"Can I apply a coupon to that?"

[Top-L]

Looking at a Zoom G11, called MF, asked "can I apply a coupon".

He said "sure, I know this is eligible for a 15%". I asked how much will it be? And he said "roughly $515".

So he goes away and I hear clicking. Hes saying stuff like "I just have to add this manually.." I'm making small talk. I get out my credit card.

Then literally ten minutes later, he comes back and says "this is already on sale, I can't apply the coupon". I was a bit angry, he wasted ten minutes of my day and got my hopes up. The item is already on 25% discount. I'm on the fence and need an excuse to buy it, so I'm looking for a deal.

I just hung up, but part of me felt like I should have escalated. Just wasn't worth the headache. What is current day policy? If someone says they can apply a coupon and they reneg, is that something you can run to a manager and get an override?

 

[superpete]

ive been able to get coupons applied to excluded items by calling no problem, but usually once something is already discounted/on sale, coupons don't apply. it's possible if you raised a big enough stink they could've discounted it more, but possibly not. i guess it depends on what mood whatever supervisor you spoke to was in.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Virtually every coupon specifies somewhere in the fine print that it isn't valid on discounted sale items.
The computer system almost certainly disallowed it.

I imagine the reason you had to hold so long was because the salesperson was trying to have a manager override it for you.

 

[beaubrummels]

Another way to get a 'deal' is just see if they can throw some other stuff you need in with it, to the tune of that 15% coupon value.

 

[Securb]

Once he agreed to that 15% discount you were entitled to it. You should have asked for a supervisor.

 

[GuitarStv]

Once he agreed to that 15% discount you were entitled to it. You should have asked for a supervisor.

Listen to this man. He has the goldtop to prove he knows what he's talking about.

 

[Bogner]

MF and GC have new systems recently that prevent a lot of things. You can kick and moan until the cows come home but it will do nothing. At MF and GC, if an item is discounted, that is the price. If you are buying a used item that has been permanently marked down (after 90 days) you may be able to save a small amount additional but doubtful. You can't stack coupons, etc. The only way of getting a bigger discount is on a price match from another advertised place. If you can present that, you are golden and it only takes them 2 minutes to sort out. That is the only way now (sadly). It doesn't even matter if the price match causes them to lose money, they will gladly do it instantly. Asking to say 3 bucks on that 59 Les Paul limited run for $10K isn't happening though...lol. It is a system lock, not personal.

 

[Top-L]

MF and GC have new systems recently that prevent a lot of things. You can kick and moan until the cows come home but it will do nothing. At MF and GC, if an item is discounted, that is the price. If you are buying a used item that has been permanently marked down (after 90 days) you may be able to save a small amount additional but doubtful. You can't stack coupons, etc. The only way of getting a bigger discount is on a price match from another advertised place. If you can present that, you are golden and it only takes them 2 minutes to sort out. That is the only way now (sadly). It doesn't even matter if the price match causes them to lose money, they will gladly do it instantly. Asking to say 3 bucks on that 59 Les Paul limited run for $10K isn't happening though...lol. It is a system lock, not personal.

Thanks for this. It keeps me from feeling like I gave up on $85 in additional savings. It was a long shot anyway, the item was already discounted.

It sounded like he was trying to apply the discount, and that he overpromised what he could do. I didn't want to be a dick so I just hung up instead of trying to bully him into giving me the savings.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Listen to this man. He has the goldtop to prove he knows what he's talking about.

Is that he one he got very cheap and raised ethical issues among forum members? I remember that from one or two years ago.

 

[Securb]

MF and GC have new systems recently that prevent a lot of things. You can kick and moan until the cows come home but it will do nothing.

 

[Securb]

Is that he one he got very cheap and raised ethical issues among forum members? I remember that from one or two years ago.

One member had an issue with it. I also got my B.C. Rich Mockingbird and JBL Studio Monitors on the cheap because they were priced or displayed wrong. If the rep said he could apply the discount then he should have applied the discount.

 

[Bogner]

Ok....lol. Knock yourself out.

 

[Metalman_666]

One member had an issue with it. I also got my B.C. Rich Mockingbird and JBL Studio Monitors on the cheap because they were priced or displayed wrong. If the rep said he could apply the discount then he should have applied the discount.

I haven't worked in retail for many years now, but it's as true in B2B that just because a rep agrees to something doesn't mean it's correct or at all doable.

To the OP, it sucks that he couldn't honour the discount on top of the sale price. Sounds like he tried to fix it though, and probably felt silly telling you it could be done and then realizing he was wrong. At the very least, it was a lesson for an employee and hopefully they will remember it!

Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk

 

[Bogner]

One member had an issue with it. I also got my B.C. Rich Mockingbird and JBL Studio Monitors on the cheap because they were priced or displayed wrong. If the rep said he could apply the discount then he should have applied the discount.

Priced or displayed wrong is a totally different story and I am sure that happened longer ago than last week when this system change was made. It sounds like the rep tried making it right die to how long he placed the customer on hold. To get anything done on a call "price change wise" that is not on a price match with provable link etc requires a regional manager's approval now. Corporate has handcuffed these guys so bad it isn't even funny. You used to get points buying used items and now that has gone away. They dropped the % a point at GC on buying new items. You can't use points any longer on used items, only new items. A lot has changed and it is the restructuring of the bankruptcy deal and them trying to get a handle on things. I don't expect they can go on long like this but it is very different from what it used to be just a week or so ago, let alone months or years ago. Heck, I remember the good old days of it being like the Wild Wild West and you could go in guns blazing and negotiate the heck out of things and they had the power to do it. early to mid 2000's were great for that.

 

[ehdwuld]

Well imagine if you wasted hours trying to squeeze another discount without success

What if you had to go to court and plead your case About how you really wanted another 15 percent

 

[NegativeEase]

Looking at a Zoom G11, called MF, asked "can I apply a coupon".

He said "sure, I know this is eligible for a 15%". I asked how much will it be? And he said "roughly $515".

So he goes away and I hear clicking. Hes saying stuff like "I just have to add this manually.." I'm making small talk. I get out my credit card.

Then literally ten minutes later, he comes back and says "this is already on sale, I can't apply the coupon". I was a bit angry, he wasted ten minutes of my day and got my hopes up. The item is already on 25% discount. I'm on the fence and need an excuse to buy it, so I'm looking for a deal.

I just hung up, but part of me felt like I should have escalated. Just wasn't worth the headache. What is current day policy? If someone says they can apply a coupon and they reneg, is that something you can run to a manager and get an override?

I don't know of any Music place that lets you stack a promotional discount on top of a different promotional discount that is 25% off list -they've already given away most of their margin -that would be amazing deal if they let you.

-Sorry it didn't work out -so the employee made an honest mistake implying you could use it, and now we know there are humans working at Musician's Friend....

 

[Top-L]

I actually ordered this last night from MF, was excited about getting a new toy to play with... then this morning decided to cancel the order. I looked up MF return policy and apparently (now) when an item is refunded, you have to pay shipping both ways. Not confident enough that I would like this enough to eat shipping charges.

Its been close to a decade since I've bought anything new from MF, and in the back of my mind I thought they had an amazon-like return policy. So what are the best options for ordering something like this?

MF gives you "points" which serve as incentive to keep the item and order other items from them in the future.
Guitar Center has easy returns because you can take to a store.
Sweetwater gives you candy in the box.
Amazon has no questions asked return policy. On something like this that there are no further discounts, it might be the best bet.

 

[Masta' C]

Amazon currently has a Warehouse Deal - Like New for $569.

In my experience, "Like New" items are typically unused. If you don't dig it, you can easily send it back, like you said.

Regardless, you seem very uncertain of this purchase. Perhaps wait a bit until more player feedback comes in? The 25% price drop is at all retailers, so likely a move by Zoom themselves.

 

[Top-L]

Amazon currently has a Warehouse Deal - Like New for $569.

In my experience, "Like New" items are typically unused. If you don't dig it, you can easily send it back, like you said.

Regardless, you seem very uncertain of this purchase. Perhaps wait a bit until more player feedback comes in? The 25% price drop is at all retailers, so likely a move by Zoom themselves.

I just ordered a new one from Amazon. Fast shipping and no questions asked return policy. $30 bucks for a customer return.. no thanks.

I'm definitely uncertain because there are a ton of options in the 500-600 range these days. Pod Go, HX stomp, GT-core, others... Very little opportunity to try any of them.

I probably would have already bought a GT-1000 if the UI was better. From demos, my ears are telling me that the Zoom can be at that level of sound quality, only way to know is to try.

This will tide me over until the next generation of flagship processors. If I dislike the sounds, I can return it and get something else.

 

[NegativeEase]

I think MF and Sweetwater also suffer from a little of the old furniture liquidation syndrome you used to see in the 80s and 90s. If EVERYTHING (except the highest end gear) is ALWAYS going on and off sale with new PR pushes every day and every week -I get emails everyday touting new sales and deals) -what if anything is really a deal thats better than the normal deals they continually offer?

Very rarely do I find "deals" that aren't already "deals" -discerning what is a real "must buy" because it's an incredible price are more rare.

Also, the MSRP inflation to create the % off -is the most classic of all manufacturing, wholesale and retail technique for creating excitement.