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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
whitebits · 18/12/2014 19:20

Amazing - see that's why I feel bad, I'd like to think they'd get a bollocking but not lose their job. The individuals involved are all early 20's males and I'm assuming (very possibly incorrectly) that they don't have kids themselves and are just out to make a quick buck. Or they could be feeding a family of 8, how they hell would I know Confused

OP posts:
CassieBearRawr · 18/12/2014 19:21

It's not fraud you loons Grin Depending whether they used their staff discount to buy the item it may be gross misconduct, and if that's the case they would indeed lose their jobs.

I would contact the store manager. Play merry hell. You'll get the first one from the next delivery (if indeed they get any now before Christmas). I wouldn't get someone fired over something as minor as this (although he's a bloody numpty for admitting what he's done to a customer).

26Point2Miles · 18/12/2014 19:25

Op already has the toy.....

whitebits · 18/12/2014 19:27

Yes we got it today, they handed one over rather reluctantly to DH !

OP posts:
Boomtownsurprise · 18/12/2014 19:28

Loons?

Did you mean to be so rude?

Simply say it isn't.

CassieBearRawr · 18/12/2014 19:30

Classic mumsnet boomtown!

Glad you got one whitebits. Is it a purpley coloured shop you bought it from by any chance?

HappyCria · 18/12/2014 19:30

I've also been trying to get the kaos trap I didn't realise it was exclusive to one store Shock it's advertised as out of stock everywhere.
I've given up now and am hoping ds will be able to get it himself with his christmas money in the new year.

I don't know what I would do about reporting the staff. I just wish company's would make enough of these "must have" toys in the first place Angry

woodhill · 18/12/2014 19:31

yes it does sound like they are abusing their positions. do you think the store knows as wouldn't the manager have noticed they were buying alot of the same thing. not good.

WannaBe · 18/12/2014 19:31

of course it's not fraud. Hmm it's not illegal to buy a product and sell it somewhere else, it's stupidity to buy said product for ten times the normal price though.

I would imagine that buying the stock and selling it on like that may well be gross misconduct, but tbh to report them is incredibly spiteful and petty. You have your toy, you're not gullible enough to pay over the ods for one on gumtree, and anyone who is needs their head read. People sell toys for these ridiculous prices because idiots are prepared to buy them.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/12/2014 19:32

I knew when I read this post that you were talking about the kaos trap. Is it argos by any chance? You can buy an argos reservation code for it for £59.99 on eBay. I'm really cross to read this, as like lots of people have struggled to get one for DS. I'd complain. Glad you got one though OP.

HappyCria · 18/12/2014 19:33

Op Can I ask where I should of been concentrating my efforts on instead of been fobbed off by every shop I went into that they would be getting it in soon?

WannaBe · 18/12/2014 19:33

they have them in our local store - I was in there this morning. Now I could perhaps obtain them for you for, erm, £35. a bargain I believe given the markup on gumtree ;)

whitebits · 18/12/2014 19:34

Cassie No, read and yellow sign for this store Grin

OP posts:
WannaBe · 18/12/2014 19:35

no they have them in game.

Storytown · 18/12/2014 19:37

I doubt anyone will be sacked for it. Presumably staff are allowed to buy things from shops they work in. What they do with it after that is surely up to them?

Glad you got one OP and hope your DS is thrilled.

whitebits · 18/12/2014 19:38

Not in Game in my neck of the woods or anywhere else. We were told they were exclusive to Smyths.

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WannaBe · 18/12/2014 19:39

I'm in orpington, I was in my local game this morning and the man next to me was buying one. if only I'd known they were in such high demand ;)

Lucyandpoppy · 18/12/2014 19:39

I think I know what shop it is - OH worked there as a Christmas temp a couple of years ago most staff are on 0 hr contracts on minimum wage so can see why they'd, wrongly or rightly, use this opportunity to make some money.

CassieBearRawr · 18/12/2014 19:40

Ooh that's quite a coup if they've managed to get exclusivity on it! I think it was available in the dark edition of the game when that came out too, so anyone still looking might be able to get one that way too. Not that the dark edition is easy to find now either!

FastWindow · 18/12/2014 19:42

Whereas it isn't fraud, it is most certainly damaging the stores reputation and that believe me will be in the professional conduct bit of an employee contract.

If you report (and I would) it will certainly lead to disciplinaries, if they can pinpoint who has been doing it. You don't have to be specific if you feel bad about getting someone sacked. But you should let HO know what your dh overheard.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/12/2014 19:42

They were exclusive to smyths originally but Asda, Game and Argos had them more recently. Not that I've seen any in stock around my area.

whitebits · 18/12/2014 19:44

I agree if there is a shelf full of products and an employee buys them then it's pretty much up to them what they do with them. But if the toys aren't even getting as far as the shelf and are being held back by the staff then surely that's different ?

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woodhill · 18/12/2014 19:44

I think they are taking advantage of their position and are being dishonest. the customers should take precedent.

WhereIsMySantaHat · 18/12/2014 19:44

I need that bloody trap too.

It's sold in argos, asda and smyths though rather than being exclusive to one store.

HermioneWeasley · 18/12/2014 19:47

Disgraceful. Definitely report