$PSGR Something to think about.
Each time you go shopping for a particular item, you expect certain things to take place. First, of course, is that, IF the store advertises an item, the item will be available for sale at the store. You would also expect to find the item at the store for the price advertised. You would also believe that the store would have a finite number of the item BUT could possibly run out of the item, if the demand for the product was great.
However, IF the store ALWAYS advertised items to be on sale and NEVER had the items in stock or did not arrange for additional shipment to the store for the items, you might get a bit suspicious.
If you shopped at this particular store for any length of time, you might get suspicious of their advertising and think that the store is taking advantage of you by potentially issuing false advertisements.
As a shopper, you are left with several choices, among them:
1) You can stop going to that particular store
2) You could send a letter to the State Attorney's Office and request
a review of the company
3) You could speak with the Store Manager
4) You could organize a boycott of the store
5) You could contact a consumer advocate group to investigate
the company
Yes, there are several other avenues you could pursue, but the above seem to be the most reasonable. Number 1 is the safest BUT you would have to find another store that is closer and had a similar pricing structure. This might cost much more in the long run as you will have to shop around. The old saying time is money is very true in this case. Number 3 would seem to be the most logical step BUT s/he IS in charge of the store and s/he is responsible for having the item(s) in stock. The Store Manager may just try to BS you and tell you that in a few days/weeks/months EVERYTHING will be fine. Past experience might shout to you "Ain't gonna happen, nothing will change!" Number 4 would be counterproductive. YOU still have to go somewhere to buy the items you want. Why waste time organizing and boycotting a store that you will, most likely, never enter again? Word of mouth will quickly 'out' the store and its sales dollars WILL drop. You are now left with two choices: Numbers 2 & 5.
Depending upon how involved you wish to become, the choice of your actions will have a direct affect on all sides of the inquiry. You, the company, the 'investigative' agency, shoppers, store employees, maybe even Law Enforcement Agencies and the Court System could become intermingled while the investigation is on going and until it reaches a conclusion. Some federal government agencies might conduct a cursory investigation and leave the store with a weak warning to better serve their customer 'or else'. Some Agencies might go in with a sledge hammer and say "Do it or the doors close and jail time may be in the cards!"
Of course, there may be extenuating circumstances that have caused the store to be out of its advertised items. Before inviting outside Investigative Agencies into a possible conflict, one should have a long list of 'Ads' over the years that stated items were on sale...and NEVER were in stock. Individual store advertisements may be a little difficult to prove as misleading BUT historical data would most likely support the argument that the INTENT of the Press Release/Advertisement was to scam the shopper.
Word of mouth also should play a large factor in the review of the store. If your friends and neighbors experience similar negative occurrences, they should share them with you. If they say nothing, they 1) Don't care that the store advertisement agency lies to them 2) Never buy the advertised items 3) Aren't really your friend /or/ you never met your neighbor(s) 4) Shop somewhere else 5) Just don't like you.
Maybe your shopping habits should change. You could choose to contact the Store Corporate Office (if it has one). You could physically go elsewhere or you could shop on line. The worst action you could take is remaining silent! Others will suffer the same consequences from the store that you found abhorrent. If you remain silent, YOU are NO DIFFERENT THAN THE STORE!!!
I continue to be POSITIVE that something good will occur if enough voices are raised AND heard.
Each time you go shopping for a particular item, you expect certain things to take place. First, of course, is that, IF the store advertises an item, the item will be available for sale at the store. You would also expect to find the item at the store for the price advertised. You would also believe that the store would have a finite number of the item BUT could possibly run out of the item, if the demand for the product was great.
However, IF the store ALWAYS advertised items to be on sale and NEVER had the items in stock or did not arrange for additional shipment to the store for the items, you might get a bit suspicious.
If you shopped at this particular store for any length of time, you might get suspicious of their advertising and think that the store is taking advantage of you by potentially issuing false advertisements.
As a shopper, you are left with several choices, among them:
1) You can stop going to that particular store
2) You could send a letter to the State Attorney's Office and request
a review of the company
3) You could speak with the Store Manager
4) You could organize a boycott of the store
5) You could contact a consumer advocate group to investigate
the company
Yes, there are several other avenues you could pursue, but the above seem to be the most reasonable. Number 1 is the safest BUT you would have to find another store that is closer and had a similar pricing structure. This might cost much more in the long run as you will have to shop around. The old saying time is money is very true in this case. Number 3 would seem to be the most logical step BUT s/he IS in charge of the store and s/he is responsible for having the item(s) in stock. The Store Manager may just try to BS you and tell you that in a few days/weeks/months EVERYTHING will be fine. Past experience might shout to you "Ain't gonna happen, nothing will change!" Number 4 would be counterproductive. YOU still have to go somewhere to buy the items you want. Why waste time organizing and boycotting a store that you will, most likely, never enter again? Word of mouth will quickly 'out' the store and its sales dollars WILL drop. You are now left with two choices: Numbers 2 & 5.
Depending upon how involved you wish to become, the choice of your actions will have a direct affect on all sides of the inquiry. You, the company, the 'investigative' agency, shoppers, store employees, maybe even Law Enforcement Agencies and the Court System could become intermingled while the investigation is on going and until it reaches a conclusion. Some federal government agencies might conduct a cursory investigation and leave the store with a weak warning to better serve their customer 'or else'. Some Agencies might go in with a sledge hammer and say "Do it or the doors close and jail time may be in the cards!"
Of course, there may be extenuating circumstances that have caused the store to be out of its advertised items. Before inviting outside Investigative Agencies into a possible conflict, one should have a long list of 'Ads' over the years that stated items were on sale...and NEVER were in stock. Individual store advertisements may be a little difficult to prove as misleading BUT historical data would most likely support the argument that the INTENT of the Press Release/Advertisement was to scam the shopper.
Word of mouth also should play a large factor in the review of the store. If your friends and neighbors experience similar negative occurrences, they should share them with you. If they say nothing, they 1) Don't care that the store advertisement agency lies to them 2) Never buy the advertised items 3) Aren't really your friend /or/ you never met your neighbor(s) 4) Shop somewhere else 5) Just don't like you.
Maybe your shopping habits should change. You could choose to contact the Store Corporate Office (if it has one). You could physically go elsewhere or you could shop on line. The worst action you could take is remaining silent! Others will suffer the same consequences from the store that you found abhorrent. If you remain silent, YOU are NO DIFFERENT THAN THE STORE!!!
I continue to be POSITIVE that something good will occur if enough voices are raised AND heard.
