Confusing Sale Sign and stuff--Up Date

I had a very dissatisfying experience at the local Dick's Sporting Goods store yesterday. I had a Father's Day gift certificate so decided to use it for golf balls and golf socks while DW wanted some new golf clothes which were on sale.

First the golf balls were on sale. Depending on the brand, some were just cheaper--i.e. 50% off--some were like $29.99 each but buy 2 for $40, etc. One brand said "Buy 2 Get 1 Free". My take on it was if I bought 2, one of them would be free so I bought two. When I checked the sales slip once I got home I discovered they had charged me for both. At that point I realized they actually meant "Buy 2, get a third free" .

Second the sign on the socks said "Buy 2 or more pairs, get 50% off." So I grabbed two pairs off the rack. When I checked the sales slip I found I paid full price for both. From all appearance the two pairs were exactly the same, in the same exact packaging but one pair had a cuff top the other did not. How could one tell? The PVC codes on the back were different--that was the only exterior difference. The socks were packaged in such a way that you couldn't see the tops and it was only by taking them out of the package that one could see the difference.

Needless to say I called the store--its 40 miles away--and complained. I was told by the manager to bring in the sale's slip and they would give me the extra dozen balls (I don't know if I really need 3 dozen) and could exchange the socks for a refund. But that trip shouldn't have been necessary. Even misreading the golf ball sign it seems like the checkout clerk could have said "With these two you're entitled to another dozen." but he didn't. In fact, he graciously stuck the sale's slip in the bag so I didn't get to read it. While I realize they hire a lot of people that have no idea what is on sale it seems the could have an alert programmed into their registers to alert the checkout clerks. Likewise the socks, in spite the different styles, should have been classified as a similar item. Again an easily programmed thing.

My biggest contribution to this thing lay not in the interpretation of the sign but not reading the sale's slip before I left. However, my DW and I did buy a lot of stuff and, while I thought the total was high, I didn't red flag the thing. (Women's golf clothes are way over-priced.)

This isn't the first time I've had a problem with this Dick's BTW. I find that if you know what you want and how it works they will have it at a good price. However, the sales staff is not very helpful when you buy something that needs operational instruction.

Ok rant is over and I vented. Oh yeah I wrote the corporate customer service too to tell them to change their confusing promotion signs.

 

Ok another addition to my buying spree. I also bought a pair of shorts that were on a hanger that said "38" (my waist size) went to put them on tonight and there was a gap of 3 inches or so between button and button hole. Looked at the size label--"35".