses to “Bad salesmanship”

  1. J says:

    I love your new snowshoes! Glad it worked out and you got the men’s pair. We just got a ton of snow here! Hopefully I will be able to get out soon and snowshoe around!

  2. Shannon says:

    Once you get to use them, I am interested to see how you like them. I am also doing the Frozen Zucchini. I paid the $10 for the rentals. Since it will be my first time, I wanted to try them before I buy. Let’s hope it snows. I bought ice skates over the holidays.

    • kilax says:

      Oh cool! I wanted to do the rentals but went to register too late. I knew I wanted a pair so I just ordered them!

      Where did you get skates? I have been wanting a pair.

      • Shannon says:

        I bought them when I was home in Minnesota. They are hockey skates instead of figure skates. I guess they support your ankles better. I didn’t see myself doing any jumps anytime soon!

  3. We got snowshoes last year, but we only used them once 🙁 I’m determined to use them more this year!

  4. Mica says:

    Whoa, was this guy a pimply teenager? I bet his manager would have had a fit.

    I’ve never seen modern snowshoes; they look really heavy-duty! What a cool coincidence that you wanted the men’s version and got them “by mistake”. By “mistake”…I mean “fate”!!

    You said it exactly right–we should embrace the snow and try to have a good time. Slogging through it all winter and having miserable runs is not fun.

  5. Marcia says:

    Have fun with those–I’m sure there’s plenty more snow in our future!

  6. Kandi says:

    Love your new snowshoes! Hope you get to use them this year.

    I hate it when sales people are rude or have horrible customer service. I’m sure the companies that hire them do not want them to be treating customers that way.

  7. gina says:

    Those are cool! I cracked up when you said “and then the bitch came out…”.

    Sometime close to Thanksgiving I was in the candy aisle of CVS looking for Chocolate Turkeys. An employee asked if I need help so I asked if they carried any Chocolate Turkeys.

    CVS: Um…chocolate? turkeys? like…candy?

    Me: Yeah, you know chocolate in the shape of a turkey.

    CVS: Puzzled look

    Me: [passed annoyed] For. get. it.

  8. My friend sent me a link to that race! I passed (because I realize and fully admit I’m not a winter runner), but said I’d totally cheer her on. She wasn’t so into it after I declined, but I’m glad someone I know is doing it so I can see how it goes!

  9. Erin says:

    Ugh, bad salespeople are the worst. But I’m glad they “screwed up” and sent you the snowshoes you really wanted!

  10. You don’t dig the flowers? I do!!
    I always hate trying to find charcoal for my bbq in the winter. Arizona “winter” is perfect for outdoor dining, but the grocery only sells charcoal in the summer. Arizona summer is BAD for outdoor dining. Doh!

  11. Adam says:

    Umm, PLEASE tell me why there is not a video attached to this post of you air-guitaring. I know one exists. I just KNOW it.

    • kilax says:

      Unfortunately, Steven was taking the pics so no video. However, if my sister had been there…

  12. Holly says:

    Ugh, what a JERK! I hate it when salespeople are rude. I mean, I’m doing you a favor by buying from you….at least be nice! Those are super neat, though. What a fun race! Prettttty sure we don’t have any like that here Indy, but I’m going to check. 🙂

  13. You have the coolest races in your area! You make me jealous everytime you sign up for another awesome sounding race! Sounds like so much fun!!! 🙂 Enjoy the snowshoes!

  14. Snowshoes! Those look absolutely awesome. Would have absolutely no need for them here mind you, but they look so cool.

  15. sizzle says:

    I am going snowshoeing for the first time EVER at the end of the month. I think we’re renting the gear (because I certainly don’t own the right stuff). I’m excited!

    That salesman certainly thinks he is all that (wrong!).

  16. Kate says:

    OMG, I can’t believe how different your new snowshoes look compared to the ones my dad used to wear way back in the day. They looked like tennis rackets strapped to his feet!

    Regarding bad salesmanship, a friend and I went to a seafood place last year for lunch. You order at the counter and, since we’d never been there before, my friend asked the cashier for a recommendation. To which the cashier replied, “I don’t eat seafood.” Um, what? I had to wonder if her boss ever heard that come out of her mouth.

  17. Thats messed up. Its one thing to joke with certain customers, but flat out making fun of someone like that is just rude. I hate people like that.
    I had a guy at Safeway actually swear in front of me once. Not AT me, but I was paying him, and the guy from the next till came over to ask him something. He laughed and said “f*ck man”. Im still in shock.

  18. Alice says:

    oh man, i’ve never bought / used / remotely had the need for snowshoes before! i think i would probably be very bad at it 🙂

  19. Christina says:

    Ugh, that leaves a bad tastes in your mouth. I have ha da few, the biggest pain pints for me are when I have to return things.

    Enjoy you new shoes!!!

  20. Etta says:

    Really Kim? Air guitar with the snowshoes? Excited much? Bwahaha.. you’re right, though, there will be more snow.

  21. Bethany says:

    Those look like so much fun! I’ve never been snow shoeing– that sounds like it’d be a good time though!

  22. martymankins says:

    Now I want snow shoes. And I just so happen to live where there is snow.

    • kilax says:

      Marty, I think you should get some!

      It snowed a bit here today. Maybe we will get enough snow so I can use mine!

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