TRUE COLORS!
I head over to Stovall to check on black aluminum border and pea gravel. I speak with an employee who is very helpful regarding the specific border that I want to purchase. He actually takes me to the back to show me the product and we discuss its properties. When I ask about price, he needs to go to the computer to check. I am suspicious of this move because I know (without a shadow of a doubt), that this guy knows exactly what this border costs. He is THAT guy. He quotes me a price of $22 for 8 feet of aluminum which is like trying to sell me a twelve year old Chrysler for $6000. I just said okay and continued on with the conversation I was having with another employee. He later checks on a particular pea gravel I need, (not stocked at their location), and records the contact information for the other location on this back of his business card.
What a nice guy right? Not so fast there Grasshopper! This is a classic example of grooming. He wasn't being nice because he is inherently nice and wants to provide great customer service; he was simply grooming me for the slaughter. He has no idea that I don't pay any more than I have to for a particular product and that I always call around to verify prices. He also doesn't know that a colleague, (in his office), quoted us a price of $15.75 approximately a week ago. I took the time to contact another Stovall location and their price was $16 but I was told the original price would be honored and I was given a name. Names are always important because they carry weight when you are needing to confront a discrepancy or verify information.
Here's the lesson:
Apparently, Stovall's prices are fluid and they charge what they want to charge.
If they are being extra nice, be gracious but don't get "caught up". Understand that this may be a part of the "sales" process.
Never purchase items on your initial visit and always take time to verify prices.
Can I ever trust this guy again? No, because once I discover unethical or unprofessional business practices, I am done. When it comes to business, I need to be able to trust that the business professional is not in the business of price gouging or taking advantage of customers. Choose wisely!
6/13/16
So as you remember, one of the "seasoned" male employees attempted to sell me an 8 foot piece of aluminum for $22 when my husband had already received a quote of $15.75 from one of the females in the office. We also received a lower quote of $16 from the store in Norcross and was told that they would also honor the original $15.75 quote. The difference was minimal. I wanted my husband to return to the McFarland location to see what price he would be quoted in person. He again dealt with a female who sold him the border for the reasonable price of $15.95. I guess the point of this experience is: if you must do business at this location and want a fair price for products and services, ask for the female sales associate. read more