My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
For those of you who shop for cosmetics, skincare or fragrance, will understand what I’m talking about. For those of you who don’t, please listen up…because you’re about to learn some thing very annoying.
There’s a tradition in the cosmetic industry that developed many, many years ago, which involves giving the customer an additional “gift” with a minimum purchase.
For women, the gift is usually a tote bag or cosmetic bag containing: cosmetics, skin care and fragrance items. For men, it’s usually a tote bag or toiletry bag containing: after-shave balm, shower gel and fragrance items.
This little item is called “A Gift with Purchase” or what we in the industry call…a GWP.
(or what “I” like to call…a Great Whopping Pain in my ass)
And the reason being, is because now customers EXPECT a gift and refuse to make a purchase unless they get one. Some customers will also make purchases based solely on the gift, and then try returning their purchases, without returning the gift.
However, my favorite thing about GWP’s is that some customers feel the need to haggle for them.
Several weeks ago, I had the painful pleasure of waiting on two female foreigners, who were purchasing a present for their mother. After taking 45 minutes to make up their minds about what they wanted to get for her, and then closely examining the box as if they were scanning it with an x-ray, they both started haggling me about the gift.
They first began by whispering to one another in their native tongue, and then if magic... suddenly realized that they could speak English....
They: “If we buy this…you give us two gifts?”
Me: “Excuse me?”
They: “If we buy this…you give us two gifts?”
Me: “No…why should I give you two gifts?”
They: “Because we buy something from you.”
Me: “Yes, I know you buy something from me, but the purchase that you’re making entitles you to ONE gift, do you understand?”
They: “Yes, but if we buy this…we want TWO gifts”
Me: “ No, if you buy this…I give you ONE gift.”
They: (holding up two fingers) “We want TWO gifts.”
Me: “ Yes, I understand that you want TWO gifts, but I don’t think you understand what I’m conveying to you. You can’t have them.”
They: “We both buying this for our mother, so we want two gifts.”
Me: “ I’m sorry, but just because you’re BOTH buying this for your mother, does not entitle you to two gifts."
They: “But if we both buy…we want two gifts.”
Me: “Ladies…please try and understand that this cannot be some kind of a deal you make with me. The policy is, if you purchase one item, you’re entitled to ONE gift.”
They: “Then we no buy.”
I suddenly lost all sense of reasoning and went insane. I grabbed both the gift and their purchase off the counter with my fists and walked away saying…
…“Then I guess you no buy….so bye-buy!”
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