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cheap prices means cheap training

Posted by cris on 7 February 2010, 8:29 pm

one would think that walking into a bargain store will result with finding items are reasonably cheaper prices than other higher end stores. while one would assume that the customer service will be cheaper…one would not expect the staff to be completely ignorant to the customers.

today, february 7th, at around 1:30pm i walked in to a ‘army & navy‘ store in new westminster. i had a bit of time prior to meeting friends for coffee and i decided to check out the ‘canada’ gear the new west store had on display. making my way through the rows i feel a sharp pain in my left foot. i stop and take a look and i walked on a security pin. a pin that is about half an inch long and very sharp. it went through my shoes and punctured one of my toes. i took the pin out due to pain and went to the salesperson at the cash. she called the manager, who came looked at me, saw the pin and walked away. nothing said, didn’t seem to be concerned whether or not i was ok. only asked the salesperson at the front if i was ok. he not only walked away after, but started moving through different alleys and seem completely oblivious that i just got injured in his store due to lack of care from his employees. i was stunned. i asked again if he was the manager, only for the salesperson to confirm. then i demanded some alcohol wipes so that i could at least wipe the tow. the puncture did not cause bleeding, but i wanted to make sure i at least wipe it. after about 5 minutes, a carefree employee shows up and asks me if i want the alcohol wipe? i get instructed to wait for her on the side as she will be back. after providing me with the alcohol wipe, she asks if she can write up a report. obviously she should…i got injured in their store! while she tried to be somewhat helpful, she clearly was unsure of what to do, what the procedure should be or what her role is as a first aid person.

i was expecting the manager to at least be interested or show some sort of customer service given i just got injured. i was expecting him to bring a report or at least call for a first aid right away. i was not expecting him to walk away. i guess the method of bringing cheap prices to customers is by saving money on proper training or decent selection of employees. i hope that their customer service department can be at least be a bit more professional about handling safety issues in their store. sometimes it may help to be in the states, as you can sue…or perhaps if my reaction was to take a picture of the foot, but then again the first reaction was to remove the pain causing item.

this is most likely the last time i walked into a ‘army & navy’ store.

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new decade means new driving law

Posted by cris on 9 January 2010, 6:52 pm

at the beginning of the new decade bc drivers had to do a quick update in regards to what they’re allowed to do while at the wheel of a vehicle. the use of a cellphone, mp3 or any other handheld devices if strictly prohibited while driving. however, just like any other law made by man there are just as many exceptions to the law as there are grammar exceptions in the English language. most important ones are, and this only applies to full driver license holders, you can talk on the phone if you are using a hands free device or if it is an emergency then feel free to use the handheld device.

overall, i agree that while driving one should concentrate on driving and only driving. so, in order to ensure safety on the road i will agree with stricter laws. however, hiding behind the pretext of implementing a change for safety but coming up with a half-assed law should not be allowed. talking on the cellphone is definitely a problem and has been shown to distract drivers while driving. the problem with it…the talking. being involved in a conversation while driving will distract one from being in the fullest state of alert. the conversation itself is the problem. fair enough if you argue that having one hand on the phone is also a problem, but it’s no the only one. if you focus on talking, even if it is on a hand less device, you are still not fully concentrating on the road. so while handheld device and talking are most likely worst than talking by itself; it’s still the talking that takes the huge chunk of the issue. anyhow…the idea of the law is great, the law itself is simply stupid. not sure of what they were smoking when they came up with it, but they should share with the rest of us. if in research we would conclude using the same logic we’d still be in the dark ages.

at this point, i’d like to know how they will address the other bigger problems and causes of lack of attention while driving? things like:

  • putting on make-up
  • eating
  • smoking
  • reading a book
  • having a pet in your lap while you drive
  • drinking (not alcohol) while driving
  • etc…

how and when will they truly address these issues? how is one supposed to drive properly while they hold their ‘rat’ size puddle in their lap? or is a moving animal in the front seat not considered to be a potential hazard? eating and drinking while driving, i guess that’s ok; yet if a law is developed to address this then mcdonald’s will not supply lunch at the office for them anymore. i guess someone had to increase sales profits on bluetooth devices (or bluetooth like devices) and thus…we get the cellphone law.

