I hate sale fliers. What is it about the motley coloured newsprint that sucks me in? I know the best thing to do is ignore the catch phrases spewing from the pile of fliers on the coffee table. Yet - my eyes turn into dollar signs and before I can read the obits, I'm leafing through sale fliers like a crazed woman on the hunt for something I need somewhere for a sale price that's never been lower. The epitome of gullibility. Sale fliers are my nemesis.
I madly spin through the cheap, over-stimulating sales as if the paper will self-com-bust before I have a chance to see all I cannot live without. The lists start - what store; what item; what price; what day; what city. Nothing seems out of my reach. Clearly I am pummelling into the sale mode, downward spiralling out of control - right into the every-so-clever marketers trap.
I am convinced retailers hate the sale fliers as much as I do. They are the ones who greet demanding sale shoppers anxiously clutching crumpled sale fliers as if it is somehow proof the item exists and their store has it. It says so in the flier! Once challenged, the sales associates have to explain why an item is not available; has never been available; is currently out of stock and not likely to ever be in their store. It is mind-boggling how corporations are able to draw consumers into their expensive webs by promising sales and not delivering.
Recently, I remembered to take my sale flier and stop on the way to work to order some much needed bicycle equipment - for my son. These were truly amazing deals that couldn't be passed up - aren't they always!. None of the three items I requested were in the store. Once the manager found the book with the list, rebooted his computer and searched the items, I was told we could order two items for delivery to the store, but the other one was unfortunately out of stock. I gave my personal information and left with assurances the phone call would come on Friday when the items were delivered to the store. The call never came. Surprised? I don't think so. I should be used to this sale flier; gullible buyer routine by now.
Here's a tip for all you sale flier shoppers. When it comes to getting a rain check for the sale item, take the information overkill approach - you will need it. Write down the date; the time; the name of the sales associate who helped you; the item your ordered (by code) and anything else you can think of that may assist you in the CIS-type manoeuvring that goes on once the investigation into a back-ordered item begins. Or, you can succumb to the powers that be and know you're never gonna get that sale item.
In my case, on a follow-up visit a couple of weeks later, one item had arrived and after a thorough search of the store, we found it precariously perched on a shelf for anyone to buy. The other item was now magically out of stock so I could kiss that one goodbye. I know much of this is my fault - that's a little too much work for a $7.97 item that was probably on sale for less by the time I received it.
I need to reconsider sale fliers. My mother brought me up to always take advantage of a good sale. Sometimes I feel I am the one being taken advantage of. The retail world has changed. We are being subtly scammed by life to consider self-indulgence a want, not need. The weekly plethora of sale fliers feeds this falsehood.
Buyer beware. Sale fliers are not your friend. I am so blessed to have everything I could possibly need in this world. Sale fliers add another complicated dimension that I don't need.
From here on in, when the Saturday sale fliers arrive Thursday night, I'm going to bundle them up and move them directly to recycle. That is unless, of course, I see a great sale on something I cannot live without.