Half Price Drives Away Half The Customers

(I’ve driven two hours to do some outlet shopping. I am excited to see that my favorite denim brand has an outlet, so I decide to stop in. These jeans are fairly expensive, so I’m looking to find some good deals. I’ve got shopping bags from 2 different stores: a popular high end purse outlet and a shoe store known for their super fuzzy boots and slippers. In short, it’s obvious that I’ve come to shop!)

Employee #1: *opens the door for me* “Hi there! How are you today?”

Me: “I’m doing good, and you?”

Employee #1: “Fantastic! Just so you know; everything in the store is 50% off today!”

Me: “Awesome! Thanks!”

(I notice that the store is very quiet, but don’t think anything of it. I head for the sale rack, and find the exact pair of jeans that I was looking at on the store’s full-price website. And they are in my size! If the additional 50% off applies, I can snag these for under $50! I look around for the employee at the door to confirm that the sale jeans are also under the storewide promo, but notice he is working with another customer. I spot another sales guy, and tap him on the shoulder.)

Me: “Excuse me, but I just wanted to confirm that the storewide 50% off applies the sale jeans also?”

Employee #2: “No.”

Me: “Really? Because the guy over there said—”

Employee #2: *patronizingly* “THIS is the $99 rack. Those are already marked down. OVER THERE is the $79 rack. Those are already marked down, too. THE FRONT of the store is 50% off. You know, the FULL PRICE jeans.”

Me: “Thank you very much.”

(I put the jeans back on the rack and walked out of the store. Now we know why the store was quiet! Poor Employee #1. He did his best.)