Night Owl II | 22 May 2014 1:01 p.m. PST |
So my daughters and I went into a newer (but not brand new) game/toy store in the next town over the other day. I saw something that interested me and realized there wasn't a price tag. Then I noticed that nothing was priced. I asked the clerk about this and he replied "It's all in my head." I promptly gathered my kids and left the store. While commuting home after finishing our other errands my oldest inquired why I "over-reacted". My thought was if a business owner doesn't have the time or discipline to price his/her products and they would rather "size up" their customers then I have no desire to give them my money. Some of us don't like to haggle. This is a retail standard is it not? Yes, it takes time and resources. The price guns run nearly $100. USD But blank dot price stickers can be found at the dollar store. What do you think? |
GarrisonMiniatures | 22 May 2014 1:09 p.m. PST |
If I can't see a price on something, then as far as I'm concerned it's not for sale. |
Grumpy Monkey | 22 May 2014 1:10 p.m. PST |
Seems rather shady to me, I would have done the same. |
Zyphyr | 22 May 2014 1:29 p.m. PST |
I probably would have bailed as well. |
GR C17 | 22 May 2014 1:33 p.m. PST |
I might have asked the price on something I knew about, test the waters so to speak. But yea, seems shady. |
Night Owl II | 22 May 2014 1:41 p.m. PST |
Thanks guys, good to know
I was becoming a little self-conscious about being "that guy". For the record, I left quietly after bidding farewells and didn't storm out or anything. It's just been bothering me that in this era of retail struggles
|
tberry7403 | 22 May 2014 1:50 p.m. PST |
It could be new-agey thing. As you said, the owner would "size up" a customer, determine how much he could "afford" to spend, and charge him appropriately. Not a scam, just a "wealth redistribution" scheme. |
JezEger | 22 May 2014 1:52 p.m. PST |
He's probably breaking the law as well. Usually retail items must be clearly price marked. |
Rapier Miniatures | 22 May 2014 2:27 p.m. PST |
in a souk in Cairo fine, in a shop, not fine, i would have bailed as well. |
79thPA | 22 May 2014 2:37 p.m. PST |
Unacceptable. Manual price tag guns can be had for $20 USD or less (and that includes a couple of thousand price stickers). I don't trust a retailer without marked prices. |
javelin98 | 22 May 2014 2:43 p.m. PST |
Could be exposing himself to a discrimination complaint, at least here in the US. I would have done the same thing, OP. |
Broglie | 22 May 2014 2:44 p.m. PST |
If I don't see a price thing on something I assume it is free! |
Valerik | 22 May 2014 2:52 p.m. PST |
If an object for sale in a retail establishment is "priceless" I customarily will not even bother to ask. In antique malls & flea markets is is a useless exercise, those present simply do not know, and are unable/unauthorized to set, prices the absentee "seller" chose not to provide. In situations where an owner or decision maker is clearly on premises I've been known to ask, but it must be something I seriously wish to possess. If I find a lot of unpriced articles in an shop I will usually comment, on departure, that there were things I was interested in, but being "priceless" I knew I couldn't afford them, or the time to ask. I get more apologies than dirty looks, but stuff seems to stay mysterious. BGR |
Dynaman8789 | 22 May 2014 4:44 p.m. PST |
there are stores (and restaurants) here in the US where prices are not marked, usually of the "if you have to ask you can't afford it variety" so I assume it is not a legal requirement. Now if the store quotes price X to one person and price Y to another then they could be in legal trouble. If the price is listed or advertised then it has to be honored. Personally, no price tag = no sale. I rarely buy things even at Wally's basement if it does not have a listed price
|
(Stolen Name) | 22 May 2014 4:48 p.m. PST |
Would have picked up a %50 item and offered him $2 USD for it |
BrotherSevej | 22 May 2014 5:27 p.m. PST |
"It's all in my head." is very bad. I have visited a hobby store in which they do not stick prices on the products, but they input the product on the computer and the price will come up. (having my targeted stuff's MSRP memorized helps
) |
Mserafin | 22 May 2014 6:48 p.m. PST |
Sounds sleazy to me. I know some higher-end retailers don't list prices on the theory that "if you have to ask, you can't afford it," but game/toy stories are not that high-end. I like Bose audio products, but for a while I wouldn't consider buying from them because they avoided listing prices. It's just bad business (unless you're peddling to the Sultan of Brunei). |
AussieAndy | 22 May 2014 8:09 p.m. PST |
