Taking pictures of price tickets in Big W

Lseigweilo on 11/07/2014 - 16:23
Last edited 11/07/2014 - 16:46

I had a rather irritating experience recently with Big W. I was comparing prices of microwaves and couldn't be bothered writing down the model, specs and prices so I was quickly taking pictures of the price tickets instead. Suddenly an employee approached me and asked if everything's ok. I told him that I need a microwave and was comparing prices with Target and Harvey Norman. I thought he would try price matching but instead he told me off. His exact words were "We only sell here, we don't take pictures" then turned around with a look of disgust.

I felt insulted over something that I've been doing for ages.

Ended up getting a Russel Hobbs 25L 900W from Target for 37$. So glad I walked away.

This is probably part of the "Big Change" that Big W is having.

Electrical & Electronics

Related Stores

BIG W
BIG W

Comments

  • IIGnomeII on 11/07/2014 - 16:27
    +22

    I am surprised that you had an employee come up to you in Big W!!!!
    I would have more luck finding water with a stick in there than someone to help.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/07/2014 - 17:51
      +2

      This. So much.

      OP - it was probably just a case of an arsehole employee rather than being an issue with Big W. Until we have some proof of it being store policy to stop shoppers from taking photos of tickets, I don't really agree with saying boo to Big W. Yet. lol

      • scrimshaw on 11/07/2014 - 18:47
        +2

        Apparently retailers don't like it when you note down prices, on your phone or in writing.

        http://www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREA…
        http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/sep/16/tesco-shop…

        They're probably afraid that the shopper may be a competitor or perhaps be doing some kind of consumerist journalism, and the managers don't want that happening in their store just in case you write something horrible about their pricing of products or stocking stuff that shouldn't be stocked. Who knows.

        I suggest bringing some ninja smoke bombs next time, and dissapear in a puff of smoke when you are cornered by an angry store employee.

        • StewBalls on 11/07/2014 - 23:03
          +5

          I take photos of price tags at shops all of the time, the drones never seem to bother me; but then again, the wife reckons I come across with somewhat of an 'I can be a bit of a prick, so please do try it on' air about me!

          I'd have had a lot of fun with a little ponce like the OP encountered! ;)

    • juventino on 12/07/2014 - 01:46

      IIGnomell, You need to yell out "SERVICE 3"

      You'll then see all those employees you never see before

      :)

  • scrimshaw on 11/07/2014 - 16:38
    +5

    You felt… violated? I don't think the storeperson made a move on you. Insulted perhaps.

    Anyway I would take this with their customer service dept (http://www.bigw.com.au/contact-us) and make a complaint.

    • seigweilo on 11/07/2014 - 16:46
      +4

      ditto on "violated" it's too strong of a work. Will update the post. Thanks for the suggesting the contact page, drafting an email now.

  • Grillman on 11/07/2014 - 17:21
    +15

    You should have taken his photo too, lol, would have pissed him off more.

    • scrimshaw on 11/07/2014 - 17:36
      +8

      the perfect line would be

      "Do you know who you just served? I'm Rob from WowCareers. I can say I was not impressed with your performance just then"

      tut dissaprovingly three times and walk away then watch his face cringe in despair.

      • toristo on 11/07/2014 - 19:11
        +29

        I had a friend do a similar thing - we'd gone looking at cars after he'd met a very senior Audi manager the day prior for a meeting relating to his work in property - totally unrelated to buying a car and had been given a business card. We were walking around and he was looking at the R8, as you do, and this guy comes over and says "Please, don't touch the premium vehicles. We have other affordable options at the other end" (and points to the opposite end of the building where they have the used Audi's). My mate was driving a new near Range Rover at the time so he's not hard up - but he was wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans so might not have met the normal 'popped collar' requirements.

        I was ready to give the guy a mouthful but without missing a beat, my mate smiled, pulled out his wallet, took out a business card and said "It's great that you've offered to help me today. Pass this on to your manager and ask him to give a quick call on Monday morning." then calmly walked back towards the escalators as this bloke took a moment to process what had just happened, what was written on the card and then try to apologise as we were getting onto the escalator.

        I felt so bad for the bloke because he would have spent the weekend assuming he'd lost his job for being a jerk. Hope it changed his tune though.

        • jaxpylon on 11/07/2014 - 19:47
          +8

          That's awesome

        • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2014 - 01:11

          Brilliant.

  • Tal_Shiar on 12/07/2014 - 01:29

    There are some people out there that make you laugh taking photos in shops. As a Woolworths employee i've seen people take photos of packets of small goods, just "shopping" photos in the perishables sections, one asian lady was even snapping photos as she walked around the stores with a big smile on her face. I think the most absurd one I've seen is two asian girls taking a ticket for service at the deli, then pulling out there phone and taking a selfie with their middle and index finger gestures with their ticket lol. There really is no reason to confront someone taking a photo of an item/ticket, if you start taking photos of the store layout i might ask you to stop, but who doesn't take photos when your window shopping or find a funny product name or something?

  • juventino on 12/07/2014 - 01:42
    +1

    that guy is just being a jerk. I work there and take pictures of the tickets all the time instead of remembering the keycode and the prices when I serve my customers.

  • backpaqer on 12/07/2014 - 11:03

    The local Woolies had some sign up at some point saying photos were prohibited in their store. Fortunately I have great memory and can pick out all the items they scan at the wrong price and we get those for free. :)

  • seigweilo on 12/07/2014 - 11:31

    If they were selling Russell Hobbs, I'd look for that guy again and ask him to price match Target.

    • StewBalls on 12/07/2014 - 11:36

      If I was in Melbourne, I'd come with you just for the fun of it. :)

  • seigweilo on 12/07/2014 - 12:02

    It's in Melbourne CBD QV man

    • StewBalls on 12/07/2014 - 12:52

      It's a bit of a commute from Newcastle, NSW unfortunately…even for the choice opportunity to berate a douchebag shop assistant! ;)

      By the same token, next time I'm in Melbourne I'll try to make some time to 'shop' there with my camera…might even take the DSLR just so there's no ambiguity over using a phone! :P

  • LYRICALRAVER on 12/07/2014 - 20:36
    -1

    use a pen camera or some hidden camera that' you buy online from some warehouse in China , next time to take a photo of it! LOL

  • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2014 - 19:33

    Taking picture of ticket prices used to be a practice of a lot of companies to change their prices accordingly. Could be suspecting you are a competing company? Don't really see that happen much these days. We had a few people do it at Kmart. Didn't care to be honest.

    Kind of a shit comment from the staff.

    • tonyjzx on 14/07/2014 - 09:49

      yeah thats it

      they arent banning you or telling you not to

      remember they are people on minimum wage

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