"would you like to donate to..." at major retailers (1 Viewer)

[chauncey]

Bunch of old ### grumps in here. Checking your receipt to make sure you got the sale price? (if $$ is that big of an issue then shop at Costco or Amazon) Not wanting to donate a buck for some people whose life sucks more than yours? (while you are probably purchasing crap that will increase your odds of cancer and/or heart disease) Not saying thank you? (Damn Yankees)

 

[rockaction]

Bunch of old ### grumps in here. Checking your receipt to make sure you got the sale price? (if $$ is that big of an issue then shop at Costco or Amazon) Not wanting to donate a buck for some people whose life sucks more than yours? (while you are probably purchasing crap that will increase your odds of cancer and/or heart disease) Not saying thank you? (Damn Yankees)

When you're shopping off a card and a budget and trying to save twenty-forty bucks on a purchase, then I have no idea how that's grumpy. I watch people doing this all the time at CVS and Walgreens. And often, they're not getting the sale price they should because the workers aren't adjusting the bar code to the sale price. What's wrong with this?

I must live in a different world. This has become a common complaint at grocery stores and other places. Are you GHWB?

 

[Binky The Doormat]

The donation solicitations don't bother me as much as the constant overcharging for items that have a sale price listed. I shop regularly at CVS and Walgreens and this happens frequently. There will be one or more items that ring up higher at the register than the price posted on the shelf. I always ask them to fix it and it wastes another couple of minutes to save a couple bucks. But I would probably lose hundreds of dollars a year by not doing it.

Our local Walgreens could be the worst run store I have ever been in. Makes the Dollar General store look like Nordstroms.

 

[avoiding injuries]

I've noticed recently that the cashiers don't even mention it anymore. The option is just on the credit card console.

 

[General Tso]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

 

[Bucky86]

I round up sometimes at my local pet shop because I'm not a heartless *******. And dogs are cool.

 

[Ghost Rider]

My favorite is when places ask for your phone number when you are buying anything. I enjoy giving a number that is quite obviously fake.

 

[Gr00vus]

Bad, but still not as bad as phone solicitation. That's suckcon 1 and should be completely illegal. This is currently about on par with junk mail in terms of annoyance level at roughly suckcon 4. If it becomes a standard part of completing every on site transaction it will move up to suckcon 3.

 

[RUSF18]

The bigger problem when this pops up at Duane Reade/Walgreens is that it always does so in the middle of swiping your CC, or as they're scanning another item, and the machine beeps or flashes to a different screen and you end up needing to go through the swipe/press ok again.

 

[FUBAR]

Bunch of old ### grumps in here. Checking your receipt to make sure you got the sale price? (if $$ is that big of an issue then shop at Costco or Amazon) Not wanting to donate a buck for some people whose life sucks more than yours? (while you are probably purchasing crap that will increase your odds of cancer and/or heart disease) Not saying thank you? (Damn Yankees)

The op was to "support the troops". Troops lives don't (usually) suck.

 

[kupcho1]

My question is why do you add "thanks"?

Cashier: Do you want to make a donation?

Me: No.

What is wrong with adding some civility to a conversation?

Civility? A simple no is civil at least compared to the third degree some of the people in here seem to put the cashier to.

You're thanking them for asking you for money. You're thanking them because you feel guilty saying no.

I don't feel guilty, hence: "no"

 

[FUBAR]

Donated the first time I saw this, thinking it was a novel idea.

Sorry for starting this trend.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

You do more shopping online for incidentals to avoid a check out person asking for a donation?

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

Would the surcharge be more or less than the charitable donation?

 

[shadyridr]

I donate to the kids related ones cuz kids are awesome

 

[gianmarco]

My favorite is when places ask for your phone number when you are buying anything. I enjoy giving a number that is quite obviously fake.

Yep

 

[TwinTurbo]

Bunch of old ### grumps in here. Checking your receipt to make sure you got the sale price? (if $$ is that big of an issue then shop at Costco or Amazon) Not wanting to donate a buck for some people whose life sucks more than yours? (while you are probably purchasing crap that will increase your odds of cancer and/or heart disease) Not saying thank you? (Damn Yankees)

It's not just the $$, it's the principle and it's illegal. Plus I live in NYC where everything is overpriced. I have never had any item ring up for lower than the sales price, but I've had it ring up for a higher price countless times. I stopped shopping at Walgreens over it. But CVS does it to. It's comically bad sometimes when you have 5 items at a self check out and 4 of them are priced incorrectly, all in favor of the store.

These stores probably rake in tens of millions of extra dollars off people like you that don't check their receipt.

 

[Mister CIA]

My question is why do you add "thanks"?

Cashier: Do you want to make a donation?

Me: No.