I am unsure about what all the fuss is about here and why some posters are suggesting that there might be something shady or that the shopkeeper could be intending to discriminate against some customers. It is a pretty big leap to go from "there are no prices on the stock items" to the shopkeeper is dodgy and/or a bigot. Just ask the price and, if you don't like it, don't buy it. By not asking, you may be robbing yourself of a good deal. If prices are not marked, then I would assume that the shopkeeper is open to negotiation, particularly if you are buying a few items or paying cash. I don't seek to bargain in circumstances where it would be inappropriate, but I am quite willing to bargain otherwise. |
Extra Crispy | 22 May 2014 8:12 p.m. PST |
For the record 90% of the stock in my shop is not marked becasue 90% of my sales are via mail/web. Technically I could pull up the web site. Realistically, ask and I tell and offer to print a price list. For selling miniatures by mail, pricing the packages is a waste of time. |
sneakgun | 22 May 2014 8:13 p.m. PST |
If it's not marked that means it's free. |
CraigH | 22 May 2014 10:45 p.m. PST |
Just ask the price and, if you don't like it, don't buy it. Exactly
I was just in a game shop tonight, no prices on anything. I picked up four pieces of terrain I was interested in, went to the counter, asked the prices and purchased two. Didn't even feel guilty about leaving the other two pieces on the counter for the staff to re-shelve. |
arthur1815 | 23 May 2014 4:49 a.m. PST |
Over here in UK we have Poundland, where everything is £1.00 GBP – in that kind of store you don't need to use price tags. |
Who asked this joker | 23 May 2014 6:24 a.m. PST |
Stating the price only helps and shows you are on the "up and up". This whole "I've got it in my head" garbage just won't fly. When browsing the market place here on TMP, I generally won't consider those who are trying to sell something who end their post with "make me an offer." Similarly, the old EBay Reserve. I once won an auction but did not win because the reserve was not met. The seller had a reserve higher than the initial bid. Stupid. If you are expecting to get a minimum price for something, would it not be better simply to start the bidding at that price? I could go on but I am reaching TLDR levels. |
Ron W DuBray | 23 May 2014 7:42 a.m. PST |
any one that buys there is foolish. |
CeruLucifus | 23 May 2014 8:43 p.m. PST |
Is it possible he was having a little fun with you and most items had manufacturer retail pricing printed on them and those that didn't had bar codes that could be scanned to bring up on the register? |
cat herder | 24 May 2014 3:34 a.m. PST |
I was at the Triples show in Sheffield last weekend looking round the stalls, I picked up two bottles of unpriced washes that I know sell for about two quid a bottle, I took them to the counter and said to the vendor "how much are these mate", he said, "aw just give us a quid". So unmarked prices are not always bad..CH. |
Cerdic | 24 May 2014 8:11 a.m. PST |
Here in Britain that would be illegal. The Retail Price Marking Act requires shops to display prices either on or clearly next to all products. Not showing clear prices is bad practice. It is easy for shops to display prices in an ambiguous way, on shelf edging for example, that can lead the consumer to think the price relates to the wrong item. In effect the shop is duping its customers. I was in retail management for several years. My advice would be if a shop doesn't clearly display it's prices the only reasons for that are dodgy and duplicitous ones
|
Tyler326 | 26 May 2014 3:51 p.m. PST |
No price No Sale. If he had stated it is all computerized and he would pull up the item on a pc, then maybe legit. "All in my head" sounds like it is all in his head if he expects to do any business with that business model. |
Zephyr1 | 26 May 2014 7:48 p.m. PST |
"Why my good fellow, that sounds like an excellent price for that item, and I have just enough!" (pulls out a roll of bills and peels off some Zimbabwean dollars
. ;-) |
etotheipi | 28 May 2014 9:04 a.m. PST |
It is a pretty big leap to go from "there are no prices on the stock items" to the shopkeeper is dodgy and/or a bigot. I don't think it was an accusation of bigotry, just terminology differences. Charging people different prices because of who they are is illegal, and in the US, falls under discrimination laws, not commercial laws. |
AussieAndy | 28 May 2014 8:52 p.m. PST |
Ok etotheipi, but I still have seen no evidence to support the wild surmises being thrown around about the shopkeeper's motivations and intentions. Perhaps he shot JFK as well. Maybe we need a "Conspiracy Theory Board" on TMP. |