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AIBU?

To send a letter of complaint to this retailer and possibly cost someone/several people their job ?

157 replies

whitebits · 18/12/2014 18:29

Back story....DS has been dropping major hints for a present he wants from Santa. The store catalogue gives the price as 6 and unfortunately this particular toy is exclusive to this store so we can't buy elsewhere. We did see a few being advertised locally on Gumtree and Ebay by private sellers for 60 (!) but DH said "fuck that (that's a direct quote Grin) I'm not paying 60 for a 6 toy."

I've gone into the store numerous times over the last few weeks only to be told that they've just sold the last one or they're waiting on a delivery the next day. DH popped into the store today as he was in the area and overheard another Dad talking about this toy basically saying thank God he got it as he wasn't prepared to pay the Gumtree/Ebay price for it. So DH went up to the counter and asked if they had the toy in stock. After much deliberation and several visits to the stock room the sales assistant said yes they had one left and DH bought it. He overheard an exchange between the assitant and another employee along the lines of "ok, we'll split the money from the next one..." Then one of the other employees stupidly/honestly told DH that he and other staff members had been buying the stock and selling it on Gumtree or Ebay for 10 times the store price !!!

Whilst I'm the first to applaud their entrepreneurial spark, isn't this just bloody wrong ? Dh was absolutley bloody fuming. I've been trying to think it through. It's different from someone wandering in off the street and buying all the stock for 6 quid and then flogging it on Gumtree at a significant mark up, isn't it? I think Dh is most angry at the fact that we've been lied to numerous times when I've gone to the store and been told they don't have any. He called earlier to speak to the store manager but they were unavailable so is thinking of emailing their Head Office to complain. We know at least one of the people involved as they have served us previously in the store. So what would you do ?

OP posts:
TarkaTheOtter · 18/12/2014 18:36

I would speak directly to head office.

toocoolforsoup · 18/12/2014 18:38

I'm sure they haven't been buying all the stock of that item though, have they? You've got the toy now, I'd just leave it tbh. They're probably only being paid a low wage!

Tinkerball · 18/12/2014 18:40

Of course it's wrong, definitely contact the head office. What's the toy?

fluffyraggies · 18/12/2014 18:40

Is it a big store, or a small privately owned shop?

If the employees are also co-owners it's up to them where and for how much they sell their stock.

If not - then i'd imagine the owners will want their cut.

CarbeDiem · 18/12/2014 18:40

I agree with you. It's wrong. I used to work for a high street company who sold designer and other normally pricey stuff at a discounted prices and it would have been a sackable offence.
I think if I knew they'd done it once only then I'd leave it but that's highly unlikely.

SingingSands · 18/12/2014 18:42

This sits badly with me. It's unfair - they have access to the stick before Joe Public, and they're using it to extort ridiculous prices out of desperate parents in order to line their own pockets. It sucks and yes, I would be on the phone to head office because they will be contravening company guidelines.

whitebits · 18/12/2014 18:43

No way of knowing how much they've bought but I've gone into the store every opportunity I've had only to be told it's sold out. As I said it's exclusive to the store and another employee told me that they were perhaps only getting 10-15 in at any one time so there was never shelves full of them. I appreciate that they'll be getting a shit wage, I worked in the same shopping centre for a different retailer a few Xmases ago over the holidays and was on shit wage too but can't envisage myself lying outright to people. Still, I don't know their personal circumstances I suppose. They could just be greedy bastards or they could be struggling to make ends meet and saw an opportunity to make some money.

OP posts:
whitebits · 18/12/2014 18:45

Tinkerball - it's a skylander trap team toy, the kaos trap. That might be double dutch to you or it may make sense Grin

OP posts:
whitebits · 18/12/2014 18:46

Fluffy - a big store

OP posts:
18yearstooold · 18/12/2014 18:48

If its the same company I used to work for argos then it is a breach of contract and classified as gross misconduct

They also have data mining software that will pick it up if they are using cards to buy them or are using staff discount

I'd leave it to their internal process personally

NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding · 18/12/2014 18:52

DH would risk his job if he did that. It may be because of staff discount, which these people may not be using, but still, it's taking advantage. A big company should come down very hard on it.

I would contact the manager, definitely.

Boomtownsurprise · 18/12/2014 18:55

Isn't that fraud?

Head office. To CEO, customer services head, HR head and publicity. Have fun!

millymae · 18/12/2014 18:55

Me too I'm afraid - what they earn is irrelevant. It's dishonest

GerbilsAteMyCat · 18/12/2014 18:56

Bastards.

toocoolforsoup · 18/12/2014 18:58

It's not fraud. They're paying for the items

Tryharder · 18/12/2014 18:58

Of course you should complain.

They are abusing their position and whilst it's not illegal, it's sharp practice. And the perceived lowness of their wage doesn't justify it either.

Although the real idiots are those who are willing to pay £60 for a £6 toy.

joanne1947 · 18/12/2014 19:01

If the staff paid cash for the toys the company have made their profit so why should they bother. Does it really matter? If you can't buy that particular toy then buy another, it is not a matter of life and death. If people are stupid enough to pay £60 on Ebay for a toy that cost £6 then they need to get their priorities right.
Just forget it and buy something else. Tell DS that he has no right to demand a present and he should be pleased with what you get him.

RedToothBrush · 18/12/2014 19:01

If they are breaking the terms of their employment contract, that really isn't your fault is it?

Boomtownsurprise · 18/12/2014 19:02

I think it is something but my knowledge gets knotty. Or at least possibly. Their actions are driving demand. Shop is under a delusion x toy is y popular. By corralling the market it isn't free trade is it?

If you did that with wine or cigarettes customs get grumpy. Def shady behaviour.

londonrach · 18/12/2014 19:03

I think its fraud so needs reporting. Shock. At least your ds has the toy.

toocoolforsoup · 18/12/2014 19:05

How is it fraud?

oneowlgirl · 18/12/2014 19:11

I would complain to Head Office & leave it to their internal policies / procedures to determine whether they've done anything wrong or not.

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whitebits · 18/12/2014 19:13

joanne1947 - my DS isn't an entitled little beggar (though the tone of your post makes him sound like one) and has never demanded anything in his life. Whilst he would probably have been a bit disappointed at not getting this particular toy (it's my understanding that it's quite important in order to play the game) he would have got over it. Like most parents. if a toy is within our budget, and at 6 it is, then we like to try and get our kids what they actually wanted. There is no way on earth I would have paid 60 for it.

OP posts:
springalong · 18/12/2014 19:17

please let HO know.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 18/12/2014 19:17

I'm pretty sure it's written into most retail contracts that it is not allowed and would be an immediate dismissal.

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