<p>I just had my first customer ever scan a bar code on the item while standing at the checkout counter and ask me to price match. I had just spent 15 minutes talking to her about the product that was going to solve her problem. I was so astounded that I didn’t even ask who she wanted me to price match <em>with</em>. There’s a store in our county selling the item for $10 more, which I know because I just price-shopped them last weekend. Should have said I’d price match with them! </p>
<p>This customer was in the store responding to a coupon for a free dog tag (a $10 value) engraved while she shopped. She left with her free tag. She spent nothing. </p>
<p>People like that make me crazy. Deep breath. Zen moment.</p>
<p>cnp, my father was in the retail business. I understand! </p>
<p>When I was a teen, and a size 2, I shopped for such steep discounts that my father said that one day they will just pay me to take the merchandise off their hands. I will admit that I am still a bargain shopper, but no longer a size 2!</p>
<p>As far as the price, she might have wanted you to price match a business that does not offer service, and does not have a physical presence. Perhaps they were going to tag shipping onto that price too. Frankly, imo, family owned businesses cannot compete with Costco, Amazon, and such when it comes to price.</p>
<p>FWIW, sometimes I actually want personal service (advice, free gift wrapping, special order, etc.) and I am willing to pay for that service.</p>
<p>I assumed she wanted me to price match with Amazon. I was particularly annoyed because I had done the whole dog and pony show about the product and the accessories. </p>
<p>As far as I could tell, she’d never been in before and only came in this time to redeem a coupon that offered a <em>free</em> item. We do very little couponing and actually have a very fair pricing algorithm that allows us to stay in business. </p>
<p>I may not use this particular advertising vehicle again. So far, I’ve just had bottom feeders looking for freebies, not even my regular customers getting their freebie with their monthly purchases or new customers coming in to spend a little money and get their freebie.</p>
<p>When we had a small pet, I would sometimes buy at the chain stores, but most of the time I would buy at a small pet shop where the owner would take our pet in as a “boarder” for as long as week whenever we were out of town (for a fee of course, and so reasonable btw). That was a WONDERFUL service so I would be willing to pay a premium over the chain stores to support that business. Also, they provided some grooming services when requested, and they showed affection to our pet when we were gone (I really don’t think it was a phony show for our benefit).</p>