Originally Posted by
RallyePete
I'm in the lucky position of being able (allowed) to purchase a nice watch thanks to a promotion at work. I also wanted (was told) to get some nice earrings for my wife as well.
I've quite fancied a nice chunky diver for a while and rather like the ceramic bezel Omega Planet Ocean.
So being a Signet Group shareholder (£16 of shares given to me from the Ratners days, lol) I knew my 10% discount was guaranteed, and for ease of payment I wanted to take advantage of the 0% finance offer.
If I could get anything else out of them, then all the better but I wasn't expecting much.
So after nipping in to my local Ernest Jones yesterday, I made it clear I wanted to do a deal there and then and purchase the watch and some nice diamond earrings for my wife. About £4,500 before taking off the 10%.
Expecting a good level of service was somewhat marred by the first sales guy confusing the chronograph with a chronometer, as he struggled to identify the watch I pointed at in the window (possibly my finger was not as straight and true as I thought due to the excitement of having the watch on my wrist), but we got there in the end. I was upfront about the 0% offer and my 10% discount, so he had to go and see his Manageress. Hoping (expectation had left by then), for some better service I was rather surprised to be categorically told that I could have either 10% off OR 0%, but not both. After querying this again, I thanked her for her time (I was brought up properly, you see) and left rather cheesed off!
Possibly an espresso to calm my nerves wasn't the right course as soon I was feeling quite p****d off, so decided to call a couple of other branches who both readily agreed it shouldn't be a problem. Sadly they didn't stock Omega. I then phoned customer services who ummed and ahhed about it, giving a woolly 'well, it's been brought up a few times recently with customers but I can't give you an answer till Monday' response. They, apparently, will phone me Monday to clarify.
I nipped back to the shop late afternoon, to see if they would 'allow me' to make the purchase, with the knowledge other branches would be happy to take my money. A very firm and no and some very aggressive customer service preceded me leaving really, really cheesed off.
So, how should I play this? I still would like the watch, the earrings and the 0% but the experience has really put me off, and I will certainly be very firm with 'customer services', should they phone (after all, will they know if I have £5 0r £50,000 of shares?)
Thanks for your time. I'm off to calm down with a coffee....