What is wrong with adding some civility to a conversation?

Civility? A simple no is civil at least compared to the third degree some of the people in here seem to put the cashier to.

You're thanking them for asking you for money. You're thanking them because you feel guilty saying no.

I don't feel guilty, hence: "no"

Thanks for thinking this through and doing he heavy lifting for the rest of us.

 

[kupcho1]

My question is why do you add "thanks"?

Cashier: Do you want to make a donation?

Me: No.

What is wrong with adding some civility to a conversation?

Civility? A simple no is civil at least compared to the third degree some of the people in here seem to put the cashier to.

You're thanking them for asking you for money. You're thanking them because you feel guilty saying no.

I don't feel guilty, hence: "no"

Thanks for thinking this through and doing he heavy lifting for the rest of us.

You're welcome

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Did they specify which troops?

For all you know that 60 cents could go straight to ISIS

"Let's make this interesting."

 

[shadyridr]

Did they specify which troops?

For all you know that 60 cents could go straight to ISIS

mc gas must be in a good place in his life now cuz hes bringing the funny in multiple threads all of a sudden

 

[General Tso]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

Would the surcharge be more or less than the charitable donation?

If it was paid once a year instead of at checkout - more.

 

[MC Gas Money]

Did they specify which troops?

For all you know that 60 cents could go straight to ISIS

mc gas must be in a good place in his life now cuz hes bringing the funny in multiple threads all of a sudden

Best place in my life probably.

I stopped taking mood stabilizers 4 Months ago and I have never felt better.

 

[jhib]

My question is why do you add "thanks"?

Cashier: Do you want to make a donation?

Me: No.

What is wrong with adding some civility to a conversation?

Civility? A simple no is civil at least compared to the third degree some of the people in here seem to put the cashier to.

You're thanking them for asking you for money. You're thanking them because you feel guilty saying no.

I don't feel guilty, hence: "no"

Sometimes a little civility (especially over the top civility) gets people to leave you alone quicker. Telling a telemarketer, "I'm not interested, but thanks for calling!" gets them every time in my experience.

Personally, at the register, I go with, "Not today, thanks." I guess it gives the impression that I do the donation once in awhile. If the cashier gave me the hard sell after that, I'd be pretty annoyed like Quez was. Probably wouldn't lash out, but I'd be annoyed.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Bunch of old ### grumps in here. Checking your receipt to make sure you got the sale price? (if $$ is that big of an issue then shop at Costco or Amazon) Not wanting to donate a buck for some people whose life sucks more than yours? (while you are probably purchasing crap that will increase your odds of cancer and/or heart disease) Not saying thank you? (Damn Yankees)

It's not just the $$, it's the principle and it's illegal. Plus I live in NYC where everything is overpriced. I have never had any item ring up for lower than the sales price, but I've had it ring up for a higher price countless times. I stopped shopping at Walgreens over it. But CVS does it to. It's comically bad sometimes when you have 5 items at a self check out and 4 of them are priced incorrectly, all in favor of the store.

These stores probably rake in tens of millions of extra dollars off people like you that don't check their receipt.

I swear, every single thing at Walgreens that has a special price sticking out is only that price if you have the Walgreens card or whatever. What a scam.

 

[jhib]

I'm always tempted to ask if the retailer will match my donation.

I like this idea. I'm sometimes tempted to tell them, "No, but feel free to donate one of the dollars I'm giving to you right now." I wouldn't actually ever say that, though.

I will try your idea instead. Heck, if the answer is yes, then I might actually donate. And if more people asked, it might get more stores to make that part of the standard practice.

 

[General Tso]

If you ever want to screw yourself, or someone else, give a phone number to one of those gambling services that advertise that "lock of the year" on Saturday morning radio. They, and several other companies that they sell the number to, will hound you relentlessly no matter what you say or do to stop them. "Do not call" lists do not apply to these guys. They are like the cop in Terminator 2.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

Would the surcharge be more or less than the charitable donation?

If it was paid once a year instead of at checkout - more.

Do they issue a badge that you flash at the cashier?

 

[MC Gas Money]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

Would the surcharge be more or less than the charitable donation?

If it was paid once a year instead of at checkout - more.

Do they issue a badge that you flash at the cashier?

You spread your cheeks at the register

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

Would the surcharge be more or less than the charitable donation?

If it was paid once a year instead of at checkout - more.

Do they issue a badge that you flash at the cashier?

You spread your cheeks at the register

I'll donate, thanks.

 

[PatsWillWin]

This never really bothered me until I read this thread. Now I'm primed to flip out about it next time it happens.

 

[MC Gas Money]

This needs to stop. I had to run into Walgreens today on my lunch break to grab my wife a card. 2 cashiers lines are open. 1 line has a cashier & the store manager trying to settle a dispute about the patron being shorted on 5 cans of Sierra Mist in a 12 pack he previously had purchased. This takes almost 10 min to settle.

