Sears

I really wish I didn't have to put this one up because I do like shopping at Sears. Unfortunately, I've learned though repeated experience that you do have to watch them when you get into the checkout line. I've had two large ticket items where I've been burned from not keeping a strict eye on things.

The first was the purchase of an electric miter saw. The one I selected was out of stock, but the sales manager offered to let me have the display unit since they were closing out the model, and with a 10% discount. Great deal I thought - until we start checking out and he asks if I'd like to buy a blade as well. New models come with blades included, but since this was a demo unit it had been removed. The price of the blade... $20 more than the 10% discount. So in effect they were selling a display unit for more than the cost of a new one!

The next such problem occurred last Christmas, during their "10% off everything in the store this Saturday" sale. The store was slightly busy, but not overly so. I heard the sales person explain and apply the discount to the person in line in front of me, but in ringing up my (much larger) purchase he neglected to include the discount. Unfortunately I didn't notice at the time, assuming he was putting it on everyone's ticket, and had to go through all kinds of trouble to get it put back on.

I won't say these are deliberate attempts to cheat people, and I still shop regularly there, but my own experiences and similar incidents happening to friends and family make me particularly cautious when checking out.