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Is it OK for a store to tell me this?

maclover001

maclover001

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 25, 2008
895
0
Vancouver, Canada
Okay, here's my story:

Yesterday, I walked into London Drugs (Canada's "Target") with the intention of buying a Logitech VX Revolution mouse to replace my current Mighty Mouse (The scroll ball slowly started dying, now it doesn't scroll AT ALL). I went to the mouse display to see if they sold it. For some reason, I thought that Logitech only had one mouse with the super-fast scroll-ball thing. I was wrong, there were several to choose from (VX Nano, etc).

I go to a demo model iMac to read online reviews on the VX Nano (Maybe i'd like it better?). Anyway, there I am on Google just trying to find out what people think of the thing, and this employee comes up to me and says "I'm sorry sir, I'm afraid I can't let you surf online". I tell him I'm just reading reviews for a mouse I want to buy. He replies with "I'm sorry, but these computers are not for internet surfing". I say "Not any of them? All I'm doing is Googling a mouse I want to buy". He says "Well you should have done that before you came". :rolleyes:

Why connect the friggen things to the internet if you can't even use them?

Anyway, I pull out my cell phone to ask my geek friend about the Revolution/Nano/Whatever. I told him what happened and he thought that it was just crazy. He advised me to get the "VX Revolution" (flagship), and pick it up at NCIX. I didn't want to buy anything at LD after that experience.

I go to NCIX and ask for the mouse. Walked out. Hooked it up, and I love it.

Do you think that it's a bit odd that you can't use demo model computers to read about a product you intended on buying?
 
They don't set those computers up for people to surf the net. There's got to be some sort of fine print saying you can't. It's not like he was out of place, he just said "no".
 
It is perfectly fine for a store to say that to you. That said, I would have done exactly what you did and buy the mouse somewhere else.
 
I have the iPhone to remedy that :D

I'd have done the same as you did. Yes the store can say that, but doesn't mean you have to take it in the ass, either.

(And I'd have told you to get the VX Revolution too. Best. Mouse. Ever.
 
Did you happen to catch the name of the sales drone?

Even if you didn't, shoot an e-mail to their customer service. At best, you get an apology and maybe some coupons. At worst, they tell you to fark off. :)
 
I can see why they don't want Tom Dick and Harry (was he with you?) going on the internet in stores, but the reasoning was sound. It's their loss in the end.
 
I think that it's just fine for a store to tell you that. It's their property and they can enforce whatever rules they want on it. It's not like they have to please you; if they don't, shop elsewhere.
 
It happens, and it makes sense. I agree, there's no sense in connecting them to the internet, but there you go.

*shrug*

I'd still sooner shop at London Drugs than Future Shop.
 
SteveMobs said:
They don't set those computers up for people to surf the net. There's got to be some sort of fine print saying you can't. It's not like he was out of place, he just said "no".
Click to expand...

So why are they connected to the web then? Surely they could simply disconnect them from the network...
 
ucfgrad93 said:
It is perfectly fine for a store to say that to you.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but I think any employee worth keeping around would apply a rule at their discretion, which means he should use his brain (i.e. common sense). Most of the time, the rule should apply. In this case, it really shouldn't, and the employee should use his own judgement.

Losing a customer in this manner, and in this economic climate, isn't good at all.
 
wow.

I would have gotten a manage, re-visited the conversation with the employee so both the employee and the mgr know what's going on and then said, " and that is why I'm going to buy it from another store.".
 
I wonder if the employee had accidentally left himself logged into the system? I seem to recall that employees there had to log into the systems before they could check things on the 'net, which they have done for me in the past. That would mean that the systems are not usually at a customer's disposal to surf the 'net.

I've had good experiences with London Drugs, so I'm suprised at your experience.... but every chain has to have a drone. Which store were you at?
 
I can't blame them for asking you not to use the internet. They probably get kids trying to use myspace and what not. When you told the guy you where googleing the mouse he should of said "No Problem, Take your time, If you have any questions that the internet can't answer, I'd be glad to help you."
 
As a Department Lead I have disabled internet access for my department's demo stations. I did this only because I have seen customers surfing to inappropriate sites. Also, my team has been abusing the internet when they should be working.

EV0LUTION said:
I can't blame them for asking you not to use the internet. They probably get kids trying to use myspace and what not. When you told the guy you where googleing the mouse he should of said "No Problem, Take your time, If you have any questions that the internet can't answer, I'd be glad to help you."
Click to expand...

This is probably the best way to handle this situation. You have ensure that you are meeting the customer's expectations while letting them know you are available if they need any other assistance.
 
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