The other line has a lady wanting to split a carton of cigarettes between 2 types of marlboros. Luckily, the manager was near by to get the quick "no" so she could complete her 2 transactions.

After about 10 minutes of waiting in line I finally can check out. I put in my Walgreens card, and proceed with payment.

Then the cashier asks, "would you like to donate 60 cents to the troops". I politely say "no thanks." Then she says "are you sure, it would make my day if you did". I kind of snapped at that point. "I just said no. Are you seriously sitting here trying to talk me into a donation, what is this?" Then she gets defensive "I'm just doing my job sir." To which I respond, "is it really your job to aggressively ask customers to donate?" I then pointed to the credit card machine and said "it ask here, I already said no, then you ask again, that's 3 times! That is rediculous!" I took my receipt said thanks, and left.

Was I out of line here, for kind of going off on the cashier. I think we need to draw the line somewhere.

I wish Eminence would of been around so I could of punched him in the face just for working at Walgreens.

LOL! I hear you dude. One of the reasons I do more and more shopping online. The mailman doesn't ask me if I want to save an animal, buy his extended warranty, or if I'm enrolled in his Rewards Program.They should start a "no solicitation" check out line, where the only thing the cashier does is - you know - cash you out. Kind of like a 2015 version of the 80's express line innovation. I'd even be willing to pay a surcharge not to be hassled.

Would the surcharge be more or less than the charitable donation?

If it was paid once a year instead of at checkout - more.

Do they issue a badge that you flash at the cashier?

You spread your cheeks at the register

I'll donate, thanks.

But it would really make her day

 

[jhib]

This never really bothered me until I read this thread. Now I'm primed to flip out about it next time it happens.

Just be sure to always have some pennies ready to go.

 

[RUSF18]

Bunch of old ### grumps in here. Checking your receipt to make sure you got the sale price? (if $$ is that big of an issue then shop at Costco or Amazon) Not wanting to donate a buck for some people whose life sucks more than yours? (while you are probably purchasing crap that will increase your odds of cancer and/or heart disease) Not saying thank you? (Damn Yankees)

It's not just the $$, it's the principle and it's illegal. Plus I live in NYC where everything is overpriced. I have never had any item ring up for lower than the sales price, but I've had it ring up for a higher price countless times. I stopped shopping at Walgreens over it. But CVS does it to. It's comically bad sometimes when you have 5 items at a self check out and 4 of them are priced incorrectly, all in favor of the store.

These stores probably rake in tens of millions of extra dollars off people like you that don't check their receipt.

I swear, every single thing at Walgreens that has a special price sticking out is only that price if you have the Walgreens card or whatever. What a scam.

You know it says exactly that about the card on the sticker you're talking about, right?

 

[17seconds]

I just left two different stores and was asked at each to donate.

they really should have coordinated with each other and not asked twice

 

[flapgreen]

I would be a little annoyed by that approach but you sound like an ####### too.

 

[cstu]

The worst part of it is they aren't doing out of the goodness of their hearts to collect for those in need - it's so after they've collected the money they can advertise how much money they've given to charities. Business school 101.

 

[KarmaPolice]

The worst part of it is they aren't doing out of the goodness of their hearts to collect for those in need - it's so after they've collected the money they can advertise how much money they've given to charities. Business school 101.

I work for a company that does this ####. We do the change round up thing for a few weeks, then they get to put out a presser "X donated this much $ to Y cause" to look like the good guys. Even little stuff that we did that used to seem nice, like donating food/ham/turkeys to families for the holidays had to be turned into a name recognition event. We didn't do it unless we went to the houses with them and wore our shirts, had them come to the store, or at least call the paper and ask them to run an article about it. So frustrating- you want to do something nice? Just ####in' do it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Also, to the OP: I know it is super annoying, but also think about how it is for the poor saps that have to ask that all day. She was probably 100x sicker of asking customers than you are of hearing it, and maybe made a poor attempt at making it lighter or something. Probably would make her day so the manager who was at the next register didn't ride her the rest of the day for not hitting her % of donations needed.

 

[cstu]

Also, to the OP: I know it is super annoying, but also think about how it is for the poor saps that have to ask that all day. She was probably 100x sicker of asking customers than you are of hearing it, and maybe made a poor attempt at making it lighter or something. Probably would make her day so the manager who was at the next register didn't ride her the rest of the day for not hitting her % of donations needed.

Don't blame the poor cashier who's just doing what her boss has told her. You can bet she hates asking more than you hate being asked. Can't even go to the manager since he's in the same boat.

Shark move - buy from Amazon.