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sc94597 on 18 November 2014
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padib said:
sc94597 said:
padib said:
Scammers versus ignorant clerks. Who's the brighter I'm not sure.

What's certain is that this only weakens consumer rights over the long run.

In other words: "that's why we can't have nice things"

It isn't about ignorance. They tell us to just match the price. For a price-difference this large, the store manager would have to approve it. This probably happens once or twice per store. The manager would rather just give in, because there is a reputation he needs to uphold of price-matching everything. Now there isn't much loss (we call it "shrink") when it happens to one store, but if it happens to many, and if it gains momentum it can become a problem for not only Wal-mart, but its competitors, the consumer, and the gaming industry. Just as you said, it weakens consumer rights. 

I'm glad we agree.

For the first part I'll correct it then. Undiscerning managers.

Yep. I've heard stories of customers bringing an Emerson TV box with a broken beat up Samsung television in it and the managers forcing electronics associates to take it as a return. Then the customers looking smug that they got their way. It is ridiculous. But somewhere in the cost-benefit analysis for either the store or the corporation as a whole it is worth taken this loss and keeping a certain reputation. Walmart stores indirectly compete for bonuses, and managers need to make sure their store doesn't take a big loss even if it would save the corporation as a whole a lot of money just so the employees can get a decent bonus. There are just so many factors, and even in the manager's case he/she probably is able to figure out that it is fake, but make a decision against denying the return because it could cost even more.