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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to expect a supermarket to sell me something from their shelves?

21 replies

olivo · 30/10/2011 19:43

I found something fab for DD the other day, took it to the self service checkout, where it wouldnt scan. I was escorted to customer services, where after much coming and going, I was told they couldn't sell it to me as it wasn't 'in their system'. I pointed out that it had a shelf edge label, stating what it was and how much it cost, but they stood their ground and wouldnt let me buy it.

Why?

OP posts:

NearlyLeglessEuphemia · 30/10/2011 19:45

Computer says no.

Esta3GG · 30/10/2011 19:46

Write to their head office - they are remarkably crap at their job.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 30/10/2011 19:47

Not linked to their stock control system?

auntiepicklebottom2 · 30/10/2011 19:47

Because there would be no record of that item being sold and they couldnt give you a recipte if you wanted to return the item

DuchessofMalfi · 30/10/2011 19:48

They don't have to sell it to you - I think it is something legal like you are making an offer to buy the item, but they don't have to accept your offer.

I would guess that as it wasn't on their computer system (probably an error on their part) that they couldn't scan it at the till. That wouldn't have happened in the good old days when you just had a sticky label on items and the cashier just rang up the price.

onepieceofcremeegg · 30/10/2011 19:49

It may have been something that had been withdrawn from sale, but rather than saying this they just did the vague "not in our system". This happened to me once in M&S, some socks had been withdrawn, some kind of safety thing I think. I found a pair that shouldn't have been on the shelf.

Original poster

olivo · 30/10/2011 19:50

I understand that it would not have had a direct record, but in other shops, they usually just put in non grocery item, or something like it for stuff from the clearance shelves.

I may email their Head office - whoever heard of a shop that won't sell you their stock?!?!

OP posts:

helpmabob · 30/10/2011 19:50

I have had that happen to be several times and it really pisses me off.

Itsjustafleshwound · 30/10/2011 19:51

It happened to me and it is bloody annoying!

Original poster

olivo · 30/10/2011 19:51

I could understand if it had been withdrawn, but they should have said that.

Bring back the good old days.....

OP posts:

SazZaVoom · 30/10/2011 19:52

I was SO upset when they wouldn't sell me some wonderfully ripe brie on display on their deli counter. I was very stooopid though and mentioned how lovely and ripe it looked and the assistant checked the date and it was a day over. Should have kept my mouth shut and not complimented them on their lovely produce. Twat.

TethHearseEnd · 30/10/2011 19:53

So, if you'd nicked it....?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 30/10/2011 19:54

SazZaVoom... You should have threatened them with Trading Standards UNLESS they handed over the cheese pronto...

benandhollyandgaston · 30/10/2011 19:56

I bought a necklace in Tesco that had no tag on it and the lady behind the counter (was the customer services desk, mind) was basically able to choose a price and sell it to me for that, with a receipt.

There ought to be a way for someone to authorise the sale to you, so I will say YANBU.

SazZaVoom · 30/10/2011 19:56

LOL Witch. Yes, it was the ONLY piece of brie which was actually 'fit for purpose' running off the table. I left not buying any!

bigbluebus · 30/10/2011 19:57

It happened to me in Tesco with a chart CD. Got to the checkout and the cashier said the message came up 'not able to sell this item'. She couldn't give an explaination for the message - said maybe they had discovered a fault and should have removed the item from the shelf.
Went to Sainsburys the next day and purchased same CD - so doubt there was a fault with the CD - just Tesco's computer system

academyblues · 30/10/2011 19:59

I HATE those 'self-service' checkouts.

I really resent having to put myself through the mysterious bleeping and screen instructions just to give a shop my money.

I use the term 'self-service' cautiously, as there are invariably a handful of assistants next to them (sometimes out numbering the actual checkouts) showing people how to use them.

Original poster

olivo · 30/10/2011 20:24

I suppose what really annoyed me was that the price was there on the shelf, along with the description which exactly matched the product. Grrrrrrrrrr [hangry]

I agree about thsoe checkouts - by the time its finished telling you to remove items from the baggage area, add items to the baggage area and called for the assistant at least 3 times, you might as well have done the normal route.

OP posts:

Morph2 · 30/10/2011 21:40

this happened to a friend of ours at tesco when he spotted some special type of cider he loved in there for the first time, they said they weren't allowed to sell it as they couldn't guarantee that it was something they sold rather than something a random stranger had just put on a shelf. It also happened with the same cider in the same tesco the next week, you throught they would have sorted it by then. To add insult to injury he then recd some money off vouchers for the cider from tesco and when he went the next week it had sold out so he couldn't use them

QuintessentialShadyHallows · 30/10/2011 21:43

"Beeep. The item you are trying to buy does not exist. Please throw it away and continue"

A1980 · 30/10/2011 21:47

Google "Invitation to treat". Items on a shelf in a shop are not offers of sale.

Try and find the item on Amazon? Might be cheaper.

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