So how is everyone's rush going? Did not see much chatter about price matching this time around.
10 replies (most recent on top)
Rush has been terrible. Slow, no lines. Kids have said they could go to Amazon and buy a $200 book for $15. Price match is a joke. Kids want real savings not a gift card.
Well put; slash the margins of the few books a customer will buy. Brilliant!
Sales are way down again for the 6th straight year. Price match is not making a difference and in fact eroding the margin. Which genius at the home office had the idea to get in a price war with Amazon?
Took down all price match signs, not encouraging it, just another dumb lose money idea from some clown who has no idea what stores do. It will be gone next year, another Follett waste.
The true question here is why are you stressing yourself, your staff and the students out over price match for this sinking ship? Approve it if its not a market place item and move on to a profitable customer in line. If you are worried about LP: they cut that department so deep in the last layoffs that no one is really paying attention anymore. Stop being the defender of Follett, s--- up the loss on the sale and enjoy being stress free.
Not all stores have the luxury of a text customer service desk, so takes time at cash register
Sales declines are consistent with Fall rush.
Follett must lose money on most price matches after you factor in freight, employee costs and the rent to the school. Save the sale and lose money. All that work and the student could just have Amazon ship the book to their dorm.
Just my recommendation, we do all pricematching at the text customer service counter. Customer provides book and website, and we confirm print and initial approval. Takes just a few extra seconds at the register that way. But I know every store has a different structure. :)
Price Match is still a nightmare at my store. Sometimes a transaction can take up to 30 minutes....meanwhile the line keeps growing and growing.
Oh, and not because WE don't know how to do it, but because the students get to the register and if you deny a PM, they sit there and surf on their phones until they can find a match. Usually it is for many books, not just one. It is a real hassle.