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trust the salesman part II

Posted by cris on 30 December 2009, 2:52 pm

after all the dealings with mazda dealers, i signed on the evening of the 21st with jim pattison northshore toyota for a toyota corolla, 2010, ce model without a/c. i went there based on the promise of the salesman that the car is in their parking lot:

MR Barzan we have the exact vehicle that you are after in stock in a silver, could you let me know when we can arrange a time that works best for you to view and finalize the deal . I have attached a price sheet for you as well.

Thanks again.

after work, 7:30pm, i made my way to the dealership. surprise surprise, by the time i got there the car that i was told about was traded to the duncan toyota dealership. my reaction as you might guess was of total disappointment, as i walked away from a deal an hour earlier because they had to ship my car to vancouver. faced with this, i asked if there are other cars in the province and how soon can they be delivered. i was assured there are a few more models and it won’t take longer than 2 days.

with this in mind, trusting the salesman i sat down and negotiated the price. i did get a very nice price on the car i wanted, and was hoping to obtain it within a couple of days. however, the games started on the 22nd of december. i get the call to inform me that the delivery of the car is a bit more expensive and it will cost me and extra $200. to this, i informed them that i signed a contract with a price, they can either bring the car at no cost to me or they can lose a sure sale. the price for delivery is not a problem of mine, as they made a promise to have a car for me at the price agreed on the contract. faced with the two options, the delivery was possible at no cost to me (go figure!). however, there was a catch the car was to be available on the 28 or 29th of december (due to christmas and the weekend).

on the 29th, i called and asked for an update. at this point i was told the car is on its way and will be available on the 30th or the 31st. i spend almost a half an hour with the manager on the phone due to this. he kindly informed me the dealership will be closing around 4pm on the 30th. this seemed not to be in agreement with their front desk, which confirmed the 9pm closing time. shocking, i know?

so, on the 30th in the morning i decided to make my way to the dealership and wait for the arrival of the car. i noted down the phone numbers of ctv vancouver and global bc. i fully intend to call the news stations and inform them of how northshore toyota has continued to delay the arrival of my car. but there’s more. prior to leaving the house i called vernon toyota. i figured, what the heck? the manager there informed that the silver 2010 corolla without a/c is in their parking lot and he has the papers to it. it has not been delivered and there was no corolla traded to any dealership in vancouver the preceding week. someone has to be lying at this point? so the way i figured it is: the silver corolla i was told about was never traded, but they hoped to get a $200 extra profit on it. since i didn’t bite they figured might as well take their revenge and make me wait. thus, they never had to deliver any car so there was no extra cost to them. the other possibility is, the vernon manager lied, but that to me seems more unlikely because he overall would have nothing to gain. he knows there’s a slim change i would drive all the way to vernon to pick up a car.

i talked to the salesman once i got to northshore toyota and asked for an eta on the car. i was told 5pm, and the car will be available for pick-up at 6pm. i said, i’ll wait. the surprised look on his face is worth the 4 hour wait. however, about 20 minutes ago he informed me the car should be here within an hour. i’m nicely placed in the dealership so that i have a view of the entrance to the automall. i will see if a car is towed in that is similar to the corolla. the contact is dependent on a test-drive and the condition of the car to have less thatn 100km on the odometer. furthermore, i will request to see the transfer papers and shipping papers (they have to have some). chances are they will refuse (most likely if the car was never shipped). if they show them to me, then at i am certain they did have to ship the car. as you can imagine, i’m quite disappointed and upset about how they managed this transaction. they tried to increase their profit at every corner (which is fair enough), but had no reason to delay it so long just because i didn’t bite. essentially, it would be in their best interest to have the shipping papers and be willing to share them. if not, that will be a lie and i think the better business bureau of bc will be interested to know about this. in conclusion to this, i advice anyone not to even bother dealing with jim pattison northshore toyota, they are simply dishonest.

so, now i wait…more to follow once i get the car.

edit: (3:25pm) – the car has arrived, with vernon license plate holders. it drives great and has less than 100km. however, i will ask for the shipping papers.

edit II: papers signed, car ownership taken…and enjoyed the evening driving it. overall, the salesman at northshore proved to be quite helpful. throughout the process he had to endure my constant questioning and has been helpful. it’s his manager that delayed the process, decided to push for the extra profit and had the final decision as to when the deal was made. while the salesman had to play the manager’s game (it’s not as if he had a choice), in the end it’s still the manager that is guilty in my opinion for the whole charade.

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