i went to greco bros. a few days before christmas on the hunt for a ping pong table as a gift for my nephew. i had shopped around a bit. starting at dick's, i found a table for ~$270. i then went to BJs who, much to my surprise, did not stock that sort of item. finally, i stopped into greco bros..
while the store stocked the item, a low end table started at $400. instead of balking at the $130 price difference and walking out immediately, i patiently waited while the only sales woman on the floor cashed out and chit chatted with another customer about his glass lamp shades and game room. when she approached me, i explained what i was shopping for, where i had been, and what i found. i also indicated my preference to support smaller, local business, and asked that she help me understand why i might want to choose greco bros' table over the one i found at the chain retailer.
she immediately shunned me. she told me that she wouldn't be able to tell me without looking at the other table. well, lucky for both of us, i took photos of the other item, the price tag, and the spec sheet. i really hoped she would find differences and up-sell her merchandise. after barely a glance at the photos, she went so far as to say they were practically the same product. i suggested i would go back to dick's, and she dismissively agreed i should.
all i could think was HOW RUDE! this whole experience proved my business theory wrong. the chain retailer far out performed the local business in customer service (attitude / helpfulness), product, and price. i'll never step foot into greco bros. again. read more