Deal with the Deal

I've been looking for all-in-one printer/fax/copy/scan device for awhile, especially now that I work from home a lot. Few days ago I saw an ad on Fry's website about this great offer on Epson WorkForce 615 ($199, now only $79.99). Although it offered free shipping but I want to get it right the way, so I decided to walk into the store instead.

After confirming the device is available in store, I drove to Fry's in City of Industry this afternoon. Then I realized the price is $82.99 instead of $79.99. I asked the Epson rep and a Fry's associate, both of them didn't know why the price varied.

I then asked if I could make an online order right the way and pick up the device at the check out counter. The associate said "yes" but didn't know how long would that online order takes before I can check out the device (usually within 30 minutes to few hours, so the store has enough time to locate the product and have it ready for pick up). Since I already drove all the way there and the $3 difference was really not that big deal, I said I would take it anyway.

During check out, I asked the cashier about the same questions - the price difference and if I could make an immediate online order. She was really nice and helpful. Although they could not honor the lowest price right the way, but I could make online order there, get the confirmation code, then pay for the device.

I don't have a smart phone, so I called my roomate who was home and he helped me place the online order. The whole process took less than 10 minutes, and I saved $3 (or I should say I didn't have to pay the extra $3?).

Regardless - dealing with the deal js not always easy, but with little efforts and a helpful cashier, it can be done! And the lesson is: always ask, ask, ask - and be polite.

優惠：除了店家提供，還要自己爭取

最近一直在計劃買一台集打印／傳真／掃瞄／拷貝等多功能的機器，前幾天在Fry‘s的網站上看到一台原價$199，現在優惠價$79.99的，所以就決定買一台。雖然店家提供免費運送，但是為了想快點得手，就決定自己上門去買。確定店內有貨之後，今天下午就出發去採購了。

來到人山人海的店裡，卻發現標價$82.99，即是比網上的優惠價貴了$3。雖然不是很大的差異，但是心裡就是有一點不爽啦。在那邊問了售貨員，他們只說也有人這麼問，只是他們也不知道答案。我再問，如果馬上上網訂購，並選擇店內取貨，要花多少時間？他們也不確定。（一般來說，在家網購之後，在半小時至數小時內就可以前往取貨，主要讓店內的工作人員把貨品準備好，客人一來就直接到櫃台付錢取貨）。後來心想算了，都開了一趟車來，總不能空手歸吧。

有點小小不甘心的就推著購物車去付款嚕。由於不死心，就在櫃台付帳時，再問服務的小姐同樣的問題，她的答案卻讓我有意外的收穫。親切又有笑容的她說，之前也有發生過類似的狀況。她說，不能直接減去差額，但是可以馬上網購，再取貨。因為我人已在店內，且貨品也在手上，所以手續簡單一些：完成網購手續並提供確認密碼（confirmation code）就可以了。（由於我的手機不能上網，就打電話叫室友幫我上網下訂單）

前後花了不足十分鐘，就省下了那$3（或者說我多花了那時間去爭取到我原本就不應該付的$3？）。不管怎樣，想要做個精明的消費者，就要「不恥下問」，同一家店不同的員工可能對貨品／處理程序的認知程度都不同，多問一下不會吃虧，往往更可以不讓人家佔自己便宜。