You should take the issue up with the regional manager. It won't change anything but I think he/she needs to hear it. If nothing in the ads indicated a procedure to get pre-sale "tickets" (and I don't believe they do) then this was absolutely false advertising or in-store fraud. I hate these "we only have 6 of these item" sales. I was an early morning customer at an electronics store a few years back looking to get something they had on sale. The store had been open only minutes but they were sold-out. I think they call that attempted "bait-and-switch".
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This is why I stay home on Black Friday. Too much hassle for what seems like a lottery process.
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Sparticus, yeah..stay home, shop online, or get gift cards..eliminates the hassle.
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What does it matter if the people already had the tickets? They were still ahead of you in line. At the store I work at we had people line up at midnight. You can't expect to get there a half an hour before they open to get the doorbuster specials. Black Friday is CRAZY and people will wait all night to get that crap!
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The people who had the tickets were probably the people who camped out all night at Walmart and had been standing there all night, so they might as well get the tickets for the TV's, they were there first and it's first come-first serve on Black Friday!!
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Thanks for the responses. You won't get me up at some ungodly hour for one of these sales again ! Guess I'll have to dig a little to locate the Reg. Mgr. It's worth a shot !
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I believe the point is...they did not mention anything about having to have a ticket to get the merchindise. As for me, there isn't any product for any price worth my camping over night or going out at 4am to get...Best Buy had a flat screen computer monitor for only $79, which I've been pricing the past few weeks...the ad said each store had only 10...that told me right there, that I wasn't getting one because even for that price, I'm not going out at that time of the morning to get there at 5am knowing people were camped out all night...it's crazy and so many people get ripped off falling for those sale ads...I stayed under my covers instea... more >>
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Miss Priss, Walmarts is not the only one that pulls this stunt. A few years back a family member went to Sears to purchase a high end gas grill advertised at an especially low "day after Thanksgiving" price only to be told they were sold out. She was offered a rain check, but was not guaranteed the grills would be in for Christmas. Why bother? It was supposed to be a Christmas gift...the reason for the trip to the store.
Noneill has made an excellent point if contacting the regional manager will do any good. If these stores would afford the consumer the courtesy of stating the number in stock, that might make a difference. I've forgotte... more >>
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DB, I just read your response where you stated you had been looking for a flat screen monitor at Best Buy and were notified there were only 10 available and saved yourself the trouble. Too bad other stores don't list the quantity available...and we know the reason why in most cases.
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Debtor, sure they didn't mention giving tickets but what was the OP going to do? Trample people or be trampled to get to the tv? If they didn't give out tickets you would be reading a letter from the person in the beginning of the line. People were waiting at the store I work at all night! They SHOULD be the ones who get the items, not someone who gets there 30 min before the store opens.
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I think giving out tickets/vouchers is one of the best things they can do... it really keeps everything much more organized and reduces the havoc that in the past occurred as doors were open.
While 11PM might have been a bit early, it wouldn't have made a difference. Those who were out there at 11PM the night before obviously intended to stay there, and would have still gotten the vouchers if they were given out a half hour prior to opening. If you were going to drive so far, you should have gone a lot earlier just to be safe.
In regards to stores putting the number in stock in the ad-- from my past retail experience, stuff like that jus... more >>
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Some of the above posts make sense and some don't. WM and other stores could solve this but they like the free advertising, etc. No giving out a ticket is NOT fair. Then why wait in line, you have a ticket go home and come back at 5:00am. Some stores said how many they had and customers waited, but tickets weren't handed out until the sale time to those who had waited. NOW for the best solution --use a lottery. The sale is at 5:00 am. At 4:30 am a line in started, everyone puts name on a card (all cards same size type, etc.) they are put into a drum, it is spun aroun d and at 5:01AM the cards are drawn for the # of units available (e.g.... more >>
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You actually came out ahead. You really don't want to buy an RCA TV. They are at the bottom of the list for reliability these days. The quality of their products has really gone downhill in the past 10-20 years.
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I agree with lobo65!
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Face it people, Wal-Mart and the other "big box" retailers are in business to make money. They aren't in business to lose money. These promotional items are designed to bring ignorant consumers into their stores. If you actually think that you are going to be able to get that widescreen TV at the promotional price, then I have a nice bridge in Brooklyn to sell you!
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I know that they aren't the only store pulling this kind of crap, but I'd like to tell Wal-Mart (a multi-billion dollar global corporation which abuses and underpays its workers) to knock it off ith the deceptive advertising. No wonder people hate Wal-Mart!
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When the new play-station (or whatever it was, I'm not into those)just came out about a week ago...it was to be available on a Friday and people started to line up on Wednesday to camp out and get one. At Best Buy, the store and the police were concerned for their safety because several locations reported people being robbed at gunpoint while waiting in line. Best Buy did a lottery for the amount of Play-stations they had on Thursday night...those who were first in line since Wednesday didn't even get a chance, yet those way in the back of the line did...these people were all there for the same item, not like Black Friday when they are there ... more >>
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DB, you mentioned Playstation3 and I earlier critized Sears for not having an advertised item in stock several years back. I would like to commend Sears on something recent.
A week or so ago I went to the local Sears and a sign was posted on the entrance doors something to the effect their order for Playstation3 had not been honored, they had none in stock and didn't anticipate any before Christmas. Sears had run no ad in the paper, but could have allowed customers to have walked to the electronics section in anticipation of selling something else. My hat's off to them for that.
Every year there's going to the the hot ticket item... more >>
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DB you missed the point of my post. No camping out, no waiting, come in the morning of the sale and then put your name in the hat. It would work.
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Frenchie, that is a preposterous idea. There are thousands of people at some stores, and there are hundreds if not thousands of items. Who the hell has the time to do this? Now, if it were for PS3 or ONE item, maybe it would work. But not for Black Friday, when so many things are on sale. Plus you would still see the rushing at the door by people who don't comply. That is one of the most ludicrous ideas I've heard yet.
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That was my point also, Dealco...it's one thing if it were just one item like the PS3...but when it's mulitple items like on Black Friday, they aren't going to give tickets out for every item on sale.
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i think the issuing of the tickets are a good idea as long as they do it a hr prior to opening. last yr i waited in like everyone else. things were quiet till about 5 mins b4 the doors opened. a group of people were very rude and just walked up to the frnt of the line. they pushed their way into the store when there a block long line of people waiting their turn. everyone was so pissed. this year, i went to a different store, different town..
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Those of you who like to critize my post, please read the original blog. It had to do with a TV---NOT WITH MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ITEMS. Unfortunately for you posters the idea has and will work.;I stand by my post in respect to the original theme.
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I know someone who works for the local police department and they had to work crowd control at a store Friday morning it is amazing what some people will do to try and cut to the front of the line there was a lady with a young child and a baby and she clamed that since she had her baby with her she should be able to go in front of the line instead of waiting in the line.
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I understand your comment, Frenchie...but everyone in that line could have been there for just one item...but not all the same item...I just don't think there really is a true solution to the problem of these types of sales....except to maybe limiting the time they can start lining up...say maybe two hours before the sale...I don't know...I just stay away from that situation...after the year that the Knight Rider's Kit car was on sale before Christmas an my little (at that time he was little) had to have one...but I just went there just before they opened and waiting in line, made a dash to the toy department...luckily, I am tall and they wer... more >>
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DB Stop being mean! Whats up Frenchie?
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LOL yea call the regional manager. His stores have millions of customers and one (along with many others) call him complaining about a doorbuster that makes them no money. Maybe he will give you one for free?
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Where am I being mean?
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(11/24/2006) 
