Then, You Suggest Some Wii Games

 
I questioned whether or not I should post this because apparently until we get this world hunger thing solved, we’re not allowed to complain about our own lives. But since we’ve supported a poor child, Katarina, through World Vision for over a decade now, I feel that I have built up some curmudgeon offsets, so here goes.

A few years ago, when my in-laws were visiting, we went to the mall where my mother-in-law purchased a new purse. When the clerk rang up the purchase, it was then discovered that the handbag was on sale. Well, what a pleasant surprise! Sometimes good things do happen. But my father-in-law, having spent an entire career in retail management, took a dimmer view of the surprise discount.

How many people, he wondered, admired that purse, but didn’t purchase it? And would they have purchased it if they knew it was 20 percent off? In short, the reason you put things on sale is to positively affect the buying decision, but the discount incentive doesn’t work if customers aren’t made aware of it.

I mention this now because I had a similar experience yesterday.

I’d been shopping for a  pre-owned TV to use with the kids’ new Wii. But then I thought, good ol’ George Bush didn’t hand out those incentive checks so we could sock it away in a savings account. No, he wanted us to have something nice for ourselves. So I decided to put our current set in the toy room and purchase a brand new one for DVD watching and all-around television viewing.

On Saturday, I did some reconnaissance at Best Buy. I narrowed my search to quaint 32-inch screen models and was told by an employee that all TVs over $1,000 were eligible for 24-months free financing, while those over $500 were good for 12 months.

Armed with this knowledge and a little bit of online research, I returned yesterday to make my buy. It was a modest one, by today’s standards, but I was still counting on the 12-month grace period to pay it off gradually and painlessly. But when I went to apply for financing, I was told that six months of no interest was the best they could offer. When told of my conflicting information, the finance associate confirmed the six-month figure with someone of authority in the television department. Put off by the news, I decided against the purchase.

The rest of the afternoon I stewed over my decision. I really wanted to have the TV in place and operating when the family returned from vacation. If, by chance, they weren’t happy to see me, at least they’d be excited over a brand new TV. I figured out a way to justify the financial outlay and returned to the store after work.

When applying for the financing, I was again told the conditions of repayment, consistent with what was said earlier in the day.  After passing the credit check with flying colors, I went to the cashier to check out. And guess what? After everything was rung up and I sealed the deal by signing my name on the terminal, the pleasant young lady behind the counter told me that I would enjoy an entire year sans interest.

Was I happy? Sure, but the miscommunication did cost me an extra trip to the store and some of my oh-so-valuable time. From Best Buy’s perspective, it darn near cost them a sale. Just how difficult is it to know and communicate the incentives available to customers.

Wii Game Advice?

Okay, I have the Wii and a dedicated set, now for the games. It came with some sports games, apparently, and I’m definitely getting Endless Ocean for Mark, our  youngest. Any other suggestions? I have two girls (eight and six) and two boys (six and four.) None of them are big on blood and gore so we won’t be getting any shoot-em-ups. Are any of the dance games worthwhile?