Scams R Us

I was reminded today of why I don't go to Toys R Us. I can't remember the last time we were there. Susy got a $1 gift card in the mail for her birthday in September and we never used it because we haven't been to Toys R Us. It is so overwhelming the amount of toys there. And there is always some crying kid. Oh, wait that was my kid. Sorry.

Claire got a gift card for her birthday so we were forced to go to Toys R Us. So after we browsed about 20 rows of toys we finally decided on some Star Wars action figures (Daddy would be proud) and a stuffed dog. Susy brought her allowance along so she was getting a stuffed tiger and Emma was adding to her cavity and Pez collection. So far so good. We pay for the goods and go to the car. I kept thinking to myself there is something wrong with the bill. It shouldn't have been that much. And I was right. They charged us $5.99 for the stuffed animals instead of $4.99. Sweet! I got them on the scanning law!

What is the scanner law you ask? Most people know about the law, but sometimes stores try to rip you off (like today). Larry and I learned about the scanner law about 10 years ago when we were in a Rite Aid and they overcharged us 20 cents for a bag of Oreos. We were shocked when they handed us $2.20. No, the manager who was not happy about giving us the money, said the law says if something is clearly marked and we scan it for another price and charge you more we must pay you 10 times the amount plus the difference. Cool! Of course I am such a freak that I look for things that are mismarked so I can make a little money. That would be the scammer law!

But today I wasn't trying to scam. I just happen to catch their mistake. So I say to the girls "Let's go get some money!"

There was one person being helped at the customer service desk so we had to wait. After about 5 minutes I started to wonder if this was really worth it. As soon as I opened my package and laid those little animals on the counter one of the three ladies at the counter starts to get upset. They aren't talking to me and I am trying to explain my problem with the over charge. They aren't listening to me. They go on about who is restocking these and why are they mismarked and then two of them (the managers) take off to hide in the glass mirrored office. The nice lady who has no authority is left looking at me like now what do I do. She starts to refund me the $2 for just the overcharge. So trying to be as sweet as possible after being ignored and waiting 10 minutes I ask "What about the scanner law?" Oh, she has to ask one on the managers who just ran away about that. So off she goes to the mirrored room to ask the managers who I know are watching me out the window and mad that I know what the scanner law is.

She comes back saying something about 10 percent of the price and is going to give me $2.20. What?! So I repeat the scanner law to her and she says yes I think that is right, but thist is what the manager said. I ask to talk to the manager. When I am finally helped the only thing the manager says to me is "You get 10 percent." That's it. No explanation. No apology for the overcharge. I tell her I believe the law is 10 times the amount overcharged up to $5. She knows she is busted now but she is going to argue with me. Thankfully her Co-manager is there and says yes it is 10 times the amount not 10 percent. Again no apology. I think Manager #1 has worked in retail a little too long. Or maybe she has been overstimulated by the hundreds of toys at Toys R US. I think it is time for some service training!

So after 20 minutes we ended up with $12.12. But not until I filled some forms out in duplicate and promise to not tell any one else about the scanner law so they can continue to rip off innocent people.

Thanks Toys R Us for the free toys. I don't think I will be back.