The Bitching Thread

[Kraco]

I have actually asked for something once or twice in my life. Like in ye older days when I bought a bloody expensive TV (good TVs cost an arm and a leg in the CRT days) I asked if the salesperson could give me an antenna cable for free, since he couldn't negotiate on the price at all. He did bent that much. Usually I don't ask for such things but I like to view the price of expensive stuff bargainable. Too bad these days the clerks in the big chain stores are good for nothing drones and they can't even wipe their nose without asking for a permission from the headquarters.

[Buffalobiian]

That's funny, because we've got this chain-HiFi store in Australia that has pretty cheap prices already. You'll be strained to find something cheaper that isn't strictly an online-store for the most part. I didn't ask for a discount, and the fellow just added "I can do it at this price" during our talk.

I'm not someone who likes haggling and think of it as unsightly in general retail (both as a customer and as a staff). Perhaps in my head it is too close to begging. I'm a firm practitioner of "buy it or leave it". It is on the basis that I dislike the act of asking for a price-match (again both as a customer and a seller) when the merchant does not advertise that they do it.

Some other place has it cheaper? Go there then.

edit: Another reason I dislike haggling is in the dishonesty component. People will ask for some ridiculously low price with the expectation that it'll get bumped up to something they will actually consider to be reasonable. Merchants who expect this (or get enough of this) will also inflate their prices to adjust. It simply creates a phenomenon where prices listed don't actually reflect the value of the goods - and to realise the true value of the goods you must then haggle.

[Kraco]

I'm not someone who likes bartering and think of it as unsightly in general retail (both as a customer and as a staff). Perhaps in my head it is too close to begging.

Yeah, I know there are indeed plenty of people like that and they have an equal right to the opinion, both the staff and the customers. Personally, though, I view even buying a chocolate bar as a business transaction. Of course I don't try to get unannounced discounts when buying something measly, that would be nothing but a nuisance for both parties, but when I'm spending 500+ euros face to face with a salesperson, I think it's more than appropriate to see if they have any air in the prices. They say in some countries if you don't try to haggle, it's considered disrespectful (that tells it shouldn't be unsightly inherently).

I suppose this is one reason why I buy almost all of my computer hardware from that one local store. They have always been ready for a little bargaining when I have bought a whole bunch of stuff. It makes me feel like I won, and what is more important for a shop than a decent deal and a happy customer?

[David75]

Problem is:
Value is not something you can describe easily/precisely with science.
Do not be fooled, most products have an incredible margin included. It's just that you only see the last percentages of margins.

I've been working with chinese suppliers on very specific, high quality products. In that case, you can really discard quality as a way to improve margins (ie selling rubbish instead of the usual function/product).

Said product was sold 600€ in France.
I was able to buy it under 35€ airfreight, customs etc... included. And prices did fall every year after that. We're currently under 20€ and last I checked, the other guys trying to sell that are still over 500€ for the very same product.

It's not always like that, but just be careful that sometimes it's better to actually try to lower the price

[Animeniax]

I worked for a store where we received a lot of promo items from manufacturers. The department supervisors received them, and usually kept them for themselves. Selfish bastards. We made up for it by working real half-assed.


edit: The Texas Stranglers 2011... they choke with the best of them.

[XanBcoo]

I am sick because of work and stress. My principal is a goddamn bully. On top of physical and mental exhaustion I'm being threatened with my job because I wasn't able to attend a meeting for first year teachers (I'm not a first year teacher). I'm teaching two levels of Spanish and we elective teachers have 60 more students than the core departments, so my workload is effectively twice as much as the other teachers at that school.

As soon as I'm certified I'm getting the fuck out of that school. What a miserable experience this is.

[Buffalobiian]

I am sick because of work and stress. My principal is a goddamn bully. On top of physical and mental exhaustion I'm being threatened with my job because I wasn't able to attend a meeting for first year teachers (I'm not a first year teacher). I'm teaching two levels of Spanish and we elective teachers have 60 more students than the core departments, so my workload is effectively twice as much as the other teachers at that school.

As soon as I'm certified I'm getting the fuck out of that school. What a miserable experience this is.

Does he do that to everyone, or just you?

[XanBcoo]

Everyone. He's universally loathed at our school, so at least we have comfort in solidarity.

I'd love to teach. He just won't let us do our jobs.

[Animeniax]

You should have your students grade each others work in class. You can use it as a teaching/feedback mechanism, it will cut down on your workload, and build community spirit when they all give each other 100s. Win-win-win scenario.

[MFauli]

Ah, being a teacher. I couldn´t do that, considering how hot school girls these days are. Would only result in annoying troubles.

[XanBcoo]

You should have your students grade each others work in class. You can use it as a teaching/feedback mechanism, it will cut down on your workload, and build community spirit when they all give each other 100s. Win-win-win scenario.

Yeah, this is basically the problem. I tried it once and they did so badly at grading each others work that I never did it again.

But it's not just the grading. I can knock that out in 4 hours. It's everything else.

Ah, being a teacher. I couldn´t do that, considering how hot school girls these days are. Would only result in annoying troubles.

I...what?

[shinta|hikari]

He is saying he might accidentally rape them because those school girls are such temptresses. I think it should be self-explanatory considering who posted.

[RyougaZell]

Xan teaches spanish...? Wow.

[MFauli]

He is saying he might accidentally rape them because those school girls are such temptresses. I think it should be self-explanatory considering who posted.

At least one person correctly interprets the trolling. thx

[fireheart]

So I just read that Yoshinori Kitase is coming over to Sweden and that a game magazine is holding an Final Fantasy event where he'll participate, only for the members of the community. That doesn't matter since I'm part of the community but I can't attend since it's on a Tuesday and in another town so can't get away to just go but the real kicker is that the whole event is free... FREE...

[XanBcoo]

Xan teaches spanish...? Wow.

I teach Spanish to an 87% hispanic population school.

I'm sort of like Señor Chang only I deal with impoverished, apathetic minorities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I_43...eature=related

[David75]

So I just read that Yoshinori Kitase is coming over to Sweden and that a game magazine is holding an Final Fantasy event where he'll participate, only for the members of the community. That doesn't matter since I'm part of the community but I can't attend since it's on a Tuesday and in another town so can't get away to just go but the real kicker is that the whole event is free... FREE...

Student? got a test that day or what? if not, just find a reason plausible enough to tell your school you won't be there.
Working? important meeting or customer that day? If not, same as before.

But maybe you used too many escuses in the past months and can't do that again.

[fireheart]

Student? got a test that day or what? if not, just find a reason plausible enough to tell your school you won't be there.
Working? important meeting or customer that day? If not, same as before.

But maybe you used too many escuses in the past months and can't do that again.

I would but don't like ditching work just like that and I'm to honest for it

[Animeniax]

Some asshole keyed my truck. Either it happened the last time I went to the store and just didn't notice it, or they did it while it was parked in my driveway. Probably some punk kids on Halloween (we didn't give out candy to the grubby little beggars). At least they were too chicken shit to do it to the door or hood. They only keyed the rear side panel of the bed. People suck. It's only a utility truck, but still... messing with a man's vehicle should get the perp a beating.

[David75]

I would but don't like ditching work just like that and I'm to honest for it

You can always ask for it, depending on how good your work conditions are of course.