Officeworks, Am I Missing Something Here?

LRupertBear on 07/04/2019 - 18:48

So, went into Officeworks today to have a look around. Came across an IPad Pro 12.9 bluetooth combo keyboard on special. You had to take the card to the checkout to get the product.
Went down to the checkout, handed over the card and the checkout person got the sealed, boxed keyboard out of the cupboard behind the checkout. She brought it out and I stretched out my hand and asked if I could hold it to check the weight (as others I’ve tried were quite heavy).
She said “you’ll have to buy it to touch it”. I said I just want check the weight, don’t need to,open it. She repeated “you’ll have to buy it to touch it”. I looked at the person beside her who repeated the same.

I said, “ok if I buy it, touch the box and say it’s no use can I then hand it back and get a credit?”. “Yes” she says.

I shook my head and walked out.

Am I missing something here?

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Comments

  • outlander on 09/04/2019 - 10:52
    +1

    Just another jobsworth I'm afraid

  • fratzhaus on 09/04/2019 - 12:24
    +4

    If you grabbed it before paying for it, and just started walking the hell out, their policy prevents them from actually stopping you. There's no need to run.
    To counter the above policy, they enforce the rule op is complaining about for high value items. So many times this would happen at the big w in Lilydale when I worked there.
    Let's be honest, you're asking to hold a box to determine the weight of the item.. It includes the Charger and packaging and whatever else - it's a weird question that won't answer your question, and only really resolves to you wanting to hold the box for ? reason.

  • apple2016 on 09/04/2019 - 13:12

    Am I missing something here?

    I think you are missing the apple shopping experience.
    Ideally OW should have a white table with all the apple products for customers to have a experience(look, touch, check functionality etc). But this applies only for apple. not sure if the keyboard was apple though.

  • No ONE on 09/04/2019 - 13:13
    -2

    I said I just want check the weigh

    And how does that effect your purchase decision? Weight of the box?

    They just saved the day to do paper work, report to police and head office.
    I guess refunding back was a minor inconvenience than dealing with stolen goods.

  • Herbse on 09/04/2019 - 15:01
    -5

    Entitled much?

  • infinite on 09/04/2019 - 20:06

    They wont do it unfortunately as they've had too many unsavory type's simply just snatch it and run.

  • Ahbal on 09/04/2019 - 20:50
    -1

    In the time you spent typing this up, you could have googled the weight of the product.

    • sauce2k on 10/04/2019 - 09:28
      +1

      Knowing the weight is one thing but actually feel it it's another..

      • Inshinshishimop on 10/04/2019 - 11:40

        But to know the feel then you’d have to take it out of the box, which devalues the product.

        • sauce2k on 10/04/2019 - 11:50

          I completely agree with the store policy but I think ops point is he literally just wanna hold it while it's in the box.

          • John Kimble on 10/04/2019 - 12:46

            @sauce2k: Which doesn't help with feeling the product weight really…eg product itself could be 500g, but with packaging weighs 1kg.

            In this instance wouldn't you would want to connect it to an ipad pro to get the proper feel anyway?

  • serpserpserp on 10/04/2019 - 11:47
    +1

    OP if you want to feel one in action go to a store with a demo model? Holding the box isn't really going to satisfy your needs…

  • John Kimble on 10/04/2019 - 12:56

    Yep, I had a similar situation in a Telstra shop; asked for a (real working) display phone to be taken out of the holder so I could feel the weight and size, compare it to my current phone it and they said they can't, store policy.

    I asked how is a person meant to judge when it is stuck to that holder (one that is stuck to the table that doesn't even turn or pull out with a string)? They just shrugged at me.

    I asked do they have a dummy one I could hold at least? They said no.

    What about if I gave you my drivers licence to hold? They said no.

    Do you know of any places where I could hold a phone, or at lease a place where the holder pulls out with a string (better than nothing) perhaps? No.

    Super helpful…

    • myusername on 10/04/2019 - 13:52
      +3

      tell them you can look at my cash but can't touch it

    • jenkemjunkie on 10/04/2019 - 17:16
      +1

      Dude it’s a phone; not a finely balanced sword you’re going to wield in combat.

      • John Kimble on 10/04/2019 - 17:45

        ha. True, but it's something you'll hold and use everyday, so it is important for you to be able to hold it comfortably, especially the larger almost phablet phones…

  • ozoner on 10/04/2019 - 18:34
    +2

    "you have to buy it to touch it" - girls say that to me all the time.

    • lovepub on 10/04/2019 - 18:37

      Remember….hands off the HOME button

  • adam149 on 10/04/2019 - 21:21

    Better than my experience. I took the Chromecast ultra cutout from the shelf to the checkout, they checked the cabinets and there were none there and then I was asked if I would like to backorder, wtf?

  • vtecdohc on 11/04/2019 - 01:42

    I don't see anything wrong, considering that we're buying goods online without even holding it in our hands. Only real way to get a feel of the product is at an Apple Store then buy one from the cheapest retailer like a true Ozbargainer.

    My workplace has a similar policy,where goods has to be paid for before it gets handed over. Once its paid for, the customer can do whatever they desire.

    • DiscoJango on 11/04/2019 - 01:51

      Do u work at McDonald's

  • eggplant on 11/04/2019 - 06:21
    +1

    This not being allowed to touch an item in person policy takes away a key advantage of bricks-and-mortar stores. Logical or not, being able to satisfy ones curiosity (weight in this case) is part of the sale. Another reason to take your business online if they can't entertain a supervised sticky beak.

  • DarkOz on 11/04/2019 - 07:21
    +2

    OW should invest in a pair of heavy duty handcuffs.

    Tie one side to the counter and tie the other side to the customer. Once the expensive item is returned simply release the customer ;)

  • mrvaluepack on 11/04/2019 - 11:43

    Wow, first time ive heard this in australia. What suburb was this officeworks in if you dont mind me asking?

  • RupertBear on 12/04/2019 - 09:38
    +2

    Victoria Park, Mrvaluepark.
    Thanks everyone for all the differing viewpoints.
    To answer some of the comments there was another brand on the displayrack which I picked up and it was definitely heavy to hold. On top of the weight of the iPad it would get very quickly uncomfortable. It was priced at $150 so not a lot of difference in price to the one I wanted to “touch”.
    Anyway they lost a potential sale, I left as an unhappy customer and OZ B had some interesting points of view!

    PS have since joined the gym to see if I can get my sprint times up……

    • Zachary on 12/04/2019 - 17:01
      -2

      …you mean East Victoria Park……since there isn't one in Victoria Park….since I checked…

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