Mrs Lep and I were scouting Cork yesterday in the pre Christmas build up and while the temperatures are relatively warm. It was sprung on me that we needed a toaster; no big deal, just fork out a few bob and we'd be on our way - No Chance!
It took us all of two minutes to enter the large store and choose the toaster that would suit our needs (Do I look like a guy who'd spend hours deciding on which toaster suits?). It wasn't reduced from a quarter of a million, it was just a bog standard toaster with one dial and a plug.
We headed for the tills to pay and before payment was accepted the following are just some of the questions asked in no particular order:-
(i) What is your name?
(ii) What is your address?
(iii) Is your eircode correct? - Of course it is, it's the only number remembered by Mrs Lep because of her mail orders.
(iv) What is your telephone number (landline and mobile)?
(v) Are you the main decision-maker on purchasing electrical items?*
(vi) Where did you hear about our store? - You couldn't miss the place it was so huge.
(vii) What is your email address?
(viii) Do you require a receipt? - Of course we do, the toaster might not work properly.
(ix) Will we also send you an email confirming the receipt? - No! we don't need this.
(x) Do you not know it's more environmentally friendly to have an email receipt? - Mother of God - I just want to get out of here!
(xi) "You need to complete the answers to the questions before I can accept your money" - For a quiet life and a new toaster, I do and patiently.
(xii) Does this particular item suits all your requirements? - It's a toaster, not a Ferrari!
(xiii) Did you have a positive shopping experience while shopping in this store? - Thank God, it was only a toaster we were buying and if it were anything else how long more would we be interviewed?
*Mrs Lep is not a member of the Burn Your Bra Brigade, but I could see her hackles raised at this question. She reminded me of Rachel Blackmore's Grand National win when for the first time she (Mrs Lep) was screaming at the television on having a first lady rider win the big race.
Next toaster I need, I'm off to Aldi where I can pay my money and be home fast with no questions asked.
It took us all of two minutes to enter the large store and choose the toaster that would suit our needs (Do I look like a guy who'd spend hours deciding on which toaster suits?). It wasn't reduced from a quarter of a million, it was just a bog standard toaster with one dial and a plug.
We headed for the tills to pay and before payment was accepted the following are just some of the questions asked in no particular order:-
(i) What is your name?
(ii) What is your address?
(iii) Is your eircode correct? - Of course it is, it's the only number remembered by Mrs Lep because of her mail orders.
(iv) What is your telephone number (landline and mobile)?
(v) Are you the main decision-maker on purchasing electrical items?*
(vi) Where did you hear about our store? - You couldn't miss the place it was so huge.
(vii) What is your email address?
(viii) Do you require a receipt? - Of course we do, the toaster might not work properly.
(ix) Will we also send you an email confirming the receipt? - No! we don't need this.
(x) Do you not know it's more environmentally friendly to have an email receipt? - Mother of God - I just want to get out of here!
(xi) "You need to complete the answers to the questions before I can accept your money" - For a quiet life and a new toaster, I do and patiently.
(xii) Does this particular item suits all your requirements? - It's a toaster, not a Ferrari!
(xiii) Did you have a positive shopping experience while shopping in this store? - Thank God, it was only a toaster we were buying and if it were anything else how long more would we be interviewed?
*Mrs Lep is not a member of the Burn Your Bra Brigade, but I could see her hackles raised at this question. She reminded me of Rachel Blackmore's Grand National win when for the first time she (Mrs Lep) was screaming at the television on having a first lady rider win the big race.
Next toaster I need, I'm off to Aldi where I can pay my money and be home fast with no questions asked.
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